INDEX

PAGE 6 | OCTOBER 15 – 21, 2020

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EDITORIAL

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How the Council’s 5-0 Vote Happened

Who saw this one coming? Up until Tuesday night, it was highly uncertain that the latest submission for the 3.14 acre Broad and Washington mixed use project, even with its highly appealing Whole Foods megastore as its anchor, would get to first base with the Falls Church City Council. There were grave and legitimate concerns that there simply weren’t the votes, three required with two seats vacated, to push the project to the next stage, which will now be a thorough scrubbing by an array of advisory boards and commissions before coming back for a final OK in late January that will also require a supermajority to include the sale of City land was an integral part of the process.

But a proverbial “full court press” jelled at just the right time Tuesday night, made a powerful impact during the City Council’s online meeting, and the end result as a unanimous vote, not counting the two vacant components, to move forward. It would be easy to say that it was the ability of the Insight Properties people to win over the two adjacent, small but popular restaurants that changed everything. It was a big new development, but no, that was only part of what did it.

One major factor was the last-minute weighing in by Colm Dillon, owner of the Ireland’s Four Provinces at the same intersection that the Insight group wants to develop. It was key because it counterbalanced the heartburn coming from owners at the Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and Thompson’s Italian. Owner of another small business right there, Dillon stressed how beneficial the Insight Project will be for his business, and frankly, for the ones exhibiting distress over a temporary loss of free parking for their locations. Dillon said it baffled him because he has no such benefit of free parking but pays a good price for his, and wondered why the City would hold up such a giant revenue generator because its free parking would be temporarily disrupted. Dillon’s restaurant is one of the most popular in the City.

A second major factor was the mobilization by the dedicated staff and volunteers of Creative Cauldron, which has been promised the equivalent of a $2 million subsidy in a 5,000 square foot black box theatre at the Insight location that will work in de facto tandem at the site with the State Theater to make the intersection a major destination for live entertainment. The long list of names of staunch supporters of Creative Cauldron was read out in full Tuesday night and with so many names of prominent citizens, it made a huge difference.

Then there was the tireless efforts by the developers to line up agreements with the neighbors to the site, and making modifications to their project to do so, making it better and better each time. The announcement of signed support by Clare and Don’s and Thompson’s Italian was only the final step.

L������ Wrong To Say Downtown Project Is In Public's Interest

Editor,

Last week’s editorial was deeply unfair to those expressing opposition to the Broad and Washington development. There are legitimate concerns about this project’s impact on our community that have nothing to do with selfish “NIMBY-ism.” The loss of tree cover and open space, the disproportionate scale of the development —and, frankly, its ugliness— and the exponential growth in vehicle traffic are issues that will affect every citizen of Falls Church. The question is not whether a handful of homeowners will be inconvenienced, but rather whether we as a City will truly be better off by embarking on this fundamental transformation of our downtown area. Are we ready to trade our human-scale, eminently livable, naturally beautiful, and yes, comparatively sleepy community for tax revenue, a sinecure for the performing arts FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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ONLINE

community, and the allure of a Whole Foods?

Your editorial was correct in one regard: the overall interests of the city should take precedence over the narrow preferences of a few. However, I fear you have gotten the situation backwards. Throughout this process, the narrow interests of developers, a theater group, and a handful of business owners have dominated the city’s deliberations on this project to the detriment of the community as a whole. No doubt the theater is a worthwhile enterprise, but it seems questionable to give one nonprofit such preferential treatment in city planning. And beyond providing this group with a free home, the benefits of the development are underwhelming. We are hardly desperate for tax revenue. Our well-funded schools are already first rate. Falls Church properties are incredibly sought-after even without a Whole Foods. And I at least am quite content shopping at Harris Teeter.

I respect the views of those who would prefer a denser, “livelier” downtown. However, my family — and I expect many others — chose Falls Church because of what it is today, not in the hopes that it would one day become another Clarendon.

Lett ers Conti nued on Page 19

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

COMMENT

OCTOBER 15 – 21, 2020| PAGE 7

Candidate Statements for Virginia's 8th District Election

By Don Beyer, Jr.

In lieu of a formal commentary, Congressman Don Beyer, Jr. directed us to take information directly from his campaign website on where he stands on key issues this election.

Healthcare

President's Obama's Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, marked the biggest step forward in U.S. healthcare in decades: Tens of millions of uninsured Americans got coverage under Obamacare. Insurance companies had to accept applicants for health coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions, and they could not charge women more for the same coverage, as had been common practice. Further, Medicaid expansion has brought healthcare coverage to hundreds of thousands of Virginians.

Rather than embrace this progress and work to make further improvements, President Trump and congressional Republicans continue efforts to dismantle the program. Together with the Democratic caucus, I am working to protect Obamacare and move forward toward affordable, accessible and fully universal health care.

Guns

We are beyond a crisis point with guns in America. Every day, 100 people in the United States die by gunshot, over 36,000 a year. It is a tragedy that requires our leaders to act. I have made advancing solutions to gun violence a major focus of my work in Congress. I am a lead cosponsor of the bipartisan Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which would give states grants and guidance to encourage the passage of laws which would allow law enforcement or family members to petition a judge to temporarily remove access to firearms people in crisis.

Climate Change

From the launch of my first congressional campaign in 2014, the issue at the forefront of my mind has been and remains climate change. It is the most significant and perhaps most intractable problem we face. We do a disservice to our children and the generations thereafter if we do not move in a more profound and rapid way toward solving this crisis.

In Congress, I am part of many efforts to address climate change. I co-chair the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force, as well as the Congressional Safe Climate Caucus.

Immigration

In Virginia’s 8th congressional district, we thrive on diversity. President Trump’s nativist insistence that we must slam the doors shut to the United States — especially to anyone who comes from a nation of poverty or desperation — is a shameful embarrassment to our nation and to our ancestors. The treatment of immigrants, and especially the treatment of migrants and their children at the southern border, makes me shudder.

With our new Democratic majority in the House, we wasted no time in offering solutions. We passed H.R. 6, an immigration bill that would enable many Dreamers to get lawful permanent resident status for 10 years, and that would also protect those who have Temporary Protective Status, which includes many Northern Virginians.

Education

I support major federal initiatives and programs for public education, including Title I, which helps school systems with large percentages of low-income students, and IDEA, which supports programs and provides resources for students with special needs.

Congressman Don Beyer, Jr. represents Virginia's 8th District, which includes the City of Falls Church By Jeff Jordan

Because Liberty Matters!

I’m Jeff Jordan, the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress here in Virginia’s 8th District. I’m a loyal husband, a devoted father of two young daughters, and the fifth consecutive generation of my family to serve in military uniform, all of us combat veterans. I reside in Arlington and currently work as a defense contractor at Fort Belvoir, the place of my birth.

Since it was founded, America has been a beacon of hope and opportunity to the world. It offers the promise of opportunity for a better life, and the standard of living in America is the greatest the world has ever known. And at the heart of it all is a social contract that says if you go to school, work hard, and earn an honest living, then you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and make your own American dream a reality.

But in case you haven’t noticed, today America is under attack. Not just by outside forces, but also by forces within, some of whom are elected officials in our own government. You know some of them by name.

Ilhan Omar, who said, “some people did something” on 9-11.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading advocate for the Green New Deal, which destroyed the Venezuelan economy.

Rashid Tlaib, who has immediate family members on terrorist watch lists.

They are all more liberal and radical than Nancy Pelosi. Do you know who else is rated as voting more liberal than Nancy Pelosi. Indeed, my opponent, Don Beyer. Of course, he will deny that he is a socialist by highlighting his ownership of a family car business.

But make no mistake, he has been a critical cog in the fundraising efforts of the Democrat Party that is now terrorizing this country and holding the American dream and her future hostage. Your dreams and future are at stake as well. My question to you is, will you realize the danger before losing everything to the rioters, looters, and socialists?

But this election is less about left vs. right, or Democrat vs. Republican, it’s more about whether America will continue as a constitutional republic or not. All of the issues we normally discuss including healthcare, immigration, transportation, etc, are not problems, they are symptoms of a problem called socialism. The socialists have subverted and overtaken the Democrat Party and they’re seeking to do the same to America. Republicans and moderate democrats all understand the importance of LIBERTY and its foundational purpose to the American way of life. When you vote this year, you’re choosing between LIBERTY and socialism.

The race in the 8th District is as much about the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives, as it is about my opponent and me.

We’ve all witnessed the complete abuse of power and authority by Nancy Pelosi and her socialist allies, including Don Beyer. From the fabricated case on Russian collusion and the subsequent failed impeachment, to the rampant political spying and weaponization of government institutions, to the cover-ups with Iran, Benghazi, and Hunter Biden. The socialists are attempting to destroy America, and the Republicans and moderate Democrats must stand unified and strong against them.

If you love life, protect it at all times, including in the womb. If you want safe neighborhoods, support your police and the 2nd Amendment. If you want the best education for your kids, open the schools. If you support the 1st Amendment, do so for everyone, including those with whom you disagree. If you want America to be the best country it can be, vote Republican.

Why? BECAUSE LIBERTY MATTERS (BLM)!

Jeff Jordan is the Republican Party's candidate in the election for Virginia's 8th Congressional District

[WRITE FOR THE PRESS] The News-Press welcomes readers to send in submissions in the form of Letters to the Editor & Guest Commentaries. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 350 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four weeks. Guest Commentaries should be no more than 800 words and writers are limited to one appearance every four months. Because of space constraints, not all submissions will be published. All submissions to the News-Press should be original, unpublished content. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and accuracy. All submissions should include writer’s name, address, phone and e-mail address if available.

PAGE 8 |OCTOBER 15 – 21, 2020

AUTOMOTIVE

Automotive Guide I Pandemic Revs Up Interest For Land, Water Powersport Vehicles

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

B M B

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

Braving a global pandemic isn’t enough excitement for some, which explains why the powersports industry’s sales have spiked nationally throughout the past seven months.

“The entire industry as a whole, nationwide, has just exploded,” Barry Gailliot, general sales manager at Coleman PowerSports, said. “The ones nationwide that have shown the most growth are the ones that are catering to off-road.”

Everything from dirt bikes and ATVs to jet skis were garnering strong interest at the Falls Church location ever since April, according to Gailliot.

In May that trend went “full throttle,” per Gailliot, especially because the City’s Coleman

PowerSports is one of the few dealers inside the beltway, giving it a share of the Washington, D.C. and Maryland markets as well.

He stated that there’s been a huge increase in year-to-date sales for all of his off-roading and watercraft equipment.

The big picture view of the industry shows how wide spread the trend actually is.

A Cycling World report in June spoke with executives about the jump in attention they’ve gotten from consumers.

The president of the Motorcycle Industry Council said that this year’s powersports sales were better than the past three years.

A Honda executive said that its off-road sales have been consistently up since the pandemic set in.

And the head of Ducati North America said its numbers at its dealerships in New York City, Los Angeles and the Bay Area were up roughly 25 percent.

One shop owner told the Freemont News Messenger, based out of Fremont, Ohio, that he has experienced sales that feel similar to the late ‘90s and early 2000s, easily doubling numbers during the pandemic than what they would normally be selling.

Since 2008, the shop owner told the News Messenger, the industry had fallen off a cliff, with many shops going out of business, going from around 12,000 dealerships in the country to around 6,500 to 7,000 now.

Gailliot back here in Falls Church said that, outside of a few brands, everyone in the industry has benefitted from the sales resurgence.

DIRT BIKES of all sizes have been selling out at the Coleman PowerSports in the City of Falls Church. The sales have mainly been driven by former riders rediscovering their love for the sport, and introducing it to their family in the process. (P����: N���-P����.)

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AUTOMOTIVE

OCTOBER 15 – 21, 2020 | PAGE 9

A SHORT TRIP to Leesylvania State Park by Woodbridge was suggested as a good place for jet ski ing because of its cleaner,, higher quality water. (Photo: News-Press)

What makes this trend even more intriguing is that it’s less so new riders than it is old riders who are coming back to the sport — and bringing their families with them.

“Families that ride together are the families that are communicating and really having a good time,” Gailliot said.

He continued, “When you really think about it, it’s their golden years of childhood. Those are the memories that are built into their kids for the rest of their lives. We’re finding that older parents in their 40s and 50s, who grew up riding, those are the best memories they have with their family. And they wanna share that with their kids.”

The family aspect of this is why side-by-sides, or offroading vehicles that seat four people, have been Coleman’s sneaky bestseller. Understanding how affordable purchasing a dirt bike or jet ski is has also helped its appeal.

For a middle-of-the-line dirt bike, Gailliot said that will run someone about $8,000.

For a kid’s bike, it can go anywhere from $1,500 – $2,000.

As he put it, to meet the monthly $150 payment for a dirt bike, all you have to do is skip out on that weekend trip with the family or avoid eating out twice a month. Suddenly, you’ve got a dirt bike in your shed.

Of course, there is a bit of commitment to off-roading if new (or better yet, returning) riders want to get the most out of their purchase.

The closest dirt bike trails — the Taskers Gap Trail and the Peters Mill Run Trail — are about 90 minutes out west in the George Washington Forest along the Virginia-West Virginia border.

Another option is the MotoCove ATV Trail in Gore, Virginia, which again, is right near the West Virginia border. It has trails as short as two miles and as long as 22 miles.

There’s less travel involved with jet skis. While Gailliot said they can be used anywhere in the Potomac River, he did recommend that going down south toward the Leesylvania State Park near Woodbridge would be a better call. It may be a bit more active at that launch point, but he said the water quality is a lot higher.

But new buyers will have time to mull it over. Gailliot said that people who’ve put down their deposits in July likely won’t be receiving their vehicle until November. Inventory has been tight, which is why Coleman has about 25 watercraft pre-sold.

With the cold weather slowly setting in, the industry as a whole will cool down as well. But Gailliot doesn’t anticipate demand will bottom out, particularly because the outdoors are maybe the only place that coronavirus guidelines deem safest.

“No one really knows how things are going to unfold or what restrictions are going to be put in place, so they’re just doing it” Gailliot added. “They’re putting their phones down, and actually going out and riding.”

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PAGE 10 | OCTOER 15 – 21, 2020

2020 Falls Church “Scenes in the City” Plein Air Festival

October 10-17, 2020

Plein Air Festival Competition and Quick Draw Event Saturday morning, October 17

Falls Church City Hall Grounds, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA (rain date October 24)

prize winners announced at noon Vote for the People’s Choice! Over $4,000 in prizes, thanks to contributions from

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Group ROCK STAR Realty ... ROCK STAR ServiceTM

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Falls Church NEWS BRIEFS

Voter Registration Deadline Extended to Oct. 15

Due to a database cable line severance earlier this week, the deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 3 election has been extended in Virginia to Thursday, Oct. 15, at 11:59 p.m. According to the League of Women Voters, persons can register by accessing the websites, bit. ly/VoteArlington or vote411.org.

Fairfax Co. Opens 13 New Voting Locations

Fairfax County yesterday announced that 13 new voting locations have been opened up in the county where registered voters can cast their ballots through Oct. 31. The move is in response to an over 200 percent increase in voting in advance this year over 2016. In addition to the County Government Center, locations near Falls Church include the McLean Community Center, the Thomas Jefferson Library on Rt. 50, the Tysons Pimmit Library, the Providence Community Center and the Mason Government Center. Weekday hours are 1 – 7 p.m, and on Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

F.C. Students Begin Showing Up in Smooth, Limited Opening

Over 50 students have now returned to schools in Falls Church City Public Schools. Tuesday saw students arriving for the first time this year at Jessie Thackrey Preschool, Mt. Daniel and Thomas Jefferson. Temperature checks, masks, and hand sanitizer were universally employed. Six-foot distancing is reinforced through labeling on the buses and in all the buildings. Learning is safely resuming. The next wave of students are kindergartners and third graders who return on Tuesday, Nov. 10. With five days left to make intentions known, of the 400 or so students responding thus far, approximately 83 percent are indicating they intend to return under the hybrid model, with 17 percent selecting to remain virtual for the second semester. On Nov. 17, grades 1, 2, 4 and 5 are due to begin returning.

F.C.’s Railroad Cottages Hailed Still Again

The innovative cottage-style housing project on Railroad Avenue in Falls Church that has been recently completed and occupied has once again received regional recognition for their creativity and application to a unique housing market. The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Virginia) announced that the winner of the Red Clay Award for Development of the Year is the City of Falls Church for the Railroad Cottages project. According to the APA newsletter, “The Railroad Cottages development features ten small houses and a guest house for common use by the residents. The design requirements incorporate numerous planning best practices, especially with respect to sustainability and resiliency. Climate change mitigation efforts are prevalent, including photovoltaic solar cells on the roof of the carport and geothermal heating for renewable energy, building upgrades to reduce harmful chemical emissions, pervious pavers and native plants for more natural stormwater management, and universal design elements for greater accessibility for all residents and guests. The development is located less than a five minute walk from the nearest bus stop and is close to a Metro stop, grocery store, and multiple public schools, ensuring that those without a car still have freedom of mobility. The developer, The Young Group agreed to contribute to the City’s Affordable Housing fund, furthering the City of Falls Church’s efforts at promoting equitable development in an especially high-cost region.

VML Awards 4 Falls Church Initiatives

The Virginia Municipal League presented four awards to the City of Falls Church this month, the City Council learned Tuesday. One went to the City’s Covid-19 planning effort, a second to the Economic Development Authority for it’s micro-grant and other initiatives to support small businesses in the City during the pandemic. A third went to Captain Ed Lancaster of the F.C. Police Department for extraordinary efforts to ensure public safety during the pandemic and a fourth went to the City’s Office of Communications for daily updates to keep the City well informed in the early days of the pandemic.