coronavirus | ALXnow

Nearly 7,000 Alexandrians Have Filed for Unemployment During the Pandemic

Published April 17, 2020 at 4:30PM

There have been nearly 7,000 unemployment claims in Alexandria since the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the city to shut down, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

There were 1,895 jobless claims in Alexandria for the week ending April 11 — a reduction from last week, but still a stark contrast to the 33 claims filed on March 14. The numbers shot up due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on March 21 there were 797 jobless claims, followed by 1,683 claims on March 28, and 2,578 claims on April 4. All together there have been 6,986 unemployment filings in the city.

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Life in Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Under Quarantine

By Vernon Miles

Published April 17, 2020 at 3:15PM | Updated April 17, 2020 at 5:54PM

ARHA properties in Old Town, Alexandria. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Update 5:45 p.m. — ARHA CEO Keith Pettigrew said the organization has not evicted any residents, but has issued warnings aimed at preserving the vulnerable populations in ARHA communities.

“What we’re dealing with is a silent killer,” Pettigrew said. “We’re trying to keep people safe. It’s all about health and safety. The black community is the most vulnerable community. We’re not trying to be harsh, we’re trying to save lives.”

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COVID-19 Leaving City With $1 Million Affordable Housing Funding Loss in New Budget

By Vernon Miles

Published April 17, 2020 at 11:30AM

Tying affordable housing funding to meals tax seemed like a safe bet in 2018, but with restaurants facing a dramatic loss in revenue due to coronavirus, affordable housing is out $1 million in the new budget.

According to the budget:

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Mayor Talks Testing, the City Budget and More in COVID-19 Update in Weekly Town Hall

By James Cullum

Published April 17, 2020 at 10:35AM

A testing update, the deferral of school construction projects and the impact of COVID-19 on Alexandria’s real estate market were just a few of the topics discussed last night (Thursday) in Mayor Justin Wilson’s weekly virtual town hall.

Wilson reported that there are currently 24 people with COVID-19 in the Alexandria Hospital, and that the nearly 300 other patients are recuperating at home or elsewhere. He also said that the hospital system will be able to handle the current rate of infection.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published April 17, 2020 at 9:00AM

View of the U.S. Capitol from Rivergate City Park along the Potomac River in Alexandria. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Victory Center Property Sold to Townhouse Developer — “Winchester Homes plans to build 138 townhouses ranging from 1,700 SF to 2,600 SF on the site. Winchester has built over 20,000 residential units across the Mid-Atlantic, including six communities that have opened in the last year. The deal comes after the Alexandria City Council in May approved a rezoning of the site’s 7-acre eastern parking lot that allows for a mix of uses. Two weeks later, Stonebridge acquired the property from PGIM Real Estate for $43M.” [Bisnow]

Alexandria Woman Arrested for Breaking Quarantine in Hawaii — “Kauai police arrested 31-year-old Desiree Marvin of Alexandria and 36-year-old Hawaii resident Adam Schwarze after they ignored orders to immediately self-quarantine.” [Alex Times]

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One Additional COVID-19 Death, Cases in Alexandria Surpass 300 Mark

By James Cullum

Published April 16, 2020 at 8:45PM | Updated April 16, 2020 at 9:04PM

Another person has died in Alexandria due to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to seven, and the city broke the 300 case mark with 30 new cases.

Alexandria now has 303 positive cases in Alexandria, including the seven fatalities, according to the city’s daily announcement.

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City Council Unanimously Approves Call for Rent Freeze

By Vernon Miles

Published April 16, 2020 at 4:30PM

Southern Towers residents wait for the bus. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved Councilman Canek Aguirre’s call for a rent freeze at its meeting this week.

The resolution calls on state and federal officials to put a potential moratorium on rents and mortgages and to suspend the reporting of negative credit information by credit bureaus to protect people’s credit scores.

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School Board to Consider Changing Grading Policies, Eliminating Final Exams

By James Cullum

Published April 16, 2020 at 3:15PM

Tomorrow, the Alexandria School Board will consider changes to its grading policies that will, among other things, eliminate final exams for secondary and high school students.

The board will also talk about whether or not to give students in grades 6-12 “pass” or “no grade” for their fourth quarter work, according to a staff memorandum.

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Arlandria Bar Fundraises to Support Laid-Off Employees

By Vernon Miles

Published April 16, 2020 at 2:00PM

Arlandria bar Hops N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue) is running a GoFundMe for its laid-off kitchen staff.

The bar opened last January and has become a local fixture; full to the point of overflowing on Wednesday trivia nights. Like other restaurants, Hops N Shine is operating a limited carry-out and delivery business, and the company said in the GoFundMe that it’s had to minimize the number of employees for financial and health reasons.

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Spring2ACTion Breaks Online Giving Record, Raises $2.45 Million for Local Nonprofits

By James Cullum

Published April 16, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated April 16, 2020 at 10:34AM

ACT for Alexandria raised $2.45 million for more than 150 local nonprofits during its 10th annual fundraiser — breaking the record for the most funds raised in a single day.

In total, 8,453 donors raised $2,455,401 for 156 nonprofits in Alexandria during the Spring2ACTion event on Wednesday.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published April 16, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 16, 2020 at 10:18AM

City Hotlines Available to Stem Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault — “During a crisis like COVID-19, the risk for intimate partner and domestic violence increases. The City of Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and the Domestic Violence Program want survivors and victims to know they are not alone. Both programs are open during the COVID-19 health crisis, hotlines are available 24/7 and advocates are ready to listen and help.” [Facebook]

Gov. Northam Extends Executive Order by Two Weeks — “That means that gatherings of more than 10 people will remain banned, and entertainment and recreation and personal care businesses will remain closed, until at least May 8. In addition, restaurants are limited to carry-out or delivery orders only.” [Alexandria Living]