Daily Brief | May 26

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Tuesday, May 26 — the 146th day of 2026, with 219 days left in the year.

After the long weekend, City Council is back tonight for a legislative meeting that pulls together several threads we've followed all spring: the renegotiated agreement governing police in city schools, the GO Alex transportation strategy, and the Duke Street planning effort.

Elsewhere, we dig into the orange "Don't Get PLAyed" attack ads you've probably seen online — confirming the $6.9 million figure at their center while untangling what's established from what's alleged — and the city has released its draft Housing 2040 plan ahead of a June 2 hearing.

Here's what you need to know today.

1️⃣ City Council to weigh in on police-in-schools agreement, transportation plan, and Duke Street vision tonight

The Alexandria City Council's new group portrait, posted after Councilwoman Sandy Marks was sworn in May 12. Top row from left: Councilman Abdel-Rahman Elnoubi, Councilwoman Jacinta Greene, Councilwoman Sandy Marks and Councilman Canek Aguirre. Bottom row from left: Councilman John Taylor Chapman, Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley. (City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Council returns Tuesday for a legislative meeting that touches several threads The Alexandria Brief has tracked through the spring, including the renegotiated agreement governing police in city schools, the GO Alex transportation strategy, and the long-running Duke Street planning effort.

The most closely watched item is likely the School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding between Alexandria City Public Schools and the Alexandria Police Department, which comes to council as an oral report.

2️⃣ Alexandria confirms the $6.9 million PLA estimate behind the attack ads, but disputes how the ads frame it.

Demolition underway at Market Square and the underground garage, with City Hall behind, in May 2026. The $123.6 million renovation — Alexandria's first under a project labor agreement — is the subject of the ad campaign. (City of Alexandria)

If you've scrolled Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube in Alexandria lately, you've probably met the orange ad: a board-game graphic, tumbling dice, and a warning that city officials are "playing games with your money." It's part of a campaign called "Don't Get PLAyed Alexandria!" One version features City Manager James Parajon and says officials hid "$7 million in costs from the public." Another names Mayor Alyia Gaskins. Both push viewers to a website where they can "take action" by telling elected officials to oppose project labor agreements.

Here's what the fight is actually about — and what's been established versus alleged.

3️⃣ Duke Street's business passport program is live — with bigger prizes than first announced

Businesses participating in the Duke Street Land Use Plan Business Passport Program, as of the city's May 20 update. The shop-local contest runs through September 2026. (City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning)

The city's Duke Street Business Passport Program — a shop-local contest tied to the Duke Street Land Use Plan that the city first announced in December — is now officially up and running, with a larger and more tiered set of prizes than originally planned.

The premise is unchanged: visit a participating business, find the circular window decal or rectangular countertop decal, and scan the QR code to check in. But the rewards have grown. When the city announced the program in December, it planned five $25 gift cards. As launched, the contest will award the resident who checks in at the most unique businesses a $100 gift certificate to a participating business of their choice, with $50 for second place and $25 each for third through 10th — ten winners in all.

4️⃣ Alexandria releases draft Housing 2040 plan, sets June 2 public hearing

The City of Alexandria released the draft Housing 2040 Plan on May 22 ahead of a June 2 Planning Commission hearing. (City of Alexandria)

The city's Office of Housing has released a draft of Housing 2040, a 15-year blueprint for Alexandria's housing policy, and the Planning Commission is scheduled to take it up at a public hearing June 2.

The 100-page draft plan was posted for public review and docketed for the commission's June 2 meeting, the Office of Housing said.

5️⃣ Old Town shops invite community to unplug for 'Analog Bag Weekend'

A promotional graphic for "Analog Bag Weekend" details the May 30-31 event, which invites Old Town Alexandria shoppers to collect limited-edition patches from five participating small businesses for $35. (Courtesy of Pippin Toy Co.)

Five Old Town Alexandria small businesses will join forces May 30 and 31 for "Analog Bag Weekend," a two-day event encouraging shoppers to step away from their screens and reconnect with hands-on creativity.

Fibre space, Penny Post, Pippin Toy Co., Red Barn Mercantile and Stitch Sew Shop are participating in the event, which organizers describe as a celebration of tactile creation over screen use.

📰 In brief

HRP Group will hold its 20th community meeting on the redevelopment of the former Potomac River Generating Station tonight at 6 p.m., an online session focused on project phasing, arts and cultural uses, environmental remediation and the power plant deconstruction plan. (The Alexandria Brief)

The city's Office of Housing is accepting applications for a lottery to buy one of four affordable condominiums at the Residences at Tidelock, a new 65-unit building in Old Town North. (The Alexandria Brief)

Southbound traffic was shut down Sunday morning in the 1000 block of N. Quaker Lane after downed power lines blocked the roadway. The incident knocked out power to nearly 1,000 Dominion Energy customers. (The Alexandria Brief)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins on Friday promoted an updated version of the city's Six-Month Look-Ahead, the strategic-plan tracker Alexandria first published in March, now refreshed to carry dozens of city initiatives through September. (The Alexandria Brief)

Life Alive Organic Cafe will open its Old Town location at 400 King Street on Tuesday, June 9, according to the company's social media. (The Alexandria Brief)

Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, announced Sunday it will financially support the Legion of Black Collegians after the University of Missouri ended designated funding for several affinity organizations amid federal scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. (Baptist News Global)

Lost Boy Cider and Perdata.ai will host a 4-week Friendship Night Friday Series starting on May 29th and continuing every Friday through June 19th. (EIN)

City crews will be repaving East Abingdon Drive (from Washington Street to end), West Abingdon Drive (from Washington Street to end), and Madison Street (from North Columbus Street to Washington Street) this week. (City of Alexandria)

Leaders in Hopewell, Prince George, Alexandria oppose nearly 30% proposed water rate increase. (WRIC)

Region

Virginia is pushing to reinvest express lane and toll revenue into public transit instead of road projects, even as public concerns persist about using priced roadways. (Virginia Mercury)

A coalition of President Donald Trump's critics, including an Alexandria resident, a fired prosecutor, and a college professor acquitted of assaulting federal agents at a protest, sued Friday to block payouts from a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for Trump allies claiming to be victims of a weaponized government. (The Alexandria Brief)

Sports

Curtis Mead went deep twice for his first multi-homer game, Luis García Jr. finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and the Washington Nationals hit six homers in a 10-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night. (The Alexandria Brief)

ACHS grad Gretta Anderson ('24) helped the UMass women's rowing team sweep the inaugural Mid-American Conference championships this month. Her Varsity 4 boat led wire-to-wire. Next up: the NCAA championship May 29-31. (UMass)

Irene Guerrero scored the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute and Scarlett Camberos added another in stoppage time to seal a 5-3 victory for Club America over the Washington Spirit for the CONCACAF W Champions Cup title Saturday night. (The Alexandria Brief)

Today in Alexandria

On this date in 1830, the United States Congress granted a charter to the Alexandria Canal Company, according to the Office of Historic Alexandria.

The canal had been proposed earlier that year by a group of Alexandria businessmen to link the communities of Georgetown and Alexandria, both of which were then within the boundaries of the District of Columbia.

Alexandria Canal Lift Lock and Pool No. 1, ca. 1861-1865. (National Archives.)

⛅ Weather

Today: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76 degrees. Light and variable wind. The chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 10 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65 degrees. Calm wind. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 5:47 a.m., sunset at 8:23 p.m. 14 hours & 36 minutes of sun. High tide at 5:28 a.m. & 5:53 p.m. Low tide at 12 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

6 p.m.: Community Meeting Regarding Transformation of Former Power Plant via Zoom
7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
7:30 p.m. Bravoholics Summer House Reunion Watch Parties at Cooper Mill

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Justin Gillen at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Cooper Mill: Music Bingo at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 6 p.m.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Scott Kurt at 6 p.m.
Lost Dog Cafe: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pete Baker at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Trivia at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Steve Earle at 7:30 p.m.
The Commodore: Trivia at 7 p.m.
The Garden Del Ray: Trivia at 7 p.m.

🏛️ City of Alexandria

City Government: Open | Flag Status: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: 1-Day Slide

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center
4:30 p.m.: Warwick Pool Open at Warwick pool
4:30 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open at Old Town pool
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open at Minnie Howard campus
7 p.m.: City Council Legislative Meeting
7 p.m.: Sister Cities Committee (Dundee and Helsingborg) in-person meeting
(City of Alexandria calendar)

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit — The Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program at Local History/Special Collections
All day: America 250 Community Mini Art Show at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
9 a.m.: Exhibit: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka — The Struggle and Beyond at Local History/Special Collections
10 a.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 1 Workshop — Beginner Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
10:30 a.m.: Bilingual Storytime at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons — Arkipeligo at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (waitlist)
6:30 p.m.: Summer Teen Volunteer Orientation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
6:45 p.m.: Eco:mmunion — Conversations to Sustain People and Planet at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
7 p.m.: Handcraft Tuesday — Evening Edition (virtual)
(Alexandria Library calendar)

🏫 Alexandria City Public Schools

Teacher Work Day - No school for students.
(ACPS calendar) (ACHS Titans sports calendar)

The Alexandria Brief

Alexandria, Va., news and information you won't find anywhere else.

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Publisher: Ryan Belmore, an Alexandria resident and journalist. Send feedback, story ideas, news, and tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.