Alfonso Lopez | ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated April 12, 2024 at 10:27AM

Advanced Towing lot in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There’s something of a war of words going on between the sponsor and a key target of a soon-to-be new towing law.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) recently signed two pieces of legislation — both backed by Arlington lawmakers — allowing Northern Virginia local governments to set tighter restrictions on tow operators. HB 959, introduced by Del. Alfonso Lopez (D), allows localities in Northern Virginia to pass “second signature” ordinances requiring towing operators to get express permission from lot owners before removing individual vehicles.

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Bills targeting ‘predatory’ tow companies approved, opening the door for long-delayed Arlington changes

By Daniel Egitto

Published April 10, 2024 at 1:45PM

A 'towing enforced' sign (file photo)

More stringent towing ordinances could be coming to Arlington as two bills targeting “predatory” practices are set to become law.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has signed off on two pieces of legislation — both backed by Arlington lawmakers — allowing Northern Virginia local governments to set tighter restrictions on tow operators. This move could allow Arlington to implement changes to its towing ordinance originally approved in 2016 but later nixed by the state legislature.

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Towing bills from Dels. Lopez and McClure head to Va. Senate after receiving near-unanimous House support

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 13, 2024 at 3:35PM

A 'towing enforced' sign (file photo)

Two anti-predatory towing bills from Arlington lawmakers have cleared the House of Delegates and will now head to the state Senate for discussion.

Seven years ago, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signed a bill preventing Northern Virginia jurisdictions from requiring real-time authorization of tows by the requesting business or parking lot during business hours.

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Major rally planned in Courthouse to support of unionized Starbucks employees

By Matt Blitz

Published December 6, 2022 at 10:55AM | Updated December 6, 2022 at 2:28PM

Employees at the Courthouse Starbucks went on strike in November (staff photo)

(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) A major rally is being planned for later this week in front of the county government headquarters, in a show of solidarity with recently-unionized Starbucks employees.

The president of the AFL-CIO and Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) are both expected to attend, among others.

News

State lawmakers call on airport officials to raise wages

By Matt Blitz

Published August 22, 2022 at 10:30AM

The departures lanes at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

State lawmakers are calling on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to raise its minimum wage in order to attract more workers.

Twenty-four Virginia lawmakers, including several who represent parts of Arlington, sent a letter on Friday (Aug. 19) to MWAA President Jack Potter asking the airport authority, which manages and operates both Reagan National and Dulles International, to raise its minimum wage from its current $14.25 per hour.

News

Bill from Del. Lopez supporting local journalism fails

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 2, 2022 at 3:55PM

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam answers reporters' questions at Amazon announcement in Pentagon City in 2018 (file photo)

Proposed legislation from Del. Alfonso Lopez that would support local journalism has withered away without bipartisan support.

HB 1217 would have provided up to $5 million annually in income tax credits to eligible news outlets that employ local journalists and up to $10 million annually in income tax credits to businesses that advertise with these outlets.

News

Predatory towing targeted under new bill inspired by Advanced Towing case

By Matt Blitz

Published January 24, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated January 24, 2022 at 3:50PM

Advanced Towing truck (file photo)

A proposed bill, inspired by the former Virginia Attorney General’s lawsuit and case against Advanced Towing, would allow residents and localities better ability to protect themselves against bad acting towing companies.

“The Virginia code as it relates to towing is a mess. It’s all over the place,” says Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49), who introduced the bill last week (Jan. 18). “My hope is to improve the towing statute and get more relief for customers harmed by the towing industry.”

News

Del. Lopez files bills strengthening tenant protections after Serrano saga

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 21, 2021 at 3:00PM

Del. Alfonso Lopez during his 2019 bid for re-election (file photo)

A half-dozen bills are set to hit the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in January that were inspired by the poor conditions at the Serrano Apartments and other Virginia affordable housing properties.

After residents exposed poor living conditions at the Columbia Pike apartment complex, Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49) tells ARLnow he began drafting bills to strengthen tenant rights and improve living conditions in affordable housing properties across the Commonwealth.

News

At Forum, Delegates Coalesce Around Transit, Justice Reform, Campaign Financing

By Matt Blitz

Published September 15, 2021 at 2:55PM

Arlington County Civic Federation Candidates Forum, Sept 14, 2021 (Photo via Facebook/ Arlington County Civic Federation)

Local Virginia House of Delegates candidates had similar things to say on hot topics facing the Commonwealth, during a forum hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation.

While not all candidates were present, those who were in attendance, regardless of political affiliation, voiced support for rail transit and criminal justice reform while decrying the influence of corporate money in state politics.

News

Columbia Pike Metro Expansion Nixed For Now

By Jo DeVoe

Published September 8, 2021 at 3:55PM | Updated September 8, 2021 at 4:15PM

It looks like the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is not going to consider a Metro line through Columbia Pike any time soon.

For the last year and a half, there were some signs that such an expansion — which was part of initial Metro planning in the 1960s but was never built — was an actual possibility.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 11, 2021 at 7:30AM | Updated June 11, 2021 at 8:23AM

APS Working With Nonprofit on ‘Cultural Competence’ — “This week, RISE, a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, began facilitating interactive workshops with Arlington Public Schools Student-Athlete Advisory Council members and coaches. This is the first in a series of interactive cultural competence workshops that APS and RISE will be providing to athletes and coaches as part of a new partnership.” [Arlington Public Schools]

Northam to Sign Bill at Marymount — “This coming Monday, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam will be visiting Marymount University to hold a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 2123 and Senate Bill 1387. The legislation will make Virginia students eligible for state financial aid if they are eligible for in-state tuition in the fall of 2022, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.” [Press Release]