The Alexandria City Council on Saturday unanimously approved a measure banning new vape and smoke shops from opening 1,000 feet from schools and daycare centers with minors.
Council’s approval of the text amendment follows a bill by Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) that was approved by the General Assembly in April.
Get your walking shoes on, because the Alexandria City Council voted Saturday to shut down the 200 block of King Street this holiday season, as well as next spring and summer.
The unanimous vote was made without discussion, and the closure will happen in two phases. The 200 block will first close from Nov. 22 to Jan. 6, and the second phase is from March 14 to Sept. 30.
Bagpipes, kilts and crowds in red-and-green plaid. The 53rd annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade is around the corner.
Here’s your guide to one of Alexandria’s most celebrated and well-attended weekends of the year. Hundreds of costumed musicians, dancers, performers and thousands of spectators are expected to attend the free event, which is produced by Visit Alexandria, the Campagna Center and the city.
Alexandria City Council Member Alyia Gaskins made history tonight by becoming the first Black woman elected mayor of the city.
Gaskins was surrounded by her City Council colleagues and Democratic supporters as she accepted the results at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray.
About 80% of Alexandria voters are expected to turn out this Election Day, according to the city’s General Registrar and Director of Elections.
Registrar Angie Turner said that 80% of the city’s 99,369 registered voters are expected to vote.
After nearly a year of campaigning, City Council Member Alyia Gaskins said on election day that she’s ready to be the next mayor of Alexandria.
Gaskins won the three-way Democratic primary for mayor in June, and faces no opposition in the general election. She will be the first Black woman elected mayor of the city.
The City of Alexandria is considering a new ordinance that will prohibit (item 7) any new retail selling tobacco products within 1,00 feet of a child day center, public, private or parochial school.
The ban includes stores selling tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, alternative nicotine products or hemp products. The ban will only affect new businesses: those in operation before July 1 are grandfathered in.
Alexandria’s been seeking public feedback on proposed short-term rental regulations and has started to make changes to the proposed regulation based on feedback.
Namely, city staff said in a presentation that the proposed requirement that an operator/local agent live within 15 miles of the city has been removed.
Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon has hired Tarrick McGuire as Alexandria’s new police chief.
McGuire, the assistant chief of police in Arlington, Texas, has been with that department since 2003 — just three years before Parajon started working in that city government in 2006. There was no mention of their relationship or knowing each other in the release to the public.
Personal property taxes, also known as car taxes, are due today in Alexandria, and new penalties make late payments pricey.
City Council approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal in the spring to increase the late payment penalty from a flat rate of:
Alexandria is considering making trailers permanent structures.
The city’s special use permit process currently allows commercial businesses and schools to use temporary trailers for two years, followed by an option to extend the use for an additional period.
