See Richmond Report

PAGE 8 | JANUARY 20 - 26, 2022

COMMENT

A Penny for Your Thoughts

News of Greater Falls Church

By Supervisor Penny Gross

Fairfax County’s geographic location, adjacent to the white-hot center of global politics, provides the foundation for an economy based on government employment and contracts. That was the image of Fairfax County for decades, as the county grew exponentially following the end of World War II. Sometimes overlooked was the small business sector, which maintains a symbiotic relationship with the community it serves. Customers rely on small business, and vice versa, for many of their everyday needs.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, many small businesses lost staff and customers. Some closed, others struggled to stay open, with reduced hours and fewer staff. The federal government provided assistance through the Small Business Administration and paycheck protection funds but, as the pandemic moved into its second year, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors established a PIVOT Business Recovery Grant Program in June 2021, to continue to assist small businesses toward recovery. The PIVOT program was the third Covid-19 recovery program created by the Board of Supervisors to assist small businesses. The original Microloan program in April of 2020 proved so popular that a second program, RISE Grants, was created in June 2020. The PIVOT program drafted a team of more than 50 county staff and 16 employees from the Latino Economic Development Corporation to develop and administer the program. Since it was established, almost $17 million in grants was awarded to more than 1,000 recipients. The average revenue loss per business was 40 percent, a significant hit to any business plan. The retail, services, and amusements sector received the largest award amounts – $8.6 million, followed by lodging and arts for slightly more than $4.6 million, and food service, $3.5 million. Nearly 70 percent of the awards were made to minority-owned businesses, many also woman-owned.

Mason District businesses (183) were awarded $2.4 million; the average number of employees was four. A quick, unscientific, calculation reveals that more than 700 families may have been helped by the PIVOT grants in Mason District alone. Most of the grants were made to businesses in downtown Annandale, in Bailey’s Crossroads, and Seven Corners, with a few more in Lincolnia and Springfield.

Awards ranged from $5,000 for Artisans United, which operates a gift shop at the Packard Center at Annandale Community Park, to $158,000 for the Fairview Park Marriott, which was located in Providence District at the time of the award, but was redistricted to the Mason District in December 2021. Ballet Nova and the Fairfax Chorale Society received $10,000 awards. Food service establishments included Barnside Diner in Lincolnia; Beanetics, Juke Box Diner, K-POP Karaoke, and Thai Sushi Eats in Annandale, each receiving a $12,000 grant.

The retail, services, and amusements sector had the most varied applications and awards. Gas stations, car wash establishments, hair and nail salons, physical therapy and pain clinics, cleaners, and dental offices received $12,000 grants, mirroring the services that residents and customers use every day. More information about the PIVOT grants can be accessed on-line at www. fairfaxcounty.gov/economic-initiatives/pivot.

 Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.

City of Falls Church CRIME REPORT

Week of Jan. 10 — 16, 2022

Larceny from Building, Wilson Blvd, Jan 10, between 7:37 and 8 PM, 4 suspects entered a business and stole eleven flat screen TV’s. Suspects described as black males: 1) wearing a black jacket, black pants and yellow shoes, 2) wearing an orange jacket, black pants and black shoes, 3) wearing a black jacket, black pants, and black shoes,and 4) wearing a black jacket, tan pants, and black shoes.

Larceny from Vehicle, Wilson Blvd, Jan 14, between 6 and 7 PM, unknown suspect(s) took items of value from the trunk of a vehicle.

Larceny-Shoplifting, W Broad St, Jan 15, 11:52 PM, three white, juvenile males took an item of value and fled the scene.

www.FCNP.Com

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Delegate Marcus Simon’s

Richmond Report

Last week I had the distinct honor of being sworn in for my 5th term representing greater Falls Church in the Virginia House of Delegates. The 60-day “long” session that has just begun will be my 9th session as a Delegate.

This week is one of transitions here in Richmond. The new General Assembly is sworn in on the 2nd Wednesday of January at noon. With 52 Republican seats to 48 held by Democrats, control of the Chamber shifted back to the GOP and a new Speaker of the House, Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah County, was elected.

On Wednesday evening the General Assembly convened in a Joint Session to receive outgoing Governor Ralph Northam’s final State of the Commonwealth address. On Saturday, Governor Glenn Youngkin was sworn in at an inaugural ceremony and on Monday we had a 2nd Joint Assembly, then the new Governor gave his State of the Commonwealth address.

Governor Northam highlighted the achievements of his term, including his administration’s work to expand Medicaid, reform our criminal justice system, expand broadband, teach the true history of Virginia, increase access to the ballot box, and keep Virginians safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. We will certainly miss his calming presence over the next four years.

Despite delivering an Inaugural address at which the new Governor promised to be a Governor for all Virginians and teach our full and accurate history, both good and bad, Governor Youngkin released his first batch of executive actions, focusing on Critical Race Theory (CRT) and overturning student safety measures designed to keep kids safely in the classroom.

Initially, he indicated he’d withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) with EO #8. Recent reporting seems to indicate that he may be acknowledging he has no authority to do so by fiat, since the requirement to belong to RGGI is enshrined in law.

On Monday, he delivered his State of the Commonwealth address at four in the afternoon, eschewing the opportunity to address resident of the Commonwealth in the traditional prime time evening hours when more people would be home in front of their televisions to tune in.

For an uncomfortable first 12 minutes of his speech, he mostly parroted conservative media talking points to an eerily silent chamber. This starkly contrasts with the frequent standing ovations that interrupted Governor Northam repeatedly and helped punctuate his retelling of his most important achievements. I hope that as the new Governor learns more about how Virginia’s Government functions, his future addresses will provide a more thoughtful articulation of our shared policy goals.

Even as a member of the minority, I look forward to being a consequential member of the body and capable advocate for the people of Falls Church. While I was stripped of my chairmanship of the House Privileges and Elections Committee and the Housing Subcommittee of General Laws, I remain on the Courts of Justice Committee and the influential Civil Subcommittee (Sub #2). I am back on Public Safety as the 3rd ranking Democrat and Communications Technology and Innovation where I am the #2 ranking Democrat. House Finance is a completely new committee for me.

For my 2022 legislative package, I’m carrying a bill on behalf of the City of Falls Church to allow all its residents, including non-citizens, the opportunity to fully engage in civic life as members of boards, authorities, and commissions.

I will once again carry legislation to clean up one of the most galling shortcomings in Virginia’s campaign finance laws — a loophole that allows candidates for office to pocket campaign contributions and convert them to personal use with no consequences. With the backing of last year’s Joint Committee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reforms, I like its chances this session.

I’ll also once again introduce legislation to ban unserialized unregulated “ghost guns” here in Virginia. Since my bill was narrowly defeated during the 2021 Session, we’ve seen these guns used to commit serious crimes, including a homicide in the Springfield area committed by minor who couldn’t have purchased a weapon subject to a background check. Ghost Guns evade that requirement.

 Delegate Simon represents the 53rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He may be emailed at DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov