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

Single-family prices tick up in otherwise soft September for Fairfax housing market

By Scott McCaffrey
A roadside 'For Sale' sign among shrubs and trees, with a white post and greenery in a wooded area.
A for sale sign for a house on Lawyers Road in the Wolf Trap area (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Prices ticked up slightly for single-family houses, but otherwise, Fairfax County’s September real estate market was soft, according to new data.

A total of 897 properties went to closing during the month, down from 953 a year before and below the five-year September average of 930 transactions, according to figures reported Monday (Oct. 12) by MarketStats by Showing-Time.

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Countywide

Fairfax County plan to tackle homelessness calls for more nuanced response

By Scott McCaffrey
Individuals call attention to homelessness in Reston near a newly cleared homelessness encampment on the morning of Sept. 10, 2024 (staff file photo by Fatimah Waseem)

Fairfax County needs to move further away from a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing homelessness, local supervisors were told last Tuesday (Oct. 6).

At a meeting of its housing committee, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reviewed a draft revision to the Homelessness Strategic Plan, which is undergoing its first major update in nearly two decades.

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Countywide

FCPS is ‘rebalancing’ staffing, as enrollment continues decline

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County Public Schools bus on the road (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools leaders say they are making staffing adjustments in the wake of a year-over-year decline in student enrollment that seems to have caught them by surprise, though the downward trend isn’t new.

As a result, the school division will work to do better forecasting so there are fewer enrollment surprises in the future, Superintendent Michelle Reid told the Fairfax County School Board last Thursday (Oct. 8).

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News

Women’s Center marks 10 years of work to ‘break’ cycle of domestic violence

By Scott McCaffrey
Two smiling women posing together in a neutral indoor setting, wearing patterned outfits.
Allison Medina, clinical director at The Women's Center, and Bolivia Bustamante, domestic violence and sexual assault services program manager and a credentialed victim advocate, at recent event marking Break the Cycle anniversary (courtesy The Women's Center)

The Women’s Center recently marked the 10th anniversary of its Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence program.

The initiative provides critical support services for victims of domestic violence, including crisis intervention, safety planning, information about accessing and navigating the legal system, and mental-health counseling.

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Countywide

Housing, tax reform among Fairfax County’s priorities for 2027 General Assembly session

By Scott McCaffrey
The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

The state government needs to step up and take some of the burden for funding core services off the backs of Northern Virginia residents and localities, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay told members of the county’s legislative delegation.

“The exhaustion level is getting real,” McKay said of the state pushing off its funding responsibilities to the local level.

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Countywide

Fairfax County gets mixed reviews from seniors in new satisfaction survey

By Scott McCaffrey
Seniors represent a growing segment of Fairfax's population (via Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash)

Fairfax County seniors give the county high marks overall but lower scores as a place to retire, based on a new survey whose results were presented Tuesday (Oct. 6) to the Board of Supervisors.

The 87% of survey respondents who ranked Fairfax a good place to live was “down slightly but not significantly” from previous surveys, said John Ruthinoski, a data analyst for the Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

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Countywide

Fairfax County proposes 50-year tax breaks for some affordable housing projects

By Scott McCaffrey
Modern mixed-use residential complex with colorful facades and a landscaped plaza, seen from a tree-lined street and pedestrian walkway.
A rendering of True Ground Housing Partners' proposed Dulles Greene affordable housing development (via KTGY/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County supervisors reacted enthusiastically, but with some caution this week to a staff plan that would provide long-term tax breaks for affordable housing in order to reduce initial financing costs.

Discussion at the Board of Supervisors’ Housing Committee meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 6) focused on piloting the authority newly granted by the Virginia General Assembly on two upcoming projects: Dulles Greene near the Innovation Center Metro station in the Herndon area and East County in Bailey’s Crossroads.

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Countywide

State legislators ask for more ‘respectful’ dialogue on K-12 funding from Fairfax leaders

By Scott McCaffrey
Honorable Kathy K.L. Tran speaks at a conference table, gesturing with her right hand and notes, phone, and nameplate in front of her.
Del. Kathy Tran, D-18, discusses local leaders' language on education funding (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Members of Fairfax County’s General Assembly delegation are asking county supervisors and school board members to lower the rhetoric when it comes to state funding for local K-12 education.

“Be thoughtful about the way you talk,” Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D-16) told the Board of Supervisors during an Oct. 6 joint work session between the board and the county’s state legislative representatives.

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News

Fairfax’s Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter honored for 50 years of community service

By Scott McCaffrey
Four women stand at a lectern in a formal setting; one speaks into a microphone behind them right now.
Lambda Kappa Omega chapter president Marcia Morris speaks to county supervisors (screenshot via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored the local Lambda Kappa Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated on Sept. 29 for a half-century of service to the community.

“You do so much, and it’s truly appreciated,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said during a proclamation ceremony held as part of the supervisors’ regular meeting.

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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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