This week I am following up with further impressions about the County Board Townhall session on October 26. But first, I need to express my gratitude for the remarkable work of all the Election Officers who spent countless hours safeguarding the electoral process on November 3. As a poll observer for several hours in one of Arlington’s precincts, I was grateful for the work of the thirteen election officers who were there for more than fifteen hours, getting everything ready, dealing with the crowds, and closing it all down at the end of the night, making certain that the ballots were correctly packed up and sealed. It was exhausting just to see all the coordinated activity in the hours after voting ended. And this was only one of fifty-four precincts – we are so fortunate in Arlington to be able to staff all the precincts with these civic heroes (they get paid a minimal amount for their efforts – in my mind, they all are “Volunteers of the Year” for stepping up and doing the work). 

Now, back to the Townhall. One topic I did not get to last week involved a warning about a growing healthcare problem. Pursuant to federal legislation in 2024, legal immigrants who are not permanent residents lost eligibility for Medicaid starting October 1, 2026. Speakers associated with the Arlington Free Clinic made note of the coming impact of this loss of funding, which will strain the workload of local jurisdictions and organizations such as the Arlington Free Clinic. This is also a state-wide issue, as state officials estimate that more than 300,000 Medicaid recipients are at risk of losing their coverage. The reality is that the state cannot fully make up for the lost federal funds, and as a result, local jurisdictions will have to either step up their assistance or face a health crisis (just as flu season comes along). Another speaker mentioned the issue of healthcare by “introducing” the County Board to the value provided by the multi-state organization that goes by the acronym of RAM (which stands for Remote Area Medical). RAM, a non-profit organization operating in several states, provides free “pop-up” medical clinics in communities where people lack access to routine healthcare. The speaker was a volunteer at a recent clinic in Takoma Park, and suggested that this RAM model could be of benefit to Arlington citizens who may lack the funds for access to the basic services provided by RAM. 

One specific housing community, known as Ballston Park, garnered a lot of attention at the Townhall. Built in 1937, Ballston Park is a 512-unit garden-style apartment in the general area of the intersection of Glebe Road and Pershing Drive. It is part of the Buckingham Village Local Historic District and contains 233 “committed affordable units.” These rental units are “committed” because they are subject to covenants restricting rents to amounts deemed affordable for a specific income level. These restrictions expire at the end of 2027, which could be a turning point for the community. In certain situations, an owner might completely re-develop such a community (often creating more density and more expensive units). Housing advocates at the Townhall urged the County to be pro-active in this matter. As it turns out, the County is in the process of conducting a planning study, with a charge to “evaluate a full spectrum of preservation and redevelopment scenarios, with the goal of identifying approaches that meaningfully extend housing affordability while protecting the historic and architectural significance of Ballston Park” (that is one challenging “charge”). 

Finally, I would like to address two questions about the Townhall. First: what was not mentioned? I did not hear anything about the “form of government” issue the County has been studying. Perhaps the fact that the County will be receiving an independent report this month satisfies, at this time, the proponents for changes. And the second question: Is it worthwhile to have a Townhall? I would say “yes” – it is worthwhile for the public, not only to be heard, but to hear the concerns of others in the community. Of course, it is up to the County Board to determine which concerns are a priority for action.