County Board members are honoring WETA’s upcoming 61st birthday and pledging to support the public-media outlet as it faces budget challenges and a hostile Trump administration.
“We are extremely proud to defend you and stand by you,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said on Sept. 16 during the presentation of a proclamation honoring the organization’s first day on the air: Oct. 2, 1961.
By popular demand, county leaders are seeking a new title for a rather unimaginatively named park in Aurora Highlands.
An effort to improve amenities and visibility at the 900-square-foot park, currently known as “23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street Park,” is coming up. But before construction starts, county leaders need to settle on a name.
County Board members are paying tribute to Daniel Weir, who recently rotated off the Planning Commission after eight years of service.
“Being on the Planning Commission is not for the faint of heart,” Board member Maureen Coffey said at Tuesday’s meeting. “And over the past few years, it has ramped up in terms of a time commitment and a mental-space commitment.”
A new AI chatbot is helping residents find answers to various questions about Arlington County government operations, elections and more.
“AVA” — Arlington Virtual Assistant — is connected to four county websites: the general site (arlingtonva.us) plus specialized sites for library services, elections and Arlington Transit.
A proposed tweak to Arlington’s two-year-old stormwater-fee program could help members of homeowners’ associations save a little money.
County Board members are considering a possible change to the county’s stormwater-credit fee in areas where homeowners’ groups have made specific stormwater improvements. The change, which Board members voted to advertise for an October public hearing, would allow for financial rebates of up to 35%.
Arlington’s top elected official says there’s nothing the county government can do to prevent the demise of Arlington Independent Media (AIM).
“The law is what the law is. We cannot do too much about that,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the Sept. 13 Board meeting, responding to concerns raised during the public-comment period about the state of local media in Arlington.
Developers went 1-for-2 with County Board members on Saturday as one major redevelopment plan won approval and another went back to the drawing board.
It wasn’t everything they wanted, but County Board members got enough to unanimously approve the redevelopment of a key parcel in Clarendon.
Asked to name national political figures they admire, aspirants for the County Board cast a wide net from left to right across the political spectrum.
The question was posed by former Board member John Vihstadt at the Sept. 2 Arlington County Civic Federation debate. A Republican and three independents are challenging incumbent Democrat Takis Karantonis in the Nov. 4 election.
Two redevelopment proposals, $4.9 million for street improvements and planned renovations at Lacey Woods Park are all on the agenda for an upcoming County Board meeting.
Other agenda items include $365,810 in arts grants, $500,000 for “digital equity grants” and $150,000 in funding for local food security initiatives.
Two nonprofits are preparing for a survey of Arlington voters’ experiences with ranked-choice voting shortly after polls close in November.
The goal is to “have the survey in the field immediately after the election, so opinions are fresh,” said Sally Hudson, executive director of Ranked Choice Virginia.
Arlington’s former solid waste contractor is lobbying the County Board to consider bringing them back on board following a bumpy start to a new trash service.
American Disposal Services, which collected trash and recycling in Arlington for 10 years, sent the County Board a letter last week referencing problems with missed collections after Bates Trucking and Trash Removal took over service on Aug. 1.
County Board Chair Takis Karantonis attempted to fend off criticism of the county’s Democratic political monopoly during the first debate of the general-election season.
“Challenging times require experience and leadership — without having to compromise our values,” Karantonis said at a Tuesday campaign forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation.
