Vernon Miles | ALXnow

City Manager Outlines Multi-Year Fight to Lower City’s Water Bill

Published December 9, 2020 at 11:50AM

For two years, city staff have been haggling over your water bill.

Late last week, the city announced that the State Corporation Commission (SCC) has significantly reduced Virginia American Water Company’s requested increase in customer water rates, which will result in a refund of previous overcharges to customers.

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City Offering Free Resume Building and Job Application Skill Workshops

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2020 at 10:30AM

For Alexandrians looking for work after widespread pandemic layoffs, the City of Alexandria is offering free workshops to help build resume and other job-seeking skills.

The workshops are hosted through the Alexandria Workforce Development Center, which has been running similar programs since the summer. All of the workshops are free and held online.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2020 at 9:30AM

Experts Predict Alexandria Economic Recovery by 2022 — “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have dominated the economy here in Alexandria, but the region may not see a full recovery until 2022.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Alexandria Refreshes Bid for Fiber Network — “The City of Alexandria last week issued an invitation to bid (ITB) for the construction of a City-owned fiber network to support broadband services among the City’s public institutions.” [Broadband Communities]

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BPAC Plans Christmas Bike Rides Through Del Ray This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2020 at 4:30PM

While holiday festivities like the Scottish Christmas Parade are being cancelled around town due to coronavirus concerns, the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is still planning to go forward with the organization’s 10th annual Alexandria Holiday Lights Ride and Walk.

The annual ride takes cyclists and pedestrians on a tour of the best of Del Ray’s lights. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, from 5:30-7 p.m.

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ACPS Faces Reopening With Around Half of Staff Still Unwilling to Return

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2020 at 3:30PM

George Washington Middle School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As of late November, a little under half of ACPS’ staff said they are unwilling to return to work.

Stephen Wilkins, chief of staff for ACPS, said at a School Board meeting last Thursday that 45% of ACPS staff reported an inability to return in a survey sent out in late November. The highest reason — 43% of those who said they would not return — said it was due to fear and anxiety, while 29% said it was because of underlying medical conditions.

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Poll: Should the Police Review Board Have Subpoena and Disciplinary Power?

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2020 at 11:45AM

Alexandria’s police department leadership has openly supported calls for reform in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, but a central pillar of that reform — more civilian oversight of the police — has hit a stumbling block.

City Councilman Mo Seifeldein has spearheaded a plan to set up a civilian board to independently investigate allegations of police misconduct. The board was unanimously approved despite concerns from Police Chief Michael L. Brown, but Seifeldein has been vocally frustrated that attempts to give the board teeth by having greater investigative and disciplinary power have gone nowhere.

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City Anticipates Mild Winter for Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2020 at 10:30AM

Snow at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A winter preparation update headed to the City Council tonight (item 27) outlines plans for what looks to be a mild winter — a small mercy for city services at the end of a somewhat literally plagued year.

While day-to-day weather can be unpredictable, the staff presentation notes that information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that the city is not anticipated to have higher than normal precipitation and is within a belt of areas likely to see temperatures above the city’s winter average of 39.3 degrees. The trend is in keeping with steadily increasing average temperatures in the D.C. area over the last twenty years.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Women Create At-Home Escape Room — “Escape Notice Games will be releasing a second game titled “Spies of Liberty” in the spring of 2021. This game will be based on George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring and players will have to solve 15 puzzles to help Washington defeat the British.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Local Churches Organize 20 Ton Food Drive — “The truck came across the country with twenty tons of food items like pasta, flour, black beans, corn, soup, peaches, pasta sauce, pancake mix, peanut butter, mayonnaise, green beans, and more!” [Zebra]

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Alexandrians Want Civilian Police Oversight, Divided on Scope

By Vernon Miles

Published December 7, 2020 at 4:45PM

An Alexandria police cruiser (Staff photo by James Cullum)

As the city government works to iron out details of a proposed civilian review panel for the Alexandria Police Department, some local voices remain divided over how much power should be given to the oversight board.

The latest Agenda: Alexandria discussion, now converted to the On the Agenda podcast, tackled the local issue with Alexandria Gazette-Packet editor Mary Kimm — who was part of a similar initiative in Fairfax County — and David Baker — who retired as Alexandria’s police chief in 2009 after a DUI arrest. The discussion was moderated by journalist and longtime Agenda Alexandria host Michael Lee Pope and Agenda: Alexandria board member Alyia Gaskins.

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Updated: Police Apprehend Suspects Who Fled Stolen Car on Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published December 7, 2020 at 2:50PM

Updated 2:50 p.m. — Police said the suspects have been apprehended. An earlier version of this article listed an incorrect address.

For those curious about a police helicopter is sweeping over the 2300 block of Duke Street around 1:30 p.m., police say the helicopter is assisting in the search for suspects who fled a vehicle that was flagged as stolen.

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Carpenter’s Shelter Plans Virtual Ribbon-Cutting for New Braddock Shelter This Week

By Vernon Miles

Published December 7, 2020 at 1:30PM

Carpenter’s Shelter has invited the community to a ribbon-cutting on Thursday (Dec. 10) for the new shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

“This ribbon-cutting will be held in conjunction with with the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation, who will be celebrating the opening of 97 affordable apartment units named The Bloom at Braddock,” the nonprofit said in a press release.