Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

Sandy Marks swearing-in next week will create Alexandria’s first woman-majority City Council

Published May 7, 2026 at 3:45PM

Democrat Sandy Marks claims victory in the City Council special election (via James Minichello Photography)

Incoming City Councilwoman Sandy Marks’ swearing-in is scheduled next week, creating Alexandria’s first woman-majority council in the city’s 277-year history.

Marks will be sworn into office before City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive), following her special election win on April 21. Marks’ entry will signal the seven-member council’s first-ever woman majority, which includes Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Councilwoman Jacinta Greene.

Around Town

Croatian stamp exhibit unveiled in Alexandria as city prepares to host Team Croatia during World Cup

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Rare Croatian stamps will be on display at the Torpedo Factory Art Center this week as part of a cultural exchange with Croatia, as Alexandria is expected to host the country’s national soccer team base camp during the 2026 World Cup.

The exhibit marks the first time that the stamp collection, “Discover Croatia: A Journey Through Tiny Windows of History,” has been moved outside of its home country. The exhibit by the Croatian Post and the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs was unveiled yesterday (Monday) at a ceremony with Croatian Ambassador to the U.S. Pjer Šimunović and Mayor Alyia Gaskins.

News

New sculpture outside courthouse paired with Declaration of Independence readings by Alexandria women

By James Cullum

Published May 1, 2026 at 3:55PM

At the unveiling of "00:10:00," a new temporary public art installation outside the Alexandria Courthouse at 520 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

A new temporary art installation commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was recently unveiled outside the Alexandria Courthouse in Old Town, featuring a reading of the document by prominent Alexandria women.

News

City Council approves $979.1M budget with unchanged real estate tax rate but eyes tougher choices ahead

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated May 6, 2026 at 11:43AM

Alexandria City Council on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council unanimously approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s $979.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget with a few changes Wednesday night.

The budget represents a 2.4% increase over the FY2026 budget and maintains the real estate tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value, although some City Council members expressed caution about a potential tax increase in next year’s budget. Property owners whose assessment values increased could still see higher tax bills under the unchanged rate.

News

Parking fees and fines to rise after Alexandria City Council budget approval

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated April 30, 2026 at 1:11PM

Parking meter in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria City Council on Wednesday (April 29) approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal to increase metered parking fees and parking ticket fines.

Without discussion, City Council approved raising parking meter rates from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55. The approvals were part of Parajon’s $979.1 million Fiscal year 2027 budget, which Council approved Tuesday night without a real estate tax increase.

News

City manager proposes $135M financing deal to develop former Old Town North power plant

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2026 at 2:45PM

Rendering of development at the former Potomac River Generating Station property in Old Town North (via City of Alexandria)

On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Parajon unveiled a plan to catalyze a two-phase development of the former Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North with a $135 million city investment.

The $135 million, 30-year tax increment financing agreement would be funded by projected future tax revenues at the 19-acre mixed-use site through the creation of a Community Development Agency. Under the proposal outlined to City Council, Parajon said the $135 million investment would spark more than $2 billion in private sector investment and generate more than $770 million in tax revenues.

News

‘Ridiculous,’ Mayor Gaskins calls GOP bill to return Alexandria and Arlington to D.C.

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

A sailboat on the Potomac River (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins is calling a congressional bill to make Alexandria and Arlington part of D.C. “silliness,” “ridiculous,” and a “huge distraction.”

In a recent Facebook post, Gaskins said U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick’s (R-Ga.) Make DC Square Again Act would upend the rights of residents in both jurisdictions. McCormick introduced the bill after the narrow passage of a statewide redistricting referendum on April 21, which gives Democrats the power to redraw congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections.

News

City Council axes Sunday paid parking proposal, increases other parking fees

By James Cullum

Published April 23, 2026 at 2:15PM

Parking meter in Old Town (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Alexandria City Council torpedoed City Manager Jim Parajon’s plan for paid metered parking on Sundays, but balanced a $726,000 shortfall by raising parking meter fees from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55.

Last week, City Council directed Parajon to consider a number of alternatives to his Sunday parking plan. After deliberation, a majority of members endorsed Option E at Tuesday night’s add/delete work session, as the final touches are being put on the city’s $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. The move will generate $1.1 million in funding — covering an approximately $726,000 shortfall from removing the Sunday parking fee proposal and adding about $329,000 to the city’s general fund.

News

Alexandria School Board members push City Council for staggered term reforms

By James Cullum

Published April 20, 2026 at 12:15PM | Updated April 20, 2026 at 5:29PM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City School Board members are asking the public to help push for reforms to the nine-member board, including staggered elections, higher salaries and more.

The clock is ticking, School Board Members Ashley Simpson Baird and Kelly Carmichael Booz wrote in a recent blog post. The pair wrote that City Council must act this year by beginning a process to amend the City Charter — a change that would need to go to the Virginia General Assembly’s 2027 session for approval.

News

At Harvard leadership forum, Mayor Gaskins recounts confronting property manager

By James Cullum

Published April 16, 2026 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaking at a JFK. Jr. Forum with Mayor Dada Sello Morero of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Executive Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson, Ariz., April 14, 2026 (courtesy of Mayor Alyia Gaskins)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins says her participation in a recent gathering of local leaders around the world at Harvard University was “transformative” and shared a story about confronting a property manager over mold.

From April 12-14, Gaskins was included in the ninth cohort of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, joining leaders from 45 cities and 16 countries to exchange insights on local governance. She now says that the initiative has inspired her to focus more of her efforts on workforce development. Alexandria was also chosen for an “innovation track,” through which city staff will have the opportunity to learn how to better use data and innovation to work with residents and employers to enhance existing workforce strategies and explore new ones.

News

BPOL tax increase, no new ACPS funding in City Council’s add/deletes as budget vote nears

By James Cullum

Published April 14, 2026 at 2:45PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins in Council Chambers, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council members have submitted their proposed additions — and one deletion — in their Fiscal Year 2027 budget deliberations.

The proposed additions to the budget include a 5-cent increase to the city’s Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax; $200,000 for a jail operational efficiency study; and $350,000 for improvements to the pedestrian zone in the 200 block of King Street.