Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins outlined the city’s preparations for potential federal funding cuts and addressed numerous infrastructure concerns during her monthly community conversation Tuesday, emphasizing the need for proactive planning as the City Council prepares to resume meetings Sept. 9.
The mayor detailed ongoing “scenario planning” efforts to assess the city’s vulnerability to federal funding reductions, noting that Alexandria receives more than $50 million in direct federal funding, with most supporting the Department of Community and Human Services.
“We can’t prepare for these impacts if we’re not aware of the full breadth and scope of the different programs that are going to be impacted,” Gaskins said during the live virtual discussion with ALXnow Publisher Ryan Belmore.
The city is working with all departments that receive federal funding to map out grant details, duration, and the number of residents each program serves. This includes everything from community services to police department traffic signals and environmental planning initiatives.
Gaskins acknowledged that while community donations and volunteer efforts remain important, they cannot fully replace the scale of government programs at risk. She cited the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as an example, noting that more than 14,000 Alexandria residents depend on SNAP benefits, representing over $20 million in impact.
“Yes, if you’re able to give, please give. But I think we also need to realize that there will continue to be a government role and there will continue to be an impact on the government and our ability to provide those services,” she said.
The mayor announced that the City Council will request monthly economic updates from the city manager to track impacts from federal workforce cuts, tariffs, and other economic pressures as budget deliberations approach.
Addressing numerous resident questions submitted by ALXnow readers about ongoing construction projects, Gaskins acknowledged communication breakdowns between utility companies and residents regarding street work schedules and completion timelines.
“We may have communicated the schedule that we agreed to and are expecting, and then they ran into something when they got into the work, or there was some sort of delay or complication that has pushed back the project,” she explained.
The city is meeting internally with the Department of Project Implementation, Transportation Environmental Services, and the City Manager to improve communication protocols and hold utility partners more accountable to established standards for street restoration and resident notification.
Gaskins encouraged residents to use the city’s 311 system to report specific street concerns, noting that the system allows staff to provide detailed responses about project timelines and complications while tracking issues for accountability.
On accessibility concerns submitted by ALXnow readers, the mayor highlighted upcoming improvements to City Hall and Market Square as part of major renovations. The redesign will eliminate the current limitation that forces wheelchair users and others with mobility challenges to use only one entrance on Cameron Street.
“If we’re creating the People’s hall, then all persons should be able to get in and come in and do their business the way they need to,” Gaskins said.
The new design will raise sidewalks to create flat access from all building entrances and redesign the council chambers to improve accessibility for speakers, including adjustable microphones and better wheelchair access to the speaker platform.
The city has consulted with groups, including the National Federation for the Blind, to ensure the new spaces address lighting, spacing, and sound considerations for sensory accessibility.
Regarding traffic safety concerns submitted by ALXnow readers, Gaskins defended recent speed limit changes on Eisenhower Avenue as part of the city’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities. She noted that speed limit decisions are based on data about near-misses, traffic impacts, and pedestrian risk assessments.
“We know the impact to a pedestrian, if you’re crossing that street and you get hit by somebody going 45 miles an hour is much different than if you get hit by somebody going 20 miles an hour or 15 miles an hour,” she said.
The mayor addressed questions submitted by ALXnow readers about the controversial waterfront flood mitigation project, announcing that the council has postponed discussion from September to November to allow for additional community input. New renderings showing a smaller structure, reduced construction times, and a potentially smaller project area will be posted on the city website this week.
“We recognize that our waterfront is symbolic and iconic of the very heart of our city,” Gaskins said, emphasizing that the council continues to explore alternatives and make adjustments based on community feedback.
Looking ahead to the Sept. 9 council meeting, Gaskins outlined several key agenda items, including small business funding, procurement policy changes, and discussions about the future of the 200 block of King Street. The council also plans to invite Dominion Energy representatives to discuss infrastructure resilience following summer storm outages.
The mayor announced that the city is accepting input for its legislative package through Sept. 30, encouraging residents to submit ideas for issues the city cannot address locally due to the Dillon Rule. A draft package will be released for public comment in October before presentation to the state delegation in November.
Gaskins also promoted the annual Black Family Reunion scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6, starting at 11 a.m. with public safety story time, describing it as an opportunity for “a little joy in your life, some good food and good people.”
Gaskins will join ALXnow next on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. Submit questions for that conversation here.
