Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of public policy issues and headlines from around the Northern Virginia Region, the Commonwealth, and Capitol Hill.
by Danielle Finley, Associate Director of Political Engagement
Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines. In this Issue: 1. Richmond inspector general says he was advised to stop investigating tax issues 2. Legal threat looms over inclusion of Cornel West on Virginia ballot 3. Fairfax County to review property deeds, remove discriminatory language 4. Fairfax County board promises further review after approving new data center regulations 5. Loudoun Supervisors Advance Guaranteed Income Pilot Program.
Richmond inspector general says he was advised to stop investigating tax issues
By SAMUEL B. PARKER, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond Inspector General Jim Osuna says he was given legal advice by city attorneys to drop his investigation into tax collection issues in the Department of Finance. But the city attorney’s office says it issued no such instruction. Osuna — who was investigating allegations that the finance department had failed to alert business owners that they were due refunds or credits on tax overpayments — told City Council in July that he had “put a pause” on his probe after receiving legal advice that he wasn’t “authorized to look at it.”
Legal threat looms over inclusion of Cornel West on Virginia ballot
By RYAN NADEAU, WRIC-TV
A Washington, D.C.-based law firm is threatening to sue the Youngkin administration if it keeps independent presidential candidate Cornel West on ballots this November, claiming he and his running mate should not have qualified. West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, are currently slated to appear on Virginians’ ballots in November as independents. In a letter provided to 8News, the Elias Law Group — on behalf of Clear Choice Action — is alleging that West and Abdullah’s inclusion by the Virginia Department of Elections is unlawful for multiple reasons.
Fairfax County to review property deeds, remove discriminatory language
By JAMES JARVIS, FFXnow
Fairfax County will review its property deeds to remove clauses that historically barred non-Caucasian individuals from owning or leasing property in specific neighborhoods. In response to new research revealing the prevalence of racially restrictive covenants in Northern Virginia property deeds, the Board of Supervisors, led by Dan Storck and Rodney Lusk, unanimously approved a board matter yesterday (Tuesday) to allocate resources for eliminating any segregation-era language from county-owned property deeds and assisting private property owners in doing the same.
Fairfax County board promises further review after approving new data center regulations
By JAMES JARVIS, FFXnow
After a lengthy and contentious debate, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a revised zoning ordinance that imposes strict regulations on data center development in the county. Yesterday’s 8-2 vote followed over a year of community input and revisions to the proposed ordinance, which tightens restrictions on where and how data centers can be built in Fairfax County.
Loudoun Supervisors Advance Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
By HANNA PAMPALONI, Loudoun Now
County supervisors are teeing up plans to give 50 to 60 residents an unconditional monthly stipend as part of a guaranteed income pilot program proposed by Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling). The board’s finance committee on Tuesday recommend approval of the initiative. Support from the $2 million Resident Income Stability Enhancement, or RISE Loudoun, program would be available to residents earning at or below 30 percent of the area median income for 18 months. The program has a timeline of 39 months, which includes planning, execution and evaluation of the impacts.