February 24, 2023
Dear Washingtonians,
Recently, the Wall Street Journal's Editorial Board reasoned that the District of Columbia should not become the 51st state because its local legislature passes “crazy” laws and also advocated for Congress to overturn those laws. If the sanity, or lack thereof, of a jurisdiction’s local laws were the measure of whether statehood should be granted or denied, I’m not sure we’d have any states at all. A quick internet search unearths hundreds of local laws that might seem pretty crazy from afar. But, frankly, it’s none of my business or theirs. That’s the whole point of our representative government. We, the people, get to decide.
The Editorial Board isn’t the first to make irrational arguments for denying statehood to 700,000 American citizens. In just the last few years, many members of Congress have, too.
For instance, one congressman opposed DC statehood by arguing DC isn’t big enough. By that logic, Vermont and Wyoming, which have fewer residents, are too small to be states, too.
Another argued that DC doesn’t have the amenities that other states have, such as car dealerships. We do, but even if we didn’t, so what?
A member of the House couldn’t support statehood because we don’t have agriculture, manufacturing, logging, or mining industries. If a lack of one of these industries invalidated statehood, how many states would we have left?
And, yet another representative cited the District’s lack of forts as a reason to oppose DC statehood. In fact, we do have forts, a series of them built as civil war defenses. But again, if we didn’t, so what?
Others claim that we are incapable of governing ourselves. We have balanced our last 27 budgets and earned a AAA bond rating. Last I checked, less than one-third of the 50 states could make that claim.
Or, how about the argument that DC cannot become a state because we don’t pay taxes or go to war. Wrong and wrong. We pay more in federal taxes than 23 states and more in federal taxes per capita than any state. More than 11,000 DC residents currently serve in the military, and over 30,000 veterans currently live in the District. Since World War I, the District has sent nearly 200,000 men and women to war, 2,000 of whom lost their lives in defense of our country.
Yes, these are crazy arguments.
Worse though is that those who say them don’t actually believe them. Rather they say them to distract us from their real, morally bankrupt reason: they fear a Congressional power shift if DC residents elect two Democratic senators and one Democratic representative. This divisive, win-at-all-costs way of thinking debases the grand ideals we expect of Congress and retreats from the fundamental, self-evident truth of American democracy: government of the people, by the people, for the people.
It’s also presumptuous to be so sure that DC residents would vote for Democrats to represent them in Congress. They might, but things might turn out like they did in the 1950s when Democrats were eager to have Alaska become a state, and Republicans pushed for Hawaii statehood. In the 16 presidential elections since each became a state, Alaska has voted for a Democrat just once, and Hawaiians have voted for a Republican only twice.
Until we become the 51st state, Congress has the authority to disapprove either of the two bills it is now reviewing. But that doesn’t mean they should. To do so is no different than to deny us statehood and the same democracy cherished by all other tax-paying Americans. My concerns with the crime bill and my veto of it are better addressed locally, as they would be in every other locality in our great country, than by members of Congress who we did not elect and who do not represent us. I call on those in Congress who share a commitment to the basic democratic principles of self-determination and local control to vote “NO” on any disapproval resolutions and to vote “YES” on DC statehood.
Sincerely,
 Mayor Bowser is inviting residents to register for the 5th annual FITDC HerStory 5K, which will be held in-person at Freedom Plaza on Saturday, March 4. The FITDC HerStory 5K is a Women’s History Month tradition that routinely draws in over 2,500 participants from all eight wards. Register to enjoy a scenic race route down Pennsylvania Avenue NW, women-owned business vendors, live DJs, and a 360-photo booth.
Registration is free and individuals can now register at herstory5k.com.
Same-day registration and packet pick-up will begin at 9:00 a.m. on March 4 and the 5K will begin at 10:00 a.m.
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 DC residents who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai vehicle are eligible to receive a free steering wheel lock from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) District station starting today, Friday, February 24.
A social media trend of how to steal the cars, which was made public during the summer of 2022, directly increased the number of motor vehicle thefts nationwide involving Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
To prevent car thefts, free steering wheel-locks are available at the following MPD District stations on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last:
- First District: 101 M Street SW
- Second District: 3320 Idaho Avenue NW
- Third District: 1620 V Street NW
- Fourth District: 6001 Georgia Avenue NW
- Fifth District: 1805 Bladensburg Road NE
- Sixth District: 5002 Hayes Street NE
- Seventh District: 2455 Alabama Avenue SE
Learn more HERE.
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 Registration for Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) spring programming opens next week. Registration opens:
- Noon on Wednesday, March 1 for aquatics programs ONLY.
- Noon on Thursday, March 2 for all other spring programs.
DPR programs offered this spring include:
- Aquatics programs, including learn to swim, aquatic fitness, senior aquatics, water polo and lifeguard instruction.
- Team sports and athletics, including soccer, kickball, volleyball, gymnastics, baseball/softball/tee-ball, pickleball, tennis, and flag football.
- Out-of-school time programs like DC Public Schools (DCPS) Fun Day (March 10) and DCPS spring break camp (April 18 – 21).
- Additional activities include fitness programs, senior programming, dance, candle-making, music, and movie nights.
Residents are encouraged to create an account online with DPR’s registration system in advance to save time once program registration opens. To create an account, visit dpr.dc.gov/DPRaccount.
For more information and a complete list of DPR programs, visit DPRprograms.com.
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 This week, Mayor Bowser, the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID), District officials, and other community partners celebrated and unveiled the Anacostia Arts and Culture District in Ward 8.
During the event, which included live painting, Go-Go music, and more, the Mayor highlighted a new l $202,000 investment in the Department of Public Works MuralsDC program to support the development of more than a dozen new murals in Ward 8.
Last year, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development granted the Anacostia BID nearly $4 million to establish the Anacostia Arts and Culture District. MuralsDC will work closely with the Anacostia BID and other partners throughout the spring to identify mural locations and artists.
To learn more, visit muralsdcproject.com.
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