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

Recruitment, retention looking better for Fairfax County’s volunteer fire squads

By Scott McCaffrey
The Annandale Volunteer Fire Department station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Some equipment and staffing challenges remain, but Fairfax County’s 12 volunteer fire departments are positioning themselves for ongoing improvement after a solid fiscal year that ended June 30.

That was the message delivered by Fairfax Volunteer Fire Commission chair Shawn Stokes to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 8).

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Countywide

Democratic supervisors reject Herrity request for consideration of Metro-oversight body

By Scott McCaffrey
A 7000-series Metro train on the tracks along I-66 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Fairfax County supervisor’s request for information about creating a financial oversight body to control Metro drew rebukes from his colleagues during a meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 8).

It also led to some testy exchanges between Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the lone Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and some of the board’s Democrats.

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Countywide

Fairfax County plans museum-on-wheels for nation’s 250th birthday party

By Scott McCaffrey
A pinwheel with a U.S. flag design (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th birthday isn’t on the move just yet, but it soon will be.

A “mobile museum” housed in a recreational vehicle is expected to be the county government’s signature educational offering during the 2025-26 celebration of America’s declaration of independence from England, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors heard Tuesday (Oct. 8).

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Countywide

Fairfax County awaits clarity from state on new Chesapeake Bay protection rules for developers

By Scott McCaffrey
The Potomac River in Great Falls Park in November 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County has updated its Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance to reinforce requirements for developers along the Potomac River and its tributaries to protect older trees and guard against rising sea levels.

However, even as they voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to amend regulations related to the ordinance, Fairfax County supervisors expressed some frustration with a lack of clarity in the guidance handed down by Virginia’s State Water Control Board (SWCB).

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News

Redevelopment of Graham Center with ER and urgent care facility approved

By Scott McCaffrey
VHC Health's Graham Center redevelopment will include new pedestrian facilities and street trees (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of supervisors gave final approval yesterday (Tuesday) to a proposal that will bring a next-generation health-care facility to the West Falls Church area.

The project also will provide what county leaders say are much-needed traffic-safety improvements to the area of Arlington Blvd and Graham Road.

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Countywide

Fairfax County’s retired chief equity officer sees ‘a lot more work to do’

By Scott McCaffrey
Karla Bruce (Fairfax County government)

Fairfax County’s recently retired chief equity officer is asking local leaders to be vigilant in their efforts to promote a more just community.

“Fairfax is an amazing place — yet we know that is not the experience of everyone,” Karla Bruce said after being honored by the Board of Supervisors this morning (Oct. 8).

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Countywide

‘Road map’ for dedicated transit funding still work in progress, N. Va. officials say

By Scott McCaffrey
A Metro train at the Vienna station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman found himself lost in the weeds.

While he might not have been the only person to lose track of the conversation, Bierman was the one who spoke up Thursday (Oct. 3) as the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) discussed regional coordination and the potential of creating a dedicated stream of tax revenue to fund local transit.

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News

Report: Apartment costs in Tysons highest in D.C. metro area

By Scott McCaffrey
The 8421 Broad apartments and the PARC at Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons continues to have the priciest apartment-rental costs in the D.C. region.

The median Tysons apartment-rental price in September was $2,654 ($2,414 for one-bedroom units and $2,894 for two bedrooms), according to figures reported last Thursday (Oct. 3) by Apartment List.

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Countywide

Metro’s new inspector general anticipates full independence

By Scott McCaffrey
WMATA inspector general Michelle Zamarin (via Metro)

Metro’s new inspector general is under no illusions about the perceptions of her office.

“There is a big question about…independence. The thought was we didn’t have independence,” Michelle Zamarin told the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) at its meeting on Thursday (Oct. 3).

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Countywide

More apartments, less office space could be net plus for Fairfax tax coffers, report finds

By Scott McCaffrey
The office building at 8221 Courthouse Road in Tysons has been approved for conversion into multi-family apartments (via Google Maps)

A nuanced effort to convert vacant office buildings into residential housing could be a net fiscal positive for the Fairfax County government.

That was the conclusion of an analysis presented to county leaders on Tuesday (Oct. 1). But it arrived with some caveats and some questions from members of the Board of Supervisors.

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