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Coronavirus Update: The Budget During COVID-19
Dear Neighbors,
The release of the Mayor's draft Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Budget has been postponed by a week and will now be released to the Council and the public on Monday, May 18th. This delay will result in the rescheduling of several budget committee hearings and, once finalized, those new dates will be updated online. Undoubtedly, it will be difficult for the Council to have even less time to review this year's budget materials, but, by the same token, it must be incredibly challenging for the Executive to account for the over $700 million in lost local revenue as a result of COVID-19.
Due to the public health emergency, the Council has altered this year's budget process and will now conduct hearings remotely over teleconference platforms. While each committee will be taking a different approach to receiving government and public witness testimony, each committee has been provided with a unique voicemail number to accept verbal public testimony. Just as with in-person hearings, voicemail testimony will be limited to 3 minutes. Public witnesses may also submit written testimony to committees. Voicemail messages, as well as written transcripts, will be provided to committees for the official hearing record. Hearings will be broadcast live on DC Council Channel 13 as well as streamed live online on the Council's website and on entertainment.dc.gov. The schedule and details for my committee, the Committee on Transportation & the Environment, are listed below this letter. I've always found public testimony to be very helpful in informing my questions and conversation with our agencies, so please submit your testimony early if possible.
As always, please share your budget and program-related ideas with me and my staff. Your perspective, ideas, and feedback will be invaluable to the Council as we look to strategically move forward toward recovery from this pandemic.
Regards,
Mary
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Please see coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates & resources on COVID-19
Today's Coronavirus Data: 6,485 positive cases, 886 recovered, & 336 lives lost
To receive these updates directly, please sign up through marycheh.com or by emailing [email protected]
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Budget Oversight: Committee on Transportation & the Environment |
Feed the Front Lines: Nurses Appreciation Week |
Donations Welcome!- National Nurses Appreciation Week may be coming to a close (it officially runs from May 6th-12th), but there are plenty of ways to show our immense gratitude and appreciation for local nursing staff and frontline medical workers during the public health emergency.
One important effort in Ward 3 is the Feed the Front Lines Fund. This fund helps care for Sibley Memorial Hospital’s frontline staff while also supporting local restaurants under duress due to COVID-19. Donations provide meals for staff and groceries for employees undergoing financial hardship during this crisis.
To donate towards meals for medical workers, please see: Feed the Front Lines
For other donation opportunities, please see: Ways to Give
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An Update on the Convention Center |
Preparing for the Medical Surge - The Convention Center has been outfitted to serve as a 437-bed medical facility to accommodate coronavirus patients during the projected medical surge. This site will be used for those patients who need medical care but who do not need ventilator support. Currently, the District has 74 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 199 ventilators available. The potential surge in positive coronavirus cases that would place District hospitals at full capacity, and thus activating the Convention Center site, is projected to occur in June.
The photos below are courtesy of Mark Segraves of NBC4.
For NBC4's coverage of the Convention Center Medical Facility, please see: Washington Convention Center Transformed Into Coronavirus Field Hospital.
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Join the DC Contact Trace Force
COVID Response - District Government is now hiring and accepting applications for volunteers for the DC Contact Trace Force to assist with the District's coronavirus response and reopening preparations. Positions include investigators, lead investigators, and program managers.
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Free 30-Day Capital Bikeshare Membership for Essential Workers
Go DC Go - Capital Bikeshare is offering essential workers free bikeshare memberships. Eligible essential workers may sign up through their employer and are encouraged to sign up by May 31st. First responders, healthcare workers, food retail and transit employees are eligible.
If you are an employer and would like your organization to participate:
If you are an eligible employee who would like to participate:
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Reminder: Please Don't Litter with PPE |
Protect Yourself & Others - While it is never acceptable to litter, littering personal protective equipment (PPE) is especially dangerous as it potentially exposes the public and sanitation workers to the virus. Additionally, as a courtesy and a precaution, please periodically disinfect your trash and recycling bin lids and handles.
PPE is Not Recyclable - Please remember to place used paper towels, tissues, gloves, masks, and other forms of PPE in a securely closed bag before discarding it in your trash bin. Remember:
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Disinfecting wipes are not flushable or recyclable
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Disposable gloves are not recyclable
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Masks are not recyclable
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Homebound due to COVID-19?
Call the Get Help Hotline for Support with Food & Essential Items
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Online Composting Workshop Registration Now Open
Compost with DPW - In the most recent piece of emergency legislation passed by the Council, Councilmember Cheh included language to enable the Department of Public Works (DPW) to conduct their popular Backyard Home Composting Program workshops online. Backyard Home Composting Workshops qualify residents for a rebate up to $75 towards the purchase of a traditional (stationary bin or tumbler) backyard home composting system.
Workshops are open to District of Columbia residents ONLY. Space is limited and first-come, first-serve. To qualify for the rebate, residents must attend the online workshop live.
For more at-home composting resources, please see Zero Waste DC.
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Spotlight on Sanitation Worker Octavia French During COVID-19 |
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From the Washington City Paper -
A Sanitation Worker Says She Will Be There ‘Rain, Sleet, Or Snow’
"Octavia French is a 28-year-old sanitation worker with the D.C. Department of Public Works...While much of the District is shut down, her daily routes take her from Capitol Hill to Shaw to Georgetown, where she has been collecting trash and recycling during the crisis."
Read the Full Story
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Metro Releases Recovery Plan
Pandemic Recovery Plan - WMATA has released the preliminary details of its covid-19 pandemic recovery plan. As covered in the press, the plan details different phases of recovery with a return to pre-COVID-19 service projected for the spring of 2021. Below are some notes from WMATA's press release:
- Customers will be asked to wear face masks or coverings when using the Metro system this summer
- Metrorail stations that are currently closed as part of the COVID-19 response are expected to reopen in the fall along with the expected reopening of the school system
- It is expected that the system will return to post-pandemic service hours once a treatment/vaccine becomes widely available and economic activity increases
To read the proposal in full, please see: COVID-19 Recovery Planning Update. The recovery strategy will be discussed at Metro’s Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, May 14.
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Ending this Update on a Happy Note:
Firefighter Jim Mazzara Plays for Front Line Workers
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A special thank you to Firefighter Jim Mazzara who has volunteered his time to play the bagpipes for health care workers and others on the front lines battling COVID-19.
To hear and see some of his wonderful performances and the joy it has brought to doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and many others, please see CBS's feature on Firefighter Mazzara:
Bagpipe-playing fireman brings moment of peace in fight against coronavirus
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Our Office is Open!
Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.
You may continue to email the office directly or reach us via phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.
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