I originally moved to Falls Church to be closer to my family — and quickly fell in love with the city’s walkability, the W&OD Trail, and most of all, its vibrant, engaged community. That sense of connection inspired me to get involved, first as a member of the Falls Church Housing Commission, and now as a member of City Council.
I bring an energetic, fresh perspective and a deep commitment to giving back to the community that welcomed me so warmly. My focus is on making Falls Church even more vibrant, beautiful, and walkable — with policies rooted in sustainability, equity, and thoughtful growth. During my campaign, I was proud to be endorsed by the Sierra Club in recognition of my commitment to environmentally sustainable policies.
Transparency and communication have guided me throughout my public service, from my time as one of the youngest elected officials in Dupont Circle, to my work here in Falls Church, and throughout my career as an investigative documentary journalist. I’m proud to continue showing up with curiosity and care.
Wouldn’t it be great to have streets so safe that every child in Falls Church can bike or walk to school on their own? My top priorities include creating accessible sidewalks (especially for those navigating a double stroller or a wheelchair) and building more protected bike lanes.
I believe that the walk in Falls Church should be both beautiful and safe– this includes tree-lined streets, pocket parks, benches, HAWK signals and crosswalks that are clearly marked and fully visible. I support the work of groups like Bike & Walk Falls Church and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation.
Let’s make streets in Falls Church so delightful that people choose to walk or bike whenever possible– and when they do so it will free up parking for those who need it!
While our nation faces an affordable housing crisis, the effects are particularly pronounced here in Falls Church. Many people struggle to pay their rent, are unable to afford to buy a home, and are being forced to move farther away from job opportunities. I support affordable housing programs as well as creating more opportunities for renters, city workers and seniors to stay in the city they love.
I am proud of my work on City Council and the Falls Church Housing Commission to maintain and expand our affordable dwelling units, to promote the grant-funded Affordable Home Ownership Program, and to encourage a diversity of housing options in Falls Church– from apartments, to townhouses to cottage style homes.
I am an advocate for transparency and communication and take pride in my ability to listen and connect people together. I am genuinely interested in getting to the heart of an issue, and optimistic we can oftentimes find compromise.
This includes working with the community to ensure opinions and needs are heard and taken into account when it comes to making decisions.
I am dedicated to keeping citizens informed and updated on the progress of programs and initiatives so that they can stay engaged in city affairs.
When it comes to protecting our environment and reducing our contribution to climate change, we have a big task ahead of us: Can we meet our goals of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050?
Yes– and I’m excited to take action to get us there. It’s going to involve green building and weatherization guidance and incentives, acquiring electric vehicles for the city, planting trees, and investing in community solar and 100 percent-renewable energy programs.
I look forward to exploring eco-friendly ways to handle our storm water, including stream restoration projects.
I support the work of groups like Falls Church Climate Action Network and the proposals of the Falls Church Environmental Sustainability Council.
Our amazing community businesses are a big part of what makes Falls Church special.
Just as I support a diversity of housing types, I also support a diversity of business spaces– small footprint stores to encourage first-time business owners to set up shop alongside large new spaces to attract established businesses.
After listening to business owners in Falls Church, I am working to establish clear guidelines and expectations for tax policy and the permitting process.
I also support the work of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce to connect and promote businesses in our community.
We have top-notch schools and big-city amenities in our 2.2 square miles. Our future as an independent city depends on maintaining a diversified tax base.
I plan to sustain our excellent quality of life and our small town charm, while also ensuring that we don’t price people out of the city due to high taxes.
I am committed to transparent and responsible fiscal management while providing exemplary services that ensure a high quality of life for all of us.
Get all the information you need to vote at the Falls Church City Registrar website.
Monday – Friday: 8am-5pm
Saturday, Oct 28 & Nov 4th: 9am-5pm
Sunday, Oct 29: 12pm-3pm
Just bring your ID to City Hall, 300 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA. Or apply for an absentee ballot by Oct 27th.
Tuesday, Nov 7th: 6am-7pm
Find your polling place here.
It’s free for you!
It’s free for you. If you want a t-shirt, asll I ask is that you actually wear it around Falls Church!
You can make a donation to the campaign either by mail or online:
Please send check payable to:
Friends of Justine Underhill
513 Greenwich St
Falls Church, VA 22046
Please provide your name, address, occupation, and name and address of employer along with your check for reporting purposes.*
Please fill out the form above and hit “Donate” to enter your credit card information or use PayPal to process your payment (minimum online donation is $25).
If you have difficulties or have questions about the online donation option, please send an email to hello@justineunderhill.com
Thanks for your curiosity.
Don’t miss out on big ideas and exciting content!
The 9 buildings net the city +$4,458,743 in 2022!
As Falls Church grows, it’s vital that we plan our city with best practices to ease our tax burden on residents and support city services and our schools. There are ways to grow sustainably, while maintaining the charm of Falls Church — and I plan to support city design that promotes our schools, community life, aesthetics and environment.
The $4.5 million we receive in net revenues every year from these new buildings have allowed us to increase city services, repave our roads, maintain competitive salaries for city staff and more, while lowering our overall tax rate. The new buildings have also provided 99 affordable dwelling units, workforce units as well as various other contributions to the library and parks.
Surprisingly, traffic decreased by 9% overall between 2007-2019.
On Falls Church City roads tracked by VDOT, traffic volumes declined overall. How can we prevent traffic issues? And where did all of the cars go?
Here’s an explanation from Rob Puentes, President of the Eno Center for Transportation:
“The city is no longer as attractive as a “cut through” as it was in the past…Now with all the mixed-use development bringing impediments to speeding traffic, drivers are looking elsewhere.
It is also evident that public and private investments in bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure are paying off. When other travel options are made available, people use them. When activities are clustered together, people can “chain” their trips together more efficiently, resulting in less traffic.”
