Friday, May 29, 2020

the 05-29-2020 Ward 5 Report: Stay at Home Lite Begins Today, Go VOTE, and DC Black Business During COVID Directory

This message contains tons of images, all of which have been removed, since they were corrupted in the copy/paste process.

From: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie <kmcduffie@dccouncil.us>
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2020 1:50 PM
Subject: Ward 5 Report: Stay at Home Lite Begins Today, Go VOTE, and DC Black Business During COVID Directory












Neighbors,

As you have probably heard, today, the Mayor's Stay-at-Home order is lifted in exchange for what she has called 'Stay-at-Home Lite.' This means that some of the most stringent restrictions are now lifted. However, most of the practices that have become our new normal during the pandemic remain in place, and the coronavirus threat to residents of DC remains very real. 

During phase one:
  • Residents and visitors to DC are no longer ordered to stay at their residences. 
  • Residents should wear masks whenever they leave the house and are unable to maintain a six-foot distance from other people. 
  • Large gatherings of more than ten individuals continue to be prohibited in the District. 
  • DC park fields, tennis courts, dog parks, and tracks will reopen. Pools, playgrounds, recreation centers, and indoor facilities remain closed. 
  • Restaurants may open for service in already permitted outdoor spaces only and while maintaining six feet of space between parties. All people must be seated, and parties are limited to six people per table.
  • Restaurants that are not already permitted for outdoor space or that want to expand their outdoor space may apply for a permit to do so as well as for a permit to hold parking spots for curbside pickup.
  • Nonessential retail stores may open for front door pickup and delivery. Customers are still not allowed inside most nonessential businesses. 
  • Barbershops and hair salons may open but must maintain a 1:1 ratio of stylists to clients. Waiting inside is prohibited.  
  • Full details are available at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/phaseone 
In the same order outlining the above, Mayor Bowser extended the public health emergency in the District of Columbia until July 24, 2020, the maximum duration authorized by the Council. Unfortunately, this pandemic will not be measured in days or weeks, but months and possibly years. However, if we continue to support one another and encourage safe behavior, I remain optimistic that Ward 5 and the District of Columbia can emerge from this pandemic stronger and more equitable than before. 

In service, 

Kenyan







For the latest and most comprehensive information always visit http://coronavirus.dc.gov.












Three Ways to Engage with the Council on the Budget




The Council is currently reviewing Mayor Bowser's proposed budget through a series of Budget Oversight Hearings, which run through mid-June. Council committees are each taking written testimony as well as allowing residents to call a phone line and leave testimony, which will be transcribed and included in the official record. Additionally, there will be limited opportunities to testify before committee hearings held via videoconference. Check the Council website for the full schedule of hearings and additional details for each committee. 

The Council Committee on Business and Economic Development, chaired by Councilmember McDuffie, will receive input from the public through multiple channels:

Written Testimony:
  • Written Testimony shall be submitted by emailing the document to BusinessEconomicDevelopment@dccouncil.us.
  • Written testimony must be submitted as instructed above by June 3, 2020, 5:00 pm, to be included in the record.
  • Public witness testimony will not be accepted after that date.
Transcribed Oral Testimony:
  • Call (202) 430-5122.
  • When prompted, ready your testimony (speak slowly and clearly).
  • You may provide up to three minutes of testimony.
  • Your testimony will be transcribed and made a part of the record.
  • At the beginning of the message please state your name, spell your name, the agency you are testifying on, provide the name of the organization you are representing (if any), and then begin your testimony.
Live testimony via videoconference hearing:
  • The hearing will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, June 16 from 9:00 am – Noon. As with all Council hearings, it will be streamed live on the Council website and broadcast on DC cable channel 13.
  • Public witnesses are required to complete the witness form linked from hereThe form to sign up for the virtual hearing will open on June 10, 2020, at 9:00 am and close on June 12, 2020, at 5:00 pm.
  • Participation in the virtual hearing is limited, and participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Each public witness will receive a maximum of three minutes to testify, and each organization is limited to one testimony at the virtual hearing.
  • Public witnesses selected to participate in the virtual hearing will receive additional instructions from the Committee on Business and Economic Development.
  • These hearings are official proceedings of the Council of the District of Columbia, and public witnesses who will appear live in a virtual hearing must conduct themselves respectfully and are subject to removal for using profane, indecent, or abusive language or images.
  • All public witnesses are encouraged to submit written testimony in advance of the hearing. Written Testimony can be submitted by emailing the document to BusinessEconomicDevelopment@dccouncil.us.
    • Written testimony must be submitted as instructed above by June 3, 2020, 5:00 p.m., to be included in the record.







The Ward 5 Office is Open and Teleworking





Throughout the public health emergency, Councilmember McDuffie and staff are teleworking and remain hard at work on behalf of Ward 5 residents. You can still call (202) 724-8028 or email any staff







Update on Residential Speed Limit and Operations at the DMV, Library, and Fort Totten Transfer Station





  • On Tuesday, June 2, the DMV Southwest Service Center will be open by appointment only for limited services.
  • DC Library will take reservations for books and allow for pickup at initially two locations, eventually expanding to one library in each ward. Make reservations using the chat function at dclibrary.org and pickup currently available at Cleveland Park and Anacostia Libraries.
  • DC Department of Public Works Fort Totten Transfer Station is returning to normal operations today.
  • Effective Monday, June 1, the speed limit on local roads is lowered to 20 MPH.







Update on Summer Programs and Schools











  • DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will not offer in-person camp to begin the summer and possibly not all summer. DPR will be offering Camp-at-Home at no cost for all District families, including a range of activities. If we are able to enter phase 2 of the reopening, there is potential for limited, outdoor camps to resume later in the summer.
  • The Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program is going virtual. MBSYEP will work to place young people doing work such as literacy support for young learners, tech/IT, and occupational skills training. Organizations that would like to partner with the Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program can go to http://summerjobs.dc.gov.
  • DC Public Schools (DCPS) will offer virtual summer school from June 22 - July 24.
  • The Class of 2020 will be celebrated in virtual graduation ceremonies to take place in June.
  • The first day of DCPS this fall - virtual or otherwise - will be Aug 31, 2020.







In the Community




Ward 5's Ivy City Smokehose has been preparing meals for distribution to those in need on a weekly basis during the pandemic.








ANC Commissioner Pierre Hines reached out to Councilmember McDuffie out of concern for seniors in the Fort Lincoln community who are at a high risk for COVID-19. Through conversations, our office was able to connect them with Ascension Health, operator of Providence Urgent Care, and who donated 500 masks and 600 pairs of gloves to these Ward 5 seniors.







Kenyan in the News




Councilmember McDuffie hosted a panel on violence prevention in the DC during COVID-19, featuring Dr. Joseph B. Richardson - Professor of African-American Studies and Medical Anthropology at the U of Maryland, College Park; Cotey Wynn – Cure The Streets, Ward 5 Supervisor; Dr. Kevin Fields - Executive Director, Murder Free DC; and Sean Magruder - Director of Operations of Murder Free DC











Need a Test? Get a Test








Need a test? Get a test. Visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/testing or call 1-855-363-0333.







DC Hope Grants for Non-Profits to Help with COVID Outreach and Engagement








DC HOPE Community Grants will provide up to $50,000 for 501(c)3 non-profits that support relief efforts in a number of ways:
  • Increasing buy-in and participation in disease
  • investigation/contact tracing process
  • Purchase and distribution of PPE
  • Social distancing protective measures
  • Public health awareness
  • Connecting residents to testing sites and health care providers
Applications will open on Tuesday, May 26, and the submission deadline is Tuesday, June 9, by 5:00 pm. For more information visit: moca.dc.gov/page/2020-dc-hope-community-grant







The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project Invites You to Take Part in Gun Violence Awareness Month








The True Reasons I Grabbed the Gun Evolved from Risks (T.R.I.G.G.E.R) Project is a K-College gun violence prevention program based in the nation’s capital with the goal of creating an evidence-based model for urban gun violence prevention. The TRIGGER Project has a full month of virtual activities planned for Gun Violence Awareness Month, which you can check out on their website.







DC is Providing a PPE Care Kit for Small Businesses





If you are a business eligible to reopen for Phase one of DC's Reopening, you can receive a free PPE Care Package. PPE Care Packages will include hand sanitizer, face masks, and cleaning solution.

If you would like to receive a PPE Care Kit, follow the links below to
find your pick up zone, register your business for a PPE kit, and if your business is eligible to reopen.







Small Business Spotlight: NAACP DC Black Business Directory








The NAACP DC Branch recently completed a directory of select black-owned businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out the directory and support local black-owned businesses operating during the pandemic.







Food Pantry at 20th and Rhode Island Ave NE, 2nd & 4th Thursdays











Vote by Mail in the June Primary








Today and every day until June 2, 2020, 22 voting centers are open across DC from 8:30am - 7pm. In Ward 5, our voting centers are Turkey Thicket and McKinley Tech. Get all the details on early voting and check wait times before you go here.






















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