Calling all local photographers: Reston Now is looking for your photos of Reston, Herndon and Great Falls.

Whether you’re a photography pro or just love snapping pictures with your smartphone, we are always looking to include seasonal photos in our Morning Notes on weekdays or reshare pictures on our social media accounts.

To send us your photos, email us at [email protected], tag us in your photo on social media or join our Reston Now Flickr page.

You will always receive credit for the photo — either with your username or actual name.

Thank you to photographers who have already sent us photos.

This is an opinion column by Del. Ken Plum (D), who represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

The General Assembly is in the final week of its scheduled 60-day annual session–scheduled to adjourn sine die on March 7. The session has already made history with the actions that have been taken, and that history will be added to in its last week. Resolution of remaining issues will determine just how historic the session will be and how strong the forces of “we have always done it this way” are.

A majority of both the House and the Senate members agree that the minimum wage should be increased–actually should have been increased years ago. The current minimum of $7.25 is an embarrassment. But discussions continue to be held on how much the increase should be. Should there be incremental increases over time? Should increases be statewide or regional? What jobs should the increase cover?

Almost every member ran for office with a promise to clean up the environment. How should we get to a cleaner economy in the state? What should be the timeline on environmental legislation as experts advise us on the impending climate change crisis? Are consumers willing to pay more to get cleaner electricity?

How strict should background checks be for firearm transfers? A slim majority support my bill to require a background check on all firearm transfers. Others are vehement about having background checks for only firearm purchases. Should compromises be made on gun safety measures designed to reduce gun-related violence?

Should public employees be allowed to bargain with local governments on the conditions and compensation for employment? Or should they only be able to meet and discuss their wages and conditions with local governments with no power to bargain? Should all employees be required to pay dues to unions that are representing their interests?

How often should vehicles have a safety inspection? For many years the requirement was twice annually. Most recently it has been once annually. Most states have dropped the requirement. Would every other year be adequate?

With gasoline tax revenues declining as automobiles get more mileage per gallon, should the gas tax be increased to make up for the loss? Or should cars be taxed on the distance they travel in a year? And what about electric vehicles that do not burn any gas? Should we be making a greater investment in our transportation infrastructure?

Should a constitutional amendment be approved setting up an independent redistricting commission or is there another way to try make sure districts can be drawn fairly without incumbents alone picking their voters?

I have made my views public on these and other issues over the years. In a legislative session all views must be considered: urban, suburban, rural; Democratic, Republican, Socialist (there is one); conservative, moderate, liberal; etc. In most instances a compromise can be reached in conference committees such as those that are now meeting. Other issues will be put off for another year. Regardless of what happens with remaining issues, the 2020 session will go down in history as truly a remarkable one with the many tough issues that have already been resolved.

File photo

RTC West — the suburban office park formerly known as Reston Executive Center — recently built a new office building and new retail tenants.

JBG Smith, the developer, has plans on the books to add six new buildings with up to 576 apartments at the corner of Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway.

While there’s no sign of construction on the way, Reston Now readers and an inconspicuous lover of Mezzeh have noticed that the surface parking lot is often full — even on off-peak hours.

Others have also reported trouble navigating tight turns and the mix of parallel and perpendicular parking at the office park. The site also has two four-level parking garages.

A spokesperson for the company said JBG Smith has no updates to share about the project. Once built out, the project, which is opposite Reston Gateway, includes a 22-story trophy office building, two residential towers, and a one-story retail pavilion located on a common green.

JBG Smith will also build a new westbound lane on Sunset Hill Road that allows for right-hand turns into RTC West. On-road bicycle lanes to Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway are planned as well. The developer is also pitching in land for a future four-lane underpass beneath the Dulles Toll Road that would extent Town Center Parkway.

While the project is less than a quarter-mile away from the future Reston Town Center Metro Station, we’d love to hear from you on how the parking situation at RTC West is faring.

Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.

1. EXCLUSIVE: Police Launches Investigation into Lake Anne Condominium Association
2. After Disputed Lake House Purchase, Reston Association Reflects on Lessons Learned
3. UPDATED: Herndon Man Arrested for Shooting and Killing Mother
4. Reston Association Letters Threatening Legal Action Rile Boat Owners
5. Celebrity Tan France Visits ‘Purty’ Lake Anne Plaza

If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.

Photo by Brian Pittack

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. This is the last candidate profile. Featured here is Kerri Bouie, who is running against Robert Petrine for an At-Large seat with a three-year term.  

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in  Reston? What brought you here? 

My parents moved to their current home in Reston when I was 9 months old. I left to attend Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA and moved to the West Coast afterward for a couple of years. I came back to my hometown to pursue greater opportunities in my career and contribute to the community that offered me so much growing up.

What inspired you to run for the board? (Note: If you are currently on the board or have held a previous position on the board, emphasize why you are running again).

I realized that there is no representation of members in my age group or background. It is very important to me that there is a new perspective being taken into account at each turn. We do not want to get lost in the past or agendas and preferences that have already been defeated.

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

I am concerned about the perception of how development will change our community and the struggles that our members face with various review boards. We want to work to provide transparency for all of our members. Our green and open spaces are a key attraction to Reston and what separates our community from our neighbors and these features should be preserved and enhanced.

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

I hope to engage more members to actively participate in RA, giving a voice to and providing services for those in need. I want to work to advance and encourage multi-modal transportation methods including trails, bike paths and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. I would also work towards absolute proficiency by eliminating the duplication of services and enhance the DRB experience. Implementing a 10-year capital improvement program to manage RA assets would be key to these goals.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

My professional experience is paramount to my goals; I have worked with Public Art Reston to develop Chalkfest, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Reston Community Center, Fairfax County Park Authority and been involved in other community projects. As a Director at DC-based Wingate Hughes Architects, I will use my experience managing successful commercial, residential and hospitality projects for the greater good of our community.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. This is the last candidate profile. Featured here is Robert Petrine, who is running against Kerri Bouie for an At-Large seat with a three-year term.  

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

My wife and I first visited Reston in 1969 on our first trip to DC and decided then that Reston would be our home if we could ever move to the area.  We fell in love with Reston’s diversity of people, housing, income levels and its embrace of living in Nature. It seemed like a place where learning never dies.  

When a job opportunity arose, we moved to Reston in 1976 and have been here ever since.

What inspired you to run for the board?

We are in the midst of redevelopment of the TSA corridor that has changed our community forever.  Going forward we should collectively have a voice in the planning process. In my opinion, the most effective way to influence that essential work is through RA as our collective representative.  

I have been working intensely for the past 4 years with other community members to understand and communicate development that has already been approved as well as what may happen to our community in the future. Careful planning will be essential to maintain the planning principles set forth in the current PRC zoning ordinance including Reston’s founding guidelines.

My professional background enables me to advocate for improving RA’s financial reporting to members – posting monthly financial reports is not enough. Members need to be clearly and concisely informed of how money is being spent – it’s their money.  They shouldn’t have to wonder how much amenities and programs cost to run and maintain. The information exists, and members shouldn’t have to search for it. 

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

Supervisor Alcorn’s proposal to reopen Phase II of the Comprehensive Plan may provide our community an opportunity to contribute to the plan review in a meaningful way.  We must make the most of that dialogue to promote and protect the interests of RA members. 

The Board and the membership need the knowledge I have of business and financial operations to immediately address RA’s related issues.  

Reston is one of 14 cities globally that has been designated a Biophilic Community.  We as a community need to continually build upon work that is already underway to ensure that Reston is at the forefront of planning for and adapting to climate change.  

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

• Ensure that the membership understands how RA assessments are determined; that the membership is regularly informed of RA’s finances in an easily understood way; and that an effective system of internal controls is in place and operating to established policies to meet the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities to RA members
• Work to strengthen the role of the advisory committees in setting issues and priorities for RA with regular, periodic reporting of their deliberations by committee chairs or their representatives at taped RA Board meetings.
• Ensure that Reston Association members are effectively represented on the taskforce to review the Reston Master Plan.
• Promote an appreciation of and stewardship for the open space that makes Reston unique in the DC metropolitan area.
• Encourage actions, both individual and collective, that minimize climate change.  In the long run, I believe that proactive solutions will save RA members significant future costs and promote a healthier community.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

• I have professional experience in finance, strategic planning, risk management, and financial regulation: 28 years of private sector experience as an auditor, accountant, and independent management consultant as well as the chief financial officer of two banks; and 20+ years’ experience as a federal bank regulator. 
• I have served on several professional boards and civic committees including the Electronic Funds Transfer Association, the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, the Education Committee of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and Metro’s Riders Advisory Council.  
• In addition, I bring to the RA Board a commitment to community engagement.  Specifically, for years I have regularly attended meetings at RA including BOD, Fiscal Committee, MTAC, BGC and BOC as well as Nature Center events.  For five years I served as the treasurer of the Fairway Cluster, and I have testified before the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission on local land use, the PRC zoning amendment, and transportation issues.

Photo via Reston Association

This is an opinion column by Del. Ken Plum (D), who represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

In contrast to the federal government’s method of budgeting, the budget for the Commonwealth of Virginia is more than balanced. The state Constitution prohibits the borrowing of money for operations, and it requires a “rainy day fund” of reserve monies that can be drawn upon in an economic downturn. That is in part why the state has a perfect AAA bond rating giving it the best terms when monies are borrowed for capital projects.

Both the House and the Senate have completed work on their versions of the budget that was proposed by Governor Ralph Northam earlier this year. The two budgets will be reconciled in a conference committee that will resolve differences between the two. Total spending for the biennium will be about $48 billion in general funds raised through taxes. Individual and corporate income taxes provide three quarters of the revenue with sales tax providing about seventeen percent and additional smaller taxes making up the rest. General funds coming from taxes make up about 36 percent of total revenue. Non-general funds that consist of fees such as motor vehicle and gas taxes, college tuition, federal grants and other fees make up 64 percent of the budget.

Noteworthy features of the House and Senate budgets that are being reconciled and are subject to change before a final budget is adopted include a much needed increase in rates for personal care providers in Medicaid programs, an increase in developmental waiver disability slots by 1,135 in the Governor’s budget to 1,635 in the Senate version of the budget. While the increase will help, the number of persons on the waiting list still number in the thousands. The Governor and the House budgeted for 630 supportive housing slots for persons with serious mental illness while the Senate provided 1,630. Budget language provides for the establishment of a state-based exchange for health insurance.

The budgets of both houses provided for teacher raises as did the Governor’s budget. The amount differs in each with an expected three to four percent over the biennium. The ratio of counselors to students in the public schools will be improved. The Governor proposed a ratio of one counselor per 250 students. The House ratio is 325 and the Senate’s is 300. Likewise, the ratio of teachers for English learners will be improved. A major point of contention among the Governor’s and the House and Senate budgets is that only the House has proposed to restore the cost to compete funding for Northern Virginia schools because of the high cost of living in the region. The average per pupil direct aid for public school students ranges from $6,206 in the Governor’s budget to $6,297 in the House budget.

A major emphasis in the budget is an increased investment in preschool education that was championed by the First Lady. The Governor’s “Get skilled, Get a job, Give back” (G3) funding to provide tuition assistance to low- to moderate-income students who meet certain criteria is receiving significant funding. The Housing Trust Fund will receive a much-needed infusion of cash proposed in all the budgets.

File photo

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. Featured here is Mike Collins, who is running against Jennifer Sunshine Jushchuk for the apartment owners’ seat, which has a three-year term.

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in an unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

My family and I have lived here since 2008. We moved here for a job opportunity and to be near my wife’s family.  

What inspired you to run for the board? 

I served on the board from 2010 to 2013 as the North Point representative. I ran in order to serve my community and bring some civility to an environment that had become somewhat antagonistic at the time. My main priorities were serving constituents, modernizing RA operations, holding staff accountable, and engaging in development issues. I ran again in 2016 based on the same priorities. This might sound weird, but I’m running again because I actually miss working on those things! 

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

Overall, of course, the issue on everyone’s mind is development and we’re all concerned about traffic and the character of our community. A less-discussed issue is the impact gentrification could have on lower income people and the cost of living in Reston. Not everyone here is well off and, believe it or not, there is some older housing that remains very affordable. That was part of Bob Simon’s vision and we need to be vigilant about it. Second is bike/pedestrian access. Most of the paved paths in Reston were built for recreation – not commuting, shopping, etc. That needs to change as we grow. Third is the need for additional recreational facilities. Just visit Baron Cameron or any other park on a weekend! New facilities don’t necessarily have to be provided by RA, but we can advocate for them and partner with others to make them happen.  

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

First and foremost, I hope to bring a unique perspective to the board. My prior experience can provide insights on subjects RA is dealing with now – many of which have been issues for several years. Second, I hope to use the role of the apartment owners representative to help make sure RA is serving apartment dwellers. They are members too, but we don’t hear much from them at the board level. Finally, I hope to work on the revisions to the Reston Deed (our “Constitution”) particularly in the area of how we set assessments.  

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

I am a lawyer with professional experience in litigation, risk management, and regulatory compliance. I’ve also served as a legislative aide and outreach director for members of Congress, including Congressman Gerry Connolly. Most recently, I was a board member for the Fellowship  Square Foundation, which provides housing for very low-income seniors in Reston (at Lake Anne and Hunters Woods, and elsewhere in the region.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. This is the last candidate profile. Featured here is Paul Berry, who is running against Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza for an at-large seat with a one-year term.  

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

I’m in the middle stages of my professional career and a relative newcomer and Reston appealed to me as a place to live for all the amenities that let us work, live, and play in a rich, diverse community. I walk to work on a beautiful running trail and frequently elect to run my small business out of any one of the many fun cafes near my home. As a gubernatorial appointee I have the opportunity to travel all over the commonwealth, and I truly believe Reston is the template for smart growth in Virginia.

We enjoy one of the highest qualities of life of any area in the mid-Atlantic, and all that is thanks to RA members’ active participation. From the clusters on up, RA members have formed an incredible community organization that is driven by volunteers, friends, and neighbors that care deeply about shared values. I’m passionate about stewarding RA resources in a way that makes those values a reality.

What inspired you to run for the board?

I’m running for the Board of Directors because I have a desire to serve Reston the same way I am serving Virginia. I’m currently a public servant helping Governor Northam’s executive branch develop policy around Latinx healthcare, small business, and creating a welcoming, diverse commonwealth.

I’m also the son of a public-school teacher and grew up giving back to the community in the school vegetable gardens, in stream clean-ups, and visiting our friends and neighbors in retirement homes. Service is a conversation that should flow through all our neighborhoods, and I want to amplify how RA is able to reach out. If elected to the Board I will continue to pursue better strategies for stewarding our resources and adjusting that plan as clusters and districts express the need for change.

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

As the Reston Association enters the 2020’s the Board needs to embrace a long-term plan that spans our new decade. My biggest concern is the rollout of the biennial budget and making effective use of member association dues. This starts with prioritizing member feedback into what that budget does and does not try to accomplish. 

My next concern is how we are using our shared spaces. Shared spaces bring us together and create the sense of community that makes Reston special. Whether it’s the Lake Anne farmer’s market, summer camps, or the many public art installations scattered around town, it is critical to ensure that everyone who lives here can access these spaces and interact together.

Reston is the best place to live because of the unique balance of work and play opportunities always within a short distance from home. I want the Board to form a sensible trajectory for increased pedestrian and commuter traffic from the Phase II Silver line expansion. Related, the Board should be concerned with the way we design and renovate the shared spaces and neighborhoods that will undergo changes to traffic patterns from increased visitors to our community spaces, shopping centers, and restaurants.

In short, I am focused on efficiency and member communication, and want the entire Board to be mindful of where growth in expenditures is likely to happen and be clear when it is hesitant to advance projects with an unclear fiscal outcome.

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

I hope to accomplish three things if elected. First, I want to establish a way for clusters to voice concerns and give feedback on board decisions. I see the board as an ongoing opportunity for lines of communication and I want to emphasize accessibility and face-to-face meetings. This is what makes the shared concept of Reston so fantastic – we address issues collectively and in an open setting. Second, I want to develop a 2020 Data Plan for RA. As a tech industry executive, I am constantly asking myself and my team how we can innovate around what we are currently doing. The data RA possesses already provides measures of success and can illuminate where improvements need to be made.

In short, I’m proposing we apply common-sense budgeting and management principles to the overall plan for our community, but at the scale of private industry. The best part is this costs nothing but creative time amongst the board and interested members and it can lead to new ideas and resource savings.

Lastly, I want to bring onto the board a plan for regularly connecting RA with the rest of the county. Mine is an approach that gives RA the proactive ability to contribute to development plans and concepts while they are being discussed, and not after the fact. I’m very supportive of how Supervisor Alcorn has been receptive to community dialogue and it is my intention to match that with time investment from the Board perspective as much as county elected officials are open to doing so.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

I am offering my experience as a small business owner and over a decade of public and private sector experience working in tech, economic development, and public policy. Budgets and resource stewardship are my fortes – I’ve managed budgets in the millions while running statewide operations in Virginia all the way down to holding fiduciary responsibilities for neighborhood sized non-profits. No solution is one size fits all.

Prior to my current role as Director of Data Intelligence and Virginia Operations Chief I worked in geospatial city planning and city management research. This entailed studying and making recommendations for designing new urban structures and redesigning or repurposing extant buildings, roadways, and local services. I designed solutions for populations ranging from megacities to towns and villages.

I graduated from Brown University, and have two Master’s degrees from the University of Geneva and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. My academic work and theses examined how states create legal environments that facilitate business growth in open, fair playing fields for entrepreneurs, workers, and investors. Fiscal impact is not simply dollars and cents and should be measured in the ways it creates challenges and opportunities for the most important resource a community has: its members.

Photo via Reston Association

Voting in the 2020 Reston Association Board of Directors election will run from March 2 through April 3. Featured here is incumbent Caren Anton, who is running unopposed for the Hunters Wood/Dogwood District seat, which has a three-year term.

With the exception of minor formatting edits, the Q&A candidate profiles are published in an unedited form. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. 

How long have you lived in Reston? What brought you here?

I have lived in the same house in Reston since 1989.  I moved here from Burke with my then husband.  We were attracted to the beauty, cultural and economic diversity, and strong sense of community.  Having grown up in a planned community in suburban Chicago, I felt at home.  And we found we could get the most for our home-buying dollar here, with a variety of styles from which to choose.

What inspired you to run for the board?

After 20 months on the Board in many ways I feel I am just hitting my stride.  I originally applied (in 2018) and ran (in 2019) because I felt passionate about advocating for the district in which I had spent almost 30 years.  I want to continue the work I started.  (See #4).  I am also excited to continue working closely with our new CEO in his second year.

What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

As with most Restonians, I am worried about overdevelopment and insufficient infrastructure to support it and the resulting threat to our precious open space.  One of the reasons we left Burke all those years ago was traffic congestion and the amount of time it took to get from point A to point B.  Now the same thing is happening in Reston.  Another concern is lack of affordable housing, which is not just a local crisis but a national one.  The condos and apartments cropping up seemingly every week are generally quite expensive.  I am pleased that bringing more affordable housing to the Hunter Mill District is one of Supervisor Alcorn’s priorities, and I enthusiastically support his desire to convert some of our underused office park spaces into affordable housing.  Finally, our population, like our facilities, is aging.  I am concerned that, for many seniors, remaining in Reston is becoming more challenging, especially for those of limited financial means.  This goes hand in hand with my concern about affordable housing.

What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

I hope to continue to do what I can to raise the profile of Hunters Woods/Dogwood.  I was very pleased to have successfully shepherded the Board’s long-delayed approval of the construction of the Butterfly Meadow Overlook across from the Pony Barn.  And I am excited to be working with our community’s stakeholders on repurposing the ballfield behind Hunters Woods Plaza. I hope to continue on the Board Governance Committee to help complete an updated Conflict of Interest Policy and develop a Code of Ethics.  And despite the Board’s decision to eliminate the 55+ Advisory Committee (a decision I supported), I want to continue to find ways for RA to help our seniors age in place.

How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

Each Director brings his or her unique strengths and experiences to the table.  My “right brain/left brain” approach stems from my background as both an accounting and performing arts professional. In both of my careers I have learned to interact closely with a wide variety of personalities in often stressful situations.   I consider myself a keen observer of people, and I thrive on grass roots level engagement to gather information to assess the needs and expectations of the Members.  I’m a you-can-catch more-flies with-honey-than-with-vinegar type of person, and I believe making any gains towards problem solving will require healthy, civil interaction with my fellow Board members, the Association’s executives, the staff, and the County.

Photo via Reston Association

Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.

1. The Future Halley Rise Development Will ‘Go Green’
2. Northern Italian Steakhouse Coming to Reston Station in 2022
3. Now Open: Super Chicken at the VY at Reston Heights
4. Photos: Reston House Fire Displaces Five
5. Photos: Development with Future Wegmans, Self-Driving Cars Moves Forward

If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.

Staff photo by Super Chicken

Yes, we’re at it again.

Earlier this month, we asked our readers if they’ve noticed more airplane noise in the area. Most of you told us that you have but the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t have an explanation. They say that there have been no changes in flight paths or altitudes in the last year.

During the course of the request for reader feedback, a number of you told us that you’ve noticed more airplane noise in the last few months, especially in South Reston.

While it’s normal to hear sporadic increases in helicopter noise due to police activity or checks by Dominion Energy, there’s a chance there could be more going on.

We’d love to hear more from you on this issue. Let us know what you think in the poll below and feel free to submit what you’re experiencing by emailing [email protected].

Please include a general description of where you live, when and if you started noticing changes, and if you can spot any details about the helicopter.

Photo via FCPD

This is an opinion column by Del. Ken Plum (D), who represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

A tradition in the House of Delegates that has come about in recent years is to have a speech at the beginning of each daily session during February about a Black person. Some speeches are about well-known historic figures; most are about lesser-known Black persons who have made contributions to their communities and to the state. After all, the point of Black History Month is to have all of us gain a greater knowledge and appreciation of Black persons’ contributions to our history. The Legislative Black Caucus organizes the event, and I am pleased to have been invited to speak each year at one of the daily sessions. This year I spoke about the late Gwen Ifill of PBS NewsHour and Washington Week in Review who was the first Black woman to become a national news commentator. I always appreciated receiving the daily news from her in her calm and professional manner. Not all speeches are about historic figures; one delegate spoke this year about his experiences of growing up Black.

I predict that in future years a speech will be made on the floor of the House of Delegates about the 2020 Virginia General Assembly being a transformative event in Black history. Black experience accounts for a major portion of the story in a state that unfortunately has been known for centuries for its racist policies. The first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia in 1619, and the slave codes that were enacted to keep them subjected as slaves were inhumane.

When the tobacco fields were no longer productive, Virginia’s chief source of income became the selling of slaves into the deep South. Even the freeing of the slaves with the Civil War did not bring equal rights to Virginia’s Black population. Slave codes were replaced by Jim Crow laws. Voting by Blacks was restricted. Their separate schools and other accommodations were not equal.

Supreme Court decisions and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 brought about changes that started Black people on the way to greater freedom. A successful lawsuit against gerrymandering in the state along with greater voter participation brought about a record number of Black candidates being elected to the General Assembly. Black legislators took on greater roles of responsibility in the 2020 session of the legislature.

The first Black woman was elected Majority Leader of the House of Delegates, and the first Black woman was elected President of the State Senate. While there had been a few Black committee chairs over the years in the House of Delegates, half of the fourteen committee chairs are now Black. Vestiges of Jim Crow laws that remained in the Code even though they had been over-turned by the courts are being stripped away. Localities are being given permission to deal with Confederate monuments that were the symbols of Jim Crowism.

Laws that were unevenly applied to Black persons are being amended or repealed. Black cemeteries are being cared for as the Confederate cemeteries were for many years. A commission is going to look at the teaching of Black history in our schools to ensure that it tells the whole story. Major strides are being made in this month of Black history!

File photo

Metro is seeking feedback on its proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

The proposal includes expanded service hours and fare increases during peak service hours. Some suggestions under consideration include:

• Metro will close at midnight Monday through Thursday and stay open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday
• Metrobus customers who pay or load their SmarTrip card with cash will pay $0.25 more per trip
• A flat fare on weekends that will be “simple” and “easy-to-remember,” according to Metro
• Elimination of low-ridership routes for Metrobus

Metro users can complete an online survey and provide comments. Open houses are also planned in Arlington, New Carrollton, and the District.

The proposed budget is available online.

Staff photo by Jay Westcott