 ©Muriel Bowser – With Principal Tynika Young, Mr. Mandrell Birks, and 6th graders at Eliot Hine Middle School
 ©Ralph Blessing - Planting trees with Shepherd Park residents.
News from Muriel
April 30, 2014
Dear Neighbors:
In January, I introduced a resolution named “Alice Deal for
All,” which called for all middle-school
students to have access to an education equal to that offered at present by
Alice Deal Middle School. On
Monday, I began a series of visits to middle schools in the District of
Columbia to build on “Alice Deal for All,” and underscore my commitment to
improving middle school education for District families. My travels this week took me to both Alice
Deal and Eliot Hine Middle Schools. At
Deal, I learned even more about the international baccalaureate program and the
wide ranging extracurricular activities offered. While at Eliot Hine, I
participated in an interview with an amazing group of 6th graders
who are learning about the many facets of technology and broadcast media. I invite you to listen to the Eliot Hine Radio
Show here: http://goo.gl/TrJJ3U.
Please mark your calendars for
Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16th. I’ll be leading a
contingent from Ward 4 that will be riding downtown to the festivities at
Freedom Plaza with pit stops along the way in several neighborhoods. Stay
tuned for more details!
The Committee on Economic Development, which Councilmember
Bowser chairs, approved several bills on Tuesday, April 29th. Bill 20-58, the Tenant Bill of Rights Act of
2014, requires landlords to give tenants a copy of the Tenant Bill of Rights so
that they can better understand their rights under the District’s housing
laws. Proposed Resolution 20-619 calls for the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority to amend its personnel policies to encourage the hiring of
returning citizens in light of its restrictive background screening policy that
excludes many District residents from working at Metro. Proposed
Resolutions 20-654 and 20-655 will confirm Pedro Alfonso and Moses Clarence
Mobley to new terms on the D.C. Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
All four measures will come before the full Council on May 6th.
The Committee will hold a hearing on May 7th at
10:30AM in Room 120 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350, Pennsylvania, NW to
consider Bill 20-648, the Condominium Fee Fairness Act of 2014, Bill 20-707,
the Land Disposition Transparency Act of 2014, and Bill 20-721, the U Street/14th
Street, NW Great Streets Neighborhood Retail Priority Amendment Act of 2014.
For further information contact Rob Hawkins at: 202
724-8052, rhawkins@dccouncil.us
After a very long wait, the Department of Transportation (DDOT) has
stated that they expect the work on the Kalmia Culvert to be finished on or
before May 10th. This will
mean the road will be open to all traffic at that time. Our office has received some concerns about
the traffic that will return to this area.
We are working with DDOT and MPD to help insure that traffic will be
kept at the speed limit and drivers will remain aware of pedestrians, bicycles,
and the residential nature of this community.
Bids for the work on the 16th Street Bridge over Military
Road NW are due on May 21st.
Barring any difficulties, DDOT expects the contract to be completed in
July. While the bridge is under
construction, 16th Street will be reduced from four to two lanes
(one in each direction) for about three months. There will also be weekend
closures with detours over Kalmia Road and ramp closures with detours over Ft.
Stevens Drive and 14th Street.
Knowing that drivers may seek alternative routes to avoid the 16th
St. construction, DDOT will direct traffic to Georgia Avenue with temporary signage
in Silver Spring, Mount Pleasant, and in Crestwood. DDOT will also community meetings and work
with the ANCs to make sure advance notice is given before work is done.
As we get closer to the beginning of construction, we will keep you
informed.
The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
will hold its third summer employment hiring fair this Saturday, May
3rd , from 10AM to 4PM at the Emery Recreation Center, 5801
Georgia Ave, NW to promote and accept applications for the more than 600
summer positions DPR has available for the 2014 summer season.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to fill out the online
summer hire application before attending the fair.
Once the application is completed, individuals will be required to complete a
background clearance with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The background clearance process could
potentially be scheduled on the day of the hiring fair; however, applicants
will be instructed on following the appropriate steps for completion. This is not a guarantee of employment. The
applicant will then be scheduled for a pre- employment drug and alcohol
screening to be completed with the DC Department of Human Resources
(DCHR). Once an applicant has
successfully completed the pre-employment screening process (this includes
passing both MPD and DCHR clearances), applicants will receive an invitation to
attend a DPR Human Resources Orientation.
To find out more information
about DPR's Summer Employment opportunities, position, and program
descriptions, visit http://summer.dpr.dc.gov,
call (202) 671-1819 or email dpr.summer@dc.gov.
The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and new
methods for the population to exercise their civic obligation to be counted in
the next census. The 2014 Census Test
will allow the Census Bureau, on a small scale, to test a variety of new
methods and advance technologies that are under consideration for the 2020
Census. The 2014 Test will take place from June 23rd through September 25th,
with Census Day on July 1st, 2014.
The test will be conducted in portions of Washington DC
and Montgomery County, MD. The Census Bureau will open a temporary Local Census
Office in Silver Spring, MD to conduct the 2014 Census Test and is hiring field
staff for temporary positions. Pay
ranges from $14-$21.50 an hour. Be a part of helping to shape the 2020 Census!
The Census Bureau needs to hire 1,000 people! Call 1-888-480-1639 for information on how to
apply!
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