Tag: government services
Residents of Annandale’s ‘opportunity neighborhoods’ work on action plans
ON-Annandale community organizer Nayely Lopez surveys residents of Fairmont Gardens. [FACETS] The biggest concerns among residents of Annandale’s Opportunity Neighborhoods are security and safety; children’s issues; and apartment issues. That’s the chief finding of a survey conducted by volunteers with FACETS, the nonprofit organization coordinating the ON-Annandale initiative.
New rules for special collection of bulk trash
As of July 1, Fairfax County has changed its rules for special pickups of bulk items. Free special pickups will be limited to two cubic yards – or a collection of materials six feet long by three feet wide by three feet high.
Fairfax County dashboard tracks evictions by locality
Fairfax County’s new Evictions Dashboard shows there were 31 writs of eviction issued in Annandale from June, 30, 2020, through June 14, 2021. Alexandria had the most with 159, followed by Falls Church (73), McLean (59), Fairfax (54), Herndon (49), Springfield (37), Vienna (34), Reston (32), and Centreville (31). The number for Annandale aligns … Continued
Solar energy discounts available in Fairfax County
Solar energy in Annandale. The Solarize NOVA program is offering Fairfax County residents discounts on installing solar energy systems through June 30. The program, operating with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), gives homeowners and business owners access to a pre-qualified solar installer, Solar Energy World, for a no-cost evaluation of their property.
Take a survey on the Fairfax County Strategic Plan
Fairfax County is again collecting feedback from residents on the proposed Countywide Strategic Plan. A survey is available through April 15 in several languages.
Residents air concerns on taxes at Mason District Budget Town Hall
The Fairfax County Government Center The biggest issue Mason District residents brought to the virtual Town Hall meeting March 15 hosted by Supervisor Penny Gross is the increase in real estate assessments. The advertised budget for fiscal year 2022, approved by the Board of Supervisors March 9, would maintain the current tax rate of $1.15 … Continued
Lumber not landfills: Use urban wood instead of throwing it away
A conference table in Harrisonburg is made from an ash tree reclaimed by the city government’s urban wood program. [WHSV] By Marie Reinsdorf “We envision a future where every tree has a use at the end of its life – a level of use that honors its existence.” – vision statement from the Virginia Urban … Continued
Fairfax County plans to install solar panels on government buildings
The Mason Government Center. Fairfax County is proposing a plan to install solar panels at 22 public buildings. The Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing March 9 on a proposal to lease county-owned property to Sigora Solar LLC for the installation, operation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation.
Draft county budget would cut real estate tax rate
The Fairfax County Government Center Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill is proposing a 1-cent decrease in the residential real estate tax for fiscal year 2022. That would help offset a big increase in real estate value over the past year, Hill told the Board of Supervisors in his presentation on an advertised budget Feb. 23.
Fairfax County addresses confusion on vaccine registration
Now that the Virginia Department of Health has put out a statewide COVID-19 vaccination registration system, there have been a lot of questions about why Fairfax County isn’t participating in it. The Fairfax County Department of Health launched its own Vaccine Registration and Data Dashboard and Registration Status Checker last week.
Opinion: Park Authority funding priorities address community needs
The following opinion piece, by William G. Bouie, chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, was submitted in response to Jan. 19 article by Marie Reinsdorf raising concerns about the board’s decision-making focus on revenue generation. We live in an age when relying on solid facts is more critical than ever. Just part of the … Continued
Opinion: How the Park Authority’s increasing focus on parks-as-a-business is bad for us
The pool at the Oak Marr RECenter has a beach area and hot tub. By Marie Reinsdorf A friend returned from a swim at Oak Marr RECenter recently and proclaimed: “It’s big, beautiful! Compare it to Providence. Where Audrey Moore is the Chevy, Oak Marr is the Cadillac.” Well, I told her, that is by … Continued
Park bonds: The public needs good reporting
This chart is from a Park Authority brochure on the 2020 park bond. By Marie Reinsdorf A few weeks ago I wrote about my experience looking into bond fund expenditures at the John & Margaret White Gardens. I decided to write more about park themes and issues. In this piece, I take a quick look … Continued
CDC imposes eviction moratorium
An eviction protest in July in Alexandria. [Janet Barnett/Connection] Northern Virginia residents worried about paying rent could be helped by a federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order issued Sept. 3 to temporarily halt evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. That order is critical, as a moratorium on evictions authorized by the … Continued
Fairfax County property taxes due Friday
The Fairfax County Government Center [Keith Pham] Fairfax County property taxes are due Friday, Aug. 28. That’s a month later than usual, as the Board of Supervisors approved a one-month delay to accommodate people facing hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The board also reduced the late fees for taxes. For 2020 only, the penalty for … Continued