Fairfax County government | FFXnow

Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano shares concerns about incoming Va. attorney general

Published November 19, 2021 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve T. Descano delivers remarks at a press conference in Fairfax (File photo by Jay Westcott)

The results of Virginia’s 2021 general election could have significant ramifications for local efforts to seek alternatives to jail and other criminal justice reforms, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano says.

Descano, a Democrat, addressed expectations that his agenda will clash with that of Republican Attorney General-elect Jason Miyares in an online event on Tuesday (Nov. 16) hosted by the McLean chapter of the American Association of University Women, which seeks to promote equity and education for women and girls.

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Fairfax County residents worried about flooding and power outages from climate change, survey finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2021 at 2:00PM

Flooding, power outages, and other impacts from storms are among the top climate change-related concerns for Fairfax County residents, the recently released results of a county survey suggest.

606 community members participated in the survey that the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) conducted between June 8 and July 2 as part of its Resilient Fairfax initiative, which will produce a plan for how the county can withstand and adapt to the threats introduced by a warming planet.

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Task force weighs potential cost and benefits of renaming Lee and Lee-Jackson highways

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 21, 2021 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County's Confederate Names Task Force convenes for a meeting on Oct. 18 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Though they have cropped up with increasing regularity both locally and nationally in recent years, conversations about how to handle symbolic reminders of the Confederacy remain as emotionally charged as ever.

That was evident in the most recent meeting of Fairfax County’s Confederate Names Task Force, which has been charged with determining whether the county should rename Lee and Lee-Jackson Memorial highways.

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Collective bargaining approved for Fairfax County government workers

By David Taube

Published October 20, 2021 at 9:30AM | Updated November 27, 2024 at 10:46AM

Fairfax County Government Center (file photo)

For the first time in decades, Fairfax County workers have collective bargaining powers.

The county Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance 9-1 yesterday (Tuesday) allowing unions to negotiate for pay, benefits, working conditions, scheduling, and more. The lone opposing vote came from Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.

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Fairfax County seeks public input on Lee and Lee-Jackson highway names

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 15, 2021 at 9:30AM

For anyone who feels strongly about whether or not Lee Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway should continue to bear those names, the time to share that opinion has arrived.

The Fairfax County Confederate Names Task Force launched a survey yesterday (Thursday), kicking off the community engagement phase of its review of whether to rename the highways.

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Most Fairfax County government workers vaccinated against COVID-19 with mandate now in effect

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 12, 2021 at 2:00PM | Updated October 12, 2021 at 2:34PM

(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Fairfax County government workers must now show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing. The vast majority have chosen the former option, the county says.

The county’s policy officially took effect yesterday (Monday).

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Fairfax County board defers vote on collective bargaining as advocates call for change

By David Taube

Published October 6, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated October 6, 2021 at 6:48PM

Tina Williams, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, speaks at a rally prior to a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to allow collective bargaining of county government workers (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 6:45 p.m.) Scores of people called on Fairfax County to adopt a more robust collective bargaining policy for county government workers at a Board of Supervisors public hearing on a proposed ordinance yesterday (Tuesday).

At a rally before the public hearing and at the meeting itself, labor union representatives and other speakers stated that they want more workers to be eligible to participate in collective bargaining, more ability to negotiate working conditions, and more flexibility in discussing labor issues while they’re at work.

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Board of Supervisors officially adopts countywide strategic plan

By Matt Blitz

Published October 6, 2021 at 11:00AM

Fairfax County Strategic Plan (Photo via screenshot/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County officially has its first countywide strategic plan.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 yesterday (Tuesday) to adopt the document, which presents an all-encompassing, coordinated vision for the county’s operations, priorities, and services over the next two decades.

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Fairfax County sets Oct. 11 deadline for employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

By Matt Blitz

Published September 30, 2021 at 2:00PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:38PM

The Fairfax County logo is shown on the front of the Fairfax County Government Center building at 12000 Government Center Parkway (Staff photo by David Taube)

(Updated at 2:10 p.m. on 10/1/2021) All Fairfax County employees will be required to be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 tests by Monday, Oct. 11, FFXnow has learned.

County government employees who do not get vaccinated or are not fully vaccinated by Oct. 11 will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing to remain employed, including if they receive a medical or religious exemption.

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A guide to early voting, which kicks off tomorrow in Fairfax County

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 16, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:46PM

Although Election Day is still more than six weeks away, Fairfax County residents can start casting their ballots when early voting begins tomorrow (Friday).

The county will have three sites open for voting in the Nov. 2 general election for Virginia’s governor and other state offices: the Fairfax County Government Center, the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, and the North County Governmental Center.