Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

News

Labor Day: State of the unions in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

With Labor Day coming up on Monday, a couple of the leading unions and labor organizing groups in Alexandria say they’ve seen substantial gains but there’s still work to be done.

Collective bargaining for public safety agencies was one of the leading issues early in late 2021 and early 2022. Labor activists were also critical of the city’s involvement in financing the development of the Hotel Heron in Old Town, saying the city should leverage its position to ensure better wages and treatment of employees.

Go to Labor Day: State of the unions in Alexandria Read more
News

Controversial stream projects return to city review this fall

By Vernon Miles
Taylor Run (Photo via City of Alexandria)

Over a year after City Council paused its controversial stream rehabilitation projects, the City of Alexandria is hosting community meetings next week to restart that process.

The City Council paused stream rehabilitation projects for Taylor Run and Strawberry Run after local civic and environmental activists argued the projects could end up damaging the quality of the streams they were trying to help. City staff reviewed the concerns and said many were unfounded, but the debate raised sufficient uncertainty that the City Council sent the projects back to the drawing board for review.

Go to Controversial stream projects return to city review this fall Read more
Opinion

Poll: What’s your planned Metro replacement during the shutdown?

By Vernon Miles
A Metro train headed toward the Van Dorn Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Metro riders will be cut off from the rest of the system starting next Saturday (Sept. 10), the start of a series of Metro closures planned through early next year.

The worst of it for Alexandrians will be the stretch from Sept. 10 through Oct. 22 as WMATA works to bring the new Potomac Yard Metro station in line with the rest of the system. After that, the Yellow Line Tunnel connecting the Pentagon station to L’Enfant Plaza will be closed for repairs until spring 2023.

Go to Poll: What’s your planned Metro replacement during the shutdown? Read more
News

WMATA vows to learn from past mistakes as Potomac Yard Metro station nears completion

By Vernon Miles
Construction work at Potomac Yard Metro station, photo via City of Alexandria

(Updated 6:50 p.m.) As the Potomac Yard Metro Station nears the finish line, WMATA representatives told Alexandria leaders at a meeting this week they’re trying to learn from previous mistakes and avoid fumbling the ball this close to the endzone.

Alexandria will be cut off from the rest of the Metro system from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22 while WMATA works to bring the Potomac Metro station in line. At a meeting of the Potomac Yard Metrorail Implementation Work Group on Monday — where city staff also discussed additional commuter options — WMATA explained what will be going on inside the station during the shutdown.

Go to WMATA vows to learn from past mistakes as Potomac Yard Metro station nears completion Read more
News

Alexandria looks to bicycles and boats to help replace Metro during shutdown

By Vernon Miles

While buses and trains are centerstage in efforts to replace Metro during an extended closure planned through earlier next year, Alexandria is also looking to bicycles and boats to help make up the difference.

Alexandria will be cut off from the rest of the Metro system from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22 as WMATA works to bring the Potomac Yard Metro station in line with the rest of the system. Then, from September through spring 2023, the Yellow Line Tunnel connecting Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations will be closed for repairs, forcing Alexandria commuters to loop up into D.C. through the Blue Line.

Go to Alexandria looks to bicycles and boats to help replace Metro during shutdown Read more
News

City leaders hosting ‘listening session’ for city and school concerns

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria Councilman Canek Aguirre

An Alexandria City Council member and School Board member have announced plans for a “community listening session” to get public input on the state of the city and schools.

The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10:30 a.m. in the Beatley Library (5005 Duke Street).

Go to City leaders hosting ‘listening session’ for city and school concerns Read more
News

City of Alexandria collecting public feedback on new King Street pedestrian zone

By Vernon Miles
Rendering of the unit block of King Street with street closure (via City of Alexandria)

As the city approaches the end of a pilot program that saw the waterfront block of King Street converted into a pedestrian zone, the City of Alexandria is looking for public feedback on the pilot.

The conversion of the unit block of King Street (the start of the street east of Union Street) and the Strand started on Memorial Day weekend and is scheduled to run through Labor Day weekend early next month.

Go to City of Alexandria collecting public feedback on new King Street pedestrian zone Read more
News

Neighbors appeal Polk Avenue sidewalk decision to City Council

By Vernon Miles
Rendering of new Polk Avenue sidewalk (image via City of Alexandria)

One month after the Traffic and Parking Board unanimously approved a new sidewalk along Polk Avenue, neighbors in opposition to the project are appealing the decision.

The city’s plan is to build a new sidewalk connecting two dead-end parts of sidewalk at either end of the bottom of Polk Park. The park’s thick undergrowth comes right up to the road, where the  side of that road is used as a stretch of parking for nine vehicles.

Go to Neighbors appeal Polk Avenue sidewalk decision to City Council Read more
News

Joseph Hensley Park upgrades headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles
Hensley Park concept plan (image via City of Alexandria)

Joseph Hensley Park (4200 Eisenhower Avenue) is slated to get some major upgrades to the athletic fields benefitting not only park users, but neighboring car windows.

The park is set to get a ring of 30-foot netting and fencing around the park alongside a renovation of the park. Those plans are headed to the Planning Commission for review on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Go to Joseph Hensley Park upgrades headed to Planning Commission Read more
News

JUST IN: Suspect arrested in Braddock neighborhood shooting

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria Police at night (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting in the Braddock neighborhood this weekend.

The shooting occurred on Saturday, Aug. 27, at approximately 8:21 p.m. in the 700 block of North Fayette Street, police said in a release.

Go to JUST IN: Suspect arrested in Braddock neighborhood shooting Read more
News

Alexandria hoping to make new outdoor dining regulations less onerous

By Vernon Miles

A pair of city policy changes — the new parklet program and a return to stricter regulations on outdoor dining — are coming together at a Planning Commission meeting next month in an effort to make the two pieces fit together.

City staff said in a memo that the upcoming changes represent the start of an effort to make the process of securing outdoor dining at one of the King Street parklets less complicated and slightly less restrictive.

Go to Alexandria hoping to make new outdoor dining regulations less onerous Read more
View More Stories