A developer that filed a plan for a new Reston Regional Library and affordable housing in the Reston Town Center North area is challenging Fairfax County’s handling of its procurement process in court.
The complaint, filed by Reston Civic Core LLC late last year, is being litigated even after developer Foulger-Pratt withdrew its offer of a public-private partnership for the same area — a move that leaves no immediate option for the redevelopment.
Foulger-Pratt offered an unsolicited proposal in October 2021 under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act to redevelop two properties with up to 350 affordable apartments and a new library on land owned by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
The county and FCHRA declined to comment, given that the issue is under active litigation.
“As a matter of policy, we don’t comment on matters in litigation,” said Linda Hoffman, a county spokeswoman.
In addition to retaining 30 units at Bowman Towne Court, Norton Scott’s plan called for 324 affordable housing units and a new library on mostly county-owned property next to the Bowman Towne Center property. It also included a public plaza, homeless shelter, performing arts amenities, and above-ground parking for the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office and the police department.
The complaint formally alleges that the county violated Dillon’s rule and urges the county to accept its application for consideration. It also calls on the court to cancel the interim agreement with Foulger-Pratt — which has since been canned.
The county issued a call for competing proposals — as required by law. Norton Scott’s competing plan was rejected.
The county moved to sign an interim agreement with Foulger-Pratt in July, but the agreement was voided in February. Foulger-Pratt cited “significantly higher construction costs and recent interest rate hikes” as the primary reasons for scrapping the proposal.
Norton Scott argues that the because the proposal publicly posted by the county had 74 of 188 pages fully redacted, it barred the developer from developing an understanding of its competition.
“As a result of the heavily-redacted proposal, it was impossible for potential offers to gain a clear understanding of what the county sought when it invited competing proposals of the project,” the complaint says. “The lack of transparency runs counter to the principles of open competition and access to information that are at the foundation of public procurements.”
The developer also alleges that the county did not not formally reject its proposal and instead “determined that the proposal will not be accepted for detailed review,” according to legal documents.
“Under the PPEA, after accepting the proposal or consideration, the county was without authority to reverse course and not accept the proposal for consideration,” the complaint states.
At a later point, the county then stated the proposal was “ineligible for review.”
A task force with various stakeholders is currently examining key issues in Reston Town Center North.
Chelsea Rao, a senior vice president with Norton Scott, said it seems that the development’s team solution is not being considered at all.
“It seems silly that there is a task force looking for a solution that is not considering the option we have proposed,” Rao said.
The case is currently in the discovery phase.
County’s Last Bed Bath & Beyond to Close — After three Fairfax County locations closed earlier this year, Bed Bath & Beyond’s recent bankruptcy filing means the last holdout in Bailey’s Crossroads will soon follow suit. With all 360 remaining stores shuttering by June 30, sales after tomorrow (Wednesday) will be final, and stores will stop accepting gift cards on May 8. [Annandale Today]
Motorcyclist Dies in Crash on I-66 — “A 29-year-old motorcyclist died late Friday night after a crash on Interstate 66 in Fairfax County, Virginia State Police say. Jeffrey R. Armstrong, of Sterling, was driving a 2006 Suzuki GSX east on I-66 near mile marker 50 at around 11:25 p.m. Friday when police said the cycle rear ended a 2003 Honda Odyssey, ejecting him from the bike.” [WTOP]
Former FCPD Officer in Taser Incident Hired in Minneapolis — “A former Fairfax County police officer, who was charged with assault in June 2020 after bodycam video showed him arriving and quickly firing his Taser at a disoriented Black man, is now under investigation by the Minnesota police department that hired him.” [FOX5]
New Guidance Issued on Covid Vaccines — “On April 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced simplified COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.” As of Friday (April 21), Virginia has implemented the new rules allowing “individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness to receive an optional additional dose of the updated (bivalent) mRNA vaccine.” [Fairfax County Health Department]
Virginia Driver’s Licenses Get New, More Secure Design — “New driver’s license and ID card designs are rolling out in Virginia starting today, the Commonwealth’s Department of Motor Vehicles announced Monday. The design features the Richmond Capitol building’s rotunda dome, an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (the state insect), and an American Dogwood (the state flower).” [DCist]
Sen. Warner Discusses Issues Affecting Korean American Community — “In a meeting with the Korean community in Annandale April 22, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) spoke about issues ranging from the need to support local businesses to the reunification of Korea. Warner said he supports initiatives to help small businesses gain access to capital, increased investments in education and affordable housing, and efforts to crack down on hate crimes against Asians.” [Annandale Today]
Virginia Resumes Grading Schools on Absenteeism — “During the pandemic, the state suspended using a school’s chronic absenteeism rate as a factor in measuring school performance. But this week, the Virginia Board of Education shot down a proposal to extend that suspension to the 2022-2023 school year, meaning that for the first time since classrooms went virtual, attendance will be considered in school accreditation.” [The Washington Post]
Reston Library to Hold Book Sale This Week — “This is our largest one, typically held twice a year at Reston Regional. We offer 35-40,000 items, in over 20 categories. There are NO children’s books at these sales.” After a preview tomorrow, the sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday (April 30). [Friends of Reston Regional Library]
It’s Tuesday — Broken clouds. Cool. High of 61 and low of 41. Sunrise at 6:18 am and sunset at 7:54 pm. [Weather.gov]
Reston Hospital Center collected the most drugs during the Fairfax County Police Department’s annual national prescription drug take back day on Saturday (April 22).
The hospital’s location, one of eight drop-off sites, collected a whopping 226 pounds — far more than the 127 pounds collected by the second-place sites: West Springfield and Fair Oaks.
The FCPD partners with the Drug Enforcement Administration every year to collect expired and unused over-the-counter and prescription drugs from community members through drop-off sites across the county. This year, a total of 761 pounds were collected.
A breakdown of collections by each drop-off site is available below:
- Sully: 83 pounds
- Mount Vernon: 35 pounds
- McLean: 42 pounds
- Mason: 80 pounds
- Franconia: 41 pounds
- West Springfield: 127 pounds
- Fair Oaks: 127 pounds
“This important initiative addresses vital safety and public health issues,” the FCPD said. “Unused or expired over the counter or prescription medicine left unsecured can be prone to misuse and may contribute to overdoses and accidental poisonings.”
Drug take-back boxes are available around the year at each police station. Accepted items include prescription medication (schedule II-V controlled and non-controlled), prescription ointments, over-the-counter medications, and medications for pets.
Prohibited items include needles (sharps), liquids of any kind, illegal drugs, non-prescription ointments and lotions, aerosol cans, and inhalers, according to the police department.
A 12.5% salary increase for police officers will be under discussion later this week for inclusion in Fairfax County’s upcoming budget.
Other items under consideration in the mark-up package include more money for ArtsFairfax, funding for girls’ softball facilities, and establishing a self-help resource center in the Fairfax Courthouse library.
In many years, shifting revenue, expense, and administrative cost estimates enable adjustments to the advertised budget presented in February, opening up funding for some initially unaddressed items.
County Executive Bryan Hill left about $90.2 million in unallocated funds in the fiscal year 2024 advertised budget, but with adjustments, that has now risen to $110.4 million.
As a result, supervisors are able to submit items to be considered at a pre-markup discussion by the Board of Supervisors’ budget policy committee on Friday (April 28) and a mark-up session with the full board on May 2.
Seven items were submitted for the mark-up package, totaling about $26.5 million.
The biggest ask, by far, is a 12.5% salary increase for police officers at rank of second lieutenant and below from Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity. The raises would cost $26.2 million and come in addition to the 2% market rate adjustment increase already in the budget.
“Budgets should be about priorities and public safety is a priority. We are short about 200 officers; we have had to disband many of our specialty units to staff patrol, and changed shifts which have had a negative impact on our current officers,” Herrity told FFXnow. “It is past time to address a staffing shortage we have seen coming for many years. We can address the public staffing crisis without increasing the tax burden on our residents.”
He added that he’s “very optimistic” the board will approve at least some level of salary increase, if not the full 12.5%.
Last year, the county gave raises to certain public safety workers as part of the mark-up package, but it was a step increase and cost the county $6.1 million.
Herrity also is proposing to reduce supervisor office support budgets by $1.1 million, the same amount it was increased by in last year’s budget.
“This is a microcosm for the illogical spending in our County. Last year, no one answered my question about who proposed the $1.1 million increase for Board office budgets,” Herrity said. “We certainly do not need increased staff budgets, certainly not on top of the 38% salary increase. The money would be better spent focusing on improving access and customer service by county agencies as Board staff spend about 75% of their time helping residents with services.”
Also set to be considered is a proposal from Board Chairman Jeff McKay and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw to provide $300,00 to reduce the “disparity between girls’ fastpitch softball and boys’ baseball facilities.”
In February, the two requested funding after a recent study revealed a widening gap in the quality and quantity of fields in the county available for softball compared to baseball. The supervisors asked for $1.7 million in one-time funding and a recurring cost of $300,000 for consideration in this year’s budget.
Other items that will be considered at the mark-up sessions in the coming weeks include:
- Expanding the Opportunity Neighborhoods initiative into Centreville at a cost of $413,000
- Establishing a self-help resource center within the law library at the Fairfax County Courthouse at a cost of $96,000
- An increase of $200,000 to ArtsFairfax for operating expenses
- Providing $350,000 to nonprofit projects that make home repairs and accessibility modifications so low and moderate-income households who are aging or disabled can stay in their homes
The 2024 fiscal year budget is set to be adopted on May 9.
An IT contractor headquartered in Reston’s South Lakes area has agreed to pay over $435,000 to settle a federal investigation that found racial discrimination in its hiring practices.
Intelligent Waves LLC allegedly engaged in “systemic hiring discrimination” against 14 Black applicants who sought work in Arizona and Nevada as test instrumentation technicians, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced Friday (April 21).
The allegations were raised by a “routine” compliance investigation that took place between Nov. 5, 2019 and Aug. 31, 2021, according to a news release.
Investigators found violations of Executive Order 11246, which prohibits discrimination by federal contractors, by personnel at the company’s Reston headquarters (1801 Robert Fulton Drive, Suite 440) who were responsible for filling the technician positions.
“OFCCP identified a statistically significant disparity (equivalent to a shortfall of five (5)), not otherwise explained, in the hiring of Black Test Instrumentation Technician applicants on the basis of their race,” the office says in the compliance agreement.
The OFCCP also found that Intelligent Waves failed to preserve accurate employment records and implement an audit system to monitor the effectiveness of its affirmative action program during the investigation period, according to the agreement.
“Our settlement with Intelligent Waves reflects our commitment to preventing hiring discrimination and holding federal contractors accountable when they fail to ensure equal employment opportunity,” Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Sam Maiden said.
Launched in 2006, Intelligent Waves provides cybersecurity, data science, network & systems engineering and software development services. Its clients include the Air Force, NASA, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the General Services Administration, according to the labor department.
Per the compliance agreement, the company “neither admits nor denies” any violations of the federal government’s nondiscrimination rules.
According to Intelligent Waves, the discrimination allegations stem from “a single position and an incident that transpired almost three years ago, resulting from a record-keeping error when Intelligent Waves was a small business.”
The company says it hasn’t employed the people involved since 2022 and started “implementing measures” to ensure compliance with federal rules as soon as it became aware of the error.
“Intelligent Waves has a long history of providing an equitable and inclusive workplace for all employees, exceeding industry averages for diversity and veteran employment, and has maintained a strong anti-discrimination policy since its founding,” Intelligent Waves said in a statement, noting that it was listed among the D.C. area’s top corporate diversity employers last year by the Washington Business Journal.
However, as part of the settlement, Intelligent Waves has agreed to not only provide $435,368 in back pay and interest to the 14 affected individuals, but also give them priority for a job offer if there are future test instrumentation technician vacancies.
The contractor is also required to evaluate its hiring policies and procedures for the position and train employees involved in hiring on any changes.
All of the settlement funds must be distributed by Feb. 20, 2024, and the company must give the OFCCP a progress report on its hiring practices by April 1, 2024, per a timeline in the agreement. The office has a Class Member Locator with information for anyone who thinks they’re eligible for relief.
Photo via Cytonn Photography/Unsplash
Bijan Ghaisar’s Family to Settle Lawsuit Over Shooting — “The family of Bijan Ghaisar, shot dead by two U.S. Park Police officers as he slowly drove his Jeep Grand Cherokee away from them in 2017, agreed to settle their lawsuit against the agency for $5 million, according to a court filing Friday.” The agreement still needs to be approved by a judge. [The Washington Post]
Fatal Crash in Chantilly Under Investigation — “A 39-year-old man died in a car crash in Chantilly, Virginia Saturday morning after speeding away from a DWI checkpoint, according to Fairfax County Police. Around 1:15 a.m. officers responded to a two-car crash near the intersection of Lee Highway and Bull Run Post Office Road. Once on scene, they found a man, later identified as Ashton Robinson, who had been thrown from his car.” [WUSA9]
Scotts Run Fire Station Unveils Official Patch — “Introducing the official station patch of Station 44, Scott’s Run! The design captures a few of the area’s features, including the unique and still evolving skyline and a Metro train. It highlights all three apparatus assigned to the station, and includes an NFPA 704 placard representing membership in the Hazardous Materials Response Team.” [FCFRD/Facebook]
TV Behind Fire at Centreville Townhouse — Investigators have determined that a townhouse fire on April 19 in the 14600 block of Seasons Drive started in the living room after an “electrical event involving a flat panel television.” Four people and three dogs were displaced by the fire, which caused about $30,000 in property damages. [FCFRD]
Three Arrested for Retail Fraud in Tysons — “On March 23, our Tysons Urban Team (TUT) was alerted to multiple traveling organized retail theft groups performing fraudulent purchases and returns in a neighboring jurisdiction. The next day, TUT officers observed three men at Tysons Corner Center making fraudulent merchandise returns. The men were arrested with 5 fraudulent ID’s, 154 items of merchandise valued at $33k, and 35 gift cards valued at $20k.” [FCPD/Facebook]
Vienna Considers Lower Tax Rate — “A lower real estate tax rate is being considered in Vienna as a public hearing approaches on Monday, April 24. Town Manager Mercury Payton’s 2023-2024 budget proposal calls for reducing the rate from 20.5 cents per $100 of assessed value to 20.25 cents per $100 of assessed value…However, Town Council is considering an even lower rate than what was proposed — 19.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.” [Patch]
Virginia High School Athletes May Be Able to Make Money — “The Virginia High School League is moving toward allowing high school athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness.” An executive committee unanimously recommended a proposal in January that would let athletes make money by selling autographs, making personal appearances, and other means. The proposal is scheduled to get a second vote on May 3. [Inside NoVA]
Workhouse “LOVE” Sign Gets New Look — “The LOVEworks sign at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton has a fresh new look thanks to the meticulous work of fiber artist Marisela Rumberg. Rumberg, a native of Mexico and award-winning quilter who has had an art studio at the Workhouse since 2015, specializes in free-motion quilting and Zentangle — a form of abstract art based on structured patterns.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — Afternoon clouds. Refreshingly cool. High of 60 and low of 42. Sunrise at 6:19 am and sunset at 7:53 pm. [Weather.gov]
O, muse, send me your cleverest rhymes, your liveliest verses and most starry-eyed odes to nightingales.
So says Fairfax County Public Library, as time ticks down on its second annual poetry contest.
Launched on April 1, in time with the start of National Poetry Month, the Poetic Musings competition invites anyone who lives, works or studies in the county to submit a poem for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card, a certificate and a moment in the limelight.
The contest was first held in 2022 as part of the library system’s year-long celebration of literacy, FCPL Director Jessica Hudson says.
“We were thrilled with the participation last year!” Hudson told FFXnow by email. “FCPL supports literacy in all its forms, including poetry, and plans to continue with some of its Year of Literacy initiatives, including the poetry contest.”
Where last year’s contest focused on the theme of love, the 2023 version is accepting one or two-page poems written in the specific styles of free verse, rhymes or odes. Two teen and adult winners will be chosen from each style by a panel of judges that includes 2022-2024 Fairfax County Poet Laureate Danielle Badra.
Participants must be at least 15 years old and a resident, worker or student in the county. The window for online submissions will close on May 7.
The winners will be announced on June 5 and get a celebration on June 29 at Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road), where they’ll read their poems.
In addition to the poetry contest, Fairfax County has been marking National Poetry Month with video readings by professional poets, local elected officials and other community members.
ArtsFairfax also collaborated with the Fairfax County Park Authority to kick off Badra’s “Poetry in the Parks” initiative with an Arab-American Heritage Month poetry reading last Saturday (April 15). The event at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly drew around 50 attendees, including 12-15 people who stayed for a workshop after the readings, the local arts agency says.
Upcoming “Poetry in the Parks” events include a Pride Month poetry reading at Ellanor Lawrence Park on June 24 and a “Poetry Beneath the Stars” event on Aug. 19 at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls.
The Tephra Institute of Contemporary Arts (Tephra ICA) annual arts festival will return to Reston Town Center on May 20 through 21.
The event — formerly known as the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival — brings together more than 200 contemporary artists and artisans from around the country to present artwork in front of audiences.
This year, more than 200 artists from 32 states across the U.S. and Canada will take part in the event.
“This community event is an incredible opportunity to have direct contact with great contemporary artists and artisans,” Tephra ICA Associate Curator and Festival Director Hannah Barco said. “One doesn’t often get a chance to meet the artist while looking at their work, and that’s what this event is all about. Then when you decide to bring that work home, you’re not just making a purchase, you’re continuing a relationship with that artist.”
Hoesy Corona, a Baltimore-based queer Latino artist, will perform a site-specific artwork that explores the immigrant experience. It is presented by Reston Community Center.
This year’s festival will also feature the launch of Reston Town Center Association’s annual Reston Concerts on the Town series, which was canceled last year because the town center’s pavilion was undergoing renovations.
“There is something for everyone at the Tephra ICA Arts Festival. Artwork in more than 10 mediums, live performances, family friendly art activities, and more,” Jaynelle Hazard, executive director and curator of Tephra ICA, said in a statement. “This year, we’re thrilled for the addition of a free, public concert…The concert will take place on Saturday evening, and we look forward to welcoming new audiences to the event.”
Here’s the planned schedule of events for the festival:
Saturday, May 20
- Artist Booths: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Family Art Park: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Sponsored by Microsoft
- Hoesy Corona Performances: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. | Presented by Reston Community Center
- Festival Cocktail Hour and Award Ceremony: 6:30 p.m. | Sponsored by the Hyatt
- Reston Concerts on the Town: Dance Candy! 7:30 p.m. | Presented by Reston Town Center Association
Sunday, May 21
- Artist Booths: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Family Art Park: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Hoesy Corona Performances: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Reminder: County Libraries Closed Today — “All FCPL branches will be closed…Friday, April 21 for Staff Day so all FCPL employees can participate in professional development. Regular hours will resume Saturday, April 22.” [FCPL]
New Social Studies Standards Approved for Virginia Schools — “After more than eight months of debate, the Virginia Board of Education reached a compromise and approved new guidance for what students will learn in history and social studies classes from kindergarten through 12th grade…The standards will require, for the first time, that Virginia students to be taught about racism” [The Washington Post]
Pet Emergency Room Opens in Pimmit Hills — “Veterinary Emergency Group celebrated the grand opening of its first Virginia hospital in Falls Church this week. The new pet clinic at 7500 Leesburg Pike, Suite 11, offers emergency care in veterinary medicine, including surgeries, ultrasounds, x-rays and more.” [Inside NoVA]
Reston Contractor Joins Race to Design Lunar Rover — The IT and engineering company Leidos, which is headquartered at Reston Town Center, has partnered with NASCAR to design a Lunar Terrain Vehicle that could be deployed on the moon. After the Artemis I launch on Nov. 16, 2022, the company has submitted a bid to develop a landing system that will be “a critical component of NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable presence on the moon.” [NASCAR]
Metro Unveils New Train Design Concepts — “New renderings of Metro’s 8000-series train cars show the transit agency is switching up the trains’ seating configuration, moving forward with the open gangway concept, and adding a touch of D.C. flair to the design.” The first of 256 ordered trains are projected to arrive in 2025. [DCist]
No Messing With Fawns This Spring, Police Warn — “Spring is here and with it the onset of fawning season. The Fairfax County Police Department is warning residents to leave the fawns alone for the welfare of the animals. Beginning May 1, the rehabilitation of fawns in Fairfax County is prohibited.” [WUSA9]
County Farmers Markets Aim to Produce No Waste — “Ringing in a new farmers market season at Mount Vernon with Supervisor Storck and FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole! This year, Fairfax County Park Authority is implementing zero waste at the markets by giving out compostable plastic and reusable canvas bags.” [FCPA/Facebook]
Halley Rise Developer Defaults on $161 Million Loan — “The mortgage, partially backed by seven Brookfield Properties-owned Class B office buildings, the majority in Rockville, was transferred to a special servicer on March 14…Brookfield has dozens of properties in the region, including huge mixed-use projects in D.C.’s The Yards and Reston’s Halley Rise.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Friday — Sunny. High of 88 and low of 58. Sunrise at 6:23 am and sunset at 7:51 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 6:45 p.m.) A man has been taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after getting stabbed in Reston.
Fairfax County police officers are currently at the scene in the parking lot of a Sunoco (12191 Sunset Hill Road) near RTC West.
According to scanner traffic, 911 received a call around 5:35 p.m. about a fight between two people, one of them with a knife, who were “running towards a Target donation box.” A couple of minutes later, the dispatcher confirmed that one person had been stabbed.
The police department describes the suspect as a white man with long blonde hair and wearing a blue shirt who was seen running in the direction of the Target (12197 Sunset Hills Road). The dispatcher said the man may have a BB gun.
The Fairfax County Police Department says community members should contact 911 with any information.
Officers are in the parking lot at 12191 Sunset Hill Rd in Reston for a man who was stabbed. Adult male victim was taken to hospital for injuries considered life threatening. Suspect described as white male, 30-40, 6’ 165lbs, long blonde hair & blu shirt. Call 911 w/info. pic.twitter.com/QAqVn9DEfD
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) April 20, 2023
Another round of compensation increases could be on the horizon for some Town of Herndon bodies.
The Herndon Town Council is considering a proposal to increase the compensation for members on the Architectural Review Board (ARB), Historic District Review Board (HDRB), Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, resulting in an annual increase of $20,400 overall.
The increases would go into effect in July, if approved. It’s in the early phases of the town’s review process and, at an April 18 work session, was placed on the council’s consent agenda for future consideration.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila said the compensation increase might increase the diversity of candidates who apply, though he noted that it was possible that presumption could be “completely wrong on the statistical side.”
“There are segments of our community where $35 is a lot of money,” del Aguila said. “The thinking was if you invest a little bit, you might reach a broader segment of residents.”
Councilmember Donielle Scherff also said it could boost the “diversity of opportunity” for applicants.
Mayor Sheila Olem, however, noted that some people may not simply seek specific positions due to life circumstances. Prior to her role as mayor, she served on the town’s appeals board because meetings were on a monthly basis and did not interfere with her family commitments, she said.
For ARB and HDRB members, compensation would increase from $100 to $250 per month, $175 to 250 per month for PC members and $50 to $75 per month for Board of Zoning Appeals members.
Last year, the council instituted its first pay increase in 15 years.
The move — which passed as part of the budget with one dissenting vote — increased annual pay from $4,000 to $10,000 for council members and $6,000 to $12,000 for the mayor.
Retired CIA staffer Lisa Downing is challenging Jeff McKay for Fairfax County’s top governmental seat.
Last week, Dunn Loring resident Downing announced her candidacy to chair the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Running as a Democrat, she will face off in the June primary against current Chairman Jeff McKay, who was elected in 2019 after representing Franconia District (then called Lee District) on the board for over a decade.
A three-decade county resident, Downing worked for the Central Intelligence Agency prior to retiring in 2019. She was also the first woman of color to attend and graduate from New York Maritime College, where she studied the business of shipping and how to operate tankers.
She told FFXnow her bid for the county’s top seat is to provide residents another option.
“When I found out that there was only one person — the incumbent — running on the Democratic ticket for the primary, I thought that the residents of Fairfax weren’t being given a choice,” Downing said. “And, in America, we all need choices, even within the same party.”
The top issue she’s campaigning on is increasing funding for Fairfax County Public Schools, specifically teacher pay. Downing noted that pay for FCPS teachers and staff has fallen behind other neighboring jurisdictions like Arlington and Loudoun.
“We’re losing teachers. We’re not competitive. We haven’t put in the resources that our students and teachers need to thrive. So, schools are the number one concern for me,” she said. “If we don’t provide our residents with good schools, they will find other places to give their children education.”
Increasing the county’s housing inventory to boost affordable housing “for working class people” is another priority for Downing. She said it’s disheartening that so many people who serve the county — from firefighters to teachers to small business owners — can’t afford to live here.
“When you have townhomes and condos reasonably priced and a lot of them, it takes the pressure off the housing market. People are then able to afford the moderate priced homes,” she said. “We have concentrated so much on sweetheart deals for developers that only the big houses get built. That’s where the money is for the developers, but that’s not where the money is for Fairfax County.”
Downing confirmed she’s referring to a change in approach similar to the “Missing Middle” policies passed in Arlington last month, allowing multifamily structures to be built on single-family home lots.
To pay for these priorities, Downing says the tax base needs to increase. That doesn’t necessary mean raising taxes so much as increasing the number of residents who are paying taxes.
“We have a lot of taxes. Fairfax gets money through its taxes. The more people who live in the county, the larger our tax base,” she said.
Downing sharply criticized McKay and other county supervisors for increasing the board’s salaries, starting in January 2024. The supervisors who voted for the raises argued they were in line with how other county employees are compensated and will allow others to serve regardless of personal financial circumstances. During the public hearing, though, many residents spoke out against the increase.
“He and the Board of Supervisors voted to give themselves a huge raise, even after the teachers had not gotten a raise,” Downing told FFXnow. “And after an open session where people said, ‘No, no, no, you don’t deserve that raise,’ they still said, ‘Oh, yes, we do.’ That showed contempt for their constituency.”
The county’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes a 2% market rate adjustment for all county employees, lower than the 5.44% that staff recommended. FCPS is seeking a 3% adjustment for its employees, along with other salary changes.
If Downing wins the June primary and gets elected in November, she would be eligible for the approved salary increase for the Board of Supervisors chair and would make $138,283 annually.
The candidate also referenced a WJLA story that accused McKay of using a county car for personal trips, including to attend political fundraisers.
“As a retired fed, I was appalled to hear this,” Downing said. “So, I’m wondering about the integrity of a person who puts even small items before the needs of the county.”
McKay said his use of the car adheres to county regulations, which prohibit personal use of county vehicles with an exception for errands that deviate less than a mile “from the normal route traveled” to or from work.
“I attend official events and meetings across the County on any given day throughout the year and always obey traffic laws and follow all applicable County regulations as to the use of County-owned vehicles,” McKay said. “I use a County-owned vehicle for County business. I have when needed used that vehicle for occasional and rare personal stops on the way to and from County functions as permitted for Class 2 take-home vehicle use per County regulations.”
Downing emphasized that, as a Democrat, she aligns with the “platform” of the current Board of Supervisors but disagrees on priorities.
“Where we differ is how we prioritize what’s important for Fairfax. I see that the residents of Fairfax must come first,” she said. “If we don’t emphasize schools and housing, people will walk with their feet. They will leave Fairfax.”
The Democratic primary is set for Tuesday, June 20 this year with the general election on Nov. 7.
A new Mediterranean restaurant is coming later this year to Plaza America in Reston.
Fast-casual restaurant Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen will open a nearly 2,000-square-foot location at 11692 Plaza America Drive this fall, according to company representative Becky Olson. Tentatively, an October opening date is anticipated.
Olson said the restaurant will offer fast-casual options for shoppers and nearby offices.
“Guests love having fresh and vibrant options, like our Mediterranean cuisine, that they feel good about eating multiple times per week,” she said. “Taïm customizable salads, bowls and pitas are crave-able for lunch and dinner, and we offer family meal options to enjoy in the restaurant or take home.”
The business got its start in 2005 in New York City. Since then, it has 13 locations the New York and D.C. areas — including planned locations in Vienna and Pimmit Hills.
Customers can build a meal with options like a pita or bowl base and a choice of falafel, meatballs, cauliflower shawarma, eggplant, shawarma and kabobs.
Preparation for Delayed Southbound GW Parkway Closure Begins — “To prepare for the traffic shift, crews will begin to install temporary lane dividers on April 20. Motorists should expect single lane, northbound closures from 8 p.m. on April 20 to 2:45 p.m. on April 21 during these preparations. Crews will implement the new traffic pattern between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 22.” [National Park Service]
New Dining Options Coming to Local Airports — “Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport announced a new slate of concessions, including spinoffs of some notable DC restaurants and brands. The phased rollout will begin later this year, and more than 80 new dining and retail options are expected open across both airports by 2026.” [Washingtonian]
Metro Shares Vision for Redesigned Bus Network — “Metro released its ‘visionary’ bus network redesign maps on Monday, proposing drastically more bus service to the region. The plan, which is 35% more expensive than the current service, is unfunded so far.” The 100 proposed bus routes include 24-hour service to Dulles Airport and a bus between Bethesda and Tysons. [DCist]
Mosaic ES Renovation Approved — “Fairfax County School Board members voted unanimously on an April 13 consent-agenda item to award a $41.4 million contract to Dustin Construction Inc. to expand and renovate Mosaic Elementary School in the Oakton area.” The project will add a 55,365-square-foot, two-story expansion to the building. [Gazette Leader]
Fort Belvoir Now Has a Panda Express — “Panda Express, a fast food restaurant chain specializing in American Chinese cuisine, opened April 6 at the Fort Belvoir Main Exchange food court. The eatery, which had been under construction since early last year, is located in a space formerly occupied by Boston Market.” [On the MoVe]
State Senate Candidates Debate Tonight in Vienna — Democratic candidates for the 37th Senate District, which includes Vienna, Merrifield, Tysons, Oakton and Fairfax City, will have a debate from 6:30-8 p.m. at the American Legion Post 180 (330 Center Street North). Incumbent Chap Petersen faces primary challenges from Saddam Azlan Salim and Erika Yalowitz. [Patch]
Virginia Revises Process for Removing Dead From Voter Rolls — “As Virginia election officials work to clean up the state’s voter rolls, they announced the discovery of a huge number of dead people still listed as registered voters in the state. After reviewing death records dating back to 1960, they found 18,990 deceased voters who had not been removed.” [WTOP]
Tuition Increase Proposed at GMU — George Mason University has proposed increasing tuition by $300 for the 2023-24 academic year to provide additional financial aid and offset “escalating operational expenses.” The increase could be eliminated for in-state undergraduate students if “the university’s broader funding requests” are included in Virginia’s budget by the General Assembly. [GMU]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny. Pleasantly warm. High of 87 and low of 50. Sunrise at 6:25 am and sunset at 7:50 pm. [Weather.gov]
Reston Association is seeking member feedback on its parks and recreation offerings.
The online survey, which begins on May 1 and continues through June 30, will help guide the association’s 10-year parks and recreation plan.
Marketing firm The Noise Doctors, Inc. was hired to get information on how RA’s parks and recreational facilities and programs are currently used, future uses, and possible new facilities and programs for the future.
This will be the association’s first 10-year parks and recreation plan, according to RA spokesperson Mike Leone.
“A planning process is conducted every 10 years to ensure that our parks and recreational facilities and programs are optimally meeting both the current and future needs of our residents,” RA said in a recent newsletter.
RA says that the survey will provide the foundation for its planning process.
The survey will be released at the end of the month and will be accessible online. It will be anonymous and take roughly 15 minutes to complete.
RA manages 55 miles of paved pathways and natural surface trails, along with with other amenities like soccer fields, pools, tennis and pickle ball courts. In recent years, a comprehensive effort has been underway to manage aging facilities and infrastructure while balancing future needs.
