Aug. 26, 2020
Dear Neighbors,
This weekend we will mark the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. The 1963 march, attended by more than 200,000 people, is now widely viewed as a landmark moment in our nation’s struggle for civil rights.
But as we mark this anniversary with a 2020 Virtual March on Washington we should also remember that the civil rights movement was not always popular with the majority of Americans. For example, Gallup’s compendium of favorability rankings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. show that in 1966 Dr. King scored a 63% unfavorable rating in the Gallup survey. By 2011 – 43 years after his assassination – his unfavorable rating was down to 4%. The lesson from this look back is that as we have our own reckoning with racial inequity and injustice we should not assume that progress will be popular or easy.
With that in mind there has never been a better time to move forward and build on the popular support for ending systemic racism in our communities and across the country following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and too many others, as well as the recent shooting of Jacob Blake. It is up to us to do the work for a more just and equitable society – starting locally in Fairfax County.
Here is an update of the work that is underway:
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Several virtual meetings and town halls with community leaders, organizations and residents have taken place to collaborate and discuss how we can move forward with racial equity and police reform, including my town hall on July 1 with Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler.
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The Chairman’s Task Force on Equity and Opportunity was formed in June and will begin meeting next month to discuss changes necessary for creating a Fairfax County that works for everyone.
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Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, as chairman of the Public Safety Committee, is on point with the community and the Police Department to develop police reform measures for Board consideration. This includes our joint Board Matter regarding the deployment of trained unarmed medical, human services, and mental health professionals in instances where mental and behavioral health is the reason for a 9-1-1 call and not criminal behavior.
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A database has been created to be a central location for residents to review and comment on Fairfax County Police Department data, reports and reform updates. Information includes use of force polices, body worn camera implementation and the school resource officers scorecard.
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The General Assembly during the current special session, is working on several police reform measures, including prohibiting no knock warrants and requiring law enforcement officers to report wrongdoing by another law-enforcement officer, among many other bills under review.
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At my and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik’s request, the Board authorized the Fairfax County History Commission to prepare a report listing a full inventory of Confederate street names, monuments and public places in Fairfax County and on Fairfax County-owned property. This marks Fairfax County’s first step toward de-Confederatizing our public names and spaces under the authority of the Board of Supervisors – a full 165 years after the Civil War. We will then look at the viability and costs of renaming/replacing these symbols and during these discussions enjoy the benefits of a more robust understanding of our local history.
These are just a few steps in a long journey to racial equity in our community, but it is in the right direction. And like the advocacy of Dr. King toward the end of his life, much more is also needed to address economic equity.
There may not be many bright spots when we look back at 2020, but let’s put in motion the policies and initiatives that our children and grandchildren will appreciate as important steps to end racial injustice and build a more inclusive county.
Respectfully,
Walter
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Today's COVID-19 Updates (Aug. 26) |
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Current Number of Cases in the Fairfax Health District
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Daily reported case information for the Fairfax Health District: here and scroll down to get to ZIP Code data.
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Daily reported case information throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia: here and ZIP Code data look for Data Download bar.
COVID-19 Case Information Chart (as of publication on Aug. 26)
NOTE: We have combined the trend graphs with the chart information so you can view the available data in one place.
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Check Your Voter Registration! |
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The first step in ensuring your right to vote on Election Day is to register to vote. And every election season, you should check your voter registration to make sure your information is accurate and up to date. Have you moved? Have you married or divorced and changed your name? It only takes a few minutes to check; don't delay and check today on the Virginia Citizen Portal. If you have questions about your voter registration, contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections at [email protected]
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Public Safety Events This Saturday, Aug. 29 |
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Bicycle Safety Event With Free Giveaways
Consistent with my Board Matter in January with Supervisor Lusk on the topic, bicycle safety is one of the top transportation priorities in the Hunter Mill District and countywide. I am excited to announce that the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) and the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) are hosting a socially-distanced bicycle/pedestrian safety event in Reston this Saturday, Aug. 29 from 9 to 11 a.m. adjacent to the W&OD Trail in Reston. The event will be located at the Newton Square Access Road near the mile 17 marker just west of the Wiehle Avenue/Sunset Hills Road intersection. You will have the opportunity to get information and ask questions about bicycle safety on our roads and trails with representatives of FCPD, including the Reston District Station, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and county officials. Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets will also provide information. And don’t forget to bring your bike – the Bike Lane will be on site for bike safety checks and there will also be free giveaways. Learn more.
Free Child Safety Seat Inspections
This Saturday, Aug. 29, 8 to 10:30 a.m., specially trained and certified Fairfax County Sheriff's deputies will be conducting free child safety seat inspections at the county's Courthouse Parking Garage B,10550 Page Avenue in Fairfax. Deputies check 1,000 child safety seats every year and find that 80-90 percent have not been installed correctly. Either the safety seat was not properly secured in the vehicle or the child was not properly harnessed in the seat. Learn more.
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Land Use and Transportation |
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Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Meeting on Sept. 14, 7 to 9 p.m.
The next meeting of the the task force is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14. Details and the agenda will be found here when available. I encourage you to attend. Each meeting will have a unique link and call-in information, which will be posted on the Hunter Mill District Land Use and Zoning web page. To submit feedback, questions or comments on the Reston study or plan amendment process, email [email protected].
Joint Reston Planning & Zoning and Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting, Sept. 21,
7:30 p.m.
Staff will present the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) Consolidated Draft. The draft represents a consolidation of the previously released installments, with revisions as a result of feedback received throughout the process and additional work by staff, as described in Attachment 1. Learn more.
Reminder: Fairfax Connector Resumes Full Service on All Routes on Aug. 29
The Fairfax Connector will resume full service on all routes on Saturday, Aug. 29, with service enhancements including a new commuter route from the Stringfellow Road Park-and-Ride Lot to Southwest Washington, D.C. Due to the pandemic, ridership dropped to about 30 percent of normal levels in March, but has begun to rebound. Ridership is now about 45 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will continue to require masks and rear door boarding, encourage social distancing, and undertake enhanced cleaning protocols. Learn more.
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Mark Your Calendar!
Stuff the Bus Returns in September
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Final details will be announced soon, but you are encouraged to mark your calendar to participate in the Stuff the Bus food drives on two Saturdays - Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The locations in Hunter Mill District will be the parking lots at the North County Government Center in Reston and the Patrick Henry Library in Vienna. Learn more about Stuff the Bus.
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Real Estate Taxes Due Aug. 28
The first installment of real estate taxes is due on Friday, Aug. 28. To assist homeowners during the pandemic, the Board of Supervisors acted earlier this summer to extend the deadline by one month. Normally, the first half of real estate taxes are due in July. Pay or learn about payment options. Bills were mailed to homeowners in July, and you will need this year's stub number from your real estate tax bill to pay online. The Aug. 28 due date applies to homeowners who pay their real estate taxes directly to the county. However, many homeowners pay their real estate taxes as part of a monthly mortgage payment. The mortgage company then sends the taxes directly to Fairfax County. Contact your mortgage company if you have questions. For questions or help, contact the county's Department of Tax Administration at 703-222-8234, TTY 711, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Learn more.
Reston Community Center's Fall CenterStage Performances
Reston Community Center has announced the fall portion of the 2020 – 2021 Professional Touring Artist Series at the CenterStage. Tickets for fall shows only (September to December) will be available to Reston residents and employees on Sept. 1 and to the general public on Sept. 8. Audience members are requested to wear masks, there will be no intermissions and social distancing requirements will limit audience capacity. Learn more.
Parktakes Programs and Classes to Resume in Fall
Parktakes programs and classes are scheduled to resume this fall. All classes will be conducted according to Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety guidelines. Outdoor, indoor and virtual programming options are available in a wide range of interest areas, including fitness, nature, fine arts, gardening and golf. Learn more.
An Ombudsman Can Help with Assisted Living Concerns
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program educates and helps long-term care residents and their families resolve quality of care and quality of life issues at no charge. The ombudsman is a strong advocate for residents, but does not have enforcement power. Learn more.
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Stay Informed and In Touch |
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Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711
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