The Ward 5 Report
May 29, 2014
Ward 5 Highlights
Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie joined Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Friends of the Woodridge Library for a groundbreaking ceremony on May 7th. Community leaders, residents, students and members of the press came together to hear plans for the new and improved library facility. Upon completion, this site promises to be a state of the art space for children to learn, neighbors to gather and a resource for the entire community.
Preserving Residential Parking Near Taxicab Companies
After months of collaboration between Councilmember McDuffie and the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission, the Commission issued a proposed regulation to prohibit taxicabs from parking outside of business hours on the streets surrounding company property. Additionally, the regulation would require taxicabs to park nearby during business hours only while the operator is carrying on business at the property. The regulation is part of the Councilmember’s comprehensive strategy to preserve residential parking in neighborhoods with a large number of taxicab companies. Residents are encouraged to share their comments with the Taxicab Commission.
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Scholarship & Service Councilmember McDuffie attended Comcast’s Annual Scholarship Reception and joined Chairman Mendelson in recognizing ten outstanding students from schools across all eight wards. Each scholarship recipient excelled in course work and demonstrated leadership in the community. All were awarded $1000, including a graduating senior from Ward 5.
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Teacher Appreciation Week
Councilmember McDuffie participated in the Department of Education’s #DCPSlove campaign in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. As a proud alum, he displayed Wilson High School and Howard University banners while supporting our community’s teachers. In recognition of the amazing work that DCPS educators and administrators do everyday, Teacher Appreciation Week was celebrated from May 5-12th.
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Staff showed #DCPSlove too!
Chief of Staff Jeannette Mobley (above) flashes a smile while Constituent Services Coordinator Laisha Dougherty (l) and Communications Director Keren Johnson (r) pose together.
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Affordable Housing in Ward 5
MANNA, Inc. invited Councilmember McDuffie and his staff to an affordable housing tour. The councilmember viewed more than 25 homes of the 80 MANNA properties in Ward 5 and met with several happy homeowners. Councilmember McDuffie promised to continue his fight for increased affordable housing in Ward 5 and throughout the District of Columbia. Below, MANNA Director Rev. Jim Dickerson (l) is pictured with six-year Trinidad resident Audrey (c) and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (r).
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Senior Citizens Community Day At Edgewood Terrace
On May 20th, staff attended the Seabury Community Day. Seniors received information and met with representatives from several agencies while enjoying the spectacular entertainment. Attendees were provided with resources and contacts for transportation assistance, meal programs and housing advocates.
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Legislative & Committee Updates
Call for Public Witnesses for Hearing on Board of Elections Reforms
On June 9, 2014, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee on Government Operations, will convene a public hearing on B20-0574 – Board of Elections Nominating Petition Circulator Affidavit Amendment Act of 2013; B20-0611 – Special Election Reform Amendment Act of 2013; B20-0575 – Party Officer Elections Amendment Act of 2013; And B20-0507, the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Establishment and Comprehensive Ethics Reform Amendment Act of 2013.
This public hearing will be held in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW at 11:00 AM. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact Mr. Ronan Gulstone, Committee Director at (202) 724-8028, or via e-mail at rgulstone@dccouncil.us and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Thursday June, 5 2014.
Highlights from Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Accomplishments
· Councilmember McDuffie secured landmark funding to stabilize the structure of the Crummell School, a historic property in the Ivy City neighborhood of Ward 5, and to convert the property into a community center. Ivy City residents have long advocated for a community-focused renovation of the site. The Transportation & Environment and Government Operations Committees jointly appropriated $1.925 million for stabilization in Fiscal Year 2015 and $7 million for design and construction in Fiscal Year 2016.
· $1 million will also be allocated for Ivy City streetscaping and beautification, including tree boxes, lighting, sidewalk construction and repair, and tree plantings.
· An additional $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2015 and $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2016 will be designated for an Ivy City Clean Team. Clean Teams, operated by the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), are charged with maintaining targeted neighborhoods.
· Councilmember McDuffie secured $10 million to improve Rhode Island Avenue from 4th Street NE, to Eastern Avenue, NE, one of the District’s major thoroughfares and historic roads.
· The Transportation & Environment and Government Operations Committees jointly advanced $14.4 million from Fiscal Year 2019 to Fiscal Year 2015 to fund the design and construction of a new recreation center in the Edgewood community.
· The Committee additionally allocated $200,000 to fund the expansion of H Street Main Street’s programming efforts from the main corridor along Bladensburg Road, NE, including Starburst Plaza. This funding will incentivize small business development and quality of life improvements.
· As part of the Councilmember’s strategic approach to improving air and water quality in the District, the Government Operations Committee identified $1.5 million to support a centralized database at the Department of the Environment to improve the agency’s inspections, compliance, and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Ward 5 is particularly impacted by air pollutants due to the Ward’s high concentration of industrial businesses.
· $165,000 was identified to implement Councilmember McDuffie’s “Air Quality Amendment Act”. The bill strengthens penalties and enforcement of air quality complaints.
· The Committee additionally provided $75,000 for short-term improvements to the Arboretum Recreation Center, of particular importance to the Arboretum community.
· The Committee also funded $250,000 towards the design of a Sound & Vibration Mitigation barrier along a segment of the CSX tracks located in Ward5.
· Lastly, Councilmember McDuffie moved the most expansive paid family leave program in the United States, providing eight weeks of paid family leave for District government employees for the birth of a child or care of a family member, among other life events.
Announcements
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SAVE THE DATE!!!
Ward 5 Day at the Nationals Stadium
Join us on Sunday, August 3rd at 1:30pm to root for the home team as they play against the Philadelphia Phillies. Further details on tickets will be forthcoming.
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On May 29th, the winners of the Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants were announced, including eleven Ward 5 businesses:
- Jenks Hardware, a hardware and retail store located at 910 Bladensburg Rd. NE.
- Health IT 2 Business Solutions, LLC, an IT, healthcare finance and health IT services firm located at 1711 North Capitol Street NE.
- Nest DC, LLC, a property management firm located at 87 Florida Avenue NW.
- El Camino, a neighborhood-serving sit-down restaurant located at 108 Rhode Island Avenue NW.
- Uncle Chip’s Cookies, a bakery and sandwich shop located at 1514 North Capitol Street NW.
- Sky Real Estate, LLC, a real estate development firm located at 1703 North Capitol Street NE, #1.
- Plenary Enterprises, LLC, a general contracting firm located at 1613 Rhode Island Avenue, NE #3.
- Good Food Markets, LLC, a fresh food store located at 2006 Rhode Island Avenue, NE.
- S2 Development, LLC, a real estate development firm located at 1509 Rhode Island Avenue, NE.
- Mess Hall, a food incubator located at 703 Edgewood Street, NE.
- VMG Resources, LLC, an employment agency located at 2630 12th Street NE.
UDC has announced open registration for its senior tuition program. DC residents 65 and over can take free, non-credit courses at the University of the District of Columbia. The deadline for the fall semester is August 22nd. For questions or further information on this program and other initiatives offered by UDC’s Institute of Gerontology, contact 202-274-6697.
7th Annual “Truck Touch”
Summer’s most popular free family festival lets citizens get hands-on with city’s infrastructure and emergency vehicles
The DC Department of Public Works invites the public to attend a free, citywide “Truck Touch” Saturday, June 7, 2014, from 9 am to 2 pm at RFK Stadium, Lot 7. A host of DC government agencies will present and demonstrate nearly 30 vehicles used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, collect refuse, clear snow, provide emergency services, administer mobile health care, and more.
This is the city’s seventh Truck Touch, which is coordinated annually by the DC Department of Public Works. Its popularity throughout the Washington metropolitan area over the years has caused its visitor attendance to grow from several hundred to several thousand. Last year, more than 5,000 residents came out to climb on packer, sweeper and boom trucks; sit atop MPD’s Mounted Unit’s police horse and maneuver the levers of a police chopper; ride Segways, and test drive electric sedan vehicles. Residents also learned how potholes are repaired, sewers are vacuumed and received information about vital city services.
DC’s Citywide Truck Touch features vehicles from the DC Departments of Public Works, Transportation, Health, Employment Services, Parks and Recreation, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the DC Water and Sewer Authority. Other agencies will also be available to provide direct services and disseminate information about other DC government agencies.
WHAT: Seventh Annual City-Wide Truck Touch
WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2014, from 9 am -2 pm
WHERE: RFK Stadium, Lot 7 (2400 East Capitol Street, NE)
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Bates Area Civic Association 