August Newsletter
It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and we’re already in the middle of the back-to-school season! While it’s been a record hot summer, with no signs of slowing down, I still hope you and your family found a chance to rest and recharge! I’ve been out and about throughout the district this past month and wanted to share an update on my activities, some great community events coming up, a few helpful resources and take a moment to address the recent catastrophic action by the Youngkin Administration to pull Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Virginia Votes to Leaves RGGI
Back in July, the Youngkin Administration’s Air Pollution Control Board voted to withdraw the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. Our prior participation in RGGI was an aspect included in the groundbreaking legislation carried by Democrats during the 2020 session, called the Virginia Clean Economy Act. As a member of RGGI, electricity producers in the state are required to buy allowances for each ton of carbon they emit in their energy production, and in Virginia, those funds are then earmarked to be spent on flood resiliency and towards energy efficiency efforts. Since 2021, that has resulted in more than half a billion dollars for Virginia to invest towards these critical initiatives. With sea levels on the rise and flooding catastrophes throughout the Commonwealth reaching record levels of devastation as a result of climate change, this funding stream has never been more important than it is today. For this Administration to prioritize corporate profit over the lives of those individuals, predominantly low-income, living within the floodplains of the Commonwealth is truly appalling.
Thankfully, a number of environmental organizations, headed by the Southern Environmental Law Center, are filing legal challenges to prevent this withdrawal, arguing that the administration does not have the authority to usurp the will of the legislature when it passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act back in 2020.
In my role as your Delegate, I will do everything I can to fight this backwards-thinking Administration and ensure that when it comes to climate change, we don’t take even the smallest step backwards.
Community Events:
Town of Herndon Recreation
The Town of Herndon has just released its fall programs and events! You can check out their full list of classes and programs for all ages at this link. Here are a few fun events to mark your calendar for:
NatureFest: Sunday, September 24th 1:00-5:00
Homecoming Parade: Saturday, October 14th at 9:30 AM
Pumpkin Plunge: Friday, October 27th
Turkey Trot: Saturday, November 18th at 4:00
Free Dog Fridays
Are you thinking about getting a pet? There’s no better place to look than Fairfax County Animal Shelter! And even better, they’re waiving adoption fees for dogs every Friday this summer. You can visit here to see who’s up for adoption, or in person at 4500 West Ox Road.
Putting for Pets
Looking for a fun day out on the golf course? Join the Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter at the Chantilly National Golf and Country Club on Monday, September 18th. Tickets for golfing are $175, and dinner is $50. More info here!
Go Solar!
There are tons of resources out there to help you make the transition to clean energy - among them, a 30% federal tax credit! Solarize NoVa and Solar Switch are offering low rates to install solar panels. Check out their website to access free data to help you decide if your roof is fit for solar.
Ride Share Safety
There have been three incidents this year so far reported to police in Fairfax County of crimes while using rideshare programs like Uber or Lyft - you can review FCPD’s advice to stay safe!
Flood Insurance
As you can see, the area near Sugarland Run is at high risk of flooding. As the tropical storm season begins, it’s a great time to think about getting flood insurance. FEMA has created a great resource page to explore ways to shop for insurance or other resources to ensure you, your family and your home can stay safe!
Election Officers Needed
You can earn $250 by training and serving as an Election Officer on November 7th! If you speak Korean or Vietnamese, you are especially needed in the Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, and Falls Church areas to help local voters - you can check the box saying “In addition to English, I am fluent in ___” on your application, and then you’ll take a short language skill assessment.
Public Art Locator
ArtsFairfax recently launched their map of murals, sculptures, and other public art in the county which is AWESOME! You can check it out at this link and maybe plan a weekend day trip visiting some of our amazing local restaurants and art!
Free Yoga Classes
If you’ve ever wanted to try yoga, now is the time! Inner Engineering is hosting a free beginner class on Aug 26, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, at the Reston Regional Library. Click here for more details.
Book Drive
Next Saturday you can clear out your book shelves and support the Herndon Rotary Club’s book drive for Dogwood Elementary!
House and Senate Page Programs
The House and Senate Page Program application is open! This is a great opportunity to learn about government and develop leadership and independence. Students are in Richmond for the duration of the legislative session (mid-January to mid-March), and thus have to keep up with their schoolwork outside of class. 13 and 14-year-old students are eligible to apply by 5:00 PM on Monday, October 16, 2023. Details can be found here.
Cultural Festival on Saturday!
ArtsHerndon is coming together with SaReGaMe to put on the East Meets West Festival this Saturday! There will be henna artists, live music and dance performances, food, and more!
What I’ve Been Up To:
I had a wonderful time at the Women’s Summit connecting with the passionate women who are driving politics today. I was on a panel on what it takes to run for office and the disadvantages women of color face, and one on campaign finance reform – both issues that are most important to me!
National Night Out was so much fun! Our Town came together for a wonderful evening of building stronger connections with friends, neighbors, and our public safety officials. Big thanks to everyone who came out - events like these remind me why I love serving this community so much!
Cheers for Children was a huge success! With the support of my colleagues like Senator Jennifer Boysko, Delegate Danica Roem, School Board Member Elaine Tholen, as well candidates for School Board Robyn Lady and Kyle McDaniel and candidate for Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman. We raised more than $2,500 to pay off lunch debt for Fairfax County Public Schools students! Herndon High School teacher Gabe Segal has been working tirelessly to erase meal debt in Fairfax County and we couldn’t be happier to support his efforts! No student should go hungry.
Earlier this month, I got to tour the White House and Capitol with the student cohort from the Korean American Next Generation Council. It was so incredible to meet such insightful young people as they learned about the history of some of our country’s most storied institutions.
I also thoroughly enjoyed attending the BDesh Foundation's Taste of Halal Latino Food event! BDesh is a nonprofit that does fantastic work both at home, such as through serving meals to those in need, and abroad.
Community Resources:
Herndon Village Network
The Herndon Village Network is a fantastic organization that provides transportation to non-driving seniors in our area who would otherwise not be able to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, religious services, and social activities. They are always looking for more members they can serve, as well as volunteers! To learn more, you can visit https://herndonvillagenetwork.org/.
AAPIStrong Restaurant Fund Grant Program
The National AAPI Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) is providing $15,000-$50,000 grants for AAPI-owned restaurants across the country to improve and expand those small businesses. Applications opened on August 14th and will close on August 28th, so act quickly! You can find more information on eligibility and how to apply here!
Virginia Tourism Commission Micro Grants
The Virginia Tourism Commission will be accepting applications for microgrants from small, tourism-oriented businesses with less than 20 full-time employees as well as organizations such as Destination Marketing Organizations, Chambers of Commerce and Downtown Merchant Associations. The window for application opens on August 22nd and closes on September 28th. You can find more information on those grants and how to apply here!
Do you have an event or resource you want featured in our newsletter?
Feel free to contact us, or fill out this form!
In closing, I want to thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your Delegate and please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if we can ever be of assistance either by email at DeliShin@house.virginia.gov or by phone at 703-677-8334.
