Alexandria is on the brink of reaching 3,000 coronavirus cases, as the city has seen more than 100 new cases reported in the last five days.
There are now or have been 2,976 cases of the virus in Alexandria, which is an increase of 104 new cases in the last five days. Last Friday, 30 new cases were reported after a Virginia Department of Health backlog that was updated, according to the city.
Dozens of protestors once again demonstrated outside the Alexandria home of acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Sunday, vowing to keep up the pressure with future demonstrations.
“The narrative in this country says that we are violent rioters, and we are not,” a protest leader said. “We are peaceful protesters and the violence is coming to us at the hands of the state, at the hands of mercenaries under the employ of DHS. We call them federal agents. They are contractors. These are privately employed people who don’t have accountable training.”
Levine Says Murder Suspect Should Have Stayed Behind Bars — “Simply put, I think the judge made a tragically wrong decision here.” [Blue Virginia]
Lynching Victim Honored in Old Town — “121 years to the day after a mob lynched young Benjamin Thomas, the successor of the Mayor who made a half-hearted plea for due process and the successor of the “City Sergeant” (@AlexVASheriff) who failed to project Benjamin, stood at the corner and laid wreaths in his memory.” [Twitter]
Homicide suspect Ibrahim Bouaichi has died as a result of self-inflicted gunshot wounds that left him in the hospital since Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Bouaichi was wanted for the July 29 murder of Karla Elizabeth Dominguez Gonzalez, whom he allegedly killed after he was released on bond awaiting trial for rape charges against her.
It was a busy week in Alexandria.
Alexandria Police apprehended the suspect in the city’s only murder this year, and he is currently in the hospital suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Alexandria activists are planning another protest at the home of acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf this Sunday.
In an email, activists said to meet at the intersection of Preston Road and Valley Drive on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. for a rally outside the acting secretary’s home along the northern border between Arlington and Alexandria. The protest is planned to oppose Operation Legend, ICE abuses, and DACA restrictions and organizers asked participants to wear masks, bring signs and water.
Scott Shaw says it will be two years before Alexandria Restaurant Partners gets to its pre-COVID financial situation.
“This year we’re down 50% in sales, and if the first half of next year has a slow recovery, then next year might be down 25%, and then we get back to normal in 2022,” Shaw, a partner with ARP told ALXnow. “Right now we’re worried about the winter and what happens when nobody wants to sit outside and we have to survive on to-go orders, which a lot of restaurants can’t do.”
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson warned that this November’s election could look very different from elections in the past, and encouraged residents to request mail-in ballots if possible.
“We absolutely encourage residents to vote by mail if they can or take advantage of some of the in-person absentee voting that will become available,” Wilson said in a town hall meeting last night. “This is the first election in Virginia history where no excuse is required for absentee balloting. You can say you would like a mail ballot and you can get one.”
A 45-year-old Alexandria man is in jail for allegedly attempting to rape a woman behind the 7-Eleven at 3412 Mount Vernon Avenue at the border of Del Ray and Arlandria.
James Bowen was arrested on July 19 and is currently in the Alexandria jail.
(Updated 4:15 p.m.) After a week with two flood warnings, the city is reminding residents that a program is available for the city to cover half the costs for sewer backflow prevention — a source of much of the city’s flooding problems.
The Backflow Preventer (BFP) Assistance Program reimburses homeowners for up to 50% of the costs of installing a BFP device by a licensed plumbing contractor for up to a maximum of $2,000.
Alexandrian Killed in D.C. Shooting — “Metropolitan Police identified Montrell Lucas, 18, of Alexandria, as one of two victims who were killed Tuesday night. Police responded to the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue Northeast around 8:46 p.m. for a report of a shooting and found three victims.” [Patch]
D.C. Company Sends Out Incomplete Ballot Applications — “Judith, a city of Alexandria resident, received the letter, which includes a partially completed application for a mail-in voting ballot and a pre-addressed and prepaid envelope to send the application to her registrar’s office. But her ballot application would have gone to the wrong address.” [NBC4]
