Sunday, April 28, 2013
An Arlington-focused roundup of what's being said in the blogosphere.
It had to happen sooner or later: The Bitches Who Brunch turned their attention to Fuego Cocina & Taqueria. Overall, the pair of reviewers gave the popular Clarendon restaurant an A-, saying it "nailed Mexican food in a classy way." According to Cori Sue: "All in all, the ambiance leaves something to be desired, but that’s likely because I’m a snotty D.C. Bitch. The food was really quite good, we enjoyed everything, particularly the empanadas, tuna and French toast. Frankly, we have no complaints." Sounds like a win. Read the complete review here. Not feeling like going out? Stay in with scratchDC. Clarendon Nights has the dish, so to speak, on the new food delivery service in Arlington and Alexandria. The site samples scratchDC's creamy …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Arlington County Board answers questions about controversial project.
At times, it seems like people who support the planned streetcar for Columbia Pike and those who oppose it are speaking two different languages. Hundreds representing both sides showed up Wednesday night for what turned out to be a fairly heated town hall at Kenmore Middle School. Four of the five Arlington County Board members explained the processes and decisions that have taken place over the last decade and have gotten the county to this point. To them, the discussion has been going on, scores of people have participated, and the streetcar remains the best long-term strategic investment to run along the Pike. To board member Libby Garvey, who opposes the streetcar and seems less concerned about any political consequences of her …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
New chairman announces series of town halls, town walks and other initiatives.
Walter Tejada became the new Arlington County Board chairman on Tuesday and unveiled an agenda that includes an increased focus on affordable housing and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Tejada was unanimously elected to the leadership post, which rotates annually, at the board's traditional New Year's Day organizational meeting. "The heart of Arlington is our community, our inclusion, diversity, mutual respect and sustainability," Tejada said in his remarks. "…So the question for us is how can we make it even better for all of Arlington?" The "moving forward together" agenda — or "juntos hacia adelante" as Tejada, an El Salvador native often referred to it — breaks down into four key focal areas: While all of these ideals have guided …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Ben Franklin impersonator delivered opening remarks.
Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey was sworn in to her first full four-year term on Friday. Ben Franklin, also known as Arlington resident Barry Stevens, delivered opening remarks. "Today, we recognize a commitment by a local citizen to serve in our government," he said. "Today, we celebrate the voice of an electorate in bringing this citizen into public office. And so, today, we consummate our republic and our democratic process." Garvey spoke on the American Revolution and the signers of the Declaration of Independence in her speech. She told Patch afterward that she invited Ben Franklin to speak to do something different. Arlington Clerk of Court Paul Ferguson administered the Oath of Office. Garvey's four grandchildren — …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Garvey will be sworn in to office in ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey will be sworn in to her first full four-year term at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the County Board Room on the third floor of 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Garvey, who put forth an exhaustive effort this week to defeat or delay the approval of a new funding mechanism for major transportation projects, took office in late March. She filled the unexpired term of Barbara Favola, who is now a state senator, and ran for office in November on a platform that included opposing the Columbia Pike streetcar. After a barrage of questions Monday, Garvey told her colleagues allowing the county to use the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act would mean Arlington was "one vote away" from awarding a contract for the …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Arlington County Board adopts rules that allow public-private partnerships to finance major transportation projects.
The Arlington County Board on Monday adopted guidelines that will allow public-private partnerships to help finance major transportation projects, like the Columbia Pike streetcar, after an unusually heated discussion. Board member Libby Garvey, who was elected in November to her first full four-year term partially on a platform that included opposing the streetcar, fought an uphill battle all night. She fought — with question after question, after question, after question. For about three hours, the board dissected the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act and pages of new or amended county procurement guidelines. Garvey insisted that the guidelines did not include enough public safeguards — that the new policy would allow a large …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Opinion based on 'notoriously complex' state law.
Arlington County Board member Chris Zimmerman's consulting job with a subsidiary of a global company that works with the county does not constitute to a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict, according to County Attorney Stephen MacIssac. MacIssac put the opinion in a memo responding to questions raised this week by Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey. Thursday, Garvey released a series of emails in which she expressed concern over the county adopting guidelines based on the state's Public-Private Transportation Act, or PPTA, which the board will decide following a public hearing Monday. Specifically, Garvey is concerned with the lack of public safeguards in the law and with Zimmerman's involvement in the process. Adoption …
Chairwoman Mary Hynes announced resolution on Saturday. It will be discussed Monday in conjunction with public-private partnerships.
The Arlington County Board on Monday will consider a new transparency measure in an attempt to squash recent allegations that one of its member's employment creates a conflict of interest or appearance of a conflict. The resolution, announced in a statement Saturday by Chairwoman Mary Hynes and board members Walter Tejada and Jay Fisette, would complement the county's likely adoption of guidelines for public-private partnerships to fund major transportation projects. It is in direct response to board member Libby Garvey's release this week of a series of emails where she expressed concern about the new guidelines — specifically, about public safeguards and about board member Chris Zimmerman's involvement in the decision-making process. …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Streetcars cost up to $4 million each; buses, up to $800,000.
The Arlington County Board spent two hours Tuesday night receiving information and asking questions about mostly highly technical considerations of the planned Columbia Pike streetcar. They talked about the potential length of the streetcar — or cars, as Arlington is in line to buy 20-plus — their width, how low their floors will be to the ground, how close they can go to the curb and how different types of streetcars make right turns. The conversation, at one point, turned into how many inches the county would gain or lose at so-called "super stops" — stations along Columbia Pike where a streetcar and bus can pick up and drop off people — based on different streetcar dimensions. Arlington County Transportation Director Dennis Leach later …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Board divided on best way to fund affordable housing commitment.
The Arlington County Board this weekend authorized a mixture to spending cuts and tax increases to close a projected budget gap of up to $50 million for the local government and school system next year. It's the beginning of a long budget process, one that showed elected officials might already be divided on how to best realize the county's commitment to preserving affordable housing. Board members approved their budget guidance to County Manager Barbara Donnellan on Saturday with a 3-2 vote. Vice Chairman Walter Tejada and board member Chris Zimmerman voted against the direction after failing to push through stronger commitments to preserving affordable housing. Chairwoman Mary Hynes said she wouldn't rule out additional investments in …
George
10:43 pm on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
I vote for a new metro line from the Pentagon to Bailey's Crossroads. Keep the bus until the new metro line is built. Just say no to the streetcar! more ›