Many, many thanks to the terrific volunteers who made today’s constituent cookout a great success! Team Englin hosted the event in Hopkins Court in the heart of Alexandria’s Section 8 housing neighborhood known as the Berg.

“I always enjoy spending time with my constituents from the Berg,” said David. “ The children and parents know me so well from all the time I spend here that we can talk candidly about their thoughts and concerns on a wide range of issues. That’s what’s so great about a gathering like this. We continue to bring people together, which helps me serve everyone and represent them better.”

This was the third such event Team Englin has hosted, and neighborhood attendance has growneach time. Despite doubling the food and drinks over the previous cookout, so many people came by that the food ran out after about an hour.

While David talked with residents to find out what issues are on their minds, volunteers entertained children with balloons and stickers and registered new voters. Andy Rivera of the Advancement Project was on hand to help connect any ex-offenders with resources to apply to have their voting rights restored, and other Team Englin volunteers talked with voters about Jim Webb and the upcoming U.S. Senate race.

Today’s successful event also marked a step forward in Team Englin’s efforts to grow a cadre of experience grassroots organizers from among our volunteer base, with John Alex Golden managing food and logistics and John Chapman managing volunteers.

On Thursday, David visited with the Garth family as part of The Arc of Northern Virginia’s “A Life Like Yours” campaign to give legislators a chance to see what life looks like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Ryan Garth, a resident of Fairlington in the 45th District, invited David and Arlington County Board Member Barbara Favola to visit him at his job with Sunrise Assisted Living. Ryan, with the help of his job coach, Todd, from ICON Community Services, is responsible for setting up the dining room and for some janitorial duties at the assisted living facility.

Ryan’s parents, Rusty and Judi Garth, shared how important this job is to his life.

“This gives his day some meaning”, said Rusty.

In addition to the two days a week that Ryan works at Sunrise, he volunteers his time to help Meals on Wheels. Ryan is on the MR Waiver Waiting List and relies on local funding from Arlington County to access the supports he needs to acheive community-based employment.

“Seeing how important these services are to Ryan’s quality of life and to his family’s ability function really drives home why the General Assembly must do more for families affected by these kinds of disabilities,” said David. “In particular, we need to push for differential funding for Northern Virginia to account for the higher cost of delivering many of these services in our region.”

ALEXANDRIA – Today Delegate David Englin (D-Alexandria) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s approval of Governor Kaine’s request for disaster assistance for homeowners, renters, and businesses who suffered damage in the recently declared disaster that includes the flooding in Huntington and other parts of the 45th District:

“I appreciate the Small Business Administration doing the right thing and approving this aid. For many of our people, these loans will make a critical difference toward rebuilding their homes and their lives.”

“Earlier today I traveled to Richmond and met with Michael Cline, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s State Coordinator, to discuss what more we can do to help people in the aftermath of the flood. While people in Huntington need the most help, Mr. Cline confirmed that anyone in our area who suffered damage — including residents of the City of Alexandria and Arlington County — may now apply for a low-interest loan from the Small Business Administration. Even if you think you cannot afford to repay one of these loans, it is important that you complete an application, since that is a necessary step toward being eligible for other forms of assistance that may become available. I know there are some families for whom even these loans will be financially out of reach, and we are exploring other ways to help them. In the meantime, I urge everyone who needs assistance to apply for one of these loans.”

Further SBA loan details and how to apply:

There are two types of SBA low-interest residential loans for which individuals can apply. Homeowners are eligible for Real Property Loans of up to $200,000 to repair or restore a primary home to its pre-disaster condition. Personal Property Loans can also provide homeowners or renters with up to $40,000 to help repair or replace personal property, such as clothing, furniture and automobiles lost in the disaster.

In addition, businesses suffering damage can apply for loans to help repair or replace damaged property as well as for loss of business.

Interest rates for homeowners and renters range from 2.937 to 5.875 percent depending on credit availability. Rates for businesses and nonprofit organizations range from 4 to 7.763 percent depending on credit availability.

Fairfax County announced that it will open a Disaster Loan Assistance Center on Monday, August 21 at 10 a.m. at the South County Government Center at 8350 Richmond Highway. The Center will remain open Monday though Friday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., until further notice and for one Saturday only, August 26, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The City of Alexandria and Arlington County Disaster Loan Assistance Center will open Wednesday, August 23 at the Arlington Parks and Recreation Building, 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. It will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Disaster Loan Assistance Centers may obtain applications by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. More information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Programs is available at http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

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David joined Governor Tim Kaine and several General Assembly colleagues today to announce that a criminal tracking and victim notification system used in Virginia prisons will be expanded to include offenders held in local jails. VINE (“Victim Information and Notification Everyday”) keeps crime victims informed about the custody and court status of offenders over the telephone, through the Internet, or by e-mail. The initiative, announced today in an event at the Fairfax County jail complex, is a partnership between the Commonwealth, the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA), and the Virginia Community Policing Institute (VCPI).

Over the next two and a half years, the expanded service will be implemented in all of the Commonwealth’s city, county and regional prisons and jails. The VSA received a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance of $1.25 million to fund the expansion.

“This system will be especially helpful to victims of domestic violence, who often live in fear that their abusers will hunt them down,” said David.

“The VINE service is one of the nation’s largest and most successful e-government programs, providing crime victims and other citizens with free, updated offender information 24 hours every day,” Governor Kaine said. “This tracking system provides additional peace of mind to those who have been victimized by criminals, and law enforcement officials tell us it can be an invaluable tool in serving and protecting our people.”

Users of VINE may call a toll-free number day or night to find out if an offender is in jail, and register by phone to be notified when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes. For more information about VINE, go to www.vinelink.com.

ALEXANDRIA – Today Delegate David Englin (D-Alexandria) issued the following statement in response to FEMA’s late-Friday denial of Governor Kaine’s appeal for Individual Assistance in the recently declared disaster that includes the flooding in Huntington and other parts of the 45th District:

“This callous, hard-hearted decision is another example of the Federal Government abandoning vulnerable citizens in their time of need. Several families in Huntington have lost everything and do not have the means to recover without the very financial tools FEMA has denied. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush paid lip service to reforming FEMA, but apparently those were hollow assurances. The message from FEMA is now crystal clear: When disaster strikes, you’re on your own.”

“Fortunately, our state and local leaders understand that we are one community and must be ready to help our neighbors in their time of need. I commend Governor Kaine and Congressman Moran for pushing this issue with FEMA, and Supervisor Gerry Hyland and his staff for their superlative response throughout the crisis. I know we will continue to do everything we can to help all of the families affected by this disaster to rebuild their lives.”

Constituents may call Delegate Englin’s office at 703-549-3203 any time.

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By all accounts from consumers and retailers, Virginia’s first Sales Tax Holiday was a big success. The “holiday” ran last weekend, Friday through Sunday. Shoppers in Virginia did not have to pay the 5-percent sales tax on school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, and on clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per article of clothing or pair of footwear. Additionally, retailers were permitted to voluntarily “absorb” the sales tax on other items, effectively giving shoppers a 5-percent discount on a wide range of goods purchases in Virginia stores.

“We saved about 20 dollars on school clothes for Caleb, which doesn’t sound like much, but to some families that will make a real difference,” said David. “This is a small measure of help to families struggling to make ends meet in our high cost of living area — and I was proud to support it in the General Assembly. Additionally, thanks to retailers voluntarily absorbing the sales tax on other items, last weekend’s ‘holiday’ gave shoppers from Maryland and D.C. a great incentive to spend their money in Virginia, which is always good for our local economy.”

The three-day “holiday” will take place each year beginning on the first Friday in August and ending at midnight on the following Sunday.

Virginia’s first Sales Tax Holiday begins today! For three full days, Friday, Aug. 4, through Sunday, Aug. 6, shoppers in Virginia will not have to pay the 5-percent sales tax on school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, and on clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less per article of clothing or pair of footwear. In addition, retailers may also voluntarily “absorb” the sales tax on any other items in their stores for these three days. Retailers who “absorb” the sales tax on non-exempt items must pay the sales tax themselves to the Tax Department.

“As a parent, I know how expensive getting ready for school can be,” said David. “This is a small measure of help — especially to families struggling to make ends meet in our high cost of living area — and I was proud to support it in the General Assembly.”

The Virginia Department of Taxation is extending its customer service hours to answer questions. Customer service representatives will be prepared to answer questions about the sales tax holiday until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The number to call is 804-367-8037. The department will be closed on Sunday. For further details about the “holiday,” check the agency’s special sales tax holiday Web site, http://www.tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday, which includes an all-inclusive list of school supplies and a representative list of clothing qualifying for the exemption.

The “holiday” is expected to save shoppers about $3.6 million in retail sales tax. The three-day “holiday” will take place each year beginning on the first Friday in August and ending at midnight on the following Sunday.

Many thanks to another houseful of Vote Strong grassroots volunteers who made tonight’s Volunteer Night a huge success! Once again, in addition to Team Englin stalwarts, we welcomed new volunteers, including James Martin of Virginia Progressive fame. Tonight also debuted Team Englin’s Volunteer Night Captain program, where we give experienced volunteers the opportunity to lead. Congratulations to “Colonel” Dan Cronin on a job well done!

Together we assembled a mailing to hundreds of David’s constituents and made more than 200 hundred phone calls to fight the so-called marriage amendment, which will empower the Commonwealth Coalition to get out the vote in November.

After getting things going at Campaign Central, David defied the heat and hit the streets to knock on doors and listen to the thoughts and concerns of his constituents.

“I’m incredibly lucky to have so many friends and neighbors willing to give their time and energy to help me continue communicating with my constituents,” said David. “Thank you for standing with me as we fight for progress together.”

Find out about the next Volunteer Night here! And remember that if there’s ever anything David can do for you, contact him at su.av.etats.esuohnull@nilgnEDleD.