Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of public policy issues and headlines from around the Northern Virginia Region, the Commonwealth, and Capitol Hill.
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: 1. The politics of real estate: How will the election affect DC-area housing? 2. Arlington’s ranked-choice election will have statewide implications 3. Sen. Tim Kaine greets voters in Arlington in final turnout push 4. D.C. could quadruple downtown housing stock with conversions, new development 5. U.S. Supreme Court allows Virginia to resume purge of voter registrations. Bonus read: Hundreds of REALTOR® Associations Tap NAR Program to Move Needle in Local Elections.
Here's what the D.C. area's real estate market could do when a new administration takes the helm, according to experts.
By SCOTT MCCAFFREY, ArlNow
The eyes of Virginia soon will be upon Arlington. At least for those eager to know how the county’s first-in-the-Commonwealth ranked-choice-voting (RCV) general election transpired. Outside attention may not be focused on the county during election night itself, as there are bigger fish to fry — like the presidential race — that evening. But Liz White, for one, believes that Arlington’s 2024 experience with ranked-choice ultimately will get the attention it deserves.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) made an appearance at the Walter Reed Community Center in Arlington Tuesday as the push for voter turnout enters its final stretch. With one week to go until Election Day, Kaine and Arlington Democrats Chair Steve Baker expressed optimism about their numbers so far but said they aren’t taking their foot off the gas. . . . So far, about one in three registered voters in Arlington have cast ballots either early or by mail: 54,363 out of 164,107, according to the county’s election dashboard.
By BEN PETERS, Washington Business Journal
Downtown D.C. could nearly quadruple its downtown housing inventory by repurposing federal buildings and private office space and developing underused parcels, according to a new report.
By DAVE RESS, Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Virginia to resume its purge of voter registrations that the state says is aimed at stopping people who are not U.S. citizens from voting. The justices, over the dissents of the three liberal justices, granted an emergency appeal from Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration. The conservative majority’s action also blocks a lower court order that the state restore 1,600 people to its voter rolls — some of whom submitted sworn statements that they are U.S. citizens.
BONUS from last week’s media cycle
By DEBORAH KEARNS, Rismedia
RISMedia takes a look at NAR’s State and Local Independent Expenditure Program, designed to allow REALTOR® associations to provide financial support to political candidates.