Arlington County -- what happened?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at a conference in “North Bethesda” aka Rockville and I was honestly shocked by the amount of bustling restaurants and stores. Maybe nothing that would meet Arlington snoot requirements (lots of small chains etc) but there was so much money being spent! Made me sad that we can’t get it together in Arlington

Hopefully more luxury high rises on the metro lines will help. Missing middle was a missed opportunity- it should have been duplexes and triplexes everywhere, and maybe 4-6 plexes in specific areas proximate to transit or major roads like 66. All the idiots came out and argued that they wanted "real Affordable Housing" not luxury housing when luxury housing is what we need. And the Board completely failed to tailor the solution. Everyone gets an F!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's only going to get worse with Spanberger. Companies are going to locate in places like Texas instead of Virginia.

So? Let them. Good riddance. Sounds like a great way to filter out socially irresponsible companies. I’m not going to shed a tear that a company like Boeing, who makes weapon systems and aircraft that slaughter human beings all over the world is leaving Arlington.

[Anonymous]

More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

Yet it’s still one of the top 5 richest counties in the country, has the highest percentage of people with graduate degrees and development is still booming. Montgomery County circles the drain after being the richest county in the country 30 years ago to being not even in the top 20 anymore and had a 30%+ increase in homelessness in 2024-2025. Sad.

Keep coping about a county you could never afford to live in from your duplex in Glenmont.

[Anonymous]

Why are you singling out Arlington, it's all of NOVA, city of alexandria, annandale, falls church--all of it? And I agree with the PP saying it's going to get much worse under the new governor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's only going to get worse with Spanberger. Companies are going to locate in places like Texas instead of Virginia.

This. Wealth will leave VA. CA problems come to VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

Yet it’s still one of the top 5 richest counties in the country, has the highest percentage of people with graduate degrees and development is still booming. Montgomery County circles the drain after being the richest county in the country 30 years ago to being not even in the top 20 anymore and had a 30%+ increase in homelessness in 2024-2025. Sad.

Keep coping about a county you could never afford to live in from your duplex in Glenmont.

Arlington exploded in part because being close to DC mattered and because VA was business friendly. With neither of those as true any longer it will be interesting to see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's only going to get worse with Spanberger. Companies are going to locate in places like Texas instead of Virginia.

So? Let them. Good riddance. Sounds like a great way to filter out socially irresponsible companies. I’m not going to shed a tear that a company like Boeing, who makes weapon systems and aircraft that slaughter human beings all over the world is leaving Arlington.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at a conference in “North Bethesda” aka Rockville and I was honestly shocked by the amount of bustling restaurants and stores. Maybe nothing that would meet Arlington snoot requirements (lots of small chains etc) but there was so much money being spent! Made me sad that we can’t get it together in Arlington

We’re regulating small businesses to death, making it impossible for them to get going or make money. It’s terrible. We end up doing most of our fun in FCC that actually welcomes businesses instead of making it as hard as possible to get a toe hold.

I disagree (small biz owner im Arlington)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

There are approximately 10 caveats in the second article about the data in the study and how they arrived at their conclusions. The article is laughable! I’m perfectly fine with crappy corporations who don’t want to pay taxes or don’t believe in regulation leaving Arlington. They can go to Texas and Florida, which are both armpits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

There are approximately 10 caveats in the second article about the data in the study and how they arrived at their conclusions. The article is laughable! I’m perfectly fine with crappy corporations who don’t want to pay taxes or don’t believe in regulation leaving Arlington. They can go to Texas and Florida, which are both armpits.

100%

Small business owner who is staying in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Pentagon City is now on my do not shop list

Ballston near our neighborhood is getting to be a no pedestrian at night zone.

Ugh

Metro giveth and taketh away..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

Turns out the alleged rapist was an illegal who had 25 prior charges over six years:
https://wjla.com/news/local/woman-attacked-assault-while-waiting-rideshare-arlington-virginia-clarendon-luzvin-orvando-garcia-moran-guatemala-migrant-department-of-homeland-security-violent-charges-offenses-investigation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pentagon City is now on my do not shop list

Ballston near our neighborhood is getting to be a no pedestrian at night zone.

Ugh

Metro giveth and taketh away..

That's what happened to Springfield mall too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More awful crime news out of Arlington this week:

"JUST IN: Man charged with attempted rape after attacking woman in Clarendon"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/13/just-in-man-charged-with-attempted-rape-after-attacking-woman-in-clarendon/

"Surge in Arlington property crime reportedly exceeded rise in Chicago and NYC"
https://www.arlnow.com/2026/04/16/post-pandemic-surge-in-arlington-property-crime-reportedly-exceeded-rise-in-chicago-and-nyc/

Turns out the alleged rapist was an illegal who had 25 prior charges over six years:
https://wjla.com/news/local/woman-attacked-assault-while-waiting-rideshare-arlington-virginia-clarendon-luzvin-orvando-garcia-moran-guatemala-migrant-department-of-homeland-security-violent-charges-offenses-investigation

This is a really awful story. It's terrible that Arlington let this guy roam free with his criminal history.