News | ALXnow - Part 854

New Boarding House Planned Over Old Town Barber Shop

Published January 14, 2021 at 2:45PM

If you plan to stay at the new boarding facility at the intersection of N. Fayette Street and Queen Street, you’ll always have a convenient place to get your hair cut.

The planned affordable roominghouse for men above Heads Up Barbershop (300 N. Fayette Street) — and owned by the same family — is scheduled to go to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 2. The four-bedroom unit will have individual bathrooms and a shared central kitchen and laundry facility. The application notes that most residents do not own cars and no off-street parking will be provided.

American Rabbit ‘Shy’ Hopes to Hop into a New Adopted Home in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published January 14, 2021 at 1:15PM

Shy is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. (Photo via Dirty Paw Photography)

Like her name, Shy the American rabbit is sweet and a little timid — until you get to know her. The 19-month-old is the latest adoptee with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

“At just 2 pounds, this petite gal looks like a baby, but she is fully grown and looking to find her new family,” said AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter. “Like most rabbits, Shy may be a little, well, shy, at first, but once she gets to know you, prepare for full bunny cuddles.”

Next Agenda Alexandria Tackles Racial Inequality in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 14, 2021 at 12:45PM

Every month, Agenda Alexandria tackles a topic of significance to the public. This month, the organization is hitting two of the biggest talking points of 2020 in one fell swoop: how is Alexandria influenced and impacted by institutional racism.

A discussion with Bernadette Onyenaka, co-founder of the O&G Racial Equity Collaborative, and Sara VanderGoot, co-owner of Mind the Mat, is scheduled Monday, Jan. 25, from 6:30-8 p.m. The program will be streamed live.

Poll: Should Alexandria Hotels Cancel Reservations for Right Wing Extremists

By Vernon Miles

Published January 14, 2021 at 11:30AM

An Alexandria hotel faced some public scrutiny for housing Proud Boys and other right wing factions before the Capitol Hill riot, but now the Holiday Inn Alexandria-Carlyle is facing pressure from elected leadership to cancel reservations for identified extremists.

The hotel drew national attention before the protest as the lodging for the white nationalist group and a planned protest was cancelled after it allegedly received death threats.

Vice Mayor Bennett-Parker Asks Alexandria Hotels to Cancel ‘Proud Boy’ Reservations

By James Cullum

Published January 14, 2021 at 10:30AM

Less than a week before the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden on Jan. 20, Alexandria’s Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker is asking hotels in the city to cancel reservations for the Proud Boys.

In a letter to the Holiday Inn Alexandria-Carlyle, Bennett-Parker said that it rented rooms to members of the Proud Boys before the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol.

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published January 14, 2021 at 9:00AM | Updated January 14, 2021 at 9:31AM

Beyer Urges Senate to Remove Trump After House Impeachment — “Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the United States, and a menace to the Constitution. The events of the past week, my conscience, my oath of office, and my duty to the people of Northern Virginia allow no other course than to vote for his impeachment. I urge the Senate to remove him from office as swiftly as possible.” [Beyer.house.gov]

Police Seeking Alexandria Man For Assaulting Woodbridge Boy — “Ian M. Simpson is wanted after police said he attempted to strangle an 8-year-old boy during after two arguments between the two relatives.” [Patch]

Alexandria Sheriff Joins Outraged Chorus, City Council Defers Plan to Double Stormwater Utility Fees

By James Cullum

Published January 13, 2021 at 4:45PM | Updated January 13, 2021 at 5:02PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne joined his neighbors in criticizing City Council’s plan to double the stormwater utility fee, and asked at last night’s meeting that the matter be deferred to give the community more time.

Lawhorne, who lives in Del Ray, said that his home flooded multiple times last year and is frustrated with what he called a lack of progress to solve the problem. A number of heavy rainstorms in 2020 resulted in dangerous flooding situations, revealing a besieged stormwater management system that left many homes damaged throughout the city. There were more than 500 requests for service through the City’s 311 system due to extreme rain events this year, according to a city memo.

Three New Faces Enter Race for City Council

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated January 13, 2021 at 3:58PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

Two members of Alexandria’s City Council have announced that they will not be running for reelection this year, paving the way for new faces in city leadership.

Accordin to Angela Turner, Director of Elections & General Registrar, three new candidates have filed their paperwork to run for City Council this year.

Alexandria School Board Member Lorber Apologizes for Comments on Cautious ACPS Reopening

By James Cullum

Published January 13, 2021 at 2:30PM

School Board member Margaret Lorber has apologized for comments she made last week over the cautious reopening of public schools in the city during the pandemic.

“I was just amazed at the level of venom that I received in some of the emails,” Lorber said in a school board retreat on Tuesday night. “Everything gets put on social media so whatever you have said, gets amplified and misinterpreted 50 different ways. ”

Taco Restaurant and Tequila Bar Opens on Alexandria’s Western Border

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2021 at 1:15PM

New taco shop, Taco Rock 2 is opening today at the western edge of Alexandria.

Chef Mike Cordero announced in a press release that the spin-off of Rosslyn-based Taco Rock is opening at 6548 Little River Turnpike in the Pinecrest Plaza shopping center.

Alexandria’s Initial Unemployment Claims Jump 129% Going Into 2021

By James Cullum

Published January 13, 2021 at 11:30AM

Alexandria’s continued drop in initial (first-time) unemployment claims took a sharp turn over the new year.

The Virginia Employment Commission reports that here were 300 initial claims for the week ending Jan. 2, a 129% increase over the previous week’s total of 131 claims. That’s the most initial claims in the city since the week ending Aug. 1, which saw 336 initial claims.