September 1, 2016 | Volume 2, Issue 33
Dear Washingtonians,
For many of us who grew up in the District or who have lived here for many years, we know that DC is a changing city (soon to be state). For some residents, the change seems to come too quickly; for others, the change seems to come too slowly. As your Mayor, my goal is to manage DC's change so that it works for all residents, whether they've been here for five minutes or five generations. I know that we can balance change with preservation. We can focus on growth while also focusing on our proud history.
I am proud of the work that my team and I have accomplished since coming into office. When I took the oath of office, I was on a mission to give more residents a fair shot and get more people on a pathway to the middle class by improving educational opportunities, ensuring that we have a healthy and thriving economy and creating more affordable housing.
I am happy to report that while our work is not done, we are making great strides in all areas. We have devoted an extra $220 million to speed up the renovation and restoration of DC Public Schools; signed legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020; and invested $200 million in the Housing Production Trust Fund to protect and preserve affordable housing. These accomplishments and investments will better the lives of residents in all eight wards.
Thank you for your support and your ideas - I am grateful for each day I get to serve you. Read more about my Administration's challenges and successes in the newly-released 18 Month Progress Report.
Sincerely,
ICYMI: On Tuesday, we released statewide and sector level results from the 2016 Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) tests. Watch the announcement HERE.
Download the "Stat of the Week" and share on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #202Creates.
This week, the District kicked off 202Creates - a month-long showcase of the creative entrepreneurs and artists who are vital to DC's economy and culture. Throughout September, we will celebrate the diversity of the District's creative economy and the many people who make DC such a great place to live, work and play.
From the DC Shorts Film Festival to Jazz in the Garden, DC is one of the most creative cities in the United States, and people are taking notice. Our population continues to grow each month, and people are not just moving here for our jobs - they are coming here for our vibrant culture, too. We are home to some of the nation's most talented artists, musicians, photographers, fashion designers and entrepreneurs.
Check out 202Creates.com and attend some of the many great events we have scheduled in September.
There was no summer lull when it came to preserving and producing affordable housing in the District, and much of it was made possible using funds from the $200 million that Mayor Bowser invested in the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF).
In July, tenants at the Norwood Cooperative in Ward 2 used $10.3 million from the HPTF to buy and rehabilitate their building through the District’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. In August, we celebrated two affordable housing developments: the preservation of 63 units of affordable housing at the Maycroft Apartments in Ward 1; and the grand opening of Metro Village, a rental apartment building in Ward 4 where 80 percent of the units are reserved for households at 60 percent of the Area Median Income.
To learn about affordable housing production and preservation in your neighborhood, go HERE.
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On Monday, Mayor Bowser celebrated the opening of Hope's Closet - a supply closet where homeless youth can store their belongings and get clothing, shoes and diapers. The space is part of the Latin American Youth Center's (LAYC) drop-in center for homeless and runaway youth.
Last year, the LAYC was awarded funds from the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a safe space for homeless youth. This year, they won IKEA's Life Improvement Challenge, an annual challenge through which IKEA helps local charities makeover a space that is used to better people's lives. The LAYC worked with IKEA College Park to renovate a garage space into Hope's Closet.
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Last week, Mayor Bowser and the Mayor's Office on Women's Policy and Initiatives (MOWPI) celebrated Women's Equality Day by hosting a mixer that brought together more than 300 professionals from the public and private sector.
At the event, Mayor Bowser highlighted the progress women and girls have made across the United States and within the District, and called on the crowd to keep fighting for full equality for all women.
To learn more about how the Mayor's Office on Women's Policy and Initiatives works to improve the lives of women and girls in the District, go HERE.
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On Monday, the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) announced a $485,000 investment in the social payment technology company GoodWorld through its Innovation Finance Fund, an alternative to commercial financing where the District co-invests with private capital sources.
GoodWorld has revolutionized the way people can donate via social media. Through GoodWorld's platform, social media users are able to donate simply by using the hashtag #donate.
Learn more about the District's investment in GoodWorld HERE.
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Watch the most recent District Minute to learn more about what has been going on in DC. This week features stories about the reopening of Theodore Roosevelt High School; DC's new all-boys high school, Ron Brown College Preparatory High School; and Mayor Bowser's back to school Slow Down campaign.
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The mission of the DC Office of Police Complaints (OPC) is to increase community trust in the District of Columbia police forces by providing a fair, thorough and independent system of civilian oversight of law enforcement.
OPC has an opening for an Investigator I. An Investigator I conducts routine or simple investigations and assists in larger more complex investigations. The major responsibilities of an OPC investigator include, but are not limited to: planning and conducting investigations; interviewing and taking statements from complainants, witnesses, and police officers; gathering and analyzing evidence; making credibility determinations; and preparing well organized and thorough investigative reports. All details regarding this vacancy, including qualifications, can be found by visiting the job announcement.
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