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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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| Did You Know? |
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The world's first
Apple store
opened on
May 19, 2001
in
Tysons.
..
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| Stay Connected |
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Email
Website
Office
(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Greetings,
A tree grows in Colchester that is called "The Giving Tree."
Not all readers may know of Colchester, but if you had lived in colonial times, you would have been familiar with this bustling  port town, founded in 1753, that once rivaled Alexandria. Tobacco was Colchester's main export. The town included homes, a tavern, shops, commercial establishments and even a vineyard.
A ferry was established at the time to connect travelers from Dumfries (another thriving tobacco port) to the "Potomac Path" in Colchester on the opposite side of the Occoquan. The Potomac Path, later known as Kings Highway, continued into Alexandria.
In 1798 a toll bridge was built in Colchester and operated for a few years before being washed away in a heavy rainstorm in 1807. It was not rebuilt. The once deep ports in both Dumfries and Colchester by this time were silting in. Eventually, a devastating fire delivered the final coup de grace to Colchester in 1815. Very little remains today of this spunky little pioneer town.
 The Giving Tree received its name from archeologists, professionals and volunteers, who are helping to unearth evidence of the early town of Colchester. A tree near the display center is known to occasionally proffer up artifacts, mostly pieces of broken china and glassware. I'm not a geologist, but I imagine the offerings are the result of a combination of erosion with subtle settling movements in the earth over what must have been a colonial trash pit.
Thanks to voters who approved the acquisition, the Fairfax County Park Authority now owns approximately 144 acres of the area that was once Colchester. Visitors can watch as remnants of this historic location are carefully excavated. cartarchaeology.wordpress.com.
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 It was around the same time Colchester was at its heyday that George Washington helped to settle a fierce dispute between Maryland and Virginia over water rights. The Potomac River had been included within Maryland's boundaries. Virginia petitioned for the right to use the waters of the Potomac. An agreement was eventually reached between the two states via the Mount Vernon Compact of 1785. The compact acknowledged that while the Potomac River was under Maryland's sole jurisdiction, it was a common waterway "for use by Virginia as well", including fishing rights and "cooperation on defense and cases of piracy."
This foundational agreement was discovered and brought to the table 200 years later by my former Water Authority representative (an ardent history lover), Paul Andino, when another Maryland vs Virginia dispute arose over a request for Fairfax County to be able to draw clean water from the middle of the Potomac, rather than from the muddy shore. In October 2003 the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Fairfax County Water Authority on our right to extend an intake into the Potomac.
I recently learned that Paul Andino has passed away. He was a dear friend and will be missed. His loss brought to mind the importance of history. What a legacy. Thanks to Paul (and a great many others who fought that fight) children well into our future will have clean refreshing water to drink when they turn on the tap in Fairfax County.
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 Last week, I thought of Colchester when breaking ground for a levee in Huntington. Construction of the levee was approved by the voters in a bond referendum in 2012 and will help protect residents from the severe flooding that has damaged homes and flooded streets over the past decades.
Transportation; Clean water; Environmental Protection; Public Safety; Regional Disputes and Agreements. All of those things that were relevant during the early days of our country remain relevant today. What will our legacy be?
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This week our Board of Supervisors will hear from over 200 speakers during three days of public hearings on the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget. When we adopt a budget, we are investing in our community's priorities. It is important to have the community at the table with us when we are making these decisions. Information about the budget can be found within this edition of the Byline, including an update on the Community Services Board (CSB) and new federal policies that are changing eligibility for some services.
The Advertised Budget will be "marked up" (amended) by the Board of Supervisors on the 25th of April beginning at 10 a.m. You can watch this, as well as the preceding Budget Committee Pre-Mark-up Workshop on April 21st at 1 p.m., on Cable Channel 16 or by going to fairfaxcounty.gov/cable.
See also in this Byline information about Fairfax County's 275th Anniversary. The highlight of this anniversary year will occur on June 17th on the grounds of the historic Old Fairfax Court House. The Courthouse is one of the oldest buildings in Fairfax, constructed in 1799. It served for many years as Fairfax County's seat of government. During this celebration we will be joined by Lord Fairfax himself, Nicholas Fairfax, the 14th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.
Lots going on, and lots to be part of. Thanks so much for your interest in Fairfax County and for staying informed by reading this Byline. You can get even more up-to-date County news by following me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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| How Our Budget is Built |
Today is the last day of budget public hearings on the FY2018 Fairfax County Budget. We have heard a lot of great testimonies from residents and individuals representing various nonprofits, businesses and organizations throughout the county. Thank you for engaging in the most important component of local government - building a budget. I recently partnered with Fairfax County's Channel 16 to make a short video about our budget process. I hope you find it helpful. The next step in this year's process occurs on April 21 when the Board of Supervisors meets for a pre-budget markup committee meeting to discuss potential changes to the County Executive's Advertised Budget. You can watch that meeting on Cable Channel 16 or live streamed at fairfaxcounty.gov/cable. Take a look at our budget timeline for what comes after that!
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| How Our Budget is Built in Fairfax County |
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| Diversity and Inclusion in Fairfax County |
Fairfax County is a welcoming and accepting community where residents of all backgrounds deserve to feel respected and safe. It is important that we, as local leaders, speak out when our constituents are concerned regarding policies or practices that may affect them. We are a safe, diverse and caring community, and if that harmony is threatened, I believe we have a duty to speak out and clearly articulate our values. That is why on Tuesday, April 4, the Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the following resolution:
Whereas
, Fairfax County is and will continue to be a County that exemplifies values of respect and acceptance;
Whereas
, we welcome and celebrate one another's differences and cultural backgrounds;
Whereas,
while immigration is a federal matter, Fairfax County does partner with federal authorities on serious criminal matters when required;
Whereas,
we do not ask, nor do we have the resources for, our police officers to become immigration officials, nor for Fairfax County to assume the responsibilities of federal immigration officials;
Whereas,
Fairfax County Police successfully engage in community policing, which requires the trust of residents who are not afraid to call law enforcement if their safety is at risk, or to report information that may help to solve a crime;
Whereas
, it is the responsibility of our police officers to ensure the safety of Fairfax County residents through community policing rather than through immigration enforcement;
Whereas
, Fairfax County Public Schools complies with the federally mandated requirements that we educate all children, regardless of immigration status;
Whereas
, the School Board is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all children in our public school system and Fairfax County Public Schools values the richly diverse backgrounds of our students and families;
Whereas
, Fairfax County's diversity makes our community strong and vibrant, and we are proud of what every resident has to offer;
Therefore, be it resolved
that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors does hereby affirm our strong commitment to maintaining a community culture that values and celebrates the similarities as well as the differences among our neighbors.
Fairfax County's Communities of Trust Committee will host a Town Hall this Saturday, April 8 called
Know Your Rights. Police Chief Roessler and I will be speaking on the panel, along with other leaders in our community. I hope you will spread the word and come by the Government Center for this important discussion regarding immigration and the roles of various public safety agencies on the local and federal levels:
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| Homelessness Decreased by 47% Since 2008 in Fairfax-Falls Church |
On the night of January 25, 2017 there were 964 people who were literally homeless in the Fairfax-Falls Church community. This represents a 9 percent reduction from the number counted in January 2016, or 95 less people. The overall reduction continues to demonstrate the success of the strategies implemented the past 9 years. The total decrease in the homeless population from 2008 to 2017 is 47 percent, which represents 871 less people homeless on one night in January 2017 than there were on one night in January 2008. During that time period there was a decline in numbers throughout the homeless system, including in families, children in families, adults in families, single adults, people experiencing chronic homelessness, and families experiencing domestic violence. More information.
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| Employment and Day Services for Adults with Disabilities |
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Visiting Wildflour Bakery in Chantilly with CSB Executive Director, Tisha Deegan |
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) provides and coordinates a system of community-based supports for individuals and families of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church who have developmental disabilities, serious emotional disturbance (youth), mental illness and/or substance use disorders. As a result of the DOJ settlement agreement, the CSB is now legally required to provide equitable services for both people with developmental disabilities (DD) and people with intellectual disabilities (ID).
Historically, the CSB has provided these locally funded, non-mandated employment and day services for people only with ID. With many more individuals now eligible for these services, it is an unfortunate truth that it has become financially unsustainable for the CSB to continue to provide the same degree of services to many more people. Fortunately, the CSB has reserves available to make sure 2017 graduates will have funding for employment and day services, but after that, the funding model will most likely need to undergo changes. The CSB has a proposal for a new funding model, which is explained here. If you have any additional comments, ideas or suggestions for how Fairfax County can move forward with providing employment and day services for adults with both intellectual and developmental disabilities, please email me at [email protected] or call my office at 703-324-2321. I welcome your participation and engagement in this important issue that impacts many individuals and families in our community.
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| Working to Prevent Gang-Related Crime |
Gang activity in Fairfax County is not a new. I was the Braddock District Supervisor when gang activity began to emerge in 2003 and 2004. I organized a community dialog/task force that focused on how to address this emerging issue. Both the task force and law enforcement officials who participated in this effort concluded that the key to stemming the growth of gang activity was in prevention and intervention. Providing wholesome activities to young people who otherwise could be considered prime targets for recruitment into gangs proved to be a major deterrent. As a result of implementing these strategies, gang activity subsided during the following years.
Recently, there has been an uptick in gang activity. The Fairfax County Police Department estimates there are currently about 3,000 people associated with over 70 gangs in Fairfax County. All of these gangs are not known for the kind of violent activity attributed to MS 13. The Fairfax County Police Department's Gang Investigation's Unit, with assistance from the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, works to track and prevent gang-related crime in our area.
It's important to note that gangs are actively recruiting new members, even in middle school. Gangs include members of all races and genders and manipulate vulnerable teenagers into joining by promising a sense of family, protection, financial gain and belonging. If a teen wants to leave the gang, the penalty can be severe. It is important we explain the reality of gangs to our kids and help spread the word about who to contact if help is needed:
Gang Prevention Resources:
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| Go Solar at Your Home or Business |
 For a limited time, residents and businesses can get discounted prices on solar panels through
Solarize Fairfax County
. Like a Groupon for solar, this program offers one-time, low prices with companies chosen through competitive bids.
Fairfax County is partnering with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and nonprofit Local Energy Assistance Program to offer this program. S
olarize Fairfax County runs from April 18 through June 30. To get started saving on your electric bill:
Believe it or not, Northern Virginia gets almost as much sun as Miami. Enter your address in the
Northern Virginia Solar Map
to get an estimate on how much solar energy you could generate from your roof. To get a more accurate evaluation,
sign up
for the free assessment from a certified professional.
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| Fairfax County Named Tree City USA |
 The Arbor Day Foundation awarded Fairfax County with the Tree City USA Award for the 33rd year in a row in 2016. This national recognition acknowledges the county's well managed and well maintained urban forest and reflects our commitment to sustaining our tree canopy for future generations. Fairfax County also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and higher level of tree care! Trees provide so many benefits to our community, and we should never take their presence for granted. They improve neighborhood aesthetics, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, provide stormwater runoff protection, and help keep our air clean and breathable! The Board of Supervisors adopted a 30 year goal to increase our tree cover to 45% by 2037, and we have already met that goal. Trees are a vital natural asset that require protection, planning and care. I am proud our county continues to be recognized for our unremitting work in this area.
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| Grass Getting Too Tall? |
 While we love tall trees, grass just doesn't work the same way! Chapter 119 of the Virginia State Code regulates grass height, which may not be taller than 12 inches on any occupied or vacant property on less than half an acre of land. You can always give Fairfax County's Department of Code Compliance a heads up regarding excessive grass height. They'll come by the property and get it figured out. More information is available at fairfaxcounty.gov/code/flyers/grass-height.pdf.
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| Bring Your Family to SpringFest on April 29! |
Clean Fairfax will host its annual Earth and Arbor Day celebration, SpringFest, on Saturday April 29 from 10 AM to 4 PM. This year, SpringFest will be held at The Sully Historic Site in Chantilly. Come enjoy the vendors, exhibitors, food trucks, pony rides, environmental crafts and a whole lot more. There is no better place than SpringFest to learn about and participate in environmental awareness, which helps ensure that Fairfax County continues to be a place that is green, clean and sustainable for all. Free admission!
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| 275th Anniversary Lecture Series and Events |
We have a fantastic line up for our 275th Fairfax County Anniversary Celebration Lecture Series and Events. The lecture series covers a wide variety of topics and is free to attend. Please register through EventBrite to reserve your seat. Also, mark your calendar for June 17 for Fairfax County's History Fair on the grounds of the Fairfax County Courthouse!
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| Seeking Summer Interns |
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Internship Applications Due April 24, 2017 |
Do you know a motivated college student with an interest in local government and public service? I am looking for interns who can work alongside my office staff full time or part time this summer!
Interns help us a great deal with answering phones, drafting letters and articles, researching issue areas, and assisting with various administrative tasks. This is a great opportunity for students to experience the inner workings of local government and network with County staff. Interested applicants may send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with subject "Internship Application." More information is available at
fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman/internships.htm.
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