Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

Countywide

Fairfax leaders urged to consider ranked-choice voting for upcoming supervisor races

By Scott McCaffrey
Voters fill out their ballots for the 2023 Democratic primary at Bailey's Community Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A local youth recently reminded Fairfax County supervisors they still have time to turn their elections next year into ranked-choice voting events.

“It is a very realistic goal,” said John Tashkhanov, speaking at the monthly public comment session at the tail end of the Sept. 29 Board of Supervisors meeting.

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News

Ban on boat, trailer parking approved for some Dranesville District roads

By Scott McCaffrey
Map showing proposed CPD areas around Dranesville and Herndon within Fairfax County, with existing CPD districts and town boundaries.
Location of new Dranesville Community Parking District (via Fairfax County)

Owners of boats, recreational vehicles and trailers now have fewer parking options in Fairfax County’s Dranesville District.

The county’s Board of Supervisors voted 10-0 on Sept. 29 to create the new community parking district, prohibiting many larger vehicles, watercraft and trailers from being parked on public streets in designated residential areas.

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Countywide

Fairfax County’s total workforce is smallest since spring 2022, state data shows

By Scott McCaffrey
Virginia Career Works Northern Region table at a University of Virginia job fair in August 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Despite a declining unemployment rate, Fairfax County in August recorded its smallest civilian workforce count in four-and-a-half years, according to new state data.

With 607,418 residents employed and 20,842 seeking jobs, August’s unemployment rate was 3.3%, according to figures reported Sept. 30 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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News

Fairfax, regional leaders eager to turn Route 7 bus rapid transit from plan to reality

By Scott McCaffrey
Bus at a busy intersection with cars lined up and pedestrians nearby on a blue-sky day. A no U-turn sign is visible near the curb.
Pedestrians and Metrobus Route F20 to Tysons waits at a traffic light on Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) near Pimmit Hills on Feb. 14, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County leaders and their regional counterparts are champing at the bit to get moving on a coordinated Route 7 bus rapid transit (BRT) network.

“If there’s only one thing I hope to see in my lifetime, it’s this project,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said half-jokingly at an Oct. 1 meeting of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) board of directors.

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News

County board opens door for larger Reston Community Center facility in Lake Anne area

By Scott McCaffrey
People walk into Reston Community Center's Lake Anne facility (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors set the stage last Tuesday (Sept. 29) for a potential new Reston Community Center satellite facility in the Lake Anne Plaza area.

Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize a comprehensive plan amendment increasing the amount of non-residential development allowed on the 16.5-acre Crescent Apartments property from 2,000 to 30,000 square feet.

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Countywide

Tysons apartment costs rise, other areas of county see drop in new data

By Scott McCaffrey
Modern multi-story apartment building with balconies, set on a grassy hill under a cloudy sky; a banner on the left reads 'Now Leasing'
The Point at McLean apartments in Tysons with a "now leasing" banner (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s median apartment rents declined 0.8% year-over-year in September, as the rental market cools down for the second half of the year.

Median countywide rents were $2,052 for one-bedroom units, $2,377 for two bedrooms and $2,395 for all units, according to figures reported Sept. 29 by Apartment List.

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News

‘Momentous’ groundbreaking sets stage for new health, community center in Fairfax City

By Scott McCaffrey
Group of diverse officials and community members shovel dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Willard Sherwood Health & Community Center.
Groundbreaking at Willard Sherman Health & Community Center (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax City officials and some of their Fairfax County colleagues gathered Wednesday (Sept. 30) to kick off an expected three years of construction of the future Willard-Sherwood Health & Community Center.

Built on the Blenheim Blvd site long occupied by the Joseph Willard Health Center, the new 100,000-square-foot facility will serve both city and county residents with health offices and recreational programming.

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News

Supervisors further restrict student parking around McLean High School

By Scott McCaffrey
Red brick sign reading 'McLean High School' with large MC logo in front of the campus entrance.
McLean High School entrance (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Parking options are about to become more limited for students at McLean High School.

Members of the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday (Sept. 29) to add another local street into the residential parking district that surrounds the high school.

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News

Windscreen designs for Route 1 bus rapid transit stations approved

By Scott McCaffrey
Windscreen designs for several stations along The One bus rapid transit (via Fairfax County)

County supervisors on Tuesday (Sept. 29) approved designs for windscreen artwork to be placed at the nine stations along “The One,” Fairfax’s future Richmond Highway bus rapid transit corridor.

Each of the designs reflects a theme related to the area surrounding a station. Submissions were sought from artists as part of the project’s “Community Charm” initiative.

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News

Fairfax County supervisors honor outgoing leaders in economic development, human services arenas

By Scott McCaffrey
Three men in suits pose for a group photo; the man in the center holds a framed resolution document and smiles, with colleagues on either side in a formal chamber setting.
Victor Hoskins is flanked by Board Chair Jeff McKay and County Executive Bryan Hill (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday lauded the service of Victor Hoskins, who spent more than seven years as president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority before departing over the summer.

Hoskins was honored at the same meeting supervisors expressed appreciation for the work of Christopher Leonard, who recently retired as deputy county executive for health and human services.

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