As businesses in our region stagger under the impact of coronavirus, the Democratic Business Council of Northern Virginia (“DemBiz”) has launched a series of short video interviews with business owners to share their experiences of dealing with the pandemic. The series, called “DemBiz Briefs,” looks into what is actually happening on the ground, how businesses are coping, what their most…
By Bob Leggett: As Fairfax County, and the world, struggle with the ravages of coronavirus, it may be reassuring to remind ourselves what a great place to live our county is, and will be again once the recovery takes hold. For this, there is no better place to look than a demographic report published by the county shortly before the…
By Rose Chu: As the unemployment rate climbs due to the coronovirus pandemic, it is important to know what options exist for continued healthcare coverage. Here are some insights from my experience as a health policy analyst, and a volunteer certified application counselor to enroll Virginians for the Federal Health Insurance Exchange and Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) is…
By Paul O’Shea: Abolishing the death penalty is usually thought of as a Democratic and liberal policy, but a Republican and a libertarian serve proudly alongside their progressive colleagues on the board of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The death penalty is nonpartisan. It distributes its malevolent effects—racism, random selection, executing the innocent or the severe mentally ill–across…
Ed. Note: The author is running in the Democratic primary election on June 23 for US representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional district against incumbent Gerry Connolly. The Blue View is an open platform for all northern Virginia Democratic candidates By: Zainab Mohsini I am not rich. I have never held public office. But, like millions of working people in America,…
By Karen Kirk: FCDC’s Chair Bryan Graham noticed a virtual hand up when asking if there were any questions on the proposed 2020-2021 budget. When he called on one member, she answered “No I don’t. The cat walked on the computer.” And so it went Tuesday night during the first virtual FCDC General Meeting in our age of Covid-19. But…
By Olivia Henry: For many of us students, the gravity of the coronavirus situation has only just begun to sink in. Once school was canceled this past Friday, Mar. 13, many students assumed the worst was over. Little were they aware that, within days, Fairfax County Public Schools would close down all schools until April 10, at least. (See FCPS…
By Bob Leggett: Immigrants in northern Virginia now account for over 27% of the population and contribute almost $60 billion to the local economy, according to a new government report. The report finds that immigrants in our region are well educated and make up over 40% of all entrepreneurs in the region. In addition, over 50% have earned their U.S.…
Ed. Note: We encourage readers to share their insights and experiences as we journey together through the current historic coronavirus outbreak. By Mala Rajamani: The current coronavirus strain, as it snakes across the world, is shutting down travel, commerce, schools, work, supply chains, shops, theaters, public spaces in ways that strain our utmost imagination. Pandemic in theory versus practice is…
By Bob Leggett: Walter Alcorn, along with some other Fairfax County supervisors, is looking at relaxing restrictions on single-family residences as a way to help ease the county’s affordable housing deficit. “We are considering whether homeowners in areas zoned single family should have the right to use up to 1,200 square feet as a separate household for elderly parents or…
With cases of the coronavirus spreading across the country and the World Health Organization labeling it a pandemic, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is looking at ways to keep members safe. Chair Bryan Graham sent this email to members Mar. 11: Fellow FCDC Members, The safety of our community and members is our highest priority. FCDC Leadership is following the…
By Paul O’Shea: A leading figure in the Virginia anti-death penalty movement called for the abolition of “this barbaric remnant of previous centuries” in a talk recently at Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale. Dale Brumfield, field director of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, told parishioners on Feb. 23 that the death penalty fails to serve…
By Susan Laume: Those following Virginia’s gun violence prevention measures were surprised when State Sen. Scott Surovell (D-36th) joined three other Democrats, Sens. “Chap” Petersen (D-34th), John Edwards (D-21st) and Creigh Deeds (D-25th), in a committee vote against advancing an assault weapons ban on February 17. Gun control and gun advocates were among those in the audience to ask about…
By Suzanne Le Menestrel: You may be shocked to learn that in Northern Virginia, one of the nation’s most prosperous areas, 1 in 5 children are economically disadvantaged, and in the state as a whole, one-third. These numbers – from Voices for Virginia’s Children, a not-for-profit independent child advocacy organization that oversees Virginia’s KIDS COUNT data collection – should concern…