Digital Actions
Want to make a difference from your computer or phone? These are some opportunities to engage wherever you're at!
Tell Winchester City Council: Support a Walkable Berryville Ave. Neighborhood Design District
On Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:00 PM, City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on adding the Berryville Avenue Neighborhood Design District (NDD) to the Comprehensive Plan (Resolution R-2026-14). You can read the Berryville Avenue NDD Final Report here to learn more about it: https://www.winchesterva.gov/
Why this matters right now: The Berryville Ave. NDD aims to guide thoughtful growth, revitalizing this key city gateway from a single-use commercial strip into an economically vibrant, mixed-use, 'live-work-play' activity center featuring walkable neighborhoods, public spaces, and safe infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles. However, an organized effort by car-centric businesses and property owners is already pushing to weaken the plan. Local gas station and oil companies have legal representation pressuring City Council to protect their interests, while another property owner is pushing for changes to allow new car-centric projects, like an "auto spa" car wash in the Food Maxx parking lot.
While councilors are expected to vote in favor of the overall plan on June 23rd, they need to hear a resounding message from the residents who actually live here: We want a walkable, mixed-use community, not more outdated, car-centric design.
This vote is just the first step. Over the coming months, Council will vote on specific zoning text amendments and final property rezoning. We need to establish a strong presence now so local officials know we are watching and expect them to protect the NDD framework without giving in to these business and property owners in a way that compromises a pedestrian, bicycle-friendly, and economically vibrant future.
How to take action:
*Show up in person: Attend the meeting on June 23rd at 6:00 PM at City Hall to speak during the public hearing.
*Submit a digital comment: If you can't attend (or are out of town!), submit an e-comment through the City of Winchester’s online portal in support of R-2026-14 prior to the meeting. Link to write a public comment on the resolution/agenda item (R-2026-14: A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CITY OF WINCHESTER 2022 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCLUDE THE BERRYVILLE AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN DISTRICT): https://us.openforms.com/Form/
Talking Points for Comments:
*Express strong support for the Berryville Ave NDD.
*Emphasize the desire for mixed-use development, green spaces, and safe bike/pedestrian infrastructure.
*Explicitly oppose any future text amendments that would allow new car-centric designs that undermine the walkable neighborhood vision.
Sign this petition to protect Frederick County from unchecked data centers!
There is a public forum happening on 4/15! Fact vs. Fiction: A Community Forum. Please visit this link to sign the petition and share with your friends. It's important that residents show that a) we don't want data centers without ensuring the protection of our communities and environment, and b) that we will show up on masse to have our voices heard. This petition will be presented at the board meetings with enough signatures!
Sign and Share the Green Giants Eco Action Group's Petitions: A Cleaner, Greener Community Starts with a 5¢ Bag Fee
Sign here:
- Frederick County Petition
- City of Winchester Petition
Residents of Frederick County and City of Winchester, I urge you to adopt the 5¢ Disposable Plastic Bag Tax authorized under Virginia Code §58.1‑1745. This small, proven fee is one of the most effective tools available to reduce plastic litter, protect local waterways, and support a cleaner and healthier community.
Plastic bags are consistently among the most common items found in community cleanups and stormwater systems. They break down into microplastics that harm wildlife, clog drainage infrastructure, and create long‑term environmental and financial burdens for our city.
Communities across Virginia that have implemented this fee have seen significant reductions in plastic bag waste. The fee is fully avoidable by bringing reusable bags, and the revenue collected is restricted by state law for:
- Litter prevention and cleanup
- Environmental education
- Providing reusable bags to low‑income residents
This policy is practical, cost‑effective, and aligned with Winchester's/Frederick County values of stewardship and community well‑being. I respectfully ask you to move this measure forward and help make Winchester a cleaner, more sustainable place for everyone.
Why This Campaign Matters: Plastic pollution is one of the most visible and preventable problems in our community. Disposable plastic bags clog storm drains, litter our neighborhoods, harm wildlife, and break down into microplastics that end up in our waterways and soil. Winchester spends time and resources cleaning up something that doesn’t need to be created in the first place.
A small, avoidable 5¢ fee is one of the simplest and most effective tools available to reduce plastic waste. Communities across Virginia have already seen dramatic reductions in litter after adopting this policy. The revenue stays local and can only be used for cleanup, environmental education, and providing reusable bags to residents who need them.
This campaign is about taking a practical, commonsense step that protects our environment, reduces waste, and strengthens our community’s long‑term health.
Sign and Share the Valleys Without Borders Petition - Demand the Winchester City Council END their contract with ICE
Since February 2021, the City of Winchester has maintained a 5-year contract with ICE to hold migrant children at our local Northwestern Regional Juvenile Detention Center (NRJDC). As contract renewal approaches, it is up to us to call on our local representatives to end this contract that helps tear families and communities apart.
Please sign and share this petition! We will present it alongside our Resolution (link in the petition) to City Council. https://c.org/Nn4w2RpqVx
Opportunities to Support Minnesota Residents
Minnesota is under occupation by federal agents from ICE and CBP, and we need your support.
Across Minnesota, ICE continues to stop, harass, and detain people regardless of their citizenship status. Normal life in Minnesota has been interrupted, as schools have been forced to close or go virtual, as people live in fear of leaving their homes or going to work. Minnesotans are organized and activated to respond to this violence. But they need our help.
This directory of places to donate to all comes from activists on the ground, plugged into the situation. Everything is vetted, with the exception of individual GoFundMes (not everyone is in our networks, and we don’t want to pick and choose who is worthy of help.)
Overwhelmed by the amount of listings here? Donate to the Immigrant Law Center of MN, who is providing assistance to hundreds of people with families detained by ICE, or the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, a fund assembled by a coalition of Twin Cities Foundations committed to getting assistance out the door as quickly as possible.
We are very proud of the progress we’ve made together towards a clean energy future and a just transition here in Virginia. With your support, the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) has benefited families by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering energy bills for rate payers, and creating energy jobs.
Since its passage, this piece of legislation has been the subject of constant attacks by polluting industries and big business. Members of the General Assembly have attempted to gut the VCEA and halt our just transition to a clean energy economy where people and planet are the priority. If the VCEA gets repealed or weakened, Virginians will see higher utility bills and more greenhouse gas emissions that impact our health.
In the 2026 Legislative Session, we will once again rise up to protect the VCEA from constant attacks by industries that profit from pollution and unaffordable energy bills. Sign on to our petition to the House and Senate leadership from both parties that demands they protect the VCEA and the progress we have made as a Commonwealth towards a clean energy economy that works for everyone.
Sign the Petition For An Alternate Underground HVDC Solution for The MARL/Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek (500kV) Transmission Line and the Valley Link (765kV) transmission line through Virginia!
Please join us in signing this petition.
Winchester City Survey
Winchester folks, please take a few minutes to fill out the Winchester City Survey. This important survey tells our city government what we want to see in our city!
Get Big Money Out of VA Politics
Big MoneyOutVA, an all volunteer, non-partisan group, is working to get local jurisdictions to pass resolutions in support of getting big money out of politics (since legislators in Richmond aren't interested). So we are going local and we have had discussions with Chip Newcome and others in Winchester, championed by Jackson Kidwell, a high school democracy warrior. Here's their ask:
Do you live in Winchester or Frederick or Clarke County? Do you believe in Democracy over Dollars? Join us in calling on the elected local officials in your jurisdiction to put people before corporations and wealthy donors. Across Virginia, activists are urging local councils and boards to pass resolutions supporting stronger campaign finance laws. Right now, Virginia has some of the weakest campaign finance rules in the country—but communities are speaking up. Leesburg and Blacksburg already passed resolutions unanimously.Your community could be next—but only if you raise your voice. Click below and send an email to local officials and your elected representatives in Richmond if you live in these jurisdictions. Frederick County, Clarke County, City of Winchester.