Justin Wilson | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published October 19, 2020 at 9:00AM

Drug Take Back Day is October 24 — “Safely dispose of your unused and expired medicines during Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop off locations will be available at APD Headquarters, Fire Station 210, and the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray.” [Twitter]

Council Approves Real Estate Tax Deferral — “Yesterday Council approved a resolution providing for a ‘hardship deferral’ option for payment of Alexandria’s second half real estate tax payment. Upon request, this allows an individual taxpayer to defer payment of the November 16th payment until March 1.” [Twitter]

News

City: Eviction Prevention Task Force Will Help Impacted Residents

By James Cullum

Published October 9, 2020 at 3:45PM | Updated October 9, 2020 at 4:33PM

Alexandria has formed a multi-agency Eviction Prevention Task Force with the goal of lowering evictions and helping impacted residents.

“There have been nearly 20K unemployment claims in Alexandria since the beginning of the pandemic,” tweeted Mayor Justin Wilson. “Keeping our residents housed during this uniquely challenging time has required partnership and new collaboration. More work is required.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published October 5, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Denounces Trump’s Sunday Drive-By — “Why did they approve it? What precautions were taken? Who else did they interact with? The continuing lack of transparency from the White House is unsustainable and dangerous.” [Twitter]

Mayor Congratulates After Successful Flu Clinic — “Thanks to our Health Dept, @AlexandriaVAPD @AlexandriaVAFD @AlexVASheriff & our Medical Reserve Corps volunteers for administering another 962 flu vaccines today (1,802 at 2 clinics) in an extremely well-organized operation. Get vaccinated, Alexandria!” [Twitter]

News

Mayor: City Must Redouble Efforts to Catch Dangerous Criminals, Get Weapons Off Streets

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2020 at 1:15PM | Updated October 1, 2020 at 1:48PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

In response to the city’s second murder, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said the city must redouble its efforts to “get these dangerous criminals and their weapons off our streets.”

“I am saddened to hear that another Alexandria neighborhood has experienced this horrific violence,” Wilson told ALXnow. “I know that our Police Department is working around the clock to bring the perpetrator of this homicide to justice and I have every confidence they will be successful. I keep the victim and his family in my thoughts during this extraordinarily difficult time.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 28, 2020 at 9:00AM

Gov. Ralph Northam and First Lady Test Positive For COVID-19 — “Gov. Ralph Northam and his wife, Pamela, have both tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Sept. 25 news release from the governor’s office.” [Alex Times]

Beyer Says Trump is Taking Dramatic Steps Toward Abolishing Obamacare — “No Supreme Court nominee has ever been confirmed so close to the election. Why are Senate Republicans in such a hurry to break their 2016 promises? They want the Court to side with Trump, strike down the Affordable Care Act, and wreck your healthcare. The case hits in November.” [Twitter]

News

VIDEO: Justice Ginsburg Honored in Candlelight Vigil in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 25, 2020 at 10:30AM

Hundreds of people honored Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Old Town last night (Thursday).

Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87 on September 18. She served on the court for 27 years.

News

Racial and Social Equity Training Plan for City Staff Taking Shape in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 23, 2020 at 4:00PM

The Alexandria City Council is expected to receive a city council resolution on race and social equity by the end of the year, and will receive recommendations on making the city’s diversity/inclusion statement more racially explicit.

“We’re thinking in working through how to draft a resolution as specific to race and social equity for Council’s adoption,” Jaqueline Tucker, the city’s racial and social equity officer, told Council on Tuesday night.

News

Mayor: Alexandria’s Tax Revenue Hard Hit by Coronavirus

By James Cullum

Published September 22, 2020 at 1:15PM

Alexandria City Hall (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria’s consumption-based tax revenue took a 34% hit from February to July, according to a city monthly financial report.

Mayor Justin Wilson revealed the revenue loss on Facebook by posting a report showing the cumulative impact on consumer spending in calendar years 2019 and 2020.

News

In-Person Absentee Voting for the November Election Begins in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 18, 2020 at 2:35PM | Updated September 18, 2020 at 4:36PM

Senator Mark Warner is surrounded by media while waiting in line to vote (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Hundreds of Alexandrians, including U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) went to the polls for in-person early voting on Friday, September 18.

There were 518 cast ballots as of 12:30 p.m. at the city’s Office of Voter Registrations and Elections. There were reportedly around 50 people waiting in line for the office to open at 8 a.m.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published September 15, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated September 15, 2020 at 7:35PM

Mayor: Council to Accelerate Sewer Capacity Projects — “Our ’16 Storm Sewer Capacity Analysis identified 90 areas where the system does not meet our CURRENT design standard of a 10-year storm. Our Stormwater Utility Fee was implemented in ’18 to fund capacity and environmental compliance. Council will now discuss how to accelerate.” [Facebook]

Beyer Attacks Trump’s Environmental Stance — “Trump’s climate change strategy is the same as his pandemic strategy: play it down and pretend it isn’t happening. There are a record number of named storms in the Atlantic and the west coast is on fire.” [Twitter]

News

City Council Wants Independent Investigative Authority, Sends Back Police Review Board Proposal

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2020 at 2:30PM | Updated September 10, 2020 at 5:20PM

Alexandria police (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City Council on Tuesday night unanimously sent a proposal establishing a community police review board back to the drawing board.

In Tuesday night’s legislative meeting, Councilman Mo Seifeldein said that city staff did not include his desire to give the review board independent investigative authority to look into police misconduct and issue subpoenas. Seifeldein said he was clear with his request to City Manager Mark Jinks when Council unanimously directed the creation of the review board proposal in June.