Opinion

Morning Poll: Are you more or less optimistic about Arlington than one year ago?

By ARLnow.com
Staircase as seen at Amazon HQ2 grand opening (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Democratic primary has come and gone and, while the County Board results have yet to be tabulated, Tuesday was largely a victory for incumbent and incumbent-endorsed candidates.

The implication is that a majority of voters — at least Democratic primary voters — are largely satisfied with the way things are going in Arlington.

Of course, that’s not to be confused with universal support for the status quo. Nearly 45% of voters filled in the bubble for the Commonwealth’s Attorney candidate who highlighted rising crime as an issue in Arlington. Additionally, the initial County Board results show a split between candidates who support and oppose the recent Missing Middle housing changes.

Arlington still has its share of problems — soaring housing costs, high commercial vacancy rates, rising crime and police staffing challenges, a lack of mental health treatment, and opioid overdoses.

But there are also hopeful signs: Amazon is reportedly planning to build Phase 2 of its HQ2 after only a short delay, new mental health treatment options that just opened or are in the works, and there are promising opioid addiction treatment and overdose prevention efforts. Plus, while stats showed a rise in crime in 2022, anecdotally that seems to be moderating a bit over the past couple of months. The several month carjacking spree that started the year, for instance, has not continued into the late spring and early summer.

This morning we’re asking readers: all things considered, are you more or less optimistic about the current state and future direction of Arlington than you were at this time last year?

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Umbrellas and rain in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Another Push to Remove Lee’s Name — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) today announced the introduction of bicameral legislation to redesignate the National Historic Site known as ‘Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial’ to its original name ‘Arlington House.'” [Press Release]

Record DCA Passenger Traffic — “Reagan National reported just under 1.15 million enplanements in May, up 3.1 percent from a year before and up 4.2 percent from May 2019, the last comparable month before the pandemic arrived. The 2023 figure is an all-time record for May passenger counts at the airport.” [Gazette Leader]

Firefighters Ratify Labor Agreement — From IAFF Local 2800: “The last Collective Bargaining Agreement in Arlington County was in 1975. Today, our members unanimously ratified the next Collective Bargaining Agreement that will go into effect July 1st. Extremely thankful to County staff that helped make this happen.” The agreement will cost the county about $6 million over three fiscal years, according to a staff report from November. [Twitter]

No Opposition for Klingler — “The June 20 candidate-filing deadline came and went, leaving Kim Klingler as the lone contender on the Nov. 7 ballot for commissioner of revenue… The commissioner of revenue is responsible for the tax assessment of all property in Arlington except real estate (which is done by the county government), administers the business-tax process and operates a DMV Select office among its other duties.” [Gazette Leader, Twitter]

New Sheriff’s Deputies — “On Friday, June 16, 2023, nine new deputies of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy as part of Session 148.” [ACSO]

Foster Dog Info Session — “Interested in fostering dogs with AWLA? Join us for a Foster Program Dog Social [today], June 23 at 5:30pm! Meet dogs looking for foster homes, hang out with other foster families and get to know our foster team!” [Twitter, AWLA]

Rush Hour Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “A crash just after 6pm at Langston Boulevard & N. Scott Street in Arlington. @ArlingtonVaPD & @ArlingtonVaFD handling.” [Twitter]

It’s Friday — Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 81. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 69. [Weather.gov]

Sponsored

Arts Focus: Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington

By Sponsor

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of celebration and culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington on Saturday, Nov. 1, with an outdoor picnic in honor of Día de los Muertos. Set against the backdrop of crisp fall weather in Virginia Square, this family-friendly event promises art, music, delicious food and performances for all ages.

Spread out your blanket and partake in activities like interactive art projects, live performances and games of lotería (lottery). Savor the flavors of tacos and craft espresso drinks from local food trucks such as TNT Mexican Grill, Taco Cinco De Mayo and Rossana Coffee. Additional vendors include Ana Schwar, Otterly Artistic Designs and David Amoroso. Festive lighting will be provided by AVLD Events .

A cherished Arlington tradition, the event is co-sponsored by the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and Arlington Arts, celebrating the Mexican holiday dedicated to remembering loved ones with joy and festivity. National Geographic notes, Día de los Muertos blends ancient Aztec rituals with Spanish customs brought to Mexico in the early 1500s, honoring the dead through colorful and lively celebrations.

Arlington-based artist David Amoroso is once again creating a large-scale ofrenda (altar) on the museum’s front portico. Attendees are invited to bring a photo of a deceased loved one to include in the ofrenda, making the altar a collective tribute. Participants will be able to decorate their own Calavera masks. Amoroso is also working with Johnerick Lawson on a kinetic element to showcase their creations!

The evening will be filled with music and dance, including a performance by Mariachi Imperio by Blanca Chucuan. The DC-based, woman-led ensemble is carrying on this venerable musical tradition in the DMV, having performed everywhere from the Smithsonian Institution to popular area restaurants and family Quinceanera’s. Dance enthusiasts will also be captivated by the folkloric Mexican dance group Los Quetzales, known for their vibrant performances over the past 26 years.

While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to take a selfie with the popular Reclining Liberty sculpture by Zaq Landsberg. This striking, 25-foot installation juxtaposes the Statue of Liberty with a traditional Buddhist reclining pose, encouraging reflection on the ideals the iconic statue represents. Installed in 2023 co-sponsored by Arlington Public Art and MoCA Arlington, the sculpture was recently granted permanent status at the venue.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington has been a key collaborator with Arlington County Government for decades. Housed in the historic Clarendon School building, the museum is part of Arlington’s cultural legacy, operating under a long-term lease with the County. The building, designed in 1910 and renovated in 2004, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mark your calendar for this vibrant celebration! The Día de los Muertos event will take place from 5:00 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Boulevard. Click here for event details. Visit the Arlington Cultural Affairs website for more details and to explore Arlington’s exciting public art and cultural programs.

Don’t miss out — join us to honor tradition, celebrate culture and experience the arts in Arlington!

Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 22, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 2829 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jun 22, 2023.

  1. Morning Notes
  2. Arlington police can now refer kids to restorative programs outside the juvenile justice system
  3. Acting Sheriff Jose Quiroz wins Democratic primary on commitment to improve inmate well-being
  4. Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Buckingham to undergo $15M renovation project

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 81. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Low around 69. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Around Town

Smallest and largest homes sold in Arlington (May-Jun 2023)

By ARLnow.com

This past week saw 49 homes sold in Arlington.

The least expensive condo, single-family home or townhouse sale over the past seven days was $200,000 while the most expensive was $2,149,900.

Over the past month, meanwhile, a total of 251 homes were sold. Let’s take a look at some of the smallest and largest homes sold over the past month.

Largest homes sold

  1. 3632 36th Road N — $3,750,000 (6 Beds | Baths | 8,825 SQ FT)
  2. 4308 Lorcom Lane — $1,900,000 (5 Beds | 4.5 Baths | 6,451 SQ FT)
  3. 650 N Jackson Street — $2,986,950 (5 Beds | 5.5 Baths | 6,231 SQ FT)

Smallest homes sold

  1. 1200 N Nash Street #208 — $200,000 (Studio | 1 Bath | 485 SQ FT)
  2. 1200 S Arlington Ridge Road #716 — $199,900 (Studio | 1 Bath | 516 SQ FT)
  3. 1020 N Highland Street #320 — $365,500 (Studio | 1 Bath | 527 SQ FT)
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