14 Candidates Seek Six Seats in Historic Democratic Primary
Voters to determine if they like recent direction of city or not.
Are voters pleased with the direction of the city? Or are they looking for a new set of leaders? That will be the central question for the Democratic primary on June 12, when voters will select six candidates that will appear as the party’s slate for City Council in the November election.
Registrar Expects Six Times as Many Voters in Primary Compared to Caucus
Traditional firehouse caucus had 2,000 voters; citywide primary could draw as many as 12,000.
Alexandria Registrar Tom Parkins is forecasting a 12 percent to 15 percent turnout for the June 12 Democratic primary, which would mean about 9,600 to 12,000 voters are expected to show up at the city's precincts on Election Day.
Virginia Supreme Court Sends Wales Alley Case Back to Alexandria
Key issue still unresolved: Does city have authority to deprive use of alley to Boat Club?
The Virginia Supreme Court has overturned a decision from the Alexandria Circuit Court about the use of a public alley in Old Town, but the case is not over ye
Prom Night at T.C. Williams
T.C. Williams High School held its Prom on Saturday, May 19, at the Waterford Springfield.
Bulletin Board for May 24
To have a notice listed, e-mail gazette@connectionnewspapers.com gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Calendar for May 24
E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Column: Taylor Run News
MacARTHUR STARS The MacArthur Environmental Club won a prize of $100 at the Alexandria Earth Day celebration by its presentation of a song and clothes on the theme of recycling. The prize will be used for improvements to MacArthur School.
Spotlight on Child Safety
Upon becoming aware of "National Missing Children's Day," Margo Chisholm who heads Child Services in the Alexandria Public Library became its advocate in the City of Alexandria. Educational materials were shared throughout the City's schools, libraries and law enforcement offices.†The success of her efforts will be on display at the Beatley Central Library this coming Friday, May 25, throughout the afternoon.
Redskins Owner Backs Child Safety
Snyder’s commitment extends to locally-based center.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a mixed private-government organization headquartered in Alexandria, has the enthusiastic support of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
Unleashed Creativity
Local artists test new material at Artomatic 2012
On Friday, May 18, an immense display of synchronized drumbeats and vibrant rhythms performed by Batala Washington hailed the grand opening of Artomatic 2012.
Letter: Where’s Data For New Trolley?
To the Editor: It’s time to take a closer look at the proposed free Del Ray trolley service to determine whether it’s politics or data-centric analysis that is driving this $700,000 project.
Letter: Stop Ignoring The Obvious
To the Editor: Last Friday night, the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) voted 6-1 to ask the city to provide them with independent legal counsel as they face the city's high priced legal team in court. The city government, led astray again by the City attorney, Mr. James Banks, is determined to fight both the citizens on the BZA and the citizens who correctly filed the petition which challenged city zoning actions on the waterfront. This is worth reviewing.
Letter: Bike Share Now Needs City Money
To the Editor: On May 14, I met with the other members of the Waterfront Commission. The city’s new bike share program headlined the docket. It seems that last October the City Council voted unanimously to authorize Alexandria to join the regional Capital Bike Share Network. Rich Baier’s pilot program was to be jump started using some $400,000 of federal grant funds so we wouldn’t ever have to pay anything. However, now we find out that on April 13, 2012 the Federal Highway Administration announced that federal funds could not be used for operating expenses associated with bike share programs. Therefore, the city intends to use $186,000 out of its Transportation Improvement budget to fund bike share’s operating expenses through Fiscal Year 2013. The actual cost of the bikes is $411,000 which is funded with two other grants. This latest information was not shared with the Waterfront Commission or anyone else for that matter until the Council Docket for May 22 was published. This total lack of transparency pales the imagination.
Letter: Best for Alexandria
To the Editor: I have been following with interest some of the letters and blogs about the various PACs that have been formed to endorse candidates for the June 12 Democratic primary for City Council (Disclosure: I am part of one of those PAC’s, Securing Alexandria’s Future). The genesis of these groups is the unprecedented nature of the election: (1) This is the first time in modern history that the general election will not be in May, but in November, which coincides with the presidential election and very high voter turnout; (2) It is the first time in my recollection that the contest to decide who become the Democratic nominees is being determined by a State-run primary, rather than a party-run caucus; (3) There has never been a contest for the Democratic nomination in which 14 qualified candidates have vied for six places on the ballot; and (4) The outcome of the Democratic primary will be highly determinative of who is likely to be serving on the next City Council (that is not a partisan comment, but it is one based on the political reality of the Alexandria electorate).
Letter: Add to City Greenery
To the Editor: There are many sites in Alexandria, especially in Old Town, which could benefit from the Congressional legislation urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act. It couldn't come at a better time. There's a new sense of urgency to develop urban/suburban greenery, from pocket parks to miles-long green ways. This is a renewal of the 19th C. movement called "lungs of the City."
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