Tuesday, May 14, 2013
WMATA's North Old Town bus depot starts to see movement in the transit authority's efforts to move it to Fairfax County.
Plans to move the Metro bus depot from North Old Town to Fairfax County are once again underway after several years of litigation appear to have come to a close. The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) has been planning to move the depot, but a lawsuit by a homeowners association in Fairfax County clogged its progress. The case was ruled in favor of moving the depot, but the decision was appealed. In mid-April, the Virginia Supreme Court made a ruling allowing the bus depot to proceed with moving from its prime real estate location in one of the most expensive parts of Alexandria. Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille said he’s pleased that the depot will be moving from Old Town as he’s been advocating for that since he joined WMATA’s…
Friday, May 10, 2013
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille says Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli's tax plan would have negative impacts on local government.
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli’s tax plan Wednesday in a release from the Democratic Party of Virginia, saying it would hurt “Virginia’s strong reputation for fiscal management.” “Ken Cuccinelli’s tax plan is not a plan at all,” Euille said. “It is an unrealistic ideological proposal that would have serious negative impacts on local government, including Alexandria.” Under Cuccinelli’s “Economic Growth and Virginia Job Plan” proposal, the income tax rate would drop from 5.75 percent to 5 percent over four years starting in 2014, and the corporate income tax rate would drop from 6 percent to 4 percent, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. From The RTD: Cuccinelli said roughly …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille had his own hearing checked Tuesday morning.
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille promoted hearing loss screenings Tuesday morning by having his own hearing checked at Sonus Hearing Care Center in Alexandria. One in five Americans suffer from hearing loss in at least one ear, according to Sonus. The company, which sells hearing aids, is offering free screenings to help adults with undiagnosed hearing loss and to promote Better Hearing Month in May. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, visit the Sonus webpage or call 703-596-9744. Sonus is located at 4660 Kenmore Ave., Suite 409. Euille told Patch that his screening found his hearing was normal for a man his age. According to Sonus, approximately 48 million Americans experience some form of hearing loss, yet only 13 percent of …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Proposal would allow localities in Virginia to impose a 1 percent income tax without voter approval.
The Virginia State Senate has passed a bill that would allow local governments to collect a local income tax to fund transportation projects. Under the legislation, SB 1313, which is now awaiting review in the House of Delegates, local governments would be allowed to establish an income tax of up to 1 percent without approval from voters. All Virginia senators representing the city of Alexandria voted in favor of the legislation. The bill would affect the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. Current Virginia law dictates a jurisdiction’s residents must approve a local income tax in a referendum. The majority of Virginia localities, …
Monday, January 7, 2013
Online survey will inform the next community dialogue on civic engagement principles.
The City of Alexandria and ACTion Alexandria are providing residents the opportunity to participate in “What’s Next Alexandria” online through Jan. 14. The short online survey asks residents to “review the draft list of principle categories below and select those you think should be included in Alexandria’s Principles of Civic Engagement.” Survey answers will be part of the discussion at the Second Community Dialogue at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St. At the January dialogue, civic leaders will refine the principles and talk about ways to meet them. Childcare and Spanish translations will be available for interested residents at the Jan. 29 meeting. At the first meeting in November, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille told …
Friday, January 4, 2013
Mayor Bill Euille says he looks forward to working with the new council, but tough choices must be made in the three years ahead.
Mayor Bill Euille described the new City Council as talented, smart, fun loving and accessible during a speech at the new body's installation ceremony Wednesday night. But this enigmatic group must face challenges for the next three years, including addressing the budget and the city's aging infrastructure while balancing the development of commercial and residential buildings, he said in remarks at T.C. Williams High School auditorium. Euille made another plug for bringing the National Science Foundation to Alexandria, which is currently home to sister agency the Patent and Trademark Office. We are "committeed to making sure all voices [will] be heard," he said, referring to the city's new What's Next Alexandria initiative. He also noted …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Alexandrian Hazel Rigby says Mayor Euille has her respect, her support and her vote.
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Dear Editor: In his opening remarks in the second mayoral debate Andrew Macdonald stated that life in Alexandria had worsened under Mayor Euille's leadership, but it would only be fair to examine his own record. Mr. Macdonald has a history of indecisive, political allegiance and perseverance. In the 2000 election he ran for Council as an independent and lost. In 2003 he joined the Democratic Committee, ran as a Democrat and won. He served his full term. In 2006, he again ran as a Democrat but in an attempt to become Vice Mayor allowed the Republicans to include his name in Republican ads. He prevailed--winning the most votes to become Vice Mayor. In early May 2007, he abruptly resigned his seat for "personal reasons" having served …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Alexandrian Elizabeth Chimento, who was instrumental in helping permanently shutter the GenOn plan, says it happened through city and citizen cooperation.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Last week, Alexandria’s GenOn (formerly Mirant) power plant permanently shut down. How did this happen? It happened because the city and its citizens were committed and persisted over 11 years to make it happen. And, yes, recent market conditions also contributed to the plant’s demise. Yet, the story is more complex. Early on, Poul Hertel and I brought to the City’s attention public health issues associated with the facility’s polluting emissions, including producing a report citing health effect studies from those emissions and likely dispersion problems at the plant. We first discussed our concerns with City Councilman Paul Smedberg. Throughout the years, Paul consistently led the issue with the Council as more scientific-based …
Monday, October 1, 2012
Coal-fired power plant ceased operations Oct. 1.
Alexandria officials lauded the closure of the Potomac River Generating Station on Monday, saying the plant’s retirement will bring an end to decades of harmful air pollution and health problems to the region. “Today is a great day,” said Mayor Bill Euille, calling the closure of the plant, which opened in 1949, “a community success” and a good example of how citizens and the city can work together. Democratic Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia, who was instrumental in championing the plant closure along with many Alexandrians, called the closure a “hard fought but well-won victory” that wouldn’t have happened without citizen engagement. He said the plant emitted 72 lbs. of mercury in a year and data showed that it was the catalyst for at least 3,…
The candidates, incumbents and issues that will be affecting Alexandria.
As we look ahead to November’s elections, Old Town Alexandria Patch, Del Ray Patch and West End Alexandria Patch are devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates. Voting Information For complete information on voting on election day, including information on the new Virginia voter ID laws, see the election section on the city's website. Not sure of your polling place? Fill out your voter information on the Virginia Election and Registration Information System website. Alexandria Mayor, City Council and School Board Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth term in the …
OT insider
8:24 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
This (like the Harris Teeter site) is one of those head scratchers where I don't see how anyone who lives in OT North and deals with this every day has any other opinion than this is a great change. This site is a horrible, pollution-producing eyesore. I lived a half a block away from it for 14 years and always hoped this day would finally come. I can certainly see how some would debate retail vs… more ›