Good Friday morning, Alexandria!
⛈️ Today’s weather: Expect showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm, with mostly sunny and hot conditions, a high near 97, and heat index reaching 106. A calm wind will become south around 6 mph in the afternoon. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, possibly more in storms. Friday night, storms are likely before 5am, followed by a slight chance of showers. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 75 and a 60% chance of precipitation. Southeast wind at 6 mph will become light and variable in the evening, with rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch possible.
You need to know
Patch reported that Roy Byrd, chairman and co-founder of the anti-Zoning for Housing group Coalition for A Livable Alexandria, is kicking off his City Council campaign as an independent on Monday, Aug. 5.
Zoning for Housing was a suite of zoning changes aimed at opening the city’s zoning ordinances to facilitate the creation of more housing. Changes ranged from allowing residential uses in industrial zones to reducing parking requirements, but the most controversial item was the elimination of single-family-only zoning. The City Council unanimously passed Zoning for Housing last November.
Byrd is a retired Marine colonel and former co-chair of the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations. Last year, Byrd was one of the most visible leaders of the push against the zoning changes, expressing concerns about the added density the plan would create.
Byrd will kick off his campaign on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at Mystic BBQ (220 Lee Street). Remarks are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to RSVP.
Byrd will face off against six Democratic candidates — incumbents John Taylor Chapman, Kirk McPike, Sarah Bagley and Canek Aguirre along with School Board members Abdel Elnoubi and Jacinta Green — and Republican Celianna Gunderson.
An independent running in heavily Democratic Alexandria — especially in a Presidential election year — is a long-shot but it’s not unheard of. In 2009, Alicia Hughes was elected to the City Council as an independent, along with Republican Frank Fannon. Both lost in 2012, however, and no non-Democrats have been elected to City Council since.
Thursday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Aug 1, 2024.
- 15-year-old Alexandria boy arrested after armed West End carjackings (2268 views)
- New report shows most Alexandrians are renters and many have unaffordable housing costs (870 views)
- Notes: Old Town business still feeling benefit of 2021 Kamala Harris visit (862 views)
Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today and this weekend in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
- 9:00 am Saturday: Founders Park Clean-up Saturday Aug 3
- 10:00 am Saturday: Summer Open House
- 3:00 pm Saturday: Rock For Steve
