The Ward 5 Report: Office of Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie

 

  

The Ward 5 Report:
Office of Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
September 27, 2013 

 

  

 

Dear Citizen,

 

As many of you know, we may face yet again another federal government shutdown here in the District of Columbia. I fully support, and will participate in, keeping the District of Columbia government open on October 1. I stand with the Mayor, the Chairman, and my colleagues on the Council, and hope this demonstration of autonomy will send a clear message that the 633,000 residents of the District of Columbia will no longer suffer the consequences of political standoffs in Congress.

 

In Service,

 

Kenyan

  

  

 

Legislative Updates:

   

Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs marks up several bills introduced by Councilmember McDuffie

   

On Monday, September 23, the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs approved three of Councilmember McDuffie’s bills. These bills will likely come before the full Council in October or November.

 

• District of Columbia Distillery Pub Licensure Act of 2013 (B20-029) - The bill creates a distillery pub permit that provides similar privileges to distilleries as those afforded to “brew pubs” and “wine pubs.” Licensees would be able to offer on-site consumption of spirits, resale to other licensees, or sale to patrons for off-site consumption.
• Manufacturers’ Sunday Sale Amendment Act of 2013 (B20-197) – The bill allows breweries and wineries to sell and deliver alcoholic beverages between 7am and midnight, seven days per week. The current laws do not allow manufacturers to sell their products on Sundays, which significantly hampers this growing industry.
• Manufacturer Tasting Permit Amendment of 2013 (B20-234) – The bill authorizes licensed manufacturers to offer tastings of spirits and beers between 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm, seven days per week. Currently, tastings are only permitted Thursday through Saturday.

 

Committee Updates:

  

On October 3, 2013, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chairperson of the Committee on Government Operations, will convene a public hearing on B20-0169, the “Employee Suggestion Act of 2013.” This public hearing will be held in Room 123 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW at 11:00 AM.

  

 The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official record. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact Mr. Ronan Gulstone, Committee Director at (202) 724-8028, or via e-mail at rgulstone@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Monday October, 1 2013. Representatives of organizations will be allowed a maximum of five (5) minutes for oral presentation and individuals will be allowed a maximum of three (3) minutes for oral presentation. Witnesses should bring 10 copies of their written testimony and if possible submit a copy of their testimony electronically to rgulstone@dccouncil.us. 

 

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted either to the Committee, or to Ms. Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 5, Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at the end of the business day on October 18, 2013.

 

Announcements:

  

Letter to Mayor Vincent C. Gray and City Administrator Allen Y. Lew regarding the effects of the D.C. United stadium deal on Ward 5

  

On September 25, Councilmember McDuffie submitted a letter to Mayor Gray and City Administrator Allen Lew regarding the effects of the D.C. United stadium deal on Ward 5. You can read the letter in its entirety on our website at http://www.kenyanmcduffie.com/news/.

  

Visitor Parking Pass Program Update

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced the following updates regarding the Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) Program:

• The current 2012/2013 VPP will remain valid through December 2013; and

• Residents who do not have a VPP may obtain a temporary parking pass at a police station or substation in the ward in which they reside.

The 2013/2014 VPP will be made available free of charge and only one pass will be provided per household.

  

Reminder: Ward 5 Industrial Land Transformation Task Force Open House

  

Councilmember McDuffie would like to invite all Ward 5 residents to join him on September 30 for the Industrial Land Transformation Task Force Open House. The purpose of the event is to give residents a preview at the information gathered by the Task Force thus far. The event will be co-hosted by the Office of Planning and held at the Trinity Washington University’s O'Connor Auditorium from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. For more information about the task force, please visit our website at http://www.kenyanmcduffie.com/industrial-land-transformation-task-force-open-house/

  

Reminder: Family & Community Day at Taft/Dwight Mosley Athletic Complex

   

On September 28, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Single Member District 5B02 will be celebrating its Family and Community Day at Taft/Dwight Mosley Athletic Complex, located on 18th & Otis Streets, N.E., from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. All Ward 5 residents are encouraged to attend. For donation and volunteer information, please contact Marian Thomas and Commissioner Ursula Higgins at (202) 832-2376 or 5b02@anc.dc.gov.

   

Reminder: Friends of Rhode Island Avenue Annual Fall Fest

   

Please join Friends of Rhode Island Avenue for their 2013 Fall Fest on October 5 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Rhode Island Avenue, NE between South Dakota and 20^th Street, NE. The event will feature music, arts, food and fun for kids of all ages. For more information, please visit www.friendsofria.org.

   

Reminder: Healthy Food Retail Program Grant Opportunity

   

The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is soliciting applications from qualified organizations to manage its Healthy Food Retail Program. Through this grant, DSLBD will fund the expanded access of healthy foods within small food retailers in eligible areas of the District. A grant of $250,000 will be awarded to one organization to establish and operate a commercial distribution system which provides fresh produce and healthy foods to small food retail stores.

   

Applications are due on October 10, 2013, at 4 p.m. The grant recipient will be selected through a competitive application process and announced in November 2013. Download the Program Guidelines to view all the requirements. For more information, visit DSLB’s website at http://dslbd.dc.gov/node/653802 

  

Metro advises riders of upcoming major work on Red Line Service changes for weekend of October 4-6, 2013

 

Red Line riders will get a well-deserved break from rebuilding work this weekend, September 27 through 29, but major track work is coming over the weekend of October 4 through 6 that will affect several downtown stations.

 

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, October 4, through system closing Sunday, October 6, free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between DuPont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet stations to allow for major rebuilding work through the downtown area. The work includes replacement and renewal of third-rail components, installation of new rail fasteners, elimination of joints between sections of rail, and structural work.

 

As a result, Farragut North, Judiciary Square and Union Station will be closed. Gallery Place will remain open for Yellow and Green line service only; Metro Center will remain open for Blue and Orange line service only.

 

During the weekend of October 4-6, Red Line trains will operate as follows:

 

• Between Shady Grove and DuPont Circle - Every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals (every 15-20 minutes) at other times.
• Between Glenmont and NoMa-Gallaudet - Every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals (every 15-20 minutes) at other times.

 

Within the work zone, shuttle buses will operate on two routes:

 

• Limited stop buses will travel between DuPont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet stations with intermediate stops at Metro Center and Gallery Place only.
• Local buses will travel between DuPont Circle and NoMa-Gallaudet making all intermediate stops (Farragut North, Metro Center, Gallery Place, Judiciary Square and Union Station).  

Riders can minimize their travel time by considering these travel tips:

 

• From the eastern side of the Red Line, use the Green Line between Fort Totten and downtown destinations.
• Metrobus may be a good alternative for some riders, including those along Wisconsin Ave NW and Connecticut Ave NW. To check, use Metro's trip planner and select the "bus only" option.
• Riders transferring between the Blue/Orange and Green/Yellow lines should use L'Enfant Plaza.

 

This Red Line project was first announced on June 18, 2013. Additional details regarding shuttle bus service and last train times will be posted on wmata.com on Monday, September 30.

   

Reminder: The D.C. Office of the People’s Counsel presents: A Hands-on Citywide Workshop: Making Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Real  

  

When: Saturday, October 12, 2013 

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center 

1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500  

Washington, DC 20005 

  

Energy efficiency and renewable energy experts will share the fundamentals of: 

  

• Applying for a home energy audit 
• Making your home more energy efficient 
• Installing solar PV or solar thermal systems 
• Get information on DC government energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, including grants and rebate

For additional information or to request disability accommodations or language/sign interpretation services, please contact the Office of the People’s Counsel at 202.727.3071 by September 30, 2013.  

  

DC School Sustainability Fair and Announcement of DC Green Schools Challenge

  

WHEN: Saturday September 28, 2013 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Dunbar High School (101 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001)

INVITEES: Free and open to the public! Ideal for DC school students, parents, teachers, school leaders, healthy school advocates, and community members

  

Celebrate Green Apple Day of Service with the U.S. Green Building Council and DC's Department of General Services at this "Sustainability Fair," highlighting DC's landmark efforts around sustainable schools – and announcing the "DC Green Schools Challenge."

  

Take part in student-led tours of Dunbar High School's widely-acclaimed modernization, visit interactive information booths about what makes a school "green," and register for door prizes and competitions. Don’t miss the announcement of the DC Green Schools Challenge - helping schools eliminate energy waste, and awarding prizes and incentives to schools that excel. Challenge categories include: "Improvement" (savings year-over-year); "Overall Performance" (low energy usage); and "Innovation" (student-led efficiency projects + competitions for posters about energy conservation). The Sustainability Fair will provide tools and resources to set your school up for success in the Challenge, which launches later this fall.

  

If you're interested in green schools, you won't want to miss this event. Sign up for information and learn about the DC Green Schools Challenge here; see below for the Sustainability Fair schedule.

  

9:00am: Breakfast and coffee served

9:30am: Introductory remarks and welcome from Principal Jackson

9:40am: Mayor Vincent Gray (invited)

9:50am: Other Speaker(s) TBD

10:00am - 12pm: Campus tours and at least eight interactive information booths (including solar, school gardens, USGBC's " Energy Efficiency Toolkits," and more)

 

 

Campus Tours: Architects from design\architect firm Perkins Eastman and Dunbar HS students will lead tours of the new school, highlighting the many innovative green design components of the state-of-the-art facility.

 

**Ward 5 Events:

Councilmember McDuffie, or a member of his staff, will attend the following events:

 

Tuesday, October 1^st – The Brentwood Civic Association's monthly meeting will take place at the Washington Center for Aging, located at 2601 18^th Street NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 1^st – The Woodridge Civic Association's monthly meeting will take place at the Washington Center for Aging, located at 2601 18^th Street NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 1^st – The Michigan Park Citizens Association’s monthly meeting will take place at Bunker Hill Elementary School, located at 1401 Michigan Ave NE, beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, October 2^nd – The North Michigan Park Civic Association’s monthly meeting will take place at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center, located at 1333 Emerson St NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m.