Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

Mayor Gaskins condemns federal SNAP cuts as “cruel” policy

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.

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Report: ICE preparing to deploy tactical units to Northern Virginia and four big cities

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated June 14, 2025 at 3:04AM

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo (via Facebook)

Northern Virginia is reportedly among the “five cities run by Democratic leaders” that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to deploy tactical units to, according to MSNBC.

Citing two unnamed sources “familiar with the planning of future ICE operations,” MSNBC reported that ICE is preparing to deploy tactical response teams in New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Northern Virginia.

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FIREWORKS: Celebrate Alexandria’s birthday on the waterfront on July 12

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria's 275th birthday celebration along the waterfront in Old Town, July 13, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Get your lawn chairs ready, because Alexandria’s birthday celebration is right around the corner.

On Saturday, July 12, the city will celebrate its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthdays along the waterfront at Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street). The free party includes food trucks, live performances by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, appearances by the town crier, poet laureate, and Mayor Alyia Gaskins, as well as cupcakes for thousands of attendees.

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Alexandria asks VDOT to delay adding express lanes to Woodrow Wilson Bridge

By James Cullum

Published June 9, 2025 at 3:48PM

The Virginia Department of Transportation's 495 Southside Study extends from the Springfield Interchange to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (via VDOT)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and city staff are asking that the Virginia Department of Transportation delay approval of a preferred alternative on a plan to add express lanes from the Springfield Interchange across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

In an April letter to VDOT, Gaskins wrote that the project will bring “Alexandria substantial consequences” to our local neighborhoods, and asked that an alternative not be chosen until a noise, traffic, and air safety analysis is conducted. VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board, in the meantime, have set a timeline for the project.