The lives of Margaret Hyson and her children George and Charlotte — three people enslaved in the Yorktown neighborhood in the 1800s — had previously been unknown to all but their descendants.
But now, this family will have their stories told to a broader community.
Significant divisions remain as Falls Church City Council members approach final-decision time to enact rules regulating accessory-dwelling units.
“There are so many concerns” still to be worked through, Council member Marybeth Connelly said at a March 10 work session on the topic.
As safety-net advocates press for more funding to address homelessness, Arlington officials say more permanent and temporary housing options are also needed.
The county’s full “continuum of care” for this issue clocks in at $7.5 million annually — “not an insignificant amount,” Anita Friedman, director of the county government’s Department of Human Services, said at a budget work session last week. Without places for people to go, however, she said the problem festers.
Another Tesla Protest — “While many of the 60 or so people protesting outside the Arlington Tesla dealership on South Glebe Road held up signs with harsh words and negative messages for the job cuts ordered by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, only one came dressed as a Nazi. ‘It’s just testament that America doesn’t learn its lessons,’ said D.H. of South Arlington, who was attired in black boots, brown jodhpurs and a tan shirt… at Saturday’s protest.” [Patch]
McClure Nabs National Nod — “Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that Virginia state Del. Adele McClure is a nominee for the 2025 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.” [Press Release]
New Restaurant Nearby — “A new Sichuan restaurant is opening soon in Arlandria. Vienna-based Chili Wok is planning on expanding with a new location at 3829 Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray North shopping center. The location is the former home to a Subway restaurant that closed in November. A Japanese restaurant recently opened next door at 3827 Mount Vernon Avenue.” [ALXnow]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 65, accompanied by a northwest wind of around 7 mph. The clear night will see temperatures dipping to a low of approximately 45, with calm winds. [NWS]
Forceful debate over Arlington County’s approach to a recent surge in immigration enforcement dominated a County Board meeting this weekend.
Following extensive public comments and shouted chants and boos from dozens of advocates, several Board members raised the possibility of once again revising county policy on when local police can contact federal law enforcement.
Two people were arrested and another is being sought after a trio of notable police incidents during the latter half of last week.
In the first incident, Arlington County police say a teen driving a stolen car northbound on I-395 tried to evade officers and struck a police cruiser, before striking two other cars and fleeing on foot.
A relatively brief Arlington County Board meeting on Saturday involved discussion of local glass recycling and traffic calming on 1st Road S.
As officials are in the midst of determining the county’s budget and wrestling with various other thorny issues involving President Donald Trump’s administration, this week’s agenda was unusually light.
Excess capacity at elementary schools might someday lead Arlington Public Schools to close facilities — but there aren’t any immediate plans to do this, officials say.
“We are not projecting a need to close any schools at this time,” Board Chair Mary Kadera said in response to a question at last week’s Arlington County Civic Federation meeting.
Clement Planning County Board Run — Audrey Clement has confirmed to ARLnow she is circulating petitions to be on the Nov. 4 County Board ballot. It will be the 15th run since 2011 for local office for Clement, who terms herself a protest candidate. All but two of those contests were for County Board, the others (2014 and 2018) for School Board. –Scott McCaffrey
‘DEI’ Order Prompts ANC Changes — “In recent weeks, the cemetery’s public website has scrubbed dozens of pages on gravesites and educational materials that include histories of prominent Black, Hispanic and female service members buried in the cemetery, along with educational material on dozens of Medal of Honor recipients and maps of prominent gravesites of Marine Corps veterans and other services.” [Task and Purpose, Washington Post, WTOP]
Permanent Helicopter Changes — “Helicopters will be permanently restricted from flying near Washington, D.C.’s airport on the same route where a passenger jet and an Army helicopter collided in midair, killing 67 people, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday… The FAA order will allow a few exceptions for helicopter use, including presidential flights along with law enforcement and lifesaving missions.” [Associated Press]
Spending Down in D.C. Area — “Credit card spending is down in the D.C. area, and DOGE cuts appear to be a factor… Bank of America found that discretionary spending (think entertainment and dining out, but not gas, groceries and utilities) was down 0.5% in D.C. in February year-over-year.” [Axios]
More DOGE Fallout — “Some federal employees who have lost their jobs have already left the region, or are planning to do so when the school year ends. Government contractors across Northern Virginia are losing contracts, employees are being laid off and the number of open positions from employers has ‘significantly reduced about half.’ In one case, Coons said, there’s ‘a cul-de-sac in Arlington where someone lives, and every household has a laid-off federal worker in it.'” [WTOP]
Colada Shop to DCA — “HUGE NEWS! Colada Shop will be arriving soon ✈️ 🎊 to @reagan_airport! We’re so excited to provide all of your pre-flight bites 🥪🥟 (and longggg layover cocktails 🍹) while you’re on your journey! Taking off 🚀 Winter 2025!” [PoPville]
It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of around 56°F, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 15 to 17 mph, and gusts peaking at 28 mph. As night falls, the sky will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to about 36°F. The wind will continue from the northwest at 9 to 11 mph and gusts as high as 21 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
The hunt is on for the next generation of Arlington voting equipment. When voters will be able to use it, though, is an open-ended question.
The three members of the Arlington Electoral Board will start the procurement process by meeting with prospective vendors at the annual gathering of the Virginia Electoral Boards Association, to be held March 23-25 at The Homestead.
A stretch of 12th Street S. in Pentagon City will be off-limits to drivers for about a year as the county extends a bus rapid transit corridor.
Closing the street during the expansion will be safer and allow the work to be completed more quickly, county staff said during a March 11 briefing of the county’s Transit Advisory Committee.
Judge Nixes Some DOGE Firings — “U.S. District Judge William Alsup said at a court hearing that the personnel office — which serves as the federal government’s human resources agency — had no legal authority to direct the mass firings in conference calls and written communications last month. He added that individual agencies could downsize their staffs by following the steps laid out in the federal Reduction in Force Act, a process that administration officials have already put in motion.” [Washington Post]
Shutdown May Be Averted — “Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, on Thursday broke with many in his party and said he would vote for a Republican-written stopgap spending bill to keep federal funding flowing past a midnight deadline on Friday, making a forceful case for why Democrats could not allow a shutdown that most of them have demanded.” [New York Times]
ICE Touts N. Va. Arrests — “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and law enforcement partners apprehended 214 illegal aliens during an enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime, gangs, and egregious illegal alien offenders in Northern Virginia March 1 to 13.” [ICE]
Wine Shop Opens in Crystal City — “Flight, a popular wine tasting, café and retail store in the D.C.’s Chinatown that closed last year after a decade, returns with a new location at Virginia’s National Landing on Friday. Now called Flight Wine Shop, it is owned and operated by Flight’s original team.” [WTOP]
Parent Night Out Options — “Need a night off? Let these local gyms and rec centers entertain your kids with water park fun, tumbling, arts and crafts and pizza.” [Arlington Magazine]
Closet Showroom Proposed in F.C. — “Econize Closets presented their revision of a site plan for a new design headquarters at 821 W Broad Street at the corner with S Spring Street, at the Planning Commission meeting on March 5, 2025. The basement level may be remote workspace with individual offices planned.” [Falls Church Pulse]
It’s Friday — Patchy fog will dissipate by 9am, leading to cloudy conditions that will gradually become mostly sunny with the temperature reaching around 59°F. Expect a northeast wind of 6-8 mph, shifting to southeast in the afternoon. Expect increasing clouds Friday night, with a low around around 44°F and patchy fog returning after 3am. [NWS]
