Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse (file photo)
Arlington County has retained the highest possible credit rating for the 26th year in a row.
All three major bond-rating agencies — Moody’s, S&P Global and Fitch Ratings — reaffirmed the county’s Aaa/AAA/AAA debt ratings this week, the county announced this morning. Arlington is one of just 54 counties nationwide, and one of 13 in Virginia, to hold the top mark from all three.
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Victoria Khaydar, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
The government likes to release unpopular items on Friday afternoons, and, when the government has something really unpopular to say, the Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend is considered ideal. Last Friday, before the Memorial Day weekend, USCIS published a truly incredible policy reversal – PM 602-0199 (the “May 21 Memo”), which purports to upend the ability of most foreigners to apply for green cards from within the United States. DHS and USCIS’s respective public messaging on the memorandum is clear but wrong. The memorandum was more nuanced, but still, in our view, deeply misleading. The purpose of this advertorial is to explain what happened, why it matters, and offer some predictions about how this unforced error is going to be resolved.
First, here’s what DHS and USCIS said about their own memo.
What do these press releases mean? They mean to highlight the following distinction: some people apply for a green card from inside the United States, at USCIS field offices; others apply for a green card from outside the United States, at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Per both press releases, nearly everyone who applies from inside the U.S. is ineligible to become a lawful permanent resident. Almost everyone who applies for a green card should do so via U.S. Embassies and consulates abroad.
That might seem reasonable, and, ex ante, it could be, if our laws and institutions were set up properly. There are, unfortunately, a few problems with this new policy position, both practical and legal. (more…)
Staff and local leaders cut the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Westin Crystal City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)
A Crystal City hotel is celebrating its completed redesign and a soon-to-come “land and sea”-themed restaurant at the property.
Local leaders and staff at the Westin Crystal City cut the ribbon on the hotel’s overhaul yesterday (Thursday) at 1800 Richmond Hwy. The project redesigned the hotel’s 223 guest rooms, refreshed common areas with new walls, floors and furnishings, and will soon introduce Stillwater & Stone, a new restaurant and bar.
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Freddie's Beach Bar with "drag brunch" signs in Crystal City in 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The owner of a longtime gay bar and iconic local business in Crystal City says he’s remaining an “eternal optimist” following one of the restaurant’s toughest financial years yet.
Freddie Lutz, owner and founder of Freddie’s Beach Bar, says the restaurant is still grappling with economic difficulties that drove business down throughout 2025. However, Lutz says he is hopeful as ever as the bar — a hallmark of Arlington’s culinary and cultural fabric — recently celebrated 25 years in business on Restaurant Row at 555 23rd Street S.
Join Jadin O’Brien, Olympic athlete, 3x NCAA pentathlon champion and 10x All-American (heptathlon) winner for this in-person and virtual 5K. This event is sponsored by The Alex Manfull Fund to raise awareness and advance research on debilitating infection-associated neuroimmune disorders (including PANS and PANDAS) that affect young people. The 5K is part of the organization’s 36 Hours for PANS and PANDAS Advocacy in Motion event. Runners will receive a Finisher’s Medal, Technical (Drifit) Event Shirt and A Chip Timed Event. The event commemorates the life of Alex Manfull, who died at age 26 due to PANDAS. Susan and William Manfull established the Fund in their daughter’s name with the vision that no life ever again be cut short—or interrupted—by these illnesses. Learn more at TheAlexManfullFund.org.
Trees at the Fellows property in Falls Church (via City of Falls Church)
Falls Church’s Urban Forestry Commission is considering ideas to increase the city’s tree canopy without breaking the bank.
With several years of difficult budget years on the horizon, it may be hard to find funding for some previous proposals, such as creating a city urban-forestry management plan and a comprehensive tree inventory, said Erin Flynn, the Council’s liaison to the commission.
A piece of art in the park at Gilliam Place, off of Columbia Pike (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Flyover This Morning — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an aircraft flyover in the NCR over Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, May 29, at approximately 11:03AM.”
More on Waymo’s Plans — Waymo has begun mapping Alexandria and will soon bring its self-driving cars to Arlington, the company told Virginia officials — though it said it does “not currently have plans for a commercial service there.” Drivers operate the mapping vehicles for now. Self-driving cars aren’t yet permitted in Virginia, and a state senator behind an autonomous-vehicle bill doesn’t expect robotaxis before 2028. [Wired]
DHS Weighs in on Local Case — A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the stairwell of a Columbia Pike parking garage is in the country illegally and had prior charges including rape, according to the Department of Homeland Security. ICE recently lodged a detainer for the 25-year-old, according to DHS, which criticized state policies limiting cooperation with immigration agents. ACPD is seeking additional victims. [WJLA]
Truck Blocks Army Navy Drive — A car carrier sat in the middle of Army Navy Drive for nearly 12 hours, blocking turn lanes in both directions, according to Dave Statter. The driver appeared to sleep in the rig overnight and began off-loading cars near the end of Thursday’s morning rush — despite open space on the closed Fashion Centre mall property where the cars were headed. [Dave Statter/X]
Top Meetings Destination — Arlington landed at No. 44 on Cvent’s list of top meeting destinations in North America, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service announced. It’s the county’s fifth straight year on the venue-sourcing platform’s top-destinations list, which ranks cities by group-business activity. [Arlington County]
Bus Fare Crackdown — Metro has issued nearly 400 citations and made 21 arrests since launching a Metrobus fare-evasion crackdown this week, with about 7 in 10 bus riders skipping the $2.25 fare — roughly twice the national average. “People will pay the fare, or they will be taken off the bus,” General Manager Randy Clarke said. Officers are monitoring live bus-camera feeds to flag non-payers, a method Clarke believes is a national first. [Fox 5, NBC 4, WTOP]
Affordable Housing ‘Lost’ — Falls Church’s longtime commitment to truly affordable housing has been “lost,” Hal Lippman, a former vice mayor who now leads the Citizens for a Better City, told the City Council. He argued the city’s efforts have failed to reach lower-income households and have left it an “economic gated community.” [FCNP]
NDAs for Federal Workers — The Trump administration is proposing a government-wide nondisclosure agreement barring federal workers from sharing a broad range of confidential government information. Signing would be voluntary, but the draft warns that refusing “may result in removal from federal service.” Civil-liberties groups call it an unconstitutional gag order; the rule includes a whistleblower carve-out. [Washington Post]
Forever Chemicals Targeted — Virginia has adopted new testing rules aimed at keeping PFAS, so-called forever chemicals, out of the food supply, targeting the sewage sludge that’s converted into farm fertilizer. The law requires treatment plants and state regulators to test for PFAS and share results with anyone spreading the sludge. Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), who chairs the House Agriculture committee, called it a “farmer’s right to know” measure. [WAMU]
Disability Emergency Drills — A new state law will require certain health care providers to run regular emergency drills so staff are better prepared when people with disabilities face medical crises. The measure, signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, followed a 2025 report that found staff delayed or failed to perform CPR or call 911 in nearly half of reviewed sudden-death cases. Backers estimate it could save about seven lives a month. [Virginia Mercury]
Rain Eases the Drought — A nine-day stretch of rain — among the longest the area has seen since 2000 — dropped nearly two inches on the D.C. area since May 19 and finally eased the region’s drought, forecasters say. Much of the area has improved to moderate drought, though spots to the south remain in severe drought, NBC4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer said. [CWG/X, Doug Kammerer/X]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high of 78°F. Winds will shift from north to west at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather will be mostly clear with a low of around 60°F. [NWS]
Expect a sunny day with a high of 78°F. Winds will shift from north to west at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather will be mostly clear with a low of around 60°F, and southwest winds at 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
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A rendering JBG Smith's plan to turn 2200 Crystal Drive into a residential building (courtesy of JBG Smith)
An office building in Crystal City has begun the process of transforming into a 195-unit multifamily building.
JBG Smith announced that construction has begun at 2200 Crystal Drive, an 11-story building that the Arlington County Board approved for conversion from offices to apartments in July 2025.
