To the Fairfax County Community,
Election Day in Virginia is right around the corner (Nov. 2!), have you voted yet? On the ballot is the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and members of the House of Delegates. Learn about the ballot here.
In Virginia, we have been lucky to make great strides to expand voter access to the ballot. If you haven't voted yet, here is how you can do so:
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Vote early in-person: Today, you may vote early at the Fairfax County Government Center, the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, and the North County Governmental Center. Starting on Thursday Oct. 21-Oct. 30, there will be 15 more locations open across the County to vote early everyday. Please check hours before you arrive here.
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By mail: You have until Oct. 22 to request an absentee ballot. Once you have filled it out (don't forget to include a witness signature!) you may return it by mail or at a drop box at all voting locations in Fairfax County when they are open (they are located at early voting locations and on Election Day).
- When do mail-in ballots need to be returned?
- The deadline to return the vote by mail ballots: Nov. 2 by 5pm if hand-delivered in-person.
- Postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by noon on Nov. 5 if by-mail.
- On Election Day: Your regular precinct will be open as usual and again there will be a ballot drop box for mail-in ballots. Find your polling place here.
In addition, we expect in the coming days to hear final decisions from the FDA and the CDC regarding booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. The FDA's advisory committee is also scheduled to discuss the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5–11 years old on Oct. 26. Following the CDC's recommendations, VDH will provide additional implementation guidance to health departments and providers in the Commonwealth. We will be ready to work with all our stakeholders to be sure all of our eligible residents can get their boosters. We are also working closely with FCPS and medical providers in advance of what will hopefully be an announcement about kids under 12 being able to get vaccinated. Read more about what to expect this week and how the Fairfax County Health Department is preparing here.
Finally, the Board met today. You may review today's full Board package here.
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- Today, we presented a proclamation congratulating our nonprofit partner Cornerstones on their 50th Anniversary. Cornerstones serves those in our community in Reston, Herndon, Chantilly, Centreville, and Vienna, who need food and housing assistance. While they have been a crucial long-time partner with the County, that partnership became even more important this past year. It is amazing the way they are able to utilize resources to expand their programs. The Board thanks Cornerstones for their service!
- We also presented a proclamation to designate October 24 as Polio Awareness Day. While Polio has long been eradicated from the United States, it is because of our successful vaccination efforts at that time. As we see with COVID-19 today, vaccines make the difference.
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Cornerstones' CEO Kerrie Wilson accepts a proclamation celebrating the nonprofit's 50 year anniversary. |
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Redistricting? Last month, members of the public along with our Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC) submitted map proposals to be considered by the Board of Supervisors in order to possibly adjust electoral boundaries. As a result of population growth, proposed maps may alter the boundaries of your local Board of Supervisor and School Board districts to ensure proportional representation. Remember local government is your parks, public safety, property taxes, and much more, and (of course I would say this) representation in your local government is important. To be clear however, this committee is not the same as the statewide committee deciding state and federal districts.
How can I provide input?
Anything else? For decades Fairfax County has carried out redistricting in a transparent and community-led process, with a committee made up of Fairfax County residents. This process is informed by and for the community. Again, this is a County process and is very different than what you are likely reading about at the state level.
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What happened? Today, after reviewing extensive feedback from our employees and the public and following a year of work, the Board passed an ordinance, authorized by the Virginia General Assembly, to allow collective bargaining with County employee groups. This includes our general county employees and public safety employees. This does not include FCPS employees. In fact, absolutely nothing about this proposed ordinance directly impacts FCPS in any way. If the School Board decides to allow FCPS employees to collectively bargain, the School Board would have to adopt a resolution authorizing it. That is an action the FCPS School Board could take, not our Board of Supervisors.
Collective bargaining? This is the process of negotiation between an employer and employee representatives to reach agreements regarding County employees’ wages, benefits, and working conditions subject to appropriation by the Board of Supervisors. During the 2020 session of the Virginia General Assembly, local governments were given the authority to adopt an ordinance or resolution allowing employees to collectively bargain. A number of local governments throughout Virginia have implemented or are considering allowing collective bargaining as a result of this change in state law.
What does this mean for me?
- Fairfax County’s outstanding services are the key to our continued economic success. If you care about the extraordinary services that Fairfax County provides, including health, fire, police, libraries, parks, transportation, and human services, you have a stake in collective bargaining. The people who deliver our services are our most important asset.
- Nationwide, there is a labor shortage and collective bargaining is important for employee retention because our employees have a stake in their future and their benefits. We are always competing with the federal government and other local and state jurisdictions for talented public servants. We also are always working to retain our employees because we have made an investment in them. To highlight just one example, taxpayers invest $150,000 in the training, recruitment, and equipment of each member of our fire department. For each fire fighter that chooses to leave Fairfax County for better benefits elsewhere, the investment that our residents have made goes with them. For our taxpayers, employee retention is critical.
- Under the state law allowing collective bargaining that our local ordinance is subject to, employees may not strike. This provision is different to what exists in many states- including nearby states. Employees will not be paid to sit and do nothing.
Who was involved? This ordinance was written through the feedback, input, and involvement of 10 Fairfax County employees groups and many constituents and staff. To ensure broad feedback, since September of 2020:
- The Board created a collective bargaining workgroup that included employee group representatives. The workgroup met twice in February 2021 and once in April 2021, and feedback from the group was instrumental in planning related Personnel Committee meetings.
- The Board has discussed the ordinance publicly at least five times in 2021, allowing plenty of time for input.
- The County Executive and HR also held two County employee town halls this summer.
- The Board held a public hearing two weeks ago with a large number of speakers.
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An aerial photo of the I-95 landfill. |
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Are we getting a ski facility? This is agreement is not a final decision for the use of this property. A land use application has not been submitted for staff and board evaluation. This agreement extends the period of time allowing Alpine-X to work with County agencies to again develop their site design plan and pursue regulatory requirements that would be needed for the approval of the project. zAlthough on County-owned land, this project is being pursued by a private company and is not a Fairfax County funded project.
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Electric Vehicle Infrastructure |
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What happened? My colleagues approved my request to direct our Department of Land Development Services to analyze a waiver of permitting fees associated with the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure.
Why? Energy usage in Fairfax County is changing. As the Fairfax community works collectively towards our ambitious goals for net zero energy and carbon emissions reductions, Fairfax County government should be working to reduce barriers to making the switch to environmentally friendly alternatives. As we are seeing an increase in electric vehicles (EVs), we need to ensure we have the resources and infrastructure available for our community members.
EV infrastructure? EVs require additional infrastructure built into existing facilities. This can present a major hurdle for residents looking to make a simple switch to a gas-alternative vehicle. Permitting fees can add a financial burden on to well-meaning residents and disincentivize the environmentally sustainable actions we’re encouraging our residents to take. In addition, communities are looking at allowing electric charging stations in their common areas, but cost is a hurdle. Lastly, many private locations throughout the County have considered charging stations but abandoned plans due to cost. We must make this more affordable. The Climate Crisis is now – we do not have time to wait on actions that can improve our carbon emissions and resiliency towards a changing environment.
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Vaccine Resources:
COVID-19 Resources:
- Fairfax County Health Department
- To view the number of cases in Fairfax County this page is updated at noon daily.
- Visit the County site on COVID-19, Health Department Website, and see their FAQs.
- To view multilingual health materials visit the County's Language Portal.
- Sign up for text message alerts: text FFXCOVID to 888777. Para inscribirse, textear FFXCOVIDESP a 888777.
- Call the Health Department from 9am-7pm weekdays and 9:30am-5pm on weekends: 703-267-3511
- Email: ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8am-8pm.
- Inova has a helpful FAQ.
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Contact my Office
chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
| 703.324.2321 |
Sign up for my newsletter here.
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