Fairfax County residents are underutilizing publicly-funded incentives to make their homes more green. That’s according to James Walkinshaw, Fairfax County Supervisor for the Braddock District, who hosted the county’s first Climate Action Conference on Sept. 30.
Greeting a crowd of community members gathered at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Walkinshaw said the focus of the conference was to give residents “all the actionable information and the tools you need to reduce your emissions and save money.”
“Whether you’re an individual, a family, a homeowner, a business leader, or a leader of a faith community or faith group, now is the time to take advantage of those opportunities,” Walkinshaw said.
Walkinshaw was joined by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck.
The board members touted their record on the environment, including the hiring of 16 employees to address climate policies and piloting electric buses on both Fairfax Connector and Fairfax County Public Schools bus routes.
Sherie Cabalu, a homeowner in Vienna, came to the Climate Conference to learn about what she could do personally to combat climate change.
“I really wanted to just find out what we could do at a home level and a personal level,” Cabalu said. “You know, we hear about all the policies and everything, but how does that translate into actual, you know, doing something at the individual level?”
The event’s keynote speaker was Michael Forrester, assistant director of partnerships in the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the Department of Energy. The mission of Forrester’s office is to share information at the community level about federal incentive programs that people can partake in to reduce their carbon footprint and save energy costs.
“We’re trying to activate local communities, and we’re trying to put these technologies in people’s homes to make a big significant difference on the nation’s carbon footprint,” Forrester said, adding, “Significant amounts of money are flowing from the federal government to local communities and to individuals’ homes.”
Low-income households can apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which offers home energy audits and makes necessary improvements and repairs to heating and cooling systems. The improvements are free of charge and may include work on windows and doors, roof repairs and HVAC sealing, thereby improving efficiency and lowering lower energy bills, according to Forrester.
Clean Vehicle Tax Credits are also available for Virginians to get back up to $7,500 for the purchase of a new electric vehicle, or up to $4,000 for a used electric vehicle. Restrictions apply based on the buyer’s annual income and the value of the vehicle.
Forrester also said homeowners are eligible to receive a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements like solar panels and geothermal heat pumps. This long-term credit is part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and will be in effect for 10 years.
More incentives are coming soon to Virginians. Starting next year, Forrester said homeowners will be eligible for additional support. Under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebate programs, homeowners will be able to receive up to $3,200 in additional tax credit for investment in more efficient heating systems, windows and doors.
It’s never too early, Forrester said, to start looking at ways to reduce your household emissions. “As you start to look at your home and you think, what’s next? Take a look at these tax credits.”
He noted that Dominion Energy and other utilities also offer incentive programs for appliance and smart technology upgrades to increase energy efficiency.
Attendee pushback
In his opening remarks, Walkinshaw made clear a discussion on global warming would not be a part of the conference.
“We’re not here to debate the science of climate change, which is settled,” he said.
But not everyone agreed.
Arthur Purves, who is running against McKay as the Republican candidate for chair of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, was on hand for the conference.
“He said it was settled science and we couldn’t talk about it,” Purves said. “And then he started [talking], and the crisis was all in the future. They don’t talk about an existential crisis today because there is none.”
Purves is president of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, a volunteer organization that advocates for lower taxes. He denounced the amount of money and resources the sitting Board of Supervisors has spent addressing the environment. “This is pure socialism,” he said.
In fiscal 2023, Fairfax County appropriated approximately $1.3 million to fund the Environmental and Energy Program. It is maintaining funding at the same level this year.
The climate conference was supported by numerous citizens advocacy groups, including the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club.
Photo via James Walkinshaw/Facebook. This article was written by FFXNow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
The workers who clean office buildings around Fairfax County won’t have to hit the picket lines anytime soon.
The union representing about 9,100 commercial office cleaners in the D.C. area reached a tentative agreement yesterday (Tuesday) for a new contract with property owners in the Washington Service Contractors Association (WSCA), averting a potential strike.
Expressing frustration with wages that haven’t kept up with the rising costs of food, rent and other basic needs, union members in Fairfax and Loudoun counties voted unanimously last week to authorize a strike if an agreement wasn’t reached by the time their existing contract expires on Sunday (Oct. 15).
“These men and women proved that collective action has the power to improve jobs and lives, just like other low-wage workers deserve nationwide,” said Jaime Contreras, executive vice president of 32BJ SEIU, the Service Employees International Union’s branch for the D.C. region.
Under the proposed contract, which will go to members for ratification next week, cleaners will get hourly wage increases of $3.55 to $3.75 over four years, according to the union. Pay currently ranges from $12.50 in Loudoun and Prince George’s counties — just over Virginia’s minimum wage — to $18.60.
The union’s 3,000-plus cleaners in Fairfax County, Arlington and Alexandria, who currently earn $15 an hour, will get the $3.55 raise, set to take effect in increments every July 1 through 2027, according to WSCA negotiator Peter Chatilovicz.
The larger increase of $3.75 will go to Loudoun and Prince George’s workers to keep them above the minimum wage, which will rise to $15 on Jan. 1, 2026.
The contract also preserves existing benefits for both full-time and part-time cleaners, per 32BJ SEIU:
Under the contract, janitors maintain access to free professional training and language courses as well as legal services for concerning issues such as immigration, family and matrimonial matters, and housing law among others. Full-time cleaners in all regions will maintain employer-paid health care, including prescription drugs, dental, vision and life insurance. Part-time cleaners will continue to receive life insurance and family dental benefits.
According to the union, the agreement was reached over seven bargaining sessions that started on June 22.
While pay was the primary point of contention, the union also took issue with a proposal that would’ve reduced shifts for new employees from five to four hours long. The suggestion was taken off the table last week, as local elected officials — including almost all Fairfax County supervisors — signed pledges and appeared at rallies in support of the cleaners.
A 32BJ spokesperson confirmed that the change in shifts was not part of the tentative agreement.
“I think it was a fair agreement for both sides,” Chatilovicz said. “We managed to, I think, give some very reasonable wage increases to the employees. Benefits all stayed the same without any further costs, and like I said, I think both sides were pleased to be able to reach an agreement before we had to worry about the contract expiration.”
The contract negotiations with the WSCA came amid a frenzy of labor actions across the country. While film and TV writers recently ended a nearly five-month strike, Hollywood actors and the United Auto Workers are still on the picket lines, and health care workers for Kaiser Permanente may walk off the job again in early November after a strike from Oct. 4-7 failed to produce an agreement.
An algae bloom has taken over a portion of Reston’s Lake Thoreau.
In a statement released yesterday (Tuesday), Reston Association said the bloom contains “potentially harmful cyanobacteria.”
“It is advised for residents and their animals to avoid contact with the water at this time and remain attentive to any signage posted around the lake,” RA wrote.
Cyanobacteria are microscopic organisms found in all types of water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Harmful cyanobacteria can produce toxins and block sunlight that other organisms need to live.
As of earlier this morning (Wednesday), the bloom was limited, according a spokesperson for RA. The association expects to determine if the bloom is expanding or shrinking today.
“With the cooling temperatures, we don’t anticipate treatment will be necessary; however, if the bloom lingers, we will consider treatment options,” Cara O’Donnell, RA’s spokesperson, said.
There are currently no restrictions on boating or fishing, but residents are encouraged to wash any areas that have direct contact with the lake.
When the bloom subsides, signage will be removed.
Reston typically sees a couple of cases of algae blooms every summer. Algae spotted in Lake Audubon in early August was deemed potentially harmful, fueled by a water main break that also killed some fish in Snakeden Branch stream.
It is advised for residents and their animals to avoid contact with the water at this time and remain attentive to any signage posted around the lake.
— Reston Association (@RestonOnline) October 10, 2023
Board of Supervisors Contenders Diverge in Views of County — “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (D) and his Republican challenger, Arthur Purves, politely exchanged views — with the occasional sharp elbow — during a televised Oct. 2 forum.” [Gazette Leader]
Murder Charge Filed in Woman’s Fatal Shooting — Eric Antonio Rubio, 36, of Alexandria, has been charged with second degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony for the death of Brenda Ochoa Guerro, who was found unconscious in the Inova Mount Vernon Hospital parking lot on April 13. Rubio and three others were arrested in May for concealing a dead body. [FCPD]
Tysons Developer’s Data Center to Replace AOL HQ — “The former Ashburn home of America Online is being demolished to clear the way for a new data center campus from PowerHouse Data Centers, a subsidiary of Tysons-based American Real Estate Partners. The 43-acre site will be redeveloped with three data center buildings spanning 1.2 million square feet and a new power substation.” [Washington Business Journal]
Police Warn About “Bank Jugging” — The Fairfax County Police Department says there have been several incidents in recent months of people breaking into vehicles to steal large amounts of money that they saw victims withdraw from banks. Police advise community members to stay vigilant and take “appropriate safety measures.” [FCPD]
McLean Group Endorses Mixed-Use Development — “The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) on Oct. 4 lent its backing to the proposed Astoria mixed-use redevelopment in downtown McLean, but expressed reservations that additional students living at the site might exacerbate overcrowding at nearby schools.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Contractors See Stocks Rise After Israel-Hamas Violence — “Greater Washington’s defense giants posted some of their best days on Wall Street in years Monday following Hamas’ large-scale offensive against Israel over the weekend.” West Falls Church-based Northrop Grumman Corp. saw shares climb 11.4% to $471.61, while “shares in Reston weapons maker General Dynamics Corp. rose 8.43% to $238.48.” [WBJ]
FCPS Introduces Healthier, Global Meals — “It’s time for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students to say farewell to processed corn dogs and sugary breakfast items…Alongside incoming Executive Director Shaun Sawko, FCPS’ Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) team will be rolling out improvements to their menu that better reflect the diversity of our student body and focus on fresh, healthy food.” [FCPS]
Senators Call for Probe of Voter Roll Errors — “Democratic Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate whether the Youngkin administration violated the Voting Rights Act when it wiped at least 270 fully qualified Virginia voters off the state’s rolls.” [Washington Post]
Mount Vernon Bicycle Tour Coming Up — “Sign up for the first Tour de Mount Vernon Youth & Family Ride on Oct. 21, 8:15 a.m. at George Washington’s Mount Vernon! Every child must be accompanied by an adult. 1 adult may accompany up to 5 children. Limited to 50 youth riders!” [Dan Storck/Twitter]
It’s Wednesday — Expect increasing clouds and mild temperatures with a high near 70 and a light northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy and cool, with a low around 49 and calm wind conditions. [Weather.gov]
Residents are calling on the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that a trail is constructed on the south side of a new tunnel in Colvin Run Mill Park.
Construction on the $1.5 million tunnel under Route 7 as part of the widening of Leesburg Pike is currently underway. But the project, which is managed by state officials, lacks a 1,000-foot trail to the south side of the tunnel that would allow residents to walk to the park’s sites in Great Falls, Lake Fairfax and Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail.
In a recent call to action by the Friends of Colvin Run Mill, James Waller described the issue as a a “tunnel to nowhere” and urged members of the nonprofit to ask elected representatives to allocate carryover funds for the project.
Last month, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors allocated $15.7 million to the park authority from the fiscal year 2023 budget carryover.
In a statement to FFXnow, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust says he hopes the park authority will use a portion of the carryover funds for the trail.
“The Park Authority, however, is an independent agency with many needs and challenges,” Foust wrote. “I cannot mandate when the Park Authority will allocate funds for the construction of this trail, but I am confident they consider it a priority and are trying to make it happen.”
But carryover funds can only be used for system-wide maintenance projects and not new amenities, according to FCPA spokesperson Benjamin Boxer.
“The carryover funding received from the County is restricted to different uses and will not be a part of this project,” Boxer said.
Boxer said the park authority has authorized up to $200,000 for feasibility, environmental review and design for the future trail project.
“Work is progressing as the studies have been completed and we are entering into the design phase of the project so that when future funding is identified, we will be ready to pursue the project,” Boxer wrote in the statement.
Finding sufficient, quality food remains a challenge for many people across the D.C. area, even with the immediate economic disruptions triggered by the pandemic in the rear view mirror, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) says in a new report.
Released last month, the nonprofit’s 2023 Hunger Report found that the region is still seeing elevated levels of food insecurity that are nearly identical to what was reported a year earlier. In Fairfax County, 24% of residents are food insecure — the exact same percentage as in 2022.
CAFB didn’t start issuing its annual hunger reports until 2020, making a direct comparison to pre-pandemic years difficult, but the amount of food it distributes in the county has risen from 5.2 million meals in 2019 to almost 7.2 million this year, as of mid-September, indicating more need. Meal distributions peaked at more than 9 million in 2022.
“While signs of improvement seem to be everywhere in our economy over the past twelve months, there’s a far different story unfolding for over a million of our neighbors,” CAFB president and CEO Radha Muthiah said. “This year’s Hunger Report makes clear that food insecurity and economic inequity are still enormous problems in our area.”
Overall, about 32% of D.C. area residents are food insecure, including 18% who are severely food insecure, according to the 2023 Hunger Report, which is based on data collected between May 2022 and April 2023.
The only surveyed jurisdiction with less food insecurity than Fairfax County was Arlington, where 17% of households struggle to find food — a decline from 21% in 2022. Prince George’s County had the highest rate at 45%.
Other notable findings from CAFB:
- Food insecurity is more prevalent among Black (47%) and Hispanic (52%) respondents than white respondents (14%)
- About 82% of food-insecure households are low-income, which is defined as earning $83,000 a year or less, but 1 in 5 families who earn the area’s median income of $120,000 still experience food insecurity
- 76% of food-insecure individuals are employed — a higher rate than the one for food-secure individuals (73%)
- 10% of children are experiencing food insecurity, a lower rate than the general population that the report attributes to parents prioritizing feeding their kids over themselves and access to school meals
The lack of improvement in the region’s food insecurity levels, despite signs of a strong recovery for the U.S. economy, reflects “the pandemic’s ongoing impacts on employment, high rates of inflation, and the rollback of…government assistance programs,” such as the emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that ended in March, the 2023 Hunger Report says.
According to the report, 52% of all respondents reported feeling the impacts of high food costs, which rose 20% between May 2020 and this past May, but the impact was more widespread among food-insecure households, particularly low-income, Black and Hispanic households.
To address food insecurity, the report urges providers like CAFB to increase access to food assistance. It also recommends government support for public programs like SNAP — which is funded by a farm bill that expired at the end of September — and better coordination between social services intended to alleviate poverty.
“Every sector in our region has a role to play in addressing this ongoing crisis, both in the short and longer term, to create more opportunity and brighter futures for our community,” Muthiah said.
Over the past two years, Fairfax County has distributed $9.5 million in relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to support community food providers, including $4 million that will be allocated this fall, according to Ramona Carroll, equity manager for the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
The county also devotes over $1 million annually to nonprofits that provide emergency food assistance through its Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP), which provides funding for nonprofit and community human services organizations through an annual, competitive process.
In addition, the county began accepting applications last month for an economic mobility pilot that will give eligible families monthly payments of $750 for 15 months. Initial data from similar basic income programs that have cropped up around the country, including in Alexandria City, suggest they can help people afford housing, food and other basic needs.
For community members who want to assist those experiencing food insecurity, Carroll recommends donating to local food providers and the county’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign. She also recommends that organizations consider applying for the community funding pool.
“The funding allocated to organizations through the CCFP serves as an investment and catalyst for strengthening the human services network of programs available for Fairfax County residents,” Carroll said.
(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Reston Association is considering a 10% increase in its annual membership assessment as part of a preliminary budget draft for fiscal year 2025.
The proposal — which is the first of what will likely be several drafts — was discussed at a Sept. 28 Board of Directors meeting. As previously reported, the budget would include new positions and cover membership recreational passes in the assessment fees.
Cummins said he plans to eliminate two positions in the budget — a staff accountant and a communications manager.
“These additions represent a more strategic approach to interdepartmental coordination, decision making and providing service for the membership,” Cummins wrote in a memo.
The fee would stand at $840 compared to $763 last year if RA uses $700,000 in cash to buy down the true cost of the membership fee. Without a cash infusion, the assessment would rise to $872.
New proposed positions could include a chief financial officer, land use planner, information technology director and business analyst.
Recreational passes would also be free for all RA members, returning the organization to a previous model that wrapped passes into the annual assessment paid by members. Some programs — like Totally Trucks — would also be included in the assessment. Nonmembers would still have to pay for passes and other events.
Cummins also hopes to increase lifeguard wages to bring them along with decreases in some recreation and Central Services Facility staff. The total increase amounts to $90,000.
“We are fairly behind in terms of the hourly pay rate,” Cummins said.
The budget also includes $30,000 in funding for a salary and compensation study and merit increases of up to 5%.
The proposal also included adding a convenience fee for credit card use, allowing RA to avoid absorbing $245,000 in annual charges from credit card companies. The convenience fee of $2.95 per credit card swipe would result in $25,000 in annual revenue.
A 20% “nominal” fee increase for boat permits is also proposed, Cummins said.
Final action on the budget is not expected until November.
“Tonight is just the beginning of the process,” RA board president John Farrell said at the Sept. 28 meeting.
GMU’s Fall for the Book Kicks Off Today — After a week of preview events, George Mason University’s annual book festival officially returns today for its 25th anniversary. The festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a talk by roller derby skater Gabe Montesanti about her new memoir and continue through Saturday (Oct. 14). [Fall for the Book]
Police Investigate Linked Thefts and Vehicle Break-Ins — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau, Criminal Investigations Division, are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins and package thefts that occurred between October 3-4. The suspect is believed to be responsible for breaking into several vehicles and stealing items during the late-night hours in both the Fair Oaks and Reston police districts.” [FCPD]
Reston Man Arrested for Damaging CUE Bus — “Officers responded around 6:05 p.m. [on Friday, Oct. 6] to the area of Jermantown Road and Orchard Street, for the report of someone vandalizing the interior of one of the city’s CUE buses.” Fairfax City police charged the man “with destruction of property and being drunk in public.” [Patch]
Charitable Film Festival Returns to Tysons — “Giving back is the most important thing that one can do in life — and no film festival does it better than the Washington West Film Festival, which returns to The Boro in Tysons, Virginia this weekend from Oct. 12-16…The lineup kicks off Thursday at the ShowPlace Icon with the opening night film ‘Anna,’ starring Ciarán Hinds and Jason Isaacs.” [WTOP]
McLean Playground Parking Lot to Close for Repairs — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin resurfacing and painting the Clemyjontri parking lot. The parking lot will be closed during the resurfacing and painting, but the park will remain open. Work will begin starting Tuesday, Oct. 24, and is expected to conclude on Thursday, Oct. 26, as the weather permits.” [FCPA]
Lawsuit Over Voting Rights Restoration Proceeds — “A federal judge allowed a lawsuit against Gov. Glenn Youngkin to proceed in a move that may provide more public insight into the Republican’s process for restoring voting rights…Virginia is the only state where people convicted of any felony lose their right to vote, serve on a jury and run for office — unless the governor restores it.” [VPM]
Vienna Awarded for Economic Development Efforts — “Vienna is getting national recognition for its economic development success with two Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).” The town got gold for its 2023 Restaurant Week and a bronze award for the Economic Development Department’s website. [Town of Vienna]
It’s Tuesday — Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67 and a light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. At night, skies will be mostly clear, with a low around 46. There will be a west wind blowing 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
The Office of the Virginia Attorney General is opposing a private toll road owner’s request for a rate increase.
In July, Toll Road Investors Partnership II, the owner and operator of the 14-mile Dulles Greenway that runs between Leesburg and Washington Dulles International Airport, filed a request with the State Corporation Commission to increase tolls by at least 21%.
[On Sept. 29], Attorney General Jason Miyares said he objected to the request. [link added]
“Traffic in Northern Virginia is a daily challenge, and rising inflation only adds to the costs of commuting to work,” said Miyares in a statement. “My office stands alongside Virginia commuters who feel this struggle daily, advocating for fairness and resisting toll increases. Virginians deserve every hard-earned penny, and we’re here to protect Virginians from unreasonable financial burdens.”
TRIP II bases its pricing on the number of axles a driver’s vehicle has, with tolls for two-axle vehicles traveling from one end of the road to the other costing $5.25 during regular hours and $5.80 during rush hour. The proposed new rates for two-axle vehicles would be $6.40 during regular hours and $8.10 during rush hour.
The operator’s last rate increase request was denied in 2021. [FFXnow note: The Dulles Greenway operator’s latest request comes on the heels of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority increasing fees on the Dulles Toll Road for the first time in five years, starting this past Jan. 1.]
TRIP II said in its application that the increase will help it meet its financial obligations: “Only with the approval of the proposed tolls along with additional future increases will TRIP II be able to reach a place where it would have an opportunity to provide a reasonable return to its investors.”
Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Miyares, did not directly respond to whether the attorney general has any interest in lawmakers directing the state to enter into discussions with the toll operator to change how the roadway is managed.
However, she added, “Consumer protection is an important function of the Attorney General’s office. Northern Virginia residents and commuters have voiced strong opinions against the toll increase, and the Attorney General plans to represent that view in front of the State Corporation Commission.”
The proposed increases
TRIP II made the toll rate increase request after the failure this winter of legislation backed by the operator and Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration that would have let the state Commissioner of Highways, Secretary of Transportation and a steering committee negotiate new rates for the toll road. The proposal also included plans to reduce toll costs and implement distance-based tolling, which would charge drivers based on how far they travel.
Currently TRIP II is regulated by the State Corporation Commission under the Virginia Highway Corporation Act. That law allows the company to ask the SCC for a toll increase once per year but doesn’t permit it to negotiate those increases.
“TRIP II looks forward to continuing to work with the commonwealth to find a solution to how the Greenway is regulated to implement distance-based tolling,” said Renee Hamilton, chief executive officer for TRIP II, in a statement. “Drivers on other private toll roads in Northern Virginia pay based on the length of their trip. Drivers on the Greenway should be treated the same way. Filing a rate case application with the SCC was not our first choice.”
Since the Virginia Highway Corporation Act was enacted in 1988, the law was amended by two Northern Virginia lawmakers, then-Del. Joe May, R-Loudoun, and then-Sen. Mark Herring, D-Loudoun, to authorize the SCC to set annual tolls during the period from Jan. 1, 2013 to Jan. 1, 2020.
Over the past several years, TRIP II has been granted several toll increases by the SCC. In 1995, the year the road began operating, the company charged $1.75 for two-axle vehicles and $3.50 for all other vehicles.
Since then, the surrounding Loudoun County has grown in both population and traffic congestion. Nevertheless, many drivers have refused to pay the Greenway tolls, and instead rely on other routes to travel through the county.
“Constituents want to pay less if they go to the toll, and that’s the ultimate goal,” said Del. Michael Webert, R-Fauquier, who along with Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, backed the past session’s bill to change oversight of the tolls.
In a July statement, Reid said TRIP II’s rate increase request follows the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors opposing proposals in recent years that he said would result in toll reductions. The supervisors expressed concern that they would not be included in the discussions and that legislation could lead to the loss of major county tax revenues.
“Because of the board’s active opposition to the bipartisan Northam-Youngkin toll reduction plans, parents, small business owners, service workers, real estate agents, and commuters from Fairfax, Loudoun, Clarke, and Frederick counties are now faced with an unsustainable 40% increase in tolls on the Dulles Greenway,” Reid said in the July statement. “Not only will it cost constituents more of their hard-earned money, this will increase traffic onto our already overcrowded neighborhood streets.”
Webert and Reid’s proposal to alter oversight of Greenway tolls ran into a roadblock this winter when other lawmakers complained the plan did not give the legislature any authority over a potential agreement between the operator and the state. They also voiced concern about an extension of TRIP II’s contract past its current 2056 expiration date and worried the change would lead to the state inheriting the operator’s debt. However, Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller III assured lawmakers that the commonwealth has no intention of assuming the debt.
In December, TRIP II said it carried a debt of $1.2 billion after refinancing twice in 1999 and 2005. The debt was due to such costs as construction, improvements and “weaker than anticipated traffic on the road.”
The operator also pays other expenses such as property taxes to Loudoun County, which have totaled over $65 million since the beginning of the roadway, and fees to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for use of an easement over the Dulles International Airport property.
The new criteria
The SCC will be required to look at TRIP II’s most recent rate request through a different lens than it has used in the past. After the provision under the Virginia Highway Corporation Act expired in 2020, the General Assembly passed a law requiring the company to prove that the proposed increase will not discourage too many drivers from using the roadway, is reasonable for drivers and gives TRIP a fair but not excessive amount of profit.
If the company is unable to prove any of the criteria, the SCC is not authorized to approve the proposed increase for more than one year.
Del. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun, who carried the legislation along with Sen. John Bell, D-Loudoun, now retired, said he’s not sure how the SCC will decide the current rate request, but believes the bill could help.
“I never feel 100% confident, but I feel more confident than if we didn’t pass the bill because we finally have a framework that helps the State Corporation Commission to protect people from exorbitant tolls that are unjustified,” Subramanyam said.
David Ramadan, a former Republican delegate who for years regularly tried to block measures favorable to TRIP II increasing tolls, said the company has failed to meet the requirements laid out in the 2020 law to request an increase.
“The SCC for the first time can look at the merits of the case without having to honor automatic increases by law,” Ramadan said. “We believe that they don’t have the merits for an increase. So that’s why there should be no action, whatsoever, by anyone legislatively until the SCC considers the rate increase case and adjudicates it.”
Photo via Google Maps. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted with permission.
Body Fit Training, a studio that offers custom workout plans, is coming to North Point Village Center in Reston.
The business will take up nearly 2,700 square feet of space at 1422 North Point Village Center. It was tentatively expected to open in the first quarter of next year, but the prospective franchise owner has had to step back, necessitating a temporary pause in development.
The company’s corporate team is currently conducting a search for new ownership.
Pavan Katariya, the company’s developer for Northern Virginia, says the Reston location is designed as a neighborhood space.
“We are basically personal training that’s done in a group fitness setting,” Katariya said. “So, unlike at other gyms where there’ll be one trainer to 20 or 30 or 40 people, we have multiple coaches in each of our classes, and so, it’s a much more curated and hands on experience and we are also entirely strength training-focused, which is not something that other studios do.”
He says the company identified a need in the Reston market.
“There wasn’t a good strength training studio that combined personal training and group fitness together in that area, and so, they thought it would be something that people in that area would really like,” Katariya said.
A location in Tysons is expected to open in November. It will be Body Fit Training’s first studio in the D.C. area.
Angela Woolsey contributed reporting to this story.
As a “ring of fire” eclipse descends this Saturday (Oct. 14), Fairfax County is prepping with a series of events.
The annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from the Earth, appearing such that it is smaller than the sun. The result is that it leaves a ring of light around the edge of the moon.
But because of the county’s viewing angle, officials only expect to see about 40% of the sun covered by the moon’s shadow.
The image will look like “someone took a huge bite out of sun’s disc rather than the crescent shape we saw in 2017 and expect in April 2024,” said Tammy Schwab, manager of education and outreach for the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA).
A total solar eclipse is expected to pass over North America from Mexico to Maine on April 8, 2024, according to NASA. Fairfax County won’t be in its direct path, but Schwab says about 80% of the sun will be covered, similar to what residents saw during the last total solar eclipse in 2017.
“After the April eclipse it will be another 5 years before we see another one of this magnitude here in Virginia,” Schwab said. “Our programs at Burke Lake Park and the Sully Historic Site will be a great chance to learn about eclipses and how to view them safely from home, in preparation for the April spectacular.”
Events are planned for Saturday at Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station) and Sully Historic Site (3650 Historic Sully Way in Chantilly). From noon to 2 p.m., experts will be on site as the moon partially eclipses the sun. The cost is $10.
There will also be an event at Historic Huntley, which is located at 6918 Harrison Lane in Groveton, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $10.
Registration for all events is open online.
The roll-top observatory at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls will also host a viewing event, but it’s already at capacity.
Get to Know the School Board Candidates — “Fairfax County voters will select a new school board this November, with all 12 seats up for election. In addition to the nine district seats on the ballot, voters will pick from nine candidates vying to fill three vacant at-large seats…The Washington Post sent questionnaires to each candidate about the most pressing issues in Fairfax County and their top priorities.” [Washington Post]
Man Found Shot on I-495 in Annandale — “A man was found shot on the side of I-495 in the early morning hours Sunday, Virginia State Police say. Just after 2 a.m., officers responded to Exit 54 for Braddock Road…on I-495 North where it was reported that a man was lying on the shoulder of the road.” [FOX5]
ICYMI: Pedestrian Killed on Richmond Highway — “A pedestrian died last night (Friday) after a hit-and-run crash on Richmond Highway (Route 1) in the Woodlawn area of Mount Vernon…The driver fled the scene, possibly in a white SUV that a witness reported seeing before the crash, the FCPD said.” [FFXnow]
Restaurant Proposed for Vacant Falls Church Motel — “A new plan to revitalize the former Stratford Motor Lodge site was announced to the Falls Church Planning Commission in late September…The indoor-outdoor restaurant concept will come from the team behind Dominion Wine and Beer in Falls Church…with plans to introduce an indoor-outdoor restaurant concept.” [Patch]
County Gets Funds for Veteran Housing — “Twenty additional HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers were awarded to FCRHA, increasing the total number of local vouchers available to 183. These vouchers provide veterans experiencing homelessness with affordable housing and supportive services.” [Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority]
DoorDash Driver Concerned About FCPS Security — “A man who works full-time as a DoorDash driver says he often gets requests from Fairfax County high school students to leave orders at side doors of schools, posing security concerns and making him fear for his job…[He] said the deliveries could raise concerns, because random people should not walk around school grounds.” [NBC4]
Historic Great Falls Schoolhouse Will Get Central AC — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved the award of $15,763 in grant funding to help furnish and install central HVAC service in the Historic Forestville Schoolhouse located within Great Falls Grange Park…Lack of air conditioning has made the schoolhouse difficult to utilize between May and September as the weather warms up.” [FCPA]
Nonprofit Moves After 25 Years on Route 1 — “Good Shepherd Housing, a nonprofit focused on reducing homelessness, announced Oct. 4 the recent relocation of its headquarters from Richmond Highway to the Backlick Center South Business Park building at 8253 Backlick Road, #L in Lorton.” [On the MoVe]
Piglets Born at Frying Pan Farm — “Say hello to the newest members of the Frying Pan Farm Park family! Doris, the Hampshire Sow, delivered a litter of adorable baby piglets on Sept. 30, and they’re all cozy and snuggled up in the Kidwell Barn! Stop by and say hi this weekend, and enjoy a Campfire Wagon Ride later.” [FCPA/Facebook]
It’s Monday — The upcoming forecast indicates predominantly mild and pleasant weather conditions, with occasional rain showers expected throughout the week. Temperatures will remain comfortable, ranging from the mid 60’s to low 80’s. [Weather.gov]
The renovation and expansion of Dranesville Elementary School is slated to begin next year — despite some lingering concerns.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday (Oct. 4) to approve a nearly 44,000-square-foot addition to the school at 1515 Powells Tavern Place in Herndon.
But the vote came as some commissioners questioned the need for the scope of the expansion.
Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder, whose district includes the Herndon area, said the school’s current enrollment of around 588 students may not justify the intensity of the expansion, which would boost capacity to around 1,000 students.
“Is the school system aware of some big influx of students that will be coming to this elementary school?” Ulfelder asked, adding he was unsure why Fairfax County Public Schools was pursuing the project now when other schools have more dire capacity needs.
The school currently has the capacity to accommodate 756 students, according to the land use representative for FCPS, John McGranahan. He noted that the planned capacity boost would likely accommodate long-term enrollment.
Dranesville Elementary is about two miles north of the Town of Herndon, which anticipates significant population growth in the next 10 to 15 years.
“This is a full renovation, and the capacity enhancement, it is in the queue to be renovated,” said McGranahan, who is an attorney with Hunton Andrews Kurth.
The renovation will include modern amenities, a cafeteria, an expansion of the main corridor, new classrooms, a new library, a larger gym, a security vestibule and a relocation of the main office. The school first opened its doors to students in 1988.
“Most of the time, the school system gets criticized for buildng too little,” McGranahan added.
The renovations and additions were funded in a 2023 school board referendum and approved in the capital improvement program for 2023-2027. Construction is expected to begin next year and wrap up in 2026.
Funds to plan and design the expanded school were provided by a 2021 school bond, but the 2023 school board referendum that would fund construction needs to be approved by voters on Nov. 8.
Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said Dranesville Elementary has long been slated for renovations, based largely on decisions made by the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
“The school board and the Board of Supervisors have already acted,” Cortina said.
The project was identified in the school system’s renovation queue in 2009. It ranked 53 out of 63 projects in the queue.
The Oakton-based nonprofit that runs Northern Virginia’s suicide and crisis hotline is now offering mental health services specifically geared toward young, LGBTQ people.
PRS announced yesterday (Thursday) that it’s hiring 40 new crisis workers who have specialized training and experience to handle calls and texts from LGBTQ individuals who are 25 or younger.
The support services are part of the organization’s CrisisLink program, which operates the national, 24-hour 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for most of Virginia.
“Providing tailored crisis services will help us reach more people and connect them with safer life-saving services and resources that affirm their identities,” PRS CEO Joseph Getch said in a statement. “We now have crisis workers dedicated to this community that have additional training, lived experience, and a dedication to serving individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community. We are proud and eager to provide hope, empathy, and compassion.”
Formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 9-8-8 was established by Congress in 2020 as the nationwide phone number for accessing emergency mental health support. It officially replaced the pre-existing, 10-digit number on July 16, 2022.
The legislation required the new lifeline to have a “mechanism” where LGBTQ youth, minority and rural callers can access specialized services, because those populations are statistically at higher risk of contemplating or dying by suicide.
More than half (52%) of high school students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual or who are questioning their sexual identity reported recently experiencing poor mental health, and 45% had seriously considered suicide within the past year compared to 15% for their heterosexual peers, according to a February report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC report, which examined trends from 2011 to 2021, didn’t address gender identity, but this summer, Denmark released a first-of-its-kind study that found transgender people died by suicide at 3.5 times the rate of the rest of the country’s population.
In Virginia, 43% of LGBTQ youth, including 53% of transgender and nonbinary youth, reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. In addition, 13% of LGBTQ youth, including 17% of trans and nonbinary individuals, attempted suicide in the past year, according to state-level data collected in 2022 by The Trevor Project.
The LGBTQ youth-focused suicide prevention nonprofit attributes those trends to the rejection and discrimination those populations experience in society, especially in a year when lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills restricting their access to health care, education and other rights.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration rolled out policies in July that direct schools to identify students based on their legal sex and names, though Fairfax County Public Schools has maintained its existing policies that support transgender and gender-expansive students.
“We know these young people face stigma, discrimination, and oppression making reaching out for help and connecting to safe resources incredibly difficult and scary,” Gretch said, noting that PRS is continuing “to evolve our crisis services to meet the needs of different populations.”
Established in 1963, PRS provides therapy, peer support, housing and employment assistance and other behavioral health services, along with its CrisisLink call center, which receives 14,000 calls per month on average, including 4,500 from Northern Virginia.
According to a press release, PRS is one of only four 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline centers in the country to offer chat and texting option to LGBTQ youth in addition to calls.
The LGBTQIA+ service provides several ways to get in touch: text “Q” to 988; press 3 when prompted while calling 988; or go to 988lifeline.org/chat and check the LGBTQI+ box in the pre-chat survey. These options are designed for anyone under 25 who wants to connect with a trained crisis worker specifically focused on meeting the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults.
A Fairfax County Public School basketball coach is facing embezzlement charges.
Drew Smerdzinski, 33, of Herndon, embezzled money from a school event, the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Friday).
According to the FCPD, detectives began an investigation in July after the police department received a tip from FCPS about the possible misappropriation of funds by an employee.
Smerdzinski turned himself in yesterday (Thursday) after detectives obtained a warrant for him on Wednesday (Oct. 4). He was suspended from his position after his arrest, police said.
Smerdzinski was employed at James Madison High School in Vienna, but “the embezzlement occurred in relation to his role as a basketball coach,” an FCPD spokesperson says. He’s not listed in the school’s staff directory.
He was charged with felony embezzlement and released on an unsecured bond.
FCPS declined to comment, citing the police investigation.
