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@TeamMuriel
 
Muriel Bowser Ward 4
 
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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:
Kevin Donahue

Director of the Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel:
Eugene Adams

Senior Advisor:
Beverly Perry

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Affairs:
Jackie Reyes-Yanes

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 10, 2021

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Washingtonians,

Last month, I promised you: we will throw every necessary resource at the rise in violent crime. And that’s what we are doing. We are using every resource we can to bolster hiring at MPD, including expanding the cadet program so that we can hire more DC residents as DC police. We announced a plan to add an additional 215 safe passage personnel to help keep our young people safe before, during, and after school. And, just this week, I announced that we are expanding our violence intervention efforts by adding more violence interrupters in more neighborhoods.

Yet a glaring problem remains: Too many areas of our city are saturated with illegal guns.

I’ve been told on too many occasions that guns aren’t the problem, that it’s the people who use them. But don’t tell me guns don’t kill people. Just two weeks ago, a baby was killed by a gun in his home. And while the investigation into what happened is still ongoing, one thing is true: that precious baby boy would be alive today if that gun wasn’t in his home. 

We don’t have to wait for the next senseless act of gun violence. I am imploring every person in our city who knows about an illegal gun to help us get it out of the community. Do it because you don’t want to stand by and see another child killed. Do it because you don’t want to see the person who owns it ruin their life or their family’s life. If for no other reason, do it because you could get up to $7,500 in reward money. We need the community to step up so that you can keep your home, your children and grandchildren, and our city safe. 

We’ve seen a troubling increase in homicides this year. In fact, cities across the nation have experienced similar increases. Even though fewer people have been shot in DC this year compared to last year, homicides have increased—and more powerful guns is one reason.

Our Violence Interrupters are making progress. Shootings are down 16% compared to this time last year in communities designated as priority areas by the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. Shootings are also down compared to the same point in time in 2019, showing early signs of sustained decreases.

Already, MPD has seen progress in our Fall Crime Prevention Initiative areas – homicides are down 43% in target areas, and overall violent crime is down 11% in those neighborhoods. This data will inform Chief Contee’s deployment strategy for 2022.

And MPD is making progress getting guns out of the community. They have removed 2,214 guns from our community this year. That’s slightly up from the 2,157 guns they had recovered this time last year.

Still, though, we need the community’s help. We need people who know that there is an illegal gun in their home to act. We need people who know that their loved ones are caught up in dangerous situations to act. You can’t wait until it is too late.

If you know about an illegal gun in DC, you can report it anonymously by calling (202) 727-9099 or by texting 50411.

Sincerely, 

Muriel Bowser

In This Week's Newsletter:

This Saturday: Virtual EdFEST

EdFEST

Mayor Bowser invites families to attend a virtual EdFEST 2021, DC’s annual public school fair, tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Families will have the opportunity to chat online with representatives from more than 200 DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools, serving pre-K3 through grade 12.

With the launch of the public school lottery application on Monday, December 13, 2021, for the 2022-23 school year, EdFEST is a timely event to help families connect directly with school representatives and make informed choices for their children. Families can log on through their preferred device and browse their options to learn more about the diverse range of public and public charter schools throughout the District.

Attendance is free and participants must register online. Register for EdFEST 2021 HERE.

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Booster Shots for 16- & 17-Year-Olds

Boosters

This week, following approval from the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayor Bowser and DC Health urged 16- and 17-year-olds who received the Pfizer vaccine more than six months ago to get a booster shot. The booster shot is available to eligible 16- and 17-year-olds at all District-operated library walk-up sites, pop-up sites, and pediatric clinics listed on vaccinate.dc.gov.

Currently, the following populations are eligible for a booster shot:

  • All individuals 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than 2 months ago
  • All individuals 18 and older who received the Moderna vaccine more than 6 months ago
  • All individuals 16 and older who received the Pfizer vaccine more than 6 months ago

The District has made it even easier for everyone five and older to get vaccinated and boosted. All residents can make a free at-home vaccination appointment by calling 1-855-363-0333.  Anyone 5 and older can get vaccinated and at-home and at-home vaccinations are for booster shots too.

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RSVP for Mayor Bowser's Annual Senior Holiday Celebration

Senior Holiday Celebration

DC seniors are invited to join Mayor Bowser at the 23rd Annual Senior Holiday Celebration. This year’s celebration will be at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Wednesday, December 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Masks and proof of vaccination are required. Learn more and RSVP HERE

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

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Register for the Fresh Start 5K

Fresh Start 5K

On Saturday, January 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., Mayor Bowser will kick off the New Year by hosting her 8th annual #FITDC Fresh Start 5K. This year’s race will take place at the scenic Anacostia Park.

The Fresh Start 5K is free and open to people of all ages. As always, Mayor Bowser will be in attendance to welcome eventgoers and participate in the 5K. Each participant will receive a #FITDC Fresh Start t-shirt, runner’s bib, and other giveaways courtesy of the 5K presenting partner, AETNA. 

Register for the 5K at fitdcfreshstart5k.com

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