Tag: state government
Ralph Northam reaches out to veterans
Ralph Northam meets with veterans and service members. The upcoming elections have “tremendous implications,” said Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who’s running for governor. “The direction the country is going – toward bigotry and hatred – is not the country I know.” The immigration ban is harming people who risked their lives abroad while working … Continued
State legislative action presented at Town Hall
Del. Kaye Kory and Sen. Dave Marsden speak at a Town Hall meeting on state legislation. Actions at the federal level are grabbing the headlines but the Virginia General Assembly has been making important decisions with widespread implications for state residents. State lawmakers representing the Annandale/Mason District area—Sen. Dave Marsden, Del. Kaye Kory, and Sen. … Continued
Lawmakers, residents call for more regulations on short-term rentals
Panelists discuss the Airbnb law (from the left): Mason Hills Citizens Association President Mike Rioux, code compliance official Elizabeth Perry, zoning administrator Leslie Johnson, Del. Kaye Kory, and Sen. Dick Saslaw, Local residents who attended a meeting on short-term rentals Oct. 5 raised concerns about homeowners filling up their homes with transients, leading to declining … Continued
Community meeting scheduled on short-term rentals
This guest bedroom in Annandale is available on Airbnb for $50 a night. Local residents are invited to attend a meeting on the growth of short-term lodging/rentals, such as Airbnb, in local neighborhoods. The meeting, hosted by the Mason District Council of Community Associations, is Oct. 5, 7-9 p.m., at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, 3333 Sleepy … Continued
Crackdown on out-of-state cars yields more tax revenue
This car was parked at an Annandale apartment complex. Fairfax County is encouraging residents to report online cars with out-of-state license plates that are habitually parked in their neighborhood This effort is part of Operation Target, a program started a year ago by the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) to catch potential tax evaders and … Continued
Lawsuit charges Virginia’s ‘habitual drunkard’ law is unconstitutional
Virginia’s “habitual drunkard” statute violates the commonwealth’s constitution by criminalizing the consumption of alcohol by homeless alcoholics, charges a class action lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Justice Center and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. The complaint, filed in federal court earlier this month, asserts that commonwealth’s attorneys offices have used the Interdiction … Continued
Free legal clinic for veterans March 4 in Annandale
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is sponsoring a free legal clinic for veterans at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College on March 4. The clinic is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Building CA, Conference Room III, 8333 Little River Turnpike. Veterans and their partners who need help with wills, powers of attorney, advanced medical … Continued
Virginia adopts Rapid Pass on-road vehicle emissions testing
The Rapid Pass system uses instruments in the green boxes on either side of the ramp to test vehicles’ emissions. A new automated vehicle emissions inspection system in place means you no longer have wait in line at a service station. Instead, you drive through an on-road portable Rapid Pass testing location and you don’t … Continued
State lawmakers vow to work for women’s health issues
Del. Kaye Kory and state Sen. Barbara Favola speak at a NARAL fundraiser. Advocates for women’s health are urging the Virginia General Assembly to enact legislation that supports women’s access to birth control, abortions, and equitable healthcare and reject anti-choice measures, like bills to defund Planned Parenthood. “Women should be in charge of women,” said … Continued
ABC applications withdrawn for local Starbucks
The Starbucks coffee shops at Barcroft Plaza and Bradlick shopping centers won’t be selling beer and wine after all. The Starbucks corporate office had initially identified those cafes for conversion to the Starbucks Evenings concept, which adds beer, wine, and more food options to the menu. Starbucks has withdrawn application for liquor licenses to Virginia … Continued
Sen. Marsden’s Report: The refugee crisis
By Sen. Dave Marsden While it does not fall within the realm of my responsibilities to deal with refugees from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, it is a matter of great concern to the people in the Virginia’s 37th Senate District. There has been a great amount of thoughtful concern as well as … Continued
Residents blast DMV for relocating facility to Barcroft Plaza
Among DMV officials at a community meeting at Belvedere Elementary School were (left to right): Facilities Director Justin Thomas, Deputy Commissioner David Mitchell, and Special Advisor to the Commissioner Matt Wells. A huge amount of anger and frustration were expressed at a community meeting Dec. 3 hosted by the Mason District Council about a Department … Continued
DMV coming to Barcroft Plaza
The long-empty storefront on the northern end of the Barcroft Plaza shopping center on Columbia Pike is finally getting a tenant – a Department of Motor Vehicles center. The DMV at 4150 S. Four Mile Run Drive in Arlington is losing its lease, so that center is being relocated to Barcroft Plaza, which is only … Continued
General Assembly candidates speak at minority chambers’ forum
Candidates running for office in Northern Virginia. There were more candidates than spectators at the Third Annual Multicultural Chambers Candidate Forum Oct. 4 at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale. There were so many candidates, in fact, that each one was given about 30 seconds to speak. The event was sponsored by the Virginia Hispanic … Continued
Absentee voting under way: Here’s what you need to know
Election Day, Nov. 3, is six weeks away, but absentee voting is already under way. Since this is an “off-year,” without presidential candidates on the ballot, voter turnout will likely be low – so those who do vote can make a big difference. The main event for Mason District residents is the race for supervisor, … Continued