Dear Friends,  This has been a very difficult week in our nation and in our County. On top of the spreading pandemic we have seen: the graphic murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis on May 25th; the continuing anger and rage across the country at yet another such murder; the violent break up of a largely peaceful protest at Lafayette Park on Monday so that the President could have a photo op; and the withdrawal of our Arlington police from the Park because of the misuse of their presence.  (Please see the Board's letter condemning Mr. Floyd's murder.) I’ve … [Read more...]

https://libbygarvey.com/2020/06/03/1689/

Dear Friends, When I first decided I should update you on entering Phase 1, my plan was to focus on Covid-19. This update still does that. But now that we have learned of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the anger and grief it has understandably sparked around the country, I’d like to talk a little about how we navigate these dark times.A Cancer in our NationI am committed to equity and I believe Arlington, as a community, is too. However, this pandemic has revealed how very far from equity we are. Our vulnerable populations suffer far more than the rest with higher … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, COVID-19 continues to dominate all of what the County Board does and our May meeting was no exception.   Manager’s Authority:This week we voted to extend our continuity of government ordinance until June. This legally allows us to continue to do our work virtually; and for some of our commissions to continue their work virtually as well. There was some concern that we were granting too much authority to the County Manager during the pandemic. While the ordinance allows the Manager to take actions that he ordinarily would bring to the  Board first, he does … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, Today, five of my regional colleagues -- from Fairfax, Loudoun & Prince William Counties & the City of Alexandria -- and I participated virtually in Governor Northam’s regular COVID-19 Update press conference. We spelled out the reasons, based on scientific data that Northern Virginia is not yet ready to safely move to Phase 1 of the Governor’s reopening strategy. Regional leaders, health directors and staff spent most of the past weekend making sure we all understood the current situation in ou r region and worked to coordinate what we wanted the … [Read more...]

Dear Friends,We continue to be busy on the County Board. Last week we adopted our budget and handled some more usual land-use decisions, including approving the Artis Senior Assisted Living facility on Lee Highway. Of course, COVID-19 continues to consume much of our time.  FY’21 Budget ($1.3 Million): This budget is about $56M less than first proposed in January. We kept the tax rate the same, so real estate taxes will go up by the rate assessments, but not more. During this time of crisis, some people may have difficulty paying their taxes. We decided that targeted assistance … [Read more...]

Dear Friends,  As readers know, my Vice Chair, colleague and friend Erik Gutshall has been battling brain cancer. He announced on Monday that he has decided to resign his position on the Board. After Erik joined the Board in 2017, we became friends and found that we were aligned on many issues. We came to appreciate each other’s strengths and, this year, became a strong leadership team. My heart aches for him and his family. His presence on the Board will be dearly missed. Erik and his family have appreciated the cards, letters and emails of support that have been pouring in. Please … [Read more...]

Dear Friends,I want you to see this important announcement right away. The District of Columbia will be ordering everyone to shelter in place at 8pm tonight. This does not apply to people in Virginia, but I do want to emphasize that it’s crucial that everyone stay at home as much as possible. We all want to help, but just staying at home is helping…..a lot.   Thank you, Libby SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL ARLINGTON RESIDENTSArlington County Government sent this bulletin at 03/25/2020 07:07 PM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View … [Read more...]

Dear Friends, As you know, I am temporarily suspending campaigning for my re-election due to the rapidly changing situation with COVID-19. I am now focusing on ensuring our resiliency as a community so we can get through this health and economic crisis and prepare to recover as quickly as possible.Many of us are eager to help our neighbors and small businesses and want to know how to do so in ways that protect our public health. I am heartened to see efforts springing up hourly to organize community assistance.I am repurposing my campaign organization and volunteers to leverage and … [Read more...]