By Marcus R. Motta Virginia made great strides in the General Assembly last session to improve voting rights. However, these improvements are long overdue as the state’s latest ranking in voting difficulty was 49th, worse than all states in the nation except Mississippi. With Democrats in the majority in both houses for the first time in decades, the legislature eliminated…
By Karen Kirk: FCDC’s Chair Bryan Graham noticed a virtual hand up when asking if there were any questions on the proposed 2020-2021 budget. When he called on one member, she answered “No I don’t. The cat walked on the computer.” And so it went Tuesday night during the first virtual FCDC General Meeting in our age of Covid-19. But…
By Olivia Henry: For many of us students, the gravity of the coronavirus situation has only just begun to sink in. Once school was canceled this past Friday, Mar. 13, many students assumed the worst was over. Little were they aware that, within days, Fairfax County Public Schools would close down all schools until April 10, at least. (See FCPS…
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.…
With social distancing due to coronavirus dominating our lives, the conviviality of watch parties seems a vestige of the past. But of course Super Tuesday, with its clutch of watch parties, was just a few days ago, Mar. 3. We look forward to the resumption of these fun features of Democratic Party activism once the outbreak passes. In the meantime,…
By Marcus Motta: Some of northern Virginia’s biggest names were on hand for the George Mason University Young Democrats annual fundraiser, Pennies for Patriots. Led by Reps. Gerry Connolly (11th CD) and Jennifer Wexton (10th CD), the pols praising the Young Dems at the Feb. 29 event also included the Speaker of the House, Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (41st), fellow Delegates…
Ed. Note: We encourage readers to share their insights and experiences as we journey together through the current historic coronavirus outbreak. By Mala Rajamani: The current coronavirus strain, as it snakes across the world, is shutting down travel, commerce, schools, work, supply chains, shops, theaters, public spaces in ways that strain our utmost imagination. Pandemic in theory versus practice is…
By Bob Leggett: Walter Alcorn, along with some other Fairfax County supervisors, is looking at relaxing restrictions on single-family residences as a way to help ease the county’s affordable housing deficit. “We are considering whether homeowners in areas zoned single family should have the right to use up to 1,200 square feet as a separate household for elderly parents or…
With cases of the coronavirus spreading across the country and the World Health Organization labeling it a pandemic, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is looking at ways to keep members safe. Chair Bryan Graham sent this email to members Mar. 11: Fellow FCDC Members, The safety of our community and members is our highest priority. FCDC Leadership is following the…
Meet Jack Kiraly, the new Executive Director of Fairfax County Democratic Committee. As FCDC’s only paid employee, Jack is in charge of making the complex machinery of this large (900+ members) volunteer organization run smoothly. With elections every year, FCDC is constantly planning or executing on strategies to contact, register and educate voters, to get out the vote on election…
By Brad Swanson: More than 70 high school students helped orient voters and sign up volunteers in Mt. Vernon District during the Super Tuesday Democratic presidential primary on Mar. 3, in which Fairfax County turnout surged. (Blue View story on primary results here ). For the Mt. Vernon District Democratic Committee members staffing the information tables it was a much-needed…
By Susan Laume: Fairfax County voters turned out in large numbers for Super Tuesday’s Democratic primary vote, and decisively supported Joe Biden. Biden won 49% of the almost 250,000 votes cast, followed by Bernie Sanders with 23%. Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg trailed with 12% and 11% respectively. Countywide, 34% of registered voters cast ballots. Turnout far exceeded the 2016…
By Paul O’Shea: A leading figure in the Virginia anti-death penalty movement called for the abolition of “this barbaric remnant of previous centuries” in a talk recently at Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale. Dale Brumfield, field director of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, told parishioners on Feb. 23 that the death penalty fails to serve…
Editor’s Note: Another in our series of personal statements of support from readers for Democratic presidential candidates. While she is far behind in the polls, Tulsi Gabbard has not suspended her campaign and will appear on the ballot in the Super Tuesday primary vote Mar. 3. By Sandra Allen: I am reaching out because of the lack of diversity in…