Hi Team,

Today, March 1, 2024, is Employee Appreciation Day, and I can't think of a better time to again express my gratitude to you.

Our work is very complex and can be difficult to carry out; as a regulatory agency, we are often engaging with customers who may be having some of the worst days of their lives. Local government is at the heart of addressing these problems when they arise, and in helping prevent them from happening again. It is where the rubber meets the road, and your work helps keep residents safe, injects life into the District's businesses, and drives economic development in the nation's capital.

Public servants are special people. Our work is not easy, and there are real people on the other side of any policy decisions we make. We cannot take our responsibilities lightly, and I am freshly reminded each day of the importance our work carries. It is thanks to engaged and dedicated people like you that we are able to meet our moment and aspire to be the best agency that we can be. 

Our customer service team handles inquiries and concerns with utter grace and expediency. Our inspectors communicate clearly with internal and external teams and fulfill their duty to ensure code is being followed. Behind our front-line teams, there are a host of skilled and dedicated people: you expertly review building plans, process permits quickly, educate customers about green initiatives, shepherd through wall checks, assist customers with ensuring their properties are being taxed appropriately -- the list goes on and on! 

So, with all that being said, I will close in the same way that I started this message: thank you! I am very grateful for your hard work. It is truly making a real difference, and we would be a less effective and approachable agency without your commitment to our mission. 

All the best,