Tuesday 14 April 2020

[WardFive] CM McDuffie Facebook live today at 4pm

Good morning! 2 quick items for folks today:

** Please see below for a release from CM McDuffie today on the importance of racial equity in coronavirus response and recovery.

** You're invited to join Councilmember McDuffie this afternoon at 4pm on Facebook live as he hosts a conversation on racial equity in DC during COVID-19 featuring Ward 5's own Tony Lewis, Jr, Jerri Evans (owner of Turning Natural), and Angel Gregorio, (owner of the Spice Suite).

4pm today (Tues) on CM McDuffie's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KenyanRMcDuffie/

--Nolan

From: <kmcduffie@dccouncil.us>
Reply-To: <kmcduffie@DCCOUNCIL.US>
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 9:00 AM
To:
Subject: RELEASE: McDuffie Urges DC Government to Plan Coronavirus Response Through the Lens of Racial Equity

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Councilmember McDuffie Urges DC Government to Plan Coronavirus Response Through the Lens of Racial Equity

Building on years of leadership on racial equity, Councilmember McDuffie urged his Council colleagues and Mayor on March 23 to address these concerns in District's response to COVID-19

For details and the latest updates on the District's response to coronavirus, visit http://coronavirus.dc.gov.

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2020
Contact: Nolan Treadway, (202) 445-0361, ntreadway@dccouncil.us

Washington, DC – Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairman Pro Tempore and Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, urges the leaders of the District government to view the ongoing coronavirus response efforts through the lens of racial equity. Councilmember McDuffie emailed his Council colleagues and Mayor Muriel Bowser on March 23, 2020, to call on them to craft any policies and programs enacted in response to coronavirus through the lens of racial equity.

"History demonstrates that inequitable government responses to disasters have led to recoveries that exacerbate existing disparities and contribute to the displacement of individuals and businesses in communities of color," McDuffie wrote, "As the coronavirus spreads and the public health emergency persists, I hope that we will continue to work collaboratively, paying special attention to the impact that this disease and the response to its spread may have on communities of color as well as on minority- and women-owned businesses."

In the last week, data has revealed large disparities in the impact of coronavirus on the African American community, including DC. Tragically, 52 District residents have lost their life to COVID-19. And while the DC population is 46% Black, 72% of the deaths from COVID-19 were Black Washingtonians. (latest data as of Sunday, April 12)

Councilmember McDuffie has been a leader in DC and on the Council on racial equity. Among many other efforts, he introduced and championed the Racial Equity Achieves Real Change Act (B23-0038, formerly known as the Racial Equity Achieves Results Act) and spearheaded the Council's successful efforts to attain membership in the Government Alliance on Racial Equity (GARE).

"While many experts are conveying coronavirus warnings as though they will impact Americans equally, it is more likely that this pandemic will hit the poor, communities of color, and minority-owned businesses the hardest."

The full email is copied below and available on Councilmember McDuffie's website.

From: kmcduffie@DCCOUNCIL.US
Date: Monday, March 23, 2020 at 2:11 PM
To: "Members Only (COUNCIL)"
Subject: COVID-19 and Legislating Using a Racial Equity Lens

Dear Colleagues:

I would like to take a moment to thank you and your staffs for your tremendous efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic which is taking a serious toll on our city. I was especially proud of how quickly we all came together to draft and pass the emergency relief bill last Tuesday. As we monitor implementation of the programs created by the emergency measure that we recently passed as well as move forward to consider additional ways to mitigate the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on our local economy, I want to reinforce the importance, now more than ever, of legislating using a racial equity lens.

As the saying goes, when white America catches a cold, Black America catches the flu. While many experts are conveying coronavirus warnings as though they will impact Americans equally, it is more likely that this pandemic will hit the poor, communities of color, and minority-owned businesses the hardest.

We know that people of color are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, may not have a primary care physician or access to transportation, childcare, or to technology required to stay connected. Recent reports estimate that unemployment may reach 20 to 30 percent nationally, so we should assume that those numbers will be even higher for communities of color.

We also know that it is harder for communities of color to socially distance. Just the other day, I drove through a neighborhood in my ward and saw lots of young people congregating. Many people of color live in cities, dense neighborhoods, or public housing, while others experience persistent housing insecurity or homelessness. Our families tend to be larger and more than one generation may live under one roof, exposing vulnerable adults to frequent interactions with others inside of their home.

History demonstrates that inequitable government responses to disasters have led to recoveries that exacerbate existing disparities and contribute to displacement of individuals and businesses in communities of color. As the coronavirus spreads and the public health emergency persists, I hope that we will continue to work collaboratively, paying special attention to the impact that this disease and the response to its spread may have on communities of color as well as on minority- and women-owned businesses. We should follow the guidance of GARE/Race Forward to "dispel myths and racist misinformation, to collectively work to create a system-wide response needed to end the spread of this communicable disease, and to address the needs of marginalized populations while stamping out stigma and blame."

Again, thank you for your tireless efforts and let us ensure that any further emergency measures that we consider during this public health emergency utilize a racial equity lens.

Regards,

krm