by Danielle Finley, Associate Director of Political Engagement
Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines. In this Issue: In this Issue: 1. Judge dismisses case against Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing overhaul 2. Rewrite of Comprehensive Plan pits Arlington YIMBYs against slow-growth advocates 3. Trump administration issues policy change making deep cuts to homeless housing program 4. How Spanberger plans to lower Virginia’s electric bills 5. N. Va. officials show initial support for proposed transit funding increases.
Judge dismisses case against Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing overhaul
By JAMES CULLUM, Alx Now
Alexandria won its nearly two-year battle in Circuit Court today (Wednesday) against residents fighting the city’s massive Zoning for Housing/Housing for All overhaul. Judge H. Thomas Padrick, Jr. granted the city’s motion for summary judgement and dismissed the case against the plaintiffs, a group of Old Town residents who had been fighting to reverse the zoning changes since they were approved by City Council in Dec. 2023. Mayor Alyia Gaskins told ALXnow the court made “a well-reasoned decision.”
Rewrite of Comprehensive Plan pits Arlington YIMBYs against slow-growth advocates
By DAN EGITTO, ARLnow
Competing visions for the future of development in Arlington are facing off as the county gets closer to rewriting a core planning document. As a feedback form on planned changes to the Comprehensive Plan is set to close on Sunday, slow-growth advocates are vying with a broad coalition of pro-housing groups to shape some of the county’s foundational goals.
Trump administration issues policy change making deep cuts to homeless housing program
By KATHERINE HAPGOOD, Politico
The Department of Housing and Urban Development released policy changes Thursday night that will significantly cut funding for a permanent housing program for people experiencing homelessness.
How Spanberger plans to lower Virginia’s electric bills
By SABRINA MORENO AND CHUCK MCCUTCHEON, Axios
With Democrats soon to control the governor’s mansion and both chambers of the General Assembly, Virginia’s energy policy is set to veer from Gov. Youngkin’s approach these past four years. Lowering energy costs was one of Democrats’ winning messages. Now they have to deliver on it. Both Republicans and Democrats have said Virginians need reliable and affordable energy. They just diverge on their strategies. Youngkin’s “all-of-the-above” plan favored natural gas and nuclear energy and rolling back regulations he said drove up utility bills — including the controversial withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Va. officials show initial support for proposed transit funding increases
By SCOTT MCCAFFREY, FFXnow
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) on Thursday (Nov. 6) gave its support to two transit-funding initiatives currently working their way through a complex review process.