Category: COVID

CCCA Meeting January 19 on Route 1

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The focus of the meeting was on Route 1. The CCCA slide show is here.

We invited VDOT to provide an update on the study of Route 1 and their recommendation for Option 3 to bring it completely down to grade–an option that Livability22202 and the CCCA believe is inadequate and incomplete. Timewise, we are in Phase 2 (December 2021 to December 2022). VDOT is supposed to conduct a number of studies related to their ongoing study of Route 1.  Many of these studies were urged by the Livability22202 Route 1 working group and others.  Topics include: Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures to reduce traffic 20-30% from the 2019 baseline; a feasibility and analysis design (for a potential passage under or over 18th Street; improvements to the 23rd Street interchange; bus station relocation); and additional transportation data collection on traffic passing through Route 1 to compare to the 2019 traffic baseline. A Public Information Meeting is planned for late March or early April. A draft report is anticipated by December 2022 and a final report by February 2023. See the VDOT presentation here.

We also had a talk on how to cope with the COVID pandemic by Carol Layer, Director of Behavioral Healthcare Division, Arlington County. See her presentation here with the contact information for County services.

The recording of the full meeting can be viewed on Google Drive here.

CCCA October 2021 Newsletter

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Click here to download.https://www.crystalcitycivic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CCCA_Newsletter-No.-10.pdf

Some Highlights:

1.  Save the Date:  CCCA Annual Meeting, November 17, 7-9 pm. So far, we’ve confirmed that we will have our annual CCCA elections and a presentation by Amazon on its operations in 22202 and its plans for PenPlace.  Stay tuned for details in early November

2.  Construction Alert: On October 9-10, 18th Street between Crystal Drive and Bell Street will be closed to accommodate installation of construction cranes for the 1900 Crystal Drive development project.  Construction will not be very noisy, but will start at 3 am on Saturday and 7 am on Sunday and last until 9  pm.  Traffic engineering services will provide traffic control and ensure pedestrian safety. 

3.  COVID Booster Shots:  Arlington County Public Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccine boosters for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to certain people at least 6 months after their Pfizer primary series. Appointments are required at Arlington Public Health Clinics. Visit vaccinate.virginia.gov to find additional locations and appointments near you.  Pharmacies are offering them too.  And don’t forget your flu shot.

4.  Metro Proposals:  Be sure to read about the six multibillion-dollar alternatives to improve the capacity and reliability of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.

February 2021 Newsletter

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Click here to download

Don’t forget to renew your membership here and stay involved.  After February 1, you may not get your Newsletter or email updates if not paid.  This is the last Newsletter for those paid only in 2020.

1.  January 27 CCCA Meeting:  Read the summary of the meeting on COVID and Development and click on the links to see the full meeting and the slide presentations.

2.  Development:  Each month, a listing of all upcoming development and other major issues will be included i the Newsletter.

3. Upcoming Meetings:
February 2:  JBG Pre-Construction Meeting on 1900 Crystal Drive
February 9 Livability22202 Meeting on County Planning and Affordable Housing
February 15 virtual workshop on the Pentagon City Planning Study
February Livability22202 Meeting with VDOT on Route 1 Feasibility Study, Date TBD
March 17 CCCA Meeting with MWAA on Project Journey at the airport

Your President
Carol Fuller

CCCA Meeting January 27 Summary

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During the first hour, Arlington County Health Director, Dr. Reuben Varghese, and Assistant Director of Public Health, Robert Sharpe, briefed on 1) their COVID vaccination plan (this is the updated slide presentation); 2) what they are doing to help disadvantaged during the crisis (e.g., food/evictions); and 3) the impact COVID has had on the County budget. See the slide presentation on #2 and #3 here.

During the second hour, JBG Senior VP for Development Andy VanHorn provided development updates on: 1) the recent purchase of Crystal Houses by the Washington Housing Conservancy and JBG Smith plans to manage it; 2) the ongoing public engagement about their site plan
for 2000/2001 Clark/Bell; and 3) upcoming construction at 1900 Crystal Drive. This segment ended with a review of the timeline for development and other issues over the next few years. See the slide presentations here.

You can watch the entire meeting here. Apologies for those who wanted to watch on Facebook Live since a technical glitch prevented this from happening.

Urgent Update on COVID-19

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What happened? 

 On January 22 Virginia Hospital Center started canceling all first dose vaccination appointments from January 26 onwards.   Most of these were for 75+ in the 1b category.  The ensuring panic that occurred following the VHC email cancelations was addressed on Saturday by Arlington County officials, starting with the County Board meeting at 12:50 and then a virtual meeting previously scheduled at 3 pm by Rep Mark Levine, both of which hosted Dr. Reuben Varghese, Arlington’s Public Health Director.  The County then sent out a Special COVID notice to explain the situation and allay fears.

CCCA Meeting January 27 7-9 pm:  This makes our previously scheduled CCCA meeting this Wednesday particularly important, as Dr. Reuben Varghese and other public health officials will be there at the first hour to explain and answer questions.  This is the Zoom link to join at that time; no pre-registration needed.  You can also call in:  301-715-8592 (Meeting ID: 846 5759 5914; Passcode: 3238240).  Or watch Facebook Live on our CCCA Facebook page where it will be recorded.

Short Summary:  But in case you can’t watch the meetings or want a simple explanation, here it is.

1.  Not enough vaccine.  Virginia is only getting 105,000 doses a week and has to parse those to communities like Arlington County which has only received 5,100 doses since December and used 89.4% as of January 23.  VHC was getting 2,000 doses and is running out, but had scheduled appointments well into February. 

2.  Sudden VA decision to send vaccine only to local health officials (e.g., Arlington County) and not to clinics/hospitals (e.g., VHC). See the Newsroom article for details: https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/vhc-hospital-vaccine-appointments-canceled/.   VHC can now only provide a second dose to those who received a first dose from them, but all further appointments will be made by the County.  (Note:  The Federal Government is following a separate process with CVS and others to vaccinate in long-term care facilities.)  

Most Urgent Bottom Lines:

  • The County is sorting through a VHC list of 3,000 canceled appointments and will follow this priority list in a slide provided by Dr. Varghese.  (Green highlight means the category is in process.)
  • If you are 75+ and your appointment at VHC was canceled, be patient. The County will contact you in the next few days to reschedule in the next few weeks as vaccine becomes available; you do not have to reregister.
  • If you are 75+ and have NOT yet scheduled a vaccination, you are encouraged to pre-register with the Arlington County Department of Public Health, and you will be notified as vaccine appointments become available.
  • If you are not 75+ but had an appointment canceled at VHC, you must now pre-register with the Arlington County Department of Public Health, and you will be notified as vaccine appointments become available.
  • If you are 65+ or in the former 1c category of 16-64 with an underlying condition, you must now pre-register with the Arlington County Department of Public Health, and you will be notified as vaccine appointments become available.
  • Give the County a few days to work this all out and don’t call the public information line right now.  They have to first reschedule about 3,000 75+ first dose appointments, as well as continue with essential workers in the 1b category.
  • This is a very useful County vaccination FAQ page to answer all (or most) of your questions.

If you know someone who does not have access to email or the Internet or is not a member of the CCCA, please share this information with them.  One of the County’s most difficult tasks is to contact people who don’t have that technology since the appointment system is Internet-based and technology-heavy.

CCCA Bimonthly Meeting January 27

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During the first hour, Arlington County Health Director, Dr. Reuben Varghese, and other public health officials will brief on 1) their COVID vaccination plan, 2) what they are doing to help disadvantaged during the crisis (e.g., food/evictions), and 3)the impact COVID has had on the County budget.

During the second hour, JBG Senior VP for Development Andy VanHorn will return to give brief development updates on: 1) the recent purchase of Crystal Houses by the Washington Housing Conservancy and JBG Smith plans to manage it; 2) the ongoing public engagement about their site plan for 2000/2001 Clark/Bell; and 3) upcoming construction at 1900 Crystal Drive.

You can interact on Zoom or by phone, or watch on Facebook Live.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84657595914…
Meeting ID: 846 5759 5914
Passcode: 323824
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+13017158592,,84657595914#,,,,*323824# US (Washington D.C)