Coffey, the former president of the Virginia Young Democrats, vowed to represent renters, labor groups and young people like herself on the board, focusing on economic stability as housing prices and the cost of living have skyrocketed in the county.about the struggles of finding an apartment she could afford to purchase and drew heavy support from the millennials and Gen Z-ers who live in Arlington’s more urbanized corridors along the Metro.
While she said she hoped to bring people together following the “missing middle” vote, Cunningham nonetheless suggested lawmakers had approved the plan over the concerns of many residents. Among first-choice votes, she won nearly every precinct in the more suburban northern end of the county, where opposition to the rezoning was highest.
“This is not New York City,” said Basler, steadying her walker. “It’s Arlington. And it’s more cars, more traffic, more people. I’ve lived here for 50 years and I’m sick of it.” The two women live in apartments in the nearby Colonial Village area. They’ve watched Arlington grow over the decades, and with it, the demand for more housing and amenities.
“We’re beginning to feel like we can’t breathe,” said Holbrook, who ranked Roy first and Cunningham second. “The county of Arlington has decided that every square inch of earth must have a building on it.”