May 22, 2024

At Tuesday’s meeting, I was the only Board member to oppose a motion to consider a meals tax between 1 and 6 percent. The motion asked for information on “revenue diversification” with a specific look at a meals tax implementation to come back to the Board at a September Budget Committee meeting.

Residents of Fairfax County have already soundly rejected a meals tax in referendums in 1992 and 2016, with 58 percent and 56 percent opposed respectively. The Board should be listening to our residents. Due to significant public opposition from residents and local businesses, I opposed the proposed meals tax in 2016 and voted against the proposal Tuesday. Unfortunately, a change in state law in 2020 allows Fairfax County to enact a meals tax without a referendum.

I am against a meals tax because:

• It is a single-industry tax that the restaurant industry does not support.
• It disproportionately affects low-income residents.
• The Board has a spending problem, not a revenue problem as demonstrated by how the County budget continues to grow significantly year after year.

My colleagues insulted the intelligence of our residents when they said that this motion is purely an “information item,” when the item will include consideration of an implementation strategy.

Only two weeks ago, the Board approved an increase in the average homeowners’ taxes of 6 percent. This is on top of a 56 percent increase over the last 10 years. At the same time, they refused to consider my proposal to take a deep dive into the entire County budget, bringing in outside budget experts to help identify future savings and efficiencies. While our County budget staff have exceptional expertise, they cannot make the same recommendations as an outside expert because staff are beholden to the Board’s interests. 

Board Ignores Residents on Franconia Housing Project

The Board approved 8-1-1 (I opposed, Supervisor Alcorn abstained) the conveyance of the Franconia Government Center property to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority to build government subsidized housing units on county land. I opposed this project because it received significant public opposition, including 9 HOA/civic groups/coalitions representing thousands of residents. The public feedback specifically criticized the lack of community engagement and the other immediate community needs that could be addressed with this land. The Board continues to give away our limited County land to developers for government subsidized housing when the community has other needs, including an opioid and mental health treatment facilities for youth and adults, parks and recreation facilities, fire stations, community centers, and more. These projects could be funded with the millions of dollars in ARPA federal funds that the County received, but instead the Board has focused those excess funds on government subsidized housing units. There are better ways to solve the problem of housing affordability (see my April newsletter).

Free Concerts at Burke Lake Park

In partnership with the Fairfax County Park Foundation, I’m excited to announce my 6th annual Free Concerts in the Park Series this summer at Springfield District’s nationally ranked Burke Lake Park! Mark your calendars for 7PM every Wednesday night from June 26th to August 21st at Burke Lake Park for an incredible line-up of bands, food trucks, 2 Silos beer, and Peterson’s Ice Cream. The atmosphere is informal, so bring a picnic blanket, lawn chairs, and relax with friends and family. See the full concert and food trucks line-up below.

June 26

Randy Thompson Band

Food truck: Empanadas de Mendoza

July 3

The Nighthawks

Food truck: Roaming Coyote

July 10

Speidel, Goodrich,Goggin & Lille

Food truck: DC Slides

July 17

The Magic Trio

Food truck: Babu-Ji

July 24

The Skip Castro Band

Food trucks: DC Slides & Empanadas de Mendoza

July 31

The English Channel

Food trucks: DC Slides & Babu-Ji

August 7

The Road Ducks

Food trucks: Babu-Ji & Empanadas de Mendoza

August 14

SoHo Down

Food truck: Roaming Coyote

August 21

Riptide

Food truck: Roaming Coyote

Many thanks to our sponsors including: Transurban, Dominion Energy, Sheehy, NOVEC, Interstate, West Springfield Car Care, Great American Restaurants, Glory Days, Pulte Homes, McGuire Woods,TD Bank, Wegmans, Hello Garage, PNC and RZ Foundation. This 9-show concert series is free because of their generous contributions. I look forward to seeing you this summer! 

Springfield District Community Champion – Isabella Solano

We recognized Fairfax County’s amazing volunteers during the Volunteer Services Awards. This year, the Springfield District Community Champion is Isabella Solano, founder of the nonprofit Herralink.

Isabella discovered that 60% of retirement homes residents nationwide don't have visitors. This motivated her to start her non-profit to connect an underserved population with high schoolers looking for service hours. She has partnered with four retirement homes: the Dulles, Gainesville, and Potomac Falls Health & Rehab Centers, as well as Hunter Woods Fellowship House. She organized several events from short one-hour gatherings including craft making, game sessions, karaoke, and more, as well as one large community event each month. These larger events have included a Halloween event with a bouncy house, balloon animals, face painting, and a magician, and a Thanksgiving event where she recreated Cox farms and brought farm animals like a baby cow, baby horse, chickens, goats, and pigs to the retirement home. She also coordinated with service dogs to ensure bed-bound residents weren’t excluded. Her latest community event was a masquerade ball at the Jim Scott community center, which attracted over 200 people!



Thank you, Isabella, for your incredible work and we wish you continued success at Northern Virginia Community College.

Bike to Work Day

We had many cyclists drop by our pit stop on May 17th, including students, teachers, parents, and county employees. Thank you to regional organizers, FCDOT, VDOT, Rats Cycles, Trek, Duck Donuts, Starbucks, and all sponsors for helping make this a success!

Battle of the Badges

Great turnout for the FCPD vs. FCFD charity hockey game today to support the mental health and wellness of our first responders. Congrats to FCPD on their 5 to 1 victory and for their 2-1 lead in the series.

West Springfield Kinder Care

I recognized the West Springfield Kinder Care team during Teacher Appreciation Week for all they do for our children. This Kinder Care team was also recognized for their work during the recent shooting there. Fortunately, the two victims’ wounds were not life-threatening, and they are recovering. 

Child Care Provider

I presented a Board proclamation recognizing May 10th as National Child Care Provider Day to the staff at Infant Toddler Family Day Care in Fairfax. Thank you to their Executive Director Lisa Farinholt-O’Brien and the entire organization for their decades of service, providing child care services and education to parents in NoVA. Thank you to all the providers and staff in the community that work each day to provide care to our children.

Fallen Officers’ Memorials

Attended the annual Fallen Officers' Memorial Service during Police week to remember our fallen officers and celebrate their lives. We will never forget these officers or their families. 

Other News and Information

• Regional Bus Rapid Transit Survey
• Orange Hunt School Pedestrian Improvement Project Update
• Mott Community Center Temporary Closure (May 25^th-June 9^th)
• SPAN Virtual Presentation (May 30^th)
• BOE Assessment Appeal Deadline (June 3^rd)
• Stuff the Bus Returns (June 8^th)
• Shred Event at St. Andrew in Clifton (June 15^th)
• Become an Election Officer! (June 18^th)

Regional Bus Rapid Transit Survey

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is announcing the launch of an online survey as part of our ongoing research for the Preliminary Deployment Plan for a Regional Bus Rapid Transit (PDP-BRT) system. It is open through June 14th.

BRT systems can be very effective components of a robust transportation system if they are properly built and designed. Unfortunately, the systems being proposed in our region are being designed in a way that requires buses to stop at every stop, eliminating the possibility of express routes in these dedicated lanes. People are more likely to utilize public transit if it gets them to their destination in a timely manner. Your feedback can be beneficial in addressing the shortcomings of our transit system today. You can also access their new webpage to access the survey and more information. 

Orange Hunt School Pedestrian Improvement Project Update

The Orange Hunt Elementary School Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvement project is moving forward as a construction contract was just awarded this month.

This project includes construction of four handicap accessible ramps, curb extensions, and a pedestrian refuge in the median at the existing crossing at the intersection of Huntsman Boulevard and Spelman Drive. This project will improve pedestrian access and safety for this well-used crossing of Huntsman Boulevard to Orange Hunt Elementary School. Construction should begin next month and I am working with our Dept. of Public Works to ensure the work is completed before the new school year begins.

Mott Community Center Temporary Closure from May 25^th to June 9^th

Please be aware that Mott Community Center will be closed Saturday, May 25, to Sunday, June 9 for flooring repairs. It will reopen on Monday, June 10. After school service and senior program information can be seen below:

After School

Students who take the bus from school to Mott after school will do so as usual.

Once at Mott, they will use their bus to transport participants across the street to Expectation Church, 11924 Braddock Rd. in Fairfax. Expectation is graciously hosting the after school program for the entire two weeks.

Parents should pick up their children at Expectation by 6 p.m.

Senior Program

Most of its senior programming is being moved to a space at University Mall in Fairfax for the entire two weeks. Directions to University Mall and the exact room space are as follows:

Directions to University Mall:

Address: 10689 Braddock Road in Fairfax.

From VA-286 NB - Take exit VA-620 / Braddock Road and use the left lane at the light to turn left onto Braddock Road. In 2.7 miles, turn right onto Ox Road (VA-123 S). In 0.2 miles, turn left into the University Mall Shopping Center. Drive around the back of the building, and the doors to the Community Room are on the left-hand side at the end of the plaza walkway, next to Patriot Pawsitivity Cat Cafe. 

From VA-286 SB - Take exit VA-620 / Braddock Road and use the left lane at the light to turn left onto Braddock Road. In 3 miles, turn right onto Ox Road (VA-123 S). In 0.2 miles, turn left into the University Mall Shopping Center. Drive around the back of the building, and the doors to the Community Room are on the left-hand side at the end of the plaza walkway, next to Patriot Pawsitivity Cat Cafe. 

From Braddock Road WB - Turn left onto Ox Road (VA-123 S). In 0.2 miles, turn left into the University Mall Shopping Center. Drive around the back of the building, and the doors to the Community Room are on the left-hand side at the end of the plaza walkway, next to Patriot Pawsitivity Cat Cafe. 

Please note:

·        There will not be pickleball during the relocation.

·        There will not be programming after 6 p.m. 

SPAN Virtual Presentation on May 30^th

The Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia (SPAN) is collaborating with George Mason University’s Center for Community Health to host a Zoom presentation on “Teen Suicide Prevention: What Every Parent/Guardian Needs to Know” on Thursday, May 30^th from 6pm to 7:30pm. To sign up for the event, please see the flyer and QR code.

BOE Assessment Appeal Deadline on June 3^rd

I know many of you had significant increases in your real estate assessments this year. I wanted to make sure you were aware of the upcoming deadline for appealing your assessment if you believe it is incorrect. The Board of Equalization appeal deadline is June 3rd.

For more information on the appeal process and the upcoming deadlines visit this site.

Stuff the Bus Campaign Returns on June 8^th

Help fight hunger in our neighborhoods and Stuff the Bus with food to refill our local nonprofit food pantries as they work to provide assistance to individuals and families in need throughout our community. Access the list of most requested items here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood.../stuff-the-bus

Saturday, June 8

10AM to 3PM

Giant on Old Keene Mill

8320 Old Keene Mill Road

All donations from this event will benefit ECHO.

Shred Event at St. Andrew’s in Clifton on June 15^th

See the details below for an upcoming free shred event:

Document Shredding Event with Marian Homes

June 15^th from 10am to 12pm

St. Andrew Apostle Catholic Church

6720 Union Mill Road, Clifton, VA 20124

Free (Donations Optional)

Become an Election Officer for the June 18^th Primaries!

The Fairfax County Office of Elections is looking for community members to serve as election officers for the June 18, 2024 election.

In particular, bilingual officers who speak Korean and Vietnamese are needed. This is a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors and help your community! You will receive $250 as a thank you for your service.



Learn more and apply at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/officers/new-officers.