Opinion | ARLnow.com

The Right Note: Quick Hits

Published March 1, 2018 at 3:45PM

Delegate Patrick Hope’s bill to give Arlington the authority to hold school board elections is on its way to Governor Northam. The legislation is an acknowledgement that no one is quite sure whether the authority to elect a school board really existed in Arlington.

It may or may not call into question any previous School Board actions from a body that could very well have been elected without specific statutory authority. As such, someone should get a legal opinion on what exactly this all means, including whether there needs to be an immediate election of all five School Board members to new four year terms, rather than waiting for their current terms to expire.

Progressive Voice: Counting Everyone in Arlington Affects our Bottom Line

By Progressive Voice

Published March 1, 2018 at 3:15PM

The 2020 Census is probably not anybody’s idea of a sexy topic. But ensuring an accurate 2020 Census count is vital to both getting the number of congressional seats a state deserves and to the day to day effective functioning of government.

As we currently sit, the upcoming 2020 Census is going to be a disaster.

Peter’s Take: Manager’s Budget — Good Short-Term, Headwinds Long-Term

By Peter Rousselot

Published March 1, 2018 at 2:45PM | Updated March 1, 2018 at 4:48PM

Peter’s Take is a weekly opinion column. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

On February 22, Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz presented his proposed FY 2019 Annual Operating Budget. It’s balanced at the current real estate tax rate.

Did Cancelling the Streetcar Hurt Arlington’s Amazon Chances?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 1, 2018 at 2:15PM

Rendering of a streetcar along Columbia Pike (file photo)

It’s a question that some have been asking themselves as Arlington has advanced to be among the most likely destinations for Amazon’s second headquarters.

Would the proposed Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcar system have helped Arlington’s chances had it been built?

Morning Poll: What Do You Think About That ‘F–k the NRA’ House?

By ARLnow.com

Published February 27, 2018 at 9:50AM

Opinions seem to be divided about the house in Arlington’s Highland Park neighborhood with the chalk message declaring “F–k the NRA.”

On one hand, many people — even those who are not fans of the National Rifle Association and pro-gun policies — object to writing a large profanity on the front of a house along a busy road. There are children in the neighborhood who walk by this house, those who object to it say.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 25, 2018 at 9:00AM

Student walkout at Wakefield High School in support of gun control legislation

With Saturday’s County Board meeting over, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on ARLnow over the past week.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great rest of your weekend!

The Right Note: Opposing Views Are Important

By Mark Kelly

Published February 22, 2018 at 3:45PM | Updated February 22, 2018 at 4:38PM

Larry Roberts recently gave up his duties as “editor” of the Progressive Voice to take on the role of Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax.

In his farewell column, he made the case for why the column he headed up was needed.

Progressive Voice: Don’t Let Fear Silence Immigrants

By Progressive Voice

Published February 22, 2018 at 3:15PM | Updated February 22, 2018 at 4:25PM

By Alfonso Lopez

Last week the Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill, HB 1257, to prohibit any locality in Virginia from adopting an ordinance, procedure or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law.

Peter’s Take: Virginia Medicaid Expansion – Closer to a Bipartisan Deal?

By Peter Rousselot

Published February 22, 2018 at 2:45PM

Peter’s Take is a weekly opinion column. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

Virginia Medicaid expansion is the top 2018 legislative priority for Virginia Democrats. Since Democrats lack a majority in both legislative branches, they must make a deal with Virginia Republicans to expand Medicaid.

Letter to the Editor: Arlington Has An Arts District

By ARLnow.com

Published February 22, 2018 at 12:45PM

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Mac McCreery, David Peete, Tom Prewitt, Robin Stombler and Jeff Zeeman. McCreery, Peete, Prewitt and Zeeman are all members of the Arts District Committee. Stombler serves as Chair of the Committee.

We didn’t always agree at first. As representatives of business, arts, industry, and community interests, we were bound to have divergent ideas, but we came together as members of the Arts District Committee, a component of the Four Mile Run Valley Initiative Working Group. Let us share with you what we found.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 16, 2018 at 8:00PM

Before we head off into President’s Day — or, as we call it here in Virginia, George Washington Day — weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on ARLnow in recent days.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.

Letter to the Editor: Proposed Jennie Dean Park Plan Is a Significant Improvement

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2018 at 5:30PM

Jennie Dean Park (Staff photo)

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Edith Wilson, president of the Shirlington Civic Association and a member of the Four Mile Run Valley Working Group, regarding plans for Jennie Dean Park.

On February 6, the Parks & Recreation Department provided the Four Mile Run Valley (4MRV) Working Group with the staff policy framework for Jennie Dean Park over the next 20 years. Here’s a different view of the situation faced by decision-makers.