Alexandria City Council | ALXnow

Alexandria’s Independent Community Policing Review Board is against proposed changes to its investigative authority

Published April 18, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated April 20, 2025 at 12:41AM

Alexandria Police Department cruisers on Nov. 7, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Independent Community Policing Review Board unanimously opposes proposed changes to its authority to investigate allegations of police misconduct.

Earlier this month, the board opposed ordinance changes reducing its subpoena power, as well as a proposal to let the City Council act as a final arbiter on whether cases are investigated in the event of an impasse between the Board and the Independent Policing Auditor. The changes were drawn up by a subcommittee, which includes Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Council Member Canek Aguirre.

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Public hearings on fees, permits; City Council also eyes police oversight changes, budget add/deletes on April 22

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 17, 2025 at 6:00PM

The Alexandria City Council in session on March 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council is preparing for its April 22, 2025, legislative meeting, which has a packed agenda that includes public hearings on stormwater utility fees and residential parking permits, as well as special recognitions and updates on economic development.

The meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. with an executive session to discuss investment of public funds, followed by two public hearings and the regular meeting agenda.

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What’s next for Alexandria? Chamber’s City Council Breakfast offers insight and discussion on May 6

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 11, 2025 at 10:15AM

Breakfast with City Council. (Photo via The Chamber ALX)

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber ALX) is gearing up for its annual City Council Breakfast on Tuesday, May 6. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the National Industries for the Blind (3000 Potomac Ave.).

Several key city officials are scheduled to attend, including Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, and council members John Taylor Chapman, Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi, Jacinta Greene, and Kirk McPike.

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10 Questions with Rozalia Finkelstein, cartoonist behind ‘West End Girls’ at Alexandria City High School

By James Cullum

Published April 10, 2025 at 3:50PM | Updated April 11, 2025 at 12:12AM

Cartoonist Rozalia Finklestein draws in Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Life at Alexandria City High School isn’t easy, not even when you’re a cartoon.

Just follow the latest adventures of best friends Nyx and Soliana in the monthly West End Girls comic in the Alexandria City High School newspaper, Theogony. The cartoon is the creation of comics editor Rozalia Finkelstein, who won two awards for her work at last year’s National High School Journalism Conference.

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Alexandria Police Chief provides public safety update to City Council

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published April 9, 2025 at 11:30AM

The Alexandria City Council gets an update from the Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire presented a comprehensive public safety update to the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night (April 8), highlighting a 25% reduction in overall crime during the first quarter of 2025.

The Alexandria Police Department is reporting significant strides in reducing crime across the city, with violent crimes down 43% and property crimes down 23% in the first quarter of 2025, Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told Council.

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Alexandria Police Chief discusses 100-day action plan, crime reduction strategy with ALXnow

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published April 9, 2025 at 10:00AM

Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire gives an update to City Council, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire is focusing on six “micro areas” throughout the city as part of a targeted approach to reducing crime.

McGuire, who just finished his first 100 days in office, spoke about his plans with ALXnow in an exclusive interview after his presentation to the City Council on Tuesday (April 8). The specific locations have not been revealed, except he said that they are well-known crime hotspots.

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100 days on the job and counting, Alexandria Police Chief to provide update on public safety

By James Cullum

Published April 7, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated April 7, 2025 at 7:10PM

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire speaks after being sworn in at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Dec. 10, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A little more than 100 days on the job, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire will appear before City Council on Tuesday (April 8) to present his department’s public safety review and plan.

McGuire started work last November, embarking on a 100-day action plan that involved town hall meetings to solicit feedback from the public on areas needing focus.

News

Alexandria City Council members submit budget add/delete proposals for FY 2026

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 6, 2025 at 9:30AM | Updated April 6, 2025 at 10:01AM

The Alexandria City Council in session on March 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council members have submitted numerous budget proposals for consideration at the upcoming FY 2026 Budget Add/Delete Public Hearing scheduled for April 8.

The proposals, which must be balanced with corresponding cuts or revenue increases, range from increasing support for Alexandria City Public Schools to expanding recreational programs and enhancing public transportation services.

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Preview: What’s on Alexandria City Council’s April 8 docket

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 3, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria City Council in session on March 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council will hold its legislative meeting on Tuesday, April 8. The meeting will begin with public hearings on tax rates and budget proposals before moving to a packed agenda of appointments, ordinances, and reports.

The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. with a public hearing on the proposed real and personal property tax rates for the calendar year 2025, which will fund the fiscal year 2026 budget. This hearing will be immediately followed by a public hearing on the preliminary add/delete proposals to the city manager’s proposed FY 2026 budget.

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Alexandria City Council to consider increases to residential parking permit fees

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 3, 2025 at 12:30PM

The Alexandria City Council will consider substantial increases to residential parking permit fees at its upcoming April 8 legislative meeting. The proposed ordinance would amend the city code to raise fees across all permit categories, with the most significant increases targeting households with multiple vehicles.

The ordinance, scheduled for introduction and first reading, would modify Section 5-8-77 of the city code governing parking permits in residential districts. If approved, the changes would take effect following a second reading and enactment planned for April 30.

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ACPS restarts collective bargaining process as Alexandria renews agreements with police, fire and technical staff

By James Cullum

Published April 2, 2025 at 1:00PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools wants a formalized collective bargaining agreement sent to the city manager by the end of the year, but it comes as the city is renegotiating its agreements with police, fire, and administrative and technical staff.

It’s been a year since the school system failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the Education Association of Alexandria (EAA). Last year, the School Board held a public hearing and approved a draft collective bargaining resolution with the goal of presenting the package to City Manager Jim Parajon for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.