Thank you to all who voted in the June 18th Democratic Primary. I am thrilled that JD Spain won and truly grateful for those of you who voted for him! I also want to congratulate and thank Tenley Peterson for running an excellent campaign.
I respect the effort it took all of the candidates, including Natalie Roy, James DeVita, and Jule Farnum, to run. Each of the candidates' commitment to Arlington is apparent from ideas in their campaigns that we do agree on--we should welcome them in our party as we work to listen to all and to win in November.
I joined Rebuilding Together Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church to learn about a rebuild to help a 90 plus year old Arlington resident stay in his home.
The primary election's meaning for Arlington is worth a note. Just over 20,000 Arlingtonians voted. That is less than last year's primary when approximately 25,000 voted, but more than primary elections in years like this in the past when closer to 15,000 voted in County Board elections. That's a smaller percentage, for sure, at just under 12% of registered voters, than the more than 130,000 who will likely vote in November. I believe it is enough, however, along with my election in the general election in 2022 (85,000 voted), to conclude that Arlington voters are looking for more than just opposition to missing middle in their County Board candidates.
I joined AFAC Executive Director Charley Meng to mark the 23 millionth person served with food. We must continue to invest in helping our neighbors in need have enough to eat.
It is also true that a significant minority of Arlington residents have concerns with missing middle. I think it is important to acknowledge that, but I do not think we should revisit the policy this year or through the end of the coming 3 years when we have a 58-unit per year cap in place. We have a plan, we are monitoring the data, and there are implementation questions that we are working on. But it remains my view that if you are able to build a house allowing more than one unit in the same space will help with housing attainability or, as I have called it, housing affordability. If we want those working to stay here, those working to succeed in the middle class to live here, and our children to live here, we have to allow for additional housing types and housing supply.
That said, distinct questions related to accountability and responsiveness of our County Government that some opponents of missing middle have raised, are worth considering and addressing where they have merit. I am working on how best to do that.
June has been Pride Month. To watch a five-minute video and listen to Board Member Maureen Coffey share thoughts on our work, click on the video above.
I am proud and grateful to have been appointed to a regional group working on Metro's long term funding, DMV Moves. The group is comprised of regional leaders and I am pleased to represent Arlington, as well as to have earned the alignment of Falls Church and Alexandria to help voice the regional issues related to inside the Beltway jurisdictions and to think about the broader region on this issue over the coming year. To learn more and watch as much of the first meeting as you wish, go here: COG, WMATA hold first DMVMoves regional Task Force meeting - DMV Moves
At the June 15th County Board meeting, we adopted a Solid Waste Management Plan that is part state requirements and also includes ambitious goals to move us to 90% of our waste stream used. The County identified 19 additional programs and policy areas to potentially pursue over the next twenty years to progress toward the 90% waste diversion goal. To read the resolution that I worked with Takis Karantonis and environmental advocates to pass, go here:
The Nothern Virginia Regional Commission Officers for the 2025 Fiscal Year, which started on Monday.
I am honored to have been chosen to serve as Vice Chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission for the coming year. The chance to help lead this regional group is something I have been interested in since serving as Chair of the County Board in 2021 in the middle of COVID. I will be working to serve Arlington through this role since our propsperity is inextricably linked with our neighbors.
Tim Kaine is an outstanding public servant who needs our help.
Finally, I want to invite you to help Senator Tim Kaine, who is up for re-election this year. I am joining Delegate Rip Sullivan as a host for an event next Tuesday, July 9th. Senator Kaine is an outstanding public servant who stood with me in 2022 when I ran for re-election. He is also running against an opponent who is a Trump extremist and presents some challenges to Senator Kaine's re-election despite his extreme views. I ask you to click on the button above and join us or contribute to help me honor our shared ideals and the support Senator Kaine showed me.
Last, but not least, a picture for those who may be interested:
Evelyn is already 6 months old. She's alert, watching us, and listening. Starting to sit up and a complete joy, even between 130 and 5 am when she still wakes up, sometimes :)
Thank you for reading and for letting me serve you, with a full heart.
