Alexandria Politics

Alexandria Politics

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Union of Pedestrians: Waterfront Plan Prompts Changes to Union Street

Union Street to become 'shared street.'

The first signs of change from the waterfront plan are about to sweep through Old Town, adding features city officials believe will make the thoroughfare more friendly to pedestrians who will walk along the redeveloped properties.

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The Way We Were

A look back at 2012.

Dominated by a hard-fought City Council race and the ongoing battle over the waterfront, Alexandria citizens had no shortage of topics to debate over the last year.

Neighbors

Taylor Run

ELECTION WRITE-INS A certain amount of dissatisfaction with our current political setup raised its head in write-in votes for the recent election.

Column: When To Be Representative or Trustee?

Lessons #3 for serving and governing.

City Council members: What are you, representatives of the people or trustees for the people? Answer: You are both, but not at the same time; and only you can figure out the time to be one or the other.

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Legislators Are Not Gun Shy About Responding to Connecticut Shooting

Should access to guns be limited or expanded?

Last year's mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut has already prompted a heated debate about gun control in Virginia, where the upcoming session of the General Assembly is likely to feature a number of bills on both sides of the issue.

Business Matters

Two Alexandria landlords are vying for their properties to become the new home of the National Science Foundation, a prize the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership has identified as valuable goal for the city.

Council Notebook

They fought like cats and dogs. They pounded their fists of the dais at City Hall. On several occasions, they raised their voices at each other.

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Historic Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary Rises from the Ashes

Seminary reaches compromise with neighbors to retain ruins of historic chapel.

When God appears to Moses in the Book of Exodus, a bush is described to be on fire yet not consumed by flames. The same could be said for Immanuel Chapel at the Virginia Theological Seminary.

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Upcoming Zoning Decision on Beauregard Pits Tenants Against Council

West End residents are 'frustrated and angry.'

As residents of the West End gathered this week to celebrate Human Rights Day, a spirit of defiance was in the air.

Crisis of Governance and Leadership

This is the third in a series of columns, coordinated by former council member Lonnie Rich, that includes other past city leaders writing on governance and politics. Alexandria’s reputation for good governance has been severely tarnished over the last few years in large part because there has been too little debate about issues of real concern to the community. There is absolutely no reason to believe that the situation will change for the better with the re-election of Mayor Euille and the election or re-election of six Democrats, the majority of whom seem to share Mr. Euille’s one-shoe-fits-all vision for Alexandria.

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Use of Food Stamps Skyrocketing in Northern Virginia

Program doubles in Arlington, triples in Fairfax and quadruples in Alexandria.

The use of food stamps is skyrocketing in Northern Virginia, and the spike isn’t just about the recession.

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Failing Alexandria School Waits for Turnaround

After years of failing test scores, Jefferson-Houston to select external turnaround partner.

More than a decade of failing test scores and a revolving door of administrators have taken their toll on Jefferson-Houston School, which the Virginia Department of Education was identified as a “priority school” back in August.

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Raw Politics: Alexandria Officials to Roll Out Sewer Master Plan

Proposal would fund fix to lingering problems as well as handle demands of development.

Lately, it seems that city officials have their minds in the gutter — literally.

Week in Alexandria

After almost two decades as the chief prosecutor in Alexandria, Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Sengel says he won’t run again in 2013.

Council Notebook

The late campaign may be a thing of the past. But the debate about taxes lingers.

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