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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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Email
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(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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Greetings,
On Friday morning, the 26th of October, I was up early to get ready for a 9 a.m. meeting in my office. I settled down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the morning paper and watched the most striking  sunrise. The sky outside my window slowly evolved from night-black into a veritable flame. I took a picture with my iPhone and posted it on Facebook and Twitter, along with the ancient rhyme: "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning."
Technically, a red sunrise means that there is haze and moisture in the air, a prelude to stormy weather. Sure enough, on October 26th Hurricane Willa, which had already come ashore in Mexico as a Category 4 storm, was churning its way up the eastern coast. The Annandale Chamber, for the first time in my memory, cancelled their annual Halloween Parade scheduled for the next day. Hurricane Willa did not have very much of an effect on Fairfax County, but better safe than sorry!
When I reflect on the red sky, it seems it warned of an even more ominous danger. A storm yes, but not just Hurricane Willa. On Saturday October 27th, our country was rocked by the news of a gunman opening fire on worshipers in The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the deadliest attack against Jews on American soil in history. Why was this happening?
I mentally cataloged just some of the other hateful incidents and mass shootings that had taken place in recent memory:
- In 2012, a white supremacist shot and killed six people at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.
- In 2012, a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut ended the lives of 20 children and 6 adults.
- In 2015, a white man opened fire at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine worshipers.
- In 2016, 49 people were killed and more than 50 injured inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
- In 2017, a gunman stormed into a church worship service in Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding 20 more.
- In 2017, 58 people were gunned down during an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- This year's shooting on February 14th at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida where 17 young people lost their lives and 14 were wounded. This was followed by another deadly school shooting in May during an art class at Santa Fe High School that took the lives of 8 students and 2 teachers.
- Since Columbine in 1999, there have been at least 208 school shootings to take place in this country.
Explosive devices and infectious agents sent through the mail. Bomb threats and anti-Semitic graffiti. So much anger. So much hate.
***
Our Board of Supervisors Meeting the following Tuesday ended early enough for members of our Board to attend a beautiful and moving service at the Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church. Somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 people packed into the main synagogue and overflow rooms. Rabbi Amy Schwartzman is Chairman this year of Fairfax County's Faith Communities in Action Clergy Leadership Council. Present at the Service (billed as a Service of Comfort, Community and Solidarity for The Tree of Life Congregation) were faith leaders from Fairfax County's diverse religious groups. I was moved to see so many faith leaders gathered together on the "bima" in song and prayer.
Rabbi Schwartzman asked if I would participate in a candle lighting ceremony to honor those who had lost their lives in Pittsburgh. My candle was for Daniel Stein, age 71, one of the 11 victims of the shooting. My role was definitely not complicated, but I considered the request an honor and rehearsed saying Daniel Stein's name while en-route to the service. I wondered about who he was and what his life had been like. I don't think he ever would have imagined that his life would end in such violence. It shouldn't have.
The next morning, I went for a run
. Toward the end of my route, I stepped off the pavement and into the woods to stretch. The Oak trees around me were finally turning from green to yellow. I looked down,  and there between my feet were bunches of little acorns - acorns that had been pelting my head and crunching under my feet for weeks. Bending closer, I noticed delicate, fleshy little tendrils growing out of the acorn ends. They were germinating. Tons of them. I smiled and thought, "Well, how about that. Life continues. Life won't be stopped."
We will always have our share of stormy weather, but some storms don't have to happen. We can all play a role in ratcheting down the heated rhetoric and working to build a healthy, supportive sense of community in our neighborhoods, our schools and at work.
***
See inside this Byline for ways that you can enjoy and contribute to some of things that are happening in your community.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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Affordable Housing Resources Panel Discusses the Future of Housing
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Fairfax County is projected to need over 62,000 new housing units in the next 15 years, 15,000 of which are projected to be needed for individuals who earn less than 60% of the Area Median Income.
In response to our community's growing housing needs, the Board of Supervisors directed Fairfax County's Department of Housing and Community Development, with the assistance of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC), to produce a strategic plan to help address this need.
The
Communitywide Housing Strategic Plan
includes two phases. Phase 1 of the Plan identifies 25 short-term strategies that can be implemented, without major policy or revenue impacts, to encourage and produce additional housing units within the County.
The strategies, which were adopted in June, are expected to take one to two years to implement. The County has already taken steps towards updating the Housing Blueprint funding process, aligning it with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application cycle; increasing the efficiency of the process and thereby lowering local developer costs.
Phase 2 of the plan looks at long-term strategies, tools, policies and resources to support the development and preservation of housing that is affordable in our community. To support the efforts of Phase 2 and to garner additional community input, the Board of Supervisors created an
Affordable Housing Resources Panel (AHRP)
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The AHRP is composed of diverse representatives from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, and met for the first time on Oct. 23. The group has been asked to provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding affordable housing goals (how many units of housing that is affordable should we work towards producing and preserving in the next 15 years, what is a realistic goal, what funding sources should be pursued to help bring about additional units, etc). This is not an easy task, but I am glad to have the community at the table to weigh in on this complex and very important policy area. The AHRP is expected to provide its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in March 2019 for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget guidance.
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Drug Court Offers Alternative to Jail for Defendants with Substance Use Disorders
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When the Drug Court program was launched in September, it signaled a new and important journey to reduce substance use recidivism in our county, which ultimately can save lives and save money. Drug courts are specific court sessions, or dockets, for criminal defendants who have alcohol and/or other substance use disorders. The Drug Treatment Court is designed for Fairfax County residents 18 and older who have been convicted of a non-violent crime, were placed on probation and subsequently violated the terms of probation due to substance use. To qualify for the program, they must meet the criteria for an alcohol or drug dependence diagnosis and be assessed as high risk and high need. A multidisciplinary Fairfax County Drug Court Team has undergone comprehensive state and national training in preparation for the new docket. The program recognizes that relapse happens, and especially in the earlier phases, relapse is part of recovery. Read more on Fairfax County's NewsCenter.
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Fairfax County Drug Court Launched in September 2018
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| Sink it or Soak it: How to Prevent Fires Caused by Cigarettes |
Improperly discarded smoking materials is one of the leading cause of fire in Fairfax County. On May 2 alone, there were three major fires caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. Monetary damages for those three fires was in excess of $13 million. These fires were tragic and completely preventable. If you smoke, please take a moment to learn how to prevent starting a fire.
Watch this video from the Fire and Rescue Department
to learn more about smoking safety and how to Sink It or Soak It.
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| Seeking Your Input on Community Funding Pool Priorities |
Fairfax County is seeking public input in an effort to validate community priorities for committing county funds to address human services needs. The county's
Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP) is an allocation of funds earmarked by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to be administered to local nonprofits and community-based organizations as an investment in programs and services that fill identified needs within communities across the county. Funding is awarded on a two-year cycle.
In preparation for the next funding cycle (FY2021-2022), beginning July 1, 2020, county staff is gathering insight and feedback from the community on the current CCFP priority areas:
- Housing
- Literacy/Educational Development/Attainment
- Financial Stability
- Health
- Support/Community/Social Networks
- Positive Behaviors and Healthy Relationships
Your feedback is important. Please take a moment to share your thoughts and opinions by taking the Community Feedback Survey online. Additionally, paper copies of the survey will be available at the county's
Community Centers and
Regional Libraries.
The survey will be available until
Saturday, December 15, 2018.
All responses will be anonymous.
Learn more.
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| Transportation Survey: Fairfax County/Franconia-Springfield Parkways |
 The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has launched an online survey requesting feedback from residents on future enhancements of the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways. This is part of the Fairfax County & Franconia-Springfield Parkways Alternatives Analysis and Long Term Planning Study. The online survey is open through Nov. 19, 2018.
Additional comments may be sent to the FCDOT team via the project webpage or by calling 703-877-5600, TTY 711.
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Transportation Status Report Highlights Projects, Programs and Initiatives
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Recently, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation released its bi-annual Transportation Status Report, which covers updates for county transportation projects, programs and initiatives from March through August 2018. During that period, 20 transportation projects (17 bicycle and pedestrian; two roadway; and one transit) were completed. In addition, 22 bus stop improvements were completed. The 20 completed projects included five Transportation Priorities Plan (TPP) projects that were approved by the Board of Supervisors. Also included are five Tysons area station access projects that were constructed to improve pedestrian, vehicle and bicycle connections to and from the Metrorail Silver Line stations.
Learn more and see the full report
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Sept. 20, 2018 -
Reston-Herndon Bus Garage Ribbon Cutting
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| Enjoy Local Sporting Events at George Mason University |
George Mason University, a Division I member of the NCAA, sponsors intercollegiate teams in baseball, golf, wrestling, softball, lacrosse, rowing, basketball, cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball. Cheer on our local players and enjoy an evening out at your favorite sporting event! For athletics information, schedules and tickets, please visit
gomason.com.
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| Young Professionals Group Helps Landscape local RECenter |
 You may have noticed the Lee District RECenter has beautiful new landscaping, which is the result of a great partnership.
The Fairfax County Young Professionals Group (YOPROs) volunteered to work alongside our Park Operations Staff to dig up old shrubs, install attractive new plants and mulch the beds. This was a great opportunity for County employees to network, help the environment and beautify a public facility at the same time. In addition, a private company, Hilltop Sand and Gravel, helped make this landscaping project possible through a donation to the Fairfax County Park Foundation.
Helping the environment has become a priority for the YOPROs. Last year they hosted a stream clean-up that 22 volunteers attended. The clean-up was held on Fairfax County Parks property and bags/gloves were provided by the Clean Fairfax Council. The YOPROs hope to host another stream clean-up this coming spring. I have no doubt our County will be in good hands as our young professionals continue to rise into leadership in the coming years.
The YOPROs were established to provide an environment for the next generation of Fairfax County Government leaders to develop professional skills, expand personal networks, socialize, volunteer and build a better Fairfax County.
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| Police Civilian Review Panel Public Forum | Dec. 10 |
You are invited to join the Police Civilian Review Panel at its 2018 Public Forum. Learn about how to initiate a complaint process, who will investigate complaints, what to expect once a complaint is filed, and receive a 2018 update on Panel activity. The Independent Police Auditor will also be present to explain the Auditor's role in oversight.
There will be a 45-minute period for audience participation. Ten, three-minute time slots will also be available to attendees to comment on issues related to the Panel's jurisdiction (comments on specific complaints may not be presented). Sign-up will be available at the forum on a first come, first served basis. The Panel will be listening and recording comments but will not offer responses at the forum. Written comments may also be submitted. For more information, please visit fairfaxcounty.gov/policecivilianreviewpanel.
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| Upcoming Events and Ways to Get Involved |
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