Feb. 7, 2024

Neighbors,

Every February, Fairfax County celebrates its rich Black history with a number of events and programs for all residents. I encourage you to participate! Here are some highlights:

Feb. 17 at Historic Frying Pan Church, 2615 Centreville Rd., Herndon

The church highlights the diverse congregation of its early years, including enslaved, free Black, and White-slaveholding members. The event is noon to 2 p.m. Learn about additional Park Authority events.

Feb. 23 at County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax

Join your neighbors for an evening to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s theme is “The Value of Telling Our Stories.” Enjoy local performances, interactive activities, enlightening discussion and light refreshments. Festivities kick off at 5:30 p.m.

All Month at Fairfax County Public Library Branches

The Library system is celebrating Black History Month with a number of programs and specially curated Black History Month booklists for adults and kids. Library cardholders can also access films and documentaries available from Kanopy’s Black History collection. Learn more.

Fairfax County Black History Resources

In 2021, the Library's Virginia Room created a guide to research materials relating to Black history in the county. The guide aims to offer a robust selection of available resources, including books, school yearbooks, oral histories, manuscript collections, photographs, and subject files. Learn more.

From Visit Fairfax:

• Top Black History Sites
• Black-Owned Restaurants
• Black History Video Shorts and Articles

Regards,

Walter

News From the General Assembly: Yesterday, Feb. 6, the casino bill SB 675 was officially carried over to 2025, killing it for this year. Unfortunately, the uncertainty about a casino in our community continues into next year. I want to thank Senator Jennifer Boysko (District 38) for her efforts to try to kill the bill without carrying it over. I also want to thank community members who traveled to Richmond yesterday and during recent weeks to make their opposition to a casino on the Silver Line abundantly clear. 

As stated in the Chairman’s recent letter on the bill, Tysons is the economic engine of Fairfax County and the Commonwealth. It is home to four Fortune 500 headquarters. According to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority 1 out of every 5 jobs in Fairfax County is based in Tysons. The most recently calculated office vacancy rate in Tysons is less than 17%, and leasing renewals are some of the strongest in the DMV. And trophy office space near metro on the Silver Line is leasing at the highest rates in the DMV. 

Tysons is not declining, it is growing. The casino bill is a distraction that should never impact the most valuable real estate in the Commonwealth. It also creates uncertainty that could make attracting additional major employers more challenging. 

Fairfax County has an ambitious, community-supported comprehensive plan for transit station areas around all Silver Line stations. A casino is not in those plans, and brazen attempts by developers and casino operators to buy necessary government approvals is a fool’s errand at best, and unethical at worst.

Next Wednesday is Valentine's Day and a good time to showcase our love of Hunter Mill District! My staff and I are requesting your help. By next Tuesday (2/13), please email up to three top things you love about Hunter Mill District. Examples may be Lake Anne Plaza, RA Trails, Church Street restaurants or the farmers markets. We'll report on your input next Wednesday. You may even discover something new to love about our community. Email what you love and include "HMD Valentines" in the subject line.

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday, Feb. 6. You can watch the meeting here and review the Board agenda and package.

A key action taken by the Board was to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow accessory outdoor dining associated with food establishments, such as restaurants and craft beverage production establishments. Integrating outdoor dining into the county's regulations has the potential to enhance the pedestrian experience, activate street-level environments and contribute to the vibrancy of commercial areas.

The next full Board of Supervisors meeting is Feb. 20, which is when the County Executive presents his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025. You can learn more and watch here. Look for information on upcoming town halls and other opportunities to provide your input on the budget in this newsletter in upcoming weeks.

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Virtual Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.

The Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 395 391 170# For more information email Mark Goldberg-Foss or call 703-478-5123.

Reston Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Virtual Meeting, Monday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.

The Reston P&Z meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 542 801 402# For more information email Mark Goldberg-Foss or call 703-478-5123.

Provide Your Input on Renaming of Patrick Henry Library on Feb. 14 

The Patrick Henry Library, located on Maple Avenue in Vienna, was bond-funded in 2020 for a new facility. Fairfax County entered into an agreement with the Town of Vienna to develop the site of the current library for both a new library and a shared parking structure for county and town usage. In 2023, community advocates engaged with the Library Board of Trustees requesting that the new facility, which is likely to open in late 2026, be renamed in support of William and Lillian McKinley Carter. The McKinley Carter family was part of the first Vienna Friends of the Library nonprofit group and was instrumental in getting a county library facility in Vienna accessible to all members of the public with no exceptions based on race. 

The Library Board will be considering the name change for the new facility at their Feb. 14, 7 p.m. meeting. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the George Mason Regional Library at 7001 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. Members of the public can sign up for public speaker spots by calling Library Administration at 703-324-3100; questions in advance of the meeting can be directed to wwwlib@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

From the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management:

Having readily available cash is an often overlooked but critical part of your emergency preparedness plans. During or after a major disaster like a hurricane, flood or power outage, electronic payments may not work. That’s why keeping some cash on hand is vital. Learn more, including tips on how much to have on hand.

Friends of Reston Library Present $100,000 to Fairfax County Public Library

On Sunday, I was very proud to attend the presentation of $100,000 by the Friends of Reston Library to the county's Library Director Jessica Hudson. The generous donation will be used to buy children's and young adults books for our Library system. These volunteers put a lot of effort in supporting our Library and it is much appreciated!

Three Reston Companies Win Best Workplace for Commuters Award

Congratulations to Reston companies, Agile Defense, BPX (Boston Properties) and CargoSense for being recipients of the 2024 Best Workplace for Commuters Award. They were among 13 county employers who have taken steps to encourage environmentally-friendly commuter practices, reduce traffic congestion and preserve the region’s air quality. Learn more.

At Patrick Henry Library: Helping You Save Money While Cutting Carbon Pollution

The Patrick Henry Library in Vienna is hosting a presentation on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. on the wide array of tax credits and rebates available for environmentally friendly purchases such as electric vehicles, solar panels, appliances, and new doors and windows. Register and learn more.