Alexandria Gazette Packet 25 Cents Serving Alexandria for Over 200 Years • a Connection Newspaper January 23, 2020
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Alexandria Gazette Packet 25 Cents Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper January 23, 2020 Honoring King’s Legacy Photos by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet Islamic Relief prepares 100,000 meals on MLK day of service. By Jeanne Theismann served by IRUSA. Gazette Packet “Islamic Relief USA has long par- ticipated in service projects on ore than 50 years Martin Luther King Day, as it’s vi- have passed since tal to take time out and serve,” said MMartin Luther Syed Hassan, communications spe- King Jr. was felled cialist for Islamic Relief USA. “Our by an assassin’s bullet in the sum- partnership with Episcopal High mer of 1968. But the legacy of the School will help supplement the slain Civil Rights leader lives on efforts of IRUSA volunteers and More than 300 Islamic Relief USA volunteers package meals for distribution to food in service projects around the na- help provide nourishing food to banks during the Jan. 19 day of service at Episcopal High School in honor of Martin tion, including the Islamic Relief many people around the country.” Luther King Jr. USA meal-packing event Jan. 19 Based in Alexandria, Islamic at Episcopal High School. Relief USA is a nonprofit humani- “Today is all about celebrating tarian and advocacy organization. the legacy of Martin Luther King According to its website, its mis- Jr.,” said Yasim Faisal, Mid-Atlan- sion is to provide relief and devel- tic volunteer coordinator for Is- opment in a dignified manner re- lamic Relief USA. “We have never gardless of gender, race, or reli- before done a project on this scale gion, and to empower individuals or had this many volunteers for one in their communities and give project. Both are milestones for us.” them a voice in the world. Three hundred volunteers spent “Legacy – it’s one of my favorite the day packing 100,000 meals words,” Faisal added. “Legacy is that will be distributed domesti- something that all of us should be cally to various food banks and thinking about on a daily basis – Shakil Khandoker places a package of shelters. The meals consist of red what we want to leave behind as jambalaya mix in a box that will be dis- Islamic Relief USA volunteers prepare lentil jambalaya that is popular our contribution to this world.” tributed to one of many food banks across jambalaya packages during the Jan. 19 among the local communities www.irusa.org the country. Day of Service at Episcopal High School. Democrats poised to impose new Closing All the Loopholes regulations on high-interest lenders. By Michael Lee Pope Gazette Packet Lending Act. The bill would cap is a hodgepodge of different ap- of them are being made or what all loans at 36 percent and insti- proaches for different loans. Some the interest rates are. The Fairness he days of unregulated tute a maximum monthly fee of are regulated and capped at 264 in Lending Act would require all high-interest lending may $25. percent. Others are totally unregu- T See Loopholes, Page 3 be coming to a close in “All of these lenders make the lated, so nobody knows how many Virginia. Now that Democrats have same loans in Colorado and Ohio seized control of the General As- and charge one third as much as 22314 VA Alexandria, To: 1604 King St., King 1604 To: ted sembly, members of the Legislative they charge Virginians,” said Jay Reques Service Address Black Caucus say cracking down Speer, executive director at the material. on predatory lending is one of Michael Lee Pope/Gazette Packet Virginia Poverty Law Center. “So Time-sensitive Postmaster: their top priorities for the 2020 Campaign-finance records it’s pretty clear they charge the Attention session. Del. Lamont Bagby (D-74) show that in the last elec- maximum they’re allowed to Permit #482 Permit and Sen. Mamie Locke (D-2) have tion cycle, LoanMax gave charge and it has nothing at all to VA Alexandria, PAID introduced a legislative effort $150,000 to Republicans do with market forces.” Postage U.S. they’re calling the Fairness in and $100,000 to Democrats. The current state of Virginia law STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ January 23-29, 2020 ❖ 1 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 Thank You to all of our wonderful clients, colleagues, & vendors who helped make 2019 a great success! - Jen, Sue, & Micki We have a proven track record of representing buyers and sellers in a competitive marketplace. 576 N Saint Asaph Street 2911 Sycamore Street 570 E Nelson Avenue PENDING | $665,000 OPEN SAT & SUN 2-4PM | $650,000 COMING SOON | $689,900 3001 Edgehill Drive 205A E Spring Street 415 Laverne Avenue SOLD | $1,220,000 SOLD | $681,200 SOLD | $610,000 502 Kentucky Avenue 418 Gibbon Street 417 E Custis Avenue SOLD | $1,200,000 SOLD | $735,000 SOLD | $769,900 With more than 35 years of experience and over $102 million sold in 2019, The Jen Walker Team brings you unparalleled knowledge, expertise, and customer service to streamline your home buying process. 2 v Alexandria Gazette Packet v January 23-29, 2020 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Spice Kraft Opens in Del Ray el Ray celebrated the opening the new restaurant to fill the space. “We of its newest restaurant Jan. 20 couldn’t ask for a better businessman, com- Dwith a ribbon cutting and for munity leader, and friend who waited to mal opening of Spice Kraft In- find the perfect fit for this neighborhood.” dian Bistro. Spice Kraft owner Anthony Shankar man- The new restaurant, which features In- aged Taaza, a popular Indian restaurant in dian cuisine, catering, and takeout, is lo- Roanoke, for seven years before relocating cated in the former Bombay Curry Company to Alexandria to open Spice Kraft. He Photo contributed space at 2607 Mount Vernon Avenue. brought along former Taaza chef Premnath Mayor Justin Wilson, center, is joined by city officials and members of “This is a place we have loved for a very Durairaj, who has worked with Shankar for the Del Ray Business Association Jan. 20 as he cuts the ribbon to for- long time,” said Del Ray Business Associa- more than two decades. mally open Spice Kraft restaurant on Mount Vernon Avenue. tion president Sue Kovalsky, nodding to “Our chef’s name means ‘love’ — perfect Bombay Curry Company owner Balraj for Del Ray,” said Shankar, noting the warm Mayor Justin Wilson, who attended the ing great Indian food here to Del Ray.” Bhasin, who retired in 2019 after 23 years welcome the restaurant has received from opening, added: “We are thrilled that An- For restaurant hours and menus, visit in Del Ray, and was selective in choosing the neighborhood. thony is continuing the tradition of bring- www.spicekraftdelray.com. Leaders of the Pack Cub Scouts collect food for ALIVE! in MLK Day of service. Photos by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet embers of Cub Scout Pack 801 held a food drive MJan. 20 as part of a day of service commemo rating the birthday and memory of Martin Luther King Jr. Led by Pack leader Stephen Ng, the food drive was held at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School to benefit the nonprofit organization ALIVE! Founded in 1969, ALIVE! is the largest private safety net for the needy in the city of Alexandria, addressing short- term to long-term needs for those less fortunate in the com- munity. ALIVE! serves thousands of Alexandrians annually with shelter; low-cost early childhood education and childcare; financial help for rent, utilities, medical care and other critical needs; emergency food; and deliveries of donated furniture and housewares. For information on programs or how to donate or volun- Members of Cub Scout Pack 801 pose for a Cub Scout Pack 801 members Benjamin Allen, teer, visit www.alive-inc.org. photo Jan. 20 during a food drive for ALIVE! Liam Cannon, Calder Sherman and Jack Beardow — Jeanne Theismann held at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School. join Erin Sherman at the ALIVE! food drive. Closing All the Loopholes From Page 1 influence the General Assembly. former Del. Tim Hugo (R-40), who the Fairness in Lending Act is that stallment loans made online are During the last election cycle, the was chairman of a subcommittee it creates a cap on how much these not, leading to confusion about the lenders get a Virginia license and industry gave $1 million in cam- that often served as graveyard for companies can charge in interest scale of the industry and what kind register with the State Corporation paign contributions. Car-title reform efforts. He was one of the and fees — no more than 50 per- of interest rates they charge. That’s Commission, which would track lender LoanMax was the top con- four Republican incumbents un- cent. This is designed to prevent why the Fairness in Lending Act how many loans are made and tributor, giving $250,000; online seated last year, giving Democrats these companies from bilking con- requires all businesses making many other details about the lender Enova gave $176,000; a majority in the House and shift- sumers into forking over signifi- loans in Virginia get a license, transactions. Advocates for re- open-end-line-of-credit lender ing the balance of power. cantly more money than they bor- which will allow state regulators forming the system say the current Check Into Cash gave $88,000. “Far too often I’m riding into rowed in the first place, a key fea- to track their activity. Critics say system takes advantage of people “There’s no question that when work or into session, and I hear the ture of the industry that helped this creates a new loophole.