Sent: Friday, November 1, 2013 2:19 PM
Subject: The Ward 5 Report: Office of Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
The Ward 5 Report
Office of Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
November 1, 2013
Office of Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
November 1, 2013
Ward 5 Highlights
Announcement of Great Streets Small Business Grant Awardees. Pictured Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, and Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins
Ribbon Cutting for Harry Thomas Recreation Center’s New Playground
Dear Residents,
This week, I joined Mayor Gray and Victor Hoskins, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), at the DC Dragons Martial Arts Training Center, located at 1731 Rhode Island Avenue NE, to celebrate the 29 awardees of the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Program.
As you may know, earlier this year I introduced, and the Council passed, legislation declaring Bladensburg Road, North Capitol Street, and Rhode Island Avenue as “Retail Priority Areas.” This designation provides access to Great Streets grants and technical assistance from DMPED for businesses along these corridors. As a result of this legislative accomplishment, today nine Ward 5 businesses along Bladensburg Road, North Capitol Street, and Rhode Island Avenue were awarded grants to improve their businesses!
Ward 5 did exceptionally well in this competitive grant process. Of the $2.1 million in grant monies awarded throughout Retail Priority Areas across the city, nearly $740,000 went to businesses along Bladensburg Road, North Capitol Street, and Rhode Island Avenue.
I want to publicly congratulate these Ward 5 businesses on a job well done in the application process. I look forward to working with the community to identify additional ways to support our small businesses and to grow our retail corridors.
To learn more about the businesses which received funding, please visit our website at http://www.kenyanmcduffie.com/news/.
In service,
Kenyan
Legislative Updates
On Wednesday, November 6, at 10:00AM in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, the Council’s Committee on Finance and Revenue will hold a hearing on Councilmember McDuffie’s Bill 20-369, the “Truth in Affordability Reporting Act of 2013.” The bill is designed to improve how the District measures the affordability of housing units. For additional details, please visit Councilmember McDuffie’s website.
The Committee on Finance and Revenue invites the public to testify at the hearing. Those who wish to testify should contact Sarina Loy, Committee Assistant at (202) 724-8058 or sloy@dccouncil.us, and provide your name, organizational affiliation (if any), and title with the organization by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. Witnesses should bring 15 copies of their written testimony to the hearing. The Committee allows individuals 3 minutes to provide oral testimony in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard. Additional written statements are encouraged and will be made part of the official record. Written statements may be submitted by e-mail to sloy@dccouncil.us or mailed to: Council of the District of Columbia; 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.; Suite 114; Washington D.C. 20004.
Committee Updates
This Week’s Committee on Government Operations Hearings & Markups
On Tuesday, October 29 the Committee on Government Operations, the Committee on Finance and Revenue, and the Committee on Economic Development held a joint public hearing on Bill 20-382, the Skyland Town Center Omnibus Act of 2013, which would reauthorize the Tax Increment Financing subsidy and approve the surplus declaration and disposition of the Skyland shopping Center and adjacent properties.
Later in the week, the committee convened a meeting to consider and approve several pieces of legislation described below.
B20-117, the “Prohibition on Government Employee Engagement in Political Activity Amendment Act of 2013” is essentially the District’s local version of the Hatch Act. By way of background, this measure was introduced by Councilmember McDuffie in response to the December 28th, 2012, enactment of the federal Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012. The Modernization Act removed the District government from coverage under the federal Hatch Act, which affects the political rights of government employees. B20-117 was approved by the Committee, and will provide locally enforced restrictions on government employee engagement in political activity if enacted by the full Council.
PR20-495 the “J.F. Cook School Surplus Declaration Resolution of 2013” was approved by the Committee unanimously. The resolution approves the surplus declaration of the Cook school and clears the way for the Executive to lease the property to Mundo Verde. The Committee recognized the community support for Mundo Verde, and expects that this resolution along with the companion disposition resolution will be approved by the Council.
Finally, the Committee also approved PR20-475 the “Hardy School Surplus Declaration Resolution of 2013”; and, PR20-497 the “Benning School Surplus Declaration Resolution of 2013.” These resolutions similarly, if approved by the full Council, will allow, the Executive to lease these school buildings to other entities.
All of these measures are expected to be on the November 5, 2013 Legislative Meeting’s agenda for consideration by the full Council.
Councilmember McDuffie Talks about Campaign Finance
On Tuesday, November 5, the full Council will take up Councilmember McDuffie’s campaign finance reform legislation. To hear more about this bill from the Councilmember himself, check out the following media outlets starting this weekend:
On Saturday, please pick up a copy of the Washington Post to read the Councilmember’s letter to the editor discussing the bill.
On Sunday, Councilmember McDuffie will be on Fox 5 News at 10 p.m.
At 10 a.m. on Monday morning the Councilmember will appear on WJLA’s NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt.
You can watch Tuesday’s legislative meeting on channel 13 or at http://dccouncil.us/videos.
Announcements
Department of Public Works Leaf Collections Program
The fall leaf collection program runs from the first week of November through the second week of January. Collecting leaves reduces potential accidents and injuries caused by slipping on wet leaves, and prevents catch basins (storm drains) from clogging and causing street flooding during heavy rains.
DPW will collect leaves at least twice from each residential neighborhood by “vacuuming” loose leaves residents rake into their treebox(es). DPW also will collect bagged leaves from the curbside treeboxes. Leaves will be sent for composting. Bagged leaves placed in the alley where trash and recycling are placed will be collected with the trash as space in the truck permits.
To determine the leaf collection schedule for your neighborhood or learn more about the program, please visit http://dpw.dc.gov/service/leaf-and-holiday-tree-collection.
Student Assignment and School Boundaries Review Process
School choice and student assignment policies establish the access rights that students have to public schools in the District of Columbia. School choice and student assignment policies determine who gets to go to which school, where and how parents and students apply to school, what rights students have to remain in a school they have chosen, and what rights students have to transfer between schools.
The District has not undertaken a comprehensive review of its student assignment policies, including school attendance boundaries and feeder patterns, in over three decades. Meanwhile, District of Columbia Public Schools and public charter schools have opened and closed, neighborhoods have changed, and the city’s population has shifted.
Over the next eleven months, the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) will lead the effort to review current policies and practices, identify challenges, analyze data, and recommend solutions. If you have any questions, please email dme.studentassignment@dc.gov or call (202) 478-5738.
To learn more about the efforts DME is undertaken pm student assignment policies, please visit http://dc.gov/DC/DME.
Zeke's Coffee of DC Grand Opening - Saturday, November 2, 2013
Zeke’s Coffee is celebrating the grand opening of Zeke's DC Roastery and Coffee Lab on Saturday, November 2, 9am-2pm. Come on out and see where your coffee is roasted, have a cup, or take home a pound - fresh out of the roaster.
The shop is located at 2300 Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington DC 20018. It’s in the Woodridge neighborhood of DC between Brookland and Mt. Rainier, MD. Following the grand opening, the store’s November hours will be Wednesday-Friday, 8am-6pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 8am-3pm.
21 Day Journey to Better Health
The AmeriHealth Caritas Partnership’s “Health Ministry Program” is launching its “21-Day Journey to Better Health” on Saturday, November 2. The event will take place at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, 2616 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm The program is part of a health education campaign being launched in the District for residents at high risk for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, heart ailments, and many more.
AmeriHealth Caritas Partnership has partnered with The Coca-Cola Company Foundation to promote healthy and active living for those most in need. The event will feature lifestyle champion Allen Payne and celebrity chef and nutritionist Delilah Winder, as well as panel discussions, healthy cooking demonstrations and free health screenings, including blood pressure, diabetes, dental and HIV.
For more information, please contact Keith Maccannon, (202) 408-3982, keith.maccannon@amerihealthdc.com.
Premier Community Development Corporation’s 2nd Annual Market End Celebration and Health Fair
On Saturday, November 2nd, between 12 – 4 PM, Premier Community Development Corporation (PCDC) is hosting the Edgewood Farmer’s Market 2nd Annual Market End Celebration and Health Fair. The event will take place near the Metropolitan Branch Trail, located at the 4th & Rhode Island Avenue NE Shopping Center. For more information, please contact (202) 540-0247
Ward 5 Events
Councilmember McDuffie, or a member of his staff, will attend the following events (please note, a 5th week is rare in the calendar year):
Monday, November 4 –The Ivy City Civic Association meeting will take place at the Bethesda Baptist Church, located at 1808 Capitol Ave NE, beginning at 6:30 PM.
Monday, November 4 – The Bates Area Civic Association meeting will take place at the Mt. Sinai Church, located at 1615 3rd St NW, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, November 4 – The Eckington Civic Association meeting will take place at the Harry Thomas, Sr. Recreation Center, located at 1743 Lincoln Road, NE beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, November 4 – The Lamond-Riggs Civic Association meeting that will take place at the LaSalle-Backus Education Center, located at 501 Riggs Rd, NE beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 5 – The Arboretum Neighborhood Association meeting will take place at the Arboretum Community Center, located at 2412 Rand Place, NE beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 5 – The Woodridge Civic Association meeting will take place at the Washington Center for Aging, located at 2601 18th St NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 6 – The Brentwood Civic Association meeting will take place at the Washington Center for Aging, located at 2601 18th St NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 6 – The North Michigan Park Civic Association meeting will take place at the North Michigan Park Rec Center, located at 1333 Emerson Street NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
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