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Morning Notes

Published March 6, 2024 at 8:15AM

Lake Anne Plaza in Reston (staff photo by James Jarvis)

ICYMI: Fairfax Connector Workers to Vote on Contract — Members of ATU Local 689, the union that represents Fairfax Connector bus drivers and mechanics, will vote today (Wednesday) on whether to ratify a tentative contract agreement with operator Transdev. If the deal is approved, it would end a nearly two-week-long strike that disrupted travel for thousands of bus riders. [FFXnow]

Ohio Murder Suspect Arrested in Springfield — “A man wanted on murder charges in Columbus, Ohio, was arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Monday night after police said he fled from a traffic stop and struck multiple police vehicles before authorities took him into custody.” Police said the man and “multiple police officers sustained minor injuries during the arrest.” [WTOP]

UPDATED: Fairfax Connector strike ends as union members approve new contract

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 5, 2024 at 8:40PM | Updated March 6, 2024 at 9:47PM

Fairfax Connector workers represented by ATU Local 689 strike outside the West Ox Bus Facility (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Updated at 9:45 p.m. on 3/6/2024 — Fairfax Connector workers with ATU Local 689 voted today (Wednesday) to ratify a new contract with bus operator Transdev, ending a 15-day strike, the union announced.

The bus system will officially resume service on Friday (March 8), according to Transdev and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Fairfax County court gets grant to preserve and digitize historical records

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 5, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated March 5, 2024 at 12:48PM

A glimpse of Fairfax County's Land Tax Book 1896 (courtesy Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk's Office)

(Updated at noon) Fairfax County landowners interested in comparing their current tax assessment with what they might’ve been charged at the tail end of the 19th century will soon be able to find that information online.

Local land tax books from 1891 and 1896 are among the records that the Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office plans to preserve and digitize after receiving a nearly $21,270 state grant.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 5, 2024 at 8:15AM

A mourning cloak butterfly, often a sign of spring, sits on a bridge railing in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Polls Open for Presidential Primaries — Super Tuesday has arrived in Virginia and 15 other states that will help determine each party’s prospective nominee “ahead of the Republican National Convention from July 15 to 18 and Democratic National Convention from Aug. 19 to 22.” Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. An acceptable form of ID is required to vote in person, and all precincts will accept drop-off ballots. [Patch]

Burke Resident Advocates for Renaming — “The namesake of the unincorporated town of Burke has a dark history associated with slavery, leading some to speculate whether the time has come to change the name.” Resident David Martosko proposes renaming the area after Fenton, an enslaved child bought by Silas Burke, “but keeping the street names and shopping center names in order to force a conversation.” [WUSA9]

Virginia House panel kills bill prohibiting personal use of campaign cash

By Graham Moomaw / Virginia Mercury

Published March 4, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

Without taking a recorded vote, a Virginia House of Delegates committee on Wednesday [Feb. 27] again blocked legislation that would bring the state in line with the rest of the country by banning the personal use of campaign funds.

By a voice vote, the House Appropriations Committee chose to continue the bill until the 2025 General Assembly session.

Fairfax County kicks off menstrual supply drive for Women’s History Month

By Melanie Pincus

Published March 4, 2024 at 9:30AM

Menstrual pads and tampons (via Natracare on Unsplash)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is marking Women’s History Month with a menstrual supply drive.

Starting today (Monday) through March 29, sites throughout the county will collect new, sealed packages of tampons, pads, liners and menstrual cups.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 4, 2024 at 8:15AM

A pair of geese on a median in the Vienna Metro station parking lot (photo by Amy Woolsey)

Free Bikeshare Rides Offered During Bus Strike — “Fairfax County is offering free Capital Bikeshare rides for the duration of the Fairfax Connector work stoppage. Enter promo code TRYCABIFFXMAR24 for a free 45-minute ride on a classic bike. This is just one transportation alternative. Please visit our website…for more travel options.” [Fairfax Connector/Facebook]

Fairfax Connector Strike Disrupts Commutes — “On Thursday evening, a succession of Fairfax County residents took refuge in bus shelters next to the Vienna-Fairfax Metrorail station, bracing themselves against frigid temperatures and piercing winds…After learning about the strike from a reporter, the Fairfax residents waiting at the bus stop pulled out their phones and booked rides home on ride-share apps.” [Washington Post]

County should prioritize EV charging and employee compensation, environmental council says

By Acacia James

Published March 1, 2024 at 11:00AM

Electric vehicle chargers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

To further its environmental goals, Fairfax County’s to-do list should include building an electric vehicle charging network, addressing “critical” staff shortages, and addressing development pressure, the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) says in a new report.

An employee compensation policy update to attract and retain workers in departments such as wastewater and solid waste was the top recommendation in the 2023 Annual Report on the Environment (ARE), EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza told the Board of Supervisors during its environmental committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 29).

Fairfax County reports steady progress towards affordable housing target

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 1, 2024 at 9:30AM

Upcoming affordable housing projects include One University, a new development near George Mason University that's expected to finish this summer (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is moving steadily towards its target of building 10,000 net new affordable housing units by 2034.

The county has roughly 4,000 units built, planned or under construction that count towards the goal set in 2022, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Deputy Director of Real Estate Development and Finance Anna Shapiro told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 27).

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 1, 2024 at 8:15AM

A stone lion statue faces the Eden Center parking lot in Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Peak Bloom for Cherry Blossoms Predicted — “The cherry blossom trees at the Tidal Basin will reach peak bloom from March 23 to 26, 2024, the National Park Service announced at a National Cherry Blossom Festival press conference on Thursday…No matter when the flowers decide to bloom, this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from March 20 to April 14.” [Washingtonian]

Still No Resolution to Fairfax Connector Strike — “Fairfax Connector bus service will remain suspended through Friday, March 1 as unionized workers continue to strike, demanding a new contract with the bus’ contractor group…Negotiations between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 and bus operator Transdev continued Thursday, though the session ended without a new contract for workers, according to union officials.” [WJLA]