city government | ALXnow

With collective bargaining off table until this fall, Alexandria’s public safety agencies are asking for raises now

Published February 1, 2022 at 10:15AM | Updated February 1, 2022 at 3:38PM

A fire truck in Alexandria (file photo by Jay Westcott)

(Update at 2:45 p.m.) It’s no secret that Alexandria’s public safety agencies want a raise in the upcoming city budget, but if they are to get a compensation increase it will be outside of the boundaries of collective bargaining.

After more than a year of organizing, the elections for collective bargaining representation for the city’s first responders will be held between Feb. 5 and Feb. 22. But with a staffing crisis and compensation issues within the Fire Department, Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, it will not be until 2024 until negotiations will be fruitful.

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New City Manager says he’s excited to work with superintendent, will present budget next month

By James Cullum

Published January 25, 2022 at 3:30PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Just hours before a Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee meeting, new Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon spoke with Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr.

Parajon, who started work earlier this month, said it was a great conversation and that he looked forward to working collaboratively with Hutchings, who wants a 2.6% salary step increase and a 2.5% market rate adjustment for all eligible ACPS employees in the upcoming fiscal year 2023 budget.

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Alexandria City Council to likely make fifth extension of state of emergency

By James Cullum

Published January 11, 2022 at 10:45AM

The Alexandria City Council will likely extend the city’s state of emergency from the end of January to June 30, 2022. Tuesday night’s (Jan. 11) vote will be the fifth extension of the declaration since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The declaration, which was first approved by Council in March 2020, has been continually updated, and finds that “the emergency continues to exist and will exist into the future.”

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Alexandria Mayor asks city to ‘step up our masking game,’ but says mask mandate has to come from state

By Vernon Miles

Published January 10, 2022 at 2:30PM

Fresh from a bout with Covid that left Mayor Justin Wilson isolating in Spain, Wilson’s first virtual town hall of 2022 launched with a discussion of the current situation with COVID-19.

Alexandria has seen record-high levels of confirmed Covid cases thanks to the highly infections omicron variant. Wilson implored locals to swap out the simple cloth masks for more effective N95 or KN 95 masks.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 7, 2022 at 3:30PM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial under the snow, Jan. 4, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The big story this week was snow.

A snowstorm on Monday had the city working at clearing roads and putting weather-affected services back into play. There was a smaller dusting of snow last night, though it didn’t have nearly the same level of impact.

News

Alexandria’s Permit Center reopens in-person services for local businesses

By James Cullum

Published January 7, 2022 at 11:15AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

After six months of waiting for the city’s Permit Center to approve an expansion of her nail salon, Kathleen Le was ready to throw her hands up in resignation.

“I tell my staff that if they hear me talk about opening another location or expanding to please kill me instead,” Le told ALXnow. “Don’t let me do it.”

News

Update: Most of Alexandria’s primary roadways plowed, fire department reports no unusual calls for service from snowstorm

By James Cullum

Published January 4, 2022 at 3:30PM

A snow plow drives down Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, Jan. 3, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

A day after 10 inches of snow was dumped on the region, 95% of Alexandria’s primary roadways are now “passable”, according to the City’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services.

The Department also tweeted that 65% of the city’s secondary streets are passable, and that crews are working toward intermediate streets. There are also still three open requests to clear away snow from the city’s Arlandria neighborhood, according to the city.

News

DASH and other city services return post-snow, but with some exceptions

By Vernon Miles

Published January 4, 2022 at 10:45AM

One day after a severe snowstorm hit Alexandria, some things are returning to normal while other services remain closed.

Alexandria bus service DASH suspended service yesterday, but has since returned with snow routes — adjusted routes following more thoroughly cleared sections of roadway.

News

Alexandria Fire Department suspends annual leave for stretched thin first responders as COVID numbers reach all-time high

By James Cullum

Published December 30, 2021 at 2:45PM

The Alexandria Fire Department responds to a blaze in the 100 block of E. Del Ray Avenue on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Another single-day record for new COVID cases was set in Alexandria today, and the understaffed Alexandria Fire Department has made “vital changes” to contend with rising infections among staffers, including the temporary suspension of annual leave.

There were 460 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Alexandria on Today (Dec. 30), a 22% jump over the previous record of 376 cases set on Christmas day.

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Here’s what’s open and closed on New Year’s day in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 28, 2021 at 10:50AM

A holiday wreath on a front door in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

New Year’s Day is right around the corner, and a number of Alexandria government offices are closing early on Friday (Dec. 31).

The city’s New Year’s Eve celebration has been canceled due to rising COVID numbers, but if you’re looking to get out on Friday, the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Charles Houston and Patrick Henry Recreation Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as will the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics facility.

News

Alexandria seeking new poet laureate

By Vernon Miles

Published December 23, 2021 at 9:45AM

Current poet laureate KaNikki Jakarta, photo via City of Alexandria

Know anyone that’s a poet at heart? The City of Alexandria is opening applications to be the new poet laureate.

The poet laureate’s job, according to the press release, is to promote appreciation of poetry as an art form, encourage creative writing and reading, and promote literacy through poetry. The position has a three-year term starting on April 1, 2022, succeeding current poet laureate KaNikki Jakarta. The ceremonial role will also involve presentations of poetry to various audiences.