The Ward 5 Report
February 6, 2015
Legislative & Committee Updates
 Councilmember McDuffie convening a public roundtable to examine the District and WMATA's responses to the January 12th incident at L’Enfant Plaza Metro
Station.
On Tuesday, February 3, Councilmember McDuffie introduced the “Adequate Notice of Affordability Expiration
Amendment Act of 2015”. The bill will
provide low and moderate income tenants with more transparency on changes made
to their rental agreements. Currently,
a significant number of affordable housing recipients do not receive adequate notice
when their rent increases. In tax-credit buildings, where private developers receive
incentives to incorporate affordable housing units in a development, rents are
only required to remain affordable for the duration of the tax credit. There is
no requirement that building owners provide notice to residents of the
expiration of their affordability contract, which may result in potentially
drastic rent increases. The bill will require owners
of affordable housing rental buildings to provide at least 90 days of notice to
tenants when their rent is subject to an increase as a result of all obligatory
affordability requirements being met.
On Thursday, February 5, the Committee on the Judiciary – of
which Councilmember McDuffie is the chair – and the Committee on Finance &
Revenue held a joint public oversight roundtable to examine the responses of
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the District’s
public safety agencies to the January 12, 2015, incident at L’Enfant Plaza
Metro Station. Witnesses at the roundtable included WMATA, the Fire and
Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS), the Office of Unified
Communications (OUC), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and the
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA).
Following the roundtable, the Councilmember stated that
“While I believe we were able to provide the public a clearer picture of how
WMATA and our first responders coordinate on emergencies at Metro stations
across the city, my commitment to ensuring the safety of our passengers and the
residents of the District of Columbia does not end with the adjournment of
today’s hearing. Over the course of the next couple of months, I will be
holding performance and budget hearings to determine if our public safety
agencies have all of the necessary resources, training and communication
equipment in place to provide a unified response to emergency situations.”
Announcements
Councilmember McDuffie's interview on Title IX legislation and #LikeAGirl Super Bowl advertisement
 "Doing something 'like a girl' should never be considered an insult," stated Councilmember McDuffie.
In an interview with NBC 4's Zachary Kiesch, the Councilmember discusses a popular Procter & Gamble Super Bowl advertisement and his legislation, the "Title IX Athletic Equity Act of 2015". The bill will
increase the quality and quantity of athletic opportunities for girls in District
of Columbia traditional and public charter schools.
To watch the entire television segment, please visit http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/#!/news/local/D-C--Council-Member-Wants-More-Student-Athletes-to-Play-Like-a-Girl/290998251.
2015 Mayor Marion
S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program is now open for applications
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The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment program
has started accepting applications. If you know any young
people ages 14-21 who might be looking for work this summer, this is a great
opportunity. You can apply online: http://does.dc.gov/service/summer-youth-employment-program.
If you have any questions about the program, please call (202) 698-3492 or email Summerjobs@dc.gov.
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DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) is now open for applications
The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) is now open.
Students are encouraged to apply early.
No applications or supporting documents will be accepted
after June 30 or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
To
apply please visit http://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-tuition-assistance-grant-dc-tag or call (877) 485-6751.
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DC Health Link deadline - February 15, 2015

The February 15th deadline
for enrolling in a Qualified Health Plan through DC Health Link is around the corner.
One week before the enrollment deadline of February 15th, DC Health Link
is targeting last minute shoppers urging them not to wait until the
last minute to enroll in quality affordable health insurance. The
"24-hour Enrollment Marathon Relay" will provide opportunities
around-the-clock for consumers at various locations to enroll before the
final rush weekend.
For a complete list of enrollment centers, please visit https://dchealthlink.com or call (855) 532-5465.
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Ward 5 Events
You're invited: The Wharf Open House for Ward 5 Certified Business Enterprises
 Councilmember McDuffie is co-hosting an Open House on the Wharf Development for
Certified Business Enterprises on Tuesday, February 10, from 1 to 2:30 PM.
Please stop by if you are interested in
hearing more about current and future contracting opportunities.
Please RSVP by contacting Felicia Couts: (202) 368-5865 or fcouts@seswcbcc.org
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