state legislature | ALXnow

Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas says Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis can fund the $2 billion Potomac Yard arena project

Published March 26, 2024 at 3:55PM | Updated March 27, 2024 at 1:52AM

Virginia State Senate Pro Tempore Louise Lucas (D-18) speaks at a Virginia Families First event in Manassas, March 26, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas (D-18) says Monumental Sports and Entertainment owner Ted Leonsis can afford to pay for the entire $2 billion Potomac Yard arena project, as well as supporting transportation and other associated infrastructure projects.

“Anything having to do with enriching billionaires, they need to pay for themselves,” Lucas told ALXnow. “They can proffer anything they want to. They can build the arena and make a profit. They could complete the roads and also provide the perennial upkeep.”

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Anti-arena candidate Jonathan Huskey enters race for Alexandria City Council

By James Cullum

Published March 25, 2024 at 1:35PM

Alexandria City Council candidate Jonathan Huskey of Del Ray (courtesy photo)

Jonathan Huskey’s campaign to be a member of Alexandria’s City Council is centered around his opposition to the Potomac Yard arena development.

Huskey says that the city government failed residents with last December’s surprise announcement that Monumental Sports & Entertainment reached a deal with Governor Glenn Youngkin to move the home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals from D.C. to Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

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Northern Virginia state legislators criticize Gov. Youngkin’s handling of Potomac Yard arena

By James Cullum

Published March 21, 2024 at 11:00AM | Updated March 23, 2024 at 12:24PM

(Left to right) Virginia Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), Del. Charniele Herring (D-46), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3) and Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-45) speak at the Chamber ALX Legislative Breakfast at the Hilton Old Town, March 21, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia House Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring (D-46) said that the $2 billion Potomac Yard arena deal is in no man’s land and that she doesn’t see a path forward for it.

Herring, who voted yes in the House of Delegates version of the arena bill last month, criticized Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s handling of the issue. She was joined this morning by members of Northern Virginia’s delegation to the General Assembly at the Chamber ALX’s legislative breakfast.

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Potomac Yard arena boils down to four issues, says Alexandria mayoral candidate Alyia Gaskins

By James Cullum

Published March 6, 2024 at 2:50PM | Updated March 6, 2024 at 5:39PM

City Council Member Alyia Gaskins kicking off her mayoral campaign at Indochen in Cameron Station, Jan. 28, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

ALXnow will be running a series of City Council candidate interviews through the local election filing deadline on April 4.

The economic potential for the $2 billion Potomac Yard arena deal is maintaining the interest of Alexandria City Council Member Alyia Gaskins.

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JUST IN: Virginia House of Delegates passes Potomac Yard arena bill

By ALXnow.com

Published February 13, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated February 13, 2024 at 9:21PM

Rendering of outdoor plaza at Monumental Arena development (image courtesy of JBG SMITH)

(Updated at 9 p.m.) Virginia’s House of Delegates voted to pass the arena bill 59-40, sending the proposal to an uncertain future in the Senate.

Earlier this week, the Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate voted not to table the bill on the arena’s stadium authority for a hearing.

News

House of Delegates unveils Virginia Stadium Authority bill with 15 members, but only three from Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published February 12, 2024 at 11:00AM | Updated February 12, 2024 at 12:07PM

Rendering of concert venue at Monumental Arena development (image courtesy of JBG SMITH)

(Updated at 12:05 p.m.) The Virginia House of Delegates on Friday printed an updated version of the bill establishing the Virginia Stadium Authority, which would own and finance construction of the $2 billion Potomac Yard arena and entertainment district.

While the Senate version of the bill is still in the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House version stipulates that a 15-member Virginia Stadium Authority board would be made up of:

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Alexandria City Council unanimously unhappy over proposed makeup of Virginia Stadium Authority

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2024 at 11:00AM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson speaks at the city council campaign kickoff for Council Member Kirk McPike, Jan. 27, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council members are crying foul over the proposed makeup of the Virginia Stadium Authority, which would finance construction of the $2 billion Potomac Yard arena and entertainment district.

Both the proposed Virginia House and Senate bills establishing the authority stipulate that the nine-member Virginia Stadium Authority board would be comprised of six members appointed by the governor and three from Alexandria.

News

Potomac Yard arena legislation introduced to Virginia General Assembly

By Vernon Miles

Published January 23, 2024 at 10:05AM

Rendering of aerial view of Monumental Arena development (image courtesy of JBG SMITH)

Bills have been introduced in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly for a crucial piece of the Potomac Yard arena plans.

The arena requires a state-created Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority to finance the arena’s construction and nearby buildings.

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Alexandria pushing state legislature to consider e-bike rebate program

By Vernon Miles

Published January 12, 2024 at 11:05AM

Helbiz bike in Alexandria (photo via Helbiz/Twitter)

Alexandria is urging the state to fund an e-bike rebate program.

The Virginia Mercury first reported that a city report looked into using grant funding and developer contributions to pay into an e-bike rebate program as early as this coming summer.

News

Bill creating retail market for cannabis to be reintroduced by Alexandria State Senator Adam Ebbin

By James Cullum

Published January 8, 2024 at 11:05AM | Updated January 9, 2024 at 10:22PM

Marijuana (photo via Wesley Gibbs/Unsplash)

Alexandria State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) will reintroduce a bill defeated last year to create a marketplace for legal sales and purchasing of cannabis.

Ebbin hopes the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature will approve his bill to create a regulatory and licensing structure for the market, and “wholesale of marijuana and marijuana products to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.” The legislation was killed in committee by the House of Delegates last year.

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Alexandria won’t meet 2025 RiverRenew Tunnel Program deadline and needs another year

By James Cullum

Published January 5, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated January 6, 2024 at 3:41AM

A Dec. 21 AlexRenew graphic showing progress in its massive RiverRenew tunnel-boring project (via Facebook)

(Updated at 1 p.m.) Alexandria won’t meet its state-mandated July 2025 deadline to complete its massive RiverRenew Tunnel Program, and two local members of the Virginia General Assembly will introduce bills this month extending the deadline by a year.

Virginia Senator Adam Ebbin (D-30) and Delegate David Bulova (D-11) are planning to introduce bills extending AlexRenew’s deadline to July 2026.