The Alexandria Brief: Wednesday, March 4

Good morning, Alexandria. Today is Wednesday, March 4 — the 63rd day of 2026, with 302 days left in the year.

March 4. As in: march forth. Four months ago today, I hit publish for the first time. 5,576 of you now subscribe. 777 stories published. Thank you for getting us here — and if you haven't yet, here's how you can help.

Frank Fannon and Sandy Marks sat down with The Alexandria Brief yesterday and offered sharply different visions for the city's direction. Fannon said voters want "balance" on council and wants to reverse the 2023 zoning changes. Marks said adding a Republican voice would "stop progress." Independent Alison Virginia O'Connell joins today at 3 p.m. — watch live at alexandriabrief.com. Early voting begins Friday.

Also today: what the proposed redistricting would actually mean for Alexandria — the 8th District would still be blue, but stretched 100 miles south with a 31-point swing in partisan lean. And ALIVE!'s Empty Bowls raised more than $80,000 to fight food insecurity on Saturday.

Here's what you need to know today.

~ Ryan

1️⃣ Fannon, Marks make their case ahead of early voting; O'Connell interview today at 3 p.m.

The first two candidates in the April 21 City Council special election sat down with The Alexandria Brief Tuesday — and offered sharply different visions for the city's direction.

Frank Fannon, the former Republican council member running as an independent, said voters keep telling him the same thing: their opinions don't matter. "They want some balance on the city council," he said. Fannon said he opposes the 2023 zoning changes allowing four-unit buildings in single-family neighborhoods and wants to find three colleagues willing to reverse the vote. On the redistricting referendum, he said he opposes partisan redistricting regardless of which party benefits.

Sandy Marks, the Democratic nominee, framed her candidacy as a continuation of Kirk McPike's work on climate, labor and legislative issues. "Do I think that we need to add a Republican voice to council? Only if we want to stop progress," she said. On redistricting, she was unequivocal: "It is crucial that we pass this."

Independent Alison Virginia O'Connell joins The Alexandria Brief today at 3 p.m. Watch live at alexandriabrief.com, YouTube or Facebook. Early voting begins Friday at 132 North Royal Street.

2️⃣ Redistricting would keep Alexandria in the 8th — and remake it

Virginia's proposed redistricting plan would keep Alexandria in the 8th Congressional District. But the district it would belong to would bear little resemblance to the one Alexandrians know today.

Under the current map, the 8th is the most Democratic congressional district in Virginia — compact, Northern Virginia–centered, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+26. Under the proposed map, it would stretch more than 100 miles south through Prince William, Stafford and Caroline counties, across the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, terminating near Williamsburg. Alexandria would remain the single largest locality by voting-age population at 21%, but it would share a representative with 19 localities it has little in common with.

The partisan lean would shift from D+51.5 to D+20.1 — a 31-point swing, the largest of any district on the proposed map. Still a safe Democratic seat, but a fundamentally different one. Early voting on the redistricting referendum begins Friday. The ballot asks whether the constitution should be amended to "restore fairness in the upcoming elections" — language Republicans call loaded and Democrats approved on a party-line vote.

3️⃣ ALIVE!'s Empty Bowls fundraiser raises more than $80,000 to fight food insecurity

The ninth annual Empty Bowls fundraiser raised more than $80,000 Saturday to support Alexandria residents facing food insecurity and housing instability, ALIVE! announced this week.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins addressed attendees at the event, held at Beth El Hebrew Congregation on Seminary Road. "For decades, ALIVE! has been a lifeline for families facing food insecurity across Alexandria," Gaskins wrote on X. Councilmember Canek Aguirre and Del. Kirk McPike were also in attendance.

More than two dozen Alexandria-area restaurants provided food for the evening, including Chadwicks, Daniel O'Connell's, Hank's Pasta Bar, Pork Barrel BBQ, The Dairy Godmother and Vola's Dockside Grill. According to ALIVE!, the $80,000 raised is enough to feed 600 families for a month through its food hubs and pantry partners, support two months of Community Fresh Markets serving roughly 1,200 families, and fuel the nonprofit's delivery trucks for an entire year.

📰 In brief

City Council and School Board hold joint budget work session tonight. The session runs 7 to 9 p.m. at the ACPS School Board Room, 1340 Braddock Place, and is dedicated to ACPS operating and capital budgets. The School Board is requesting a 3.5% city appropriation increase — $5.6 million more than City Manager Parajon proposed. Budget adoption is April 29. The Alexandria Brief

Less parking, new bike lanes coming to stretch of Braddock Road. WTOP reports on the Traffic and Parking Board's 7-0 approval of the Braddock Road Corridor Improvements Project, which includes protected bike lanes and parking removal between Russell Road and West Street. Changes are expected to be implemented in 2028. About 70% of Del Ray Citizens Association members supported the proposal; the Rosemont Citizens Association and Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations opposed it. WTOP

Senate to vote today on Kaine's Iran War Powers Resolution. The bipartisan resolution, introduced by Sens. Kaine, Schumer and Schiff, would require congressional authorization for U.S. participation in hostilities against Iran. It does not prevent the U.S. from defending itself or Israel from an Iranian attack. Office of Sen. Tim Kaine

Mount Vernon Trail to close near Old Town for shoreline repairs starting Friday. Federal contractors will block the trail segment between East Abingdon Drive and 3rd Street for an estimated five to six weeks. Trail users will be directed to an alternate route along East Abingdon Drive, where the easternmost lane will be blocked for two-way cycling. The Alexandria Brief

Community members gather for Iftar Night at Alexandria City High School. The 9th annual celebration drew around 380 students, staff, families and community members to the King Street campus cafeteria Friday evening — the most attendance since the event began. School Board members Tim Beaty, Michelle Rief and Alexander Crider Scioscia attended, along with International Academy lead Benjamin Hammond. "This event means presenting our religion and culture," said senior Marwa Usaman, part of the student leadership team. Theogony

ACHS junior Tobias Damico-Lassman wins state championship in 100-yard butterfly. Damico-Lassman finished with a time of 49.25 seconds at the VHSL championships Feb. 21, breaking his own school record. He is the first Titan to win an individual men's state title for swimming and the first swimmer to win at states since Katherine McAdoo in 2000. "More than anything, I'm just proud that I can get the program to that level," he said. Theogony

Affordable rental housing opportunities available at Longview Terrace. The Office of Housing is highlighting one-bedroom units at $1,650 and two-bedroom units at $1,875, with one month off for new leases on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact 571-410-6902 or leasing@housingalexandria.org. A full list of affordable units is available on the city's Renter Resources webpage. City of Alexandria

On this day in Alexandria's history: In 1827, St. Mary's Catholic Church at 310 South Royal Street was officially consecrated — the oldest Catholic parish in Virginia. The church traces its origins to 1795 when Colonel John Fitzgerald, a close friend of George Washington and early Alexandria mayor, took up a collection for a small chapel. According to local tradition, Washington himself made the first contribution. In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president; he received only two votes out of almost 1,000 cast in Alexandria. Historic Alexandria

Today in Alexandria

Weather: Patchy drizzle with scattered showers before 9 a.m., then showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 54 degrees. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.

Showers likely tonight, mainly before 1 a.m. Patchy fog after 8 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 47 degrees. Light and variable wind. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.