Dear Friends, At last! Biden is the President-elect and has overcome voter suppression, voter intimidation, a pandemic, and an Electoral College system that makes a Democratic win extremely difficult even with a large popular vote margin. And at last for the first time in our history, we have a woman and a woman of color Vice President-elect.Over the last two presidential elections, the flaws in our democracy have become so clear.I am grateful to everyone nationwide who stood in line to vote, knocked doors, made calls, wrote postcards. I am grateful to the thousands of public servants who … [Read more...]
Four More Years
Dear Friends, As we all wait for the national results, I want to express my gratitude and thank many important people. First, thank you my readers and supporters. Your support has allowed me to serve Arlington for another term. It truly is an honor and a privilege to serve Arlington County. I want to thank my opponent, Audrey Clement, for running. It is not easy to run, and I know that Audrey is passionate about wanting to improve our community. While she and I don't always agree on how to do things, we all benefit from active campaigns that bring a range of ideas to the table. Debate and … [Read more...]
VOTE EARLY! Absentee In-Person Or Ballot Dropbox
Dear Friends,Voting is in FULL swing! The election might be on November 3rd but there’s already been record-breaking turnout for early voters, especially among Democrats. If voters continue this momentum, we’ll have much-needed change in the White House, the Congress, and more! This year, it’s more important than ever to vote early! Voting early and using a dropbox means: -- No wondering if your ballot got there on time-- No standing in crowded lines - stay healthy and avoid potentially bad weather-- No question whether your voice is being heard October 31st is the LAST … [Read more...]
Volunteer For Libby’s Postcards To Voters Event
Dear Friends: Please Join Us to write Postcards from your home & GOTV(Get Out the Vote) for this November’s All Important Election. Saturday, October 3rd10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83220206136?pwd=Z3lOOFZ0NGpBTzRjeGhiMmUzQldvZz09If you can’t join us on Saturday, you can still write postcards; please give us a call.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ RSVPs: info@libbygarvey.com Postcards can be picked up fromLibby’s front porch: 4264 S. 35th Street, 22206Brendan's on Columbia … [Read more...]
Fall, Election & Voting
Dear Friends,I recently sent out a postal mailing which you may have received. But if you did not, the text is below with some links about voting. "As this very strange year and election cycle enters the last quarter of 2020, I am writing to tell you a little of what I think our future could look like. As you know, I suspended my campaign for much of this year so I could concentrate on our County response to the pandemic. Now I must return to campaigning to finish my re-election effort and I ask for your support. Please see my website to make a donation.While I am thrilled to … [Read more...]
July Meeting, Gun Safety, Schools, Childcare, Police & Kojo Show
Dear Friends,July's meetings took three days. We handled issues associated with the pandemic as well as more traditional items. WETA & ShirlingtonThe County Board continues to take up some of the typical land use issues. We approved WETA's expansion plan and renewed their incentive grant to keep our public broadcasting station in its longtime home of Shirlington. I’m delighted. While our agreement with WETA was supported by just about everyone, the item of amendments to our General Land Use Plan (GLUP) zoning for Shirlington divided many people. This was understandable. We … [Read more...]
June Board Meeting, Systemic Racism & COVID
Dear Friends,June continued to be a turbulent time on the Board and in our nation. I’ll briefly cover our board meeting, but talk more about COVID-19 and Systemic Racism, both of which I view as plagues on our nation and which have been consuming most of our time. COVID-19We moved into Phase 2 on June 15th and likely will move to Phase 3 in a few weeks. We set up a way for restaurants to be able to provide increased outdoor seating without a lengthy permit process. Through our “We Are Covered” program businesses, churches and apartment buildings can fill out an online form and … [Read more...]
June 6th March for Solidarity
Dear Friends, This email is just a quick one to let you know that Christian Dorsey, I and others are leading a Solidarity Walk in a peaceful protest against racial oppression, demanding meaningful and urgent reforms for racial justice on Saturday, the 6th at 12 noon. The details are in the invitation, which I hope you will share with your own friends. We will wear face coverings and keep some distance between us. The events of the last few days are just too much for us to stay home. Together, we will walk from Courthouse past the Iwo Jima Memorial, across the … [Read more...]
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...]
A Cancer in our Nation & Phase 1 Reopening
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...]
