A pedestrian was killed after being run over by a fire engine near the Reston Glade Apartments early this morning (Monday).
A medical unit with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched to Glade Drive at Dosnia Court near Dogwood Elementary School for a medical emergency around 2:19 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
Around the same time, Fairfax County police officers were dispatched to Dogwood Elementary School for a “suspicious person” after a caller reported an apparently unconscious woman on the ground.
At 2:24 a.m., a responder told the dispatcher that the “patient’s in the road, run over by engine 31. Appears to be DOA.”
A police officer said at 2:30 a.m. that the road would need to be shut down.
“The fire truck actually struck this individual,” the officer said.
Detectives with the FCPD’s Crash Reconstruction Unit were sent to the scene of what it described as a “fatal pedestrian crash involving @ffxfirerescue,” the department tweeted shortly after 4 a.m.
Glade Drive was closed for over an hour between Laurel Glade Drive and Rosedown Drive.
The roadway is open. Follow our blog for future updates. https://t.co/YUigMm3yDx
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 8, 2023
Fox Mill Road Closed for Stormwater Pipe Replacement — Fox Mill Road (Route 665) will be closed to through traffic between Waples Mill Road and Vale Road from “Monday, May 8 through Wednesday, May 10 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day…Traffic will not be able to go beyond the point of pipe replacement (near 3283 Fox Mill Road, adjacent to Lake Edge Way) in either direction.” [VDOT]
Motorcyclist Killed in Route 1 Crash — “Around 5:40 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Fairfax County Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 1 and Birch Crest Way in Lorton, Virginia. Police say the driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead. Their identity has not yet been revealed.” [WUSA9]
Metro’s Yellow Line Resumes Service — Service across the Potomac River returned to Metro’s Yellow Line yesterday “following an eight-month rehabilitation project to repair the deteriorating 1970’s tunnel and bridge. The reopening, announced last month, will provide a faster, more direct connection for customers between Virginia and downtown D.C.” [Inside NoVA]
Campaign Website Draws Warning of Legal Action — “A representative of Democrat Chap Petersen’s campaign sent a cease and desist letter to Saddam Azlan Salim, his opponent in the District 37 race for the Virginia Senate.” The letter argued that Salim’s campaign is infringing on domain and trademark rights by attempting to register websites referring to Petersen, which it says may mislead voters. [Patch]
Suspect in December Shooting Incidents Arrested — “On May 4, 2023 City of Fairfax Police arrested a subject in connection with two shootings that occurred on Fairfax Boulevard between Fairchester Drive and Lion Run on December 8, 2022.” In one incident, a driver sustained “minor injuries,” and in another, an occupied vehicle about two miles away was struck, but the lone occupant wasn’t injured. [City of Fairfax]
Clifton Townhouse Fire Causes $155,000 in Damages — “On Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 8:53 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched for a reported townhouse fire in the 13500 block of Canada Goose Court.” Three people were displaced by the fire, which investigators determined was started by “improperly discarded smoking materials.” [FCFRD]
Community Garden Under Construction in Lorton — “Work is steadily progressing on the development of the new community garden at the former Nike Missile Site in Lorton. Contractors are building a total of 19 garden plots with three raised beds each at the 1.4-acre site, which is located at Laurel Hill Park.” The garden is expected to be finished and open this summer. [On the MoVe]
Tysons Theater Announces New Season — “1st Stage has announced its 2023-2024 season, which will begin with the Logan Festival of Solo Performance from July 13 to 23, 2023.” Shows will include the Tony-nominated “The Nance” and an adaptation of Chaim Potok’s novel “The Chosen,” the theater’s second time adapting Potok’s work after the first one in 2016 became “the most successful production in 1st Stage’s history.” [DC Theater Arts]
It’s Monday — Passing showers. Overcast. Mild. High of 66 and low of 53. Sunrise at 6:02 am and sunset at 8:07 pm. [Weather.gov]
Reston Museum will take a deep dive into the history behind street names, Reston’s transportation system and the road to accessibility at a special event on May 10.
Called “This Way to Reston,” the program will kick off at 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne. Although the program is free, registration is required. Programming is supported in part by RCC.
Presenters will include museum board member Caren Anton, a museum board member; Mike McDermott, chair of Reston Association’s Multimodal Transportation Advisory Committee; and Colin Mills, project director of the Reston Accessibility Committee.
Reston Museum Executive Director Alexandra Campbell noted that transportation has played a major role in Reston’s history, influencing the community’s master plan in 1962, community volunteerism, and the area’s live, work, and play philosophy.
“We look forward to sharing historical photographs of this history and learning from Mr. McDermott and Mr. Mills on the Reston modes of transportation today,” Campbell wrote in a statement.
The event comes as Reston’s master plan undergoes a major revision. Fairfax County is expected to release a staff report of its recommendations on a draft master plan update sometime this month.
Early voting for the 2023 Democratic primary begins today (Friday) in Fairfax County with a number of notable races on the ballot.
Three locations in the county will open this morning for early in-person voting on weekdays through June 17.
Those include the Fairfax County Government Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as the Mount Vernon Government Center and North County Governmental Center, both open from 1-7 p.m.
Voting will also be available on two Saturdays — June 10 and 17 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three locations.
Starting June 10, 12 government centers and libraries will be open for in-person voting from 1-7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those two Saturdays (June 10 and 17) as well:
- Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road)
- Centreville Regional Library (14200 St. Germain Drive)
- Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road)
- Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike)
- Herndon-Fortnightly Library (768 Center Street)
- Lorton Community Center (9520 Richmond Highway)
- Mason Governmental Center (6507 Columbia Pike)
- McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road)
- Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive)
- Sully Governmental Center (4900 Stonecroft Blvd)
- Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd)
- Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike)
- West Springfield Governmental Center (6140 Rolling Road)
There are also ballot dropboxes at the Fairfax County Governmental Center for those who requested an absentee ballot by mail. One box is inside the complex, and one is outside near the handicapped parking spaces.
Curbside voting will be available for residents who are 65 and older or have a physical disability.
The ballot
Perhaps the most hotly contested race on the primary ballot is for Fairfax County commonwealth’s attorney, with incumbent Steve Descano facing a challenge from prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Ed Nuttall.
In a recent radio talk, Descano accused Nuttall of associating with “MAGA, antisemitic conspiracy theorists,” while Nuttall retorted by calling Descano a “liar” and “incompetent.”
While both are running as Democrats, they have shared differing positions, methods, and visions for the office. No Republican challenger for the seat has emerged.
The Democratic nomination for county sheriff is also up for grabs between incumbent Stacey Kincaid and Herndon High School football coach (and former D.C. police officer) Kelvin Garcia. Kincaid was the county’s first female sheriff when she took office a decade ago. Garcia is positioning himself as a more progressive option.
Elsewhere in local races, all Board of Supervisors seats are up for election in November, but only two incumbents are on the primary ballot: Chairman Jeff McKay, who has been challenged by retired CIA staffer Lisa Downing, and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, who is facing off with Maritza Zermeño.
Other contests feature newcomers seeking to challenge or succeed incumbents:
- Dranesville District — With John Foust retiring, the candidates are Jimmy Bierman, former chair of the Dranesville District Democratic Committee, and David Fiske, a McLean Citizens Association board member
- Mason District — Four candidates are vying to replace retiring Penny Gross, including Planning Commissioner Andres Jimenez, Rep. Don Beyer staffer Jeremy Allen, Steve Lee, and Reid Voss.
- Springfield District — Albert Vega and John Nowadly are vying in the primary to take on incumbent Pat Herrity, the only Republican on the board
The Fairfax County School Board isn’t on this primary ballot since candidates must run as independents. However, today is the last day to register to participate in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee endorsement caucus. This is the first time the FCDC is opening the process up to all registered voters.
On the state side, every seat in the Virginia General Assembly is up for election this year. The impacts of redistricting and a number of veteran lawmakers not running again have set the stage for a unique year in terms of open seats.
- House District 7 — Four candidates look to fill the seat long held by the retiring Ken Plum, including at-large school board member Karen Keys-Gamarra, Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth and Mary Barthelson
- House District 15 — Springfield District school board representative Laura Jane Cohen, software company founder Eric Schmidt and teacher Dr. Henri’ Thompson
- House District 19 — Woodbridge residents Rozia “J.R.” Henson, Mayka Little, and Natalie Shorter. While most of the district lies in Prince William County, about 38% of it is in Fairfax County.
- Senate District 33 — Former lieutenant governor candidate Hala Ayala is facing off against former gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carrol Foy in a high-profile race
- Senate District 35 — State Sen. Dave Marsden and nonprofit worker Heidi Drauschak compete to succeed the retiring Dick Saslaw
- Senate District 36 — Sully District School Board Representative Stella Pekarsky is challenging incumbent George Barker
- Senate District 37 — The primary pits “old-fashioned” incumbent Chap Petersen against “progressive” challenger Saddam Azlan Salim
The Democratic primary will be held June 20, when dozens of polling places will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ZMOD Recommended by Planning Commission Again — After being struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court, Fairfax County’s zoning code overhaul got the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support on Wednesday (May 3), even as “dozens of residents” voiced “the same complaints raised the first time” it was proposed. Concerns included allowances for data centers and accessory living units. [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Introduces Solar-Powered Port-a-Potties — “Now open in Old Town Square and Van Dyck Park, Throne bathrooms bring the feeling of an indoor bathroom out into the parks. Thrones are ADA-accessible, are run by solar-power, have no touch entry and exit, changing tables, no touch flush, and running water!” [Fairfax City Parks and Recreation/Facebook]
Hybla Valley Is Getting a New Tex-Mex Restaurant — “A new Tex-Mex restaurant is coming to the former El Pollo Primero location in Hybla Valley. El Fresco, a fast-casual grill featuring ‘real fresh Mexican food,’ currently has locations in Chantilly and Centreville, and plans to expand in the near future to Sterling and Alexandria.” [On the MoVe]
John Legend Weighs in on County Prosecutor Race — “I’m excited to announce the endorsement of singer, songwriter, and philanthropist, John Legend. John’s activism has led him to work on justice reform in America. I’m proud to receive his support. Here’s the robocall he just released for my re-election.” [Steve Descano/Twitter]
Vienna Nonprofit Advocates for Memorial to Journalists — The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation has been approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to begin designing a “first-of-its-kind memorial honoring journalists who’ve lost their lives while covering the news.” In 2020, Congress authorized the memorial to be built with private funds on federal land in D.C. [Washingtonian]
Franconia Splash Pad Ranked No. 2 in Country — “The Park Authority’s Our Special Harbor spray ground was just named the No. 2 splash pad in the nation in the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards…After four weeks of voting, Our Special Harbor came in second in the nationwide people’s choice selection. The popular water feature is set to open the 2023 season on Saturday, May 27.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Reston Couple Gains Fans With Dinner Party Prep — “Every time Andy Hoyle posts photos of the dinner parties he hosts with his wife, Noelle Sharbaugh, on the Northern Virginia Foodies Facebook page, the 126,000-member group goes wild…The tablescapes, designed by Sharbaugh, are luscious and Pinterest-y…[Hoyle’s] elaborate, multicourse menus look professionally plated.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Free Lyft Rides Available for Cinco De Mayo — “The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) will activate its SoberRide initiative for the Cinco de Mayo holiday…In collaboration with Lyft, those who may have had too much to drink during the holiday will be able to receive a free ride home (up to $15 value) from May 5 at 4 p.m. to May 6 at 4 a.m.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Friday — Cloudy. Mild. High of 69 and low of 51. Sunrise at 6:06 am and sunset at 8:04 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new sign plan aimed at creating uniformity in Herndon’s Worldgate Centre has been put on hold.
At a work session public hearing before the town’s Architectural Review Board last night (Wednesday), town staff indicated that the property owner intends to withdraw the plan because of the town’s efforts to adopt Uniform Sign Standards.
“The applicant’s agent has indicated their intention to withdraw this application given the adoption of the Uniform Sign Standards, however, a formal withdrawal has not been received at this time,” Tamsin Homes, a lead planner with the town, said in a May 3 memo.
The owners of Worldgate Centre submitted an application in March to create additional design criteria with a new master sign plan.
“The applicant proposes to amend the current master sign plan to accurately reflect the location and size of existing tenant spaces within the shopping center and provide updates sign area allocations for each respective tenant in accordance with each tenant space,” the application said.
In a Feb. 22 memo, the applicant stated that the plan allows the center to get revamped and refreshed signage that will “ultimately improve and enhance the quality of this prominent shopping area in the Town of Herndon.”
A formal withdrawal request has not yet been made.
Image via Google Maps
A survey mostly taken by respondents who contacted the Fairfax County Police Department showed high levels of positive community sentiment for the department.
The survey — conducted as part of a nine-month pilot program to engage the community and find information on how the community feels about the agency — kicked off in late May last year through Axon’s My90 program.
The program sent text messages to people who reached out to the agency to request specific types of services.
“My90 is one of many tools we use to engage with our community, better understand how the public feels about interactions with our department, and build trust,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said. “Since deploying My90, we have collected thousands of responses from all over Fairfax County and have the opportunity to review the valuable feedback we gain from community members we have just served.”
It’s unclear how the method of pooling survey respondents skewed the results.
Most respondents contacted FCPD to report a crime, accident or concerns — suggesting some level of comfort with contacting the FCPD. As a result, roughly 45% of the interactions were with a dispatcher and 41% were with a police officer. The remaining 9% were with animal control.
“There is no way for us to tell if the results are skewed or not,” an FCPD spokesperson told FFXnow when asked how the survey method may have skewed results.
The spokesperson added that the police department did issue an open call for the survey last May.
Traffic offenses (22%) and theft of personal property (18%) were flagged as the top concerns in the community. Violent physical attacks was the top safety concern for roughly 15% of respondents, although 26% wrote “other” as the top safety concern.
When asked what FCPD should do to improve safety in the community, nearly half of respondents (48%) said they wanted to see increased patrol visibility.
Other improvements ranked relatively low in the community, including increasing the number of officers (14%), increased community engagement (13%), increased information sharing (9%) and other (14%).
More than 70% of respondents said they were treated with respect, treated fairly and felt safe contacting FCPD based on their interaction with the police department.
Respondents were predominantly white — 63% — followed by Asian American (10%) and African American (9%). Respondents also skewed older, with 36% between the ages of 46 and 60 and 27% over 61. The gender mix was roughly equally distributed.
Based on their recent interactions, 68% of respondents said their view of FCPD was very positive and 76% said they received the help they needed.
A major project to improve the accessibility of Van Buren Street in Herndon is officially complete.
Known as a “complete streets project” in transportation jargon, the project widened Van Buren Street along a one-half mile stretch from Old Spring Street to Herndon Parkway.
Complete streets is an approach to designing streets that supports safety and access for all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
In addition to widening travel lanes to 11 feet, the project added curb-and-gutter and bicycle lanes in each direction. Other upgrades include the addition of 5-foot-wide sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic signals at Alabama Drive. Overhead utility poles were also relocated and stormwater management facilities upgraded.
Construction on the project started in the spring of 2022.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting late last month, Town Manager Bill Ashton II said the project was substantially complete.
“We have had the contractors out there making some corrections to some elements that we found were deficient to the design,” Ashton said.
He also noted that the project has been in the works for years.
“This is a project that has probably been ten years plus in the making,” he said.
Democratic Candidates to Replace Ken Plum Sound Off — “Four Democrats running to represent Reston in the Virginia House of Delegates squared off Tuesday night during a candidate forum at the Reston Community Center — Lake Anne.” Topics ranged from education funding to protections for the LGBTQ community. [Patch]
Arrest for Armed Robbery and Carjacking in Penn Daw — “A 19-year-old Woodbridge man has been arrested and is facing several charges after robbing one person and carjacking another late Monday night, officers said. Officers with the Fairfax County Police Department say just before midnight they responded to Furman Lane, off of South Kings Highway…after a report of a robbery.” [WUSA9]
Grocery Store Lidl Has Opened in Chantilly — “I’m excited about Lidl opening their newest store in Chantilly. This is a great addition for the community &with the approval of more residential units in the area Lidl will provide options for the residents. I was pleased to work with Lidl and welcome them to the Sully District” [Kathy Smith/Twitter]
Springfield Auto Dealerships Seek Split — “Safford Automotive’s Hyundai and Genesis brands are separating in Springfield. The two operations, currently located under one roof on Loisdale Road,” are seeking Fairfax County’s approval to move the Genesis dealership to a parking lot east of the existing building. [Washington Business Journal]
McLean Wealth Manager Raises Big Bucks from Google — “Wealth management startup Range said Wednesday it has raised a $12 million Series A round led by Palo Alto, California’s Gradient Ventures, Google’s AI-focused venture fund. Range said it will use the funding to grow its product and engineering teams” [WBJ]
Reston CEO Tests EV With Cross-Country Trip — “Robert Barrosa, VP of technology at Electrify America, will become president and CEO of the company on June 1. From March 31 to April 6, Barrosa traveled almost 2,800 miles in a Hyundai IONIQ 5. He drove from Los Angeles to Electrify America’s HQ in Reston, Virginia. He stopped at 28 Electrify America charging stations in 13 states.” [Electrek]
Dominion Energy Proposal Criticized — Stating that “renewables alone aren’t expected to meet” projected future demand for electricity, Dominion Energy Virginia has filed a plan that could “keep most of its existing power stations online for decades” and add “small natural gas and nuclear units.” The filing “was quickly met with criticism from environmental groups and other clean-energy advocates.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Habitat for Humanity Builds Homes in Groveton — “Three neighboring homes being built in Groveton by Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia (Habitat DC-NOVA) are about 80% complete and will be ready for move-in by summer, according to staff members from the nonprofit.” The houses are the chapter’s largest to date and the first placed in a trust committed to keeping them affordable for future owners. [On the MoVe]
Native Plants for Sale in Vienna This Saturday — “The Spring Native Plant Sale, hosted by the town’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission, will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. It’s also the first weekend of the Vienna Farmers Market, which runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon in the Vienna Community Center parking lot.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Afternoon clouds. Cool. High of 62 and low of 43. Sunrise at 6:07 am and sunset at 8:03 pm. [Weather.gov]
The influx of federal money that has helped buoy Fairfax County Public Schools and other school systems around the U.S. as they emerged from the first year of the Covid pandemic is starting to run out.
Facing a September 2024 deadline, FCPS officials presented a plan to the school board last Thursday (April 27) for spending approximately $57.5 million remaining from the $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) awarded by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021.
The biggest item in the plan is $22.2 million to extend contracts for special education teachers that compensate them for an additional 30 minutes of work per day, which FCPS says “is imperative” to attracting and retaining those faculty members.
“Our special education students were some of the students most impacted during the pandemic, and as a result, our special education teacher workload has significantly increased as they work very hard to meet the needs of those students,” FCPS Chief Academic Officer Sloan Presidio told the school board.
FCPS has 27,839 students with disabilities, who make up 15.5% of its enrollment, state data says. Based on data from before the pandemic, a report released last fall found significant disparities in test scores and discipline between those students and their peers not in special education.
In December, a U.S. Department of Education investigation determined that FCPS had failed to provide adequate support to special education students when it shifted to virtual learning early in the pandemic.
The proposed ESSER plan includes nearly $200,000 for compensatory services that FCPS is required to provide under its agreement with the DOE. The funds cover staffing as well as legal fees needed to reimburse for parents “for external educational costs incurred by them due to the pandemic-related school closures.”
When at-large school board member Abrar Omeish asked whether it was appropriate to use the funds on “trying to clean something up,” Presidio said the DOE confirmed it’s “an allowable expense” to address learning losses — one of four categories covered by ESSER.
While the spending plan mostly focuses on existing expenses, like a school health officer and the return of an expanded summer learning program, FCPS has proposed two new “projects”: $1.2 million to upgrade its website, and $250,000 to contract outside agencies that will work with chronically absent students.
About 15% of FCPS students missed 10% of school days or more during the 2021-2022 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
“Essentially, we’re identifying individuals that can connect with the student and connect with the family, understand the root causes of why that student is not able to attend school,” Presidio said. “It might be a health issue, it might be a transportation issue, it might be a work issue and a scheduling issue, and really help try to resolve those for the student and family as best as possible.”
He said counselors, teachers, social services and other school workers will stay involved, but the chronic absenteeism provider will have more capacity for the “labor-intensive” task of working with individual families.
“We need somebody who’s able to actually do those home visits and really coordinate and kind of case manage the services for the student and to be able to spend time with the family and student to understand what those root causes are,” he said.
Some school board members expressed concern about the amount of ESSER funds going to staff positions, from social workers to academic tutors, given that the money will run out after the 2023-2024 school year.
Presidio noted that some positions previously covered by ESSER have been phased out, like social distancing monitors, while other expenses, like additional English as a Second Language workers, have been incorporated into FCPS’ regular budget.
However, he acknowledged that in many cases, decisions will need to be made about “can we afford to retain any of these positions or do we lose them all.”
The proposed ESSER budget for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1, is scheduled to be approved by the school board on May 11. FCPS then hopes to get the VDOE’s approval by May 31.
A Metro train-inspired restaurant in the Town of Herndon has officially gone off the rails.
Mellow Mushroom, a restaurant that serves handcrafted pizzas and wings, has permanently closed its Herndon location at 1030 Elden Street, according to signage posted at the restaurant’s door.
Although the company did not respond to a request for comment from FFXnow, signage at the door encourages customers to “keep on shroomin’” by visiting a nearby location.
“Thank you for your support, and we look forward to serving you at another Mellow Mushroom location soon,” the sign reads.
Mellow Mushroom customers can still get their fix at a location in Chantilly, along with others throughout the country. Virginia has locations in Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Henrico, Richmond, Midlothian, Williamsburg, Newport News, Lynchburg, Virginia Beach, and Roanoke.
The Town of Vienna is slated to get a franchise as part of the upcoming 444 Maple Avenue development, though vertical construction on the project hasn’t begun.
There’s no official word yet on what will replace the business.
With over $110 million in unallocated funds to work with, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors moved yesterday (Tuesday) to address employee compensation, tax relief and other priorities.
As approved by the board 9-1, nearly all of that available money will go toward reducing the real estate tax rate by 1.5 cents and fully funding salary market rate adjustments for county employees — items totaling $47 million and $54.9 million, respectively.
Other revisions to the county’s advertised budget for fiscal year 2024 include support for bamboo removal on park land, additional staffing for the 24-hour domestic violence hotline, and the creation of a self-help legal center in the Fairfax County Courthouse.
“The adjustments I’ve outlined here show a true balance between tax relief, investing in county employees, standing up and fighting for our school system, and also making sure that the core services that have made this county…are supported in this budget,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said when introducing the mark-up package.
The budget proposal that County Executive Bryan Hill presented in February kept the county’s real estate tax rate flat at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, but with the average residential bill calculated to increase by about $520, board members indicated that they would look for ways to cut the rate.
With yesterday’s vote, the board agreed to adopt a rate of $1.095 per $100 of value, which will lower the average increase to $412.
Herrity proposes cuts to schools budget
Several supervisors expressed disappointment at not being able to make a bigger cut. Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross stated she had hoped for a 3-cent reduction, and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity proposed an “alternative” budget that he said would take five cents off.
The reduction would’ve been achieved by cutting $100 million from the county’s funding for Fairfax County Public Schools and putting $31 million for affordable housing on hold, among other cuts, according to a plan Herrity shared at a pre-mark-up session on Friday (April 28).
After FCPS told the board in a memo that Herrity’s proposal would “most definitely” prevent the school system from fully covering worker salary increases, he revised the proposal yesterday to suggest cutting $31 million from schools, taking one additional cent off the tax rate.
“I’m all for giving schools all the resources they need to address the challenges of the pandemic and challenges of our kids, but the spending needs to be done in a responsible way,” Herrity said.
Other supervisors blasted Herrity’s proposal as “budgeting by ambush” and “completely out-of-touch.” McKay noted that any reduction in salary increases for teachers would mean losing state money contingent on average raises of at least 2.5% for instructional positions in FY 2024, which begins July 1.
“The Herrity budget proposal doesn’t cut waste,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said. “I think you were trying to find waste. Instead of waste, you found teacher salaries and textbooks. It’s not cutting fat from the FCPS budget, it’s cutting into the bone.”
Support for FCPS constitutes 52% of Hill’s proposed $5.1 billion budget, which includes a $144 million increase for the school system compared to last year.
County workers get boosts in pay
Aside from Herrity, who voted against the mark-up package, the supervisors argued that the 1.5-cent reduction struck a good balance between providing tax relief — which also includes assessing 90% of personal property taxes for this year — and funding county workers and services.
After Hill initially proposed only covering a 2% market scale adjustment for all county employees, the package passed yesterday will fund the full 5.44% recommended by staff. Leaders of SEIU Virginia 512 and the Fairfax Workers Coalition, which both represent county workers, praised the change, while calling for a more stable approach to pay.
“We need to provide a consistent, sustainable and equitable process of compensation that eliminates the annual anxiety that all workers feel when wondering if the County is going to fulfill its commitment to employees,” the FWC said in a statement. “We’re hopeful this helps stem the loss of quality workers to other employers. We look forward to building a fair system together.”
Next year’s budget is expected to be the county’s first in 46 years where pay for many employees will be determined by a contract. According to McKay, the board could approve collective bargaining agreements this December, though general county government employees have yet to hold elections.
Fire department employees became the first to elect a bargaining unit last fall. In January, workers in the Fairfax County Police Department elected the Southern States Police Benevolent Association to represent them in the bargaining process, which is now underway, SSPBA Executive Director Sean McGowan confirmed.
“We know lasting change and true pay fairness will only come with a contract. That is our goal and we won’t stop until we get it,” SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax County President Tammie Wondong said.
Other compensation adjustments focus on public safety workers, including over $10.2 million to give uniformed police officers a 5% raise and increase police starting salaries by 5%. On average, current officers will see pay increases of 12.8% — in line with what Herrity had proposed — as the county hopes to address recruitment and retention challenges.
The FY 2024 budget will be formally adopted next Tuesday (May 9).
Troubled trash company Haulin’ Trash has closed its bankruptcy case, leaving thousands of Fairfax County residents unable to get refunds for missed or delayed services.
Back in December, the trash collecting company Haulin’ Trash permanently shuttered after missing a series of collections due to staff shortages and “financial difficulties.” The company had operated in the county for about a year and served approximately 3,000 customers.
To help those residents, Fairfax County temporarily waived landfill disposal fees for former Haulin’ Trash customers.
Fairfax County received more than 300 complaints about the company during its one year of operation, including 147 to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) and 188 to the Department of Cable and Consumer Services (DCCS), per officials.
In March, the company officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The case was closed early last month, with the company not having enough funds to provide refunds or credits to customers.
“On April 5, 2023, the bankruptcy trustee issued a report of No Distribution-No Funds, and the case was closed on April 6, 2023. No credits or refunds will be issued to affected residents/customers,” DPWES spokesperson Sharon North wrote FFXnow. “To date, Haulin’ Trash has not been responsive to the consumer complaints sent from the County. Because the bankruptcy case is now closed, Fairfax County Consumer Affairs is unable to mediate further.”
DPWES does have a list on its website of other providers for impacted residents.
Haulin’ Trash’s demise came as the county grappled with trash troubles that date back to at least 2019 but worsened during the pandemic. About 90% of residents and businesses are served by private collection companies like Haulin’ Trash.
Complaints against American Disposal Services led to the county asking the Virginia General Assembly for more authority to rework its solid waste management model.
Last fall, DWPES had American Disposal enter into a consent agreement that asked the company to hire more drivers and customer service personnel, increase salaries, and credit customers for missed pick-ups. It also imposed a $5,000 fine on the company.
Since that time, customer complaints against American Disposal have significantly decreased, the county says.
“American Disposal Service has met the requirements of the 2022 Consent Agreement,” North wrote. “Complaints for haulers which operate in Fairfax County are currently at satisfactory levels.”
Only four complaints have been made to DCCS about American Disposal since the beginning of the year, per a spokesperson from the agency.
Despite short-term service problems appearing to be resolved, the county is still looking to make big chances to its solid waste management model.
“DPWES staff are in the process of scoping a major revision to our solid waste management plan to meet state and board directives,” North said. “During this time we will look at alternative options for waste management.”
Barnes & Noble has revealed when its next chapter will open in The Spectrum at Reston Town Center.
The bookstore chain plans to host a grand opening on June 14, the company announced yesterday (Tuesday) in an Instagram reel.
The reel described the opening date as “tentative.”
“Mark your calendars because we’re going to have so much fun!” the post reads.
The bookstore takes space at 11816 Spectrum Center previously vacated by Office Depot. Barnes & Noble previously had a store at The Spectrum that closed in 2013.
The shopping center will also soon welcome Whole Foods Market, which plans to relocate from its current spot at Plaza America.
Photo via Barnes & Noble/Instagram
Police Release Video of Fairfax County Parkway Crash — “Heart-stopping police dash-camera footage shows an out-of-control car spin across a median and hit a stopped car and an officer making a traffic stop in Fairfax County… 17-year-old driver going ‘well over 120 mph’ in a 2018 BMW M3 caused the crash, Chief Kevin Davis said.” [NBC4]
Vienna Councilmember Won’t Seek Reelection — “Steve Potter, who has served on the Council for two terms, said on May 1 he would not be joining the fray in the November election.” The first council member to announce his intentions, he cited health challenges from “living with the effects of diabetes and esophageal cancer and…undergoing immuno-therapy for leukemia.” [Gazette Leader]
Auditor Supports Police Investigation on Chantilly Shooting — “The report from auditor Richard Schott said officers in the shooting of Robert Jablonski, 50, in front of his parents’ Chantilly house January 4, 2022, were acting on a reasonable belief that they were in danger, given that Jablonski was pointing a loaded compound bow at them.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fairfax Task Force Looks at Homelessness — “A task force established to assess the impact of homelessness within Fairfax City and develop strategies to address the issue met for the first time Monday night at city hall.” Some members held listening sessions in April where residents shared their concerns. [Patch]
Franconia School Gets New Principal — “Darin Thompson has been named principal of Hayfield Secondary School effective July 5, according to the leadership team from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Region 3. Thompson replaces Martin Grimm who departed Hayfield for a position in Prince William County Public Schools just before the start of the 2022-2023 academic year.” [On the MoVe]
Youngkin Still Open to Presidential Run — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin “was asked Monday at a conference where he was speaking in California if he would be ‘getting out on the presidential campaign trail’ in 2023.” His reply of “no” was interpreted by some as an announcement that he won’t seek the presidency, but his team now says he “hasn’t publicly ruled out a presidential campaign in 2024.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Dominion Energy Seeks to Reduce Rates — “Dominion Energy is asking the State Corporation Commission to approve plans to reduce customer bills starting this summer in response to legislation that passed during the 2023 General Assembly session…If approved, Dominion estimates each measure would reduce the average residential monthly bill by about $7” [Virginia Mercury]
HUD Shouts out County Housing Program — “Emergency Housing Voucher Success Stories highlights the personal journeys and success stories of two Fairfax County residents who are receiving federal rental assistance through Emergency Housing Vouchers. The story describes the importance of partnerships…as well as the perseverance of the residents.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Wednesday — Overcast. Cool. High of 61 and low of 45. Sunrise at 6:08 am and sunset at 8:02 pm. [Weather.gov]
