Daily Brief: Tuesday, November 18
Alexandria proposes 40 strategies to preserve affordable housing, protect tenants; What's Happening in Alexandria - Tuesday, November 18; and more.
Good morning, Alexandria. I’m Ryan Belmore, founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief.
Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday, November 18.
Essentials
Weather: A chance of rain today , mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 50 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Rain tonight, mainly before 5 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 a.m., then patchy fog after 3 a.m. Low around 41 degrees. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%—new precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.
The sun will rise at 6:54 a.m. and set at 4:52 p.m. High tides at 6:56 a.m. and 7:11 p.m. Low tides at 1:05 a.m. and 1 p.m. There will be 9 hours and 58 minutes of sun.
On Tap Today: Ice & Lights, Sweet & Salty Book Club Meeting, live music, entertainment, and more. Get the full rundown below.
1️⃣ City unveils plan to save vanishing affordable housing, but needs state approval
Alexandria has lost nearly two-thirds of its naturally affordable housing since 2000—some 11,000 apartments that once housed working families are now priced beyond their reach. On Monday night, city officials unveiled an ambitious, 40-strategy plan to stop the bleeding during a Housing 2040 Community Meeting. The city’s market-affordable housing stock has plummeted from 18,000 units in 2000 to just 6,900 today—a 62% decline.
Many of the most significant tenant protections—including just cause eviction requirements, rent increase caps, and mandatory relocation assistance—require Virginia’s General Assembly to grant Alexandria new authority.
Local strategies that can be implemented immediately include expanding emergency rental assistance, providing legal support for vulnerable tenants, and expanding city rental subsidies. The preservation recommendations will be reviewed by the Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee on December 4, with public comments accepted through December 30.
2️⃣ Metro needs $136 million from Virginia
Regional leaders endorsed a plan Monday that calls for Virginia to contribute $136 million annually to Metro starting in fiscal 2028.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and WMATA boards jointly endorsed the DMVMoves initiative, with Metro’s $460 million total capital funding request split among Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Without new funding, Metro’s capital backlog would grow from about $5 billion to $22 billion by 2050, according to DMVMoves projections.
The funding would replace Metro’s 1970s-era signaling system with modern technology, purchase new railcars and buses, and repair infrastructure, including traction power cables, escalators, elevators, track, tunnels, and stations.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, who sits on the COG board and voted for the resolution, asked Metro officials how the plan’s success would be measured.
The resolution is non-binding and serves as an advocacy tool for state legislative efforts in 2026, with all three jurisdictions needing to approve their shares for the plan to work.
3️⃣ New campaign offers cash assistance to Alexandria residents hit by shutdown
A new initiative aims to provide direct financial assistance to Alexandria residents who are still reeling from the recent federal government shutdown, organizers announced on Monday. NeighborShare ALX will offer cash support over the next three months to federal employees, contractors, hourly workers, and families affected by the shutdown. The campaign is backed by ACT for Alexandria.
4️⃣ Alexandria police host toy drive Friday, Christmas tree sales to support youth programs
The Alexandria Police Department is offering residents two ways to support local youth this holiday season. The department’s Youth Resource Unit will host a holiday toy drive on November 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the APD satellite office in Bradlee Shopping Center, located at 3640 King Street. New, unwrapped toys for any age group may be donated, though items suitable for teenagers are the greatest need. Collected toys will be distributed to mentees from Alexandria City High School and their families in December.
Starting November 28, the Alexandria Police Youth Camp will launch its annual Christmas tree sales fundraiser at 110 Callahan Drive. Trees will be available Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through December 15. All proceeds send Alexandria youth to the police youth camp.
5️⃣ Minnie Howard competition pool reopens after filtration system repair
The competition pool at Minnie Howard Aquatics Facility has reopened following a mechanical issue with its filtration system that forced an unexpected closure earlier this month. The pool shut down on Nov. 10 after experiencing problems that required warranty repair with the original installer.
Extra Extra!
Quantrell Avenue near N. Armistead Street was closed Monday evening after a vehicle caught fire inside a parking garage, according to the Alexandria Police Department. (The Alexandria Brief)
A federal magistrate judge at the Alexandria Division courthouse ordered the full disclosure of grand jury materials to former FBI Director James B. Comey Jr.’s defense team Monday, citing what he called a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps” that could lead to dismissal of the indictment. (The Alexandria Brief)
One year in, Alexandria Police Chief talks crime drop, building trust, and ICE enforcement. (WUSA9)
The Alexandria City Hall renovation project will return to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday night. (The Alexandria Brief)