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Alexandria: Ethics Pledge Passes
Limited Code of Conduct and ethics reform.
For now, the Ethics Pledge battle is over. City Council received the Code of Conduct revisions and the proposed Ethics Pledge at its May 18 meeting, to be reviewed and to determine the next steps. But while Mayor Allison Silberberg had struggled for months to get reform pushed through opposition on the council, there was one last surprise: passing it.
Inside the Alexandria Police Department: Evidence
An occasional series, drawn from the Alexandria Citizen’s Police Academy.
The Alexandria Citizens’ Police Academy is a 10-week course hosted by the Alexandria Police Department (APD) to offer citizens a better understanding of how the department works. Throughout the course, participants sit in on emergency calls and ride along with police officers on patrol.
Arlington: Working on Office Vacancy Rate
Arlington economic leaders discuss residential and commercial development — and millennials.
Things may be starting to look up for Arlington. Last quarter, office vacancy declined by 1.5 percent, the first time it has declined in four years.
Simply Unaffordable: An Uncertain Future for Affordable Housing in Arlington
New Master Plan lays out uncertain future for Affordable Housing in Arlington.
A new Affordable Housing Master Plan released in March laid out Arlington County’s dire Affordable Housing needs. Hoping for approval before the plan is brought to the County Board in July, the Affordable Housing Study Working Group presented its findings to the Transportation Commission on April 2. The Master Plan was approved unanimously.
Interstellar
NASA Administrator gives Jefferson-Houston students a taste for science.
For many children, “astronaut” is one of the quickest answers when asked what they want to be when they grow up. A visit to Jefferson-Houston School on Feb. 13 from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden aimed to encourage those students to hold onto that answer.
Alexandria: Fighting Fires Without Firefighters
Fire Station 210: No firefighters until 2016?
Fire Station 210 is one of the newest and nicest buildings around the Van Dorn Metro area. It is full three-story building with four operation bays and a training tower. Except it doesn’t have any firefighters. Currently the facility is staffed by emergency medical technicians. Acting City Manager Mark Jinks said that, while the original plan was to have the facility be fully staffed by the end of 2015, “that process could be pushed back to the end of 2016.”
Arlington: Mixed Response to Housing Plan
County Board moves forward on Affordable Housing Master Plan despite citizen objections.
After nearly five hours of public comment and debate, a request to advertise the Affordable Housing Master Plan for public hearings throughout July was approved by the County Board in a 4 - 1 vote.
Alexandria Domestic Violence Shelters Offer Relief Year-round
Local nonprofits Bethany House and ALIVE face challenges during holiday season.
“I thought if I loved him enough, he would change.” Jasmine Witcher, interim executive director for the Bethany House domestic violence shelter, says she hears these words all the time.
Arlington: Generations of the Bean
Arlington entrepreneurs quit their day jobs to launch coffee shop.
For many people, coffee is a utility. It's a necessary pick-me-up to get through the long work day. That's how Chase Damiano saw coffee until he met Robbie Peck. For Peck, coffee was something more. It was an art. More than just a stimulant, for Peck, every cup of coffee is a blend of carefully selected scents and tastes. When their coffee shop, Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters, has its grand opening Saturday, Oct. 22, Peck and Damiano hope to change how Arlington County sees coffee.
Basics of Arlington Affordable Housing
A look Arlington County’s efforts to preserve its affordable housing.
Since 2000, Arlington County has lost more market-rate affordable housing than it currently has.
Sharing Insights on Local Gang Culture
Kaine hosts roundtable discussion on gang violence.
Tim Kaine hosts roundtable discussion on gang violence.
What’s New in Arlington?
A look at recent retail and restaurant additions to Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City.
Every month in Arlington, stores and restaurants close their doors for the last time while others down the street open for the first time.
Alexandria: Building on Giant’s Bones
Despite traffic concerns, Planning Commission green lights North Old Town development.
Currently, the city block between in North Old Town that formerly housed the Giant grocery store sits empty except for a lone ABC store.
Alexandria: TSA Transports out of Arlington
Arlington’s loss of the Transportation Security Administration headquarters is Alexandria’s gain.
While Alexandria celebrates the recent Transportation Security Administration’s decision to move to West Eisenhower, Arlington struggles to recover from another blow to the county’s office vacancies. The 3,800-person headquarters will leave its Arlington location in 2018 to settle into the Victory Center.
Working Toward Restorative Justice in Alexandria Schools
TC students take aim at suspension rates and new disciplinary policy.
A word of warning to students at T.C. Williams High School hoping to skip out on classes in the second half of their senior year: Don’t. A new policy implemented at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year gives teachers at TC final say over whether a student can pass or fail a class regardless of the final grade.
Arlington: The State of Affordable Housing
Arlington continues to struggle with loss of affordable housing.
With each year, Arlington becomes less and less affordable. According to David Cristeal, housing director for Arlington County, between 2000 and 2013, Arlington has lost 13,000 units of affordable housing.
Back to Business in Ballston
Nine new projects to provide retail, office and residential.
As the Ballston Mall slowly begins to continue towards new life, all across Ballston new development plants are emerging.