We’ve reached the long holiday weekend, but before we go, there’s time to take a quick look back at the week.
These were our most-read stories this week:
Opinion
The Arlington School Board supports imposing new requirements on families with deeply held religious beliefs this holiday season.
On December 14, the Board voted unanimously to ask the legislature to require families who seek a religious exemption from compulsory school attendance to reapply every year to maintain it.
By Erik Gutshall
Progressive values of equality and justice for all have triumphed in 2017 elections in Alabama and in Virginia – buoyed by news that a recount in Newport News leaves us with a possibility that control of the Virginia House of Delegates will end up evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.
The Arlington County government’s best estimate is that Arlington will have 55,300 more residents in 2040 (278,100) than we have now (222,800). Where will they live? How well will Arlington serve them and at what cost?
Discussion
This weekend marks the start of another SoberRide campaign by local nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program.
From tonight (Friday, December 15) until December 22, download Lyft and use the code “SOBERRIDEDC” in the app to get a free ride home.
Voting is underway in the contest to decide which vehicle decal design will wind up on on the windshields of more than 150,000 vehicles in Arlington County next year.
Arlington residents can each cast an online ballot on the county treasurer’s website through Monday, Jan. 15. This year, voters are being asked to rank each of the four finalists from 1 to 4, with 1 being their favorite and 4 their least favorite.
Those of us with kids in school are just one week away from the start of our break, but there is still a lot going on in the world of politics.
Congress continues its work to finalize tax reform and spending bills. The County Board will meet two more times before saying goodbye to Jay Fisette.
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By Matt de Ferranti
In August, I wrote a column outlining positive progressive ideas for our County to keep Arlington a great place to live.
Ralph Northam’s lopsided victory in Virginia’s 2017 gubernatorial election, and the huge increase in the numbers of Democratic delegates in the Virginia House (up from 34 to a minimum of 49), have substantially changed the political dynamics in Virginia state government.
It’s too soon to tell by exactly how much things have changed, but this recent conclusion by Del. Marcus Simon (D) strikes me as reasonable for 2018:
It’s the weekend, and tonight and tomorrow might bring our first snow of the season.
This week has been dominated by talk of the new I-66 HOT lanes, and accusations against two elementary school teachers.
Tolls are reported to have reached as high as $40 on I-66 this week. A Republican bill to block those tolls failed last year after Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) expressed his strong opposition. The Governor dismissed concerns the tolls would ever reach close to $20.
Maybe you are happy with the Governor’s decision because people who drive through Arlington to get to DC should be taken to the cleaners by the tolls. Maybe you have had to pay one yourself.
By Elaine Furlow
If we think national problems seem intractable, and national players so at odds that nothing positive will ever get done, let’s flash back to 1787 and the men who wrote the Constitution.