City Council | ALXnow

Alexandria councilman repays city $820 for taxpayer-funded mailer

Published August 14, 2025 at 3:00PM

Alexandria City Council Member Abdel Elnoubi (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Councilman Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi has reimbursed the city $820.33 after using taxpayer funds to mail a letter to constituents that highlighted his accomplishments during his first six months in office.

The four-page letter, sent on official city letterhead, detailed Elnoubi’s role in various city initiatives, including student transportation improvements, budget passage, housing plans, and infrastructure projects. When questioned about the appropriateness of using public resources for communication, Elnoubi acknowledged potential concerns and stated that he had voluntarily repaid the city with a check.

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Advocacy group wants Alexandria to divest itself from Israel

By James Cullum

Published August 7, 2025 at 6:30PM | Updated August 9, 2025 at 1:20AM

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupting an Alexandria City Council meeting (photo courtesy Alexandria for Palestine)

The group Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights isn’t going to stop disrupting political events any time soon.

You might’ve noticed members of the growing group disrupting all manner of political events in the city since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted in October 2023. In addition to asking Alexandria to approve a ceasefire resolution, the group wants the city to divest itself from Israel and boycott companies it says are profiting from the conflict.

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Petition launched against pump station construction at Waterfront Park

By James Cullum

Published July 18, 2025 at 2:30PM

Rendering of the pump station at Waterfront Park in Old Town at night, seen here looking east down Prince Street (via City of Alexandria)

A new petition has been launched against part of Alexandria’s plan to combat flooding in Old Town.

The Change.org petition opposing the installation of a two-story pump station at Waterfront Park to recirculate floodwaters back to the Potomac River has garnered 275 signatures so far. The organizer wrote in the petition that the pump station “is destructive, unnecessary, wasteful, and in violation of public trust.”

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Alexandria City Council, School Board to discuss DASH transition, collective bargaining, and more during joint meeting

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council and School Board have several big-picture items up for discussion early next month.

On Monday, August 4, the Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee will discuss a proposal to put Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026, collective bargaining with ACPS staff, and the school system’s Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan.

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PHOTOS: Thousands gather for Alexandria’s 276th Birthday Bash at Oronoco Bay

By James Cullum

Published July 13, 2025 at 6:15AM | Updated July 14, 2025 at 10:29AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, July 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria celebrated its 276th and the U.S.’s 249th birthday in style along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday (July 12).

Thousands attended the annual event. For about four hours, the park was turned into a maze of beach blankets, lawn chairs, and barefoot kids with lightsabers and bubble guns. Flanked onstage by City Council and city staff, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso made brief remarks before the program was turned over to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, which wrapped up in time for a spectacular fireworks show (see video below).

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Alexandria Health Department gets $120K from City Council after losing federal grant

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 5:30PM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

City Council has released more than $120,000 in reserve funding to the Alexandria Health Department.

On Tuesday (July 1), Council approved the one-time funding to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan, immigrant and refugee resource programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. AHD lost the funds, which were from a federal COVID-19 grant earlier this year.

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Expired Landmark Overlook project in Alexandria’s West End gets three-year extension

By James Cullum

Published July 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

Landmark Overlook would transform the corner of South Wilkes Street and Stephenson Avenue into a mixed use property with hotels or office buildings, two-level stacked condominium units, apartments and retail. (Image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council, this week, approved the three-year extension of an expired plan to build hundreds of residential units in Alexandria’s Landmark area.

The three-year development special use permit for the 8-acre Landmark Overlook project expired in February. Council initially approved the plan in 2022 by West End Development Associates to build 450 residential units in seven townhomes and two multifamily apartment buildings on the eight-acre site at 5901, 5951, and 5999 Stevenson Avenue and 2 South Whiting Street.

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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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Here’s what’s open and closed in Alexandria on July 4

By James Cullum

Published July 1, 2025 at 1:30PM

A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s government offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good time.

Here’s what you need to know about city services on Independence Day.

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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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City Council looks to continue funding Alexandria Health Department’s Healthy Homes Action Plan

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2025 at 10:15AM

Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The Alexandria Health Department lost dedicated federal COVID-19 grant funding earlier this year, and now the City Council will vote on a proposal for various health initiatives.

AHD is requesting one-time funding of $120,510 from the city to support the city’s Healthy Homes Action Plan for the current fiscal year, in addition to community health outreach, continued resource funding for immigrant and refugee programs, and expansion of the ALX Breathes program. The Healthy Homes program brings together dozens of city organizations to recommend home improvements.