city government | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published November 2, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated November 2, 2020 at 10:33AM

Dominion Says Sunday Power Outage Caused by Broken Pole/Cross Arm — “Update: A broken pole/cross arm caused the failure. We have been able to isolate the problem and are hoping to everyone back on line very soon.” [Twitter]

Retro Candy Shop Opening in Fairlington — “If you’re into nostalgic candy that will take you back to your childhood days, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the opening of Rocket Fizz, Soda Pop & Candy Shop at Fairlington Centre in Alexandria, according to signs posted in the windows.” [Alexandria Living]

News

City, Police and Advocates Divided Over Community Police Review Board Authority

By James Cullum

Published October 30, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated November 2, 2020 at 1:38PM

Alexandria’s Police Chief Michael L. Brown is concerned that establishing a community police review board with independent investigative authority will create considerable legal problems for his department.

Last month, City Council sent back the city manager’s initial proposal for the board. Council requested that there be an option to include an auditor/independent investigator with subpoena power. Council unanimously directed staff to draw up the proposal during a period of social unrest in the wake of the George Floyd murder at the hands of the Minneapolis police, and Brown and his officers participated in protests around the city.

News

New Torpedo Factory Plan Calls for Greater Public Engagement

By Vernon Miles

Published October 29, 2020 at 10:30AM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town(staff photo by James Cullum)

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is one of Alexandria’s cultural landmarks of the waterfront. But as the city moves forward with other modernizing changes to the waterfront, it is also turning an eye towards overhauling the Torpedo Factory to be more of a “hands-on” public attraction.

A series of recommendations in a recently released action plan include plans the city hopes will turn parts of the Torpedo Factory into a more engaging artistic space.

News

Dominion Says Friday’s Massive Power Outage was Unique, City Council Disagrees

By James Cullum

Published October 28, 2020 at 10:15AM

Dominion Energy representatives say that the massive power outages that affected thousands of homes in Alexandria and Arlington last Friday (October 23) were “unique,” and caused by a piece of equipment that failed at its Glebe Road substation.

“This was a unique. Typically, you might experience an outage on one single circuit,” Tim Sargeant, Dominion Energy’s external affairs manager in Northern Virginia, told City Council on Tuesday night. “Needless to say the outage occurred on multiple circuits.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published October 28, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer says New White House Science Report is Misinformation — “This kind of ridiculous misinformation is something you would expect to see from the government of North Korea.” [Twitter]

Senator Amy Klobuchar Attends GOTV Event in Alexandria — “Glad to join @AlexVADems, @C_Herring, @AmyJacksonVA and Councilwoman Del Pepper at an early voting event in Alexandria, Virginia for Sen. Mark Warner and VA candidates up and down the ballot. Everyone, please make a plan and go vote!” [Twitter]

News

ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2020 at 5:00PM | Updated October 30, 2020 at 4:10PM

This was a big week for Alexandria.

Our top story this week was the Alexandria School Board’s decision to reopen schools for students with disabilities, while the future reopening of school for elementary, middle and high schoolers remains in doubt.

News

Alexandria’s Freedom House Museum Opening Planned for Spring 2021

By James Cullum

Published October 23, 2020 at 2:30PM

Franklin and Armfield exhibit in the Freedom House museum (photo via Historic Alexandria/Facebook)

The Freedom House Museum is planning for a spring opening, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria.

City Council will receive the news in its legislative meeting on Tuesday. The Office of Historic Alexandria will be unveiling its 2020-2025 strategic plan to Council, and the museum is being planned to open this spring.

News

Alexandria Tells Financially Crippled Metro to Keep Buses Running in West End

By James Cullum

Published October 22, 2020 at 2:30PM

Alexandria is opposed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s plan to eliminate bus routes in the West End to the Pentagon, and has asked the transit system to reconsider its proposed service changes.

“These are difficult times for all transit agencies and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is facing a dire financial crisis,” Mayor Justin Wilson wrote on Facebook. “While cuts are necessary, we have provided input to ensure that Alexandria’s most vulnerable populations do not lose mobility and that as ridership returns, service should return.

News

Photos: City Hall Lit Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Day

By James Cullum

Published October 21, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated October 21, 2020 at 10:51AM

City Hall at Market Square in Old Town is being lit purple at night in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Day on Oct. 22. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s City Hall has been lit purple in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Day on October 22.

The city’s Domestic Violence Program is also promoting the regional #PowerUpNOVA campaign, which asks locals to “consider their power as individuals and part of a larger community devoted to reducing and eliminating domestic and intimate partner violence,” according to the city.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published October 21, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Says People Will Suffer Without Unemployment Insurance Program Extension — “”We’re making a deeply fundamental mistake not reauthorizing all our unemployment insurance programs. When we take the money away, that’s what’s been propping up consumer spending and the ability of people to get by.” [Twitter]

City Opens Additional Locations for Absentee Voting — “Absentee voting will be available at the Charles Beatley Library (5005 Duke St.) from October 23 through October 31, except Sundays. Absentee voting will also be available at Minnie Howard School (3801 W. Braddock Rd.) and George Washington Middle School (1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.), on Saturdays, October 24 and 31, only. All three locations will have ballot drop boxes available during voting hours, which vary according to the list below.” [City of Alexandria]

News

Alexandria and Arlington Want a New Future for the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

By James Cullum

Published October 20, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated October 21, 2020 at 9:55AM

Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The 60-year-old Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center is in disrepair and underutilized, and over the next six months staff from Arlington and Alexandria will send back recommendations on its future use.

That could mean co-locating mental health and rehabilitative services to the center, or potentially shutting it down altogether.