January 26, 2022
To the Fairfax County Community,

In a 8-1 vote, the Board passed my motion to support the Fairfax County School Board in their decision to require masks in school only until such time as it is safe to not require them. You can read the full item I introduced here.

You can hear the Board matter and my comments in the video below.
This isn't about being for or against masking. As a parent of FCPS students myself, I can’t wait until the day when we can take off masks safely, but that decision must be supported by facts.

For now, our local Virginia health experts, including Northern Virginia's Health Directors in this letter and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics feel the best path forward is to continue wearing masks in schools. This is part of a layered mitigation strategy that also includes vaccinations, physical distancing, testing, and quarantine. (As always you can schedule a vaccine appointment here).

We also approved a letter to Governor Youngkin asking that the state develop metrics in coordination and cooperation with local health directors and school districts to inform when it might be safe to make masks optional in school. We simply cannot afford more student, teacher, and staff absences.

As an elected body, it is our duty and that of the Fairfax County School Board to prioritize health and safety to the best of our abilities, including to ensure the best education for our students. Furthermore, it is in this Board’s interest that our economy continues to thrive. For that to happen, our schools and businesses need to be able to stay open.
Deputy County Executive retires
The Board formally thanked Deputy County Executive for Public Safety, Dave Rohrer, for his 42 years of service to Fairfax County. His retirement caps off a career that began as a patrol officer and continued through the ranks as Chief of Police. Our services and emergency responders are the envy of the nation, and ahead of almost all their counterparts across the country. We’re the safest jurisdiction of its size and our troops, from top to bottom, are unrivaled. Thanks, Dave, for your work.
FY22 Mid-Year Budget Review
After we adopt our annual budget each spring, the Board takes regular actions throughout the year to ensure we remain good fiscal stewards of County dollars. These reviews are particularly important nowadays, as we can allocate federal COVID relief dollars strategically to help us prepare for what we know will be a difficult budget season ahead.

  • Mid-Year Budget review? On Tuesday, the Board approved its mid-year review, just one of the regular checks that occur within the year of our County budget. Our action allowed us to bolster some important programs, including tax relief, following the vote. This is mainly thanks to specific COVID related federal funds and outstanding fiscal management by County staff and agencies.
  • Where is the money going?
  • 26 positions for the first phase of our public safety co-responder model, in which clinicians and police officers are launched together to respond to behavioral health calls to 911. This is vitally needed in light of rising cases of mental health challenges in our community and to continue our goal of treating mental health, not criminalizing it.
  • 5 positions will be added to the Department of Tax Administration to support the expansion of the tax relief program, which is expected to result in an increase of approximately 2,500 applications per year. Staff will be necessary to help our residents determine if they qualify for tax relief.
  • 1 position to support the Police Civilian Review Panel, which participates in police department oversight and improvement.
  • As an initial step toward meeting the Board’s directive to identify new funding for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, $5 million is included to make improvements to accessibility and safety. This is on top of the many resources we already invest in pedestrian safety.
  • You can review the full mid-year action item here.
Housing
A rendering of the approved housing community in Tysons.
  • What happened? The Board advanced critical next steps for two affordable housing projects:
  • Authorized $33 million to build 175 units of affordable multifamily housing on Spring Hill Rd. in Tysons.
  • Issued $17 million in bonds for 150 units of affordable senior housing on Stringfellow Rd. in Springfield. Springfield District has historically lacked affordable housing. In fact, aside from the Hanley Shelter and Kate’s Place, which are focused on emergency housing, the last purpose-built affordable multifamily community built in the Springfield District was Ragan Oaks in the mid-90s.  
  • Why? Access to housing should be a right. When everyone can afford a safe place to live, the community and economy all benefit.
Lee District Community Center
  • What? The Board amended plan language to move us one step closer to bringing the Lee District Community Center to fruition. With our action, we expanded potential uses of the old Mount Vernon Racquet Club (where the Community Center will be located) to include recreational uses and workforce development programs.
  • Why? I began working on more substantial recreational opportunities for our youth in this segment of the Route One Corridor in 2013. As Lee District Supervisor, I worked with the Park Authority to map recreation activities along the Highway and met with nearby communities to help bridge this sizeable gap in amenities. After working to secure construction of a privately-funded soccer field, I continued meeting with nearby residents and businesses to bring even more opportunities to the area. Finally, thanks to prior owners of the Racquet Club, the County was able to buy this property on Audubon Avenue and begin bringing the community’s vision to life. Supervisor Lusk has also been doing a lot of work with my office and me on this important project, and I couldn’t be happier with yesterday’s vote.
  • Wait! I have some ideas! Don’t worry. Future programming, including, but not limited to, childcare and recreational uses, will be determined through community input.
Transportation Funding
  • What happened? The Board approved the application of funds from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission to support upcoming projects in FY2023. If accepted these projects will be paid for by I-66 toll revenue.
  • Why? These projects will increase options for I-66 commuters and half of the projects support increased access to safe active transportation options.
  • What are the projects?
  • Renewal of Fairfax Connector Route 698 - The route provides express bus service from the Vienna metro station to the Pentagon Transit Center.
  • Expansion of Fairfax Connector Route 698 - This will extend the same bus route from the Vienna metro station to the Stringfellow Road Park-and-Ride lot. The frequency of trips on this route will improve from 20-minute headways to 10-minute headways.
  • Vienna Metrorail Trail - 5,000 feet of paved trail will be constructed from Blake Lane to the Vienna metro station.
  • Random Hills Road/Post Forest Road Trail - 2,750 feet of paved trail will be constructed from the Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage (currently under construction) and the Transit Center to West Ox Road.
Redistricting
  • What happened? The reinstated Redistricting Advisory Committee began its work last week with a charge to evaluate the names of magisterial districts in the County. On January 11, the Committee asked the Board adopt a comprehensive outreach plan on the renaming process and on any recommended changes. As a result, I asked that our Office of Public Affairs develop this outreach strategy following any recommendations from the Committee. Their work will be complete at the end of February.


  • Can I participate now? All Redistricting Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and want to hear your feedback. Their website, which includes meeting times, is here.
  • Anything else? Good news! The Virginia Attorney General recently certified Fairfax County’s redistricting plan that the Board of Supervisors adopted on Dec. 7, 2021. The map adopted was based largely on a map submitted by a member of the public.
  • We may now implement our new local election districts as adopted minimizing any disruptions. Of the 279 precincts in Fairfax County changes were only made to 7.
  • I want to again thank the dedicated members of this committee for their hard work on the redistricting plan and their continued service to evaluate district names.
Trash Pick Up
  • Did You Know? My office has fielded a number of complaints from residents who are having problems with their private waste haulers. Did you know the County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Division of Solid Waste Management has the authority to regulate these businesses? 
  • Consumers who have issues with private waste haulers should reach out to their individual private hauling company, but you can also report concerns to the County here or by emailing [email protected]. 
  • Upon receipt of the email, the team logs the complaints and sends an investigator to look into the situation. The investigator then logs their findings into the County system and works with the vendor to remedy the situation. 
Health
Vaccine Resources:


COVID-19 Resources:

  • Fairfax County Health Department
  • To view the number of cases in Fairfax County this page is updated at noon daily.
  • Visit the County site on COVID-19, Health Department Website, and see their FAQs.
  • To view multilingual health materials visit the County's Language Portal.
  • Sign up for text message alerts: text FFXCOVID to 888777. Para inscribirse, textear FFXCOVIDESP a 888777.
  • Call the Health Department from 9am-7pm weekdays and 9:30am-5pm on weekends: 703-267-3511
  • Email: [email protected]. This account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8am-8pm.
  • Inova has a helpful FAQ.
Sincerely,
Jeff McKay
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