Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Local Advocacy Groups Call for More COVID-19 Testing in Arlandria

Published May 12, 2020 at 3:20PM

A Neighborhood Health COVID-19 testing facility outside Casa Chirilagua in Arlandria (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Another local organization has called for the City of Alexandria to do more to help Arlandrians disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hispanic Alexandrians comprise only 17% of the city population but are leading in positive tests for coronavirus at 553 cases — nearly half of Alexandria’s 1,240 total cases. A breakdown of confirmed cases by zip code also showed Arlandria, Potomac Yard, and Potomac West as the highest concentration of cases in Alexandria.

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Alexandria Reopening Delayed At Least Two-Weeks After Rest of Virginia

By Vernon Miles

Published May 12, 2020 at 2:20PM

After extensive pressure from local leaders, from a congressman to a county board, Gov. Ralph Northam amended a plan to lift coronavirus-related restrictions on Northern Virginia until May 29 at the soonest.

“We are pleased that the Governor is ensuring that we have the public health protections in place before we proceed to Phase 1,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “That will ensure that our easing of restrictions will be permanent.”

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Online Tours of Alexandria’s Civil War Hospitals for the History Buffs at Home

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated May 11, 2020 at 4:52PM

St. Paul's Episcopal Church during the Civil War (photo via City of Alexandria)

The Office of Historic Alexandria is closed, as are many historic locations around Alexandria, but the office is nonetheless offering digital tours of those facilities for those stuck at home and looking to scratch that local history itch.

Two of the current focuses for the Office of Historic Alexandria are American Civil War hospitals and profiles related to the Lee-Fendall House. Both are offered through Vamonde, a travel website that offers a platform to post information about localities.

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Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Lays Out Path to Recovery for Local Economy

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2020 at 3:30PM

In a memo to City Council, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) laid out the path to recovery for Alexandria businesses as the city prepares to sift through the economic wreckage left in the wake of COVID-19

In a series of short term and longer-term phases, AEDP President and CEO Stephanie Landrum laid out a number of things the city can do to help support businesses in the city struggle to hold on through the pandemic.

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Pence Visit to Alexandria Kicks Off Late Night TV Kerfuffle

By Vernon Miles

Published May 8, 2020 at 5:30PM

A hot mic incident kicked off a storm of lampooning followed by an equally swift backlash when it was shown that the original video was taken out of context.

Yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence visited Alexandria to drop off supplies for the Woodbine Rehabilitative and Health Center, a senior care facility where there have been positive COVID-19 cases among residents and staff.

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Alexandria Teachers Likely to See Pay Decrease in New School Budget

By Vernon Miles

Published May 8, 2020 at 3:15PM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Faced with a $7.4 million reduction in funding from the city and $4 million lost from the state, Alexandria City Public Schools is faced with dire cuts that will keep staffing levels but leave teachers with reduced pay.

“We are facing a global pandemic, but that does not change our priorities,” Superintendent Gregory Hutchings said at a virtual meeting on Friday. “We are staying true to actual budget priorities that were approved by the board as we make these revisions.”

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The High Cost of Combating COVID-19 in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published May 8, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated May 8, 2020 at 2:26PM

A young boy is tested for COVID-19 at a Neighborhood Health testing facility outside Casa Chirilagua in Arlandria (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria has spent $5 million on new expenses to combat COVID-19 related problems, and in a town hall last night, Mayor Justin Wilson said he expects that number to double by the end of the pandemic.

“[We’ve] spent $5 million on COVID expenses,” Wilson said. “That’s things like hotel rooms for quarantine, hazard pay, things like that; a lot of emergent expenses.”

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After Delays, Construction of New Beverley Hills Fire Station Moves Forward

By Vernon Miles

Published May 7, 2020 at 3:15PM

Despite the pandemic, significant progress is being made on the new fire station in the Beverley Hills neighborhood.

Fire Station 203 is in the third of four phases of development, according to Alexandria communications officer Andrea Blackford, with the first floor walls being constructed.

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Superintendent Hutchings Outlines Future of Schools Through Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 5:30PM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 5:54PM

In a video posted yesterday, Alexandria Superintendent Gregory Hutchings described the school’s approach to educating students at home and how those plans have evolved and will evolve throughout the pandemic.

“Our continuity of learning plan is how we teach and learn from home,” Hutchings said. “It ensures all our students are learning while we’re at home. The plan was initially meant to take us through spring break, but as you know… [Gov. Northam] decided all schools will remain closed through the academic year.”

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Southern Towers Extends Rent Payment, Strikers Still Hoping for Rent Freeze

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 3:48PM

A pair of strikes filled the streets outside Southern Towers late last month and on May 1, but despite some extended support for renters out of the job due to COVID-19, those who helped stage the earlier protests said the fight to stop rent from being charged to those without a job will continue to go on.

“Bell Partners has extended its previously-announced measures to help residents financially impacted by COVID-19 into May,” a spokesman for Bell Partners, which operates Southern Towers, said. “The due date for May rent has been pushed back to May 20 and late fees have been waived.”

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Alexandria Businesses Brace for a Cautious Reopening Next Week

By Vernon Miles

Published May 6, 2020 at 2:15PM

After Gov. Ralph Northam’s announcement that restrictions could start easing up on Virginia businesses next week, some Old Town businesses are already preparing for steps on how to cautiously reopen.

A representative of the Old Town Boutique District said in an email that various businesses that had previously been closed are taking steps to reopen while still offering some degree of social distancing.