Column: New Funds for the 36th
Commentary
The last week of the 2016 General Assembly session brought a flurry of activity on some of our most difficult bills, along with approval of a state budget. In this column, I will detail highlights in the final budget affecting our area. Next week, I will report on other important budget items. In the near future, I will cover some of the more important legislation that we considered and the fight over the state Supreme Court. I will also let you know about my eight bills the Governor has signed or are awaiting his signature.
Column: Some Final Thoughts on the Budget
Commentary
The General Assembly has adjourned sine die, from the Latin “without day,” meaning without assigning a next day for this session. However, we will meet again on April 20 for the reconvene session where we will spend a day voting on whether or not to sustain the Governor’s vetoes. We can expect at least 20 vetoes, which is a good thing since some of the bills we passed deserve no less.
Alexandria Letter: A Too Tall Proposal
Letter to the Editor
On Wednesday, March 9, a neighborhood association meeting was held at the Durant Center for the purpose of listening to representatives from MHF Properties V LLC an affiliate of Magna Hospitality. A representative from planning and zoning also attended. There were approximately 22 members of our neighborhood also in attendance.
Alexandria Letter: Correcting The Record
Letter to the Editor
Ellen Tabb’s coverage [Letter, “Careful about History,” page 14] of the Feb. 8 hearing of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names was indeed right on.
Alexandria Letter: A Tale of Three Tickets
Letter to the Editor
My recent experience with the city’s parking bureaucracy has confirmed that city government has failed to make the most basic review of its system and rushed gluttonously into proposing to raise taxes and spend $1.1 million on parking enforcement.
Alexandria Letter: Doesn’t Fit Neighborhood
Letter to the Editor
Today I am writing to you with a major concern for our neighborhood.
Column: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
... of the 2016 General Assembly session.
The Virginia General Assembly finished its work for the 2016 legislative session a day early and adjourned a “long” 60-day session where we made progress on many issues but fought bitterly on several others. Because the improving economy has led to increased revenue collections, we were able to invest in critical areas and make a sizable deposit to our Rainy Day Fund without increasing taxes.
Commentary: A Circus Show
The purpose of the legislative session is serious business and not entertainment like the circus. There are times, however, that it may be difficult to tell the difference.
Ironically Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus moved into the Richmond Coliseum for its annual stand at the same time last week that a few blocks away the General Assembly concluded its annual meeting and members packed up and went home.
Centreville Letter: Everyone’s Job
Letter to the Editor
I am a Boy Scout from unit 1826 and I am writing to express my opinion on an article I have recently read [“State of the Station,” March 2]. You wrote that the Sully district is a safe place to live.
Column: End of Session Report
Commentary
The 2016 General Assembly session concluded in Richmond on Friday evening. We will reconvene for a single day session on April 20 to consider any vetoes or amendments proposed by Governor McAuliffe.
Arlington Letter: Support Clean Power
Letter to the Editor
In Sen. Adam Ebbin's recent commentary on the General Assembly session (“Governor’s First Vetoes and Ongoing Supreme Court Battle,” March 9), he concluded that Governor McAuliffe was right to veto legislation (SB21) that attacked the state's implementation of the Clean Power Plan.
Editorial: Homelessness on Its Way Out in Fairfax
Homelessness should be rare, brief and non-recurring; 776 fewer homeless individuals in 2016 than in 2008.
Homelessness is down in Fairfax County in every major category, a fact confirmed on Jan. 28, 2016, the annual Point in Time Count.
Arlington Column: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
... of the 2016 General Assembly session.
The Virginia General Assembly finished its work for the 2016 legislative session a day early and adjourned a “long” 60-day session where we made progress on many issues but fought bitterly on several others. Because the improving economy has led to increased revenue collections, we were able to invest in critical areas and make a sizable deposit to our Rainy Day Fund without increasing taxes.
Column: General Assembly Agrees on Budget
Commentary
The past week has been a busy one in the General Assembly as the House of Delegates passed the 2016-2018 biennial state budget. The Senate also passed a similar budget. During the next two weeks, differences between these two budgets, which are relatively minor, will be negotiated to form a consensus budget that will be forwarded to the governor. The new budget will take effect July 1.
Chantilly Letter: Program on True Islam
Letter to the Editor
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will be holding a program to introduce the True Islam and the Extremists campaign in the Virginia area on Friday, March 11, at 6:30-8 p.m. at the Mubarak Mosque, 4555 Ahmadiyya Drive, Chantilly.