Weekly Column: River Farm Protected and Criminal Record Sealing Compromise

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette, Springfield Connection, The Prince William Times, The Fort Hunt Herald, and Potomac Local in the week of February 22, 2021.

 River Farm Protected and Criminal Record Sealing Compromise

               The last week of the 2021 General Assembly Session has arrived and it will prove to be an exciting time with many big issues on the agenda.

               In even years, the process of amending the Constitution of Virginia typically begins.  Senator Adam Ebbin and Delegate Mark Sickles legislation repealing the 2006 gay marriage ban from our constitution will have a final vote.  We are also negotiating an amendment to remove Virginia’s Jim Crow Era felony voting prohibition from the Constitution and replacing it with an affirmative right to vote.   We will also be taking up my legislation abolishing capital punishment on Monday.   

This past week we announced our agreement on my legislation to reform Virginia’s expungement and rules prohibiting the sealing of criminal convictions.  Virginia is one of only nine states in America that does not allow people to seal misdemeanor convictions and one of only fourteen that do not allow the sealing of felony convictions. 

Ice Storm Impacts Roads and Vaccination Clinics: Here's What You Need to Know

Several law enforcement and emergency services agencies in Northern Virginia are asking drivers to avoid the roads today as snow, ice and sleet sweep through the region. The Virginia Department of Transportation is also recommending that drivers stay off the roads today.

Reporting a Power Outage 

If you experience an outage there are three easy ways to report it to Dominion Energy: 

1. By Phone: 866-366-4357

2. Download the New Dominion Energy app [Click Here]

3. On Their Website [Click Here]

Snow Removal 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions that protect the safety of plow workers, it’s possible that plowing might take longer than usual this year. To track when your neighborhood will be plowed, visit the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) plowing website, which activates after 2 inches of snow have accumulated in your county. If you live on a private street, it is the responsibility of the developers or the homeowner’s association to arrange for the street to be cleared. Call 800-FOR ROAD (800-367-7623) for information on snow removal or to inform VDOT of any snow removal problems. TTY users can call 711.

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Cancelled, To Be Rescheduled

Fairfax County

The COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled at the Fairfax County Government Center and the four Health Department District office sites on Thursday, Feb. 18 are cancelled. People who have appointments will receive an email informing them of the cancellation. The cancellation notice will contain a link to reschedule their appointment for clinics scheduled during the upcoming week. Please note that appointment locations may be at a different site than you were originally scheduled for.

Residents who need assistance in rescheduling their appointment may call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 703-324-7404, though the call center is also closed Feb. 18.

Click Here to Read the Full Press Release by Fairfax County Government ‘Winter Weather Impacts Health Department Vaccine Clinics Thursday, Feb. 18’

Prince William County 

Prince William Health District (PWHD) COVID vaccination clinics at Potomac Middle School and Manassas Mall are canceled due to expected snow and ice.

Please check your email for additional information: to reschedule your appointment, please contact the Prince William Health District call center after 9:00 AM Thursday, at 703-872-7759. Please have available your ID number to reschedule your appointment for next week.

Read Full Press Release from the Virginia Department of Health ‘Winter Storm Closes PWHD’s Vaccine Clinics for Thursday, Feb. 18’ 

Weekly Column: Finding Solutions in the General Assembly

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette, Springfield Connection, The Prince William Times, The Fort Hunt Herald, and Potomac Local in the week of February 15, 2021.

Finding Solutions in the General Assembly

 Both the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates have released proposed budgets and we will vote on the budget soon.  We are also working to resolve some complex bills and to accelerate vaccinations.

Vaccination Progress

               Health care providers have administered over 1.2 million covid-19 vaccinations in Virginia as of February 12, nine of ten available first doses.  As of last week, that means that Virginia ranked seventh among states as a proportion of our population.   The state also announced a unified vaccination scheduling system although Fairfax County chose to opt out.  Virginia is now receiving 129,000 doses per week which is up 23 percent from our initial allocation.  We have also expanded the vaccination program to 36 CVS drugstores around the state.  We expect the pace to pick up once the Food and Drug Administration approves the new single-shot vaccines.   

2021 COVID-19 Update Thread

The Virginia Department of Health has created a webpage dedicated solely to virus updates where you will find content that is updated daily. The CDC also has a dedicated website: 

Virginia Department of Health

Center for Disease Control

Click Here to Find Testing Locations in Prince William County (Updated Regularly)

Register online to receive a vaccine at: https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/

***UPDATE FRIDAY, 4/23/21 at 12:00 PM***

Covid Restriction Updates

Governor Northam issued Fifth Amended Executive Order 72 as follows, effective April 21. These activities are still subject to updated guidance, including capacity limits and other safety requirements:

• Seating is now permitted in bar areas of restaurants, provided at least 6 feet is maintained between parties and no standing congregation is permitted.
• Outdoor races and marathons may place runners in staggered groups of up to 100 (up from 50).
• School theatrical and musical performances may allow patrons up to 30% of the venue capacity, with a maximum of 500 patrons indoors and no specific limit outdoors.
• Distancing requirements have been decreased from 10 feet to 6 feet for entertainment and public amusement venues, swimming pool seating, graduations, and recreational sporting events.
• Personal care and personal grooming studios are no longer required to maintain appointment logs and contact information for customers.
• Karaoke is no longer prohibited.
• Splash pads, hot tubs, and saunas are no longer prohibited.
• Brass instrument players may remove masks while playing, as could wind instrument players previously.

Full Amended Executive Order 72

Restriction updates changing May 15:

• Capacity limits at entertainment venues will increase from 30% to 50%, with an increase in the maximum number of indoor patrons from 500 to 1,000 and no specific limit on the number of outdoor patrons.
• Capacity limits at recreational sports venues will increase from 30% to 50%, with a maximum of 250 spectators per field for indoor events and 1,000 spectators per field for outdoor events.
• The limit on social gatherings will increase from 50 to 100 indoors and from 100 to 250 outdoors.
• Alcohol sales and restaurant dining will be permitted after midnight.

More Information and Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance on March 8 about what people can do when they are fully vaccinated (which occurs two weeks after their final vaccine dose), and guidance on April 2 about travel by people who are fully vaccinated. The guidance notes that because public health researchers are still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19, even people who are fully vaccinated should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

Guidance from CDC for Fully Vaccinated People

Get Vaccinated!

About a third of vaccine doses in Virginia are now being administered by retail pharmacy locations, which are open to anyone age 16 or older. Individuals may visit VaccineFinder.org to find eligible pharmacy locations, hours, phone numbers, and scheduling links where available. 

***UPDATE Thursday, 4/1/21 at 3:00 PM***

Vaccine Eligibility

Governor Ralph Northam today announced that all individuals in Virginia age 16 and older will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting on Sunday, April 18, ahead of the May 1 nationwide goal set by President Joe Biden. Governor Northam made the announcement during a visit to a vaccination clinic at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Prince William County, where more than 1,000 vaccines will be administered today.

Weekly Column: Virginia's Rockets Up In Vaccine Distribution & Death Penalty Repeal Moves Forward

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette, Springfield Connection, The Prince William Times, The Fort Hunt Herald, and Potomac Local in the week of February 8, 2021.

               The Fifth Week of the General Assembly Session brought Crossover and the conclusion of some of our most contentious bills.

               First, Virginia rocketed up to the top ten in vaccine distribution in America.  While the system is still adjusting to vaccine supply, many constituents have reported to me that they have been able to get vaccinated.  The coming single shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine and Astra Zeneca will allow Virginia to ramp up from the current rate of 128,000 shots per week.

Although infection rates are dropping, the English and South African variants have arrived in Virginia and we must remain vigilant – even after people are vaccinated.  No state is doing better that Virginia that has a larger population and we have the 8^th lowest per capital death rate.  Group 1a should be done by the end of this week.