Opinion | ARLnow.com

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

Published March 15, 2019 at 9:00PM | Updated March 16, 2019 at 10:09AM

(Updated at 10 a.m.) Well folks, the warmer weather is now officially upon us. No more shall we have to shoulder our coats and mitten our hands — except for maybe this weekend when temperatures are expected to dip down into the low 30s after nightfall.

While this placates cold weather lovers like yours truly, I urge everyone to dress warm whether you’re spending your weekend watching, protesting or cheering on Saturday’s Amazon County Board vote, participating in the police’s anti-drunk driving event, or St. Patricks’ Day many anti-sober events.

Letter to the Editor: Amazon is a Good Deal for Arlington, Chamber of Commerce Argues

By ARLnow.com

Published March 14, 2019 at 5:30PM | Updated March 14, 2019 at 10:21PM

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Arlington Chamber of Commerce President Kate Bates, who writes in support of passing the county’s incentive deals made to motivate Amazon to open its new headquarters in Crystal City and Pentagon City.

The Chamber is a non-profit which advocates for 750 county businesses and organizations, which includes Amazon as of December. The Chamber has written several letters to County Board members and the Virginia General Assembly over the last year in support of bringing Amazon to the region, and to urge officials to pass state and local tax incentives.

Peter’s Take: Moving Arlington Closer to Environmental Sustainability

By Peter Rousselot

Published March 13, 2019 at 2:30PM

As Arlington continues to prepare for Amazon’s arrival, justified concerns have been raised about the impact of Amazon’s coming here on our environment, our parks, and our schools.

Concerns relating to the environment take place in the context of a Virginia legal system that reserves to the state, rather than municipalities like Arlington, many decisions regarding regulation of products and practices that harm our environment.

The Right Note: Eliminating the BPOL Tax?

By Mark Kelly

Published March 12, 2019 at 2:30PM

For years, I have advocated for eliminating the anti-business Business, Professional and Occupational License or BPOL tax.

Now comes news that Arlington officials are looking for a way to slash the tax for Amazon, or eliminate their requirement to pay altogether.

Progressive Voice: We Know How You Can Cure White Guilt

By Progressive Voice

Published March 11, 2019 at 2:30PM

By Krysta Jones

Growing up as a Black girl in the 1980s and 1990s in the American South, I would not have described myself as a victim of racism. I know that my family members and I have been beneficiaries of affirmative action and outreach programs which were critical in giving Blacks and other minorities equal footing. Yet despite my personal experiences and our progress as a nation in a number of areas, racial disparities still exist.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Alex Koma

Published March 8, 2019 at 5:30PM

You might’ve spotted some snow flurries today, but this weekend figures to feature a major warm-up.

Though temperatures may remain a bit chilly through Saturday, the forecast includes rising temperatures up to the 50s by tomorrow afternoon. By Sunday, things could even make it to the 60s and 70s.

Peter’s Take: The Long-Term Unsustainability of APS’s Operating Budget

By Peter Rousselot

Published March 6, 2019 at 2:30PM

On Feb. 23, the Arlington County Board voted to advertise a 2.75-cent real estate tax-rate increase for calendar year 2019.

As ARLnow.com reported:

The Right Note: Annual Math Lesson for APS

By Mark Kelly

Published March 5, 2019 at 2:30PM

Arlington School Superintendent Patrick Murphy made news this week by proposing his “first” budget in excess of $20,000 per student. Except it is not.

The Fiscal Year 2019 APS adopted budget was $640.1 million. So, per student cost for the current year is $23,331 based on an enrollment of 27,436 (which was nearly 600 students less than the initial enrollment projection).

Progressive Voice: Lessons from School Boundary Processes

By Progressive Voice

Published March 4, 2019 at 2:30PM

By Reid Goldstein

With high school, middle school and a portion of elementary school boundary adjustments behind us, this is a good time to reflect on the recent boundary processes and consider how we can collectively improve future ones.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Alex Koma

Published March 1, 2019 at 5:30PM

Keep your eyes peeled for another round of snow and wintry mix tonight into tomorrow morning.

It seems March has plenty of cold weather left, with evening an outside shot at some snow Sunday night in the forecast.

Peter’s Take: Will Arlington’s Streetlight Management Plan Light Our Way?

By Peter Rousselot

Published February 27, 2019 at 2:30PM

Arlington residents and County government have had a tortured, fitful relationship with streetlights — a key piece of infrastructure on which everyone depends.

That relationship is complicated by the fact that Dominion Energy — not Arlington County government — owns a majority of Arlington’s approximately 19,000 streetlights (Slide 4):

The Right Note: Highs and Lows

By Mark Kelly

Published February 26, 2019 at 2:30PM

Two Thumbs Down to the County Board for advertising a tax rate that nearly doubled the county manager’s proposed increase.

Apparently a 4.7 percent spending increase is not enough “flexibility” for Board Members in setting spending priorities. If they passed their proposed rate increase, it would allow for nearly 6 percent spending growth versus the current fiscal year.