City Council | ALXnow

COVID Killed Scooter Use in Alexandria, New Report Shows

Published November 23, 2020 at 3:30PM

Just as the scooter program was starting to take off in Alexandria and the electric vehicles became ubiquitous on Old Town streets, new data shows the pandemic tanked scooter usage in the city throughout 2020.

A report going to the City Council tomorrow (Tuesday) showed that while scooter usage exceeded 2019 levels in January and February of 2020, by March the pandemic had started to hit scooter usage. In April and May — during the stay-at-home order, ridership tanked to near non-existence in the months that had been the peak of ridership in 2019.

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New Report Outlines Scope of Body Worn Camera Program in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published November 20, 2020 at 3:45PM

For over four years, Alexandria Police have failed to get body worn cameras off the ground. A new report going to City Council this Tuesday outlines the costs and staffing issues that have played a part in that extended delay.

“Oftentimes, jurisdictions do not realize the true extent of costs to implement a program that is based on deploying technology devices,” City staff said in a report. “The belief that the costs are solely the devices and associated licensing fees leads to disastrous results when the ripple effects of that technology are felt. The proliferation of cloud-based technology solutions actually adds to the impression that the cost of the desired ‘e-widget’ is all that is needed for consideration. In few areas could the purchase of technology in one agency have a huge impact across many others the way that BWC programs do.”

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City Council Approves New Developments Along Eisenhower Avenue

By Vernon Miles

Published November 20, 2020 at 11:30AM

Big changes are coming to the Eisenhower corridor, with two new developments approved at the City Council meeting last Saturday that put some of the final puzzle pieces together.

One of the more visible changes will be the approved development of Block P in Carlyle — referred to by staff as the last block in Carlyle. The project was originally approved in 2007 as a pair of office towers, but the project was recently redesigned with the northern tower becoming a hotel while the southern tower would be residential.

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ACPS Pushes Back School Modernizations but Moves Forward on T.C. Williams Overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published November 19, 2020 at 10:45AM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In a joint work session on Tuesday with the Alexandria City Council, Alexandria City Public Schools laid out its side of upcoming cuts and compromises in light of what promises to be a strained upcoming fiscal year.

One of the large items was that the planned modernization for George Mason Elementary School and Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology will be delayed by one year.

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City Council Members Urge Changes to Electronic Participation and Private Prisons in Legislative Session

By Vernon Miles

Published November 17, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated November 18, 2020 at 8:59AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated 11/18) The Alexandria City Council met with state legislators this weekend to hammer out priorities for the upcoming year, complete with a few sparks as legislators and City Council representatives clashed.

A few times every year, Alexandria’s city leadership meets with state representatives to iron out what local government sees as priorities for the session. The meetings have grown substantially more hopeful in the year since the Democrats took control of the legislature.

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ALXnow’s Top Stories of the Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published November 13, 2020 at 5:00PM

Voting at City Hall in Old Town, November 3, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

What a week full of news in Alexandria.

With city offices closed due to Veterans Day on Wednesday, there were still a number of big stories.

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City Urges Residents to Lock Car Doors After Spate of Local Thefts

By Vernon Miles

Published November 12, 2020 at 4:30PM

As you park at home and head inside after getting back from a flea market or cat cafe, maybe check one more time to make sure you’ve locked your car.

At a City Council meeting earlier this week, Mayor Justin Wilson said a spate of recent car thefts have mostly targeted unlocked cars.

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Councilwoman Del Pepper Announces She’s Not Running for Reelection

By Vernon Miles

Published November 10, 2020 at 9:20PM

After 35 years, Councilwoman Redella “Del” Pepper has announced that this will be her last year on the City Council.

Pepper said in an email to friends and supporters that she would not run for reelection, Alexandria Living Magazine first reported.

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City COVID Recovery Plan Highlights Food and Housing Security Needs

By Vernon Miles

Published November 9, 2020 at 2:30PM

As cases start to rise again nationwide and in Alexandria, the City Government Community Recovery Plan Team has put out a proposed coronavirus recovery plan that’s headed to the City Council tomorrow (Tuesday).

The recovery is put together into a series of 10 recommendations covering different parts of the community that were devastated by coronavirus.

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City Council to Consider Publishing Names of Delinquent Real Estate Taxpayers

By James Cullum

Published November 9, 2020 at 11:30AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

If you’re behind more than $1,000 in real estate taxes in Alexandria, everybody is likely to know about it soon.

The Alexandria City Council will decide on Tuesday whether to publicly post the names of delinquent real estate taxpayers owing more than $1,000.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published November 4, 2020 at 9:00AM

Virtual Opening Thursday for New Alexandria Townhomes — “Winchester Homes will host a virtual grand opening Thursday, Nov. 5, for Bren Pointe, a new 97-unit townhome community opening in Alexandria.” [Alexandria Living]

Indoor Sports Leagues Cancelled for 2021 Winter Season — “All indoor leagues organized by the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) are cancelled, including youth and adult basketball, adult volleyball, youth sports affiliate Alexandria Soccer Association’s indoor futsal league, and social sport gymnasium rentals. Small group sports classes, which are lower risk activities, will continue and will follow federal, state, and local guidelines for the safety of participants and staff. ” [City of Alexandria]