Dear Providence Residents,
Hundreds of new laws in Virginia went into effect on July 1st. I provided an overview of laws that may be of interest in this week's newsletter. More than 1,200 bills cleared the legislature and were signed by Governor Ralph Northam, with many taking effect on the first of July. Others, including a minimum wage increase, to $9.50 per hour won’t become law until 2021. A law banning holding a cellphone while driving will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.
Thank you for continuing our important work together to "box-in" COVID-19. Northern Virginia is now in Phase Three. As always, we are safer at home. You can find the guidelines below. Please remember that face coverings continue to be required in all public places.
Please find several Providence District updates on the topics below in this edition of our newsletter:
- New Virginia State Laws
- Phase Three for Northern Virginia
- Transportation Updates
- Metro Updates
- Library News
- Free Legal Help for Small Businesses
- Camp Fairfax
- Food for Others and Grow a Row FC
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and well.
With Gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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1. Confederate Monuments
Localities are permitted to remove, relocate, contextualize or cover any monument or memorial to war veterans on the locality’s public property, not including a monument or memorial located in a publicly owned cemetery, regardless of when the monument or memorial was erected. (HB 1537/SB 183)
2. Pedestrian Safety
The new law requires drivers to stop (not just yield) to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks until the pedestrian has cleared the lane. This includes all lanes and both directions at clearly marked crosswalks; any regular pedestrian crossing (such as residential intersections) even if unmarked; or at any intersection where the maximum speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour. (HB 1705)
3. Firearms
Several new laws pertaining to firearms took effect July 1. These include:
- Allowing localities to regulate firearms in government buildings, parks, recreation centers and at permitted events. (HB 421/SB 35)
- Requiring background checks for any firearm sale. (HB 2/SB 70)
- Requiring any loss or theft of a firearm to be reported within 48 hours. (HB 9)
- Changing the charge to a Class 1 misdemeanor for endangering children under 14 by a leaving loaded, unsecured firearm in their presence. (HB 1083)
- Prohibiting the purchase of more than one handgun in a 30-day period by any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer. (HB 812/SB 69)
- Allowing attorneys and law enforcement officers to apply for emergency orders to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk of injury to himself or others from purchasing, possessing or transporting a firearm. (HB 674/SB 240)
4. Absentee Voting
No-excuse absentee voting is allowed for the entire 45-day absentee voting period, including both in-person and by-mail voting. (HB 1/SB 111)
5. Solar Freedom
Fairfax County can move forward with a large solar array on the closed I-95 landfill site, crediting excess generation from that facility to other county electricity accounts serviced by the same incumbent electricity provider. (HB 572/SB 710/HB 1184)
6. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Protections
This new law prohibits discrimination in public and private employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and codifies for state and local government employment the current prohibitions on discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability or status as a veteran. (SB 868)
7. Marijuana Decriminalization
This new law decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana and directs executive branch secretaries to convene a workgroup to study marijuana legalization with a report due by Nov. 30, 2020. (HB 972/SB 2)
8. Administering Naloxone
A person who is not otherwise authorized to administer naloxone is allowed do so in good faith to a person who is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose. (SB 566)
9. Towing
The new law raises the additional fee that can be charged for towing a vehicle at night, on weekends or on a holiday from $25 to $30. (HB 1511/SB 916)
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Northern Virginia in Phase Three
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Northern Virginia is in Phase 3. Guidelines can be found in English
here
and in Spanish
here
. Governor Northam's presentation outlining Phase 3 can be found
here
.
- Key changes for Phase 3:
- Non-essential businesses, restaurants, and beverage services may fully reopen.
- Entertainment venues may open at 50% capacity.
- All open facilities must continue to maintain physical distancing practices and enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices.
- Gatherings of up to 250 people will be allowed.
- Teleworking is still strongly encouraged.
- Face masks are still required.
- Phase 2 guidelines are here.
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I-66 West from Cedar Lane to West of Vaden Drive
- I-66 West will be reduced to one travel lane approaching Vaden Drive near the Vienna Metrorail Station through Thursday, July 9, from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., nightly, and on Friday night, July 10, from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Drivers should expect multiple 30-minute stoppages each night of I-66 West for crews to lift bridge beams into place at Vaden Drive. Stoppages will also impact the I-66 West collector-distributor road between the ramps for Nutley Street and the exit to Country Creek Road.
- All lanes will reopen by 4:30 a.m. on weekdays, and 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Southbound Nutley Street Loop Ramp Remains Closed
- Drivers access I-66 East by turning left at a temporary traffic signal onto a new ramp that merges with the existing ramp from northbound Nutley Street to I-66 East.
- Two travel lanes will continue through the interchange in both directions.
- Drivers traveling north on Nutley Street should remain alert for traffic turning left from southbound Nutley Street heading to I-66 East at the new temporary signal-controlled intersection. The traffic signals will operate in a flashing mode prior to the ramp closure and will begin operating in full color when the traffic change takes place.
- Construction and lane closure updates are available at Transform66.org and on Twitter @VaDOTNOVA. To receive updates automatically by email, sign up here.
VDOT Seeks Input on Route 28 and Dulles Toll Road/ Greenway Interchange Study
Online presentation and survey available now through August 2
VDOT and Industry Partners Create Transportation Job Board
RICHMOND, Va.
— The Virginia Department of Transportation, along with their partners in the transportation construction industry – including the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA) and the Virginia Asphalt Association (VAA) – announced an initiative to connect Virginians with available jobs through the Virginia Transportation Construction Job Board.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to economic challenges and job losses for many Virginians. The Virginia Transportation Construction Job Board,
vatransportationjobs.org
, provides information and links to jobs across the Commonwealth, covering a wide range of skill sets – some of which require little or no prior experience. The interface was designed to target the transportation construction industry, where employees are critically needed during this time of peak construction. The Board is flexible for both employers and employees to easily distribute and receive information. There are currently more than 200 available positions posted on the job board, and more are added every week.
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Metro Reopening Six Stations August 16
Metro will reopen six Fairfax County stations and restore Silver Line service on August 16, weeks earlier than originally planned. The six stations reopening on August 16 are McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East plus one Orange Line station: West Falls Church
Face coverings are mandatory on Metro trains and buses, including buses in Fairfax County.
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Metro Board seeks individuals to serve on new Metro Transit Police Investigations Review Panel
The new Metro Transit Police Investigations Review Panel (IRP) is an independent advisory body that can recommend changes to MTPD training and policies. Any member of the community with an interest in serving is welcome to apply. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. July 31, on Metro’s website at
https://wmata.com/mtpd-irp
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Fairfax County Public Library News
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Library Express Services Begin on Monday, July 13th
Fairfax County Public Library Express Services are designed for safety, convenience, and efficiency.
- Express services will be available at all locations Monday–Tuesday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., while curbside services will continue to be offered Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Face masks covering your nose and mouth are required in the building.
- Limit visits to 30 minutes or less. Aim to grab your materials and go! 30 minutes is a guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule.
- Maintain 6 feet of distance from others not in your household.
- Returns must be deposited to book drop or bin for returns. Returned items that have been handled but not checked out are quarantined for 72 hours before being checked in or returned to the shelves.
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Free Legal Help for Small Businesses
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Consisting of a network of trusted top-tier law firms, corporations and other legal service providers, the COVID-19 Pro Bono Collaborative provides a highly coordinated, emergency response to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations survive the economic impact of COVID-19. This collaborative is providing remote legal and financial clinics and one-on-one sessions on the COVID-19 stimulus package and similar programs as well as COVID-19 related legal issues.
Any small business owner can
complete this form
to request a COVID-19 consultation with a volunteer attorney or financial professional. These consultations will be conducted via phone or video. Initial consultations will last one to two hours, depending on a business owner’s specific needs, with the option for follow-up consultations as necessary.
Read the full article
here
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- Camp Fairfax is a summer program for elementary school age children of working families.
- Dates are from July 13 - August 7 from 7:30am-5:30pm
- Providence Locations: Providence Community Center, James Lee Community Center, Woodburn Elementary, Westgate Elementary
- Spanish flyer at the bottom of this newsletter
- Learn about Camp Fairfax here.
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Food for Others and Grow a Row FC
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Our office has partnered with
Food for Others
on a community based food drive to feed those in need during COVID-19.
Email Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov to get your community involved.
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Have sun and some space? Grow food for yourself and your community
Grow a Row FC
is seeking volunteers to join its community-wide effort to grow fresh produce for
Food for Others
and its food pantry partners during this public health and economic crisis. Participating is easy: Pledge to dedicate a row of your garden or a container to growing food to donate and report to Grow a Row FC the weight or size (example: five carrots) of your donations. No amount is too small.
Additional volunteer garden mentors and hosts for drop-off sites are being sought in addition to growers. Sign up to volunteer on the website or by emailing
growarowfc@gmail.com
. This project is supported by Virginia Cooperative Extension and endorsed by the Fairfax Food Council.
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Traveling Players Ensemble is hosting a virtual program this summer:
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello.
Office Phone
: (703) 560-6946
Email us
HERE
if you would like events included in our newsletter or you would like a member of our team to join your HOA meeting.
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