News from Mayor Muriel Bowser: A Safer, Stronger DC

Newsletter Banner
@TeamMuriel
 
Muriel Bowser Ward 4
 
Instagram
 

John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Phone: (202) 727-2643
Email: muriel.bowser@dc.gov

 
Chief of Staff:
John Falcicchio

City Administrator:
Rashad Young

Director of the Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel:
Mark Tuohey

Senior Advisor:
Beverly Perry
 
Director of Mayor's Office of Community Affairs:
Charon Hines

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services:
Tommie Jones
 
Scheduling Requests:
mayor.dc.gov/page/invite-mayor

June 29, 2017 | Vol. 3, Issue 26

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Washingtonians,

Since my first day in office, my Administration's top priority has been ensuring the safety and well-being of all DC residents. To combat violent crime in Washington, DC and keep our city safe and strong, during my first year in office, we put forth the Safer, Stronger DC plan, a comprehensive public safety agenda.

Last year, after a full year of implementing the plan, DC saw a 10 percent decrease in all violent crime, with a 17 percent reduction in homicides and a 13 percent reduction in robberies. And midway through 2017, we continue to build on this progress. Compared to this time last year, DC has seen a 33 percent decrease in robberies, a 25 percent decrease in burglaries, and a 15 percent decrease in homicides. In total, violent crime is down 26 percent. There is more work to do, but this data shows tremendous progress. 

We have been able to make this progress in just two and half years by doubling down on our commitment to community policing, taking illegal guns off the streets, and working with non-law enforcement agencies to end cycles of violence. We have worked with our federal partners to improve DC's complex criminal justice system, and we continue to invest in programs that support returning citizens so that they can thrive in their communities. In short, we are building safer, stronger neighborhoods by taking a holistic approach to crime and violence and engaging the community in our work. 

Going forward, my Administration will not let up; this data is promising, but we can and must continue to improve. And we cannot do this work alone, which is why I will continue to invest in and support programs and initiatives that make it easier for residents in every ward to support our efforts and participate in activities that keep them safe - initiatives like the Private Security Camera Programs, the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, and Beat the Streets.

Washington, DC has come a long way since I was a young girl growing up in North Michigan Park. Together, we will continue to build on our progress and ensure that our prosperity reaches all eight wards. 

Sincerely,

Muriel Bowser

ICYMI: Seniors in certain police service areas can now receive a free private security camera system through the Safe at Home program. Learn more HERE

In This Week's Newsletter:

New HIV Cases Down in DC for 9th Consecutive Year

HIV stat

 

On Tuesday, Mayor Bowser released the District’s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA) annual report and highlighted DC’s progress toward ending the HIV epidemic in Washington, DC. The report shows that for the ninth year in a row, the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases in Washington, DC decreased.

The Mayor also joined community members and District health experts in supporting a consensus statement around an evidence-based approach to interrupting HIV transmission called “treatment as prevention.” To support the approach, the District will participate in the online campaign #UequalsU, which stands for “undetectable equals untransmittable.” #UequalsU is a worldwide effort led by the U.S.-based Prevention Access Campaign to promote Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). The campaign is based on evidence that the risk of transmission for a person with HIV who is on ART and achieves an undetectable viral load in their blood for at least six months is negligible to non-existent. 

Learn more HERE

Back to Top

MBSYEP Kicks Off Its 38th Year

MBSYEP

 

Summer is officially here and that means thousands of young Washingtonians are busy participating in the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP). On Monday, Mayor Bowser kicked off the 38th year of MBSYEP at Madame Tussauds, where several participants will have their summer work experience. In 2015, Mayor Bowser introduced legislation to expand MBSYEP to include young Washingtonians between the ages of 22 and 24, and this year, the expansion became permanent. This summer, nearly 13,000 participants ages 14 to 24 will work in over 800 private sector and government worksites across the District.

The Mayor also announced a new scholarship opportunity for MBSYEP participants. Through the Bowser Opportunity Student Scholarship, the Administration will select 25 MBSYEP participants to each receive a $2,000 scholarship towards post-secondary education, military, or occupational training. Scholarships will be awarded at the 2017 MBSYEP Closing Ceremony at Eastern Senior High School on Friday, August 4.

Learn more HERE

Back to Top

Minimum Wage Increases on July 1

Minimum Wage


Tomorrow, Mayor Bowser will mark the first increase to the minimum wage under the #Fightfor15 legislation that she introduced in 2016. The legislation was part of the Mayor's effort to give all residents a fair shot at pathways to the middle class. 

Beginning July 1, 2017 the minimum wage for District workers will increase from $11.50 per hour to $12.50 per hour, and the minimum wage for tipped workers will increase from $2.77 to $3.33 per hour. This is the first increase to the tipped worker minimum wage in 12 years.

To join the Mayor as she celebrates this important milestone, RSVP HERE.

Back to Top

Celebrate July 4 with Mayor Bowser

July 4


Celebrate Independence Day with Mayor Bowser at the Barracks Row 4th of July Parade and the 51st Annual Palisades Parade and Picnic!

Register to walk in the Barracks Row Parade HERE and the Palisades Parade HERE.

Back to Top

A District Minute

districtminute


This week's District Minute features stories about the groundbreaking of a 19-unit affordable housing apartment building in Ward 4, the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program Kickoff, and the decrease in new cases of HIV in Washington, DC.  

Pathways to the Middle Class: Metropolitan Police Department, Civilian Employee

Job Posting

Each day, almost 500 civilian employees serve the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in a broad variety of engaging administrative, technical, and operational positions. Every member plays an integral and important role in the day-to-day operations of MPD.

MPD is seeking qualified applicants to serve in civilian capacities. Examples of civilian positions include: community outreach specialists, crime scene technicians, intelligence analysts, and IT project managers. All details regarding these vacancies can be found HERE.

Back to Top