The County Board Room was overflowing with supporters for, in particular, the LGBTQIA+ resolution. Photo by Eden Brown.
May 13th was a busy day for the Arlington County Board, and what they did in the crowded boardroom was important. The overflowing room was made colorful by supporters of LGBQTIA rights waving rainbow flags; there were advocates for trees in green shirts and Moms Demand Action activists in red. There was one elegant 94-year-old man, letting the room know about the pain the Arlington County government had caused him and 300 other families when they stood aside as the government destroyed homes in Queen CIty in 1942. There were resolutions supporting Gun VIolence Awareness and Mental Health. It was also National Public Works Week, and both Arlington Sister CIty and Peace Officers were given shout outs. The Board made it clear that no matter how much the federal government seems to be rejecting fundamental concepts of community and human rights, Arlington will stand up for its own.
Board Chair, Takis Karantonis, opened by commenting on Arlington’s Civic fabric, tying together many of the items covered in the next hour and a half.
Lorin Farris and John McNair presented the Arlington County Historic Preservation Program’s recent work in commemorating the Queen City neighborhood and the sad story of 1942, when the federal government evicted the residents of Queen City on short notice and destroyed the neighborhood to complete road access to the Pentagon. Arlington County did not advocate for the neighborhood or its residents. The full resolution can be seen on the Arlington County website. The damage done to the residents, direct descendants of slaves, was evident when Takis Karantonis recognized Mr. William Vollin, 94, and acknowledged the deep historic roots in pre-(and post-) civil-war Arlington marked by slavery, racial injustice, and exploitation. Board Chair, Takis Karantonis, extended an apology to the last living resident of Queen City, Mr. William Vollin. “It was cruel and unconscionable” what happened to the homes of Queen City residents, he said. It was 1942, and many of those residents were barely two generations away from living under slavery.
“But,” Karantonis said to Mr. Vollin, “You became a teacher and eventually a principal in Arlington - giving back so much to the community that took so much from you. We now ask four questions before we develop an area: Who benefits? Who loses? How do we know? What do we do about it?” Vollin accepted the recognition with grace, but emphasized “It was an atrocity. They told us it was “eminent domain” that gave them the authority to do this, but although eminent domain is in the Fifth Amendment, it clearly states that the possession of land must be for the betterment of the community. This was not for the betterment of our community.” There was no one left unmoved as this gentleman, this survivor of discrimination, made clear how vivid the loss of his community remained.
Highly anticipated, based on the overflowing presence in the Boardroom of supporters of LGBTQIA+ rights, was the County’s resolution affirming Arlington County’s support of WorldPride2025 and the LGBTQIA+ Community. Maureen Coffey presented the resolution affirming Arlington County’s support of WorldPride 2025 and the LGBTQIA+ community, highlighting their contributions to the rich history and social fabric of Arlington, the Commonwealth, and this country. Kellen MacBeth and April Gain with Equality Arlington also spoke, thanking the County Board for the adoption of a resolution and reaffirmation of Arlington County’s support of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning, Intersectional and Asexual individuals and their families.
The resolution reaffirms Arlington’s commitment to equity, declaring its desire to ensure Arlington is a county that is welcoming and inclusive of all, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and families. The resolution goes into great detail and can be read in full at: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/County-Board/Board-Actions/ResolutionsCounty.
On a motion by Karantonis, seconded by Julius D. “JD” Spain Sr., the County Board adopted the revisions to Arlington’s “Commitment to Strengthening Trust with our Immigrant Communities” as reflected in the agenda for this meeting. Arlington County recognized that the County’s ethnic, racial, and linguistic diversity is a key source of its strength. The County’s vision is to be a welcoming and inclusive community where every person is important, and every person thrives. The County is committed to protecting the rights of all residents, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status, and to ensuring every person in Arlington has an equal opportunity to participate in our economy. Among other things, the resolution wants residents to be assured of access to County benefits and services without fear that the information they share, or immigration status (actual or perceived) will be disclosed to federal immigration officials. It is not an appropriate use of Arlington County resources to engage in the enforcement of federal immigration law, which is the sole responsibility of the Federal government. The County will restrict sharing of personally identifiable information that could be used to further immigration enforcement efforts.”
NAMI Executive Director, Christie Dondero Bettwy, received a copy of the Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation presented by Arlington County Board Member, James D. Spain Sr. Spain ran on a platform of addressing mental health issues in Arlington, among other goals. NAMI has received support from the County in reducing the stigma of mental health issues.
Spain issued the proclamation in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day noting that every day, 125 people in the United States are killed by gun violence and more than 260 are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 19,000 gun homicides and 28,000 gun suicides every year.
Board member Susan Cunningham presented a proclamation that “May is Bike to Work Month” and urged residents to claim the “cool” red T-shirts with the Bike to Work logo. Board Member Matt de Ferranti recognized the growth of the Asian American Pacific Islander population in Arlington, constituting nearly 10.9 percent of the population, and the contributions of the community, and the recent highlighting of the Vietnamese community in Arlington with a sign in Clarendon citing the presence of “Little Saigon” for many years after the Vietnam War, eventually pushed out by the growth of an upscale Clarendon.
Board meetings are available to the public on the county website,at: https://meetings.arlingtonva.us/CountyBoard/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=2633&doctype=2#main-content