city government | ALXnow

Alexandria Master Gardener Joyce Hylton awarded Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award

Published May 12, 2021 at 1:00PM

Master gardener Joyce Hylton was awarded the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night.

Hylton, a local training coordinator for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program, received the award during a virtual City Council meeting. The award, which is the top environmental honor given in the city, is usually handed out in person at the annual Earth Day celebration and cleanup on April 22, but the pandemic forced the event to shift to a virtual format.

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Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks hints at retirement, says city birthday celebration is a go this July

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2021 at 9:30AM

Mark Jinks isn’t getting any younger, and the Alexandria city manager says he is closing in on the end of his career.

“I turn 70 in 2022,” Jinks told ALXnow. “I am closer to the end than the beginning, that’s for sure.”

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Election: Stark differences as Wilson and Silberberg face off in mayoral debate

By James Cullum

Published May 10, 2021 at 10:15AM | Updated May 10, 2021 at 12:07PM

A voter leaves City Hall after casting a callot (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Stark differences were on full display Saturday night, as Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg sparred in a contentious debate on local issues.

Wilson defended his record since taking the mayorship from Silberberg in 2018. Silberberg, however, said she wants to restore the public trust, and that the city is at an inflection point.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2021 at 3:30PM

What a week in Alexandria. Here are some of the highlights.

The Alexandria City Council on Wednesday approved its Fiscal Year 2022 $770.7 million budget on Wednesday, and it includes a 2 cent real estate tax reduction. It’s the first time that’s happened in 15 years, and the budget also fully funds Alexandria City Public Schools’ request and includes a 1% raise for city and state employees.

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Here’s which City Council candidates signed the new ‘Alexandria Constituents’ Bill of Rights’ pledge

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated June 9, 2021 at 4:11PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

A group of city residents are asking that City Council members and candidates pledge themselves to a document they are calling the Alexandria Constituents’ Bill of Rights.

Rachel Sheedy and Stafford Ward are spokespeople for the group For Better Alexandria Government, although they declined to answer many of ALXnow’s questions, including who drafted the document and what a rejection of the document means. Their group launched its website tracking candidates who pledge themselves to it on May 1.

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Where should Alexandria’s American Rescue Plan funding go?

By Vernon Miles

Published May 7, 2021 at 1:00PM

The City of Alexandria is hosting a virtual meeting this weekend to gather public input on where federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) should go.

The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) from 10-11 a.m.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2021 at 5:00AM

Elo’s Italian pop-up opens in Live Oak space — “The owners of Live Oak in Del Ray have opened a pop-up Italian restaurant in the Live Oak space in Del Ray. Chef Justus Frank is offering family Italian fare Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Brunch is ‘coming soon’ according to the owners. The menu includes a variety of appetizers, flatbreads, paninis, seasonal pasta dishes, fish, chicken and more. A kid’s menu is available.” [Alexandria Living]

Police asking for help finding robbery suspects — “APD is following active leads and working with neighboring jurisdictions on the investigation into 2 armed robberies that occurred on May 5. One happened at 12:15pm on E. Oxford Ave. The second happened at 12:40pm in the 3900 blk of Courtland Cir… Witnesses and anyone with security video should contact Det. Stephen Riley at [email protected] or 703.746.6225. Even the smallest details can be significant.” [Twitter]

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City Council candidates clash on critical local issues, Part 2

By ALXnow.com

Published May 6, 2021 at 3:30PM

(Clockwise from top left) Michael Lee Pope, Kevin Harris, Kirk McPike, Sarah Bagley, Bill Capbell, John Taylor Chapman, Amy Jackson, and Patrick Moran in the center in the Alexandria Democratic Committee's City Council debate. (Image via YouTube)

In a crowded City Council election, the Alexandria Democratic Committee split the candidates into two groups for moderated debates, which posted Tuesday night.

Alexandria journalist Michael Lee Pope moderated the discussion, which touched on critical talking issues in city races over the last few years, from parking to broadband to — of course — Seminary Road. Interestingly, the coronavirus pandemic was not a main topic of discussion.

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Alexandria City Council approves $770.7 million budget

By James Cullum

Published May 6, 2021 at 10:55AM

The Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted its $770.7 million fiscal year 2022 budget on Wednesday night, and it includes the first tax real estate tax reduction in 15 years.

Retiring Councilwoman Del Pepper made the motion to pass the budget, her last after 35 years on Council.

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Too noisy? City Council is considering revising Alexandria’s noise ordinance

By James Cullum

Published May 3, 2021 at 1:00PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

With noise complaints on the rise from residents throughout the city, the Alexandria City Council will consider an updated noise ordinance next month.

Following its adoption, the ordinance will then go out for public review throughout the summer.

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City Council to determine fate of ACPS School Resource Officer program tonight

By James Cullum

Published May 3, 2021 at 10:45AM

The Alexandria City Council will finalize their additions and deletions to the fiscal year 2022 budget tonight (May 3), and the future of school resource officers at Alexandria City Public Schools remains in question.

Last week, a majority of City Council was in favor of discontinuing the SRO program and diverting nearly $800,000 to “add mental health resources for school aged children, support staff to the Teen Wellness Center, an additional Behavioral Health Specialist to the ACORP (Alexandria Crisis Intervention Co-Responding Program) Pilot, and other similar needs identified by staff.”