News | ALXnow - Part 804

City Council Endorses Police Review Board Option, Plan Going Out for Community Review

Published January 20, 2021 at 4:45PM

The Alexandria City Council has chosen a hybrid approach as its preferred option for a Community Police Review Board. It’s a contentious move that, if approved next March, will allow independent civilian oversight over multiple aspects of the police department.

In a 4-3 vote last week, Council chose option “C” out of the four alternatives presented by staff. Each of the options will now be presented to the community in a two-month-long public feedback process that will ultimately lead to a council decision in March. The dissenting votes were cast by Mayor Justin Wilson, Councilwoman Amy Jackson and Councilwoman Del Pepper.

Contested Parker-Gray Townhouse Returns to City Tomorrow

By Vernon Miles

Published January 20, 2021 at 3:30PM

Density is forcing some Alexandrians to get closer to their neighbors than they might want: creating some tension as a new townhouse on a vacant lot returns to the Board of Architectural Review tomorrow (Thursday).

The BAR is scheduled to review an application to turn lots 1413 and 1415 Princess Street — which have sat undeveloped since 1893 — into a pair of townhouses. Staff reviewed the application and endorsed much of it, but the project still generated concern over its proximity and scale compared to some surrounding buildings.

Del Ray Business Association Presents Star Award to Councilwoman Del Pepper

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2021 at 2:30PM

Outgoing Alexandria City Councilwoman Del Pepper received top honors from the Del Ray Business Association on Tuesday, as Pepper and a number of notable Alexandrians were virtually presented with the community’s annual Star Award.

DRBA ended up tricking Pepper by telling her that they wanted her to briefly speak to the association about Del Ray’s finer qualities. Instead, Pepper arrived at the virtual meeting to find herself the recipient of the neighborhood’s greatest annual honor.

Initial Unemployment Claims Surge in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2021 at 1:15PM

Alexandria’s initial unemployment claims jumped 178% for the week ending Jan. 9, and continued claims jumped 14%.

The Virginia Employment Commission reports that here were 836 initial (first time) claims in Alexandria for the week ending Jan. 9, a large increase over the previous week’s total of 131 claims. That week, which ended on Jan. 2, also saw a 129% increase over the previous week’s total.

Police Chief: Many Recent Shootings in Alexandria Are Related

By Vernon Miles

Published January 20, 2021 at 11:45AM

In an update to the City Council, Police Chief Michael Brown said many of the recent shots fired incidents in Alexandria are related.

It wasn’t exactly surprising news, given that many of the shootings took place in the same concentrated areas — two this month took place less than a block apart — but it was a rare glimpse into investigations where local police are keeping their cards close to their chest.

COVID Precautions Create School Capacity Concerns

By Vernon Miles

Published January 20, 2021 at 10:15AM

In a School Board meeting last week, Superintendent Gregory Hutchings and ACPS leadership discussed how COVID precautions could strain the school system’s already beleaguered capacity situation.

School administrators have been open about the fact that when students are allowed to return in-person, classes will be very different from how they left them. Rather than just classroom size, however, the concern is ACPS having enough faculty to handle returning students.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2021 at 9:00AM

Beyer Praises Biden’s Economic Relief Plan — “Soon we will have a president in the White House, and Democratic leaders controlling Congress, who understand what economists have told us from the beginning–that in order to recover and rebuild from this pandemic you must first control the coronavirus and that rent and food are not going to trickle down to millions of unemployed Americans.” [Beyer.house.gov]

COVID-19 Self-Testing Kiosks Closed Today — “Stay safe on January 20. To ensure the safety of the community and Curative employees, COVID-19 testing kiosks in Alexandria will be closed on Inauguration Day. Pre-register for testing on Tues, Jan 19 or Thurs, Jan 21.” [Twitter]

Winter Restaurant Week Starts This Friday

By Vernon Miles

Published January 19, 2021 at 4:30PM

Hops n Shine (photo via Hops N Shine/Facebook)

For the next two weeks, restaurants across Alexandria will offer takeout specials to celebrate a spotlight on local dining establishments.

Restaurant week, a seasonal event run by Visit Alexandria, features 60 restaurants offering $49 takeout dinners for two or, at half those restaurants, $25 takeout dinners for one.

Alexandria Bartender Gets 375+ Signatures in Petition Asking for Curfew on Inauguration Day

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2021 at 3:30PM

An Alexandria bartender wants the city to impose a 6 p.m. curfew on inauguration day on Wednesday, and has started an online petition that has garnered more than 375 signatures.

Erin Kennedy, a bartender at O’Shaughnessy’s at 1324 King Street in Old Town, didn’t like the feeling she got on the night of Jan. 6 when pro-Trump supporters drank at the bar and aggressively talked about how they participated in the siege at the U.S. Capitol.

Just In: Alexandria Sheriff’s Deputies and Police Assist in Shutting Down 14th Street Bridge for Inauguration

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2021 at 2:30PM | Updated January 19, 2021 at 5:08PM

The 14th Street Bridge going into Washington, D.C. has been completely shut down, and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and Police Department are among the law enforcement agencies that have blocked traffic on the bridge since 6 a.m. this morning.

“We’ve never been asked to do anything like this before,” Captain Sean Casey of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office told ALXnow. “We’re at the bridge right now. It was quite a sight this morning, because there was still plenty of traffic. We started at just before 6 a.m. securing and shutting down the bridge. You now cannot cross the 14th Street Bridge, with very few exceptions.”

Atlantis Pizzeria and Family Restaurant Closing on Jan. 24

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2021 at 1:15PM

After nearly 40 years in business, Atlantis Pizzeria and Family Restaurant will close on Jan. 24.

The restaurant’s owners said that the loss of business from the pandemic destroyed the business, and thanked loyal customers for years of support.