National Affairs Committee Book Review by Michele Menapace: “Dark Towers” by David Enrich, is a must-read. Enrich, financial editor for the New York Times, weaves the history of Deutsche Bank’s failure into a thrilling tale…
Category: Economy & Business
Check these changes for 2020 tax filing
By Rose Chu: Thanks to the Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate, there are a number of changes to help taxpayers, including Economic Impact Payments, relaxation of IRA and 401(k) requirements, charitable deduction for those not itemizing, and provisions for the self-employed. Economic Impact Payments The Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus payments) are not taxable and cannot…
County responds to small business needs with Fairfax RISE
By Grace Aspinall: July marked the distribution of grants funded and overseen by Fairfax County to assist as many small businesses as possible that have been deflated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the grant administrator has been processing approximately 100 applications a day. On July 14, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted a $46 million addition to the original…
Connolly and Mohsini square up for CD-11 primary next week
It’s time for Democratic voters in Fairfax County to decide who will carry the party’s standard at the polls in November for US representative in the 11th Congressional district. To help voters decide, The Blue View asked both candidates – incumbent Gerry Connolly and challenger Zainab Mohsini – to answer the same four questions on critical topics facing our nation…
Fairfax $25 million grant program is latest resource to help our region cope with pandemic
With the covid-19 lockdown in place in northern Virginia until at least May 29 — two weeks later than the rest of the Commonwealth — it is more important than ever to know the resources available to support residents and businesses in our region. Most recently, Fairfax County has just announced a $25 million grant program for small businesses and…
Pandemic worsens affordable housing shortage in Fairfax County
By Bob Leggett: The pandemic has worsened the affordable housing shortage in Fairfax County, and highlighted the overall needs of the many in our prosperous region who already were on the margins. More than 70,000 people were living in poverty in the county last year out of a population of around 1.15 million people – a poverty rate of 6.1%,…
Coronavirus strikes Hispanics in Fairfax at six times the rate of whites
By Julie Galdo: Hispanics are six times more likely to get sick from coronavirus in Fairfax County than non-Hispanic whites, according to data from the Fairfax County Health Department. It has been widely reported that COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities in many parts of our country and the world. But the stark truth is we have…
Local musicians band together to link tutors and families
By Brad Swanson: When two local musicians met online to empathize about the pandemic’s effects on the music scene, they didn’t stop there. They found they both had a desire to help others, and created a non-profit online platform where families in our region looking for tutors can connect with artists, actors, musicians, and others with an expertise to share.…
Fairfax County offers emergency loans to small businesses
Starting Tue., Apr. 28, small businesses in Fairfax County hurt by coronavirus can apply for emergency loans up to $20,000 at 0% interest. The $2.5 million program is funded by Fairfax County and administered by the non-profit Community Business Partnership. For more information and to apply, click here. The loans can be used for working capital, equipment, rent, debt payments,…
How to help in Fairfax County during the coronovirus crisis
By Grace Aspinall: Americans historically step up to help one another in times of public emergency.and Fairfax County is no exception. For those who want to help during the coronavirus pandemic, the county has set up several websites to coordinate donations of money, materials and time. Financial contributions grace the top of the list of county needs, but supplies including…
Is America on the verge of a class war?
Book review by Brandon Thurner: Political scientist Michael Lind warns of a new class war in America — between well-educated elites and a multiracial working class — in a new book that has garnered much attention, Lind paints an alarming picture of a divided country but also shows how these divisions can be overcome so they do not become normalized…
Fairfax budget doesn’t budge, thanks to coronavirus
By Bob Leggett: In light of the pandemic, Fairfax County staff propose holding the budget for the upcoming fiscal year essentially flat, and keeping the real estate tax rate unchanged. The latest budget proposal from County Executive Bryan Hill calls for $4.47 billion in expenditures for the year beginning July 1 — only $22 million, or 0.5%, over the current…
Local businesses struck by coronavirus tell their stories via DemBiz
As businesses in our region stagger under the impact of coronavirus, the Democratic Business Council of Northern Virginia (“DemBiz”) has launched a series of short video interviews with business owners to share their experiences of dealing with the pandemic. The series, called “DemBiz Briefs,” looks into what is actually happening on the ground, how businesses are coping, what their most…
Immigrants Help Power Fairfax Economy
By Bob Leggett: Immigrants in northern Virginia now account for over 27% of the population and contribute almost $60 billion to the local economy, according to a new government report. The report finds that immigrants in our region are well educated and make up over 40% of all entrepreneurs in the region. In addition, over 50% have earned their U.S.…