Every year, County Supervisors from across Virginia gather in Richmond for VACo /VML Legislative Day. The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia Municipal League (VML) sponsor the day-long event; last week, more than 500 local elected officials joined in the advocacy day, calling on state senators and delegates to support, or oppose, legislation making its way through the General Assembly process. Given the pace of the legislative process at this point in the session, a bill can be killed in committee before the advocates get a chance to speak. Nonetheless, explaining the effect of a bill on a locality often proves eye-opening to General Assembly members.

Online commenters on Nextdoor are bemoaning our “McMansion pandemic,” described also in letters to the editor as “monsterfication” of Arlington’s suburban housing stock.

The debate focused on a county ordinance to add prevailing wage language for work performed under county construction contracts.

Last November, Glenn Youngkin won the gubernatorial election with a 1.9 percent margin over his opponent, Terry McAuliffe. By most standards this slim margin would not be considered a license to change the course of a well-run state rated the number one place to do business and amongst the best in the nation to raise a family. What it does reflect is a great division within our Commonwealth and our communities more than just the obvious of urban vs. rural.

So finally we say goodbye to both the Washington Redskins and the “we try harder” Washington Football Team.

Checking the two lead stories in this edition, the City of Falls Church is really on a roll when it comes to economic development. One story touts the imminent advance of yet another mixed use project in the center of town, and the other highlights the impending opening of the long-awaited new multi-screen, dine at your seat movie complex. Both stories include lots of other things going on around these developments, as well.

It happened again this morning. The first driver stopped at the neighborhood intersection STOP sign, and had the right-of-way, while the second driver simply ignored the sign and barreled through the intersection, without slowing down. Fortunately, the first driver knew enough to wait for the cross traffic to pass. This was not the first time a driver blew through that STOP sign. In fact, in unscientific observations at that particular intersection, drivers failed to stop more than 50 percent of the time. Some slowed down, or hesitated, but none came to a full, braked stop. Sound familiar?

After two years of corporate and pandemic delays, BB&T Bank and SunTrust on Feb. 20 will officially become Truist.

Last week I had the distinct honor of being sworn in for my 5th term representing greater Falls Church in the Virginia House of Delegates. The 60-day “long” session that has just begun will be my 9th session as a Delegate.

Fairfax County’s geographic location, adjacent to the white-hot center of global politics, provides the foundation for an economy based on government employment and contracts. That was the image of Fairfax County for decades, as the county grew exponentially following the end of World War II. Sometimes overlooked was the small business sector, which maintains a symbiotic relationship with the community it serves. Customers rely on small business, and vice versa, for many of their everyday needs.