Arlington voters have been turning out in slightly higher numbers in today’s Democratic primary, tracking with trends statewide.
As of 1:30 p.m., about 4% of registered voters had cast ballots, according to the Arlington Elections Office. That’s slightly more than at the same point last year, when 3.7% of the county had voted in the Democratic primary.
Green Valley leaders are once again asking for more county support in addressing issues with crime in the neighborhood.
Yordanos Woldai, first vice president and public-safety chair of the Green Valley Civic Association, called for more police and government efforts to address alleged drug dealing, gambling, noise, loitering and even shootings.
Arlington’s newly reconstituted Human Rights Commission got to work last week with a discussion of new limits on its ability to pursue accountability for county leaders.
After the Arlington County Board fired all members of the commission last August following several confrontations between the two groups, commission Chair Jimmy McBirney used a Thursday meeting to acknowledge the entity’s “limited jurisdiction and limited scope.”
County officials say a modest state grant will go a long way to supporting local first-responders after traumatic incidents.
Board members at their Saturday (June 14) meeting accepted a $30,000 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services grant that will provide more training for those who help police, fire, sheriff and other public-safety personnel after incidents like January’s aircraft collision near Reagan National Airport.
The Arlington County Civic Federation wants county leaders to be more transparent when negotiating with developers on community benefits.
In a comprehensive resolution on planning and zoning issues, delegates overwhelmingly voted last week to ask for a “clear, written, transparent process” for determining what benefits the county seeks when developers pursue rezoning and land-use changes.
Street upgrades in Bluemont, Claremont and Shirlington, plus a loan for renovating 73 affordable housing units, are scheduled for County Board consideration this weekend.
Board members have a total 52 items on their consent agenda this month, but no regular hearing items. All items pulled for further consideration will be heard at the Board’s recessed meeting, set for Wednesday, June 18.
The County Board is considering purchasing two single-family homes in Arlington: one for open space, the other for stormwater management.
Board members on Saturday are expected to consider purchasing one property at 1922 N. Upton Street for $1.1 million, and another at 6915 29th Street N. for $218,536.
Lower speed limits could be coming to five more Arlington road segments — including an infamous stretch of S. Carlin Springs Road.
This Saturday, the Arlington County Board is scheduled to consider reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph in five busy areas.
After over four decades at Arlington Blue Top Cabs, the owner of Arlington’s second-largest taxicab company is planning to pass the baton.
John Massoud, who has been involved with the company since its founding in 1984, is seeking the Arlington County Board’s permission to sell to employees Wahid Raheem and Mindy Gaber.
Arlington’s slow process for approving and permitting new development came under fire from County Board candidates, including the incumbent, at a recent forum.
“It’s a problem, no question about it,” incumbent Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the event hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.
Arlington’s Democratic candidates for County Board are critical of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown but acknowledge limits to how local governments can take him on.
Both incumbent County Board Chair Takis Karantonis, who immigrated to the United States from Greece, and challenger James DeVita, an attorney whose practice includes immigration law, offered similar thoughts at a recent Arlington NAACP forum.
Planned cuts to federal funding for Medicaid, food assistance and other safety net programs have Arlington leaders turning to state officials for help.
At a meeting with county staff and County Board members last week, Arlington’s state delegates said they expect to return to Richmond in September to address cuts at the federal level.
