Alexandria City Council | ALXnow

ARHA deputy director takes over as interim CEO amid controversy

Published September 4, 2025 at 11:45AM

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

While its current CEO is on probation and under investigation for living in a public housing property under his management, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority is being led by an interim CEO, ALXnow has confirmed.

Last month, ALXnow reported that ARHA CEO Erik Johnson was living in an ARHA property, prompting the Alexandria City Council to call for an independent investigation. ARHA has since confirmed that its Deputy Executive Director Rickie C. Maddox is currently working as the organization’s interim CEO.

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City Council demands ARHA investigation ahead of emergency board meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 27, 2025 at 6:00AM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 11:10AM

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 Redevelopment and Housing Authority will convene a special board meeting this morning at 8 a.m. to discuss a personnel matter in executive session, one day after Mayor Alyia Gaskins sent a letter on behalf of City Council demanding a third-party investigation into CEO Erik Johnson’s residency in public housing.

In a four-page letter sent Tuesday to ARHA Board Chair Anitra Androh, Gaskins called for an independent investigation into three specific areas: Johnson’s actions, ARHA’s compliance with all applicable laws related to properties the authority owns and manages, and ARHA’s finances, including an independent financial audit.

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Woman found dead during eviction tops week’s news in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 22, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

It’s been an intense week in Alexandria. Here’s a look at our top stories.

Our most-read story is on a woman found dead outside her apartment during an eviction process on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office reported on social media that deputies were conducting an eviction at an apartment at 400 Madison Street at around 9 a.m., when they found the adult woman dead outside the building. The woman’s identity and the circumstances surrounding her death have not been released.

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Alexandria council member calls for investigation into housing authority CEO living in public housing

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated August 21, 2025 at 1:18PM

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

A member of the Alexandria City Council has called for an immediate investigation into how Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) CEO Erik Johnson lived in a public housing property with his family in Old Town.

Johnson confirmed Wednesday that he moved into a property on Cook Street in July and is in the process of moving out. Johnson said that he was alerted that it was an issue by an ARHA Board member. Johnson was hired a year ago and started work in Sept. 2024.

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Alexandria councilman repays city $820 for taxpayer-funded mailer

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published August 14, 2025 at 3:00PM

Alexandria City Council Member Abdel Elnoubi (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Councilman Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi has reimbursed the city $820.33 after using taxpayer funds to mail a letter to constituents that highlighted his accomplishments during his first six months in office.

The four-page letter, sent on official city letterhead, detailed Elnoubi’s role in various city initiatives, including student transportation improvements, budget passage, housing plans, and infrastructure projects. When questioned about the appropriateness of using public resources for communication, Elnoubi acknowledged potential concerns and stated that he had voluntarily repaid the city with a check.

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Mayor Gaskins to keynote Diversity in Business Expo Saturday

By James Cullum

Published August 14, 2025 at 2:30PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks after taking the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins will give the keynote address at this Saturday’s Alexandria Diversity in Business Expo.

The free event is designed to foster connections and exchange ideas between local entrepreneurs and will take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at My Father’s House Christian Church, located at 4746 Eisenhower Avenue. City Council Member John Taylor Chapman, a small business owner, will discuss how local policies can impact the bottom line.

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Advocacy group wants Alexandria to divest itself from Israel

By James Cullum

Published August 7, 2025 at 6:30PM | Updated August 9, 2025 at 1:20AM

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupting an Alexandria City Council meeting (photo courtesy Alexandria for Palestine)

The group Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights isn’t going to stop disrupting political events any time soon.

You might’ve noticed members of the growing group disrupting all manner of political events in the city since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted in October 2023. In addition to asking Alexandria to approve a ceasefire resolution, the group wants the city to divest itself from Israel and boycott companies it says are profiting from the conflict.

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Petition launched against pump station construction at Waterfront Park

By James Cullum

Published July 18, 2025 at 2:30PM

Rendering of the pump station at Waterfront Park in Old Town at night, seen here looking east down Prince Street (via City of Alexandria)

A new petition has been launched against part of Alexandria’s plan to combat flooding in Old Town.

The Change.org petition opposing the installation of a two-story pump station at Waterfront Park to recirculate floodwaters back to the Potomac River has garnered 275 signatures so far. The organizer wrote in the petition that the pump station “is destructive, unnecessary, wasteful, and in violation of public trust.”

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Alexandria City Council, School Board to discuss DASH transition, collective bargaining, and more during joint meeting

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council and School Board have several big-picture items up for discussion early next month.

On Monday, August 4, the Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee will discuss a proposal to put Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026, collective bargaining with ACPS staff, and the school system’s Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan.

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Alexandria Health Department gets $120K from City Council after losing federal grant

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 5:30PM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

City Council has released more than $120,000 in reserve funding to the Alexandria Health Department.

On Tuesday (July 1), Council approved the one-time funding to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan, immigrant and refugee resource programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. AHD lost the funds, which were from a federal COVID-19 grant earlier this year.

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Expired Landmark Overlook project in Alexandria’s West End gets three-year extension

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

Landmark Overlook would transform the corner of South Wilkes Street and Stephenson Avenue into a mixed use property with hotels or office buildings, two-level stacked condominium units, apartments and retail. (Image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council, this week, approved the three-year extension of an expired plan to build hundreds of residential units in Alexandria’s Landmark area.

The three-year development special use permit for the 8-acre Landmark Overlook project expired in February. Council initially approved the plan in 2022 by West End Development Associates to build 450 residential units in seven townhomes and two multifamily apartment buildings on the eight-acre site at 5901, 5951, and 5999 Stevenson Avenue and 2 South Whiting Street.