From: Councilmember Kenyan R.
McDuffie <kmcduffie@dccouncil.us>
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2021 2:17 PM
Subject: Ward 5 Report - A Guaranteed Basic Income
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Neighbor,
As the Council looks to address the immediate needs of District
residents through this year’s budget process, I want to highlight
one investment I have recommended in this year’s budget to address
households experiencing poverty in the District. Roughly 13.5% of
District residents live in poverty, but 21.6% of Black residents
live in poverty. Furthermore, while 7.6% of District children
experience poverty, 47% of children east of the river experience
poverty. I have worked to ensure that this recovery isn’t a return
to normal for residents and workers who were already struggling to
access the District’s prosperity and promise. In my Committee’s
budget, I recommended $1.5M to fund guaranteed basic income pilot
programs that will provide monthly cash payments to residents in
need, adding an essential layer of financial security to our city’s
social safety net.
We know that low-wage workers have been among the most impacted by
this pandemic. Pilot programs popping up across the country have found that guaranteed income
programs lead to better health outcomes for participants, improved
student performance for families involved as well as higher rates
of employment and entrepreneurship. The THRIVE East of the River Partnership is
one such program in DC with more pilots set to launch that
will assess how effective these programs can be for District
residents. This kind of transformational policy can be the
difference for Washingtonians struggling to make ends meet, and I
am excited to see how these basic income programs will make a
meaningful difference for residents who need our support.
In service,
Kenyan
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In this issue of the Ward 5 Report:
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Eviction
Moratorium & Utilities Changes
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With the
public health emergency set to expire soon, the DC Council passed
emergency measures that phase out the eviction moratorium while
maintaining numerous protections for tenants. Landlords cannot file
evictions for tenants behind on their rent unless the landlord has
already completed a STAY DC rental application on behalf of the
tenant.
Councilmember McDuffie added an amendment to the eviction
moratorium emergency bill that ensures residents struggling with
bills get extended protection from having their utilities being
shut off. You can find more information on the timeline of eviction
and utility protections below.
If you have back rent or have difficulty paying utility bills
(including wifi), visit stay.dc.gov to start an
application to get financial relief. Our team is available to
assist residents with the application process. If you need support,
please fill out the help request form for our office here
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On
Tuesday, Councilmember McDuffie introduced the Underground
Utility Work Minimum Wage and Prevailing Wage Act. If enacted, this
legislation would create a $20 per hour minimum wage for workers
performing underground utility work. You can find a full press
release including quotes from District stakeholders on the bill here.
At Tuesday's legislative session, the Council passed emergency legislation to protect
consumers from unjust debt collection practices. This bill expands the definition of
debt to include all consumer debt (including medical and
student debt) and prohibits deceptive behaviors as well as
harassing communications from debt collectors.
On Monday, Councilmember McDuffie's Child Wealth Building Act, a
District 'baby bonds' proposal, was unanimously advanced out of the
Committee on Business and Economic Development. You can watch
Councilmember McDuffie's remarks upon the measure advancing here. CORE's REIA.
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'This is a
Huge Deal': New Child Tax Credit Payments to Start Going Out to
Families in DC Region (DCist)
D.C. Debates Fate of Shuttered Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (Washington Informer)
Auditor's Report Identifies Issues in Lottery Contract (City Paper)
D.C. Council Will Phase Out the City's Eviction Moratorium (DCist)
The Council Begins its Final Budget-Making Deliberations (Jonetta Rose Barras)
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CM McDuffie
Interviewed on the Dap Project Podcast
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Councilmember
McDuffie joined the Dap Project to discuss "the
Stronghold community that shaped his unexpected path to public
service where he uses legislation to address structural race-based
inequities. The voices of family, friends, and Freeway reassure
McDuffie that setbacks are temporary, and he’s here to win."
You can listen to the full podcast here.
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1st Annual Roving
Leaders Day
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Join DPR
for the 1st annual Roving Leaders Day on Saturday, July 31st from
noon to 5 PM at Langdon Park - 2901 20th St NE.
There will be a moon bounce, rock wall, jumbo games, and more. Team
McDuffie will be present to celebrate Roving Leaders Day with the
Ward 5 community.
*NOTE that the date of Roving Leaders Day was changed from July
17th to July 31st due to weather concerns*
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Team Ward 5 Turns
Out for the July 4th Parade
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Team Ward
5 had a big showing at the Palisades 4th of July parade. Thank you
to everyone who came out to walk with us!
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Check out
the full video including a thank you
from Councilmember McDuffie to everyone who came out.
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Make sure to
support our Ward 5 businesses like Creative Grounds on North Capitol!
Stop by to grab some coffee or support the local artists whose works
are displayed on site.
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The Deputy
Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has two funding
opportunities for grants.
The purpose of the FY21 Food Access Fund Grant is
to increase equitable access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.
The FAF Grant will support qualified businesses with capital for tenant
improvements related to the expansion of operations into a new
location in an area identified as having low food access (as set
forth in the Act), with priority given to locations in Ward 7 or Ward
8. The program will start accepting applications on July 19th.
The purpose of the Great Streets Initiative and the Legacy Small
Business Recovery Grant is to transform certain designated
emerging commercial corridors into thriving, walkable, shoppable and
inviting neighborhood experiences. The Great Streets Initiative does
this by supporting existing businesses, attracting new businesses,
increasing the District’s tax base, and creating new job
opportunities for District residents. The application deadline
for this grant is Wednesday, August 18th at 4:00 pm.
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The
District is planning to close high-capacity walk-up vaccination
sites on July 17. DC Health will continue to provide targeted
vaccination opportunities to the community, including clinics at
six DC Public Schools.
In Ward 5, Dunbar High School at 101 N St NW will have first
vaccine dose opportunities for District residents 12-18 years old
on July 24th. Children’s National will be providing the second dose
opportunities at the Main Hospital (111 Michigan Avenue NW) on
August 14th and at the school during school hours Monday – Friday
from August 16-20. To schedule an appointment call (202) 476-5464,
walk-ups are also accepted. Learn more about the schedule and other
school-based vaccine sites here.
You can find a full list of places to get vaccinated at vaccines.gov
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