Table of Contents
Good morning, Alexandria. Another two-hour delay—ACPS is on a delayed opening again as crews continue hauling 600 snow loads per day. The city is now on day 10 of its storm response, with an Arctic front expected Friday that could bring snow showers and blustery, bitterly cold temperatures into the weekend, with highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low teens.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security cited an arrest it described as occurring in Alexandria to challenge Gov. Spanberger’s immigration order, but its own facts don’t support the claim. The Planning Commission advanced 11 townhomes and a rooftop gym in a nearly three-hour session on Tuesday night. And today we’re marking three months of The Alexandria Brief with a publisher’s note on what 1,000 subscribers means for local journalism.
Here’s what you need to know today.
1️⃣ Another two-hour delay today; city hauling 600 loads of snow a day
Second straight day of delayed opening. ACPS will open with a two-hour delay again as the snow response enters day 10. Students should report two hours later than their regular time.
Students returned to classrooms yesterday for the first time since Jan. 22, but the storm isn’t over. Crews are hauling about 600 truckloads of snow per day, widening lanes, and clearing sidewalks. Sidewalk fine enforcement resumed Tuesday, but Mayor Gaskins said the city is starting with warnings and offering help, not fines.
“We cannot have students, parents, or anyone else in the streets,” Gaskins said.
Why not more plows? Gaskins explained: the city maintains about 22 plows at roughly $400,000 each, plus $100,000 to $200,000 per unit for staffing. “It doesn’t make sense for us to maintain a large fleet of equipment that we only use every two to three years.”
If city plows pushed snow onto your sidewalk, the Mayor encourages you to submit a 311 request and crews will clear it.
Read more: ACPS announces another two-hour delay Wednesday | Mayor: City hauling 600 loads of snow a day; sidewalk enforcement starts with warnings
2️⃣ Fifth candidate enters council race
Charles Costen-Sumpter, who finished third in last month’s Senate District 39 firehouse primary, is jumping into the race for McPike’s council seat. He co-founded Safe Space NOVA, a nonprofit providing housing and mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth, and has served on multiple city commissions.
“My commitment to public service did not end with an election result,” Costen-Sumpter said. “It strengthened my resolve to keep showing up.”
That makes five Democrats: Costen-Sumpter, Sandy Marks, Tim Laderach, Roberto Gomez, and Cesar Madison Tapia. The firehouse primary is Feb. 21. Filing deadline is Thursday.
Read more: Charles Costen-Sumpter enters City Council race
3️⃣ Planning Commission approves townhomes, gym rooftop in nearly 3-hour meeting
The Planning Commission unanimously advanced a slate of development proposals Tuesday night, including 11 townhomes at Duke Street and Quaker Lane and a rooftop workout area for a Scandinavian-inspired gym on South Patrick Street.
The Duke Street project drew the most debate. Seminary Hill neighbors supported it but warned drivers will ignore “no left turn” signs at the Quaker Lane exit. The site has sat vacant for more than 40 years, and the developer agreed to dedicate 30 feet of property for the future Duke Street Transitway.
The gym rooftop—featuring battle ropes, tire flipping, and a walking track—concerned residents on the block behind it. One neighbor said she’d be “listening to people grunt, yell and have lights spotlighting right into my backyard.” The commission approved it with conditions, including an 11 p.m. closing time.
A contested North Columbus Street townhouse project was deferred after departing Commissioner David Brown argued it violates the zoning ordinance’s height limit on substandard lots—calling the issue “fatal to this application.”
The meeting also served as Brown’s farewell after nearly two decades of city service. He’s moving to the Pacific Northwest in March. Looking ahead: a 365-foot residential tower at 2425 Mill Road in Eisenhower East is on the March 3 docket.
Read more: Planning Commission approves townhomes, gym rooftop in nearly 3-hour meeting; Brown bids farewell
4️⃣ DHS uses Alexandria arrest to make case against Spanberger's ICE order. Its own facts undercut the argument.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a press release Tuesday announcing the arrest of a man it describes as a confessed MS-13 gang member, using the case to argue that Gov. Spanberger’s executive order on immigration enforcement has “made Virginians less safe.”
But a review of DHS’s own account raises problems. The arrest happened at a federal immigration office on Dec. 31—17 days before Spanberger took office. No state or local police were involved. The operation ran entirely through two federal agencies. And the location DHS described as “Alexandria” appears to be a USCIS office in Fairfax County.
Spanberger’s order didn’t ban local police from cooperating with ICE—it ended a requirement that state agencies enter into 287(g) agreements. Local departments remain free to cooperate. DHS did not respond to a request for clarification.
The case also raises a question DHS doesn’t address: if Hernandez confessed to five murders in federal custody after a 2017 removal order, why wasn’t he prosecuted or removed then?
5️⃣ Three months of proof that local journalism can work differently
Three months ago, I hit publish on the first edition of The Alexandria Brief. Last week, we passed 1,000 subscribers.
586 stories. 1,089 subscribers. 77 paid supporters. No ads. No sponsors. No outrage for clicks. Just the news and information Alexandrians need, covered with the belief that everyone reading it lives here too.
That number means I can spend 15 hours reading housing policy so you understand what’s happening in your city. It means I can be the only journalist in the room at a three-hour Planning Commission meeting and tell you what actually happened.
The math is simple: the more people who know about The Alexandria Brief, the more who subscribe. The more who subscribe, the more journalism I can do for this community.
If this has been valuable to you, become a paid member. If you can’t pay, sharing is just as important. Forward a story. Mention it to a neighbor.
Three months. 1,000 neighbors. Proof it’s possible.
Read more: Publisher’s Note: 1,000 neighbors
📰 In brief
Duke Street crash: Firefighters extricated one person from a vehicle and transported them to a trauma center Tuesday evening after a crash near Duke and South Reynolds streets. Westbound Duke Street was shut down for about an hour. The condition of the person involved was not immediately available. The Alexandria Brief
Partial shutdown ends; Beyer votes no: President Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion spending bill Tuesday, ending the partial shutdown. The House approved it 217-214. Rep. Don Beyer voted against it, citing concerns over DHS funding and threats to withhold money from states that voted against the president. DHS funding extends only through Feb. 13. Beyer is now pushing immigration enforcement reforms, including requiring federal agents to wear clear identification. The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria man sentenced to 22 years in child sexual abuse case: Antonio Rudy Gonzalez, 41, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. He was on supervised release for a nearly identical 2013 conviction when he committed the offenses on the same messaging platform. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release. The Alexandria Brief.
Free tax prep starts today: Trained volunteers are available to help Alexandria residents earning up to $69,000 file their federal and state returns. Sessions run Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.-noon at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center through April 18. Call 202-830-1480 (English) or 202-869-2999 (Spanish) to schedule. The Alexandria Brief
Free EV charging assessments for businesses: The city is offering free electric vehicle charging feasibility assessments for Eco-City Businesses with off-street parking. Participating businesses get a site evaluation and report with cost estimates and installation requirements. Applications open through March 31. Not an Eco-City Business? Join free at the Eco-City Business website. Webinar Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. City of Alexandria
College sailing coming to Alexandria this spring: Old Dominion University released its spring schedule, with multiple regattas planned in Alexandria waters. The Monarchs host races here Feb. 28-March 1, March 21, and April 12, competing against Georgetown and others. ODU Sailing
Episcopal High School hires three-time state champion football coach: Zach Matthews, who led Bedford High School in New Hampshire to three state titles, is stepping down to become head football coach and assistant athletic director at Episcopal. His most recent team beat Pinkerton Academy 35-7 for the championship this past fall. He'll start after finishing the school year in Bedford. WMUR
On this day in 1861: Unionist George Brent was elected to represent Alexandria at the upcoming secessionist convention in Richmond. Brent, who supported slavery, correctly predicted that if Southern states seceded, they would likely lose a war with the North—possibly resulting in the elimination of slavery in all states. Historic Alexandria
Reading this on the web? Get The Alexandria Brief delivered to your inbox every morning. Subscribe here—it’s free.
🗓️ Today in Alexandria
Partly sunny, with a high near 35 degrees. North wind 6 to 10 mph. Tonight: mostly cloudy, gradually clearing, with a low around 18 degrees.
Sunrise: 7:10 a.m. | Sunset: 5:33 p.m.
Things To Do
- All Day: Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week throughout Alexandria
- 7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
- Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
- Evening Star Cafe: Open Mic at 8:30 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Line Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Port City Brewing: Bluegrass Jam Night at 7 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Light Horse: Trivia at 7 p.m.
City of Alexandria
Government: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash & Waste Collection: On Time
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin Park
- 8:45 a.m.: Supplemental Retirement Plan Pension Board meeting
- 9 a.m.: Walk In Wednesday Hiring Event for Alexandria Police Department.
- 10 a.m.: Stormwater Utility Credit Program webinar (business session)
- 2:30 p.m.: Board of Appeals hearing (virtual)
- 5 p.m.: American Revolution watch party at Beatley Central Library
- 6 p.m.: Independent Community Policing Review Board
- 6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
- 6 p.m.: Mental Wellness Community Coalition meeting
- 7 p.m.:
Board of Architectural Review— CANCELED
Alexandria City Public Schools
- All public schools: Two-hour delay.
- Find the ACHS sports calendar here.
Alexandria Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Stitcher’s Space at Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Beatley Central Library
- 11 a.m.: Just Babies at Barrett Branch Library (ages 0-12 months)
- 11:30 a.m.: 1s and 2s Time at Beatley Central Library
- 5 p.m.: Paws to Read at Beatley Central Library (ages 6-12)
- 5 p.m.: American Revolution watch party at Beatley Central Library
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning Workshop at Beatley Central Library (intermediate)
- 6 p.m.: DIY Embroidery Basics at Duncan Branch Library (waitlist)
- 6 p.m.: Knit Nite! at Beatley Central Library (ages 8-18)
- 6:30 p.m.: English Language Learning at Duncan Branch Library
- 7 p.m.: Monthly Meditation (virtual)
1,089 subscribers. 77 paid supporters. No ads. If The Alexandria Brief has earned a place in your morning, consider supporting it.
