In this Issue…
Board Chooses Politics Over Transparency in Redistricting – At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board voted 9-1 to adopt a redistricting map that had not been shared with the public, circulated to County staff or the Redistricting Advisory Committee, nor shared with the Supervisor whose residents were most affected by the changes. The final map took an obscure alternative plan and significantly altered it all behind closed doors without explanation. Despite my requests, the changes were not shared with me until after close of business the night before the vote even though over seventy percent of the changes impacted the Springfield district. For Chairman McKay and Supervisor Walkinshaw to say that the conclusion of redistricting process was not political is not only a blatant lie, but also an insult to the 1.2 million residents in Fairfax County and all those who participated in the process in good faith. Below I’ll share more with you on the failures of this process and how you can respond.
Other News and Information
- SSPA Survey (Closes December 10)
- Meet the Commanders! (December 13)
- Plastic Bag Tax Goes into Effect (January 1)
- And more…
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Board Chooses Politics Over Transparency in Redistricting
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board voted 9-1 to adopt a redistricting map that had not been shared with the public, circulated to County staff or the Redistricting Advisory Committee, nor shared with the Supervisor whose residents were most affected by the changes. The final map took an obscure alternative plan and significantly altered it all behind closed doors without explanation. Despite my requests, the changes were not shared with me until after close of business the night before the vote even though over seventy percent of the changes impacted the Springfield district. For Chairman McKay and Supervisor Walkinshaw to say that the conclusion of redistricting process was not political is not only a blatant lie, but also an insult to the 1.2 million residents in Fairfax County and all those who participated in the process in good faith.
Earlier this year, the Board established a Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC) which was charged with developing redistricting alternatives for the Board’s consideration. A public portal was created to allow anyone to create and submit redistricting plans for consideration by the Committee and the Board. The RAC then evaluated those 64 plans over several months based on multiple criteria including communities of interest, equity, diversity, historical neighborhoods, and minimal disruption. From those discussions, the RAC identified five preferred plans in their report to the Board. At the public hearing for these plans on November 9th not a single testimony referenced the changes made to the final adopted map.
The adopted map ignored the recommended nine district plan made by the Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC) as well as 63 alternative plans. Instead, it combined an alternative plan with six additional changes made behind closed doors by Chairman Walkinshaw and not shared with anyone except a few Supervisors. In a major break with Board decorum, the changes were not shared with me despite the fact that five out of the seven precinct changes impacted the Springfield District. Here are some of my concerns with that map:
- It removes the only remaining precinct with the name Springfield in it and instead of consolidating the West Springfield community, as the RAC recommended, the map breaks it apart into three districts. Months ago, I shared with Chairman Walkinshaw the need to consolidate the West Springfield community by adding Keene and Cardinal to the Springfield District as they sit across the street from the district office. Removing West Springfield instead hardly satisfies the criteria of considering communities of interest and minimal disruption.
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We heard public testimony on the need to keep precincts near their district offices. Adding Penderbrook precinct, which is a 25-minute drive without traffic from the district office in West Springfield, exacerbates the ability to serve the residents of the northwestern portion of the district without a satellite office. As many of you know, Springfield used to have a satellite office in the Fairfax County Government Center to serve residents in that area of the district. Dranesville District has two offices, McLean and Herndon, to address their distances. Currently, the distances from the district office to northwestern Springfield District residents are already greater than those in Dranesville.
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Finally, the map has not been evaluated against the criteria the Board claims to care about like equity and community interest. The RAC addressed those considerations over many months for the other plans in their report.
Before the Board voted on the final map, I asked staff for the rationale behind the changes to the proposed map and if it met the Board criteria. Staff said the map had not been shared or evaluated so I turned to Supervisor Walkinshaw. Following the trend of a lack of civility by Chairman McKay and Supervisor Walkinshaw covered earlier this fall by the Sun Gazette, Supervisor Walkinshaw who oversaw the changes responded, “I’m not here to answer your questions.”
Instead of answering my questions, he and Chairman McKay took significant time to pay lip service to the “transparency” and “equity” of the redistricting process without providing actual transparency on why the adopted plan was not shared with the public, staff, the Redistricting Advisory Committee or the most impacted Supervisor. My colleagues are patting themselves on the back for using a citizen plan, but I doubt that citizen would recognize their own plan with the six changes that were made to it. It is unfortunate that those serving on the RAC put in so many hours of hard work thinking this would be a citizen-driven process only to have their hard work replaced by a blatantly political map that was not shared or reviewed with them.
This Board has run headfirst into the dangerous territory of ignoring public comment, public process, Board decorum, and longstanding Board policies like consulting another Supervisor when something is happening in their district or that will affect the people they represent. Some of my colleagues are mere bystanders while others are driving this trajectory for Fairfax County. You have the right to know what is happening and be involved.
I encourage you to continue to make your voice heard by contacting the Chairman and your district supervisor on this issue and others affecting you.
Below are the changes made to the districts. The plan maintains nine Supervisor districts, but it shifts seven voting precincts to new Supervisor districts, moving them in whole or part:
626 - Saratoga (from Mount Vernon to Springfield)
703 -Fort Buffalo (from Providence to Mason)
717 - Woodburn (split between Providence and Mason)
730 - Penderbrook (from Providence to Springfield)
827 - Irving (from Springfield to Braddock)
840 - West Springfield (from Springfield to Lee)
933 - Compton (from Sully to Springfield)
You can find more information on the adopted plan here. While I am exceptionally disappointed in the lack of transparency of this process and the Board’s decision to split up a cohesive community without giving those community members the option to weigh in, I extend a warm welcome to those in the Penderbrook and Saratoga precincts to the Springfield District and look forward to serving them in the future.
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Other News and Information
- SSPA Survey (Closes December 10)
- Meet the Commanders! (December 13)
- Plastic Bag Tax Goes into Effect (January 1)
- Rapid Antigen Tests now Available in Libraries (While Supplies Last)
- Preventing Elder Fraud
- INOVA Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics for 5-11 Age Group
- Portable Heater Safety
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SSPA Survey (Closes December 10)
The Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process (SSPA) is a vehicle to submit proposals (called Nominations) to change the Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) recommendations for a particular property. The Comprehensive Plan is the guide for future land use in the County.
The SSPA process has been in place since 2017 and is being re-evaluated to determine how it can best meet county and community needs for land use planning. The timeline for the evaluation is shown above. Feedback will be used to help develop recommendations for changes to the process for consideration by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
To learn more about the SSPA process, please visit the SSPA website, which includes resources and information on the purpose of the process, how it works, and how to get involved. A video overview can also be viewed on the County’s Youtube channel. The details on the SSPA process can also be reviewed in the SSPA Guide.
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Meet the Commanders! (December 13)
Interested in getting to know the Police Commanderfor your district? Join FCPD on Monday, December 13th from 6 – 8 p.m. to meet your district’s commanders and learn how we’re working hard to prevent crime.
I will be with the West Springfield District Commander and the Animal Protection Police at the Braddock District Community Room from 6-8pm. Address: 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke
- Sully District Station – Cub Run Rec Center, 4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly
- Mount Vernon District Station – Walt Whitman Middle School,
- McLean District Station – Mosaic, 2985 District Avenue, Suite 100, Fairfax
- Mason District Station – The Pozez Jewish Community Center, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax
- Reston District Station – Langston Hughes Middle School, 11401 Ridge Heights Road, Reston
- Franconia District Station – Springfield Town Center, lower level, Springfield
- West Springfield District & Animal Protection Police – Braddock District Office Community Room, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke
- Fair Oaks District Station – Providence Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax
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Plastic Bag Tax Goes into Effect (January 1)
Reminder that the Plastic Bag Tax goes into effect January 1st. I opposed this tax for many reasons including that it was implemented during a pandemic while many residents are still struggling, there are shortages for alternatives like paper bags, and the real environmental problem is litter not plastic bags. If you notice a new tax charge on your grocery receipts in the new year - this is why. Details here.
Rapid Antigen Tests now Available in Libraries (While supplies last!)
In a unique collaboration with public health, all Fairfax County Public Library branches will become distribution sites for free COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home test kits as part of a pilot program beginning Dec. 3.
Quantities are limited. Neither proof of residency nor a library card is required, and the kits are free of charge.
The test should be taken at home, not in a library branch (however, most branches provide a strong Wi-Fi signal in parking lots). If someone is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, please request kits via the library’s contactless curbside pickup service.
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Preventing Elder Fraud
During the pandemic criminals have become even more brazen about targeting our seniors. Please take a moment to learn about these scams so you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these crimes that are perpetrated every day over the phone and by computer: https://www.ncoa.org/article/top-10-financial-scams-targeting-seniors
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INOVA Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics for 5-11 Age Group
Inova will be hosting child-friendly COVID-19 vaccination clinics by appointment only for children ages 5-11 for the public.
We expect high demand in the first weeks of vaccine availability. In addition to the Inova Children’s Vaccination Clinic at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, there will be many options for children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including pediatrician and family practice offices, some retail pharmacies, and Community Vaccination Centers (CVCs). Use vaccinefinder.org to find a location near you that is offering the 5–11-year-old vaccine.
Who: All eligible members of our community in the 5-11 age group
Location: Inova Center for Personalized Health (8100 Innovation Park Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031)
Dates: Weekends
Appointments: Visit www.inova.org/vaccine for details on how to make an appointment at the Inova Children’s Vaccination Clinic and for information on all the vaccination resources available in our community
These clinics will only offer the specific reconstitution of the vaccine for 5- to 11-year-old children; vaccinations for ages 12 and up will not be available at these clinics
Inova is proud to play a key role in vaccinating this group with capacity to administer 500 shots per day
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PSA - Portable Heater, Fireplace, and Stove Safety
As the weather continues to cool down this winter, stay safe by making sure you and your loved ones are aware of precautions to take when using portable heaters, a fireplace, or a stove:
Two in five deaths in space heater fires involve portable electric space heaters. These can be prevented through awareness of hazards and following best practices.
If you use a portable heater, the National Fire Protection Association recommends the following:
- Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory.
- Keep the heater at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from anything that can burn, including people.
- Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection.
- Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.
- Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over. • Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
- Keep children away from the space heater.
- Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
- Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.
Likewise, if you use a wood or pellet stove, make sure you follow these safety tips from the US Fire Administration.
- Test your smoke alarms.
- Install a carbon monoxide monitor about 10 feet away from the wood or pellet stove.
- Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter, or propane torches to light the fire.
- Never use charcoal in a stove or fireplace. It produces an excessive amount of carbon monoxide.
- Have your wood or pellet stove be professionally installed to ensure safety.
- Do not place household items on the stove.
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