poll | ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2021 at 9:45AM | Updated April 16, 2021 at 11:11AM

Arlington County Board discussion on Sept. 12, 2020

(Updated at 11 a.m.) After more than a year of online-only Arlington County Board meetings, some have decided they actually prefer it to in-person.

Instead of schlepping to a Courthouse office building and sitting quietly for hours, one can now speak at Board meetings at home, in your pajamas if you prefer. Board meetings have been broadcast on local cable TV and online for years, but the virtual format now provides an opportunity to participate in the meetings to those who cannot attend in person.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Partaking in Legal Weed?

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2021 at 9:30AM

Marijuana (Photo by Rick Proctor on Unsplash)

Last week the Virginia General Assembly approved a marijuana legalization law that will take effect this summer.

Yes, come July 1, you can legally possess, cultivate and share small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Regulated, commercial sales of cannabis products are not set to take place in Virginia until 2024 under the legislation.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Have You Had Covid? Are You a Long-Hauler?

By ARLnow.com

Published April 6, 2021 at 9:45AM | Updated April 6, 2021 at 10:16AM

(Updated at 10:15 a.m.) Though coronavirus cases in Arlington are up over the past couple of weeks, there’s hope that progress is being made against the virus as vaccinations quicken.

Nationally, cases are up in some places and down in others — a stalemate as vaccinations are countered by increasing prevalence of more infectious variants. Still, some experts believe continued vaccinations will ultimately prevail, muting the impacts of new variants and leading to a relatively quiet summer in terms of infections.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Metro on Columbia Pike?

By ARLnow.com

Published April 5, 2021 at 9:45AM | Updated April 5, 2021 at 10:04AM

Passengers board at the Rosslyn Metro station (file photo)

President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan has added a glimmer of hope to those who would like to see an expanded Metrorail system.

The initial planning for the system in the 1960s envisioned a line down the Columbia Pike, ultimately terminating in Annandale, but the proposed line was nixed in order to save on costs. A physical remnant of the planning is a pair of stub tunnels near the Pentagon Metro station, built to accommodate a potential future Columbia Pike expansion.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Legal Weed in Virginia This Summer?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 31, 2021 at 9:45AM

Gov. Ralph Northam announced this morning a proposal to move up the legalization of marijuana in Virginia to this summer.

A legalization bill championed by state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D), who represents part of Arlington, passed the General Assembly earlier this year. But it called for legalization of recreational marijuana possession and cultivation on Jan. 1, 2024.

Opinion

Morning Poll: A New Hope for the Rosslyn-Georgetown Gondola?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 26, 2021 at 10:15AM

Rendering of Georgetown-Rosslyn gondola (image via Georgetown BID)

There’s word this morning that the idea of a Rosslyn-Georgetown gondola might not be as dead as we first thought.

Just over four years since the Arlington County Board said it was “not in favor” of the $80-90 million project, which always seemed to be more attractive to Georgetown business interests than to those on the other side of the river, a D.C. Council member is raising the hopes of the gondola’s cult-like following with a new funding request.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Which Pandemic-Era Practice Would You Most Like to Stay?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 25, 2021 at 9:30AM

The pandemic is still here, but — with rising vaccinations — there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

It could yet be many months before things return to some semblance of normal, but today let’s try to imagine the pandemic being over.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Keep the Route 1 Overpasses?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 9, 2021 at 10:00AM

VDOT is in the process of designing changes to Route 1 as it travels through Crystal City.

The changes include turning Route 1 from more of a highway to an urban boulevard of sorts, with the heavily-traveled commuter route brought down to grade in places where it’s currently elevated.

News

Morning Poll: Which Pandemic Restaurant Closure Hits the Hardest?

By Hannah Foley

Published February 26, 2021 at 9:30AM | Updated February 26, 2021 at 11:06AM

At least 25 restaurants have closed in Arlington since the start of the pandemic, nearly one year ago.

The restaurants that have closed their doors run the gamut from local watering holes to workday lunch spots to a neighborhood froyo stop. Many were hit hard by the the loss of business caused by the pandemic and subsequent safety measures, though some might have closed regardless.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Rolling Stops for Cyclists in Virginia?

By ARLnow.com

Published February 16, 2021 at 9:30AM

A bill that has passed the Virginia House of Delegates would allow bicyclists in the Commonwealth to treat stop signs as yield signs in certain situations.

HB 2262 would legalize a common practice: cyclists rolling through stop signs when no other traffic has the right of way.

Opinion

Morning Poll: What Do You Think of the APS Return to School Plan?

By ARLnow.com

Published February 11, 2021 at 9:30AM

The Arlington Public Schools Syphax Education Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Most Arlington students will be heading back to classrooms next month.

Arlington Public Schools announced Tuesday that in-person learning — with students in classrooms two days per week — will resume for all grade levels between March 2 and March 18, with younger students starting earlier. Students who opt out will remain in full-time virtual learning.

Opinion

Morning Poll: What Do You Think of Amazon’s Latest HQ2 Designs?

By ARLnow.com

Published February 3, 2021 at 9:30AM

The Helix, part of Amazon's HQ2 Phase Two development at the PenPlace site (photo courtesy Amazon)

Yesterday, Amazon revealed a bold plan for the second phase of its HQ2 in Pentagon City.

The main attraction of the 2.8 million square foot office proposal is The Helix, “a 350-foot tall spiraling office building that recreates a climb in the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Part park, part office building, The Helix could one day be as prominent an Arlington landmark as any other building, except perhaps the Pentagon — which is just across the street.