As the chair of the 2008-2009 Alexandria United Way Campaign, David this week submitted the following letter to the editor to Alexandria’s local newspapers:

To The Editor:

Alexandrians know how important it is to shop locally to support our community’s economy.  Today, I am asking Alexandrians to give locally to support our community’s non-profit health and human services providers.

Thanks to the generosity of citizens and businesses throughout our community, the Alexandria United Way is very close to reaching its 2008-2009 campaign goal.  With less than two months remaining in this year’s campaign, we need everyone with a little extra to spare to help put us over the top.  

Because of the recession, non-profit health and human services programs in Alexandria are facing monumental funding cuts at the very same time demand for their services has increased.  Reaching our fundraising goal will empower United Way to support these agencies to ensure that services are available to individuals and families in our community who need help.  [Read more...]

Alexandria - In its 2009 legislative report, released yesterday, Virginia’s leading reproductive rights advocacy group recognized Delegate David Englin (D-45) and other legislators for their efforts to protect access to birth control.

The latest NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia legislative scorecard puts Englin among 28 members of the House of Delegates and 19 members of the Virginia Senate who received 100 percent pro-choice ratings.

“Delegate David Englin is a strong and passionate advocate for the reproductive rights and health of the women of Virginia,” said Tarina Keene, Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia.  “From standing up to pharmacies that refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control to defending against politically-motivated attacks against reproductive health clinics, David is the kind of leader we hope to see more of in the General Assembly.”

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David joined community members and leaders in Market Square at City Hall today for the annual ceremony marking this year’s Days of Remembrance of the Holocaust, the state-sponsored annihilation of more than six million Jews and other victims by Nazi Germany during World War II.  Speakers emphasized the importance of remembering as a way to learn from the past so together we can play a more active role in preventing similar tragedies now and in the future.

Each year beginning in 1988, the City of Alexandria has sponsored a civic ceremony observing the Days of Remembrance of the Holocaust.

Despite this evening’s dreary weather, a full house of Team Englin volunteers turned out to Campaign Central to make phone calls and stuff envelopes to win a Democratic majority in the General Assembly and ensure David’s re-election this November.  Throughout the evening, volunteers stuffed thousands of envelopes to reach out to newly registered voters and to identify new supporters, and they made hundreds of phone calls to help Democrats pick up a targeted House of Delegates seat.

“What an amazing evening of grassroots action!” said David, thanking the volunteers.  “This is the kind of neighbor-to-neighbor work that delivered Virginia for President Obama last year and will bring the change we need to the General Assembly this year so we can deliver the responsible, progressive legislation our community and our Commonwealth need.”

Join us on Wednesday, May 20, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., for our next Volunteer Night.  Let us know you can join us at gro.nilgnedivadnull@ofni or 703-549-3203.

As part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project, parts of the Capital Beltway will be closed at night between Monday, April 14 through Sunday, April 26. The lane closures will effect both the Inner Loop and Outer Loop of the beltway starting at 10:00 pm, and will remain closed until 5:00 am.

During these lane and ramp closures, The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is encouraging drivers to take alternate routes to avoid delays on the Beltway. Details of the lane closures and recommended detours can be found online in the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project News Release (PDF).

The Variable Speed Limit (VSL) system will be utilized along the corridor to help lower speed limits approaching the construction area, reducing the likelihood of motorists having to make high-speed stops. Motorists should remember that speeding in an active speed zone is subject to additional fines by state and local police.  The VSL system offers current delay-time estimates on highway signs, which are strategically placed along the I-95 corridor to enable motorists to choose a different route before they encounter congestion. In advance of travel, motorists can also get real-time travel speeds by visiting the Wilson Bridge website.

Drivers can visit www.wilsonbridge.com for the latest traffic and project information.

Richmond - During a ceremony at the Virginia Capitol shortly before the General Assembly convened at noon today, Governor Timothy M. Kaine signed legislation sponsored by Delegate David Englin (D-45) that will make Virginia’s anti-bullying laws among the strongest in the nation by requiring the State Board of Education to develop guidance to help Virginia schools address the troubling new phenomenon of cyberbullying.

“In this new era of social networking and other online resources, it’s important that Virginia take a proactive approach to protect our children from potential cyber-bullying,” said Kaine. “Delegate Englin’s legislation will ensure the Commonwealth ranks among the very best states in the country on this issue .”

Kristl Widner of the national anti-bullying watchdog group Bully Police USA, announced prior to the ceremony that, thanks to Englin’s House Bill 1624, Bully Police USA recently upgraded its rating of Virginia’s law to “A++”, which is the highest possible rating.

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Alexandria – Delegate David Englin today filed the paperwork necessary to formally run for re-election to the House of Delegates. Currently serving his second term representing the 45th District, Englin has earned a reputation as a strong, effective, progressive leader, who knows how to overcome the partisan rancor in Richmond and deliver progress for the people of Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax.

“My goal has been to provide open, responsive, energetic leadership that makes government work for all Virginians,” said Englin. “With the help and support of friends and neighbors throughout our community, together we have moved Virginia a little farther along in the direction of progress, but there’s so much farther still to go. I ask the people of the 45th District to re-hire me as their Delegate this November so I can continue fighting for them in Richmond.”

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Virginia has one of the top-rated public higher education systems in the country, but as I speak with parents throughout the 45th District, many have shared anecdotes with me about how disproportionately difficult it is for even the highest-performing students from Northern Virginia to gain admission to the very public institutions their taxes support.

There was significant discussion during the 2009 General Assembly session about various legislative proposals to cap the proportion of out-of-state students, which might sound reasonable on its face, but the higher tuition we charge those out-of-state students helps keep in-state tuition reasonably affordable.  Unfortunately, without increased state spending on higher education, there is an inherent tension between keeping in-state tuition low and reserving enough positions for in-state students.

[Read more...]