The Alexandria Brief: Wednesday, January 14
Election results, City Council decisions and what else to know today
Good morning, Alexandria.
After a long night of vote counting, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker emerged as the Democratic nominee for Virginia Senate District 39, and I’ve got full coverage of what comes next. I also followed the City Council’s first meeting at its temporary Mark Center home and have a detailed recap of the decisions and debates that shaped the night.
Here’s what you need to know today.
1️⃣ Bennett-Parker wins Senate primary, will face Republican Lineberry in Feb. 10 special election
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker cruised to victory in Tuesday’s firehouse primary for Virginia Senate District 39, capturing 70.6% of the vote, the Alexandria Democratic Committee announced around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Bennett-Parker received 3,281 votes. Former Del. Mark Levine finished second with 807 votes (17.4%), followed by activist Charles Costen-Sumpter with 321 votes (6.9%) and former Vice Mayor Amy Jackson with 238 votes (5.1%).
Bennett-Parker will face Republican Julie Robbens Lineberry in the Feb. 10 special election. The seat carries significant weight — Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the Virginia Senate, and the legislative session began Wednesday morning in Richmond.
Bennett-Parker said she was honored to become the Democratic nominee for Senate District 39, thanking voters, volunteers and fellow candidates in a message posted early Wednesday morning.
2️⃣ Alexandria City Council Recap: City Hall design, union contracts dominate first meeting at temporary home
The Alexandria City Council concluded a four-and-a-half-hour meeting shortly before midnight Tuesday at its temporary home in the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, somewhat overruling the Board of Architectural Review on City Hall renovation designs and approving union contracts covering police, fire, and administrative workers.
The meeting marked the council’s first legislative session at the Mark Center Drive facility while City Hall undergoes a $123.6 million renovation. Construction mobilization begins January 20.
3️⃣ Federal job losses accelerate as Alexandria braces for budget season
Federal workforce reductions that began straining Alexandria last year have accelerated sharply, City Manager James Parajon reported Tuesday night, with national federal employment down 277,000 positions—or 9 percent—since January.
“There is continued uncertainty, primarily related to some of the federal administration policies and practices,” Parajon told the City Council during his monthly State of the Economy report. “That uncertainty is manifested itself particularly in the money markets, the capital markets that really fuel much of our economy.”
The update comes as the city prepares to enter budget season, with Parajon’s proposed FY 2027 budget presentation scheduled for Feb. 24.
4️⃣ Funding cuts, ICE fears strained Alexandria Health Department in 2025, report says
Concerns about immigration enforcement disrupted the Alexandria Health Department’s community outreach in the Arlandria neighborhood last year, according to the department’s annual report released Tuesday.
The report states that concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence and detainments in Arlandria interrupted planned engagement there. Community events were cancelled as residents shared fears of gathering, prompting staff to connect with residents individually or in safe spaces instead.
The department saw a drop in outreach activities overall due to staff losses and safety concerns, logging nearly 5,900 community interactions across 187 activities.
5️⃣ Metro closures to disrupt Alexandria commuters, airport travelers this spring
Metro riders heading to Reagan National Airport or points north face significant disruptions this spring as the transit agency begins weekend closures of the Crystal City station for the construction of a new entrance.
Beginning Feb. 14, the Crystal City station will be closed for 10 weekends through late June, halting train service between the Pentagon City and National Airport stations. For three of those weekends, the National Airport station will also close, extending the service gap to Potomac Yard.
The closures will affect Yellow Line riders traveling from Huntington, Eisenhower Avenue, King Street, and Braddock Road stations, as well as Blue Line passengers from Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street.
📰 Extra! Extra!
Alexandria City Council approves funding for three union contracts (The Alexandria Brief)
Alexandria’s historic museums director wins seat in Virginia House (The Alexandria Brief)
Yami Buffet officially opens on South Van Dorn Street (The Alexandria Brief)
Warner warns Trump’s Fed attacks will drive up borrowing costs for Virginians (The Alexandria Brief)
Alexandria under drought warning as DEQ declares significant dry spell imminent (The Alexandria Brief)
AC Athletics Announces New Coach for Boys Lacrosse (Alexandria City Titans)
Alexandria launches poetry contest with winners work featured on DASH buses (WJLA)
Alexandria Restaurant Week returning with diverse food options (DC News Now)
Popular Alexandria record shop floods, forced to close (NBC4 Washington)
🗓️ Today in Alexandria
Mostly cloudy today, with a high near 54 degrees. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Rain likely tonight, mainly before 3 .am. Cloudy, with a low around 27 degrees. The sun will rise at 7:25 a.m. and set at 5:09 p.m. There will be 9 hours and 44 minutes of sun.
Events & Things To Do
12 p.m.: Ice & Lights - Daytime Ice Skating at Cameron Run
5:30 p.m.: Ribbon Cutting at Arielle Shoshana
6 p.m.: Literary Libations | January Book Club at The Study at Morrisson House
6:30 p.m.: Sushi & Cider at Lost Boy Cider
7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
Live Music & Entertainment
219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: Derek Gripper & Ballake Sissoko at 7:30 p.m.
The Light Horse: Trivia at 7 p.m.
City of Alexandria
Government: Open. Flag: Full Staff. Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
8 a.m.: Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission meeting at Lloyd House.
9 a.m.: Walk-in Wednesday hiring event at Police Headquarters
12 p.m.: Author talk with Melba Moore at Alexandria Library
5:30 p.m.: Alexandria Transit Co. Board of Directors meeting at Beatley Central Library
6:30 p.m.: Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission meeting at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
7 p.m.: Clifford, Fulton, Manning storm sewer project meeting at Mt. Vernon Recreation Center
7 p.m.: ACPD monthly meeting at Lee Center
Alexandria City Public Schools
6 p.m.: Wrestling: Boys Varsity Squad at W.T. Woodson High School
Alexandria Library
10:30 a.m.: Stitcher’s Space at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library.
10:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, Periodicals Room.
11 a.m.: Just Babies at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, Youth Services Area.
11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, Periodicals Room.
12 p.m.: Author talk with Melba Moore at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, Large Meeting Room.
3:30 p.m.: Mystery Book Club discussion of “Bangalore Detectives Club” by Harini Nagendra, virtual via Zoom.
4 p.m.: Crafts and Cocoa: Embroidery at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library, Beth Patridge Meeting Room.
5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 conversation workshop at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, Story Room.
6 p.m.: Literary Virginia Book Group discussion of “The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore,” virtual.
6 p.m.: Knit Nite! at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library.
On this day in Alexandria History
1941: The federal government purchased 41 acres of land at Chinquapin Hollow along King Street for $15,000 to develop the Chinquapin Village War Housing Project, created for the families of defense workers at the newly reactivated Torpedo Factory on Alexandria’s waterfront. Named for the Chinquapin tree, whose small husked acorns were used for centuries as a staple of the Native American diet, the community consisted of 300 family units sheltering nearly 1,500 people. Due to its somewhat rural isolation, the complex included internal public amenities, including a community hall for social activities and church services, a softball field, and a children’s playground. At the height of torpedo production, three shifts of workers were continually shuttled from their temporary homes to the factory three miles away by buses, 24 four hours a day, and seven days a week. Although the duplexes were small and drafty, residents from many states appreciated the sense of community and friendship that developed on site. Dismantled in the 1960’s, remnants of Chinquapin Village still remain behind the Chinquapin Recreation Center.
1962: The new Alexandria Hospital on Seminary Road was officially dedicated. Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson cut the ribbon before a crowd of more than 5,000. The new facility cost around $3.7 million to build.
