May 4 – 10, 2017
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d ed 1991 • Vol. X X V I I No. 11
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week F.C. Abortion Clinic Evacuated Twice
A Falls Church office building home to an abortion clinic was evacuated twice last Thursday, first because of a fireworks in an elevator and then due to a bomb threat. See page 4
F.C. Report Projects $800,000 Shortfall
Railroad Avenue Walking Tour Offers F.C. Council Cottage Plan Insights Proposed First for New Housing Stock Type in Little City
by Nicholas F. Benton
The third quarter financial report for the City of Falls Church general fund presented to the F.C. City Council showed that only 60 percent of the total budgeted revenues for the current fiscal year have been collected over the first nine months.
Falls Church News-Press
See News Briefs, page 9
Paul Krugman: On the Power Of Being Awful
The 100-day reviews are in, and they’re terrible. See page 14
Mustang Boys Soccer Keeps on Winning George Mason High School’s varsity boys soccer team continues its ascent up the rankings with another batch of wins this past week, dropping both Madison County and Strasburg. See Sports, page 18
IN THE FIRST OF a series of scheduled head-to-head debates between the two candidates contesting for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (left, at podium) and former U.S. Congressman Tom Perriello squared off with differences more in style than substance last Saturday night. (Photo: News-Press)
With Month to Primary, 2 Dem Gubernatorial Candidates Debate by Matt Delaney
Falls Church News-Press
Index Editorial..................6 Letters....................6 News & Notes.10–11 Comment........ 12–14 Food & Dining......15 Business News....20
Calendar........16–17 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........21 Critter Corner.......22 Classified Ads......23
The first of five Democratic Primary gubernatorial debates between Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and former congressman Tom Perriello was held last Saturday night at Sidney Lanier Middle School in Fairfax. The two contenders have only a little more than a month to go before a June 13 primary election. Heading into the debate, the candidates were pitched as oppo-
sites on few key issues and that held true for the hour-long session. Northam and Perriello openly agreed on what to do regarding most topics: dedicate funding to Virginia’s public schools and make higher education more affordable, grant unrestricted abortion access, enforce tighter gun control laws, revise how campaigns are financed and invest in the environment. They also agreed on issues specific to Northern Virginia such as using state funds to bring the Metro
up to speed, dilute traffic congestion and redirecting state-mandated aid to in-need schools. All were identified as areas of focus in both candidates’ prospective term. Above all, they shared a mutual distaste for President Trump. Tone and methodology, however, is what may distinguish the two and decide votes come June 13. Thus, with style and tactics weighted heavier, their contrasting approaches took center stage.
Continued on Page 8
Despite an impending downpour that never really materialized, a couple dozen City of Falls Church policy makers and stakeholders gathered at dusk in an obscure corner of the Little City last Monday night to get a sensuous feel for what a unique firstof-its-kind age-restricted cottage community tucked in there might look like. The tour preceded an extended Council work session on the proposal, which is due to come to the Council in search of a preliminary approval this Monday night. The plan, provided for with the passage of a cottage-facilitated City ordinance earlier this year, would place 10 small, one-and-ahalf story units 1,500 square feet each together in a cluster with a shared common house along what is now a narrow and barely asphalted street known as Railroad Avenue, right next to and parallel the W&OD Trail. The project would go onto three contiguous lots that would otherwise be developed as four large single family homes. Yet, that has not stopped neighbors to the site in opposing the plan, decked out with “No to Railroad Cottages” t-shirts and yard signs. Serious concerns were expressed by some on the City Council, including Mayor David Tarter and Councilman David Snyder, for the plan’s logistics in handling traffic and parking. But Councilman Dan Sze was particularly enthusiastic, saying, “There’s a lot to like about this project. It is well-designed and can’t compare with a single family
Continued on Page 5