It’s the end of the week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories.
The most-read story this week is about the potential sale of two large Alexandria properties that could settle millions owed to the government by real estate developer and former Connection Newspapers CEO Peter Labovitz.
The Washington Business Journal first reported the story. Labovitz owes the U.S. more than $3 million in unpaid federal taxes, according to a complaint filed in federal court in January. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and told WBJ that the proceeds from the sales of his home at 510 Wolfe Street in Old Town and the Kings Row Development (1604-1610 King Street) could satisfy the U.S. Department of Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The 14,000-square-foot home at 510 Wolfe Street is the largest in Old Town and was initially listed for sale by Corcoran McEnearney for $10.5 million, then reduced to $8.5 million. While DOJ is asking U.S. District and U.S. Bankruptcy courts to take over Labovitz’s interests in properties at his home and at an office building at 1700 Diagonal Road, the latter of which sold for $21 million in 2019, the cases against Labovitz have been temporarily halted by the U.S. government shutdown.
ALXnow’s second most-read story is on an Alexandria-area company securing a $142.8 million Department of Homeland Security contract to produce advertisements promoting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies — the most expensive ad campaign of the year.
Safe America Media LLC was incorporated in Delaware on Feb. 6, just eight days before the Feb. 14 contract award, and lists an address on Richmond Highway that carries an Alexandria mailing address but is located in Fairfax County, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press in March. The property is owned by Mike McElwain, a Republican consultant and partner at DMM Media, which is registered in Virginia as Designated Market Media, Inc., according to State Corporation Commission records.
The company has been awarded three task orders totaling $142.8 million: $62.8 million for the initial “Stronger Borders, Stronger America” campaign, $65 million for a follow-on domestic campaign, and $15 million for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruitment campaign. Safe America Media is working alongside People Who Think LLC, a Mandeville, Louisiana-based firm, to create ads featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging undocumented immigrants to self-deport.
DHS has spent at least $51 million this year on the campaign, surpassing the $41 million California redistricting measure as 2025’s biggest ad spender, according to AdImpact data reported by Axios.
The third top story is that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (600 Dulany Street) will remove 126 employees from its payroll on Dec. 9.
The 126 employees were part of the reduction in force announced on October 1 and have been on administrative leave since then, a source familiar with the situation told ALXnow. The October reduction in force affected approximately 140 employees in total, representing about 1% of the USPTO’s 14,000-person workforce. Positions were eliminated across several departments, including communications, the Office of Public Engagement, and the Patents Unit.
The agency also closed its Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office in Denver as part of the October restructuring, affecting fewer than 10 employees.
Get your costume ready, because the Del Ray Halloween Parade is on Sunday, Oct. 26. It’s the 29th annual parade, and the festivities start at 2 p.m.
Find out more about happenings in Alexandria with ALXnow’s comprehensive listing of weekend events.
The most-read stories this week were:
- Report: Alexandria real estate developer files bankruptcy, faces federal takeover of properties (28970 views)
- Firm using Alexandria address wins $220M federal contract for Trump immigration ads (15742 views)
- USPTO WARN Notice reflects October layoffs, no new December cuts (14394 views)
- Employee charged with hidden camera recordings at Del Ray bakery (10533 views)
- Spanberger’s lead narrows as Virginia races tighten in new VCU poll (3790 views)
- Spanberger to make Alexandria stop on 11-day statewide bus tour (2460 views)
Have a safe weekend!
