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Here are some important resources to assist residents and businesses as our community recovers from today’s severe storms:
- Life-Threatening Emergencies: Report a life-threatening police, fire, or medical emergency by calling 911. Please do not call 911 to report power outages, downed power lines without injuries, or downed trees without injuries.
- Power Outages and Downed Power Lines: Report power outages and downed power lines to Dominion Virginia Power, at 866.DOM.HELP (866.366.4357).
- Gas Leaks or Outages: If you smell gas, evacuate the area and call 911. If you have no gas service, call Washington Gas at 703.750.1000.
- Water Leaks or Outages: Report water leaks or outages to Virginia American Water, at 800.452.6863.
- Downed Trees and Branches: Report downed trees and branches as follows: City of Alexandria call the City’s storm hotline, at 703.746.HELP (703.746.4357); Arlington County call 703.558.2222; Fairfax County call VDOT at 1-888-383-8368. Please note that the City/County cannot clear downed trees that involve downed power lines until Dominion Virginia Power clears the lines.
- Cable Television Outages: Report cable television outages to Comcast at 800.266.2278.
If you use a portable generator or stove, keep it in a well-ventilated area. Use flashlights instead of candles when possible, and never leave a candle burning unattended, or while sleeping. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible, and discard any refrigerated or frozen food that has been at more than 41 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours.
For more storm related information and information on cancellations and closings, visit one of the following links: City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County.
David joined a diverse group of lawyers and community organizations for a news conference in Arlandria today to declare their opposition to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s legal opinion and similar legislation that propose to expand the duties of local law enforcement officers to enforce Federal immigration laws.
“It’s the responsibility of the Federal government to enforce Federal immigration law. Virginia can’t even afford to mow the grass in highway medians. Now Ken Cuccinelli and Corey Stewart want to turn our local police into Federal immigration agents — even if it will make it harder for police to solve crimes and protect public safety,” said David. “Whose teachers are you going to fire and whose taxes are you going to raise to pay for these expensive and controversial polices?”
Also speaking at the news conference were: Simon Y. Moshenberg, Victor M. Glasberg & Associates Attorneys; Jon Liss, Executive Director of Tenants and Workers United; Tram Nguyen, Associate Director of Virginia New Majority; and Sarahi Uribe, Regional Organizer of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
“To the many immigrant families across Northern Virginia who feel shut out and singled out by the vitriol from Ken Cuccinelli, Corey Stewart, and their supporters, I’m also here to remind you that there are elected officials who stand with you,” said David.
Virginia’s fifth annual sales tax holiday on school supplies and clothing begins Friday and runs through Sunday. During this three-day period, customers will not be charged the 5 percent state and local retail sales tax on school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, or on articles of clothing, including footwear, costing $100 or less each. This includes items like pencils, pens, binders, paints, musical instruments and calculators, as well as pants, shirts, formal wear, shoes, flip-flops, and even uniforms.
While we commonly refer to this as the “back-to-school” sales tax holiday, it is important to remember that the sales tax holiday is for all shoppers, not just those with children heading back to school. Therefore, it is also an opportunity to purchase office supplies and shoes and clothing for adults tax free. There is no limit on the number of items you can buy as long as each one qualifies under the holiday’s guidelines.
Lists of exempt items, along with guidelines for the sales tax holiday and a set of frequently asked questions, are available online at the Tax Department’s Sales Tax Holiday Information Center.
Finally, since the sales tax holiday applies to anyone shopping in Virginia stores, including visitors from D.C. and Maryland, this is a great opportunity to invite friends from across the Potomac to come and enjoy a weekend of shopping in our community.
David spent this evening visiting 45th District neighborhoods hosting block parties for National Night Out, which has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships to protect public safety.
“Congratulations to all of the neighborhoods, Neighborhood Watch volunteers, and law enforcement and public safety professionals in our community for a wonderful evening,” said David. “It was great to see so many families, friends, and neighbors enjoying each others company and building the kinds of personal relationships that keep us safe and enhance everyone’s quality of life.”
For more information about National Night Out, click here.
Austin Grill at 801 King St. in Alexandria will donate a portion of sales that come in between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. tonight to United Way-Alexandria. For the past two years, David has chaired United Way-Alexandria’s annual fundraising campaign to support nonprofit human services organizations helping those in need in our community. He recently passed the torch to Councilman Frank Fannon to chair this year’s campaign.
“More than 1,600 Alexandria families live below the poverty line, more than 5,600 Alexandrians rely on food stamps, and over half of the children in Alexandria’s public schools qualify for federally subsidized lunches,” said David. “Supporting the United Way is a great way to make a difference to these neighbors in need, so I encourage folks to enjoy dinner at Austin Grill tonight between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Many thanks to this local business for supporting those in need in our community.”
