The Alexandria Brief: Wednesday, November 26
Alex311 marks five years with faster response times, AI-powered upgrades planned | Alexandria City Council honors holiday traditions with proclamations | and more.
Good morning, Alexandria.
I was in attendance for the City Council’s legislative meeting last night. Council celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Del Ray Turkey Trot and the 54th anniversary of the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, and heard a report marking five years of Alex311. I will have further reporting on the city’s economic development plans and the work session with members of the General Assembly later this morning.
Here’s what you need to know for Wednesday, November 26.
Essentials
Weather: Showers likely today, mainly before 7 a.m. Areas of fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 71 degrees. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.
Increasing clouds tonight, with a low around 38 degrees. West wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.
The sun will rise at 7:02 a.m. and set at 4:48 p.m. High tides at 12:04 p.m. Low tides at 6:22 a.m. and 6:16 p.m. There will be 9 hours and 45 minutes of sun.
What’s happening in Alexandria today: Murphy’s Run Club, live music, and more. For a roundup of events, entertainment, meetings, and more today, visit the link below.
1️⃣ Thursday is officially “Del Ray Turkey Trot Day” in Alexandria
The Alexandria City Council celebrated two beloved holiday traditions Tuesday night, presenting proclamations recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Del Ray Turkey Trot and the 54th anniversary of the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley read the Turkey Trot proclamation, officially declaring Thursday, November 27 as “Del Ray Turkey Trot Day.” The five-mile road race, organized by the Del Ray Business Association and DC Road Runners, will take place Thanksgiving morning in the Del Ray neighborhood.
2️⃣ Alex311 has handled more than 172,000 requests since 2020
The city’s Alex311 customer service program celebrated its fifth anniversary with a report to City Council on Tuesday, showing significant improvements in response times and plans for AI-powered tools, including chatbots and virtual assistants.
Tenesia Wells, deputy director of the Department of Emergency and Customer Communications, told council members the program has processed 172,565 service requests since launching in 2020, with the percentage of requests resolved within estimated timeframes climbing from 72% to 90% over the five-year period.
3️⃣ Community rallies outside City Hall
Community members held a vigil at Market Square Tuesday evening, calling on City Council to adopt an ethical investment policy that would make Alexandria the first city in Virginia to divest from companies they say are complicit in human rights abuses abroad.
The demonstration, organized by Alexandria for Palestinian Human Rights, was attended by about two dozen people and was timed to coincide with the Council’s legislative meeting, but was not connected to any item on the evening’s agenda.
4️⃣ Next steps for Housing 2040
Alexandria officials will present draft recommendations aimed at stemming the loss of affordable housing when the Housing Affordability Advisory Committee meets Thursday, Dec. 4.
The committee will review two Housing 2040 initiatives: the Affordable Housing Preservation project unveiled on Nov. 17, and the Common Interest Communities project presented on Nov. 15.
5️⃣ Celebrating the holiday season in Alexandria
Alexandria’s holiday season, which kicked off last weekend with the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony, continues through New Year’s Eve with a month-long calendar of shopping events, parades, and waterfront celebrations.
Visit Alexandria, the city’s tourism bureau, has announced programming that includes the return of two signature parades in early December, along with neighborhood markets, seasonal traditions, and fireworks displays.
Extra Extra!
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $4.5 million in federal grants to support suicide prevention efforts for veterans in Virginia, including two grants totaling $1.5 million designated to serve Alexandria and other Northern Virginia communities. (The Alexandria Brief)
Multiple Northern Virginia organizations will host a World AIDS Day commemoration on Monday, December 1 at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center to honor those lost to HIV/AIDS and celebrate progress in treatment and prevention. (The Alexandria Brief)
The Jones Point lighthouse is slated for exterior repairs. (Alexandria Times)