Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins outlined the city’s response to the ongoing federal government shutdown and provided updates on significant infrastructure projects during her monthly virtual conversation with ALXnow on Tuesday.
The mayor emphasized that Alexandria has proactively prepared for the shutdown’s impact on the community, which includes nearly 16,000 federal workers employed full-time and part-time in the city. A resource page on the city’s website offers information on housing assistance, food assistance, and property tax payment plans.
“Every furlough, every R.I.F., that is a person in our community who may be then choosing between food to buy for their children, prescriptions to fill, paperwork they might have been waiting on,” Gaskins said.
The city continues to operate all services normally, with staff monitoring potential impacts on grants and funding. Regular economic updates will be provided at the first legislative meeting each month to inform budget planning.
Gaskins spoke about why the City Council approved spending approximately $150,000 to study an alternative location for the waterfront flood mitigation project’s pump station. The study will examine the technical feasibility, costs, and construction impacts of locating the pump station at 1 Prince Street.
“We have been looking at many alternatives for where this pump station could be located and even whether or not it’s needed,” the mayor said. “The goal is that we will take two months and $150,000 to take another look at this site and make sure we really understand.”
The waterfront project addresses three main issues: Potomac River backflow in sewers, river water overtopping bulkheads, and heavy rainfall overwhelming streets and infrastructure. The comprehensive solution includes improving aging bulkheads, replacing aging pipes, and installing a pump station to hold, filter, and pump water back into the Potomac.
Gaskins emphasized that the city must address flooding risks, noting that Moody’s recent credit report identified flooding as one of Alexandria’s greatest vulnerabilities, despite maintaining an AAA rating.
The mayor also discussed the inaugural State of Early Childhood convention, organized by Kids First Years. The event brought together business partners, city agencies, and nonprofits to address challenges in early care and education, including the need for sustainable wages for providers and the provision of diversified care options for working families.
“Most people who are in the workforce do not have a 9-to-5 job, and you need care at all different times and throughout the day,” Gaskins explained.
These summits represent planning efforts aimed at addressing current and future community needs. The economic development conversations originated from a City Council budget request, while arts organizations initiated discussions about the needs of their sector.
Gaskins highlighted the Alexandria First initiative, which requires businesses receiving economic development incentives to commit to supporting local businesses and educational opportunities. Systems Planning and Analysis, as part of their retention agreement, will partner with city schools to provide STEM education, internships, and mentorship programs while prioritizing Alexandria-based businesses for their operations.
“When they are planning meetings or bringing in new partners or hosting convenings, really thinking about and making a commitment to using Alexandria-based businesses to help with that work,” the mayor said.
The City Council will hold a capital improvement projects meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss major infrastructure needs and priorities. This represents the first comprehensive review of big-ticket items before budget deliberations begin.
“We cannot do everything, and we cannot do everything at the same time,” Gaskins said. “How do we take a look at what are all of those major capital improvement projects?”
The mayor addressed recent discussions about potential collaboration between Alexandria City Public Schools and DASH bus services, noting that over 1,000 students already use DASH buses. While neither body was ready to proceed with integration discussions, the conversation highlighted opportunities for efficiency and cost savings.
Regarding community engagement, Gaskins encouraged residents to participate in upcoming budget processes, with November being particularly important for providing input before the budget retreat. The city offers multiple engagement methods, from formal meetings to online surveys and 311 submissions.
“If you want to be engaged, there are no shortage of conversations and opportunities for you to get feedback,” the mayor said.
Alexandria recently ranked third on Condé Nast Traveler’s best small cities list, behind Charleston, South Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The recognition extends the city’s streak of top-five placements to eight consecutive years.
The mayor noted that tourism generates more than $1 billion in spending annually, helping reduce the tax burden on residents by approximately $840-850 per year, according to city estimates.
Looking ahead, the City Council will receive its monthly economic update at the Oct. 14 legislative meeting, and the long-range educational facilities plan will be a major upcoming discussion topic.
Gaskins emphasized that all resident feedback is tracked and catalogued, whether submitted through formal processes or 311 requests, helping inform council priorities and staff briefings on emerging issues.
Watch the conversation
