May 16, 2019 | Vol. 5, Issue 20
Dear Washingtonians,
Earlier this week, the DC Council voted 7-6 to block the expansion of DC’s nationally-recognized Benjamin Banneker High School.
I have joined Banneker families and residents from across all eight wards in supporting Banneker's move.
Moving Banneker to Shaw is the only way to prevent another delay in the school's much-needed modernization (currently, the school does not even have fully-equipped science labs) and it is the only way that we can expand the high school (which mostly serves students of color and is consistently recognized as one of the top high schools in the nation) by 300 students.
The current Banneker building was originally built as a middle school. Because the building is deemed historic and eligible for the National Register, a complete demolition is not recommended. In addition, the entire building is landlocked by heavily used community spaces, including a playground, tennis courts, pool, and baseball and softball fields. Already, the school can barely accommodate its current population. Without the option to expand - an option that is only available if the school moves to a new site - we will not be able to make additional seats available.
With the second and final vote coming up on May 28, I want to make sure Washingtonians understand that the Council's current proposal is a lose-lose situation.
The $88 million that the Council has allocated for Banneker is nowhere near the amount of funding that is required to modernize the high school and is significantly less than what other high schools in our city have received for their modernizations. If the Council blocks Banneker's move to Shaw, they will be delaying the modernization of the highest performing DCPS high school yet again. This delay will have ripple effects on other schools that are in line for modernizations, such as Francis-Stevens. In addition, the $53 million budgeted for a new middle school is also nowhere near enough to build a financially and programmatically sustainable middle school.
After weeks of protests in Shaw against gentrification and displacement, I am shocked that seven councilmembers are considering blocking Banneker’s expansion. The Banneker students don’t have yard signs or an email or a coordinated lobbying campaign at the Wilson Building, but they want to know: Who will stand up for the families and students who know that, for years, Banneker has served as a unique source of opportunity for black students, particularly our young, black women, in Washington, DC?
Sincerely,
 Last week, Mayor Bowser signed a Mayor’s Order on housing directing District agencies to identify new policies, tools, and initiatives to begin fulfilling her bold goal of creating 36,000 new housing units, 12,000 of them affordable, by 2025.
In the Mayor's Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Proposal, she invested in the tools that will get DC on track to meet this goal, including:
- $130 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund;
- $15 million for the Housing Preservation Fund; and
- $20 million for a new Workforce Housing Fund.
Unfortunately, earlier this week, the Council proposed cutting the Housing Production Trust Fund by $10 million, completely eliminating the Housing Preservation Fund, and completely eliminating the Workforce Housing Fund.
Learn more about the proposed cuts HERE.
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 This week, Mayor Bowser launched the "Not in My DC" litter prevention campaign and kicked off the District's fourth annual Great Graffiti Wipeout.
The "Not in My DC" campaign will include community outreach as well as an enforcement blitz and new street signs and advertisements. Residents can learn more about supporting these efforts HERE.
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 Do you know what's recyclable, compostable, donatable, and/or reusable in DC?
Test your recycling and waste sorting skills with the District Waste Sorting Game.
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This week’s District Minute features stories about the new Great Streets grantees, the 2019 Funk Parade, and last Friday's housing rally.
 The mission of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS) is to preserve life and promote health and safety through excellent pre-hospital treatment and transportation, fire prevention, fire suppression and rescue activities, and homeland security awareness.
FEMS has an opening for a Heavy Mobile Equipment Repairer. This position is responsible for inspecting equipment at fire stations, making repairs, and conducting equipment maintenance. All details regarding this vacancy, including qualifications, can be found by visiting the job announcement.
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