Alexandrians are being encouraged to open their pocketbooks and find a cause to support as Spring2ACTion’s main fundraising day arrives tomorrow (Wednesday).
The 16th annual Spring2ACTion aims to raise $2.5 million through at least 10,000 donors, according to organizing nonprofit ACT for Alexandria. Brandi Yee, chief program officer at ACT for Alexandria, told ALXnow that $640,000 had been raised through early giving as of Monday evening.
Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey and members of his staff argued against a proposed budget reallocation before City Council on Saturday (April 18).
Casey said a proposal by Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and City Councilman Abdel Elnoubi to transfer $200,000 out of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office budget for a jail operational efficiency study is a waste of valuable resources and will hurt an already cash-strapped agency. While a number of speakers at Saturday’s public hearing called for Casey’s budget to be cut over what they see as voluntary collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Enforcement, several City Council members defended the proposed study, saying the measure is intended to improve ASO operations.
Alexandria City Council members have submitted their proposed additions — and one deletion — in their Fiscal Year 2027 budget deliberations.
The proposed additions to the budget include a 5-cent increase to the city’s Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax; $200,000 for a jail operational efficiency study; and $350,000 for improvements to the pedestrian zone in the 200 block of King Street.
Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark’s sprawling new complex reached a milestone on Monday, as the final structural beam was put into place.
Current and former city leaders joined Inova’s top executives for the topping-out ceremony, which was an hour after the topping out of the Inova Franconia-Springfield Healthplex (6361 Walker Lane) in the Franconia area of Fairfax County.
Alexandria spent $9.7 million on the Jan. 25 snow storm response, the bulk of which was attributed to outside contractors brought in due to the challenges of clearing “snowcrete.”
The winter storm brought about 8 inches of snow followed by hours of sleet and freezing rain that created a solid layer of ice on top. According to an after-action report presented to City Council Tuesday, contract services cost the city $8.4 million. City labor cost about $600,000, while materials, supplies, food and lodging for employees cost $700,000.
Alexandria’s City Council set a one-cent ceiling for the city’s real estate tax rate on Tuesday night.
City Councilman John Taylor Chapman made the motion to increase the ceiling, which is not the final adopted tax rate. While City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposed $977 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget has no tax increase, the one-cent ceiling gives the city more options in crafting the budget, which is set for a final council vote on April 29.
As cleanup of “snowcrete” continues from the Jan. 25 winter storm, Alexandria officials discussed progress of snow and ice removal and ways to improve the response during future winter weather events.
On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Parajon briefed City Council about the unprecedented conditions that led to a longer cleanup effort than a typical snowstorm.
Members of City Council traveled to Richmond yesterday (Thursday) to advocate for more authority to expand housing options and increase state funding for school construction, among other goals.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Councilmembers John Taylor Chapman, R. Kirk McPike, Abdel Elnoubi and Canek Aguirre visited the state Capitol for a lobby day to advocate for their legislative priorities, which were set in December. They met with several lawmakers and members of Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.
The city of Alexandria could take a step closer to choosing a new operator for the Torpedo Factory Art Center, following last night’s City Council meeting (Tuesday).
City Council voted to advance to public hearing and final vote an agreement for an operator to lease, manage and operate the historic arts facility at 105 N. Union Street. The public hearing and final vote are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24.
A longtime leader in regional transportation and former City Council member was honored by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission last night (Thursday) as he prepares to depart the organization.
This month, Paul Smedberg departs both the commission and the board of directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Before serving as the governor’s representative on NVTC, Smedberg had represented Alexandria, which has two seats on the 21-member body.
Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley assumed the top leadership spot of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) for 2026 last night (Thursday).
Bagley was unanimously elected chair of the regional body and will lead it during what is likely to be a pivotal year for transit funding across the area.
