city government | ALXnow

Alexandria budget pushes back against controversial Jefferson-Houston conversion

Published February 25, 2025 at 10:30PM

City Manager James Parajon presenting the FY 2026 budget (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria City Manager James Parajon presented the FY 2026 budget to City Council tonight (Tuesday) but one of the major items was something not included in the budget: the conversion of Jefferson-Houston K-8 School to a middle school.

The budget included $21 million to Alexandria City Public Schools in capital funding — funding devoted to major development projects in a capital budget. In a release, the City of Alexandria said the funding was in line with the funding level requested for FY 2026 in the School Board capital funding request.

News

Meeting next month offers chance for public to shape new Housing 2040 Master Plan

By Vernon Miles

Published February 24, 2025 at 4:30PM | Updated February 24, 2025 at 5:15PM

Advocates for greater affordable housing support at a City Council budget hearing (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Housing is one of the biggest issues impacting Alexandria, and a new meeting planned next month will give Alexandrians a chance to weigh in on future plans — and get a light dinner out of it.

The City of Alexandria is hosting a community meeting on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in the Patrick Henry K-8 School (4643 Taney Avenue). Attendees are encouraged to register in advance.

News

Alexandria City Council hits brakes on Police Review Board

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2025 at 2:55PM | Updated January 30, 2025 at 2:51PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Alexandria City Council disapproved a plan to reconfigure the city’s Independent Community Policing Review Board (ICPRB).

On Saturday, Council unanimously reversed a November 2024 decision that would have dramatically altered the rules and authority of the board and eliminated its subpoena power. The decision was made after considerable pushback during the public hearing, including from the ICPRB chair and vice chair, who are unhappy with the proposal.

News

This week nearly 150 years ago, Alexandria ‘cracked down’ on children flying kites and playing marbles

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2025 at 3:55PM

Children playing with marbles (image via James McNeill Whistler/Library of Congress)

The Office of Historic Alexandria’s weekly newsletter includes fascinating glimpses into the city’s history, and this week the newsletter explored a battle between city leadership and local children.

The Office of Historic Alexandria noted that the ban on public kite flying and marbles in 1876 came from Mayor Kosciusko Kemper, a former Confederate officer, after complaints from local businesses.

News

Alexandria to consider banning gas-powered leaf blowers

By James Cullum

Published January 23, 2025 at 3:05PM

Using a leaf blower on the snow on King Street, Feb. 18, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

In a bid to reduce noise and air pollution, the Alexandria City Council will consider a total ban of gas-powered leaf blowers in its meeting next Tuesday (Jan. 28).

City staff will present a number of options for Council to consider on the noisy machines, including a total ban, an ordinance change, and a multi-year phase-out period similar to the enforced bans in D.C. and Montgomery County. There is a $500 penalty for a violation in both localities.

News

ACPS superintendent to present budget this week after city asks to keep increase modest

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2025 at 11:30AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Mount Vernon Community School on Nov. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will unveil her fiscal year 2026 budget this week, and the city is asking the school division to keep the budget increase over last year’s budget modest.

In his budget presentation to the City Council in November, City Manager Jim Parajon outlined a 2%, or $5.5 million, combined funds budget increase for ACPS amounting to $278.5 million.

News

Alexandria kicking off budget season next month with $18.3 million budget gap

By Vernon Miles

Published January 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

Alexandria's General Fund revenue sources by percentage (image via City of Alexandria)

It’s Christmas for local government nerds: the annual City of Alexandria budget is almost upon us.

Alexandria said in a release that budget season is set to kick off on Tuesday, Feb. 25 with a presentation to Alexandria’s City Council.

News

Mayor Alyia Gaskins says Alexandria needs to take ‘bold swings at economic development’

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2025 at 2:30PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks after taking the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Without getting into specifics, Alexandria’s new Mayor Alyia Gaskins says that the city has to be intentional and take “big, bold swings at economic development.”

More than 80% of the city’s revenue comes from residential real estate taxes, versus about 19% from commercial properties. The issue was a major political conversation from council candidates leading up to the Democratic primary in June and general election last month.

News

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council sworn into office amid ‘backdrop of deep uncertainty’

By James Cullum

Published January 3, 2025 at 11:20AM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, with her family, takes the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the new City Council were sworn into office on Thursday (Jan. 2), ushering in a new era of city governance with the new year.

Gaskins is the first Black woman to be elected mayor of the city. She stood alongside her husband and two children and took the oath of office from Clerk of the Court Greg Parks onstage at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center (4915 E. Campus Drive) at Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus.

News

Alexandria’s new City Council is getting sworn in today

By James Cullum

Published January 2, 2025 at 2:40PM

The Democratic slate for City Council after the primary is (left to right) Canek Aguirre, Abdel Elnoubi, Kirk McPike, Jacinta Greene, Alyia Gaskins, John Taylor Chapman and Sarah Bagley (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s new City Council will get sworn into office today.

Here’s what you need to know about the installation ceremony.

News

School Board wants new Alexandria City High School athletic field complex named after former Mayor Kerry Donley

By James Cullum

Published December 23, 2024 at 11:30AM

Former Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley (Via Living Legends of Alexandria)

The Alexandria School Board on Thursday unanimously directed the superintendent to start a naming process for the athletic field complex at Alexandria High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, and to consider naming it in honor of former Mayor Kerry Donley.

The field complex is under construction until summer 2025. It includes a synthetic turf field for lacrosse, field hockey and soccer, as well as basketball and futsol courts, bleachers and a walking path.