Dear Ward 8 Residents:

My team and I are preparing to host our
annual Tele-Townhall for Ward 8 Seniors.

The event will take place on Saturday, February 12th at 12:00pm. The tele-townhall will via conference call and online. For those who wish to attend online, please register in advance using this link:
[link removed] ([link removed])

We encourage Ward 8 residents age 60 years and older and those who care for them, to join the townhall to discuss the urgent needs of these beloved residents.

During this meeting, we intend to discuss:
* Public Safety
* Estate Planning
* Taxes and Insurance
* Food Access
* Home Repairs
* Community Resources
* COVID-19 & Healthcare Resources

We must continue to find ways to stay connected with our beloved senior community during these unpredictable times. This townhall is one of the many steps we take to recognize their voices.

Please share this information with your neighbors and assist those who may need some help joining the call.

Stay safe,
Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.


** Quick Links
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* Need a Test? Get a Test: Learn more about COVID-19 testing sites ([link removed])
* Hospital Coming to Ward 8: See Plans for New Hospital ([link removed])
* Check out the 2020 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])

Ward 8 Budget Conversation | Zoom Webinar
Feb 9, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Click here to register: [link removed]
Zoom Meeting: February 2, 2022 at 6:00pm
Register to attend: [link removed]


** Councilmember Trayon White sent a letter to Mayor Bowser about complaints against the management company of Marbury Plaza apartments.
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On Saturday, January 22nd, Councilmember Trayon White sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser to address the plethora of residents' concerns regarding TMAM Associates Management, Inc - the management company over Marbury Plaza apartments and their lack of response.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced a new $40 million round of the Bridge Fund Grant Program that will provide financial support to brick and mortar businesses grappling with the COVID-19 public health emergency in the restaurant, entertainment, and retail sectors.

“Our small businesses are still recovering from revenue losses experienced during the first two years of the pandemic and the impact of the new COVID variants,” said Mayor Bowser. “They continue to need flexible financial support to ensure they can nimbly respond to ongoing challenges. I thank the DC Council for their partnership in making this new Bridge Fund round as flexible as possible and look forward to working together to ensure local businesses make a strong comeback in 2022.”


** Sign-Up & Give Feedback On How These Agencies Are Performing!
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Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 12PM
Councilmember Trayon White, Sr., Chairperson of the Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs, will convene a public roundtable of the Committee to conduct agency performance oversight.

Sign-up here: [link removed] ([link removed][0]=AT1lg2AwwDfzeV__glgQGHgpsejPCwcVYs8gQtPGlEcw0tIXC9vsVW6hKPyWrpcT0xAjjTe6K9Z3lvGwb281bm67bL7wAKo1cGPW_jSyIfgZ7ouxuDbfIs5dVAPIkuTepj15nYv5T6JbK7JvNqMapOdcZac)

For more information contact:
[email protected] or 202-417-7996
[link removed]
January 24, 2022 | Click To Watch: [link removed]

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries & Youth Affairs will held a Performance Oversight Hearing.

The following agency testified:
* Mayor's Office on Volunteerism and Partnership also known as Serve DC

Performance Oversight Hearing Synopsis

MOLA | Serve DC

January 24, 2022

There were no public witnesses. Director Alexis Squire spoke on the myriad of programs that the office does regarding serving the community in the District. The office has consistently supported and promoted the work of AmeriCorps throughout the city, in addition to dealing with emergency preparedness and volunteerism/outreach.

The office worked with their Summer Youth Emergency Preparedness Academy to teach students of the work and opportunities of careers in that field, as well as offered CPR training to residents. They are looking to recruit more volunteers for their Volunteer Snow Team that assists residents with snow removal during storms. The Volunteer Portal that they created has been a key help to aggregating volunteers for the office.

In addition, amongst the programs and events they engaged with in Ward 8, ServeDC assisted with the Frederick Douglass Bridge unveiling and held the Serve 202: Partnerships and Priorities Series at Busboys & Poets in Anacostia.

[link removed]

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries & Youth Affairs held a Public Roundtable on the following Legislation:
* PR24-0483 ([link removed]) – “BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES C BRIAN WILLIAMS CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2021”

Watch Recap: [link removed]

Legislation Highlights & Summary

Week of 1/17-1/21
The Committee on Housing and Executive Administration held a Performance Oversight hearing on Wednesday, January 19 for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), and the Rental Housing Commission
* A large number of public witnesses and housing advocates testified
* A number of witnesses testified that DHCD needs further transparency and accountability, especially regarding the HPTF. There is not enough information currently available about award or denial of applicants, where remaining HPTF money is going, and why the mandated 50% of funds are not going to extremely low income (ELI) applicants (those earning between 0 and 30% of the area median income)
* The most affected ELI households are Black and Brown families and non-native English Speakers
* CM White and CM Bonds will be visiting the residents at Park Southern to check the conditions and listen to their concerns. Many of the residents mentioned having worked with Ms. Lockridge in the past.

The Committee on Human Services held a markup hearing on Thursday, January 20
* All legislation was approved without discussion
* The Developmental Disability Eligibility Reform Amendment Act of 2021 (B24-0268)
+ Introduced by CM Nadeau, co-introduced by CM T. White, Lewis-George, Silverman, R. White, Allen, Cheh, Bonds
+ Summary: To amend the Department on Disability Services Establishment Act of 2006 and the Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities Constitutional Rights and Dignity Act of 1978 to clarify the eligibility of services provided by the Department on Disability Services to include individuals with solely developmental disabilities; to require that the Mayor seek any waivers and exemptions from federal Medicaid statutes, rules, and regulations necessary to extend the “People with Intellectuals and Developmental Disabilities Waiver” and the “Individual and Family Supports Waiver” to individuals with developmental disabilities; and make conforming changes.

The Grandparent and Close Relative Caregivers Program Amendment Act of 2021 (B24-0462)
* Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at the request of the Mayor
* Summary
+ To amend the Grandparent Caregivers Pilot Program Establishment Act of 2005 to no longer require that a child reside in the grandparent’s home for the previous six months or that the grandparent have been the child’s primary caregiver for the previous six months as a condition of eligibility, and to no longer disqualify a grandparent if the child’s adult parent resides with the grandparent and the parent has a verifiable medical disability; and to amend the Close Relative Caregiver Subsidy Pilot Program Establishment Act of 2019 to no longer require that a child reside in the close relative caregiver’s home for the previous six month or that the close relative have been the child’s primary caregiver for the previous six months as a condition of eligibility, and to no longer disqualify a close relative if the child’s adult parent resides with the close relative and the parent has a verifiable medical disability.
+ This expands the ability of close relatives to be the primary caregiver for children, and removes certain disqualifying factors to ensure that the best interest of the child is the central factor in determining the appropriate caregiver.

The Child and Family Services Agency Robert Matthews Confirmation Resolution of 2021
* Robert Matthews is widely supported by advocates, especially kinship care groups, for his progressive and supportive views on the work that Child and Family Services should be carrying out. He has been serving as Acting Director of the Agency and has over 24 years of experience in child- and family-serving organizations

The Director to End Homelessness Theresa Silla Confirmation Resolution of 2021
* Theresa Silla has 12 years of experience working with systems that address the root causes of homelessness and has been a consultant and policy advisor at the Interagency Council on Homelessness since 2015. Ms. Silla has not discussed at length the Mayor’s current policies regarding the clearing of encampments and disposal of residents’ belongings.
* Additionally, there was a staff appointment confirmation that was approved.


** Meetings & Hearings schedule
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Click to see the upcoming hearings: [link removed]


** To say the 801 Men's Shelter is amazing feels like an understatement.
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On Monday, January 20th, Councilmember Trayon White's staff had the opportunity to tour the new 801 East Men’s Shelter. The shelter is an amazing 6-story, 396 bed facility that is sure to support residents to get back on their feet.

The new shelter has multiple on-site amenities to include:
* Health clinic
* Barbershop
* Computer lab
* Daytime service center
* Seniors and medically vulnerable dormitory
* Working & employment programs dorms
* 200 dormitory-style beds in the low-barrier housing tower

The plan is to have the facility open in the coming days and to close the current facility.


** Ward 8 Redistricting Committee Appoints Vice-President in January 19th meeting.
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[link removed]
Click to Watch: [link removed]
Ward 8 ANC Redistricting Committee Meeting
Jan 19, 2022 | 6:00 PM
Summary of Meeting
* 21 members of the redistricting committee members were present at the meeting
* Marcus Coates, Ward 8 resident, was appointed as Vice Chair
* It was agreed that talking points would be created as the committee goes about engaging residents at ANC meetings over the next two months
* Talking points would encourage constituents engage and to attend redistricting meetings to learn and contribute to the process.
* Committee members will attend ANC meetings to encourage participation.
* The Committee must achieve a goal of 2000 residents per single member district --plus or minus 5% variation, which is between 1900- 2100 residents.

The next meeting is scheduled for:

Zoom Meeting: February 2, 2022 at 6:00pm
Register to attend: [link removed] ([link removed])

The 39-member Ward 8 Task Force is chaired by Commissioner Brian Thompson (8A03), serving as President, and resident Marcus Coates, who is Vice President. The taskforce will solicit public testimony and host map discussions via Zoom meetings on Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and March 2. On, March 16, three maps will be selected for a final vote, which will be held on March 30. For more information, email Councilmember White’s Chief of Staff Wanda Lockridge at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or Chair Brian Thompson at [email protected].

The Ward 7 and 8 Redistricting Taskforces encourage residents to draw their own maps for consideration. The DC Office of Planning (OP) has created an online tool to facilitate this. Residents can find it at [link removed]. General information on redistricting can found at [link removed] or [link removed].

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) has yet to appoint his taskforce.
Click to read full article: [link removed]

[link removed]
CLICK TO WATCH ([link removed])


** VaxDC FAQ
VaxDC: Vaccination Entry Requirement for Certain Businesses – Guidance and FAQ ([link removed])
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To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the District of Columbia is launching a city wide vaccination entry requirement (VaxDC), which calls for establishments to verify that patrons are vaccinated against
COVID-19.
Hours of operation:
Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 5:30pm
CLOSED Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
Wendy Glenn: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Director, Constituent Services
Department of Employment Services
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
DCACL
ERCPCP/ACC Faith Leaders

Louise Thorne: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Constituent Services Specialist
DC Public Schools
DC Housing Authority
Department of Human Services
Utilities: PEPCO, DC Water, Washington Gas
Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Eric Cleckley: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Constituent Services Specialist
District Department of Transportation
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Department of Energy and Environment

James Wood: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Constituent Services Specialist
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Public Works
Senior Related Issues

For all other constituent services concerns, please contact Wendy Glenn.

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Ward 8 Outreach

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