October 15, 2021
Dear Washingtonians,
Earlier this week, I announced the immediate acceleration of roadway safety improvements across DC. I share the community's frustration with traffic violence in our city. We have worked hard to get our city back open, but the reckless driving on our roads and the injuries and loss of life caused by reckless driving is heartbreaking and unacceptable.
We need all drivers in our city to understand their responsibility. I and many others have said it before, but drivers must understand that if you are driving over 25 miles per hour and you strike a pedestrian or a cyclist, there's a significant chance that person will not survive. This is why, last year, we lowered the default speed limit to 20 mph. The faster you drive, the lower the chance of survival for the person you hit. Every person who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle in our city should understand this. And sometimes it’s not the speed – it’s the distracted driving or a refusal to share the road. So, as drivers, let's hold our friends and family members accountable for doing better on the road.
But the other part of this conversation is around how we change our infrastructure to make roads safer. So, this week, I asked the District Department of Transportation to take two immediate actions that are part of a series of thoughtful and well-funded projects across all eight wards of the city.
First, I’ve asked DDOT to streamline our internal process so road safety projects can get from start to finish faster. By streamlining the community engagement process, DDOT will move faster in addressing traffic safety issues across the District and more aggressively pursue the District’s Vision Zero goals. To expedite this process, DDOT has added internal engineers from other projects as well as contractor resources to speed up Traffic Safety Investigations.
Second, and as many neighbors have already started to notice, I’ve asked DDOT to move forward with a campaign to accelerate the construction of roadway safety improvement projects that will better protect pedestrians. This includes the installation of speed humps, stop signs, and right turn hardening measures. Starting this week and continuing annually, DDOT will target 100 intersections that are within the District’s high-crash, high-injury corridors.
I’m asking residents to keep working with us – keep submitting 311 requests when you see a damaged sign or broken flexi-posts, keep reporting safety issues to us, and keep working with your neighbors to advocate for safer communities.
Sincerely,
 Individuals can now get a free flu shot at the District’s walk-up COVID-19 vaccination sites. Earlier this month, Mayor Bowser encouraged residents to receive their flu shot by the end of October and emphasized that it is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time.
The Fort Stanton Recreation Center (1812 Erie Street SE) and the Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC) (3101 16th Street NW) are now offering free flu shots for residents ages 3 and older, in addition to COVID-19 vaccinations for residents 12 and older.
Beginning Tuesday, October 19, Benning Library (3935 Benning Road NE) will also offer free flu shots for residents ages 3 and older, in addition to COVID-19 vaccinations for residents 12 and older.
Like the COVID-19 vaccine, flu shots are also free at the District’s walk-up vaccination sites. While residents are encouraged to bring their insurance information, it is not required. Individuals without insurance will still receive their vaccination(s). No one will be turned away and no one will be charged.
Learn more HERE.
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 This week, Mayor Bowser called on the United States Department of Treasury (Treasury) to expedite the reallocation of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds from jurisdictions that have excess funds that have not been obligated. The District has requested from Treasury its final payment of the allotted $352 million, which is almost fully allocated to support residents with rent and utility assistance.
The District also set October 27, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. as the deadline for STAY DC, the largest rental and utility assistance program funded by ERA.
According to data provided by the Treasury through the end of August, the District is #1 per capita among all states administering ERA for amount of funds disbursed. The District is #2 among all states after New Jersey in percent of allocation spent. The District should be considered by Treasury in the reallocation of ERA funds from jurisdictions that have excess funds they have not obligated and intends to quickly deploy any additional funds received through existing programs.
Learn more HERE.
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 You’re invited to join Mayor Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs for the District’s 34th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race.
The High Heel Race is a favorite October tradition in DC. Each year, neighbors come to Dupont Circle to celebrate hundreds of drag queens and cheer them on as they race down 17th Street.
Learn more HERE.
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