January Board Meeting Wrap-up

Published on January 27, 2022

Arlington County Board Debuts Community Podcast

Inaugural episode features a conversation with Amazon

Arlington, VA—January 27, 2022. Today, the Arlington County Board launched its new Board Wrap-Up podcast featuring a discussion with the leader of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, Catherine Buell. Format for the new podcast series will include Board members and guests discussing recent activities as well as topics suggested by the community. Board Wrap-Up can now be accessed after the Board’s recessed meetings on Spotify and Anchor. 

“Evolving County Board Wrap-Up into a more accessible and popular format like a podcast is a part of our effort to bring information about local government to Arlingtonians, rather than expecting Arlingtonians to come to that information,” stated Board Chair Katie Cristol. 

According to Nielsen research, 55 percent of the US population has listened to at least one podcast, while 24 percent, or 68 million people, listen to podcasts weekly.  Board member Matt de Ferranti is looking forward to this new format.  “The idea of moving to a podcast is one I am excited about – it’ll be accessible, engaging, and fun.  The change from Wrap-Up videos to a pod just makes total sense in 2022.”

Board member Takis Karantonis summed up this new venture perfectly saying, “meeting our residents where they are – this is what we always aspire to do…easy to find, easy to listen in, anytime, anywhere.”

County Board Meeting Wrap Up

The following actions took place at the Arlington County Board's Saturday, January 22, 2022, regular County Board Meeting:

• As part of the consent agenda, the Board approved a request by the Park and Recreation Commission for the dedication of a memorial plaque to recognize and honor Mr. Larry Finch and his significant contributions and sustained public service to Arlington County.  The plaque will be placed at Zachary Taylor Park pursuant to the County’s Memorial Plaque Policy.  Many thanks to Mr. Finch and the Park and Recreation Commission.
• The Board approved allocating $50,000 in financial support of Arlington County arts organizations and artists for fiscal year 2022.
• The Board amended the FY 2022 HUD Annual Action Plan in order to utilize $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding (CDBG).  CDBG funds support the Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP), which assists first-time homebuyers in Arlington. The County is expanding the program to meet unexpected demand.
• The Board approved an ordinance to amend, reenact and recodify Chapter 14.2 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) Section 14.2-12A of the Code of Arlington County, Virginia to permit the use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones and school crossing zones in order to issue civil penalties as allowed for in the Virginia State Code 46.2-8882.1.

On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, the County Board held its Recessed Meeting and in addition to the business of the Board, recognition was given to the following:

• A video tribute to DESIGNArlington 2021 winners, narrated by Board Member Takis Karantonis.
• Remembrance of Roye Lowry, community advocate and former Arlington County Board Member, who passed away in December at 103 years of age.
• A video thankyou and recognition for Arlington’s COVID Heroes.

The Board meetings can be viewed in their entirety on the County’s website and YouTube.

First Podcast Episode

The first installment features Board Chair Katie Cristol and Vice-Chair Christian Dorsey talking with Catherine Buell, Director of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund.  The three will discuss their partnership in Arlington addressing safe, stable, and affordable housing and their vision for 2022.  For the new podcast, the community is encouraged to suggest topics and guests by contacting the Board at countyboard@arlingtonva.us.

The Amazon Housing Equity Fund is a more than $2 billion commitment to preserve and create more than 20,000 affordable housing units in Washington state’s Puget Sound region; in and around Arlington, Virginia; and Nashville, Tennessee—three hometown communities where the company has a large and growing presence. The Amazon Housing Equity Fund increases housing options for moderate- to low-income families by providing affordable housing providers with quick access to low-rate loans to create or preserve buildings where affordability would have otherwise been lost to commercial-rate development. The Fund also provides cash grants to businesses, nonprofits, and minority-led organizations to help them build a more inclusive solution to the affordable housing crisis, which disproportionately affects communities of color.

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