Alexandria Politics

Alexandria Politics

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Alexandria: Paving the Way for Stormwater Fee

New fee for residential and commercial properties to be based on permeability.

It might be time to plant some more trees and green up the home. A new stormwater service fee proposed by city staff could be directly tied to the permeability of residential and commercial properties. The fee is the proposed solution to an unfunded mandate by the state requiring one quarter of the city retrofitted for stormwater treatment by 2028.

Alexandria Snapshot: Protest

Ray Deakins protests Sept. 21 the decision of Alexandria City Council to petition the Virginia General Assembly for permission to remove the Appomattox Statue from the intersection of Prince and Washington streets.

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Alexandria: 37 Years Later, Chief Cook Retires

Chief of Police Cook reflects on his service to his city.

For as long as he can remember, Chief of Police Earl Cook wanted to be a police officer. At the end of September, Cook will retire and go back to being a civilian for the first time in 37 years.

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Alexandria Snapshot: Constitution Week

Mayor Allison Silberberg celebrated Constitution Week on Monday, Sept. 12, with students from Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, Samuel W. Tucker, Mt. Vernon Community School and Jefferson-Houston.

Alexandria Police Body Camera Timeline Slips

More police officers is budget priority.

Police in Arlington started wearing body cameras on Aug. 29, and in June the Fairfax County Board voted to approve an 18-month research period for concerns about privacy with regards to body cameras. In D.C. police have been using body cameras for a year. But while Alexandria’s neighbors move forward with body camera usage and related policies, the city has pushed the body camera pilot program back until the fiscal year 2018-19.

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Albright Visits Alexandria

Albright visits Alexandria Democratic headquarters.

After a few minutes of greeting Democratic supporters and talking about her experiences with Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright walked into a secluded side room.

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Alexandria: What’s Shaking Old Town?

Neighbors rattled by Robinson Terminal South demolition.

Robinson Terminal South is going through demolition, and neighbors say they can feel it. While developer EYA proved that the vibrations from construction work falls within the standard set by City Council, local residents argued that a stricter standard be put in place.

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Expanding Scope of Alexandria’s Public Art Projects

“We’re looking at things like traffic boxes, but do we want to do more or look at other projects?”

Traffic Control boxes are metal containers. They help make sure the traffic lights run smoothly, but they’ve never been accused of being beautiful.

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Alexandria: ‘Play Ball’ Initiative

Alexandria Summer Camp ends with baseball event.

Mac Slover, the regional program director for Alexandria’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Activities, loves baseball.

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Alexandria Celebrates National Night Out

Law enforcement and community come together for a night of celebration.

There was a tense moment between law enforcement and a member of the local community on National Night Out in Alexandria.

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New Heights for Alexandria

Impending 355 foot residential tower is just the start for Carlyle’s upward growth.

While arguments rage in Old Town over three- and four-story buildings, at the western end of Eisenhower Avenue the city is moving forward with plans for some of the tallest buildings in Northern Virginia.

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Senator Kaine Hosts Interfaith Forum

Senator Tim Kaine spends last day before VP pick showing why Virginia matters.

No one knew it at the time, but Sen. Timothy M. Kaine’s (D-Va.) public appearances moderating roundtables in Northern Virginia last Thursday, July 21 would be his last day of relative political anonymity before being catapulted to political prominence 24 hours later as Hillary Clinton’s pick for her Vice-Presidential running mate.

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Alexandria: Market Affordable Homes in Freefall

Tax increases push rent increases; rent increases push out residents.

Alexandria has lost of 8,000 market affordable homes since 2010. Most weren’t lost to dramatic demolitions or fires. They were lost in moments like the one Clifford Wilkening is facing; where an increase in property taxes is forcing the owner of 31 buildings housing 200 city residents to consider his first rent increase in around eight years.

Alexandria: Bikeshare Installation Draws Local Ire

“I’m not happy when the city is acting as though they are above the law.”

The Capital Bikeshare’s journey into Old Town is off to a bumpy start. While city officials say the Capital Bikeshare has been a success so far, one particular station has incensed local residents who say the city isn’t following its own implementation rules. Residents say their objection to the South Royal Street Bikeshare station has nothing to do with the bikeshare or bikes in the city, but anger over the city installing a colorful sign without any type of approval or public outreach.

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Alexandria: ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ of Ramsey Redevelopment

Council weighs options for Ramsey redevelopment.

Three of Alexandria’s top priorities are historic preservation, open space, and affordable housing. At the June 28 City Council meeting, a decision over the future of Ramsey Homes found these interests, and the council, pitted against each other.

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