Democratic voters in Virginia House District 86 will vote Saturday, Jan. 12, for a candidate to represent the party in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Jennifer Boysko, who recently was elevated to the state senate to…
Bulova’s final new year reception as chair draws large crowd
Over 1,000 Fairfax County employees and invited guests filled the Government Center auditorium on Tuesday, Jan. 8, for the New Year’s Reception hosted by Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova. The outgoing chair has presided over this privately funded event every…
Sierra Club awards Va. Del. Kathy Tran for promoting solar energy
By Susan Laume: The Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club presented Virginia Del. Kathy Tran (D-42) with their Energy Freedom Award on Sunday, Jan. 6, citing her sponsorship of two bills in last year’s legislative session supporting solar energy. Although…
Citizens line up to give local lawmakers their three minutes
By Susan Laume: The Fairfax County state legislative delegation held a public forum on January 5, listening to citizens’ concerns in advance of the start of the 2019 Session of the General Assembly on January 9. Nearly 100 individuals and groups…
Air Board to decide whether massive pipeline compressor can go into historic Black community
By Dr. Vivian Thomson: Is an African American community in rural Virginia the right place to put a massive compressor station for a natural gas pipeline? This is the question the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board will consider at their…
Resolutions: For me, myself and a better planet
Ed. Note: Are you making resolutions for the New Year? Tell us about them! newsletter@fairfaxdemocrats.org By Mala Rajamani: As I disentangle from the anticipations, the optimism and the ‘joie de vivre’ of the holiday season, and peer into the year…
Virginia leads the nation in student arrests – Dem. legislators seek solutions
Virginia refers more of its public school students, in percentage terms, to police than any other state. Now Northern Virginia state legislators want to address this troubling problem in the upcoming General Assembly session starting Jan. 9th in Richmond. Seven…
First Person: After knocking on the door, dialogue helped find common ground
By Brandon Thurner: “What are Abby’s views on energy, specifically nuclear power?” “We commute to work – what can Abby do to fix the traffic back-ups on I-95?” The young couple had recently relocated to central Virginia from deep-red Alabama…
Party time for Fairfax County Dems
By Karen Kirk: It was time for FCDC members to party on Saturday, to celebrate the holidays and the great victories of 2018, but it was clear that a new election was on the horizon. Chair Dan Lagana reminded everyone…
Northam threatens Air Board independence on eve of controversial decision
By Roberta Kellam and Dr. Vivian Thomson: Ed. Note: The authors formerly served on state environmental regulatory boards. Their views are personal. Gov. Northam has failed the citizens of Virginia with his sudden decision to appoint two new members to the…
Unfinished business: It’s way past time for Virginia to ratify the ERA
By Karen Kirk: Winning the decades-long fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is in Virginia’s court, or actually its General Assembly. And the push is on to finally get it passed in 2019 in both Virginia’s Senate, where it…
Our police do not work behind scenes with ICE, says Fairfax Supervisor Board Chair
By Sharon Bulova: I read with shock and disappointment the Nov. 29 report by Ms. Diane Burkley Alejandro, Special Report: Local police may be helping ICE make Fairfax a national leader in immigrant detention. This report uses data to draw…
Money in politics emerging as top issue in Virginia 2019 elections
The heated topic of money in politics in Virginia drew a star-studded list of speakers and a large, boisterous audience to a forum on Nov. 28th at the Mason District Government Center. State legislators, candidates and activists took turns detailing…
Special Report: Local police may be helping ICE make Fairfax a national leader in immigrant detention
By Diane Burkley Alejandro: There is a family separation crisis right here in Fairfax County. The nation was rightfully shocked when 2,600 children were separated from migrant families crossing the border. Why then isn’t the Fairfax Board of Supervisors incensed…