Alyia Gaskins | ALXnow

Mayor Gaskins: Economic development is ‘critical path’ to potential tax relief in Alexandria

Published May 21, 2025 at 1:30PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins in conversation with ALXnow on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (via YouTube)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins identified economic development as the critical path to potential future tax relief for Alexandria residents, emphasizing that significant commercial growth is necessary to balance the city’s predominantly residential tax base.

“If we are looking to one day get to a state where we’re able to reduce taxes, then that is directly tied to our big swings around economic development,” Gaskins said during a one-on-one Ask The Mayor conversation with ALXnow Publisher Ryan Belmore on Wednesday (May 21)

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With Hooffs Run Interceptor complete, Alexandria to reopen African American Heritage Park

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2025 at 2:45PM

The Hooffs Run Interceptor is complete (Via AlexRenew)

After three years of construction, Alexandria will officially unveil the Hooffs Run Interceptor and reopen African American Heritage Park next month.

The large project to reduce flooding from millions of gallons of sewage and transport it for processing by AlexRenew also meant a fully restored Hooffs Run. The interceptor went into service at the end of 2024.

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SMILE: A new dental office just opened in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2025 at 3:00PM

(Left to right) Councilman Canek Aquirre, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Dr. Kapil Kotadia, Prutha Kotadia, Tony Curry-Fisher, and the ChamberALX's Joe Haggerty at the Dental Inc Ribbon Cutting (courtesy image)

Need something to smile about? There’s a new dental office in Old Town North.

Dental Inc. officially opened its doors to the public on Saturday (May 10) at 1195 N. Fayette Street. Owners Dr. Kapil Kotadia and Prutha Kotadia were joined at the ribbon cutting by Mayor Alyia Gaskins, City Council Member Canek Aguirre and Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty.

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Ask The Mayor: Mayor Alyia Gaskins joins ALXnow for a one-on-one conversation on May 21

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 6, 2025 at 6:04AM | Updated May 13, 2025 at 8:00PM

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

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will join ALXnow for a live one-on-one virtual video conversation on Wednesday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m.

Please note, this conversation was rescheduled from its original time of Wednesday, May 14 at 10 a.m.

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ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated May 5, 2025 at 2:13AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony, this morning (May 2), the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board.

From reporting on a transportation controversy to investigations into the School Board, transgender policies, or even lampooning metal detectors in cartoons, Theogony student journalists take their roles seriously. Now, with City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system, student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication.

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Alexandria City Council passes $956.5 million FY 2026 Budget amid ‘time of great uncertainty’

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2025 at 9:05PM

Alexandria City Council approves the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, April 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty, Alexandria’s City Council unanimously adopted its $956.5 million operating budget.

City Manager Jim Parajon said it was challenging crafting a budget that keeps city services without increasing real estate or property taxes. The city’s budget grew 3.2% over the current fiscal year, with its largest line item being a fully-funded Alexandria City Public Schools, as well as significant stormwater management funding for the city’s $2.1 billion FY 2026 – 2035 Capital Improvement Program.

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Notes: Mayor Alyia Gaskins reflects on first 100 days

By ALXnow.com

Published April 12, 2025 at 7:30AM

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

Good Saturday morning, Alexandria!

🌧️ Today’s weather: Scattered showers, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 54 degrees. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40%. Tonight, there will be scattered showers, mainly before 8 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. It will be mostly sunny on Sunday, with a high near 63 degrees—northwest wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

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Alexandria’s Office of Climate Action gets gutted in budget proposal

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2025 at 2:15PM

Hanging out at Waterfront Park in Old Town in July. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Office of Climate Action is only two-and-a-half years old, and now the City Council is considering eliminating half of its budget to partially fund a one-time, $1 million reallocation to Alexandria City Public Schools.

Multiple speakers both decried and supported the proposed move to eliminate $300,000 from the department’s budget during Tuesday night’s public hearing on proposed additions and deletions from the city budget.

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WATCH: Mayor Alyia Gaskins joins ALXnow for a one-on-one conversation

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 4, 2025 at 1:30PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins (staff photo by James Cullum)

ALXnow will launch its new monthly interview series featuring exclusive one-on-one live virtual video conversations with Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins today (April 4) at 2 p.m.

The “Ask The Mayor” series will provide Alexandria residents with regular opportunities to hear directly from Mayor Gaskins on pressing city issues and to submit their questions for consideration.

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History-Making Mayor: Alyia Gaskins celebrated by peers as Alexandria’s first Black female leader

By James Cullum

Published April 3, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated April 3, 2025 at 3:47PM

Mayor Alyia Gaskins (center in green) honored by her peers, April 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Role model, history maker and mayor — being Mayor of Alexandria is more than just chairing meetings. On Wednesday (April 2), Mayor Alyia Gaskins was honored with a party by her peers as the first Black female mayor of the city.

The event, which wasn’t a fundraiser, was held at Junction Bakery & Bistro (1508 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray, and was organized by City Council Member Jacinta Greene, retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, and Monika Chapman.

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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.