News | ALXnow - Part 412

Alexandria is developing a public safety and event services plan for new arena at Potomac Yard

Published January 22, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated January 22, 2024 at 4:26PM

Rendering of outdoor plaza at Monumental Arena development (image courtesy of JBG SMITH)

Alexandria doesn’t have the resources to adequately cover the public safety aspect of the proposed Potomac Yard arena and entertainment district, sources in the Alexandria Police Department and Sheriff’s Office told ALXnow.

The city currently does not have the resources to cover the addition of the arena and entertainment district at Potomac Yard. The Alexandria Police Department has just over 300 officers, the Sheriff’s Office has around 165 deputies and the Fire Department has about 300 fire and rescue personnel.

More ‘no turn on red’ restrictions coming to Old Town North

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2024 at 2:55PM

Pendleton Street and N. Saint Asaph Street (image via Google Maps)

Four intersections along N. Saint Asaph Street, near the Trader Joes and Harris Teeter, could have new ‘no turn on red restrictions’.

A report (page 12) to the Traffic and Parking Board — ahead of a meeting tonight (Monday) — said the intersections along N. Saint Asaph Street can be a dangerous combination of pedestrian traffic around the grocery stores coming into conflict with traffic spilling off Washington Street.

Alexandria police investigating two Sunday night shootings

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2024 at 1:40PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Department is investigating two incidents of gunfire Sunday night, though no one was reported injured.

Eight-to-10 gunshots were reported just before 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the shopping center in the 4000 block of Mount Vernon Avenue. The victim told police that he got into an argument with a Hispanic male in the parking lot and that the suspect fired his handgun at him, striking his car, according to the police scanner.

George Washington Masonic Memorial photo honored in Wikipedia photo competition

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2024 at 11:00AM

George Washington Masonic Memorial at Night (photo via Daniel Horowitz)

A nighttime photo of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Old Town took fifth place in the Wiki Loves Monuments 2023 photo contest.

The annual contest, held by Wikipedia, highlights photographs of historic sites from the National Register of Historic Places.

Capital Bikeshare saw record high ridership in Alexandria last year

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2024 at 10:00AM

Matt Neumann with Capital Bikeshare checks bikes on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Reports of high ridership last fall held steady through the end of the year and made it official: Capital Bikeshare had its best year yet in Alexandria.

A report to the Traffic and Parking Board ahead of a meeting tonight said the bikeshare system ridership grew steadily post-Covid to a high of 109,487 trips starting or ending in Alexandria last year.

Notes: Zoning for Housing opponents sue City of Alexandria over single-family zoning change

By ALXnow.com

Published January 22, 2024 at 9:00AM

Anti-Zoning for Housing sign in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Good Monday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect sunny skies and a high of 38 degrees, along with calm winds picking up from the south at 5 to 8 mph during the morning. Monday night will bring partly cloudy conditions, a low of approximately 27 degrees, and a south wind at 3 to 6 mph.

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published January 19, 2024 at 3:30PM

Adam K., 13, sleds in front of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Jan. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tuesday, the day after MLK day, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) closed for a ‘traditional snow day‘.

The day after started with a two-hour delay, but sure enough, today (Friday) the schools were closed as well.

JUST IN: Man assaulted and robbed at gunpoint of jacket in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2024 at 2:30PM

Alexandria police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred in Old Town North on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 (via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating an alleged assault and armed robbery of a man this snowy afternoon in Old Town North.

At around 1:40 p.m., the victim reported to police that a man wearing a dark jacket and light-colored jeans pulled a tan and black handgun on him, punched him, and took his black Canada Goose jacket with fur lining the hood, according to the police scanner.

Without a cost of living increase, the proposed ACPS budget is causing concern for staff and families

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2024 at 1:35PM | Updated January 29, 2024 at 3:57PM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 4 p.m. on Jan. 29) Critics contend that the proposed Alexandria City Public Schools budget shortchanges staff, but that’s not what the superintendent is saying.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt says that her proposed $374 million fiscal year 2025 budget focuses on retention with a full step increase and a 2% market rate adjustment for eligible staff. The school system is currently experiencing a staffing crisis, and the budget also increases bus driver salaries to $24 an hour for new drivers and more than $47 per hour for senior drivers with more than a decade experience with the school system. The budget also opens the door to the creation of a collective bargaining agreement with staff.

Former Teamster and substitute teacher Tim Beaty sworn in to Alexandria School Board

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2024 at 10:55AM

Tim Beaty is the new District A School Board member (via ACPS)

There’s a new member of the Alexandria School Board. Tim Beaty, the retired former global strategies director for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was sworn into office on Thursday night.

Beaty won a special election on Jan. 9 to fill the seat vacated by former School Board Member Willie Bailey. He will fill the remaining 11 months of Bailey’s term before the next School Board is sworn into office in January 2025. During that time, he said that he wants to help Alexandria City Public Schools edge closer to a collective bargaining agreement with staff.

Major Alexandria roadways are mostly clear, but many side streets remain snow covered

By Vernon Miles

Published January 19, 2024 at 10:05AM

Cleared I-95 interchange in the Eisenhower neighborhood (Image via VDOT)

If you’re thinking of heading out for a drive in the snow, you may want to hold off on that unless you live on one of the city’s arterial roads.

The City of Alexandria’s SnowReport website provides a look at current roadway conditions around Alexandria during a snowstorm.