This essay is part of a series in which we’ve asked Alexandrians to envision our region in 2050.
Learn more about the series and read more essays on the Alexandria 2050 project page here.
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James Lewis
Our little city on the Potomac has had a long and interesting history, independent of our proximity to the Capitol. In Colonial times and during the early Republic, passing through Alexandria was a prerequisite for traveling north or south on the East Coast; all roads led here.
In later centuries, Alexandria hosted the struggle for equality. Our city is the final resting place of more than 1,800 people who escaped slavery. In 1939, Samuel Tucker’s sit-down strike helped drive the Civil Rights Movement forward.
Today, we are still making history and setting the stage for Alexandria’s future. We know that the policies and decisions made today will determine what futures are possible. We also know that these decisions aren’t made at once, but as small, seemingly unrelated items.
To remain Alexandria, the City needs to retain its small-town charm.
When I moved to the area in 2010, I had a lot of options, like everyone moving in, on where to live. But having grown up in a small community of 4,300 people in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Alexandria felt like home. It had charm, front yards, people walking dogs and community events.
Despite being surrounded by the glass and steel of Arlington and Fairfax, Alexandria still had a heart. It looks like a historic city, a place where history was made, is being made and will continue to be made.
And it is my greatest hope that in 2050, Alexandria preserves that heart.
I know that sounds trite or, at least, foolishly anthropomorphic, but it’s the truth. There’s something about this City and the people who choose to live here: we care about each other and we care about the future. Clearly, many great people took the time to write brilliant articles for this section!
From working to find affordable housing solutions to demanding greater equity in transit access and environmental stewardship, Alexandrians continue to push for a caring, compassionate and forward-thinking City.
The people of our City are its heart and its greatest strategic asset. As we prepare for the next three decades, we need to lean into that advantage and keep our neighbors’ voices front and center.
The last few years have shown that Alexandrians want to be involved in the big and small policies that will define our City for years to come. I’ve rarely seen public interest or engagement so high or on such a varied range of issues: flood mitigation, road diets, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), co-location and more. People want to be engaged.
Public engagement and interest are never a bad thing. We should encourage civic participation and build robust processes that actively engage the community, as early as possible, before policies are crafted so Alexandria’s plans and policies reflect the needs, desires and hopes of Alexandrians.
While I don’t believe consensus or compromise is possible in all cases, we need mechanisms to allow people, families and small businesses to be heard, before proposals are 90-percent-baked.
In my 10-plus years in Alexandria, I have found, time and time again, that my neighbors are some of the smartest, most connected and compassionate people that I’ve ever met. Let’s harness that potential to chart a unique course for the City.
Over the last three centuries, Alexandria has always preserved a special charm because of the people who call our City home. We will keep that charm if we keep people front and center.
James Lewis is running for city council in Alexandria in 2021.
