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The Ward 5 Report:
Office of Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
October 11, 2013
Ward 5 Highlights:
On October 5, Councilmember McDuffie held a community walk-through with the Bates Area Civic Association and agency representatives in the Bates community.
Councilmember McDuffie and colleagues came together to celebrate the opening of the new state-of-the-art Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School located in Ward 5
Councilmember McDuffie speaking with members from DC for Democracy about his campaign finance reform legislation
Councilmember McDuffie Urges the President and Congress to Let the District Spend Its Own Money
This week, Councilmember McDuffie joined Congresswoman Norton, Mayor Gray, and other D.C. Councilmembers to call on Congress and the President to permit the District of Columbia to spend its own money.
"It is unthinkable that the District's budget autonomy is tied to a Congress that has not managed to pass its own budget since 2009. Meanwhile, the District has passed a balanced budget for the past 18 years, has a AA– bond credit rating, and a $1.5 Billion fund balance," said McDuffie, speaking on behalf of the Council, to the nearly two hundred people in attendance.
While the District has been able to continue operations by relying on its contingency funds, those funds are estimated to be exhausted by next week. Click here to read more excerpts from Councilmember McDuffie's speech during the event.
Committee Updates:
Public Hearing on the Workplace Wellness Act of 2013
On Thursday, October 10, the Government Operations Committee held a hearing on B20-49, the "Workplace Wellness Act of 2013." The bill – co-introduced by Councilmembers McDuffie and Cheh earlier this year – will require the District government to adopt a workplace wellness policy for all District agencies. The bill will also require the Department of Health to set standards for healthy foods and beverages in all District-owned or operated facilities, including city hospitals, prisons, and juvenile justice facilities, as well as in vending machines and through on-site vendors.
Committee on Government Operations Public Hearing
On Wednesday, October 16, the Committee on Government Operations will convene a public hearing on B20-346 the "Public Service Commission and People's Counsel Terms of Service Harmonization Amendment Act of 2013" and B20-418 the "Renewable Energy Standard Portfolio Amendment Act of 2013." Click here to read additional details regarding the hearing.
This public hearing will be held in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official record. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact Ronan Gulstone, Committee Director at (202) 724-8028, or via e-mail at rgulstone@dccouncil.us.
Announcements:
OPC's Citywide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workshop
The Office of the People's Counsel invites all residents to their Hands-On Citywide Workshop: Making Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Real. The workshop will take place on Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located at 800 Mt. Vernon Place, NW in Room Rooms 152 A & B. For more information, click here.
W5COE Hosts a Ward 5 School Fair
The Ward Five Council on Education (W5COE) is hosting The Ward 5 School Fair on Saturday, November 16th at Dunbar Senior High School, located at 101 N Street, NW. The purpose of the event is to highlight all of our Ward 5 schools, both DCPS and charters, and all residents are encouraged to participate.
Although an RSVP for this event is not mandatory, the organizers would appreciate it if you would RSVP so that they can prepare for the number of attendees. Interested participants can RSVP here (RSVPs will open on Monday, October 14th).
DC Streetcar Construction Update Meeting for H/Benning Line
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will provide an update on the final roadway construction currently underway along the H/Benning corridor and what residents can expect as we ready the corridor for delivery of streetcar vehicles. Following an overview presentation, neighbors will be able to participate in localized discussions and ask specific block-by-block questions of the project team.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 22 at the Miner Elementary School, located at 601 15th Street, NE from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Materials from this meeting will be made available at www.dcstreetcar.com within 24 hours of meeting conclusion. For more information about this meeting please contact the DC Streetcar management team at info@dcstreetcar.com or call 855-413-2954.
Reminder: Join Mayor Gray for a Discussion on Mental Health
Join Mayor Gray's citywide forum on Saturday, October 12th to learn the facts about mental health issues in the District of Columbia. Topics of discussion will include:
- How to reduce the stigma associated with mental health care and increase people's openness to it
- How to understand the range of challenges youth face around mental health
- How to support youth more effectively in our community when they encounter mental health challenges.
This citywide town meeting, "Creating Community Solutions – D.C.," will provide residents, health care providers and District agencies an opportunity to discuss these critical issues on Saturday, October 12 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. A free lunch and refreshments will be provided for everyone who attends.
Visit http://creatingcommunitysolutions.org/event/creating-community-solutions-dc to register online.
Reminder: Healthy Food Retail Program Grant Opportunity
The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is soliciting applications from qualified organizations to manage its Healthy Food Retail Program. Through this grant, DSLBD will fund the expanded access of healthy foods within small food retailers in eligible areas of the District. A grant of $250,000 will be awarded to one organization to establish and operate a commercial distribution system which provides fresh produce and healthy foods to small food retail stores.
Applications are due on October 10, 2013, at 4 p.m. The grant recipient will be selected through a competitive application process and announced in November 2013. Download the Program Guidelines to view all the requirements. For more information, visit DSLB's website at http://dslbd.dc.gov/node/653802
Reminder: The D.C. Office of the People's Counsel Presents: A Hands-on Citywide Workshop: Making Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Real
When: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Energy efficiency and renewable energy experts will share the fundamentals of:
- Applying for a home energy audit
- Making your home more energy efficient
- Installing solar PV or solar thermal systems
- Get information on DC government energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, including grants and rebate
For additional information or to request disability accommodations or language/sign interpretation services, please contact the Office of the People's Counsel at 202.727.3071.
**Ward 5 Events:
Councilmember McDuffie, or a member of his staff, will attend the following events:
Monday, October 14 –The Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting will take place at the St. George's Episcopal Church, located at 160 U Street, NW, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, October 14 –The Queen Chapel Civic Association meeting will take place at the Union Wesley AME Zion Church, located at 1860 Michigan Avenue, N.E., beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15 – The Ward 5 Council on Education meeting will take place at the Lamond-Riggs Library, located at 5401 South Dakota Ave, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15 –The Brookland Civic Association meeting will take place at the Brooks Mansion, located at 901 Newton Street, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15 – ANC 5E will hold its monthly meeting at the Summit, located at 116 T Street, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 16 – ANC 5C will hold its monthly meeting at the 5th District Police Station, located at 1805 Bladensburg Road, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 17 –The Ft. Lincoln Civic Association meeting will take place at the Wesley House Senior Apartments, located at 3400 Joshua Barney Drive, N.E., beginning at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, please visit http://www.kenyanmcduffie.com or contact our office at (202) 724-8028. Follow Councilmember McDuffie at twitter.com/CM_McDuffie and/or facebook.com/KenyanRMcDuffie.
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