state legislature | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published April 23, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 23, 2020 at 10:28AM

Hunger Free Alexandria Has Urgent Need for Volunteers Today — “Urgent need for Thursday, April 23, 4:30-7:00 p.m. Hunger Free Alexandria is working with World Central Kitchen to feed our neighbors in need. Bring your mask and help with bagging pre-packaged food and distributing meals. Location is on Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria.” [Facebook]

State Legislators Reconvene in Richmond — “My “desk” at one of the most unusual legislative sessions in Virginia history. We begin at noon. You can watch us on the livestream. Virginia Transparency even during COVID-19!” [Mark Levine/Twitter]

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Governor’s Order Authorizes Alexandria to Remove Confederate Statue

By Vernon Miles

Published April 13, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated April 13, 2020 at 6:44PM

Once again, the Confederacy has been handed a defeat in Richmond that sends ripples up to Alexandria.

Alexandria has debated and put plans in place for the Appomattox statue at the intersection of Prince and S. Washington Streets for years, but state law stood in the way of actually making any progress toward removing it.

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Armed Protest Outside Local Legislator’s House on Saturday Prompts Call to Police

By Vernon Miles

Published February 18, 2020 at 11:30AM

A Republican official from Hopewell, Virginia drove to Alexandria this weekend for a small, armed protest outside Delegate Mark Levine’s home in Old Town.

Brandon Howard, chair of the Hopewell Republican Party and head of the gun group Right to Bear Arms Virginia, walked along the street outside of Levine’s house on Saturday, Richmond public broadcaster VPM first reported. He held a Virginia flag, a large gun, and a sign that said “withdraw HB 961,” referencing a bill Levine sponsored and the House of Delegates passed that would ban assault weapons in the state.

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Defeat Nears for the Last Confederate in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published February 12, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated February 12, 2020 at 9:12PM

"Appomattox," the Confederate statue at Washington Street and Prince Street in Old Town, after being hit by a car over the weekend (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

With both the Virginia House and Senate approving legislation to allow localities to remove Confederate statues, it would seem the Appomattox statue’s days are numbered.

The statue sits in the center of the intersection of S. Washington Street and Prince Street, where it’s been occasionally struck by cars.

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Wilson: Affordable Housing Legislation in Richmond ‘Well-Meaning’ but Misses Mark

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2020 at 10:55AM

Andrew Adkins, an affordable housing neighborhood in Braddock (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

It’s widely accepted that localities throughout Virginia face an affordable housing crisis, but is the new Democratic majority in Richmond missing the mark on addressing the issue?

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said that a swath of bills addressing the issue hurts rather than helps. Wilson, in a recent op-ed in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, instead recommended an increase in state funding for affordable housing instead of bills forcing localities to meet development and zoning benchmarks.

News

Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published January 23, 2020 at 8:00AM

New Office to Residential Conversion — “A Mark Center office building in Alexandria is now set to be converted into apartments. D.C. real estate investment firm PRP LLC plans to convert 4900 Seminary Road, a 12-story, 209,000 square foot building, into residential… PRP wants to put 213 market-rate units into the building, which also has room for about 4,100 square feet of ground-floor retail.” [Washington Business Journal]

Mayor Reacts to Retrocession Suggestion — “With Democrats now in control of the Virginia Statehouse, Republican Delegate Dave LaRock says he is concerned that liberal values are taking over so he’s calling for Arlington and Alexandria to be split off and given to D.C… Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson calls LaRock’s statements a ‘comical clown move.'” [Fox 5, Twitter]

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Here’s What Alexandria’s Lawmakers Are Proposing Now That Dems Control the State Legislature

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2020 at 3:45PM

Passing the Equal Rights Amendment, decriminalizing marijuana and giving localities the power to move Confederate monuments — those are just a few of the pieces of legislation that local Democrats will unveil over the next two months in the Virginia General Assembly.

As Democrats prepare to arrive in Richmond with complete control of all branches of Virginia’s government, there are a slew of bills that will result in serious changes to the way the Commonwealth does business.

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Former Mayor Bill Euille Appointed to Virginia ABC Board

By Vernon Miles

Published December 30, 2019 at 3:30PM

It’s been six years since William “Bill” Euille was allegedly considered for a state-level position, but the former Mayor is finally headed to Richmond to serve on the board of Virginia ABC.

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) grants licenses to individuals, groups or businesses to sell alcohol. Governor Ralph Northam announced Euille’s selection among other appointments in a press release on Dec. 20.

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One Year Later, How Medicaid Expansion Has Fared in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2019 at 3:35PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:37PM

Nearly one year after the expansion of Virginia’s Medicaid benefits took effect, nearly 70 percent of eligible Alexandrians have signed up.

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Elected Officials Visit Alexandria Businesses to Discuss Paid Family and Medical Leave

By Vernon Miles

Published December 16, 2019 at 11:45AM

Rep. Don Beyer (left) and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (right) with Lori Leetz, owner of Lori's Table (center) (photo courtesy Women Effect Fund)

Three elected officials visited businesses across Alexandria as part of an effort to drum up support for a paid family and medical leave bill.

Rep. Don Beyer, Del. Carroll Foy and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko — all Democrats — visited three businesses on Friday (Dec. 13) and spoke with business owners who were supportive of the bill. The trio visited Lori’s Table (1028 King Street), Bishop’s Boutique (815 King Street) and Let’s Meat on the Avenue (2403 Mount Vernon Avenue).

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ACPS Delays Decision to Start Schools Before Labor Day Another Year

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2019 at 2:55PM

After some back and forth decision, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has announced that having school start earlier than Labor Day next year would do more harm than good.

For years, local school districts were prohibited from starting school before Labor Day under a law colloquially known as the Kings Dominion law. In February, the Virginia legislature overturned the law.