federal government | ALXnow

HUD Secretary Fudge visits Alexandria, says affordable housing is a Biden Administration priority

Published August 13, 2021 at 2:45PM

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge jokes around with Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) and Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson at the Spire apartment complex on Friday, August 13. (staff photo by James Cullum)

U.S. Housing and Ubran Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge was in Alexandria Friday to tour The Spire affordable housing complex and tout the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better agenda.

“There are so many people who live on the outskirts of hope in this country,” Fudge said. “I am in a community now… where the median value of a home is nearly $640,000. Most people can’t afford to live here. There is no place in this country today where a person making minimum wage can rent a two-bedroom apartment.”

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 6, 2021 at 5:00AM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Residents divided over plan to rename Lee Street — “For some residents, the news came as a welcome surprise and a step toward removing Confederate namesakes from the city’s streets and honoring figures or ideas they deem more worthy. For others, the petition represented an attempt to erase the city’s connection to commander of the Confederate Army Robert E. Lee, who grew up in Alexandria and has long been a focal point of the city’s history tourism.” [Alex Times]

Basic income pilot starts this fall in Alexandria — “Bolstered by nearly $60 million in federal pandemic relief money, the independent jurisdiction in Northern Virginia plans to begin sending $500 debit cards to 150 families each month for two years, starting sometime this fall… Alexandria is funding its new basic income initiative with $3 million in American Rescue Plan money.” (dcist)

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Here’s how Alexandria will spend the first portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funding

By James Cullum

Published July 7, 2021 at 4:45PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria will spend millions on emergency financial support programs, stormwater repair, childcare and dozens of other projects as part of its first portion of American Rescue Plan Act funding.

“Now the really hard work begins,” Mayor Justin Wilson said after Council’s unanimous passage of a plan Tuesday night. “I think this is an opportunity to make some transformational investments.”

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Military spouses ask Sen. Tim Kaine to help with childcare in Alexandria roundtable

By James Cullum

Published June 29, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated June 30, 2021 at 10:11AM

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine listens to military families at the National Military Family Association in Alexandria on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine got an earful on military family needs at a roundtable he hosted Tuesday morning at the National Military Family Association in Alexandria.

Facing few childcare options, one military spouse had to take three years off of work as a physician’s assistant to take care of her young children.

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City Council emphasizes marketing funding for Alexandria’s ‘Hot Girl Summer’

By Vernon Miles

Published June 21, 2021 at 4:15PM

City Council member John Chapman has the distinction, marked in the record, of being the first on the dais to use the phrase “hot girl summer” — and in the most unlikely of contexts.

Chapman’s millennial moment came through at the end of hours of public discussion on where the American Rescue Plan Act funding is going. No decision was reached at the City Council meeting this weekend — and final passage is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6 — but the City Council did indicate interest in emphasizing the city’s tourism and overall marketing in the funding package.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2021 at 5:00AM

Playing at Four Mile Run Park in Arlandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

ACPS wants input on how to spend COVID relief funds — “Feedback on use of the American Rescue Plan Act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief can be provided through June 18, while the Equity for All Climate Survey is open through June 20.” [Patch]

Memorial bike ride Sunday at for bicyclist killed — “Join FABB’s memorial ride in honor of Fatima Del Carmen Alvarez Romero this Sunday, June 13, at 10:00 am at Huntington Metro kiss and ride lot. Ride to crash site for a moment of remembrance and to call for much-needed safety measures. Please wear white and bring signs.” [Twitter]

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Here’s how Alexandria is planning on spending its American Rescue Plan Act funding

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2021 at 2:40PM | Updated June 10, 2021 at 3:08PM

Alexandria is planning on spending a portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funding on supporting a childcare wellness program, commercial business districts around the city, flooding mitigation and hiring bilingual city staffers to help residents facing eviction.

Those are just four of nine prioritized recommendations that the Alexandria City Council received Wednesday night on how to spend its first tranche of funding. After getting more than 1,300 recommendations from the community, spending has been categorized into tiers, with projects scored by staff. The Tier 1 and 2 projects would be handled with the first allocation, followed by the Tiers 3 and 4 with the second.

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Wilson and Silberberg mayoral debate finale opens possibility of ‘tweaking’ Seminary Road Diet

By James Cullum

Published May 28, 2021 at 9:30AM

Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg in the Seminary Ridge mayoral candidate discussion on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Image via Zoom)

With no more mayoral debates, now it all boils down to the Democratic primary on June 8.

Like the main event at a boxing match, Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg on Thursday night maneuvered through a series of questions in the final of four Seminary Ridge Civic Association candidate forums.

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Virginia’s former U.S. Senator John Warner dies in Alexandria at 94

By James Cullum

Published May 26, 2021 at 10:55AM | Updated May 26, 2021 at 11:33AM

Former U.S. Senator John Warner died of heart failure at his home in Old Town on Tuesday night. He was 94.

Local and national leaders are remembering the Republican as an old school politician who bridged party lines with a cordiality that many say has been lost in American politics.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated May 14, 2021 at 4:21PM

What a week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week is on Gregory Elliott, a special education teacher at T.C. Williams High School. Elliot also goes by the name of “Sugar Bear” for the D.C.-based go-go band Experience Unlimited, and their song “Da’ Butt” from the Spike Lee movie “School Daze” was featured at the Oscars, along with actress Glenn Close dancing to it.

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Alexandria approved for $59.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2021 at 4:45PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by Kalina Newman)

Alexandria was approved for $59.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding, City Manager Mark Jinks announced to the City Council on Tuesday night.

Jinks said the city’s Congressional delegation was successful in convincing U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to include Alexandria as not only a city, but as a county as well, resulting in the City taking home double what it would have otherwise received.