June 13, 2015 | Volume 1, Issue 19

Dear Washingtonians,

It’s official, DC United will continue to call the District home. On Tuesday, my Administration announced an agreement that will create a world-class soccer stadium in Buzzard Point. This is a major milestone for Washingtonians and will add vibrancy to a neighborhood on the banks of the Anacostia River.

Equally exciting, is that this project will create needed jobs for District residents. Earlier in March, we signed a Labor Peace Agreement with Local 25 Union and DC United to ensure concession workers would have good-paying jobs to put them on the pathway to the middle class. We anticipate the stadium and surrounding development will generate 2,080 employment opportunities.

The agreement also protects taxpayers’ financial interests. We took the Frank R. Reeves Center out of the soccer stadium deal, we negotiated more robust community benefits, and we clarified the size and the timeline of the stadium.

With this agreement, Washington, DC, remains the #SportsCapital, and Washingtonians stand together to declare: Vamos United!

Sincerely,

Mayor Bowser   

Synthetic Marijuana

We have seen a dangerous spike in synthetic drug use here in the District in recent weeks. These dangerous and potent hallucinogens are known by names such as K2, Scooby Snax, Bizzaro or Spice. They are illegal and have been found for sale at certain liquor stores and gas stations.

My Administration is working hard to address this serious issue. We are taking these products off shelves and shutting down businesses participating in this criminal act. If you encounter someone using these substances, please call 911. If you are concerned about a person who may be using synthetic marijuana, call the Department of Behavioral Health's 24-7 Access Helpline at 888-793-4357. More information can be found at www.k2zombiedc.com.

With your help, we can stop the sale of these substances and save lives.

DC Pride Is Upon Us!

This weekend, we will celebrate the rich history and colorful diversity of our LGBTQ community with The Capital Pride Parade. The annual Pride Parade will take place at 4:30 pm on Saturday, June 13th. As a landmark event and one of Washington DC’s favorite parades, let us all recognize and support our city’s and our nation’s dedication and commitment to freedom and equality. For more information, go to capitalpride.org.

A New Day for Lafayette Elementary

On Tuesday, we celebrated the Lafayette Elementary School’s modernization project, which when complete will allow the school to house another 105 students. The project is expected to be completed before the end of the 2016-17 school year. We are expanding the open-floor space and replacing the outdated early childhood wing in order to create a more inviting educational experience for our students.

A Great Start to Summer

The District thrives when our residents and families can enjoy a safe and productive summer.

To ensure this happens, we launched the F.R.E.S.H. (Families, Recreation, Education/Employment, Safety and Health) Summer initiative at the 8th Annual Truck Touch on June 6th.

We hope to provide DC residents of all ages and in all eight wards with a safe, productive, and rewarding summer from June through August.

June 22nd begins the DC Free Summer Meals Program in which all kids and teens 18 years of age and younger can receive free meals at hundreds of locations across the city. To find a site, visit dcsummermeals.dc.gov or text “Food” to 877877, which will be available the first day of the free lunch program, June 22nd.

We are also offering nine new camps, including coding, engineering, ballet and Tai Kwon Do. One of the new offerings also includes a Summer Bridge Program for 9th graders and a Google Maker Camp which will host approximately 1,600 participants. Through a host of agencies, DC government will also sponsor block parties, movie nights and a reading program in partnership with the Washington Nationals to help youth combat the “summer slide” – the loss of learning that children experience during the summer months.

7th Annual Housing Expo

The Department of Housing and Community Developments invites all residents, business owners, developers and housing providers to attend the 7th Annual DC Housing Expo on June 27th from 11 am to 5 pm at the Washington Convention Center. Workshops and demos will include valuable financial, rental, homeownership, and small business information. Visit dhcd.dc.gov for updates and additional information.

New DC Circulator Route to the National Mall

Sunday is the start of the DC Circulator's new passenger service along the National Mall. The route will begin at Union Station, travel along Louisiana Avenue, NE, and loop around the National Mall via Madison Drive, SW; Constitution Avenue, NW; West Basin Drive, SW; Ohio Drive, SW; and Jefferson Drive, SW. The service has 15 stops, steps away from the most popular District attractions including the Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of American History, National Gallery of Art and the US Capitol. We are thrilled to add this new transportation option that gives our residents and tourists greater access to our city's iconic treasures. Find the DC Circulator National Mall Service Map here.

Stay in contact with me and my Administration online. Like us on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter @MayorBowser to follow our progress. Follow my team, @TeamMuriel, for the latest news and information from the John A. Wilson Building and District government agencies. Follow me on Instagram @Mayor_Bowser for even more updates on what's happening around town.  Lastly, find our online picture albums on Flickr.