Greetings Neighbors,
This week the Governor announced more details about his
Forward Virginia Blueprint
to re-open the Commonwealth. You can read the highlights below. With regard to
Northern Virginia reopening, in response to a letter from Chairman Jeffrey McKay, Loudoun County Chair Randall, Prince William County Chair Wheeler,
Governor Northam announced today that he has given
localities in "hot zone" areas of the state
leeway on when to reopen
if those areas have not met the 14-day benchmark set by his administration. This is important, because we know a
one-size-fits-all approach in the Commonwealth simply doesn’t work. We also communicated our desire to
coordinate with DC and Maryland to avoid confusion for our residents and businesses.
Though it is exciting to see a plan ahead,
it is not a declaration that things will go back to "normal". It is an easing of restrictions and a plan to
slowly re-introduce certain activities into our lives when needed. "Life" will not be as it was pre-coronavirus for many more months.
As parts of the economy re-open, it does not mean you should
or have to go out. It is still be safer to stay home as much as possible.
For example, last week, Fairfax County saw a spike in
cases. We are in the
exponential growth period of our epidemic curve and, unfortunately, will continue to see more cases and deaths in the coming weeks. I encourage you to
keep doing all you are doing to be safe.
I know
this ask isn't getting easier and we are all ready for it to be over.
My family and I share the stress many of you are experiencing, keeping safe while running a business,
changes in work and family routine and most of all
celebrating special occasions with our families.
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Amid the backdrop of this strange and unusual time, the stork has arrived once again with
Baby Hazel Kathryn Barth being born April 25 on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. She is the first child of
our daughter Katie, an OB/GYN there, and her husband Eric.
All are happy and healthy, although Deb and I sure
wish we could be there and safely share this joy!
This week the Board also held its
annual Budget Mark-Up meeting, voting to
accept the County Executive's Revised Proposed FY 2021 Budget package and his budget guidance, with no changes. The final Budget will be
voted on next Tuesday, May 12. Read below for
my comments at Budget Mark-Up.
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As always, take care of yourselves, your family and neighbors, and
support our local businesses and
not-for-profit service providers. Look out for those who
may need help in your neighborhoods and
let our office know if there are ways you or your neighbors need help. Read the
latest COVID-19 updates below.
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Respectfully yours in public service,
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Dan Storck
Supervisor, Mount Vernon District
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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Latest County COVID-19 News Links
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NOTE: Only those topics that are
new since my last newsletter are updated below. For
information sent in previous emails
visit our website
. If you know someone who
would like to
sign up for my newsletter, they can do so
here.
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FY 2021 Budget Mark-Up
Tuesday, the Board
voted 9-1 on the Marked-Up Budget package, agreeing to maintain the guidance of the
County Executive's amended FY 2021 Budget proposal. While this is
not the budget any of us were hoping to approve this year, it is
necessary as we pivot to address the needs created by COVID-19. This budget includes
no tax rate increases, even though our
expenses have gone up dramatically and our revenues down similarly. The Board will be
reviewing the budget quarterly to closely
monitor these factors and the impact of the pandemic. The final package will be
voted on next Tuesday.
Details of the package can be found here...
In my remarks regarding the Budget Mark-Up, I first
thanked my colleagues, particularly Chairman McKay, and our amazing staff, including County Executive Bryan Hill, and
our financial team, Joe Mondoro, Christina Jackson, Phil Hagen and many others, who have worked very hard to develop
not just one, but two budgets this year. I recognize that this year's budget will take
much more effort to manage and bring us through this crisis. I also thank Joe Mondoro for participating in my
second Budget Town Meeting, held virtually with my colleague Mount Vernon District School Board Member and Chair
Karen Corbett Sanders. We had
good engagement, hearing many questions and concerns due to this unusual time and our world being turned upside down.
Six months ago, we were
confident that our economy and community would continue to grow and prosper. Now, we are
monitoring the situation closely, recognizing that these confidences are at risk and cannot be taken for granted. Our
small businesses are acutely aware and concerned about this and are looking for our help and support. The
programs the County is providing are crucial and we continue to
identify new microloans and grant opportunities. I think the budget we are bringing forward today is a part of that. This recovery is going to be a
marathon, not a sprint. I believe this budget is designed to pace us. We have taken our first steps and if we get behind, we will need to pick up the pace; if we are doing well, we can carry on. In the end, it is
crucial to get our economy moving again, as this will get everything around it growing.
The
impact of this pandemic on our employees is significant, from personal protective equipment that they don't always have,
impacts on their families, taking care of loved ones, quarantining or self-isolating, and many
working remotely
for the first time and learning new skills to be successful at that. Through it all,
they are adapting and persevering and I thank them.
We have a
low to moderate income community that is deeply impacted, where there are often more residents per household, increasing the risk to these families.
Neighborhood Health in the Mount Vernon District has done a phenomenal job
working with the community to provide services and testing, and I
thank them for their efforts.
Schools will always be my priority. I recognize they are having a tough year and
will need to make adjustments just as the County has done. This school year
will go in the record books, and not for the reasons we would like. However, this does provide an opportunity to
practice the three key student goals that we had when I was on the School Board. Those are
academics, developing essential life skills and responsibility to the community. One of those life skills we are all practicing the most now is
resiliency!
Interestingly, we are seeing
positive environmental impacts as a result of the slow down in our economy. While this may be good for the planet, we need to invest in ways to
lower our carbon footprint
without
shutting down the economy. We have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but
more importantly to our children to find the balance to ensure the
economy of today continues to grow while keeping our world healthy. Future budget investments here can
bring great returns.
Our health around the world is truly at risk and that is a
key part of this funding package which provides for more
services and support for our health department.
Thank you to Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu for your work and your department's in responding to the needs of our community.
And, because it is not in the budget, I need to mention it is the
Year of the Woman and the
100th Anniversary of women's right to vote. It is with a heavy heart that I recognize we will not be
able to support additional funds for the
Suffragist Memorial at this time, but am hopeful this is something we will be able to
change later this year. Women's struggle for equal rights is one that we
must honor more effectively than we have and our support of this memorial will make a key difference.
I know many residents are upset about the
cancellation of yard waste services, both because they pay for these services and because of the potential environmental impacts. I advocated for and have been
advised these services should be
restored in May. In addition those serviced by County waste management will
receive a $15 credit and the County has committed to
keeping these rates lower in the future.
We have
much work to do and this is not the end of this conversation, just like this has not been a typical budget season. Going forward our
Board and Budget Committee will need more regular reporting and meetings to consider new information and adjust budgets as we move forward.
Bringing our economy roaring back, will have a
positive impact not only on schools, budgets and our health, but also on jobs, wages and
communities overall. I look forward to
sharing these conversations with you as we address the
many challenges COVID-19 has brought to our lives.
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Update from the Governor's Office
Governor Northam extended
Executive Order 53, which
places restrictions on businesses and gatherings of more than 10 people, through at least May 14. He expects to
begin easing restrictions soon in what he's calling Phase I.
Phase I:
- It is still safer-at-home.
- We should continue to social distance, telework, and wear face coverings in public.
- Gatherings of more than 10 people will still be banned.
- All businesses will be required to ensure physical distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols, and enhanced workplace safety.
- Easing of limits on businesses and faith communities.
Phase II:
- Vulnerable populations will be encouraged to continue to stay home.
- Social gatherings of more than 50 will be prohibited.
- Continued social distancing, teleworking, recommendation of face coverings.
- Further easing of business limitations.
Phase III:
- This phase will only begin if there is no evidence of a rebound in COVID-19 cases for a sustained period.
- It will still be safer for vulnerable populations to stay home.
- The ban on social gatherings will be removed.
- The limits on businesses will be lifted.
- Continue to use heightened cleaning protocols.
June 23 Democratic and Republican Primary Election
The County is
encouraging voters to vote by mail and select reason 2A on your
absentee ballot application. The races on the ballot will be the
statewide Republican Primary for Senate and the
Democratic Primary for the 11th Congressional District. You have until
May 26 to register to vote or update your voter registration.
- The deadline to request an absentee ballot is June 16.
You can vote
absentee in-person at only the Fairfax County Government Center, satellite voting places like the Mount Vernon Governmental Center will
NOT
be open. The Office of Elections is
offering curbside absentee voting. Call 703-222-0776 upon arrival.
- Weekdays: Offices are open M-F, 8am-4:30pm.
- Saturday June 13 and June 20, from 9am-5pm.
The Office of Elections
urgently needs election officers for the June 23 primary. The
deadline to apply is Friday, May 15.
Virtual Activities and Education
- The Workhouse Arts Center has opened many of their galleries online. This Saturday, May 9, they have their Virtual Second Saturday Artwalk scheduled. Plan for visual arts performances, music and performing arts classes, as well as yoga and Pilates classes.
- The Fairfax County Public Library offers access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagainzes, online classes and more.
- Neighborhood and Community Services has a number of resources for older adults looking to stay engaged and active.
- The Virginia Chamber Orchestra offers educational videos with accompanying study guides for students. They have recently added a video to their series "Music of the Presidents".
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How You Can Help
Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter Adopt a Shelter Pet Virtual 5K
The Friends are celebrating National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day with a virtual 5K - April 30 - May 10. Join us and help raise funds for Shelter pets!
Learn more and register...
Feeding Our Frontline Heroes
Apple Federal Credit Union, iHeart Radio and local restaurants have teamed up to
provide meals to Fairfax County Public Safety workers who are
“putting it all on the line to help save lives during this global pandemic.” This four week campaign will will provide meals for
all 135 officers on the evening shifts at 8 district police stations, including
Franconia, West Springfield and Mount Vernon.
More information and to donate...
Local Small Businesses
Many of our local small businesses are
reopening or have remained open, including
long time community favorite, Primos! Please continue to support them.
#BuySouthCounty
Stuff the Bus
On
Saturday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fastran buses will be parked at locations throughout the County to
collect food donations. Unlike past years, the buses will not be parked in grocery store parking lots. Buses will be parked in
less-frequented lots, to allow donors to comply with
social distancing recommendations. The donations will benefit 10 nonprofits in the County.
Locations near us include the
Mount Vernon Governmental Center, the
Gerry Hyland Government Center and the
Lorton Library and will benefit
United Community and the
Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC).
Other locations...
For those who are
unable to donate in person but want to contribute, Volunteer Fairfax has created a
Donation Page to connect with and
donate to nonprofits serving our community.
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Other News
Creatives on the Corridor
SFDC is looking for Creatives on the Corridor! Looking for anyone who considers themselves an
Artist, Musician, Crafter, Maker, etc. SFDC will soon start
live-streaming with Makers and starting to
plan future community events/festivals (for when that's allowed again).
Learn more...
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Additional Resources
Fairfax County Health Department
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Mount Vernon District Office | 703-780-7518
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