Alexandria Politics

Alexandria Politics

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Hunting Potholes: If residents call, city will fix them.

How To Help: Call Click Connect hotline at 703-746-4357 to report potholes.

As many Alexandrians would likely attest, 2015’s February was the coldest the city has faced since 1979.

Salute to Women Awards

Eleven women will be recognized for their accomplishments in civic life at the Alexandria’s Commission for Women’s 35th Annual Salute to Women Awards.

Column: General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die

Commentary

The 2015 session of the General Assembly has officially adjourned. Bills I introduced that now await Governor McAuliffe's signature include legislation on issues from job placement and hospital patients' rights to tax refunds and ethics reform.

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Duncan Visits Alexandria's Patrick Henry Pre-K

Secretary of Education and others express support for Alexandria’s early childhood development.

In a crowded corner of the Patrick Henry Elementary School Library, Duncan heaped praise on Patrick Henry Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten education program while expressing his frustrations at a nationwide lack of similar programs.

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Alexandria Budget Winners and Losers

Acting city manager presents budget proposal to City Council

When Acting City Manager Mark Jinks presented Alexandria City Council with the $647.9 million proposed budget, the generally positive reception was tempered with the knowledge that many departments would not be receiving the funding they had requested.

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Separate But Equal Amenities for Alexandria

Class-segregated pool at proposed housing complex dampens council enthusiasm for affordable housing project.

A proposal for a mixed-use housing complex in Alexandria swiftly became an argument on classism when the developer revealed the pool would be off-limits to residents of the affordable housing section.

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Too Poor for Benefits in Alexandria

New advisory panel tackles lack of healthcare options for Alexandrians.

An estimated 5,000 people living in Alexandria are without access to healthcare. Without any assistance from the state, the struggle for many Alexandrians has potential to grow into a city-wide moral and financial crisis.

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GMU Students Rally to Lower Student Debt

Members of GMU Student Power Travel to Richmond to voice concern over rising debt.

Twelve students from George Mason University traveled to Richmond with the Virginia Student Power Network, rallying and calling for debt-free education, and for increased educational opportunities for undocumented students. Rodrigo Velasquez, a junior at Mason from Springfield and GMU Student Power’s organizer, was one of the 12 from Mason who also went to Richmond.

Political Jockeying in Mount Vernon

With Puller’s retirement, the race is on.

Soon after state Sen. Toddy Puller’s retirement announcement, candidates for the vacated seat are already emerging.

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Colleagues Praise Mount Vernon's Puller

State senator to retire at end of current session.

Calling State Senator Linda T. “Toddy” Puller’s announcement to retire “bittersweet,” Del. Mark Sickles explained that it is “bitter because her absence will leave a gaping void here in Richmond; sweet because nobody has done more in one life to deserve less hectic years at home with friends and family.”

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Alexandria Budget Looms Over 2015 Plans

Alexandria city officials discuss goals and funding for 2015.

For Alexandria City Council, 2015 kicks off with a continuing discussion of the budget and the city’s priorities. With an anticipated decrease in federal spending, city officials are preparing for a difficult budget process.

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Alexandria's Year of the Manhunt

Local law enforcement looks back on pursuing a killer and plans ahead for 2015’s goals.

For much of Alexandria’s law enforcement, 2014 was defined by a manhunt across state boundaries to catch a suspect in killings that haunted the city’s streets for 10 years. In 2015, the most immediate concern for the police and sheriff’s office is the no less complicated task of finding a way to maintain their efficiency with the prospect of a tightening budget from the city.

Alexandria: Lawsuit Over Rezoning Hits City Council

Neighbors oppose change allowing restaurant.

A lawsuit against the City Council by local residents claims that the rezoning of a residence on Princess and Washington streets, allowing it to become a restaurant, deprived the residents of equal protection of the laws.

Alexandria Letter to the Editor: A Better Life … But Not Today?

I was moved and humbled by the tribute to Nelson Greene Sr. on the front page of the Nov. 20 edition of the Alexandria Gazette Packet. It served as a subtle reminder of the city’s morally corrupt treatment of the African American community even after passage of the Civil Rights Act.

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Giving Thanks by Giving Back in Alexandria

For 10 years before each Thanksgiving, Nathan Carter has been on a mission. With the help of his mother and siblings, he provides free turkeys to low-income residents of Alexandria as a way of giving thanks and giving back.

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