Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

PHOTOS: Thousands gather for Alexandria’s 276th Birthday Bash at Oronoco Bay

Published July 13, 2025 at 6:15AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:29AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria celebrated its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthday in style along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday (July 12).

Thousands attended the annual event. For about four hours, the park was turned into a maze of beach blankets, lawn chairs, and barefoot kids with lightsabers and bubble guns. Flanked onstage by City Council and city staff, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso made brief remarks before the program was turned over to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, which wrapped up in time for a spectacular fireworks show (see video below).

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.

This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.

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Mayor Gaskins among 16 mayors interviewed by New York Times about President Trump era challenges

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 1:45PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Last month, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins was interviewed by the New York Times about the challenges of running a city under the Trump administration.

After a little more than six months in office, Gaskins was one of 16 mayors interviewed by The Times at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida. She said that the biggest challenges the city faces is uncertainty of federal funding, that recent political violence in Minnesota forced her to change her habits, and more.

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Mayor Gaskins condemns federal SNAP cuts as “cruel” policy

By ALXnow.com

Published July 3, 2025 at 8:28PM

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

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision to slash $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next decade, calling the cuts to food benefits for working families, seniors and children “not just bad policy” but “cruel.”

The cuts are part of President Donald Trump’s tax legislation that passed Congress by razor-thin margins—51-50 in the Senate with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote, and 218-214 in the House.

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Alexandria YMCA asks city to keep parking lot open amid Eugene Simpson Stadium Park redevelopment

By James Cullum

Published July 2, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated July 2, 2025 at 5:38PM

Staff at the YMCA at 420 E. Monroe Avenue say that the redevelopment of the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park will impact the nonprofit (via Google Maps)

A sweeping redevelopment promises to bring fresh amenities and improved access to Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, but staff at the Alexandria YMCA say that the project will have a severe impact on the nonprofit.

Plans presented at a recent community meeting reveal that 53 city-owned parking spaces in front of the YMCA, located at 420 E. Monroe Avenue, have been designated as a construction area. The actual construction of the project, which was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2023, is scheduled to begin this month and is expected to be completed by September 2026, with a phased reopening of the park starting in August 2026.

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Mayor: Alexandria ‘betting’ on keeping NSF as 2,700 HUD workers relocate to city

By Ryan Belmore

Published July 1, 2025 at 2:00PM

Ryan Belmore, Publisher of ALXnow, and Mayor Alyia Gaskins chat on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins said the city is prepared to accommodate thousands of incoming federal workers while working to prevent the displacement of a major science agency during her monthly conversation with ALXnow on Tuesday.

The federal government recently announced that over 2,700 HUD employees will relocate to the National Science Foundation building in Alexandria, potentially displacing 1,800 NSF workers who currently occupy the space.

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AlexWest Small Area Plan wins top award

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2025 at 3:15PM

Traffic backup heading eastbound along Duke Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s plan for the development of its West End just won a top award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA).

After years of discussion, the City Council adopted the AlexWest Small Area Plan last December. With the massive WestEnd mixed use development working to unveil several new buildings, and Inova at Landmark poised to open in 2028, the plan recommends significant expansion of Dora Kelley Nature Park, a new public park adjacent to the Winkler Botanical Preserve, and a new park at the corner of Seminary Road and N. Beauregard Street.

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Ask The Mayor: Mayor Alyia Gaskins joins ALXnow for a one-on-one conversation on July 1

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 30, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated June 30, 2025 at 2:04PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will join ALXnow for a live one-on-one virtual video conversation on Tuesday, July 1, at 11 a.m.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:30PM

National Science Foundation at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via NSF)

It’s been another fast week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories over the last several days.

Our Tuesday (June 24) story on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development taking over the National Science Foundation’s headquarters (2415 Eisenhower Avenue) garnered more than 125,000 views, making it the most-read story of the year. While bringing in more than 2,700 HUD workers, the move will also displace about 1,800 NSF employees over the next two years.

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PHOTOS: Thousands attend No Kings Rally in Old Town, Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 14, 2025 at 10:21PM | Updated June 15, 2025 at 5:53AM

The No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders railed against the Trump administration at Alexandria’s Market Square on Saturday, just across the Potomac River from the military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

Alexandria’s No Kings Rally was attended by thousands. The rally also comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four major cities across the country.

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

By James Cullum

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.