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 …
Friday, April 12, 2013
Arlington and Fairfax officials are seeking clarification and say they will continue to pursue federal funding for the controversial project.
Arlington and Fairfax counties announced Friday afternoon that federal funds expected to cover nearly one-third of the cost of the $250 million Columbia Pike streetcar project will not be available next year. The controversial project would connect Pentagon City with Bailey's Crossroads, and public outcry has sharpened thanks in part to opponents finding a champion in Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey. Arlington and Fairfax counties applied to the Federal Transit Administration's Small Starts program for partial funding in September 2012. The streetcar's funding plan assumed the feds would kick in $75 million, the largest amount the FTA program awards. State and local dollars would pay for the balance. Arlington and Fairfax …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Streetcar versus housing and food assistance funding, other issues come up at Tuesday night's public hearing.
Affordable housing. Programs for people with intellectual disabilities. County child care regulations. Traffic calming. Invasive plants. Senior center parking fees. Between what's in Arlington County's proposed $1.1 billion budget and what's not, residents had a lot to talk about Tuesday night. A few hundred people showed up and more than 100 of them spoke at a public hearing — delivering well over three hours of testimony before the Arlington County Board. At times, there was an undercurrent of frustration, perhaps best summed up well past 10 p.m. by frequent board critic Robert Atikins. Atkins cited needs — some with relatively minor costs associated with them — for child care, nurses, housing and food assistance and said any one of them…
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Arlington County Board will answer questions, take comments from both sides regarding the proposed Columbia Pike streetcar system from 6:46 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Kenmore Middle School.
Arlington County expects "hundreds" of people to show up to voice their support or opposition to the planned streetcar for Columbia Pike during a town hall on Wednesday, according to a county spokeswoman. The Arlington County Board will answer questions about the controversial project following a brief presentation at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road. "They'll answer any question related to the streetcar," spokeswoman Mary Curtius told Patch. "Anybody's free to ask a question." The county will set up space in the hallway outside of the school's auditorium for groups that want to set up displays or hand out literature, Curtius said. The county is asking attendees be succinct and courteous so that as many people can ask …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
An Arlington-focused roundup of what's being said in the blogosphere.
Lots of transit news in the blogosphere lately. But today is St. Patrick's Day, so let's start off with the Shirlington Village Blog Spot: In addition to live music and various drink specials, several Shirlington businesses are getting into the Irish spirit. Caribou Coffee will top your java with green whipped cream. Dogma Bakery & Boutique will offer "bowser beer," green pizza and spinach shamrock treats, and Robeks is offering discounts on four new green smoothies. And remember: If you have too many pints today, call SoberRide for a free (up to $30 value) cab ride home. Over at Greater Greater Washington, Canaan Merchant dissects the argument against the Columbia Pike streetcar that it would gentrify the neighborhood. After combing …
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Metro officials say bus rapid transitway could move more people quicker, boost bus ridership and potentially reduce vehicle traffic.
The Crystal City-Potomac Yard transitway — the first network of bus-only lanes to be built in the Washington, D.C. region — will debut in spring 2014, according to a report from the Washington Post. The transitway will ultimately connect Braddock Road and Crystal City Metro stations, with a future extension to Pentagon City. Construction began in July. Alexandria officials initially suggested line would open at the end of 2013. “We see this as the poster child for what transit service should be,” Jack Requa, Metro’s bus chief, told the Post. “This will be the first time that the buses will own the street and be able to move freely without interruptions from cars and taxis.” The MetroBus 9S route will utilize the transitway, as will a new …
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 …
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 …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
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. …
Friday, December 7, 2012
Newest board member also questions public safeguards in public-private partnership guidelines.
Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey is working on two fronts to delay a vote on what's potentially a key funding mechanism for the Columbia Pike streetcar and other major projects. Garvey on Thursday released a number of emails in which she expresses concern about the board's planned adoption of guidelines that would allow public-private partnerships for the development of transportation facilities. Garvey wants fellow board member Chris Zimmerman — a leading proponent of the streetcar — to recuse himself from the matter to avoid a conflict of interest or, just as damning, the appearance of a conflict. "This is NOT about the streetcar for me, but about transparency and ensuring competition on large capital projects," Garvey stated …
A.B.
10:01 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013
Why don't the local media tell the truth about about news blackout of information about bus alternatives to the Pike streetcar? It's being coordinated by the County Manager's PR team. Why do I have to visit the Arlington Yupette blog to know what's going on in this County? more ›