 |
Coronavirus Update: ReOpen DC Report
Dear Neighbors,
The ReOpen DC Advisory Group's ReOpen DC Report was released today with broad guidelines on the phased reopening of the District. Lead by Co-Chairs Ambassador Susan Rice and Secretary Michael Churtoff, this document is the product of eleven committees that worked on recommendations and strategies to safely reopen various public and private sectors, such as our schools, restaurants, parks, and local businesses. This report was also released on the District's 11th consecutive day of decline in community spread of coronavirus. And, should this trend continue and the District's four reopening metrics are met, the Mayor may consider deploying Phase 1 of the reopening strategy by next Friday, May 29th.
While there is great content in this report (here is an overview by DCist), I am disappointed that there wasn't a more specific and detailed plan for our transportation and public space infrastructure. As the Chair of the Committee on Transportation & the Environment, I submitted a letter with recommendations to the ReOpen DC Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee and recently called for a more strategic use of our road space to allow for expanded outdoor restaurant seating and safer pedestrian and cyclist travel. I'm sure we've all seen or experienced instances where a sidewalk is too narrow to pass a neighbor safely and someone heads into the road to maintain a 6 ft distance.
The District is in a period of low vehicular traffic, and we should fully capitalize on this opportunity to modify our streets for resident, not commuter, use. Furthermore, our streets should be reengineered to deter and decrease speeding and unsafe driver behavior now that the roads have largely cleared. There are also undeniable environmental benefits to these traffic reductions. Just today, Director Wells of the Department on Energy & the Environment notified me that the District's air quality, as we've seen in cities across the world, has greatly improved during this public health emergency. We've experienced a 10-30% drop in four major air pollutants, likely from the transportation sector. The District will soon head into a period of recovery from this pandemic, and this period will also present many opportunities for us to rebuild and improve—let's take full advantage of it.
Regards,
Mary
|
Ward 3 Virtual Community Drive - Sibley Memorial Hospital is partnering with the Palisades Citizens Association, Palisades Village, and American University to collect household items for District residents in need. This effort, the COVID-19 Virtual Community Drive, is running May 25th through June 1st.
In the District of Columbia and across the United States, a disproportionate number of people of color are experiencing more serious illness and death due to COVID-19 than other demographics. To help address this emerging statistic, the community drive will focus on providing aid to communities of color across the District.
Please visit the drive’s Amazon wish list to help purchase specific items ranging from cloth masks to essential household items that are in great demand in the District’s underserved neighborhoods. Make sure you select “Sibley Memorial Hospital Community Drive” during the check-out process to have the items delivered directly to the hospital. Items purchased from the wish list will be delivered to Sibley Hospital and distributed to various community partners.
|
Important Environmental Updates from Attorney General Karl Racine
Grayhound Lines, Inc. - Greyhound Lines, Inc. will now be required to make company-wide policy changes to reduce air pollution and will prohibit excessive bus idling nationwide as part of a settlement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The company will also pay a $125,000 penalty to the District for allowing buses to idle at Union Station for longer than the District’s legal limit. This settlement resolves a lawsuit over Greyhound’s violations of the District’s air pollution control law and failure to comply with multiple enforcement notices. Read More Here
Monsanto Company - The Attorney General filed a lawsuit alleging that Monsanto knowingly promoted and sold polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for nearly 50 years, made false statements to regulators and the public about the safety of these products, and failed to adequately warn the public that PCBs caused significant health problems including cancer and liver damage. Due to their high degree of persistence, the chemicals remain in the District’s environment today, still accumulating in fish and wildlife. According to estimates, clean-up and restoration of the District’s natural resources will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Read More Here
|
Vote Safe with a Mail-In (Absentee) Ballot |
For information on how to request an absentee ballot, please click the button below: |
Curbside Pick-Up Pilot Includes Ward 3 Businesses |
|
From DCist -
D.C.’s pilot program allowing some nonessential businesses to reopen for curbside delivery or sidewalk pick-up now includes beauty supply stores, sundries, florists, and card shops....When the program announced the first participating stores on Sunday, three of the four initial businesses that received waivers were those that had reached out to Cheh about possible exceptions from the stay-at-home order: Middle C Music, Child’s Play Toys and Books, and all three Politics and Prose locations...
Allan Woods Flowers in Woodley Park has also been added to the pilot!
Read the Full Story
|
|
|
|
Support Girls on the Run during COVID-19 |
Support Girls on the Run - Are you looking for a new exercise routine in quarantine? Train with Girls on the Run-DC in the Spring 5K Virtual Challenge!
With your registration, you'll not only be supporting our local Girls on the Run program, but you'll receive equipment-free training plans for running and strength training (options available for all fitness levels).
Most importantly, you are not running alone. You are running in spirit with all the young girls in the District of Columbia who trained and looked forward to their spring 5K race, but whose season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Register at www.gotrdc.org/5K and get your training on!
|
Reminder: T&E Committee Budget Process |
First Two Hearings Held - Today, the Committee on Transportation & the Environment (T&E) held its first two budget oversight hearings. The hearing record will remain open for submissions for one week after the hearing date. To watch today's hearings, please use the following links:
Additional Budget Resources - If you would like more information on the FY21 Budget process and links to FY21 Budget documents and full Council hearing schedule, please see the May 18th Ward 3 Update. The T&E Committee's schedule is listed below.
|
How to Respond to a Bee Swarm |
|
From Erin Gleeson -
If you see a swarm...Don't panic, call a beekeeper! Honeybee swarm season is NOW. With an early spring, healthy honey bees can quickly outgrow their hive space and leave in search of a new place to call home. Bee swarms contain thousands of harmless, homeless honey bees. They will usually ball up in a tree, fence, or any place that looks safe.
These are local sustainable bees and many beekeepers would love to give them a hive to call their own, and the DC Swarm Squad can usually gather a swarm within 30 mins.
To ensure that District swarms are collected in a safe and timely manner, if you see a swarm, snap a picture and call/text the DC Beekeeper Alliance Swarm Squad at 202.255.4318.
|
|
|
|
Ending this Update on a Happy Note:
Projections of Appreciation & Gratitude
|
|
From the Forest Hills Connection -
Who is behind this “thank you” to essential workers?
Last month, Forest Hills Connection editor Marlene Berlin called Van Ness Main Street Executive Director Gloria Garcia with an idea: a light projection that expresses gratitude for the essential workers (including those working in health care, grocery, restaurants, public safety and sanitation) working so hard to keep the neighborhood safe, healthy and livable.
Read the Full Story
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
