In her first interview with Potomac Local News since being elected four years ago, Mayor Michelle Davis Younger (D) shared her vision and priorities for her November 2024 re-election campaign.
Davis Younger emphasized the importance of voter participation, urging residents to exercise their right to vote. "It's so important to get out and vote," she stated. "No matter what, we all want what's best for our community." Davis Younger is vying for a second term as mayor and is challenged by longtime city businesswoman  Xiao-Yin "Tang" Byrom (R).
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Concerns over underage drinking and people bringing outside alcohol into the First Friday event in Manassas have prompted city officials to reconsider how the popular downtown gathering is managed. Interim City Manager Doug Keen and Police Capt. Tara Petty exchanged text messages on September 6, 2024, discussing growing issues with public safety and communication during the event.
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Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Sept. 23 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
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Residents in several Manassas neighborhoods are raising concerns over the increasing presence of wild animals and unsafe conditions caused by neglected properties with overgrown yards. At a recent Town Hall meeting, citizens voiced frustration over the lack of enforcement regarding property maintenance, which they say has led to several health and safety risks.
Wildlife Invasion in Residential Areas
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Burke also addressed downtown parking, revealing that the city has about 1,400 parking spaces, with 16% located north of the railroad tracks. He noted that downtown parking utilization ranges from 20% to 50%, meaning ample parking is often available, mainly south of the tracks. He discussed the permits available for downtown residents, businesses, and VRE users.
The meeting concluded with council members responding to specific questions and concerns raised by residents. Council members and city staff emphasized that parking issues are a challenge in Manassas and throughout Northern Virginia. They assured attendees that feedback from the community would be used to guide future decisions, particularly during upcoming work sessions aimed at addressing parking and other city issues.
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Get ready to dive into the issues that matter most to Manassas residents. Potomac Local News is bringing you an exclusive interview with Tom Osina, a City Council member seeking re-election this November.
In this must-listen interview, we ask Osina tough questions, such as:
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Manassas Regional Airport’s plans to introduce commercial passenger jet service have hit a delay, with flights now expected to begin in 2026 instead of 2025.
On September 16, 2024, the Manassas City Council received an update from Airport Director Juan Rivera, who outlined the project's progress and the factors behind the delay. The council had unanimously approved a franchise agreement with Avports Manassas, LLC—a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs to begin commercial service by 2025. Still, unexpected infrastructure challenges have pushed back the timeline.
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Mark Wolfe has been a member of the Manassas City Council for 16 years and is running for re-election in 2024. With a long track record of involvement in city government, Wolfe, a Democrat, has played a significant role in shaping Manassas’ growth and policies. As voters prepare to head to the polls, Potomac Local News sat down with Wolfe to discuss his vision for the future and the critical issues facing the city.
In this exclusive interview, Wolfe tackles critical questions, such as:
- What are the top three issues Wolfe discusses as he speaks with voters during his campaign?
- What policies have helped turn Manassas into an economic hub, and what more can be done?
- Is Electra planning to build a major manufacturing facility in Manassas, and what will happen if it chooses another city?
- How will the expansion of the Manassas Regional Airport impact jobs, noise levels, and quality of life for residents?
- What’s the city's approach to the rapid growth of data centers, and how will it affect local infrastructure and neighborhoods?
With early voting beginning on Friday, September 20, 2024, this is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the future of Manassas. Potomac Local News is committed to bringing you exclusive interviews with the people who want to lead your city. We’re asking the questions that matter and getting the answers Manassas residents need before heading to the polls.
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Steve Burke, the director of public works, said implementing EV charging stations has been a tactic to get more visitors to downtown Manassas.
"We've received, over the past year, over 5,500 individual uses of our charging stations," Burke said. "That level of use comes with some expense to the city. Last year, we spent a little over $18,000 in electric charges we had. There's also costs for the software that people need to use to connect to it, as well as just the use of those charging stations, things break, and we wind up having to pay for them."
