Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

BREAKING: Sandy Marks wins Democratic firehouse primary for City Council seat

Published February 21, 2026 at 10:55PM

Alexandria City Council candidate Sandy Marks (center) with her supporters outside the Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center on the day of the Democratic firehouse primary, Feb. 21, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Former Alexandria Democratic Committee Chair Sandy Marks has won the Democratic firehouse primary for an open seat on City Council tonight (Saturday), beating four opponents to face independent candidate and former Republican councilman Frank Fannon in the special election.

Marks won with 1,573 votes (39.6%), against 947 votes for Tim Laderach (23.8%), 876 votes for Roberto Gomez (22%), 467 votes for Charles Sumpter (11.7%) and 112 votes for Cesar Madison Tapia (2.8%) out of the 3,975 ballots cast. From the time polls opened at 8:30 a.m. to closing at 7 p.m., the five candidates spent time at both polling locations: Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street) and the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 W. Reed Avenue).

News

City officials mull snow response improvements as ‘snowcrete’ removal continues

By Emily Leayman

Published February 12, 2026 at 3:45PM

Snow and 'snowcrete' in February 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

As cleanup of “snowcrete” continues from the Jan. 25 winter storm, Alexandria officials discussed progress of snow and ice removal and ways to improve the response during future winter weather events.

On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Parajon briefed City Council about the unprecedented conditions that led to a longer cleanup effort than a typical snowstorm.

News

Mayor Gaskins gives endorsement to City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at kickoff event

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2026 at 11:50AM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins greets City Council candidate Roberto Gomez on stage during a campaign kickoff event (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Mayor Alyia Gaksins endorsed Alexandria City Council candidate Roberto Gomez at his campaign kickoff in Landmark yesterday (Sunday).

About 50 people attended the event, which was the third Democratic campaign kickoff so far in the Feb. 21 firehouse primary. Five Democratic candidates are competing for the seat left by outgoing City Councilman R. Kirk McPike, whose resignation goes into effect today as he runs for Virginia’s 5th House District in tomorrow’s special election.

News

Councilmembers lobby for housing, school funding and gun safety laws in Richmond

By Emily Leayman

Published January 30, 2026 at 2:45PM

Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley testifies in support of a gun safety bill in the House Firearms Subcommittee (via Virginia General Assembly)

Members of City Council traveled to Richmond yesterday (Thursday) to advocate for more authority to expand housing options and increase state funding for school construction, among other goals.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, R. Kirk McPike, Abdel Elnoubi and Canek Aguirre visited the state Capitol for a lobby day to advocate for their legislative priorities, which were set in December. They met with several lawmakers and members of Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

News

Zoning for Housing plaintiffs attempting to raise $28K to appeal November dismissal

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2026 at 9:30AM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

After their case was dismissed in Circuit Court in November, the plaintiffs in Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All lawsuit are now seeking donations to fund an appeal.

Members of the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, a group of Old Town residents, are asking supporters to help raise $28,000 for attorneys at Dunn, Craig and Francuzenko, according to an email announcement last night (Monday).

News

City Council backs union agreements with police, fire and administrative employees

By James Cullum

Published January 15, 2026 at 10:45AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

City Council has committed funding for three collective bargaining agreements with unions representing the Alexandria Police and Fire Departments and the city’s administrative and technical employees.

Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the three-year agreements on wages, benefits and work hours, which are now set to go into effect on July 1. The agreements include a reduction from 49 to 46 weekly work hours for AFD personnel, “significant” pay increases for police officers, and structured raises and merit increases for administrative and technical employees.

News

Democratic candidates in 39th District primary to debate tonight ahead of Tuesday polling

By James Cullum

Published January 12, 2026 at 3:45PM

There's a firehouse primary for Virginia's 39th senate district on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 (via ADC/Facebook)

Four candidates made the 4 p.m. filing deadline Sunday to participate in Tuesday’s firehouse Democratic primary for Virginia’s 39th senate district.

Democratic candidates who paid the $360 fee to meet the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s filing deadline were Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5), former Del. Mark Levine (D-45), former Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and World Wildlife Fund senior executive Charles Sumpter.

Around Town

New ‘niche’ fragrance boutique plans Old Town debut, ribbon cutting next week

By James Cullum

Published January 8, 2026 at 12:30PM | Updated January 8, 2026 at 1:54PM

Arielle Shoshana shop exterior on Cameron Street (courtesy of Arielle Shoshana)

A new perfume boutique with an emphasis on niche fragrances is opening on Cameron Street in Old Town next week.

Arielle Shoshana will officially open its doors at 313 Cameron Street next Wednesday, Jan. 14, with a ribbon cutting scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Alyia Gaskins will be in attendance, the business announced this morning (Thursday).

News

Gaskins announces ‘Mayors’ Cup’ rugby rematch with Dundee, Scotland

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2025 at 9:15AM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins at tryouts for the Mayors' Cup rugby match witn Dundee, Scotland (via Mayor Alyia Gaskins/X)

It’s been 17 years since Alexandria’s sister city of Dundee, Scotland, creamed the city in the first-ever Mayors’ Cup rugby match.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins says it’s time for a rematch. On Dec. 6, Alexandria Select XV team tryouts were held at the George Washington Middle School athletic fields.

Around Town

Alexandria nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman receives $10K donation, 100 laptops for apprentices

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2025 at 3:00PM

(Left to right) Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Garrett McGuire of AT&T, Cornerstone Craftsman Executive Director Roberto Gomez and board member Melissa Riddy with donated laptops and a $10,000 check to the organization, Dec. 11, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria nonprofit that teaches trades to underserved youth received 100 refurbished laptops and $10,000 from AT&T and Human I-T today (Thursday).

Apprentices at Cornerstone Craftsman will each receive one of the laptops after they graduate from high school. The donations were made by AT&T after Garrett McGuire, the company’s regional director of external and legislative affairs, spoke with Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins about workforce development.

News

Alexandria City Council ends impasse, approving police union’s collective bargaining salary increase

By James Cullum

Published December 10, 2025 at 9:15AM

Dozens of Alexandria Police Department officers attended City Council's public hearing on collective bargaining with the department's union on Tuesday night, Dec. 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council ended the collective bargaining impasse regarding three outstanding issues between the Alexandria Police Department’s union and the city late last night (Tuesday).

In a meeting at City Hall that lasted until 11:30 p.m., Council decided in favor of the Alexandria chapter of the Southern States Police Benevolent Association’s request for $10.2 million in increased salaries for APD officers, sergeants and lieutenants over the next three years, while backing the city’s positions on pay parity and an annual $1,200 longevity bonus for those sworn staffers.