Alexandria's week ahead: Special election, budget decisions, Drug Take Back Day, and more

Alexandria voters head to the polls Tuesday for a special City Council election and a statewide redistricting referendum — and that's just the start. The week also brings the budget's first formal add/delete work session, an expected School Board vote on the SRO agreement, a citywide giving day, a sobering historical remembrance and a packed weekend of community events.

Monday, April 20

The week opens with a significant public hearing. Metro hosts a formal public hearing at 7 p.m. at Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St., on its proposal to permanently close the Braddock Road Metro station's Kiss & Ride lot and reconfigure its bus loop to make way for joint development on the 3.6-acre Metro-owned parcel. The changes would affect Metrobus routes A11, A12 and A1X and DASH routes 30 and 31. Written comments are accepted through April 30 at wmata.com/braddockhearing.

Also Monday evening, the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council hosts a preparedness information night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. The council — which brings together citizen volunteers, first-responder agencies and local leaders — will share how residents can get involved in emergency readiness efforts. The council currently has four vacancies, including seats for a business community representative, a Commission on Persons with Disabilities representative, a School Board designee and a City Council member. Registration is requested in advance at alexandriava.gov/CitizenCorps.

The Alexandria Electoral Board also meets at 9:30 a.m. to prepare for Tuesday's special election.

Metro proposes closing Braddock Road Kiss & Ride to make way for development

A public hearing is set for April 20. Here’s what’s proposed, what it means for riders, and how to weigh in before the April 30 comment deadline.

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Alexandria Citizen Corps Council to host preparedness information night Monday

Volunteer council invites residents to learn how to get involved in local emergency readiness

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Alexandria kicks off seasonal repaving Monday, with work running through November

T&ES will resurface about 50 lane miles this year; 16 streets are on the initial list, starting April 20

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Tuesday, April 21 — Election Day

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Alexandria voters will decide two things: the special election to fill the City Council seat vacated by R. Kirk McPike, who won election to the Virginia House of Delegates in February, and a statewide redistricting referendum. Three candidates are on the ballot for the council seat: Democrat Sandy Marks; independent Frank Fannon, a former Republican council member; and independent Alison O'Connell. Mail ballots must be postmarked by today and received by noon Friday, April 24.

ACPS schools are closed for students — a Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day — as school buildings serve as polling locations. ACPS is also holding a Virtual Job Fair for elementary positions from 3:30 to 5 p.m. via Zoom, and the School Health Advisory Board meets at 6:30 p.m., also via Zoom.

City Council convenes Tuesday night for Budget Work Session No. 7 — the Preliminary Add/Delete session — at 7 p.m. This is where the more than $1.2 million in council add/delete proposals get their first formal airing. The proposals range from a $619,920 increase in DASH Bus Line 32 frequency to a $458,500 boost in emergency rental assistance — the latter paired with the proposed financial services BPOL tax increase — along with smaller proposals covering animal control pay, multilingual recreation services and arts funding. A final work session, if needed, is set for April 27, ahead of budget adoption April 29.

Also Tuesday at 7 p.m.: a virtual community information session on the VRE Alexandria Station and King & Commonwealth Bridge Improvements project, covering upcoming weekend construction work that will bring noise and single-block road closures at King Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Registration is required for the Microsoft Teams link.

Alexandria City Council votes on land use items, hears budget testimony in five-hour public hearing Saturday

The meeting covered budget proposals, parking fees, a contested right-of-way vacation and a new housing development before adjourning at 2:47 p.m.

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Sheriff Casey, deputies, and community members testify over proposed $200,000 cut to Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

Supporters and opponents fill council chambers as the proposal heads to Tuesday’s add/delete work session

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Three candidates, three visions for Alexandria City Council — here’s where they stand

Early voting begins Friday. Here’s what the Alexandria Brief learned from conversations with all three candidates this week.

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Redistricting battle narrows for US House as states seek partisan edge in November elections

A new U.S. House map passed by the Democratic-led Virginia General Assembly could help Democrats win up to four additional seats.

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFThe Associated Press

April 21 special election will fill McPike’s council seat — but winner won’t be seated before budget vote

Six-member council will adopt FY 2027 budget April 29; 3-3 tie on any item would kill it

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Wednesday, April 22

The day begins with post-election business: the Alexandria Electoral Board convenes at 9:30 a.m. to canvass the April 21 special election results, including a provisional ballot hearing. Tuesday night's results will be unofficial until the canvass is complete.

Wednesday is also Spring2ACTion — ACT for Alexandria's 16th annual citywide giving day, the only one of its kind in the region. This year's goal is $2.5 million from 10,000 donors across 191 local nonprofits. Last year, nearly 8,000 donors raised a record $3.1 million. Donations are open all day at spring2action.org.

Wednesday evening is unusually full. At 6:30 p.m., the city hosts Duke Street Land Use Plan Community Meeting No. 5 via Zoom — the first public look at draft framework elements including proposed building heights, land use designations, the mobility network and open space network along one of the city's most contested corridors. Also at 6:30 p.m., the America250 poster contest winning artwork is unveiled at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, where all submitted entries will be on display. At 7 p.m., the Board of Architectural Review holds its monthly public hearing at Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. The most significant item on the docket is a complete demolition and encapsulation request at 707 Oronoco St. — also addressed as 500 N. Washington St. — by Kulinski Group Architects. Also on new business: alterations at 608 S. Fairfax St. and 115 Queen St. Two items from last month — 732 N. Washington St. and 1019 Cameron St. — have been deferred by their applicants. The board will also discuss fiber cement as a design materials policy matter.

Spring2ACTion returns April 22 for its 16th year, aiming to raise $2.5 million for Alexandria nonprofits

ACT for Alexandria’s citywide giving day hopes to engage 10,000 donors across 191 local organizations — building on a record-breaking $3.1 million raised last year.

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Thursday, April 23

The ACPS School Board meets at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place for its regular monthly meeting. The board is expected to vote on final adoption of the revised ACPS-APD Memorandum of Understanding governing School Resource Officers — the agreement that has been under renegotiation for nearly a year and went before a public hearing last week. The full agenda had not been published at press time. The meeting can be watched on cable channel 71 or via Zoom.

At 6:30 p.m., the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project hosts the Joseph McCoy Remembrance at Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church, 606 S. Washington St. — 129 years after the evening of April 22, 1897, when 19-year-old McCoy was arrested without a warrant, dragged from his cell by a mob, and lynched at the corner of Lee and Cameron streets. Local authorities refused to stop the mob, and none of its members were ever held accountable. The keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler of Union Presbyterian Seminary, who will address "Governed by Fear and Hate: The Tools of the Supremacist State." Roberts Memorial was the McCoy family's home church. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. The event is free. Parking is available at Demaine Funeral Home and on nearby streets.

Alexandria to mark 129th anniversary of Joseph McCoy lynching with remembrance event

Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler will address state-sanctioned violence at the April 23 program at Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

No speakers sign up for public hearing on ACPS-APD agreement; board meeting adjourns after one minute

Revised 2026-28 MOU — which removed the student-records provision that drew opposition at last year’s hearing — heads to April 23 vote with written testimony as the only public input

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Friends of Duncan Library to hold spring book sale April 23-26

Thousands of titles available for all ages; educators receive 50% discount on public sale days

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Saturday, April 25

Saturday is the week's most community-facing day. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at four Alexandria locations — APD headquarters at 3600 Wheeler Ave., Fire Station 210 at 5255 Eisenhower Ave., Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray at 2204 Mt. Vernon Ave. and Walgreens at Bradlee Shopping Center, 3614 King St. The event is free and anonymous, organized by APD, the Sheriff's Office and the Health Department. Needles and syringes are not accepted. Also Saturday: a macroinvertebrate monitoring event at Taylor Run at 8:30 a.m., the Earth Month proclamation and tree planting at 9:30 a.m., and at noon a new public art installation — "00:10:00 (The Declaration of Independence)" by Richmond artist Sandy Williams IV — opens with a reception at Waterfront Park, marking America's 250th anniversary. And from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Alexandria Art Show & Craft Spring Fair takes over John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle St., with handmade art, crafts, jewelry, home decor and local food and drink vendors.

Spring cleaning your medicine cabinet? Alexandria offers safe drug disposal April 25

The Alexandria Police Department, Sheriff’s Office and city health partners will staff four drop-off sites across the city for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

THE ALEXANDRIA BRIEFRyan Belmore

Sunday, April 26

The PNC Alexandria Half Marathon kicks off at 7 a.m. in Old Town — Northern Virginia's marquee spring running event, taking runners 13.1 miles through Old Town and out and back along the George Washington Parkway. Runners can also opt for the 5K through Old Town. Residents should expect road closures and traffic impacts in and around Old Town early Sunday morning. The Ellen Pickering Award is presented at Gardenfest alongside a Compost Awareness Week proclamation later in the day.

For a full weekend events rundown, visit alexandriabrief.com by Thursday at noon.

This week's full calendar

Monday, April 20

• 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
• 9:30 a.m. — Alexandria Electoral Board meeting, in-person
• 1 p.m. — Commission on Aging Housing Committee regular monthly meeting
• 4 p.m. — Alexandria Library Board meeting
• 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
• 7 p.m. — Metro Braddock Road Kiss & Ride public hearing, Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.
• 7 p.m. — Citizen Corps Council Information Night, Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. (registration requested)
• 7 p.m. — George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee, in-person
• 7:30 p.m. — Environmental Policy Commission regular meeting

Tuesday, April 21 — Election Day

• All day — ACPS Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day; no school for students
• 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open; polls open (6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) for City Council special election and statewide redistricting referendum
• 7:30 a.m. — Waterfront Commission regular meeting
• 3:30 p.m. — ACPS Virtual Job Fair Series: Elementary, via Zoom
• 6 p.m. — AlexRenew regular Board of Directors meeting, Ed Semonian Boardroom (also livestreamed)
• 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
• 6:30 p.m. — ACPS School Health Advisory Board, via Zoom
• 7 p.m. — FY 2027 Budget Work Session No. 7: Preliminary Add/Delete
• 7 p.m. — Commission for the Arts monthly meeting
• 7 p.m. — Human Rights Commission regular monthly meeting
• 7 p.m. — VRE Alexandria Station and King & Commonwealth Bridge Improvements virtual community meeting (Microsoft Teams; registration required)
• 7 p.m. — Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, in-person
• 7 p.m. — Personal Finance and Career Building Workshops, virtual
• Note: Climate Resilience Sister Cities Solutions Webinar canceled

Wednesday, April 22

• 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
• All day — Spring2ACTion citywide giving day (spring2action.org)
• 9:30 a.m. — Alexandria Electoral Board: canvass of April 21 special election and provisional ballot hearing
• 10 a.m. — Everyone's an Asset Builder workshop
• 2 p.m. — Alexandria Community Policy & Management Team regular monthly meeting
• 5:30 p.m. — Public Health Advisory Commission meeting, virtual
• 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
• 6 p.m. — Free tax preparation for eligible Alexandria residents
• 6:30 p.m. — Duke Street Land Use Plan Community Meeting No. 5, virtual via Zoom
• 6:30 p.m. — America250 Poster Contest unveiling, Torpedo Factory Art Center
• 7 p.m. — Board of Architectural Review public hearing, Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St.

Thursday, April 23

• 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
• 5 p.m. — ARHA Board Finance, Audit and Administration Committee, 401 Wythe St.
• 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
• 6 p.m. — ACPS School Board meeting, 1340 Braddock Place (also on cable channel 71 and via Zoom; expected MOU vote; docket not yet published)
• 6:30 p.m. — Joseph McCoy Remembrance, Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church, 606 S. Washington St. (reception 6:30 p.m.; program 7 p.m.; free; parking at Demaine Funeral Home)
• 6:30 p.m. — Children, Youth & Families Collaborative Commission executive meeting, virtual
• 6:30 p.m. — Poem in Your Pocket Celebration, The Athenaeum (reservations encouraged)

Friday, April 24

• 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
• 5:30 p.m. — City Council Legislative Subcommittee meeting, virtual
• Deadline: Mail ballots for April 21 special election must be received by noon

Saturday, April 25

• 7 a.m. — Minnie Howard Open
• 8 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
• 8:30 a.m. — Macroinvertebrate monitoring, Taylor Run
• 9:30 a.m. — Earth Month proclamation reading and tree planting
• 9:30 a.m. — Common Interest Communities Training: Dealing with Difficult People, virtual
• 10 a.m. — National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (through 2 p.m.) at APD headquarters (3600 Wheeler Ave.), Fire Station 210 (5255 Eisenhower Ave.), Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.) and Walgreens at Bradlee Shopping Center (3614 King St.)
• 10 a.m. — Alexandria Police Department Saturday hiring event
• 11 a.m. — Alexandria Art Show & Craft Spring Fair, John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle St. (through 5 p.m.)
• 12 p.m. — "00:10:00 (The Declaration of Independence)" public art installation opening reception, Waterfront Park
• 12 p.m. — Le Brunch en Bleu community gathering, West End
• 1 p.m. — K-Pop Hunters Glow Party
• 2 p.m. — Alexandria Spring Invitational Cheer Competition

Sunday, April 26

• 7 a.m. — PNC Alexandria Half Marathon and 5K, Old Town (expect road closures and traffic impacts throughout Old Town and along the George Washington Parkway)
• 7 a.m. — Minnie Howard Open
• 8 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
• 11 a.m. — Specialty Tour: A Magical Apothecary, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (ages 8 and up; children must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult)
• 1 p.m. — Ellen Pickering Award presentation and Compost Awareness Week proclamation, Gardenfest

For a full weekend events rundown, visit alexandriabrief.com by Thursday at noon. Attending any of these meetings? Send us what you hear.