Paris Baguette, an internationally known bakery and cafe that serves bread, pastries, desserts and French-style sandwiches, is opening this year at Arrowbrook Centre in Herndon.
The restaurant, which has locations across the world, including one in Centreville and at The Boro in Tysons, will take up roughly 3,859 square feet of space by the third quarter of this year, according to franchisee Farooq Siddiqui.
Siddiqui said he chose Arrowbrook — a mixed-use development that also counts Ornery Beer Company Public House and Hello2India among its upcoming tenants — because of the demographics of the area. He also likes the proximity of the location to the Innovation Center Metro Station and the opportunity to tap into the Herndon and Reston market.
“There really isn’t a place like this in the area,” Siddiqui said.
The Herndon location will include a roughly 1,000-square-foot patio. The interior also includes 12-foot-tall windows and 26-foot ceilings, and it will be modeled after the latest design of the restaurant.
Paris Baguette is already actively seeking a second location in the area.
Items on the menu include sandwiches, packaged roll cakes, salads, breads, cakes and seasonal specials.
Super Bowl Flyover Includes Springfield Pilot — “After months of planning and multiple training sessions, an all-women crew is ready to fly over the State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Super Bowl Sunday in honor of 50 years of women in naval aviation. Among them is a woman from Springfield, Virginia who said she was ecstatic to get the call that she would be joining the crew.” [WUSA9]
Oak Marr Rec Center Closed This Morning — “Due to a temporary water service disruption, Oak Marr Rec Center will open at Noon on Feb. 13. New water heaters are being installed at the center. The building will also be without hot water from Feb. 13-16.” [FCPA/Twitter]
Man Arrested in Lorton Fatal Shooting — Fairfax County police arrested Malik Johnson, 22, of Alexandria for a Dec. 5 fatal shooting in the 7900 block of Audubon Avenue. The victim, who was identified as 26-year-old Jordan Summers of Lorton, was found injured on a sidewalk by a community member after residents reported hearing gunshots. [FCPD]
Calendar for Upcoming School Years Approved — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a new calendar for the next three school years during a sometimes heated meeting that lasted more than five hours Thursday night…It starts the school year two weeks before Labor Day, gives students two weeks for winter break, and has 180 days of instruction.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Stomach Illnesses On the Rise — “Viral gastrointestinal illnesses (such as norovirus), can include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain, are uncomfortable…can be spread to others easily and are on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an uptick in positive tests for norovirus since late January.” [FCHD]
Academic Stress Adds to Mental Health Challenges — “It’s common, albeit sorrowful, knowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a mental health crisis among young people the likes of which we haven’t seen in our lifetimes…In our area, another factor has exacerbated the adolescent mental health crisis: Many kids find themselves in an academic, extracurricular, and athletic pressure cooker.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Police to Hold Community Forum in McLean — “The McLean Citizens Association is hosting a public safety forum on Feb. 15 where leaders of the McLean District Police Station will discuss crime trends and prevention…The forum will take place at the McLean Community Center on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.” [Patch]
Springfield Fire Station Gets New Truck — “Station 22, Springfield, placed new Truck 422, a 2022 Pierce Velocity Heavy Duty Aerial Ladder, in service. The unit replaces a 2004 Pierce Aerial purchased by the Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department in 2004. That truck accumulated over 170,000 miles over its 19-year career serving the residents and visitors of Fairfax County.” [FCFRD]
It’s Monday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 35. Sunrise at 7:03 am and sunset at 5:45 pm. [Weather.gov]
Gaetano (Guy) Rando (Age 87)
On Tuesday, January 10th, Gaetano Rando, loving father of four children, passed away at 86.
Gaetano (Guy) was born on Sept. 4, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, to Domenico and Constantina (Iannacone) Rando. He received his Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University in 1959. He went on to earn his master’s in landscape architecture at Harvard University in 1961.
Soon after, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, which launched his practice in Italy and abroad. He would endeavor in landscape architecture for 44 years along with following his passion to create art.
On Jan. 23, 1960, he married Josephine Penizotto, they raised three boys Guy, Marco, and Tony. In 1980, he partnered with Meda Ling, and they raised one boy Gaetano Ling.
Guy had a passion for design, art, and nature and seamlessly intertwined the three throughout his life and practice. He pioneered work with Whittlesey & Conklin on the master plan for the New Town of Reston, including the creation of Lake Anne & Washington Plaza. Throughout his career he advocated and was committed to Robert E. Simon’s vision of Reston and its diverse community.
He is an author of Golf Course Development & Real Estate for ULI-The Urban Land Institute. His work history also included inventing new ways of designing golf courses for prestigious firms like Robert Trent Jones.
However, he took immense joy in smaller more playful family projects that were personal and challenged his creative spirit. A design for the National Arboretum appropriately titled “National Country Garden” was a sustainable garden concept a head of its time.
Guy was preceded in death by his father, Domenico, mother, Constantina, sister Concetta, and brothers Anthony and Johnny. He is survived by his three children, Marco, Tony, and Gaetano; their respective spouses, Elle, LeeAnne, and Yoon; and grandchildren, Brooklyn, Zen, Teo, and Iro. He’s also survived by his brother, Domenic Rando.
Guy’s celebration of life party will be held this spring at the end of April. The exact date will be posted on social media. In lieu of gifts, we wish to spread more love by suggesting donations to charities of choice.
The Fairway Drive underpass in Reston is slated for a facelift.
Public Art Reston is seeking artists to submit ideas for an art project at the underpass, which connects residential areas with a pool, community center and the Lake Anne Village Center.
The project is the third permanent public artwork commissioned by Public Art Reston. The organization partners with Reston Association.
Reston’s master plan for public art contemplates using the pedestrian tunnels for public art projects in an effort to “foster community engagement, enhance public safety and instill pride of place,” according to Public Art Reston.
The organization expects to involve the community in the project. The selected artist or artist team will work with Lake Anne Elementary School students and other neighborhood groups to create the work.
A similar workflow was adopted to add Ben Volta’s “Thoreau’s Ensemble” on the Colts Neck Road underpass in 2019 and Valeria Theberge’s “Emerge” at the Glade Drive underpass in 2010.
Here’s more from Public Art Reston on the importance of artwork in Reston’s history:
Public art is an important part of Reston’s history. Commissioned, site-specific play sculptures were integrated into the built environment of its first development at Lake Anne Village Center. Offering residents daily encounters with art was a unique feature for a 1960s suburban development, and one that distinguishes Reston for its visionary role in current placemaking initiatives. Among these commissions are Uruguayan modernist Gonzalo Fonseca’s whimsical sculptural environment for North Shore Drive Underpass (1965) and Baltimore-based potter, Olin Rossum’s abstract ceramic mosaic for Moorings Drive Underpass (1967).
The application deadline is Feb. 24. Materials are available online.
(Updated at 11:45 a.m.) Reston Town Center and its neighboring development RTC West now have one thing in common: paid parking.
Real estate investment trust company JBG Smith plans to institute paid parking at the office and retail complex, a representative for the company told FFXnow.
The first three hours of parking will remain free at the site, said a spokesperson for JBG Smith. The timeline for implementing paid parking and the parking rates have not yet been determined.
The spokesperson said no further information on the change — including why it is under consideration — was available.
Tenants of the center reported varying understandings of how and when paid parking will go into effect. A representative for Starbucks noted that a parking garage tucked away behind the building still remains free.
Other tenants said it was unclear if parking will be validated beyond the three-hour free period.
This is not the first time parking has been a topic of discussion at the development, which has tenants like Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Bombay Velvet, and Tiki Thai.
In the past, frequenters have reported challenges navigating tight turns and on surface parking lots.
RTC West is also served by a four-level parking garage with 1,619 parking spaces.
H/t to Katie Faust
Workers at the regional nonprofit FRESHFARM, which operates three farmers markets in Fairfax County, voted to unionize with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 earlier this week.
FRESHFARM worker Ariana MacMartin told FFXnow that the hope is a union can help workers at the farmers markets negotiate for better pay and more job security, as well as hopefully reduce turnover.
“We’ve asked for higher pay and better benefits, but we realized we couldn’t affect change without a union,” MacMartin said.
MacMartin said the specific demands are still in negotiation.
The unionization effort includes about 25 workers who staff and operate FRESHFARM’s 28 markets in the D.C. area, including sites at the Mosaic District, Reston and Oakton, according to UFCW Local 400.
Employees filed for a union election in December. Ballots were distributed on Jan. 18, and National Labor Relations Board officials counted votes on Feb. 8.
While other workers have had to fight tooth and nail for unionization, MacMartin said FRESHFARM has been an extremely agreeable partner in the process.
In a statement, FRESHFARM said:
FRESHFARM is pleased to announce that our farmers market staff have voted to unionize. The organization strives to create the best farmers markets in the region, and having a professional, well-trained workforce is front and center of these efforts. FRESHFARM management is enthusiastic about working with a collective bargaining unit committed to our mission and shared values of improving our workers’ conditions to ensure we continue to best serve our region.
MacMartin said her hope is that the negotiations and improvements can help inspire other farmers market workers.
“I want to unionize every farmers market,” MacMartin said. “My hope is our message spreads to strengthen the working class and we can have our needs met.”
ICYMI: Speed Camera Program Launches Today — Speed cameras will be installed near eight schools across Fairfax County today (Friday). For the first 30 days, drivers who go 10 mph or more over the speed limit will get a warning with no citation. After that, fines could go up to $100. [FFXnow]
How to Help Victims of Turkey Earthquake — “While our Fairfax County @VATF1 continues their efforts in #Türkiye, you may be wondering if there are ways we can help out. The Turkish Embassy is collecting donations now through Sunday!” Donations can be taken directly to the embassy in D.C., but there will also be a collection box in the Target lobby at the Mosaic District until Feb. 26. [Jeff McKay/Twitter, Dalia Palchik]
Police Seek Information About Lorton Shooting — “At 1:50 p.m. on Feb. 4, officers responded to Dixon Street and 4th Place in Lorton for the report of shots fired. Officers learned that an altercation between the occupants of a silver 4-door sedan and a gold 4-door sedan took place that led to an exchange of gunfire.” [FCPD/Facebook]
Bailey’s Crossroads Live/Work Development Gets Support — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission at its Feb. 8 meeting agreed to recommend approval of a rezoning for a second live/work project at the Skyline Center…Seldin’s project to develop live/work units at buildings 1, 2, and 3 at the Skyline Center is nearing completion. The first units are expected to be ready for occupancy in May.” [Annandale Today]
Freed Nicaraguan Prisoners Arrive at Dulles Airport — “This flight to the U.S comes just a few years after the Nicaraguan government began arresting activists and political opponents in an attempt to quell opposition. As reports of the flight’s destination, Dulles Airport, became public, dozens throughout the Nicaraguan community made their way there to welcome the freed prisoners.” [DCist]
FCPD Focuses on Richmond Highway 7-Elevens — “In the wake of numerous crimes committed at 7-Eleven convenience stores around the Richmond Highway area this past year, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has increased its presence and engagement at area locations.” [On the MoVe]
County Collects Over 5,000 Tons of Glass — “In 2022 Fairfax County’s Purple Can Club program collected more than 5,231 tons of glass–a slight increase when compared to 2021 (approximately 63 tons). The county also received two new collection locations at Burke Virginia Railway Express and Saratoga Park and Ride — thus making 18 collection locations across Fairfax County.” [DPWES]
Reston Restaurant Group Has Big Plans — “With a projected annual growth rate of 15% to 20%, Thompson Hospitality aims to become an enterprise with revenue exceeding $1 billion within two years…Its operations in 48 states and six countries include the pact with Compass and retail brands like Matchbox, Milk and Honey, Big Buns, Wise Guys Pizza, Velocity Wings, and Makers Union.” [Black Enterprise]
Former Reston Player Now in Basketball Hall of Fame — “Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill, 50, discusses what it was like playing high school basketball in Reston and why he decided to write his autobiography.” Hill was a core part of South Lakes High School’s team before graduating and finding success at Duke University. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 68 and low of 50. Sunrise at 7:07 am and sunset at 5:41 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County is adding speed cameras to monitor drivers around schools for the first time.
The photo speed-monitoring devices will be installed near eight schools across the county tomorrow (Friday) as part of a pilot program approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in December, the county announced today.
Here is where the cameras will be located:
- Kirby Road near Chesterbrook Elementary School in McLean
- Old Keene Mill Road near Irving Middle School in West Springfield
- Franconia Road near Key Middle School in Springfield
- Stone Road near London Towne Elementary School in Centreville
- Sleepy Hollow Road near Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Lake Barcroft
- Silver Brook Road near South County Middle School in Lorton
- Soapstone Drive near Terraset Elementary School in Reston
- Rolling Road near West Springfield High School in West Springfield
Oakton High School isn’t in the initial lineup, but a camera will be added on Blake Lane near Sutton Road in the future, the county says.
A crash that killed two of the school’s students and left a third seriously injured last June was a major factor in convincing county leaders to adopt speed cameras. Police said the driver — an 18-year-old who had just graduated from the school — was going 81 mph when he hit the students on Blake Lane at the Five Oaks Road intersection.
The pilot will also bring a speed camera to the construction work zone on Route 28 near Old Mill Road at the edge of Centreville. Crews are currently working to widen the road.
“The goal of the Speed Camera Pilot program is to improve the safety of our roads, protect pedestrians and motorists and prevent accidents,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “This program, in coordination with the Police Department and Fairfax County Public Schools, is a critical tool to deter dangerous behavior and ultimately save lives. As you drive in our neighborhoods and school zones — the message is clear, please take a moment to slow down.”
The county says thousands of drivers were seen exceeding the speed limit by over 10 mph during a survey of five school zones last year, suggesting that speeding “is prevalent” in those areas.
During the first 30 days of the pilot program, drivers caught speeding will receive a warning. After that, fines of up to $100 will start to kick in for any drivers who exceed the speed limit by 10 mph.
Traffic safety, particularly for pedestrians, has emerged as a top priority for both the county’s elected officials and the police department this year after fatalities surged in 2022. The Board of Supervisors is also pushing for Fairfax County Public Schools to install cameras on its school buses, asking earlier this week why a program hasn’t already been implemented.
“We continue to see motorists traveling at speeds well above the posted speed limit and too many crashes are occurring in our county as a result,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said. “This program provides a great tool to help reduce speed, deter pedestrian crashes, and keep our communities safe.”
Local drivers got an introduction to speed cameras in Fairfax City, which launched them in school zones last year. Programs are also in the works in Alexandria, Arlington and Falls Church.
At Herndon Middle School, a teacher has taken the issue of student meal debt in his own hands.
Science and special education teacher Gabe Segal has worked with other staff and nonprofit organizations to pay off more than $1,000 in student meal debts at the school.
“I’ve always prided myself on building relationships with students, staff and families in the community,” Segal wrote in a statement to FFXnow. “As I’ve gotten to know the students and community, I realized the impact the pandemic and inflation has had on them. Although 1/3 of students qualify for free meals, some families have fallen through the cracks.”
His goal is to pay off lunch debt at the school and start a larger effort to establish free, universal meals in the county and, eventually, the state.
Meal debt stands at $708,140 across Fairfax County Public Schools, as of mid-January.
According to FCPS data, end-of-year balances hovered around $101,000 in the 2021-2022 academic year, $153,000 in 2020-2021, $212,000 in 2019-2020 and $214,000 in 2018-2019.
As of October 2021, roughly 31% of students in FCPS qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The costs of breakfast and lunch are determined by the school board, while the cost of reduced-price meals are established by the federal government.
For elementary school students, breakfast currently costs $1.75, and a lunch costs $3.25.
Families with an income of less than 130% of the poverty level quality for free meals, while those with incomes between 130 and 185% of the poverty level qualify for reduced-price meals.
Under a state law amended last year, school employees are prohibited from requiring students who aren’t able to pay for a meal or who have meal debt to throw away meals after they are served.
Additionally, meal debt can’t be used to bar students from participating in extracurricular school activities. School systems can receive donations or other funds to eliminate or offset meal debt.
FCPS did not immediately indicate how it handles meal debt upon graduation. A spokesperson for the school system did not respond to a request for comment on what accounts for the current rise in meal debt.
For the first two years of the pandemic, all students were able to get meals for free under waivers funded by federal relief money, resulting in a major uptick in cafeteria food distribution.
That allowance ended on July 1, 2022, but FCPS is still offering free meals to students at 34 schools this year through a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Herndon Middle School is not one of the schools included in that program.
Photo via Google Maps
Fairfax County Public Schools is spending what amounts to two full elementary school renovations per year on unexpected increases in construction costs.
Ahead of a school board meeting on the fiscal year 2024-2028 capital improvements program (CIP) tonight (Thursday), one of the major talking points has been the dramatic impact those increases in construction costs have had on the school system’s construction and renovation plans.
At a work session last month, FCPS staff opened up about how badly the construction costs have affected the district’s reserve funding — specifically a “facilities reserve” used to help fund projects.
“At the start of 2022, that balance was $31 million,” interim assistant superintendent Chuck Fanshaw said. “The current reserve balance is at $16 million…There’s an unprecedented amount of escalation [in costs] over the last year that was anticipated by no one.”
Fanshaw said upcoming construction costs are coming in at around 30% over what had been budgeted, totaling around $28 million across four projects. There will be more specific numbers, Fanshaw said, once those projects go to bid in March.
Providence District School Board Representative Karl Frisch laid out the trouble FCPS is facing with the current construction cost crisis.
“In layman’s terms: we’ve spent half of the reserve and Falls Church High School still needs another $33 million in addition to what it was bonded for, even though we only have $16 million left in the reserve, and to address this, you’re thinking of including something to address this in the next bond,” he said.
Frisch said FCPS has spent more than $50 million in unanticipated construction costs — enough to finance two school renovations.
“Typically an elementary school renovation costs $25 million,” Frisch said. “We’re talking about the ability to renovate two elementary schools that we’ve had in additional costs, not to mention the money from the reserve that was spent.”
Frisch suggested FCPS may want to slow down its construction timeline to see if the construction materials market evens out, citing reports of declining lumber prices as a sign that some relief may be ahead.
“No one wants to slow things down, but we’re shooting ourselves in the foot by pouring this money out the window instead of waiting, perhaps a year, to see if prices stabilize for construction materials,” Frisch said. “There’s not a lot we can do about prevailing wages, but where we can do something is the cost of materials for construction.”
Frisch argued that the worst-case scenario is construction slows down, but the best-case scenario is that FCPS saves $40-50 million that would have been spent on overpriced construction materials.
Fanshaw said the rate of increase will likely go down from the current spike, but it’s unlikely the cost of construction will go back to pre-pandemic levels.
“The rate will go down, so it won’t be increasing as much, but nobody sees a retreat at this point in time to the previous level,” Fanshaw said. “It’s worth monitoring and it’s going to have a huge impact. Every school system I’ve talked to is wrestling with the same question at this point in time. The reality is the dollars are what they are, we can build up to the dollars we have, which means it’s going to take longer.”
Chief Operating Officer Marty Smith said the idea of holding off on purchasing to see where the market goes holds true for school real estate as well:
The logic you’re using for brick and mortar also holds true for real estate. When you think about the environment we’re currently in for real estate, when you think about interest rates, it might be prudent for us to come together with recommendations for us to think about the timing on certain purchases so we can maximize our spending power for major land purchases down the road.
The proposed FY 2024-2028 CIP identifies funding for 25 renovation projects over the next five years, along with the Justice High School expansion and new construction on Dunn Loring and Silver Line elementary schools.
Photo via Josh Olalde on Unsplash
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By Kara Osborne, Esq.
There are many protections in the law for employees in the workplace, specifically, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) which makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), or national origin.
Gender Stereotyping in the Workplace
Title VII also makes it unlawful to use policies or practices that seem neutral but have a discriminatory effect against people because of the abovementioned protected classes. That being said, sex or gender stereotyping is a less obvious form of sex discrimination, and it occurs when an employer discriminates against an employee because he or she does not follow the “expected” gender stereotypes and impressions.
The pivotal case regarding Title VII gender stereotyping claims is Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228, 109 S. Ct. 1775, 104 L. Ed. 2d 268 (1989). In this case, the Supreme Court stated that evidence of an employer’s gender stereotyping could be used to prove that an employee faced unlawful sex discrimination. The Supreme Court held that “as for the legal relevance of sex stereotyping, we are beyond the day when an employer could evaluate employees by assuming or insisting that they matched the stereotype associated with their group…”
While Price Waterhouse dealt with sex stereotypes regarding women, many subsequent cases apply the standard against sexual stereotyping to men, such as patriarchal, transgender and gay stereotypes such as not “acting” how their perceived gender would act.
Treating employees adversely for not conforming to sex stereotypes of any kind, not just “femininity”, is a form of unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII. Justice Neil Gorsuch and the United States Supreme Court in 2020 (Bostock v. Clayton County, 140 S. Ct. 1731, 1737 (2020), held that “an employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex.” The Supreme Court further stated that when an individual is fired because of their sexuality or gender identity, “sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.”
Although our society has come a long way in terms of equality in the workplace, there still is a pervasive issue when it comes to intrinsic stereotypes based on a person’s sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
An employer who fires an individual for being gay or transgender does so for traits that it would not have questioned in members of a different sex, just as if an employer fires a woman for acting “too aggressively” or not dressing femininely or a man for not conforming to patriarchal expectations. These limited examples show how employment decisions “because of” sex stereotyping are in direct violation of Title VII and are actionable for employees.
Contact Us
If you are an employee in need of employment law representation, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook and Twitter.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Reston native Nate Mook was honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday (Feb. 7) for his humanitarian work around the globe.
A Restonian who attended South Lakes High School, Mook served as the former CEO for the World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization founded by chef and philanthropist Jose Andres that serves chef-prepared meals to communities hit by natural disasters and other crises.
He is also a filmmaker behind movies like “Baltimore Rising,” which followed the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore police custody in 2015. He has made documentaries around the world, including in Somalia, Panama and Iraq, according to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
At the meeting, Mook said his roots in Reston helped define his work.
“It truly is an honor to be here today, not only because I grew up in Reston and Fairfax County, but because as Supervisor Alcorn mentioned, it really shaped who I am today. This is a community where service to others, I think, is a central, core value,” Mook said.
It was an absolute honor to recognize Reston native and @southlakeshs grad @natemook at today’s Board meeting. His humanitarian efforts as CEO for @WCKitchen, work in Ukraine & globally are inspiring! #HunterMill pic.twitter.com/cuxxU93A2a
— Supervisor Walter Alcorn (@WalterAlcornFFX) February 7, 2023
Chairman Jeff McKay lauded Mook for his work.
“We’re so proud of you and inspired by you, and certainly wish you continued success. The need is out there, but knowing there are people like you in this world, I think we can all rest a little bit easier,” McKay said.
Mook joined World Central Kitchen in 2017 to lead food relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. He became CEO the next year and has since traveled worldwide, including several months in Ukraine. Under his leadership, the nonprofit organization has served more than 60 million meals.
He is the son of historian Sarah Larson, who founded Reston Museum.
Fairfax County officials have waited a decade now for public school buses to be outfitted with video cameras, and their patience is wearing thin.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Tuesday (Feb. 7) asking Fairfax County Public Schools to explain why it has yet to implement a school bus stop-arm camera program that staff started exploring back in 2013.
The supervisors emphasized the program’s urgency after a year of surging pedestrian fatalities, including some crashes that killed students but didn’t directly involve school buses.
“It’s inconceivable to me that the school board or school administration has ignored this opportunity to make our children safe,” Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said. “…You don’t have to be on the roads very long around here to see people passing school buses. Something bad is going to happen if we don’t implement this program.”
FCPS “is working with a vendor and the contract is in review,” a spokesperson told FFXnow, but it had no further comment on the delays or a possible timeline going forward.
Failing to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading students is prohibited in Virginia, which imposes a civil fine of $250 for violations.
After the state gave localities the authority to let their schools install video-monitoring systems in 2011, Foust led the county board in directing staff on Oct. 29, 2013 to work with FCPS on adding cameras, according Chairman Jeff McKay’s board matter.
What followed, however, was a flurry of legal questions requiring more state legislation to clarify that police departments can mail summons to violators and permit vendors access to Department of Motor Vehicles data.
Once those concerns were resolved, FCPS staff notified Foust’s office in January 2020 that a vendor had been selected and contract negotiations were underway — only for COVID-19 to put those talks on hold.
FCPS procurement staff then learned in April 2021 that their contact for the vendor had left the company, leaving them unsure whether the existing offer was still viable.
In December 2021, McKay sent a letter to then-Fairfax County School Board chair Stella Pekarsky proposing that a camera program be in place by summer 2022, but neither the school board nor FCPS responded.
After getting an “informal” update this past December, McKay says he has “lost my patience with the excuses that seem to come up from the working group repeatedly,” which he reported range from the disruptions of the pandemic to questions about the availability of police resources.
“I want to hear exactly why this hasn’t been started and hear exactly what the timeline will look like to implement this,” McKay said, noting that all the school board and community members he’s talked to support the program. “…I don’t know that I’ve ever seen something so widely supported, and yet, so miserably delayed, and it’s time to act on this.”
The board’s request comes as Fairfax County prepares to install speed cameras in school and work zones. The county has yet to announce the sites for its pilot program, but County Executive Bryan Hill said Tuesday that the cameras will be put in place next week.
Hill told the board he will talk to FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid about getting an update on the bus cameras “hopefully” in the next two weeks.
Rachna Sizemore-Heizer, an at-large school board member and the current chair, says the county can expect an update soon.
“FCPS is negotiating with the vendor and working through details with our County partners around budget implications, scope, and implementation responsibility,” she said in a statement to FFXnow. “I look forward to providing an update soon.”
Virginia school systems with bus stop-arm cameras include Falls Church City, Arlington and Newport News.
According to the National Safety Council, school bus-related crashes killed 1,252 people in the U.S. from 2011 to 2020, about 5% of them bus passengers. About 70% of those fatalities were occupants of other vehicles and 16% were pedestrians, though it’s unclear if that includes students walking to or from a bus.
Beware of Tax Scam — “Some residents may have received a ‘distraint warrant’ letter from the ‘Tax Assessment Securities.’ This scam alleges that a warrant has been issued against the recipient due to delinquent tax debt and states the Federal Tax Authorities may take enforcement action to satisfy the debt. Fairfax County did not send this letter and is not connected with it in any way.” [Department of Tax Administration]
Virginia Task Force 1 Lands in Turkey — “WHEELS DOWN: Two flights carrying @usaid search and rescue experts from @vatf1 @ffxfirerescue & @LACOFD just touched down in #Türkiye. Team members will soon be working to search for survivors of these deadly earthquakes.” [USAID/Twitter]
Auto Parts Thief Arrested in Merrifield — “Catalytic converter thief caught! Monday night, officers were called to Kings Chapel Rd in Merrifield for a man stealing a catalytic converter. Officers found & arrested the man. In his truck, they found four catalytic converters & three A/C units.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Police Seize $500K in Drugs From Huntington Man — A 28-year-old Huntington man was arrested and charged on multiple drug-related counts after Fairfax County police found marijuana and THC products in his vehicle and home. The investigation began with a traffic stop after detectives learned that he was allegedly transporting drugs from out of the state. [FCPD/Facebook]
FCPD Tests New License Plate Readers — “A new type of license plate reader technology adopted by the Fairfax County Police Department is already yielding positive results in the department’s effort to catch car thieves and solve other crimes.” The FCPD is the first police agency in the D.C. area to use the Flock Safety License Plate Readers, starting with an eight-week test period that began in November. [Patch]
Community Gardens Available at Culmore Park — “The newly developed Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in the Culmore area includes a large, fenced community garden with 34 raised 6-feet-by-9-feet garden beds available to rent for one year — February through November…The Hogge Park Community Garden Plots are rented at an annual cost of $80.” [FCPA]
Teens Lead After-School Arts Program in Reston — “Something very special is happening at Dogwood Elementary School in Reston. Friendships are blossoming, and kids are learning as teenagers mentor smaller kids in music and art…The Tuesday after-school program is the brainchild of Ella Kim, 15, and Emma Kim, 13 — sisters who are classically trained musicians.” [WTOP]
Tysons Corner Center Owner Reports Strong Year — “Macerich’s slice of high-end retail property is surpassing even the national mall landlord’s big expectations. The real estate investment trust said it signed nearly 975 leases last year totaling more than 3.8 million square feet, demand not seen since the Great Recession.” [CoStar News]
It’s Thursday — Overcast throughout the day. High of 66 and low of 45. Sunrise at 7:08 am and sunset at 5:40 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County and several other localities have released a draft of the Regional Fair Housing Plan that not only provides some goals for housing, but comes with a look at specific zoning changes that can be made to help achieve those goals.
The plan was put together by a team of representatives from eight localities, including Fairfax County, and a few partner groups. A 60-day public comment period is scheduled to run through March 31, allowing locals to submit their thoughts on the plan.
The plan comes as Fairfax County considers drastic measures to try to boost the supply of affordable housing countywide, including compelling developers to replace affordable housing lost in redevelopment.
The overall goals laid out in the Regional Fair Housing Plan are:
- Increase the supply of affordable housing for families earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the region — especially where there hasn’t been any.
- Change zoning and land use policies to expand access to fair housing. Increase the development, geographic distribution, and supply of affordable housing.
- Implement policies to preserve affordable housing and prevent displacement of residents. Keep the same number of existing affordable rental units in our region.
- Increase the number of homeowners in the region and reduce the unequal treatment and discriminatory practices that keep members of protected classes from buying a home.
- Protect the housing rights of individuals who are part of protected groups. For example, people of color, those with disabilities and seniors.
- Increase community integration and reduce housing barriers for people with disabilities.
- Make public transit easier to access and afford for members of protected classes.
Each of the goals comes with strategies for localities to pursue. Some of the potential zoning changes, for example, involve not only reducing limitations on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also offering incentives to homeowners who want to build them on their properties.
The plan also lists fair housing goals and strategies for specific localities. For Fairfax County, it suggests:
- Reform the county’s for-sale workforce dwelling unit policy by lowering income requirements and creating a separate policy for high-rise condominiums outside Tysons
- Protect the housing rights of individuals in protected groups
Fairfax County has its own 231-page document in the plan outlining the current state of affordable housing, a history of affordable housing policies, and what work remains ahead. The document includes a detailed breakdown of economic stratification in the county.
According to the report, Black and white communities in Fairfax County are “moderately” segregated. In fact, the county’s white residents are more segregated from non-white residents than at any point since 1990.
According to the document:
Fairfax County’s highest priority should be to work to expand the housing choices of existing and potential new residents beyond the neighborhoods dominated by their own race or ethnicity. It needs to make African Americans aware that housing is available to them throughout Fairfax County. It needs to make Asians and Hispanics aware that housing is available to them outside enclaves in which concentrations have developed. It needs to expand the housing choices of Caucasians to include racially integrated neighborhoods. If White households do not continue to move into integrated neighborhoods, these neighborhoods inevitably resegregate.
Beyond just increasing the supply of affordable units, the plan makes policy suggestions aimed at making housing more accessible to seniors, people with disabilities, and other protected classes.
One strategy involves creating a loan fund to help tenants, nonprofit groups and local governments buy apartments and manufactured home parks that are for sale.
“Adopt design standards that require accessible units in new multifamily developments that receive public funds,” the document said. “10% of all units must be accessible to people with mobility disabilities and at least 4% for those with hearing and/or vision disabilities.”
