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THE BIG IDEA

Fairfax County Leaders See Red Over FBI HQ Snub

You'd think "Fairfax Fuchsia" was the hot new shade taking over runways, but nope — it's just the color of the County Board of Supervisors' faces after being ghosted by the FBI.

Let's break it down: For years, NoVa's been thirsting to be the new home of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's headquarters. They even rolled out the red carpet at a prime Springfield site, promising easy access and all the amenities an FBI agent could dream of (apart from being filmed for a cheesy CBS procedural).

But in a move more dramatic than any episode of Criminal Minds, the G-men gave Fairfax a hard pass last year, choosing a site in Greenbelt, Maryland instead.

Ouch.

Why'd they get so bent out of shape over Greenbelt? Supervisors claim the Springfield locale is "the superior choice" — it's basically a stone's throw from Quantico, and hey, who doesn't love a short commute? It's a battle as old as time: Virginia vs. Maryland in a game of bureaucratic tug-of-war. Both states pulled out all the stops, with pols from each side stumping hard for their respective sites back in 2014. An expert panel even gave Virginia's option a crisp chef's kiss, but the GSA still went rogue for Greenbelt.

Their reasoning? It was the "lowest cost to taxpayers" with "greatest transportation access" — basically the goldilocks of FBI cribs. Sustainability and equity were also cited, because ya know, the bureau's all about being freakishly on-brand these days.

Not everyone's drinking the Greenbelt Kool-Aid, though. NoVA's congressional squad cried foul, prompting the GSA inspector to go all Mulder and Scully on the decision. But like any good mystery, the truth is still out there...buried in some ultra-classified file, no doubt.

While the new digs get built, a slice of the FBI will be keeping their street cred in D.C. — gotta stay close to their Justice Department BFFs, after all. Et tu, President Trump? The guy actually wanted to keep the whole shebang downtown, scrapping the 'burbs hunt in 2017 before an internal audit exposed $$$ as the real culprit.

President Biden punted the decision back into play in 2022, but if this Fairfax firestorm is any indication, it's a real ¯(ツ)/¯ as to where the FBI will ultimately hang its hat. Maybe the agents can bond over a nice cup of "Greenbelt Green Tea" when they get there?

Bulletin Board 📌 

Reader Restaurant Recommendation: One of our readers, Cathy, recommends you guys check out 1799. It’s a modern steakhouse in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.

QUICK HITS

• The third floor of the Tysons Galleria has quietly become a great spot for a variety of halal food options! 😋 

• People are saying Shaboozey got snubbed at the Country Music Association Awards despite all of his Top 100 success this year (Go Woodbridge!) 🎵 

• Hayfield High School’s athletic director resigned because of the scandal we covered a couple weeks ago 👀 

LIVE EVENT LOWDOWN

• Time for Christmas | an original Broadway-style holiday musical playing in Annandale all through this month 🎄 

• Scottish Christmas Walk | the 55th annual parade is back tomorrow in Old Town 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

• Holiday Boat Parade | dozens of festively lit boats cruising down the Potomac shoreline tomorrow evening ⛵️ 

• Santamobile 2024 | Santa will be riding a firetruck into neighborhoods around Falls Church every night until the 14th 🚒 

• Jingle Bell Bash | kick off the holiday season with a morning full of festivities for the whole family 🔔 

• Fairfax Holiday Market | craft vendors and live music at Old Town Square in Fairfax this weekend and the next 🛍️ 

• Winter Fest | a winter festival at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space (family friendly) tomorrow in Annandale ❄️ 

• Pottery and Goats | grab a cup of cider, browse some pottery, and hang out with goats in Fairfax Station this weekend  🐐 

• Holiday Sing-A-Long | a family-friendly musical celebration of the holiday season at Wolf Trap tomorrow 🎼 

• 2024 Holiday Festival | The Torpedo Factory Art Center adds to Alexandria’s holiday celebrations tomorrow! 🎨 

• Walk of Lights | stroll through a sparkling winter wonderland with thousands of lights at Neabsco Regional Park in Woodbridge all through this month 💡 

• The Lodge | a ski-inspired winter festival at Metropolitan Park in Arlington with fun for the whole family ⛷️ 

• Enchant Light Experience | 14 interactive light sculptures at Tysons Corner Center until the 31st 🗽 

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