The Alexandria Brief: Thursday, December 11
Holiday shopping, federal job losses, and why showing up matters
Good morning, Alexandria. I’m Ryan Belmore, founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief.
It was great meeting so many folks last night at The Chamber ALX’s 2025 Merry Membership celebration at Continues. Thanks for the conversation, tips, and ideas.
The holiday spirit continues tonight with the Del Ray Sip & Shop and Ice & Lights at Cameron Run.
Here’s what you need to know today.
1️⃣ Holiday shopping, live music highlight Thursday
Bundle up for a chilly but sunny Thursday, with temperatures around 40 degrees and gusty winds. The holiday season continues with the Del Ray Sip & Shop along Mount Vernon Avenue starting at 6 p.m., while Ice & Lights: The Winter Village opens at Cameron Run at 5 p.m. The West End Business Association and Eisenhower Partnership are hosting a networking social at Indo Chen at 5 p.m.
City boards will meet throughout the day, including both the Supplemental Retirement Plan Pension Board and the Fire and Police Officers Pension Plan Board at 8:45 a.m. The Commission on Aging holds a virtual meeting at 4:30 p.m., and the Beautification Commission meets at 7 p.m. Alexandria’s libraries are busy with programming, ranging from story times and retirement-planning workshops to a DIY wreath-making session at the Duncan Branch.
Live music fills venues across the city tonight, headlined by Eric Benet’s Holiday Tour at The Birchmere at 7:30 p.m. Trivia nights take over Aslin ALX, Hops N Shine, and Lost Boy Cider, while local acts perform at Murphy’s Pub, Lena’s, and Laporta’s Restaurant.
2️⃣ Federal job losses, rising inflation straining residents
City Manager James Parajon delivered a sobering economic update on Tuesday night. Northern Virginia has lost 6,600 federal jobs over the past year, and the professional services sector shed another 10,300 positions.
The pressure is showing up at City Hall. Car tax payment plan requests have jumped 34% since early November — a sign, Parajon said, that more households are “living paycheck to paycheck.”
3️⃣ Alexandria native appointed permanent Police Auditor
In brighter news, the Council unanimously appointed Amaratu Kamara as the city’s permanent Independent Policing Auditor. The Alexandria City High School graduate has led the civilian oversight office in an acting capacity since late December 2024, following the death of inaugural auditor Kim Neal.
“When I graduated from law school, I really was on a quest to find my purpose,” Kamara told council members, with her parents watching from the gallery. “My new mission is to now uplift the voices here in Alexandria.”
Under her leadership, the office launched an online complaint system and is investigating the August in-custody death of Allan Tucker. She expects to release findings within 14 days of receiving the Critical Incident Response Team’s recommendations.
4️⃣ Sheriff Casey named to Spanberger transition team
Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey has been appointed to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s transition committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Policy, becoming the third city official tapped for the incoming administration’s “United for Virginia’s Future” committee. Casey, a 21-year law enforcement veteran in his second term as sheriff, will serve on the eight-member Criminal Justice/Corrections Subcommittee.
Casey joins Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Councilman Canek Aguirre, who were named to Spanberger’s transition committee in November. The committee includes more than 100 Virginians tasked with preparing the Democrats’ administration ahead of her January inauguration following her victory over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.
5️⃣ Publisher’s Note: The kids are listening
New state data shows Alexandria students trailing Virginia averages in every tested subject, and it’s okay to want more from our schools. But I’ve been thinking about how we talk about it. Scroll through comments on any school story or attend a school board meeting, and you’ll hear “failing” and “behind.” The kids hear it too. I know because I was one of those kids—not here, but in Rhode Island, bouncing through foster care. I heard what adults expected of kids like me, and I almost became it.
The frustration is easy to find online. Blame flies at the school board, central office, and superintendent. But buried in those threads, neighbors are celebrating real progress at Jefferson-Houston, a school the community organized around. Black students and economically disadvantaged students are showing meaningful gains. That didn’t happen because people posted about it. It happened because people showed up.
So instead of another thread about what’s wrong, ask different questions: Is there a kid who could use an adult in their corner? A teacher to thank? A classroom to volunteer in? ACPS has a volunteer portal. Alexandria Tutoring Consortium pairs adults with kids learning to read—last year, 89% of their students met benchmarks. A comments section isn’t a community. A neighborhood is. And neighborhoods are built by people who show up.
Extra Extra!
On Thursday, December 11, the City of Alexandria will slide trash collection by one day to Friday, December 12, due to operational changes. (City of Alexandria)
The Alexandria City School Board will hold a public hearing tonight on proposals to name four school facilities; decisions are complicated by close poll results, questions about costs, and debate over whether to change standards after petitioners followed the established process. (The Alexandria Brief)
Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08) and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced bicameral legislation to bring ranked choice voting (RCV) to congressional races across America. (Rep. Beyer)
Ahead of Senate Vote, Warner, Shaheen Hold Spotlight Forum on the Disastrous Impacts of ACA Tax Credit Expiration (Sen. Warner)