Arlington County made significant progress on vaccine distribution in March, held 6 budget work sessions, and acted on critical stormwater infrastructure and economic development projects. Our community has also reopened our schools for in person learning and spring has arrived. Our recovery has begun and we will work to continue to stabilize our community's health and reopen safely.
I joined a pop-up vaccine registration event last week at the Barcroft Apartments. To join in the important work on vaccines, go to our Complete Vaccination Committed site: https://www.arlingtonva.us/cvc/
The Big Picture on Vaccine Distribution
Arlington made significant progress on vaccine procurement and distribution over the past month. Our Health Department's weekly supply of vaccines has gone from about 4,000 to approximately 9,500 doses. I've been working on advocacy throughout, with our staff playing a pivotal role and with adjoining jurisdictions. Here is one indication of the work that I think will help continue to increase supply over the coming weeks: https://www.arlingtonva.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Letter-to-Governor-re-Vaccine-Supply.pdf
On equitable distribution, the Arlington Free Clinic is vaccinating clients who have limited incomes and with County support and partnership Neighborhood Health is now vaccinating residents at Macedonia Baptist Church in Green Valley.
To learn more, on the Free Clinic, go here: https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/partnership-arlington-free-clinic-covid-19-vaccine-distribution/
And for more on Neighborhood Health and our work at Macedonia: https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/vaccine-equity-partnership-focuses-on-underserved-communities/
Both steps are designed to provide access to the vaccine to Arlington residents with more limited financial means or online access. Each partnership is also a part of our efforts to intentionally reach out to Arlington residents of color.
With Whytni Kernoodle, her husband Rob and friends Saturday when they received first doses.
Where We Are on Vaccinating Various Groups of Residents
Arlington County has sent invitations to nearly all of those over 65 who want a vaccine. If you are over 65 and have not been vaccinated, please check your email spam folder or inbox or, if you have not registered, call 877-829-4682 or 703-228-7999 or go to www.vaccinate.virginia.gov. For those with underlying medical conditions, we have invited almost all of those who signed up via the Arlington County form before February 16th. If you signed up before that time, there was a state website that you may have signed up on, so please reach out to me via email at [email protected]. I will connect you with one of our Assistant County Managers who has a team that will work on this.
Takis Karatonis and I Summarize Vaccine Response Work: 12 minutes
Arlington Residents with Underlying Medical Conditions
For those with underlying medical conditions who are not sure if you signed up via the Arlington County form or the state form, or for those with underlying medical conditions who signed up after February 16th, please understand that we still have nearly 20,000 people in this category. (We have made progress on this group, but additional sign ups have kept the list at approximately the 20K number.) We will get to you and will do so by mid to late April as supply continues to increase with the trend in a good direction. For employee groups, we continue to work through the groups in 1b, including continuity of government employees.
For information from the State, you can go here. For Arlington County questions call 703-228-7999.
Volunteer to Help Provide Rides for Vaccines
If you want to help get the word out about vaccines in our community with a focus on communities historically underserved, go here to learn more about our Complete Vaccination Committee: https://www.arlingtonva.us/cvc/
Get involved with the Arlington Democrats by learning about the outreach effort to help vaccinate Arlington. To learn more and volunteer, go here: https://arlingtondemocrats.org/start-making-difference-now/drive-to-the-polls/rides-to-vaccines/?emci=692067e5-6b7f-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=9f08ae1d-737f-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=4221190
Finally on COVID, the County Board will be holding a work session tomorrow at 3 pm to answer questions and provide a vaccine distribution update:
At the March meetings, the Board also took several other actions on Crystal City infrastructure and economic development as we work to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic
We approved a contract for the design of the Crystal City to DCA pedestrian connector https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrDCliTnwDM
The Courthouse area will be redeveloped with new housing units and investments on the block with Summers Restaurant in a project that gained broad stakeholder support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKIryH7Wyeo
Before turning to two further updates, I want to share my statement on the terrible murders in Atlanta and the need for all of us to stand up to discrimination and hate toward our Asian-American and Asian community here in Arlington.
Atlanta and Boulder shook us. We must reach out to those hurting, treasure each moment we are given, and commit to acting on them.
I moderated a panel with Senators Howell and Favola, and Delegates Sullivan and Hope
2021 Virginia Session Panel, Terry McAuliffe and Takis Karantonis
Finally, the broader work we must continue to engage in to best serve Arlington and Virginia. Above is a video link of a panel I moderated on the 2021 session last week. Toward the goal of continuing our work, I want you to know that I have endorsed two candidates who will be on the ballot in June: Terry McAuliffe and Takis Karantonis.
Governor McAuliffe was an excellent Governor on education and economic development who was at the heart of delivering a Democratic legislature in 2019. He worked tirelessly to set the conditions to deliver Medicaid for Virginians, fought for restoration of rights and education as Governor, and I believe he is the best choice to win in November and deliver on the progressive ideals we hold dear. To learn more about his approach to go big and be bold to seize this moment, go here: https://terrymcauliffe.com/
Takis Karantonisis my choice for re-election to the County Board because he is deeply informed, prepared, and committed to the ideals that led me to run for the Board. On equity, the environment, our schools, and issue after issue, Takis is a strong leader for the ideals we share. To learn more about Takis, go here: https://www.takisforarlington.com/
If you are vaccinated, please consider volunteering to help with rides:
https://arlingtondemocrats.org/start-making-difference-now/drive-to-the-polls/
Thank you for reading and for continuing to work through these next 2 months as we make big progress on defeating this horrible disease.
If you have questions, please email me at [email protected] as replying to this email will not work now. If you have been forwarded this email and wish to join the email list, please go to https://mattforcountyboard.com/ and then scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter your email to sign up.
