Good morning! Today is the first day you can cast your ballot in Virginia for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and House of Delegates! There are stark policy differences between the candidates and I ask that you do your research carefully to make the right decision for yourself. I will be supporting our former Governor Terry McAuliffe for Governor, my former House of Delegates colleague Hala Ayala for Lt. Governor and our community’s own Mark Herring for re-election as Attorney General. I will also proudly be supporting Irene Shin for the 86th District House of Delegates to hold the seat that I once represented.
You do not need to wait until November 2nd to vote because we have no excuse in-person and absentee voting in Virginia. There is information below on early voting sites in Fairfax and Loudoun County, as well as how to request an absentee ballot if you would rather vote by mail.
I have also included an update on the work of the Redistricting Commission. This is a process that occurs only once every ten years and sets the boundaries for each House of Delegates and State Senate district. Activists worked for years to get the redistricting process out of legislator-only hands - and now, for the first time in Virginia’s history, we have a citizen-led bipartisan commission. In order for this to work, the commission needs to hear from residents and stakeholders. It is so important that you look at the proposed maps and thoughtfully submit a public comment. You are the expert on your community. Check the districts for the House and the Senate to ensure that your community is not divided, that the districts are compact, and communities of interest are not separated or diluted. I’ve provided a list of questions to help guide your consideration below. One thing I’d like to highlight, as proposed in the current round of maps, the commission’s policy states that while an entire county or city should not be divided by district lines, towns could be divided into different districts. Our district has two towns, Leesburg and Herndon. If you do not want to have our towns split into different General Assembly districts, I urge you to speak up. Your voice matters. Very few people have taken the time to provide testimony. I hope that you will provide feedback and consider testifying at the next meeting or online.
Your local government, your HOA, your community organization, or you as an individual all have the right to give input. If the commission is unable to come to a consensus, or if the General Assembly does not approve the districts created by the commission, then the Virginia Supreme Court will draw the new districts with the guidance of two special masters. Your input and the comments and recommendations provided by others could be instrumental in helping guide this process. See more details below.
Usually I focus on telling you what I am doing for you in my newsletters. This time I have given you some big jobs! Please vote in this very important election and dig into this redistricting process and provide input to the commission.
Have a great day!
Kind regards,
Jennifer
PS I would appreciate your support.
Opportunities to Use Your Voice
Early Voting for the November 2 Election Starts Today
Early voting begins today (9/17) for the November 2 general election for Virginia governor and other state offices. In Fairfax County, three early voting sites will open today. Voters can cast their ballots at any of these locations across the county: Fairfax County Government Center, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, and the North County Governmental Center.
The Fairfax County Government Center will be open for early voting on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm. At the Mount Vernon and North County Governmental Centers, voting hours are noon to 7 pm weekdays.
These three sites also will be open on Saturday, September 18 from 9 am to 5 pm. Any registered Fairfax County voter can vote early and October 30 is the last day for early voting. More locations open in Fairfax County starting October 21st. For additional information, see the Fairfax County elections website.
In Loudoun County, early voting starts today at the Loudoun County Office of Elections & Voter Registration, 750 Miller Dr SE, Ste C Leesburg, VA 20175. Learn more about voting in Loudoun County at their elections website.
You can also register to vote (by October 12) and request an absentee ballot (by October 22, earlier is best) here.
Redistricting Update & Opportunities for Public Comment
Using the latest census data, Virginia is updating its legislative districts. This process only takes place once every ten years. You can view the recordings of past meetings and participate in future meetings of Virginia’s Redistricting Commission.
The Commission wants to hear from the public about their “Communities of Interest.” What does that mean?
The Code of Virginia defines a "community of interest" as a neighborhood or any geographically defined group of people living in an area who share similar social, cultural, and economic interests. Communities of interest are defined by local community members and local circumstances. Criteria related to common interests or characteristics include:
Shared racial or ethnic background
Common history or culture
Common religion or language
Shared socio-economic status
Economic ties
Transportation patterns
Communication networks (media markets)
A variety of geographic features, populations, and histories can make it difficult to define a community of interest, so it is important that the Commission hear about and understand local sentiment and circumstances in order to identify these communities. It is recommended that you consider incorporating answers to the following questions when providing public comment.
What bonds your community?
What do you see as the common links in your community?
Where is your community located?
How do you define the boundaries of your community?
Why should your community be kept together?
Why should your community be kept separate from another community or area?
For public comment opportunities, see https://bit.ly/3iy1n7m. The next scheduled meeting is September 20 - register to comment virtually by 10 am this Sunday. I urge you to be a part of this important process.
The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) has a census lookup tool where you can see how our community has changed since 2010.
Last Day to Take the NVTA TransAction Transportation Survey - Ends September 17
I serve as the Senate’s representative to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and I ask that you participate in the survey. Take the survey in English, Spanish, or Korean.
TransAction serves as a roadmap for planning, programming, and funding safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation projects over a 20-year timeframe. TransAction is updated every five years with input from public officials, jurisdictional and agency staff, regional stakeholders, and the public.
The current version of the Plan, adopted in 2017, identifies more than 350 multimodal projects that serve as a guide for determining which projects are selected for funding. During the Six Year Program, projects identified in TransAction are selected for NVTA funds through an evaluation process that results in a consolidated candidate project list for public input.
The region’s economic vitality and quality of life depend on an effective and forward-thinking transportation network. As the landscape of our region continues to evolve, public engagement is more important than ever. Public input is critical to ensuring a safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation system for many years to come. I completed the survey and you can too - you choose your transportation priorities and “spend” transportation dollars.
In the Community
Looking for an Outing? I took a tour of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Were you aware that we have the most visited museum in all of Virginia right here in the 33rd District? Yes! It’s the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the sister of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes earlier this week. It’s presently resumed regular visiting hours (with a mask) and they have zoomed-in the docents at the key exhibits so that you can safely interact and ask questions. I am so grateful to Christopher Browne, Acting Director of the National Air and Space Museum and Holly Williamason, from the Communications office for the special opportunity to see the center up close and personal.
Sri Ganesha Festival
I was so fortunate to make welcoming remarks at the Sri Ganesha Festival this past weekend.
9/11 vigil at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
I shared remarks at the 9/11 vigil at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Herndon along with members of our community in a bilingual service last Saturday evening.
Give Back
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) will be hosting a “Clear the Shelters” free pet adoption event from 11 am to 6 pm as part of the nationwide, “Clear the Shelters” adoption initiative. Adoption fees will be waived for all available pets, including cats, dogs, rabbits, small pets and livestock. The event will take place at the location of the new Loudoun County Animal Shelter, 42225 Adoption Drive, Leesburg. (Please note that Kincaid Boulevard is closed from the direction of Battlefield Parkway and that motorists must take Sycolin Road to Crosstrail Boulevard to access the facility.)
“This event could not be coming at a better time,” says Shelter Operations Manager Amy Martin. “In just the last two weeks, we have received over 130 animals from a number of different sources. Our beautiful new shelter has allowed us to provide a safe haven for all of these pets, but our kennels are full, and we want to find them all loving homes. We are hopeful that the community will take this chance to come out and find a new best friend.”
In addition to pet adoptions, other event activities will include a children’s craft tent, raffle baskets and giveaways. Prospective adopters can view available pets online at loudoun.gov/animals. The standard adoption screening process still applies during this promotion. Most adoptions can be completed on the same day.
All dogs, cats and rabbits adopted from LCAS are spayed or neutered and receive a microchip which is registered to their adopter. Dogs and cats also receive age-appropriate vaccinations. The shelter frequently has many pets available for adoption, including hamsters, guinea pigs, chickens, rabbits, other small pets and livestock.
In the News
Virginia judge jails alleged domestic violence victim for smoking pot on day of court testimony ‘Not treated with the respect, sensitivity or dignity required by law’
Boysko: Virginia must cash in on clean vehicle opportunity
State Prisons Are Dangerously Understaffed
Events
Saturdays, year round, 8 am- noon (May – Oct), 9 am – noon (Nov – April)/Leesburg Farmer’s Market, located at the Virginia Village Shopping Center, 30 Catoctin Circle, SE, in Leesburg.
Sundays, April - December 2021, 9 am - 1 pm/Cascades Farmer’s Market, located at 21060 Whitfield Drive (Parking lot of the Senior Center) in Sterling, VA.
Thursdays, April 22 - November 4, 8 am - 12:30 pm/Farmer’s Market in Old Town Herndon By the Red Caboose.
See here for information on all of Fairfax County Farmers Markets.
Thursday, September 23, 2021, 5:30 - 6:30 pm/Loudoun County Revive! opioid overdose reversal training
We welcome notices about events that are free or very low cost.
Keep in Touch
I am back in District 33. My team includes my Chief of Staff Karen Harrison, and aides, Kathy Shupe and Alec Fischbein. For constituent services, appointments by telephone, and to schedule meetings with your community group, please call (703) 437-0086 or email district33@senate.virginia.gov. Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
Good morning! Today is the first day you can cast your ballot in Virginia for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and House of Delegates! There are stark policy differences between the candidates and I ask that you do your research carefully to make the right decision for yourself. I will be supporting our former Governor Terry McAuliffe for Governor, my former House of Delegates colleague Hala Ayala for Lt. Governor and our community’s own Mark Herring for re-election as Attorney General. I will also proudly be supporting Irene Shin for the 86th District House of Delegates to hold the seat that I once represented.
You do not need to wait until November 2nd to vote because we have no excuse in-person and absentee voting in Virginia. There is information below on early voting sites in Fairfax and Loudoun County, as well as how to request an absentee ballot if you would rather vote by mail.
I have also included an update on the work of the Redistricting Commission. This is a process that occurs only once every ten years and sets the boundaries for each House of Delegates and State Senate district. Activists worked for years to get the redistricting process out of legislator-only hands - and now, for the first time in Virginia’s history, we have a citizen-led bipartisan commission. In order for this to work, the commission needs to hear from residents and stakeholders. It is so important that you look at the proposed maps and thoughtfully submit a public comment. You are the expert on your community. Check the districts for the House and the Senate to ensure that your community is not divided, that the districts are compact, and communities of interest are not separated or diluted. I’ve provided a list of questions to help guide your consideration below. One thing I’d like to highlight, as proposed in the current round of maps, the commission’s policy states that while an entire county or city should not be divided by district lines, towns could be divided into different districts. Our district has two towns, Leesburg and Herndon. If you do not want to have our towns split into different General Assembly districts, I urge you to speak up. Your voice matters. Very few people have taken the time to provide testimony. I hope that you will provide feedback and consider testifying at the next meeting or online.
Your local government, your HOA, your community organization, or you as an individual all have the right to give input. If the commission is unable to come to a consensus, or if the General Assembly does not approve the districts created by the commission, then the Virginia Supreme Court will draw the new districts with the guidance of two special masters. Your input and the comments and recommendations provided by others could be instrumental in helping guide this process. See more details below.
Usually I focus on telling you what I am doing for you in my newsletters. This time I have given you some big jobs! Please vote in this very important election and dig into this redistricting process and provide input to the commission.
Have a great day!
Kind regards,
Jennifer
PS I would appreciate your support.
Opportunities to Use Your Voice
Early Voting for the November 2 Election Starts Today
Early voting begins today (9/17) for the November 2 general election for Virginia governor and other state offices. In Fairfax County, three early voting sites will open today. Voters can cast their ballots at any of these locations across the county: Fairfax County Government Center, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, and the North County Governmental Center.
The Fairfax County Government Center will be open for early voting on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm. At the Mount Vernon and North County Governmental Centers, voting hours are noon to 7 pm weekdays.
These three sites also will be open on Saturday, September 18 from 9 am to 5 pm. Any registered Fairfax County voter can vote early and October 30 is the last day for early voting. More locations open in Fairfax County starting October 21st. For additional information, see the Fairfax County elections website.
In Loudoun County, early voting starts today at the Loudoun County Office of Elections & Voter Registration, 750 Miller Dr SE, Ste C Leesburg, VA 20175. Learn more about voting in Loudoun County at their elections website.
You can also register to vote (by October 12) and request an absentee ballot (by October 22, earlier is best) here.
Redistricting Update & Opportunities for Public Comment
Using the latest census data, Virginia is updating its legislative districts. This process only takes place once every ten years. You can view the recordings of past meetings and participate in future meetings of Virginia’s Redistricting Commission.
The Commission wants to hear from the public about their “Communities of Interest.” What does that mean?
The Code of Virginia defines a "community of interest" as a neighborhood or any geographically defined group of people living in an area who share similar social, cultural, and economic interests. Communities of interest are defined by local community members and local circumstances. Criteria related to common interests or characteristics include:
Shared racial or ethnic background
Common history or culture
Common religion or language
Shared socio-economic status
Economic ties
Transportation patterns
Communication networks (media markets)
A variety of geographic features, populations, and histories can make it difficult to define a community of interest, so it is important that the Commission hear about and understand local sentiment and circumstances in order to identify these communities. It is recommended that you consider incorporating answers to the following questions when providing public comment.
What bonds your community?
What do you see as the common links in your community?
Where is your community located?
How do you define the boundaries of your community?
Why should your community be kept together?
Why should your community be kept separate from another community or area?
For public comment opportunities, see https://bit.ly/3iy1n7m. The next scheduled meeting is September 20 - register to comment virtually by 10 am this Sunday. I urge you to be a part of this important process.
The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) has a census lookup tool where you can see how our community has changed since 2010.
Last Day to Take the NVTA TransAction Transportation Survey - Ends September 17
I serve as the Senate’s representative to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and I ask that you participate in the survey. Take the survey in English, Spanish, or Korean.
TransAction serves as a roadmap for planning, programming, and funding safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation projects over a 20-year timeframe. TransAction is updated every five years with input from public officials, jurisdictional and agency staff, regional stakeholders, and the public.
The current version of the Plan, adopted in 2017, identifies more than 350 multimodal projects that serve as a guide for determining which projects are selected for funding. During the Six Year Program, projects identified in TransAction are selected for NVTA funds through an evaluation process that results in a consolidated candidate project list for public input.
The region’s economic vitality and quality of life depend on an effective and forward-thinking transportation network. As the landscape of our region continues to evolve, public engagement is more important than ever. Public input is critical to ensuring a safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation system for many years to come. I completed the survey and you can too - you choose your transportation priorities and “spend” transportation dollars.
In the Community
Looking for an Outing? I took a tour of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Were you aware that we have the most visited museum in all of Virginia right here in the 33rd District? Yes! It’s the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the sister of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes earlier this week. It’s presently resumed regular visiting hours (with a mask) and they have zoomed-in the docents at the key exhibits so that you can safely interact and ask questions. I am so grateful to Christopher Browne, Acting Director of the National Air and Space Museum and Holly Williamason, from the Communications office for the special opportunity to see the center up close and personal.
Sri Ganesha Festival
I was so fortunate to make welcoming remarks at the Sri Ganesha Festival this past weekend.
9/11 vigil at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
I shared remarks at the 9/11 vigil at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Herndon along with members of our community in a bilingual service last Saturday evening.
Give Back
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) will be hosting a “Clear the Shelters” free pet adoption event from 11 am to 6 pm as part of the nationwide, “Clear the Shelters” adoption initiative. Adoption fees will be waived for all available pets, including cats, dogs, rabbits, small pets and livestock. The event will take place at the location of the new Loudoun County Animal Shelter, 42225 Adoption Drive, Leesburg. (Please note that Kincaid Boulevard is closed from the direction of Battlefield Parkway and that motorists must take Sycolin Road to Crosstrail Boulevard to access the facility.)
“This event could not be coming at a better time,” says Shelter Operations Manager Amy Martin. “In just the last two weeks, we have received over 130 animals from a number of different sources. Our beautiful new shelter has allowed us to provide a safe haven for all of these pets, but our kennels are full, and we want to find them all loving homes. We are hopeful that the community will take this chance to come out and find a new best friend.”
In addition to pet adoptions, other event activities will include a children’s craft tent, raffle baskets and giveaways. Prospective adopters can view available pets online at loudoun.gov/animals. The standard adoption screening process still applies during this promotion. Most adoptions can be completed on the same day.
All dogs, cats and rabbits adopted from LCAS are spayed or neutered and receive a microchip which is registered to their adopter. Dogs and cats also receive age-appropriate vaccinations. The shelter frequently has many pets available for adoption, including hamsters, guinea pigs, chickens, rabbits, other small pets and livestock.
In the News
Virginia judge jails alleged domestic violence victim for smoking pot on day of court testimony ‘Not treated with the respect, sensitivity or dignity required by law’
Boysko: Virginia must cash in on clean vehicle opportunity
State Prisons Are Dangerously Understaffed
Events
Saturdays, year round, 8 am- noon (May – Oct), 9 am – noon (Nov – April)/Leesburg Farmer’s Market, located at the Virginia Village Shopping Center, 30 Catoctin Circle, SE, in Leesburg.
Sundays, April - December 2021, 9 am - 1 pm/Cascades Farmer’s Market, located at 21060 Whitfield Drive (Parking lot of the Senior Center) in Sterling, VA.
Thursdays, April 22 - November 4, 8 am - 12:30 pm/Farmer’s Market in Old Town Herndon By the Red Caboose.
See here for information on all of Fairfax County Farmers Markets.
Thursday, September 23, 2021, 5:30 - 6:30 pm/Loudoun County Revive! opioid overdose reversal training
We welcome notices about events that are free or very low cost.
Keep in Touch
I am back in District 33. My team includes my Chief of Staff Karen Harrison, and aides, Kathy Shupe and Alec Fischbein. For constituent services, appointments by telephone, and to schedule meetings with your community group, please call (703) 437-0086 or email district33@senate.virginia.gov. Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
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