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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To remain livable and welcoming, Alexandria must proactively address housing needs, the impacts of climate change, and emphasize equity and safety in our schools and criminal justice system.
With technological advancements and a growing population, we need to strive for increased civic engagement from all portions of our community and transparency between our government and its citizens.
We are faced with the challenge of preserving and creating new housing opportunities in the City while maintaining the features that make Alexandria a desirable place to call home. We need to avoid pricing out middle-class families, including our front line workers the pandemic has shown to be vital to a community’s resilience. We must continue to preserve and reinvest in our affordable housing stock. In doing so, we must also invest in those public-private partnerships that support individuals looking to improve their financial stability, professional development and education. My goal in serving on the City Council is to bring my experience envisioning and creating those programs where they are most needed. We will grow and thrive as a City when those at all levels of income have opportunities to advance in their careers and invest in their future.
We cannot have a livable and welcoming Alexandria in 30 years without maintaining and modernizing our infrastructure. We must find ways to allow members of our population to age in place as safely as possible. This means maintenance of our sidewalks and streets and ample lighting in public spaces. With ongoing climate change impacts increasing the amount of flooding, we must accelerate the implementation of the Capital Improvement program. The Stormwater Utility Fee Ordinance and the new community advisory committee to provide guidance to the Council are steps in the right direction. We must ensure funds are spent how they are intended and on projects based on sound research. We must be the generation that acknowledges this as a key fight.
A livable city is a safe city, for everyone. A city that works hard to reduce gun violence including suicides and domestic assaults. A school system that is inclusive to all students and free of the persistent fear of violence. Schools with appropriate classroom sizes, infrastructure and technological tools. A criminal justice system trained and designed to ensure the safety of all residents, regardless of color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Where our first responders are trained in de-escalation techniques and adapt their approaches to the needs of the individual in distress. This is why I have lobbied for laws allowing children to play in parks and citizens to visit City Hall and polling locations without the presence of firearms. I aspire to an Alexandria where all residents feel empowered and involved in the decisions made by their Government.
As we recover from COVID, we have an opportunity to be creative, to invest in each other and the businesses we realized we didn’t want to live without, but nearly did. I want Alexandria to be a city where families thrive for generations, teachers can live amongst their students, and young adults return after college to start families of their own. As we make hard choices about how, where and in what manner we develop and redevelop portions of our city, we need to take a holistic view that incorporates environmental impacts, equitable opportunities, and respect for the history of the city we love. Through cooperation and collaboration, Alexandria in 2050 will continue to be a City we can all take pride in sharing.
Sarah Bagley is a community activist and executive director running for city council in Alexandria in 2021. Her candidate website is at www.sarahforcitycouncil.com.
