Alexandria’s DASH bus network could soon be completely free for all passengers.
In a recent newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson said he is proposing to make DASH free for all riders to go along with a planned overhaul of the bus network going into effect in September.
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, three incumbent members of City Council and three newcomers won the seventh annual Alexandria Democratic Committee Straw Poll on Monday night.
The unofficial and unscientific contest is held before every Council primary and is one of the first indicators of how voters are leaning. The 2021 Democratic primary for the six-seat Council is packed with 13 candidates and two mayoral candidates.
Updated at 9:45 a.m. — President Joe Biden will visit the Virginia Theological Seminary at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the White House.
“I am thrilled that the President is visiting Alexandria to highlight our vaccination effort,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “We have had great partnerships with non-profits, private partners and community organizations to both administer vaccinations and ensure equity in our distribution. The backbone of good planning and enormous volunteer support will get COVID into our rear-view mirror.”
It was another busy week in Alexandria.
Our top story was on the dog found dead and wrapped in blankets at N. Armistead Street and Beauregard Street. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is offering a reward for information that can lead to the identification of the owner.
Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg will debate via Zoom on Wednesday, May 12, the Del Ray Business Association (DRBA) announced today.
Both candidates have agreed to participate in the debate, which will be held at 7 p.m. and moderated by NBC4 Washington’s Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey. They will face off in the June 8 democratic primary.
Governor Ralph Northam’s guidance easing restrictions on public gatherings takes effect today, and groups in Alexandria are already planning a number of in-person events that traditionally bring in tens of thousands of people.
Northam recently announced that effective April 1, additional capacity and indoor and outdoor gathering limits will increase to 50 people for indoor settings and 100 people for outdoor settings. Additionally, entertainment venues must continue operating at 30% capacity with a maximum of 500 patrons; recreational sporting events can increase 30% capacity, or from 25 people to 100 people per field; and graduation events must have a cap of 5,000 people or 30% capacity for outdoor events.
Mayor Wilson announces he’s on the ballot for reelection — “We are in a unique and challenging moment for our City. Our success has never been assured. It has been created through generations of leaders who have placed the City’s future first.” [Zebra]
West End Walgreens robbed — “The Alexandria Police Dept is investigating a commercial robbery at the Walgreens in the 4500 blk of Duke St. It happened just before 10pm. two suspects robbed the store then fled in a vehicle. Details are still developing. Expect police activity in the area.” [Twitter]
It was quite a week in Alexandria.
Our top story this week was on a man who allegedly crashed his car headfirst into the Verizon store near Potomac Yard. The suspect was later arrested in North Carolina.
Former Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg says that Mayor Justin Wilson is a bully, and is taking him on for the June 8 democratic nomination.
“I was the mayor, and now I’m running for mayor again,” Silberberg told ALXnow. “I’m so honored that so many people have called and and some have tears in their eyes. I’ve been inundated with messages.”
Updated at 2:30 p.m. — City Councilman Mo Seifeldein abruptly left Tuesday night’s Council meeting after a brief argument with Mayor Justin Wilson.
The argument took place during the public comment portion of the meeting. Seifeldein wanted to question Allison and Greg Ricketts about their concerns that their home is being damaged due to construction at the Sunrise of Old Town assisted living facility. The couple say that the city’s Department of Code Enforcement issued the facility with a certificate of occupancy, while necessary repairs to their property are ignored.
Annetta Catchings moved to Alexandria last August and now she’s running for mayor as a Republican.
“I’m very confident that I could be the mayor of Alexandria,” Catchings told ALXnow. “I think I have a lot to offer.”
