On This Day in Alexandria History — “On March 10, 1965 construction began to implement the controversial Gadsby’s Urban Renewal Project, in the heart of downtown Alexandria. approved by City Council in a close 4-3 vote. In the early 1960’s “urban renewal” in the United States focused largely on the demolition and reconstruction of deteriorated downtown areas, rather than the restoration of historic buildings to revitalize city centers, a concept that emerged a decade later. In Alexandria, renewal was originally proposed for a twelve block area further west along King Street, but ultimately moved east, centered on the area around Gadsby’s Tavern, City Hall and Market Square.” [Historic Alexandria]

AG Condemns Anti-Redistricting Mailers — “A political action committee opposing Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum is facing sharp criticism after sending mailers to voters over the weekend that invoke imagery and language from the civil rights movement — a tactic voting rights advocates and state officials say distorts history and risks misleading voters. The mailers, distributed by a group called Democracy and Justice PAC, led by former GOP Delegate A.C. Cordoza, feature black-and-white imagery reminiscent of 1960s civil rights demonstrations … Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, the state’s first Black attorney general, said the mailers draw on a painful chapter of American history that should not be used as a political tool.” [Virginia Mercury]