Dear Neighbor,
 
Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 4, the Board of Supervisors will vote to adopt the fiscal year 2022 budget. The vote will be the culmination of the months-long budget process that began in February with the release of the County's Executive's proposed budget. I deeply appreciate the hundreds of Braddock District residents who participated in that process through our Braddock District Budget Town Hall meeting, the Board's three days of budget public hearings, or by emailing me with your thoughts and concerns. The package that we will vote on tomorrow reflects much of the feedback I heard through the process.
 
The real estate tax rate would be reduced from $1.15 per $100 of assessed value to $1.14. While this means that the average taxpayer will see an increase in taxes paid due to dramatically rising assessments, significant reductions in revenue from commercial sources due to the pandemic mean that further reducing the tax rate would have necessitated serious cuts to vital services that I believe would be irresponsible. The Board did direct staff to review the criteria for senior tax relief so that we can consider expanding eligibility next year. 
 
Teachers and county employees will both see modest pay increases to ensure we remain competitive with surrounding jurisdictions. Our teachers, school support staff, and county employees have done amazing and heroic work throughout this pandemic, and I'm hopeful the Board will continue to find creative ways to recognize the valuable service they provide to our community. The budget continues our investments in energy efficiency improvements that will save tax dollars long term, establishes an Immigrant Community Liaison position to ensure we are meeting the needs of our immigrant communities, and directs the County Executive to increase our commitment to affordable housing through county dollars or the maximization of federal COVID relief funds.
 
Again, thank you for your participation throughout the process and the valuable feedback you provided on the budget. I believe this budget strikes the right balance between the financial burden caused by uneven assessment increases and maintaining our investments in key county services while preserving our ability to respond flexibly to the ongoing challenges caused by COVID-19.

Continue Reading for More Information on:

  • New Police Chief
  • Walk-In Vaccine Appointments at Tysons Community Vaccination Center
  • Governor Northam's Mask Updates
  • Proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Update
  • New Braddock Voices Podcast Episode Featuring Economist Tyler Cowen
  • CDC and FDA Lift Pause on Johnson and Johnson Vaccine
  • Community Pool Board Members Meeting
  • Visualize 2045 Community Comment Period Now Underway
  • Upcoming Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting Underway
  • Solarize Fairfax County is Back
  • Upcoming Community Climate Planning Meetings
Yours in service,
Supervisor James Walkinshaw
New Police Chief Named
The Board of Supervisors announced the selection of Kevin Davis as the new Fairfax County Chief of Police on Friday, April 23. While I understand there have been some troubling media reports, as Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, Chief Davis earned a reputation as a national leader in police reform with a track record of building trust between law enforcement and the community. Over time, he earned the trust and support of civil rights leaders, including the President of the Baltimore NAACP.

The Board of Supervisors is planning a community listening session so the community can hear directly from Chief Davis. We will share the date and time via social media when it is available.

Until then, I encourage you to watch this video and Meet Kevin Davis.

Chairman McKay and Supervisor Lusk joint statement on the hiring of Police Chief Kevin Davis

After an extensive interview and outreach process, including comprehensive input efforts that resulted in over 275 community meetings and calls, over 450 emails to stakeholders, and a survey which received over 3,000 responses, the entire Board was unanimous in their confidence in Kevin Davis’s ability to lead our Department and to further our already ongoing Board of Supervisors’ directed policing reforms.

“This Board fully supports Kevin Davis as Fairfax County’s new Police Chief. The history of policing has not centered around the safety of all members of the community. That is a systemic problem we are always working on in Fairfax County. It is one in which Mr. Davis has also acknowledged and it is through his experiences and his leadership that he understands and has implemented critical reforms” said Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay. “Through our interview process, Mr. Davis demonstrated a complete understanding and commitment to improving policing, promoting transparency, and building relationships in the community. In addition, following conversations with leaders across the region as well as people who have directly worked with him, it is clear that they also have tremendous confidence in his abilities.”

“Based on my conversations with Mr. Davis during the interview process, and since his selection, I am confident that he is the best choice to lead the Fairfax County Police Department,” said Lee District Supervisor and Public Safety Committee Chair, Rodney Lusk. “I am concerned that recent media reports regarding Mr. Davis’s record may not accurately reflect the events in question. I look forward to Mr. Davis speaking to those incidents in a public forum that Chairman McKay and I will be hosting in the coming days.”

Mr. Davis looks forward to ongoing conversations with the community as he transitions to the Chief role. Throughout our interview process, he emphasized the importance of community involvement in public safety activities, policies, and procedures.

We look forward to our community meeting and engaging with the new police chief.
Meet Kevin Davis by watching the Fairfax County Police Department's video above
Walk-In Vaccine Appointments at Tysons Community Vaccination Center
After months of waiting, Fairfax County residents 16 years and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and there is enough vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated!

Walk-In Appointments at Tysons Community Vaccination Center

The Tysons Community Vaccination Center (CVC) now offers walk-in appointments! While appointments may still be scheduled ahead of time, the Tysons CVC is offering first-come, first-served walk-in appointments Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The CVC is located in the former Lord & Taylor at 7950 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA, 22102.

Please note: You can also still find appointments via VaccineFinder.
Governor Northam Updates Mask Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
On Thursday, April 29, Governor Ralph Northam amended Executive Order 72 to adopt new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on mask use in outdoor settings.

The CDC guidelines state that fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks outdoors when alone or in small gatherings. Mask use is still required indoors and outdoors at large crowded events like concerts, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine.

The Governor also revised Executive Order 72 to allow up to 1,000 spectators for outdoor recreational sports, effective immediately. This change advances by two weeks a change that was scheduled to go into effect on May 15 and will allow additional spectators to participate in final games of the current high school sports season and the summer sports season.

Governor Northam reiterated that the next steps to ease mitigation measures will go into effect on Saturday, May 15 as previously announced. He expects to be able to roll back the remaining capacity limits in mid-June as long as the Commonwealth’s health metrics remain stable and vaccination progress continues.

Learn more by visiting the Fairfax County Emergency Blog Website.
Proposed FY 2022 Budget Update
On Tuesday, April 27, the Board of Supervisors approved the markup of the proposed FY 2022 Budget. The budget is scheduled for a final vote next Tuesday, May 4. Below is a quick summary of what was approved and you can also watch the meeting.

  • 1% pay increase for county employees.
  • $15 million more for the Fairfax County Public Schools Operating Fund transfer to support compensation increases for FCPS employees.
  • Funding to provide salary supplements for state employees, including Office of the Public Defender support staff and probation and parole officers.
  • The budget maintains the one-cent tax rate reduction proposed in the original FY 2022 Advertised Budget Plan, down from $1.15 in FY 2021 to $1.14 in FY 2022.

Once adopted, the FY 2022 Budget becomes effective July 1, 2021. 
New Braddock Voices Podcast Episode
Join me for this episode of the Braddock Voices Podcast with economist and George Mason University professor Tyler Cowen. Join Tyler and me as we discuss economic development, the future of Fairfax County, local dining options, and more!

Tyler hosts the economic blog, Marginal Revolution, and was ranked at number 72 among the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" in 2011 by Foreign Policy Magazine. He has served as the general director of George Mason University's Mercatus Center. Since 2015, he has hosted the well-known podcast, Conversations with Tyler.

You can watch this episode on my YouTube Channel. Prefer to listen to the podcast on the move? Visit my Soundcloud account to listen to the episode while you go about your day. You can enjoy these options for free, and you do not need to have an account. Make sure to reach out to me if you have recommendations on guests we should include next!
Click the video above to watch on YouTube.
CDC and FDA Lift Pause on J&J Vaccine
On Friday, April 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted their recommended pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine, following the recommendation of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that the vaccine should be cleared for use by all adults.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has instructed providers across the Commonwealth that they are free to resume administering the J&J vaccine immediately.

The recommendation is based on the following:

  • The FDA and CDC have confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
  • The FDA has determined that the available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.
  • At this time, the available data suggest that the chance of blood clots and low platelets occurring is very low, but the FDA and CDC will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk.

Residents may schedule an appointment to receive one of the three available free COVID-19 vaccines at Fairfax County Health Department clinics, the Tysons Community Vaccination Center, or the George Mason University clinic by creating an account in the Health Department’s scheduling system – Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) – through the Fairfax County website or VaccineFinder.org.
Community Pool Board Members Meeting
Are you a Community Pool Board Member for your local pool? Be sure to join Supervisor Walkinshaw virtually on Monday, May 10 at 7:00 pm for COVID-19 updates specific to community pools from the Fairfax County Health Department.

Additionally, we’ll have a round table discussion with pool board members. This is a great way to get the latest information, get questions answered, and connect with other pool board members in the Braddock District. Please email Sally Kidalov at sally.kidalov@fairfaxcounty.gov for the meeting invitation and zoom link.
Visualize 2045 Public
Comment Period Underway
Visualize 2045 is the federally mandated, long-range transportation plan for the National Capital Region. The federal government requires that this plan must be updated every four years. The Transportation Planning Board is now updating this plan to produce a final plan in 2022. Visit the survey page to learn more about how you can participate in developing the 2022 plan. The public comment period ends on Monday, May 3, 2021 at midnight.

Comments may be submitted by any of the following means:

1) Writing:
Charles Allen, Chair National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
777 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002-4239

2) Telephone:
Call (202) 962-3262 to leave a 3-minute voice mail

3) Online

4) Email:
Send email to TPBComment@mwcog.org using subject line: Visualize 2045 2021 Public Comment
Upcoming Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting
Want to be more involved with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD)? Want to provide a valuable service to your community, and be more informed about county issues and laws at the same time?

Consider joining your local FCPD Community Advisory Committees (CAC).
CACs enhance communication between residents and the FCPD and offer residents a chance to dialogue with members of their local police districts. Members are kept informed about significant safety matters in their neighborhoods, and are encouraged to bring any issues or questions to the attention of local police commanders.

To that effect, the West Springfield District Police Station invites you to a virtual Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Click this link to join the meeting.
Use Password: 443141
 
You can also dial in by telephone:

(636) 651-3141
(877) 402-9753 (US Toll Free)
Use Conference code: 404496
Solarize Fairfax County Is Back
The Solarize Fairfax County program is back for a fifth year, providing county residents and businesses the chance to install solar arrays at a discount. From now until June 30, Solarize reduced rates will be available through a pre-qualified solar installer, Solar Energy World.

All county residents and business owners are eligible for a free, remote assessment to evaluate if solar is appropriate for their home or commercial building. Those who decide to pursue solar through the program receive a 10-15% discount off current consumer rates for solar arrays and systems.

In 2021, for the first time, the Solarize program is offering participants the opportunity to install battery storage systems in connection with their arrays. Additionally, residential Solarize participants are eligible for a complimentary, virtual home energy assessment to help improve their home energy performance holistically. Solarize participants can also bundle electric vehicle charging stations with their solar system purchase at a discount.

If you are curious about Solarize, attend one of the remaining virtual information sessions taking place in the coming months:

  • May 11 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • June 3 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Click the video above to watch a testimonial video
Upcoming Community
Climate Planning Meetings
All Fairfax County residents and stakeholders are invited to join one of two virtual climate planning public meetings taking place May 18 and May 20, from 7:00 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. These two meetings, connected to the development of the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) will offer information on the planning process and the content of the plan, and will include opportunities for attendees to provide input to county staff and consultants.

CECAP is the county’s first-ever plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from community sources. More than 95 percent of all emissions in Fairfax County come from sources other than county and school operations. Energy use in our homes and businesses, as well as emissions from cars and trucks on our roads are two of the greatest sources of carbon emissions requiring our attention. For CECAP to succeed, community members will need to take voluntary action to cut down their personal greenhouse gas emissions over time. The May public meetings provide an opportunity for discussion of the goals and strategies recommended by CECAP before the plan is finalized and presented to the Board of Supervisors this summer.

The meetings on May 18 and 20 will be identical in content and format, residents need only attend one of the two. For more information on the May public meetings, please visit the CECAP website.
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