March 11, 2021
Dear Neighbor,
I hope you've been able to get outside and enjoy this week's warm weather. After a long winter -- both literally and figuratively -- I know we're all happy that Spring is approaching.
In addition to the rising temperatures, there is more good news. Our supply of vaccine is increasing and we recently announced that Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, and Inova will open a mass vaccination facility later this month. The facility will have the capability to vaccinate 6,000 people per day and will take appointments for those registered through Fairfax County.
The Board of Supervisors met this week and voted to advertise the FY 2022 real estate tax rate of $1.15 per $100 of assessed value -- the same rate as last year. It's important to note that this is not the final tax rate, but rather a ceiling that we cannot exceed.
|
|
The Board also held a public hearing on the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance Modernization Ordinance (zMOD). I appreciate everyone who provided feedback throughout the zMod process, including those who participated in our community meeting in January. Ultimately, the zMOD decision was deferred until Tuesday, March 23.
Continue reading for more information on:
-Tonight's Braddock District Proposed Paving and Restriping Public Meeting
-Braddock District Budget Town Hall Featuring County CFO Joe Mondoro
-Recent COVID-19 Update
-Mass Vaccination Facility
-Upcoming Virtual Teen Job Fair
-CECAP Climate Surveys Closing Soon
-County Collecting Input on the Strategic Plan
|
|
Supervisor James Walkinshaw |
|
Tonight's Braddock District Proposed Paving and Restriping Public Meeting |
|
For those unable to attend the meeting, a recording of the session will be available after the event. The comment period for Braddock District paving and restriping projects closes March 25.
|
|
Braddock District Budget Town Hall |
|
Supervisor James Walkinshaw invites you to join the Braddock District Budget Town Hall on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Supervisor Walkinshaw and Fairfax County's Chief Financial Officer, Joe Mondoro, will discuss and answer constituent questions on the County’s proposed FY 2022 budget. The proposed budget was recently presented to the Board of Supervisors by County Executive Bryan Hill. The town hall will be televised on Channel 16, (Verizon/Comcast Channel 16; COX Channel 1016 ) and will be live streamed both on Channel 16’s website and Supervisor Walkinshaw’s Facebook Profile.
Residents are encouraged to send questions before the program to [email protected]. Participants can also submit question via Supervisor Walkinshaw’s Facebook Live comments section or by calling Channel 16’s live phone line at (703) 324 – 1114 during the event.
A video recording will be available on Supervisor Walkinshaw’s YouTube Channel and an audio-only recording will be available on Soundcloud after the program. Both of these social media platforms are free to use and you do not need to have an account to use them.
|
|
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared important new guidelines on how people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things they stopped doing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People are considered fully vaccinated:
- Two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
- Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.
If it has been less than two weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected.
What’s Changed If You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated:
- You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
-
You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one (1) other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
- However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.
What Hasn’t Changed If You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated:
-
You should still take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Take these precautions whenever you are:
- In public
- Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
-
Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk
- You should still avoid medium or large-sized gatherings.
-
You should still delay domestic and international travel. If you do travel, you’ll still need to follow CDC requirements and recommendations.
-
You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
- You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace.
|
|
Above: The Thursday, March 11, screenshot of Fairfax County's Vaccine Dashboard. |
|
Mass Vaccination Facility |
|
Inova recently announced a new mass vaccination facility in partnership with Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria. The new Inova Stonebridge Vaccination Center will expand local capacity and provide additional options to vaccinate more people. The new facility will be available to residents across Northern Virginia. They will be able to administer up to 6,000 shots a day.
They will begin welcoming people to the center later this month. The first group will likely be a continuation of their current partnership with the Fairfax County Health Department to vaccinate county residents ages 65 to 74. Fairfax County residents must register through the County's vaccination webpage.
The site is located within the City of Alexandria, but Fairfax County residents will be able to go for vaccinations. The facility is located on Eisenhower Avenue near the Van Dorn Metro Station with a bus stop outside its front door.
|
|
Upcoming Virtual Teen Job Fair |
|
Whether you have already had your first job experience, you are looking for one, or you just want to gain me job-seeking tips, the Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs are designed to help high school students connect with employers and develop experience in the workforce. Register for either event:
- Saturday March 13, 2:00 p.m. through 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 20, 11:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.
In addition to chatting with employers, teens will be able to join online sessions on how to create and build your resume. No matter how much or how little experience you have, this is great opportunity for all high school students.
Make sure to share this with a local teenager who is searching for a job!
|
|
CECAP Climate Surveys Closing Soon |
|
Not one, not two, but three brief surveys are now online to capture your feedback on climate planning in Fairfax County. The county is developing its first-ever Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan, or CECAP, and is seeking public input to inform the goals, strategies, and actions the plan will include. Now through March 14, you can complete very short surveys on energy issues, transportation, development, and waste issues, and on climate planning in general.
Can you spare five minutes to share your opinion? It will help build a plan that works for you and the rest of our community for years to come. Find the surveys here. |
|
County Collecting Input
on the Strategic Plan
|
|
Help shape the future of the Braddock District and your community by giving us feedback on the proposed Countywide Strategic Plan. The proposed strategic plan was developed through extensive community engagement and lays out a community-based vision for the next 10 to 20 years. Originally proposed to the Board of Supervisors in February 2020, COVID-19 paused public progress until now. The updated proposed plan includes recognition of the immediate and longer-term impacts of the pandemic. |
|
As work on the strategic plan continues, the County needs your feedback again. We invite you to take a survey to provide your input into the future of our community. Many areas are covered, such as Health and Environment, Safety and Security, Housing and Neighborhood Livability and Mobility and Transportation.
Find the survey online in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu and Vietnamese. The survey closes on April 15.
|
|
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram |
|
|
|
|
|
|
