In This Issue...

  • Board Delays Considering Plastic Bag Tax – At the Environmental Committee meeting last week, I urged the Board not to move forward with a plastic bag tax for a number of reasons including that it is a new tax while so many of our residents are struggling with the impacts of the pandemic, that it will disproportionally affect lower income residents, we have no data to validate the basis of the tax, and the nature of the regulations is confusing. I recommended that the County instead focus on the real issue which is litter and better ways to recycle these highly recyclable bags.
  • Ban on Plastic Bags for Yard Waste Moves to Public Hearing – At the January 26, 2021 Board meeting, the Board will vote to authorize a public hearing on if the county should ban plastic bags for yard waste. In my February newsletter I shared with you my concerns about the Board’s proposed ban on plastic bags for yard waste. Since February, over 1,200 residents in Fairfax County responded to my survey on this issue with the overwhelming majority not in favor of a ban. See my update on the survey and proposed ban below.
  • COVID Update/Mass Vaccination Preparation Underway – The number of COVID cases and COVID-related deaths have increased as the weather continues to get colder, families are gathering for the holidays, and pandemic fatigue has set in. On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. Below I share some of the new information the county has released on COVID data, the vaccine and the preparation for mass vaccinations. I encourage all residents to follow the science, act responsibly and work together to prevent the spread of COVID, support our residents and local businesses who are struggling, and work to get our children back in school where the health experts say they need to be. I also want to continue to recognize and thank all our first responders, medical personnel, health department personnel, as well as those working retail and many others that continue to do their part to make sure our lives and economy are not further impacted despite the risk.

Other News & Information
  • Holiday Lights Competition
  • Springfield Land Use Committee Meeting: Autumn Willow (Tuesday, 1/12)
  • Made in Fairfax: Your Holiday Gift Guide
  • Awareness: Puppy Scams
  • COVID-19 and Flu Testing Available through INOVA
  • Express Lanes Grant Program
  • New GreenDrop Donation Center in Greenbriar Shopping Center
  • Looking for work? Weekend Contact Interviewers Wanted 
  • On the Lighter Side 
  • Four-Legged Friend of the Month: Oliver