Summer Recess and COVID-19 Updates

Friends,

Council is now on Summer recess and will reconvene in September. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns in the meantime. As you know, Alexandria and the rest of the Commonwealth has moved into Phase 3 of the Governor’s Forward Virginia Plan. Guidelines for Phase 3 can be found in English and in Spanish.

Although we have entered this new phase, it’s important to remember we must all remain vigilant and do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. The number of known coronavirus cases in the United States is currently over 2 million with more than 130,000 lives lost. In Virginia, current data indicates there have been 68,931 cases and 1,958 deaths. In Alexandria, we’ve had 2,439 cases and 57 of our neighbors are no longer with us. Wear a face covering or mask when in public, practice physical distancing (stay at least 6 feet apart), and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Tomorrow, July 11, we will virtually celebrate the City's 271st Birthday and the USA's 244th Birthday. Local singer and songwriter Lea will lead a community singalong via livestream at 7pm ET. The virtual celebration will also include performances by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and the Navy Commodores. Alexandria's Poet Laureate KaNikki Jakarta has written a poem.

I want to take a moment to address recent efforts to root out systemic racism in our society. The protests sparked by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and countless others whose names we know and those we don't has reinforced the need for us to change policies and systems to create a new normal. My initial statement on the ongoing unrest can be found here, but the question remains how do we ensure this doesn't happen again. What can we do here locally?

Last month, Council unanimously passed a resolution to establish a Community Police Review Board. City staff has been tasked with bringing back to us a proposal detailing what this new board will look like and how it will function. In the meantime, we are examining current Police Department policies to see if changes or adjustments need to be made. At our June 23 meeting, Council reaffirmed our commitment to implementing structural change. We will be creating a publicly available work plan so residents can know what policies are being reviewed, where in the review process they are, and if any changes are made. 

While the removal of the confederate statue at Washington and Prince Street was one step, we need to also rename many of our streets. One of the budget questions I submitted this year was to identify streets named after confederates and the cost to rename them. Council has received various emails on this topic and I believe this is something we need to discuss as a community.

Along with renaming our streets, it is important that we move forward with renaming two of our schools: Matthew Maury Elementary and T.C. Williams High School. While this is the sole jurisdiction of the Alexandria City School Board, I believe we all have a duty to help rectify past wrongs and not continue to memorialize confederate generals or segregationists. This will be a process but I believe our School Board and community are willing to meet this challenge sooner rather than later.  

Help to keep our community safe by wearing a mask when in public and remember to complete your 2020 Census!  

-Canek

VIRGINIA RENT AND MORTGAGE RELIEF PROGRAM

 This pandemic has left many of our friends and neighbors unemployed or underemployed and unable to pay their housing costs. That’s why I called for a moratorium on rent and mortgage payments in April. The Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program will provide $50 million to assist families facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19. Please visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility or call 211 Virginia at 2-1-1 to see if you’re eligible. Alexandria residents can call the City’s Department of Community and Human Services at 703-746-5700.
 

NEW METRO TRANSIT POLICE REVIEW PANEL

The Metro Board of Directors is seeking members of the public to serve on a new public advisory body for the Metro Transit Police Department. The new Metro Transit Police Investigations Review Panel (IRP) is an independent advisory body that can recommend changes to MTPD training and policies. The deadline to apply is July 31. To apply, visit www.wmata.com/mtpd-irp.
 


COVID-19 TESTING IN ALEXANDRIA

If you don't have a primary care physician or health insurance and need to see a doctor, the Alexandria Health Department has developed a resource guide of locations throughout the City where residents can get tested for COVID-19.

 

ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOD DISTRIBUTION

ACPS will continue to provide meals at no cost for any ACPS student who needs it through August 21, 2020. "Grab-and-Go" breakfast, lunch, and snacks meals are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the following locations:

William Ramsay Elementary School
5700 Sanger Avenue

Francis C. Hammond Middle School
4646 Seminary Road

Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology 
3600 Commonwealth Avenue

Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School
1501 Cameron Street

T.C. Williams High School
3330 King Street

In addition, ACPS has eight "pop-up” meal locations for any ACPS student or child over the age of 2 to pick up breakfast and lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Mason Apartments at South Reynolds Street
  10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Brent Place Apartments
 375 South Reynolds Street
11:20 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

Ruby Tucker Family Center
322 Tancil Court
10:45 a.m. -11:15 a.m.

Community Lodgings
607 Notabene Drive
10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Old Towne West Apartments 
(parking lot)
500 South Alfred Street
11:20 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

Corner of Florence Drive and Four Mile Road
10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

The Fields 
4309 Duke Street
10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Bennington Crossing Apartments
441 North Armistead Street
11:30 a.m. - noon
 

If you have questions or need translation, you can call or text ACPS at the numbers below:

  • Text ACPSMEALS to 797979 (English and Spanish)

  • Call or text 703-927-6866 (Amharic)

  • Call or text 703-927-7095 (Arabic)

ACPS FACE Center’s Bilingual Parent Information Lines, Monday - Friday (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.):

  • For Spanish, call 571-775-9719

  • For Amharic, call 703-927-6866

  • For Arabic, call 703-927-7095

For regular updates from ACPS, visit: www.acps.k12.va.us/coronavirus. Visit www.hungerfreealexandria.com for information on other food assistance resources in Alexandria.

#ALEXCOUNTS: 2020 CENSUS INFORMATION SESSIONS

Last month, we wrapped up our three-part series highlighting the importance of the Census to our community. A huge thank you to the Alexandria Library for planning and hosting these sessions, the Friends of Duncan Library for providing the technology, and the wonderful community leaders and City staff who participated. Click on the links below to watch each session.

The Census and Community Services
Panelists: Dr. Tammy Mann, Heather Peeler, and Lynn Thomas

The Census and Our Schools
Panelists: Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., Dr. Jimmie McClellan, and Dr. Michelle Rief

The Census and Local Government Services
Panelists: Jean Kelleher, Laura Triggs, and Christopher Ziemann 
 

WAYS TO HELP


Alexandria Medical Reserve Corps

 The Alexandria Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group of medical and non-medical volunteers who support the Alexandria Health Department in emergency preparedness, response and recovery. MRC volunteers have been essential to our response efforts whether in the City's COVID-19 call center or community testing events. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/medicalreserve to sign up today.

Donate Unused Personal Protective Equipment 

The City and the Alexandria Health Department are distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to high-priority groups, including first responders, healthcare workers and facilities supporting vulnerable populations. Community members and organizations are asked to consider donating clean, unused supplies. Acceptable supplies include surgical masks, N95 respirators (masks), disposable medical gowns, face shields, goggles, disposable medical coveralls, gloves and hand sanitizer. Homemade items are not being accepted at this time. If you or your organization has personal protective equipment to donate, please complete the online form here.
 

Volunteer Alexandria

Volunteer Alexandria is seeking volunteers to assist with food distributions and other community needs. For more information, click here. 


ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund

The City and Act for Alexandria (ACT) established the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund to provide emergency funding to nonprofits that are delivering critical services and programs that are needed by Alexandrians most impacted by this pandemic. Thanks to your generosity the fund has currently raised more than $1 million and distributed more than $900,000 in grant funding to 80 nonprofits. To contribute or to learn more, visit: www.actforalexandria.org/act-now-covid-19-response-fund.
 

ALEXANDRIA COVID-19 RESOURCES

 

TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH

The City recently launched a series of animated videos to help communicate the role everyone plays in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Each video is in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Amharic. You can find the videos here. 

Keeping your hands clean can help save lives. The City has used CARES Act funding to invest in hand hygiene stations which can now be found in high traffic areas across the City. An overview of how the City has used CARES dollars to support residents, staff, and businesses can be found here.

Team Canek