Abdel Elnoubi | ALXnow

ARHA asks city to back loan for ‘Silver Fox’ senior housing complex

Published June 11, 2025 at 7:45PM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council has mixed feelings about serving as a cosigner for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s plan to keep its senior residents in the city.

Faced with a $40 million budget shortfall, ARHA abandoned plans to replace the aging 11-story, 170-unit Ladrey Senior High-Rise with a six-to-seven-story 270-unit L-shaped building. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsequently ended its operating support for building management and maintenance, issuing vouchers for the relocation of Ladrey’s residents by the end of the year.

News

City Council recognizes Emergency Medical Services Week, honors Alexandria’s EMS heroes

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 13, 2025 at 8:00PM

City Council Recognizes Alexandria's EMS Heroes with Official Proclamation (Staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Alexandria City Council honored its emergency medical services (EMS) providers at its Legislative Meeting on Tuesday (May 13) with a special proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week, which runs from May 18 to 24, 2025.

During the meeting, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the Alexandria City Council declared the week “Emergency Medical Services Week.”

News

ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated May 5, 2025 at 2:13AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony, this morning (May 2), the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board.

From reporting on a transportation controversy to investigations into the School Board, transgender policies, or even lampooning metal detectors in cartoons, Theogony student journalists take their roles seriously. Now, with City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system, student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication.

News

Alexandria City Council passes $956.5 million FY 2026 Budget amid ‘time of great uncertainty’

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2025 at 9:05PM

Alexandria City Council approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, April 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty, Alexandria’s City Council unanimously adopted its $956.5 million operating budget.

City Manager Jim Parajon said it was challenging crafting a budget that keeps city services without increasing real estate or property taxes. The city’s budget grew 3.2% over the current fiscal year, with its largest line item being a fully-funded Alexandria City Public Schools, as well as significant stormwater management funding for the city’s $2.1 billion FY 2026 – 2035 Capital Improvement Program.

News

Don’t miss ALXnow’s photos of Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

By James Cullum

Published March 1, 2025 at 5:17PM | Updated March 1, 2025 at 6:47PM

St. Patrick waves at Alexandria's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was a picturesque day in Old Town for Alexandria’s 42nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Temperatures were crisp in the 60s, as King Street near City Hall was awash in orange, green and white.

News

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council sworn into office amid ‘backdrop of deep uncertainty’

By James Cullum

Published January 3, 2025 at 11:20AM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, with her family, takes the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the new City Council were sworn into office on Thursday (Jan. 2), ushering in a new era of city governance with the new year.

Gaskins is the first Black woman to be elected mayor of the city. She stood alongside her husband and two children and took the oath of office from Clerk of the Court Greg Parks onstage at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center (4915 E. Campus Drive) at Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus.

News

Alexandria Democrats declare victory in City Council races

By James Cullum

Published November 5, 2024 at 10:45PM

(Left to right) The next Alexandria City Council John Taylor Chapman, Jacinta Greene, Sarah Bagley, Mayor-elect Alyia Gaskins, Abdel Elnoubi, Kirk McPike, and Canek Aguirre at Pork Barrel BBQ on election night, Nov. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

While thousands of mailed absentee ballots remain uncounted, Alexandria Democrats declared victory on election night.

Mayor-elect Alyia Gaskins said that when the provisional and mail-in absentee votes are tallied that the city’s Democratic candidates will make up the seven-person City Council.

News

Alexandria School Board rebukes member for punching down to ‘score cheap political points’

By James Cullum

Published October 25, 2024 at 9:36AM

Alexandria School Board Member Abdel Elnoubi speaks at a City Council candidate debate at Charles Houston Recreation Center on Oct. 16, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria School Board members sternly responded to recent criticism leveled at the Board and school system staff.

Without singling out the offending School Board member by name, Board Chair Michelle Rief, Vice Chair Kelly Carmichael Booz and Member Christopher Harris on Thursday night admonished Board Member Abdel Elnoubi for his comments at a City Council candidate debate on Oct. 16.

News

City Council candidates heavily criticize Alexandria School Board in debate

By James Cullum

Published October 18, 2024 at 9:20AM | Updated October 18, 2024 at 5:03PM

The conduct and power of the Alexandria School Board was criticized by multiple City Council candidates on Wednesday night.

The hour-and-a-half-long debate was moderated by Washington Post reporter Teo Armus and hosted by the Potomac Yard and Taylor Run Civic Associations.

News

Four incumbents out and newcomers running for School Board in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 20, 2024 at 10:45AM | Updated June 20, 2024 at 5:57PM

Voting at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray, November 3, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s 138 days until the Nov. 5 election, and there are just enough candidates running for an uncontested School Board election.

There are two vacancies in this election cycle after School Board Members Abdel Elnoubi and Jacinta Greene won their Democratic nominations for City Council on June 18. Additionally, two Board Members are not running for reelection, former Board Chair Meagan Alderton in District C, and Tammy Ignacio in District B.

News

Gaskins leads in Alexandria mayoral campaign fundraising, O’Connell tops City Council candidates

By James Cullum

Published June 13, 2024 at 2:35PM | Updated June 13, 2024 at 3:06PM

Del Ray's Jesse O'Connell announces his candidacy for the Alexandria City Council at the Alexandria Democratic Committee meeting on Feb. 5, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the June 18 primary for Alexandria mayor and City Council around the corner, candidates have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for what is anticipated to be a low-turnout election.

The only seats in contention for the Democrat primaries are Mayor and City Council, and there is also a single candidate running for Council in a Republican primary.