To the Fairfax County Community,

As more of our population gets vaccinated (currently over 51% of Fairfax County residents have had at least one dose!), our favorite places can fully reopen and we can start connecting with people again in person.

Our number one priority continues to be getting our community vaccinated. We are excited that 12-15 year olds can now be vaccinated (more on this below). Now that the initial rush for shots has slowed, the difficult work of having one-on-one conversations to persuade everyone to get vaccinated begins. I recently visited a Fairfax County Health Department vaccine equity site in Herndon with Herndon Town Council Mayor Sheila Olem and Council Member Naila Alam (top left photo below). Our equity clinics are often in community locations like churches and community centers that are accessible to the neighborhood and will be essential in our efforts to get people vaccinated in the weeks ahead.

I also went to the bill signing for legislation approved during the last General Assembly session, which protects our first responders in the case of health issues caused by COVID-19 (below top right). It was an honor to join Governor Northam and members of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and other first responders and legislators. After the bill signing, I spoke at a commemoration event for Will Jasper (bottom left below) who was was a leader in the Lee District and Fairfax County communities. Will was a member of the Library Board for over 15 years and a member of the Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Finally, after the devastating fire last year, the construction of South Alex, a mixed use project that is revitalizing the Route One Corridor, is back in full motion. I visited to celebrate the progress with the site workers. The fire at South Alex was the largest in County history and we were blessed that due to the work of our first responders, there was no loss of life.