City Council | ALXnow

Alexandria’s Independent Community Policing Review Board is against proposed changes to its investigative authority

Published April 18, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated April 20, 2025 at 12:41AM

Alexandria Police Department cruisers on Nov. 7, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Independent Community Policing Review Board unanimously opposes proposed changes to its authority to investigate allegations of police misconduct.

Earlier this month, the board opposed ordinance changes reducing its subpoena power, as well as a proposal to let the City Council act as a final arbiter on whether cases are investigated in the event of an impasse between the Board and the Independent Policing Auditor. The changes were drawn up by a subcommittee, which includes Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Council Member Canek Aguirre.

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Alexandria Police Chief discusses 100-day action plan, crime reduction strategy with ALXnow

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum

Published April 9, 2025 at 10:00AM

Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire gives an update to City Council, April 8, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire is focusing on six “micro areas” throughout the city as part of a targeted approach to reducing crime.

McGuire, who just finished his first 100 days in office, spoke about his plans with ALXnow in an exclusive interview after his presentation to the City Council on Tuesday (April 8). The specific locations have not been revealed, except he said that they are well-known crime hotspots.

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100 days on the job and counting, Alexandria Police Chief to provide update on public safety

By James Cullum

Published April 7, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated April 7, 2025 at 7:10PM

Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire speaks after being sworn in at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Dec. 10, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A little more than 100 days on the job, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire will appear before City Council on Tuesday (April 8) to present his department’s public safety review and plan.

McGuire started work last November, embarking on a 100-day action plan that involved town hall meetings to solicit feedback from the public on areas needing focus.

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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.

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ACPS says it’s “too early to tell’ if putting high school kids on DASH buses will work

By James Cullum

Published March 28, 2025 at 2:00PM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s effort to ditch school buses and put high school students on city-run DASH buses is not without controversy.

On Tuesday, City Council Member Abdel Elnoubi expressed frustration on how Alexandria City Public Schools has addressed the issue.

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Alexandria to formalize schedule for quarterly town hall meetings

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria City Council Member R. Kirk McPike (staff photo by James Cullum)

Miss your chance to bring up a burning issue at a recent town hall meeting with the Alexandria City Council?

City Council Member R. Kirk McPike is asking City Manager Jim Parajon to formalize a schedule so that Council can hold quarterly town hall meetings. The city will start the effort after Council approves the FY2026 budget and it goes into effect on July 1.

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Alexandria City Council wants your questions for upcoming town hall meeting

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2025 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins (staff photo by James Cullum)

Got an issue to raise to local leaders in Alexandria? Later this month, City Council will hold a town hall meeting to get feedback and discuss upcoming projects.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) in the city’s West End.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 14, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:13AM

Proposed renovations show a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop at 400 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

What a busy week it’s been in Alexandria.

Our top story was on big changes planned for 400 King Street in Old Town. The building takes over an entire city block and is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye.

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Alexandria wants loosened zoning regulations for the City Hall renovation project

By James Cullum

Published March 12, 2025 at 11:15AM

A proposed option for the renovation of Alexandria City Hall and Market Square (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s City Hall and Market Square (301 King Street) are on track for renovation, and the city government wants to loosen zoning restrictions around the project.

At its public hearing on Saturday (March 15), the City Council will discuss a round of changes to Alexandria’s zoning ordinance that would “increase regulatory flexibility” for the City Hall renovation project, according to a staff memo.

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City Council approves flat tax rate for 2026 budget

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 12, 2025 at 5:26AM | Updated March 12, 2025 at 9:22AM

Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Council voted to maintain the current real property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, rejecting proposals to advertise a higher maximum rate during Tuesday's legislative meeting.

Council members cited economic uncertainty and potential impacts on federal workers living in Alexandria as key factors in their decision to keep the tax rate flat at $1.13 per $100 of assessed value.