News

GMU celebrates “topping out” of major expansion on Virginia Square campus

By James Jarvis
1/9

The outer structure of George Mason University’s $235 million expansion project in Arlington is complete.

The university celebrated the “topping out” milestone last Friday with tours of the under-construction FUSE at Mason Square structure on its Virginia Square campus.

During the event, students and faculty showcased the types of work the new, tech-oriented facility will house, including the development of robotic limbs and disaster simulation research.

The university broke ground on the 345,000-square-foot building at 3351 Fairfax Drive in January 2022. Previously, the site was home to the old Kann’s Department store, which was demolished in March 2021.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The new facility is expected to serve 750 students initially and up to 2,000 students within the next five years, according to a GMU spokesperson. It will dedicate 60% of its space to university programs and lease the remaining area for retail and private office use.

The building will house GMU’s Institute for Digital Innovation and the newly minted School of Computing, which will offer courses in artificial intelligence, data analytics and cybersecurity.

The Arlington campus is already a hub for several of GMU’s schools, spanning policy, law, conflict resolution and business.

The university’s president, Gregory Washington, told ARLnow that housing technology and social science disciplines under one roof will improve how society adopts new technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

“Engineers alone can’t do it. You need humanists. You need social scientists, and you need business people. We got all of them here working together on the next generation of problems,” he said. “That’s the difference you will see here that you don’t see many other places,”

Washington is also betting on the new facility in Arlington attracting talent that might otherwise choose bigger-name research institutions, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“If you go to MIT, what you’ll find is that the facility we’re building is… better than 95% of the facilities they have,” he said.

During the event, Arlington Economic Development Director Ryan Touhill highlighted the potential for the new facility to energize the local tech sector, which has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly with the arrival of major tech companies like Amazon.

“This project can’t be coming online at a better time,” he said. “We’re really focused in Arlington County and regionally on growing our homegrown tech sector. And that’s part of our long-term economic growth strategy.”

UPDATED: Arlington office building housing Israeli defense firm vandalized

By ARLnow.com
1/4

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Someone splashed red paint and scrawled messages in red letters on the outside of the Arlington Tower building in Rosslyn.

The extensive graffiti was discovered this morning on the front of the office building at 1300 17th Street N., which notably housed then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection headquarters.

Workers could be seen covering up and trying to clean the red paint from the building’s front walkway, facade and glass doors throughout the day today.

Despite the building’s political campaign history, the apparent target of the graffiti was the Washington office of Israel-based defense firm Elbit Systems. Photos sent to ARLnow show the words “Shut Elbit Down” uncovered while workers attempt to remove the paint.

A number of European funds have publicly divested of Elbit stock in the past due to the company’s role in constructing the Israeli West Bank barrier and manufacturing cluster munitions.

Arlington County police said an online report about the office building vandalism was filed Monday.

“Police received an online report for vandalism alleging that between 2:15 a.m. and 2:35 a.m. on November 6, unknown suspects threw paint on a commercial building and wrote comments regarding Palestine and the company occupying the property,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “The investigation is ongoing.”

In a company statement, Elbit says it’s working to ensure employee safety.

Elbit America employs thousands of Americans who are dedicated to the mission of creating innovative solutions that protect and save lives, While we support the rights of protesters to peacefully express their views, we take the safety and well-being of our employees extremely seriously and we will continue to work closely with local officials to ensure safety for all.

Red paint, meanwhile, was also used to vandalize the front gates of the White House with red handprints over the weekend amid pro-Palestinian protests. The latest round of Middle East violence started with a surprise Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, leading to the bombardment, blockade and ground invasion of Gaza by Israeli armed forces.

The chair of the Arlington County Board last month said the county “unequivocally… condemn[s] all of the violence that has been targeted at non-combatants” during the Hamas-Israel war.

In addition to Elbit Systems, the Arlington Tower building houses the Washington office of a major engineering firm, an outpost of a Boston-based university, and the headquarters of a publicly traded conglomerate noted for its media and education holdings. While Trump’s 2024 campaign headquarters is said to be in Florida, the campaign’s FEC filings maintain an Arlington post office box.

The Pentagon Row outdoor ice skating rink has opened for the season

By ARLnow.com
Pentagon Row Ice Skating Rink at Westpost in 2021 (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

High temperatures in the 60s and 70s for much of the week will not stop a winter tradition in Pentagon City.

The outdoor ice skating rink at 1201 S. Joyce Street officially opened for the season on Wednesday, Nov. 1, a spokesperson for Westpost — the shopping center formerly known as Pentagon Row — confirmed to ARLnow. The opening has yet to be announced on social media.

The seasonal rink in Westpost’s central plaza is billed as one of the biggest in Virginia.

“The Plaza has an outdoor dual-sided stone fireplace and many shops, restaurants and a coffee shop,” says the rink’s website. “Pentagon Row’s 7,200 square foot ice rink is now the largest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia and the second-largest in the state.”

Discounted reservations for up to two hours of skating can be booked online. Admission costs range from $10 to $13 depending on the skater’s age and whether it’s booked online or on-site. Skate rentals are $6, up from $5 two years ago.

Standard rink hours are as follows.

  • Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Monday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Tuesday: Noon – 10 p.m.
  • Wednesday: Noon – 10 p.m.
  • Thursday: Noon – 10 p.m.
  • Friday: Noon – 11 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

The rink is scheduled to remain open on holidays and public school off-days, sometimes with expanded hours.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Ballston beaver pond on a sunny fall day (staff photo)

W-L Captures District Championship — “The regular season ended for Arlington’s four high-school football teams the night of Nov. 3 with different overall results for each. The most successful story was the Washington-Liberty Generals clinching the outright Liberty District championship thanks to a 41-21 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Wakefield Warriors in an all-Arlington clash. The Generals finished 9-1 overall (their most wins in a season since 1975) and 5-1 in the league.” [Gazette Leader]

YHS Second in Region Tourney — “Although it wasn’t the accomplishment they wanted, by finishing second in the region tournament the Yorktown Patriots added to an impressive list of achievements the girls field hockey team has earned since the 2019 high-school season. The two-time defending champions lost, 2-1, to the host and undefeated Oakton Cougars in this year’s 6D North Region tournament-championship match the night of Nov. 1.” [Gazette Leader]

Arlington Astronaut Dies — ” Ken Mattingly, the former astronaut best known for helping save the crew of Apollo 13 in the 1970s — a near-catastrophic mission later recounted in the Hollywood film ‘Apollo 13,’ in which Mattingly was played by Gary Sinise — has died, officials at NASA announced Thursday. He was 87… Mattingly was born in Chicago, grew up in the Miami area and died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, according to The New York Times.” [Patch]

Residents Want Old Building to Stay — “Leaders of the surrounding civic association are seeking a stay of execution for the nearly century-old building that formerly held the Lee Community Center and remains home for now to the Lee Arts Center, which Arlington government leaders plan to raze and replace with a public-private development. Jane Henceroth, president of the Leeway Overlee Civic Association, attended the Oct. 24 meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission, calling the building a treasured landmark and pressing county leaders to use creativity in keeping it in place.” [Gazette Leader]

Police Seize Illegal Gun — From ACPD: “Yesterday, an officer conducted a traffic stop along Crystal Dr resulting in the recovery of a concealed, loaded firearm. This is a great example of the dedicated & proactive work officers perform each day to keep our community safe while reducing opportunities for violent crime.” [Twitter]

Unemployment Rate Update — “Arlington’s jobless rate held steady from August to September, according to new data, and was low enough to rank second best in the commonwealth. With 160,418 employed in the civilian workforce and 3,576 looking for jobs, the county’s unemployment rate of 2.2 percent in September was equal to that of August, if slightly above the rate of 2 percent recorded in September 2022.” [Gazette Leader]

NYC Coffee Chain Eyes Area — “A New York City-based coffee roastery has set its sights on the Greater Washington region, where it aims to open more than a half-dozen stores spread across D.C., suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.” [Washington Business Journal]

ARLnow is Hiring — “Local News Now is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented reporter and editor to join our growing team in Northern Virginia. The reporter/editor will report local news across a range of topics — including local government, local business, real estate development and breaking news.” [Journalism Jobs]

It’s Monday — A mostly sunny day with a high around 63 degrees and light winds that will increase from the south at 5-8 mph in the afternoon. As for Monday night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy and the temperature will dip to about 53 degrees, accompanied by a south wind at 6-10 mph. [Weather.gov]

NEW: State police investigating fatal motorcycle crash in Arlington

By ARLnow.com
Virginia State Police cruiser (staff photo)

One person was killed and another seriously injured after an SUV collided with a group of motorcyclists overnight.

Virginia State Police said the crash happened around 4:40 a.m. on southbound I-395 in Arlington.

More from a VSP press release, below.

At 4:40 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 4), Virginia State Police responded to a fatal crash in Arlington County. Three motorcycles were traveling south on I-395 when all three vehicles were struck from behind by an SUV. The crash occurred near Exit 8 for Route 27.

Two of the motorcyclists were transported to a nearby hospital. One of the two succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The other is still being treated for serious injuries.

The third motorcyclist was not injured. Nor was the driver of the SUV.

The crash remains under investigation. Charges are pending. State police is still in the process of notifying the next of kin for the deceased.

ACPD: Man with gun robbed the Courthouse CVS last night

By ARLnow.com
File photo

Arlington County police are investigating a brazen armed robbery just a couple of blocks from their headquarters.

The CVS at 2121 15th Street N., next to the Courthouse Metro entrance, was robbed around 7:50 p.m. Thursday by a man armed with a gun.

The initial police dispatch said he pointed the gun at staff. Today’s ACPD crime report says he demanded money and fled with cash.

Despite a search of the area and local Metro stations, the man — said to be a notably diminutive 5’3″ tall — was not found.

More from the crime report:

ROBBERY, 2023-11020222, 2100 block of 15th Street N. At approximately 7:52 p.m. on November 2, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. The preliminary investigation indicates the suspect entered the business, approached the counter, brandished a firearm and demanded money before leaving the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. A lookout for the suspect was broadcast and officers canvassed the area yielding negative results. No injuries were reported. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5’3” tall and wearing a black hat, black jacket and blue pants. The investigation is ongoing.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Walking path in Lacey Woods Park on a sunny day (staff photo)

Police Volunteering With Kids — “Arlington County first responders are hoping just one hour a week will give kids in their community a brighter and safer future–through a new partnership with developer Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) and tutoring nonprofit Life Enrichment Center.” [WJLA]

Driver Flees ACPD — From Dave Statter: “Driver wouldn’t stop for @ArlingtonVaPD and did a sudden U-turn on Columbia Pike at S. Wayne Street at 10 pm. The officer reported the car almost hit two other vehicles. Last seen on Washington Boulevard toward I-395.” [Twitter]

Boosting Apartment Recycling — “As they attempt to nearly double the county’s overall recycling rate, Arlington leaders will start turning their attention more to apartment/condo dwellers and the commercial-real-estate sectors. County staff on Oct. 31 outlined their thinking on ‘voluntary’ ways those market segments – which in Arlington are responsible for just under two-thirds of all refuse – could be enticed to improve overall recycling rates.” [Gazette Leader]

Child Struck at Elementary School — “So saddened to hear about the child struck by a driver at @GlebeAPS & hope he makes a full recovery… Schools are for kids. We need design that keep kids safe – not blaming children!” [Twitter]

School Overdose Notification Order — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order Wednesday aimed at bolstering the response to school-related drug overdoses… The order directs the Virginia Department of Education to issue guidance to school divisions to “notify all parents of school-connected overdoses within 24 hours,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.” [WTOP]

It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high temperature near 59 degrees and a south wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. On Friday night, the weather will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 39 degrees. [Weather.gov]

Role of state government in abortion and schools looms large in local Va. Senate races

By Jo DeVoe
1/2

(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) While Arlington has tended to be a Democratic stronghold, two of its incumbent state Senators who are up for re-election are still feeling the urgency of this election where abortion is concerned.

Sen. Barbara Favola is up against Republican David Henshaw for the newly redrawn 39th District and Sen. Adam Ebbin is up against Republican Sophia Moshasha for the 40th District.

With the election season coming to a close, ARLnow asked about their top priorities. For Favola and Ebbin, that starts with blocking GOP attempts to limit abortion access and raising wages for teachers. Henshaw and Moshasha both zeroed in on enshrining parental rights in schools and crime and safety, with Henshaw also supportive of lowering the cost of living through lower taxes.

Favola says her first priority is ensuring that access to abortion care under the Roe v. Wade framework “remains safe and legal.”

“This important healthcare decision must remain between a woman and her doctor,” Favola said. “The government should have no part in this personal decision and recent proposals by Governor Youngkin to criminale providers should an abortion ban be adopted are not acceptable. Arlington voters overwhelmingly believe that bodily autonomy should be a protected right. I will work to bring a state constitutional amendment before the voters regarding the right to bodily autonomy.”

But Henshaw says Democrats are pushing for abortion policies that go beyond what the average Virginia voter thinks is reasonable.

“I think they’re out of touch with most Virginians,” he said.

He pointed to a 2021 poll showing that 65% of Americans surveyed say abortions should be illegal in most or all cases. The same survey found Republicans and Democrats alike support abortions if the mother’s life is endangered, if the pregnancy results from rape or incest, or if the child has a life-threatening illness.

“They’re still pushing for full abortion all the way up to 40 weeks,” he said, referencing a 2019 attempt to loosen restrictions on third-trimester abortions.

At the time, then-Gov. Ralph Northam tried to explain why third-trimester abortions typically occur, such as when the baby has a severe deformity or is not going to survive. In these cases, he said a mother would deliver the child and the child would be “kept comfortable” while a “discussion ensues between the physicians and the mother.” Some Republicans later interpreted his comments as supporting infanticide.

Ebbin says abortion is one of many issues threatened if Republicans take the Senate and enact a “full-on MAGA agenda.”

“If Republicans were to take control of the legislature, they would criminalize abortion, that’s been clear,” he said. “They would roll back the progress we’ve made on gun safety — getting rid of red flag laws and background checks — based on what they’ve introduced in years past and passed in the House.”

He says it is important for Arlingtonians to elect Democrats to prevent Gov. Glenn Youngkin from “running amok” and “weaponizing his incompetence,” pointing to $201 million less in public school aid that was lost due to a state error.

By contrast, Ebbin says, Democrats led an initiative to give teachers a 12% raise.

“We have to commit more money for teacher and law enforcement salaries to fill the gaps in both public service sectors,” he said.

(more…)

Rep. Don Beyer introduces bill banning sale and trade of donkey hide gelatin

By James Jarvis
Donkeys and Rep. Don Beyer (via Jacques Bopp/Unsplash and Wikipedia)

Rep. Don Beyer is standing up for donkeys everywhere and trying to save their hides.

Last Tuesday, the Congressman re-introduced legislation that would effectively ban the sale and trade of donkey-hide gelatin, otherwise known as ejiao.

Beyer initially introduced the Ejiao Act in 2021, claiming that “the international trade in donkey-hide gelatin products is leading to the mass slaughter of donkeys and widespread harm to impoverished communities around the world,” per a press release.

Ejiao, a gelatin made from boiling donkey skin, is found in various types of Chinese medicine and cosmetic products and is used to treat anemia, stop bleeding, improve the immune system, prevent cancer and treat insomnia and dizziness, according to a 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service.

The report notes the sale of ejiao is low in the United States compared to other countries. However, the Animal Welfare Institute argues in a press release that such a law “would have a tangible impact domestically while also setting a strong precedent for other nations to shut down ejiao sales.”

The U.S. should “act immediately” to shut down the illicit trade of donkey hide, said Emily Dulin, chief executive officer of Brooke USA, the lead animal welfare organization working with Beyer’s office to build support for the bill, in a statement.

“The international trade in donkey-hide gelatin products is leading to the mass slaughter of donkeys, resulting in widespread harm to impoverished communities around the world. Congress is taking action to halt all importation of those products into this country,” she said. “More and more people in poorer countries are seeing the animals they depend on stolen and killed to meet the demand for the ejiao trade.”

The trade is “senseless and poses grave risks to donkeys around the world,” added Joanna Grossman, equine program director and senior policy advisor for the Animal Welfare Institute farmed animal program.

“There is no need for these products that entail substantial cruelty and confer no real health benefits,” she said in the press release.

In February, the nonprofit Center for Contemporary Equine Studies filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that selling products containing ejiao on its website breaches California’s animal welfare statutes.

When asked about the likelihood of the bill passing, Aaron Fritschner, a spokesman for Rep. Beyer’s office, said Beyer is pursuing a Republican sponsor but has some more urgent priorities to attend to.

“Right now Rep. Beyer is focused on international conflicts and funding the government ahead of the November 17th deadline,” he said. These areas are urgent and will command much of his time and attention in the coming weeks, but as his bandwidth allows he will work to secure bipartisan support for the recently reintroduced Ejiao Act.”

This isn’t the first time Beyer has sponsored legislation on behalf of the animal kingdom.

In 2015, Rep. Beyer introduced the Humane Cosmetics Act, aimed at curbing animal testing for cosmetics across the U.S. He reintroduced the same bill again in September.

Photo (1) via Jacques Bopp/Unsplash and (2) via Wikipedia

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Looking out at fall colors in local neighborhoods between two tall buildings in Ballston (staff photo)

County Seeks Recycling Boost — “As part of its plan to increase recycling rates in the county through voluntary compliance, the county manager’s staff has proposed two additional full-time outreach positions to be added in the next fiscal year, plus additional funding for multi-media campaigns touting the importance of recycling.” [Gazette Leader]

More Wheel Thefts in Pentagon City — “1300 block of Army Navy Drive. Upon arrival, it was determined between approximately 7:15 p.m. on October 30 and 7:50 a.m. on October 31, the unknown suspect(s) stole the tires and rims from two vehicles in the area. No other damage was reported. There is no suspect description(s).” [ACPD]

Paper: Parents Rule — “Over the past quarter-century, Arlington School Board members have tended to pick new superintendents from outside the district – and therefore without the instinctive understanding that Arlington parents frequently are the real behind-the-scenes power brokers in ways they seldom are elsewhere.” [Gazette Leader]

Ballston’s Metro-Driven Metamorphosis — Once plagued by economic decline and empty storefronts, the opening of the Ballston Metro station in 1979 propelled the neighborhood into a thriving urban hub. [Ghosts of DC]

It’s Thursday — Frost is expected to clear up by 10am, giving way to a sunny day with a high of about 51°F and a northwest wind around 6 mph. The night will be clear, with temperatures dropping to around 34°F. [Weather.gov]

Arlington County Board candidates make their final pitches for votes this election

By Jo DeVoe
Election Day 2022 in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The end of the election is drawing nearer: early voting ends on Saturday and Tuesday is Election Day.

At this point, the roughly 12,000 early votes cast are almost evenly split between in-person and mailed-in ballots, per the Arlington County election turnout dashboard. Some 44,000 ballots need to be returned between now and the close of the polls on Tuesday to surpass turnout in 2019, the last similar election year.

With few days left to vote, candidates for the two open Arlington County Board seats are making their last public pitches for support at the polls.

They maintain the reasons that motivated them to run — economic stability, crime rates, Missing Middle, outcomes for youth and better planning —  remain relevant in the home stretch.

“One of the reasons I’m running for the Arlington County Board is my concern for the rising crime rate,” Republican candidate Juan Carlos Fierro said in a statement Monday.

“As a husband and a father, I am deeply concerned about the safety of my wife and daughters,” Fierro continued. “I am increasingly hearing about concern about Arlington’s rising crime from my fellow Arlingtonians — talking with friends and neighbors, following postings on social media, and reading articles in the local media.”

He referenced the Arlington County Police Department’s 2022 annual report, released this year, in which the department reports a nearly 18% increase over 2021 in crimes against persons, property and society, ranging from murder and manslaughter to drug offenses. Crimes against people increased 16.4% — primarily driven by assault — and property crimes increased by 23%, driven by motor vehicle thefts, larcenies and fraud.

While total offenses have risen since 2018, total arrests only ticked up between 2021 and 2022 and still have not recovered from a decline going back to 2013, according to annual reports by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

ACPD reports do not include arrests for these offenses and previously told ARLnow it would have to be requested by the Freedom of Information Act, though they can also be found on the Virginia State Police data dashboard.

“While Arlington is generally a safe community, residents must be aware of the rising crime, and our leaders must prioritize the safety of our residents,” Fierro added. “Crime and community safety are not partisan issues. Voters deserve elected leaders who will prioritize community safety and address the rising crime across Arlington.”

Fierro attributed the uptick in part to police staffing issues and pledged to “fully” invest in ACPD’s recruitment and retention efforts. Part of the reason fewer people are becoming officers, he said, is “because police officers are being vilified.”

“Community leaders must rebuke the pro-criminal elements in our justice system that are contributing to the culture of increased crime and reduced public safety in Arlington,” he said. “Some in our own community have joined the nationwide effort to undermine police morale while refusing to prosecute certain offenses.”

Democrat Maureen Coffey distilled her platform into two fundamental issues: affordability and economic stability.

“Our residents need to see a path forward where we can meet their needs,” she said. “Whether it’s housing, taxes, child care, or food security, people are struggling. Arlington needs to find both the short- and long-term solutions that help us serve everyone in the community and create stability while maintaining our core services.”

Meanwhile, perennial independent candidate Audrey Clement — who presciently made Missing Middle central to her campaign three years ago — is doubling down on her choice to make it a focus in 2023, after the passage of the ordinances in March.

She says “the issue will live on,” no matter how the Arlington County Circuit Court rules on challenge by 10 Arlington homeowners to the Expanded Housing Options ordinance the Arlington County Board “rammed through earlier this year.”

(more…)

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