James Lewis
This spring, Alexandria Living Magazine sent the following questions to every person running for City Council as of May 2024. The answers from James (Jimmy) Lewis are below. See links to all other candidate questionnaires here.
Lewis’s campaign website is at www.jameslewisva.com.
Have the current efforts to improve affordable housing been sufficient? Why or why not?
We are in an affordable housing crisis, so we need to keep working to expand housing options for people at all income levels because housing is unaffordable for most Alexandrians. We need to create more housing for everyone, especially units that are obtainable for families with low to average income levels. We need to demand greater affordable unit contributions from developers to keep families in their communities. We also need to ensure that we expand our commercial base because growing assessments and tax rates are pricing families out of their homes, especially older Alexandrians.
Additionally, I want to focus on affordable homeownership so people can build generational wealth, set down roots and have long-term affordability.
What can be done to make sure the increasing population density in Alexandria doesn’t hurt quality of life?
We need to be thoughtful and strategic about our growth. We need to focus it around transit hubs while maintaining neighborhood character, open space and our mature tree canopy.
How can the city make public transportation a more viable and attractive option for residents?
People will use public transit if it’s reliable and goes where they want and need to go. I strongly support the free DASH pilot and believe we need to continue working to add benches and shelters at more bus stops.
What do you think is the most important factor in making the roads safer and more efficient for everyone?
As chairman of the Traffic and Parking Board, I’m proud of our efforts to make roads safer for all users. Mostly critical, we need to maintain our existing roads and trails so they remain safe and accessible to all road users.
What are the biggest challenges facing Alexandria’s smallest businesses and how can the city better support them?
As vice president of the West End Business Association, I know that the biggest challenge facing small business is getting open. There are unnecessary hurdles and bottlenecks within City Hall that need to be streamlined. I know businesses who’ve paid commercial rents for nearly two years waiting to get an occupancy permit before they could open their doors.
Do you think Alexandria should return to ward representation? Why or why not?
I think it’s important for Councilmembers to have a City-wide view. I’m not opposed to considering a hybrid system or system like the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) that Washington DC uses.
What is something you don’t like about Alexandria that you want to change?
How long it can take to get a new business opened in our community.
How do you feel about the fate of the Potomac Yard Arena development proposal and how do you think the city should go about developing that location?
While I thought the proposed Monumental Arena deal was a bad deal for Alexandria, we need to move forward and look at alternative options to grow our commercial base in this area. We need to double-down on our investment with Virginia Tech’s Innovation Center and expand our tech corridor with a focus on unmanned aviation and intersectional technologies that enable further innovation.
Do you think the current city staff is able to effectively serve all the development that is happening or do you think the city needs to hire more people?
We need to better retain our staff. We lose too many talent professionals to neighboring communities after they have learned critical skills because our pay is not competitive, and we lack affordable housing for our vital workers. I think that is our greatest challenge: retaining quality staff in a very competitive environment.
What would you tell a resident who doesn’t feel safe living in Alexandria?
Public safety must be a top priority. From ensuring pedestrian safety to reducing crime, we have a responsibility to ensure that all Alexandrians are and feel safe. Most importantly, we need to do more to recruit and retain the public safety workforce needed by Alexandria through real collective bargaining, competitive pay and expanded access to affordable housing.
If you had to convince someone to vote for you in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
I have the experience to craft good, progressive policies and successfully implement them with an eye for critical details.
