At the October 15, 2024, meeting of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, the county’s mobile libraries were celebrated for their vital role in delivering educational and health resources to underserved communities. These mobile units, known as the "13th branch" of the Prince William Public Library (PWPL), are helping bridge gaps in access to services and fostering community engagement.
Launched in March 2024, the state-of-the-art Mobile Library was officially introduced at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 21, 2024. County leadership, library staff, and community members gathered to mark the occasion, inviting attendees to tour the new addition to the library system. As part of PWPL's broader initiative, the mobile library is a critical component of the newly formed Community Outreach Services division. It aims to bring library materials, programs, and technology to areas that need them most.
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Prince William County is poised to address the community's mental health needs with the projected 2025 opening of its first Crisis Receiving Center (CRC), which will be located in the old Gander Mountain Store on Worth Avenue in Woodbridge.
Announced during the October 15 Board of County Supervisors meeting, the CRC will offer immediate, short-term care for individuals in mental health crises, following the Crisis Now model designed to reduce unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations and keep law enforcement focused on public safety.
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At the October 15, 2024, Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting, pressing housing issues took center stage as the county faces an unprecedented demand for emergency housing assistance and a growing crisis of affordability for senior citizens.
The county’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program received an overwhelming number of applications in just one week, with over 500 households seeking support. Joan Duckett, Director of the Office of Housing, reported that this surge in applications reflects the mounting challenges faced by low-income and at-risk populations, including those threatened with homelessness. This rapid influx underscores the urgency of the housing crisis in Prince William, where increasing rent prices have made stable housing out of reach for many residents.
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In its October 15, 2024, meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors announced a new initiative to improve community engagement and communication regarding panhandling. The board issued a directive to the county’s communications office, asking for a comprehensive plan to address the growing concerns about panhandling across the region.
Panhandling has been an ongoing topic in Prince William County, with residents expressing concerns over safety and the visibility of people asking for money at busy intersections. Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry raised the issue during the meeting, emphasizing the need for a clear communication strategy to educate the public about the county’s response to the problem.
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In a meeting on October 8, 2024, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved funding for new positions in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office, addressing the office's need for additional resources to handle an increasing caseload. The positions include four new attorney roles: paralegal, victim-witness staff, and administrative staff. Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth emphasized the importance of these positions for the efficiency and effectiveness of the county’s criminal justice system.
The new hires come after Ashworth said she would withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if county leaders don’t give her more employees.
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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors met on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to discuss a proposal to address the risks associated with street panhandling by offering employment opportunities to those begging on busy streets. The plan, spearheaded by the county's health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability team, sought to provide panhandlers with jobs paying $13 an hour for two days a week, hoping this alternative would reduce their presence on streets and mitigate safety concerns.
Inspired by similar initiatives in cities like Albuquerque, New Mexico, the program aimed to address panhandling through a multi-faceted approach. This included coordinated community outreach, focused pedestrian violation enforcement, and public engagement efforts encouraging residents to give to local nonprofits instead of handing money directly to panhandlers. The idea was to transition panhandlers into employment while also addressing issues such as addiction and underemployment, which often drive individuals to beg for money.
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Prince William County is gearing up to address the increasing panhandling issue in its streets.
Coles District Supervisor has urged fellow Board of Supervisors members to pass a resolution to regulate panhandling as the county grapples with public safety concerns and the need for social services. The resolution, listed as item 8A on the agenda, will be discussed during the board's meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will convene on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 7 p.m. to deliberate and vote on a proposed residential development in the Coles Magisterial District. The project, known as Bradley South, seeks to rezone approximately 10.15 acres of land from A-1 (Agricultural) to PMR (Planned Mixed Residential) to allow for the construction of 102 townhomes.
The site is on the east side of Dumfries Road (Route 234), about 115 feet northeast of the intersection with Godwin Drive, near Manassas, near a newly-opened interchange with Prince William Parkway.
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A proposal to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) tracking for traffic and pedestrian safety in Prince William County was deferred after a contentious discussion during the Sept. 19, 2024, Board of County Supervisors meeting. If approved, this initiative would mark the first time the county government has used AI technology to track and analyze citizens’ movements.
The initiative aims to enhance traffic safety by deploying AI-enabled camera technology to monitor traffic patterns and analyze near-miss incidents at 26 high-risk locations throughout the county, including non-vehicular near misses. This gives the impression that the AI will use equipment that can differentiate different people. The proposed locations are scattered throughout the county and primarily encompass the Routes 1 and 234 corridors in Woodbridge and the Manassas areas, respectively.
