Happy New Fiscal Year

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:
Ronald R. Ross

Senior Advisor:
Beverly Perry
 
Director of Mayor's Office of Community Affairs:
Lamont Akins

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services:
Julia Irving

Scheduling Requests:
mayor.dc.gov/page/invite-mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 3, 2019 | Vol. 5, Issue 40

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Washingtonians,

Have you heard? Diapers are now tax free in Washington, DC! Tuesday, October 1, was the start of the new fiscal year, bringing with it a range of investments that will put more money back in the pockets of Washingtonians and give more residents and local entrepreneurs a fair shot, including:

  • $116 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund and $11.5 million for the Housing Preservation Fund;
  • $1.3 million to make the “Keeping Childcare Affordable” tax credit permanent for households with taxable income under $150,000;
  • expansions to the Schedule H tax credit, with a new maximum credit of $1,200;
  • $5.5 million for the Great Streets Program, which provides competitive grants to small business owners looking to improve their place of business;
  • a $70.1 million increase in funding for public schools;
  • $4.7 million for hiring a new bike lane parking enforcement team and other improvements as part of Vision Zero;
  • $1.7 million for place-based, trauma-informed care sites that will provide residents impacted by violence with the support and services necessary to heal individually and collectively;
  • $2.5 million for the Immigrant Justice Legal Services grant program; and
  • $2.5 million to ensure every resident is counted in the 2020 Census.

Over the next year, I look forward to working with residents and the Council to get these investments out the door and into the community. Happy new fiscal year, DC!

Sincerely,

Muriel Bowser

In This Week's Newsletter:

This Saturday: Open Streets DC

Open Streets DC

This Saturday, October 5, join Mayor Bowser at the District’s inaugural Open Streets DC event from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The District Department of Transportation will open a nearly three-mile stretch of Georgia Avenue NW between Barry Place NW in Ward 1 and Missouri Avenue in Ward 4 to offer a variety of activities that encourage physical activity and foster community on vehicle-free streets. In addition to biking and walking along the route, attendees can participate in programming for all ages and abilities, including:

  • An adult climbing wall
  • Fitness classes (yoga, Zumba, kickboxing, crossfit, and more)
  • Scooter clinics
  • Bike tune ups
  • Skateboarding ramp
  • Toddler traffic garden
  • Shopping
  • And much, much more!

The Open Streets concept originated in Bogota, Colombia in 1976 and has expanded to more than 122 American municipalities, including New York City, Atlanta, and Portland, Oregon. These events inspire residents to think differently about their streets. For more information and to get involved, visit openstreets.dc.gov

Back to Top

New: Every Opportunity To Rise Podcast

EOTR Podcast

This week, Mayor Bowser released the Every Opportunity to Rise Podcast (#EOTRpodDC), a digital dialogue connecting residents to District-funded programs and resources. The #EOTRpodcast will focus on topics such as housing, jobs, small and local business, families, and age-friendly resources. 

The first season, hosted by the Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs Director Ashley Emerson, takes listeners through housing programs and resources available to help residents purchase their first home or those looking for housing assistance. The podcast brings to life Mayor Bowser’s Toolkit for African-American Prosperity, a first-of-its-kind resource to help individuals, families, and business owners find their pathway to economic prosperity in Washington, DC. 

Each episode features a District resident as they share their personal story on how DC-funded programs and resources gave them a fair shot. #EOTRpodcast is interested in hearing your story. If you have benefited from District programs, live East of the River, and want to empower others by sharing your story, email eotrpod@dc.gov. Residents are encouraged to watch or listen to the #EOTRpodcast HERE.     

Back to Top

This Saturday: Plog with Your Dog

Plog with your Dog

This Saturday, October 5, join the Mayor's Office of the Clean City and Rock Creek Conservancy for a plog with your dog event in the Brightwood Recreation area! The event is from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and everyone can come and go as they please!

The word “plogging” comes from a Swedish word meaning to pick up trash while jogging. Participants will jog (or walk) around the Brightwood Recreation and Carter Barron areas while picking up trash. Dogs are encouraged, but must be kept on a leash.

Learn more HERE

Back to Top

A District Minute

district minute video

This week’s District Minute features stories about the Fort Stevens ribbon cutting, the Mayor's public safety update, and the celebration of DC's 2020 Teacher of the Year

Pathways to the Middle Class: Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, Firefighter Paramedic

Pathways to the Middle Class

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 is accepting applications for the Fire & EMS Training Academy. All details regarding the application process can be found HERE.

Back to Top