Neighbors,
The challenges facing parents of school-aged children by the public health emergency is putting new pressures on parents and families around the District.
I invite you to join me this afternoon at 4:00 pm for a Facebook Live conversation on distance learning and how to support our students and families during COVID-19. I'll be joined by a panel of Ward 5 residents, including school leaders, a school social worker, and a parent. The panel features:
- Kemi Husbands, Principal, Langdon Elementary School
- Maquita Alexander, Executive Director of Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School
- Amy Winkle, LICSW, Rising Sun Therapy, LLC
- Dr. Yuvay Ferguson, DC Parent
Join us as we share best practices, take your questions, and share tips for parents. I hope to see you at 4:00 pm today on my Facebook page for what promises to be an interesting and enlightening conversation.
In service,
Kenyan
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In this issue of the Ward 5 Report:
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Coronavirus Response Update
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- For the latest information on the District's response to coronavirus, visit coronavirus.dc.gov/.
- Mayor Bowser announced the ReOpen DC Advisory Group, which will develop recommendations on reopening the District safely and sustainably through a plan based in science and tailored to the needs of the community. Councilmember McDuffie will Co-Chair the committee on Equity, Disparity Reduction and Vulnerable Populations. The Advisory Group will deliver an initial ReOpen DC report to the Mayor the week of May 11. Residents and businesses are encouraged to provide feedback and will be able to participate in a virtual town hall and survey. Details for those feedback mechanisms is not yet available but will be posted here: coronavirus.dc.gov/reopendc.
- Initially funded at $25 million, the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program, authored by Councilmember McDuffie in the very first Council COVID-19 legislation, will be getting an additional $8 million from federal and local sources. Award notifications are happening now and will continue through May 8, 2020.
- Residents, such as independent contractors, gig workers, and those with insufficient work history, who were previously ineligible for unemployment benefits can now access the D.C. Department of Employment Services' Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) application. For full details visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/recovery-individuals.
- Last Friday the District's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) offered a revised revenue estimate to the Council and Mayor. The CFO stated that the District's estimated revenue has gone down by $722 million in this fiscal year with similar decreases in future years. Read the letter explaining the update here or view the presentation.
- DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools will continue distance learning and not return to physical campuses this school year. The DCPS school year will end on May 29. An update on summer and fall activities and operations will be provided by May 15.
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The Ward 5 Office is Open and Teleworking
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Throughout the public health emergency, Councilmember McDuffie and staff are teleworking and remain hard at work on behalf of Ward 5 residents. You can still call (202) 724-8028 or email any staff.
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Watch CM McDuffie on a Panel About Resources for Small Businesses
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Councilmember McDuffie joined a panel to talk about how small businesses can access the federal Paycheck Protection Programaccess recovery funds. The panel featured Dan Martini, VP of Congressional Relations and Political Affairs of the American Bankers Association; Kristi Whitfield, the Director of the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development; John Falcicchio, Interim Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development; and Corey Griffin of the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce. Visit the Small Business Administration website for the PPP for more details. Small businesses access these funds through SBA lenders and banks, not directly through the federal government.
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#OurWard5 Small Businesses Spotlight: Roaming Rooster
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Roaming Rooster on Bladensburg Road NE continues to serve delicious chicken to the public for carry out and delivery in the midst of the public health emergency. They have also stepped up and provided meals to health care workers at Providence Urgent Care, Howard University Hospital, and United Medical Center. The restaurant interior is closed for social distancing but you can simply place your order online and make a contact-less pickup. Order ahead via their website, GrubHub, Postmates, or Uber Eats.
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The Council Budget Office has released an updated schedule of Budget Oversight Hearings, which will take place from May 14 through June 11. The mayor will be publishing her budget for the public and the Council on May 12 and the Council expects to pass the budget in July.
The Council met via Zoom on Tuesday, April 21 and unanimously passed amendments to prior legislation which supports homeowners, protects tenants, and helps a sector of our hospitality industry. One amendment clarifys important transparency provisions of mortgage protections while the other allows nightclubs to sell carry-out/delivery food and beverage like other restaurants and bars during the public health emergency.
Councilmember McDuffie, as Chair of the Council Committee on Business and Economic Development, which has oversight of the DC Department of Banking, Securities, and Banking (DISB), worked with the agency and housing stakeholders to draft the amendment which:
- Clarifys that mortgage lenders are subject to the requirements of the bill;
- Requires lenders to provide notice of approved deferral applications to the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking;
- Requires that a borrower approved for a mortgage deferral provide notice to their tenants;
- Clarifys how the mortgage deferral is passed on to a borrower’s tenants; and
- Clarifys the amount that a landlord may require a tenant to repay following the deferral period.
Councilmember McDuffie also has oversight of the DC Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration and worked to expand the emergency provisions governing bars and restaurants so they are also applied to nightclubs. This allows businesses holding C/N and D/N ABRA licenses to sell alcoholic beverages and food for off-premise purposes.
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Councilmember McDuffie walked through the public testing site at UDC-Bertie Backus today. Drive thru and walk up testing by appointment only is being conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am - 2PM. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-855-363-0333. For more details on testing in DC, visit: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/testing |
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New COVID-19 Testing at Bertie Backus
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Councilmember McDuffie joined Andy Shallal on his WPFW radio show, Works in Progress, to discuss the pandemic's impact on small business and the need to center our recovery on racial equity.
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Take the ReOpen DC Survey
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The ReOpen DC Advisory Group is seeking feedback from District residents, workers, and employers through an online survey. The ReOpenDC survey, which can also be accessed on coronavirus.dc.gov/reopendc, asks residents to share their feedback regarding reopening, as well as any big ideas, concerns, or feedback about reopening.
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DC is Hiring Contact Tracers
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Complete Your 2020 Census
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If you haven’t completed the 2020 Census yet, then be on the lookout for a paper questionnaire coming in the mail. You still have time to #GetCountedDC and can send back the form in the mail at no cost! You can also complete the census now at 2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
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Vote by Mail in the June Primary
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For the 2020 Primary Election, 20 Vote Centers will be open for 11 days prior the June 2, 2020 Primary Election Day (note: Vote Centers will be closed on Memorial Day). This means on Election Day June 2, there will only be two polling places open in Ward 5. Voting via mail-in ballots is strongly encouraged but is not required. The closure of precincts is something that has not happened before, however, mail-in ballot voting has been conducted in the District since 2010.
Voters can request mail-in ballots online HERE, via DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) mobile app, by calling the DCBOE at (202) 741-5283, faxing (202) 347-2648, mailing a ballot request form to the DC Board of Elections, 1015 Half Street SE, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20003.
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