Happy National Library Day, Ward 8!

National Library Week is April 3 - 9, 2022. This is a time to celebrate our nation's libraries and our library workers' contributions as well as to promote library use and support.

During this week's Committee of the Whole/ Legislative meeting, I introduced CER24-0162 - National Library Workers Day Recognition Ceremonial Resolution of 2022 ([link removed]) to celebrate and recognize the "National Library Workers Day" in DC.

As the Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs chairperson, I know all too well the invaluable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

To celebrate National Library Week, I encourage residents to take advantage of events and programming at their local library. For more information, visit www.dclibrary.org ([link removed]) .

Regards,

Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.
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** Quick Links
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* Need a Test? Get a Test: Learn more about COVID-19 testing sites ([link removed])
* Check out the 2020 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])
* Check out the 2021 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])

April is International Black Women's History Month.

Sha Battle established April as International Black Women's History Month ([link removed]) in 2016 in the city of Atlanta to uplift and support the achievements of Black and minority women, and to build understanding and awareness of the contributions of Black women to the world.

Take the survey: [link removed] ([link removed])
Have you checked out the 2021 Progress Report? Click the link below and see exactly what progress Councilmember Trayon White has made for Ward 8 residents.
Click To Here See The 2021 Progress Report ([link removed])

New information that has been posted to Councilmember Silverman’s redistricting website: [link removed].

*** NEW APRIL 5: The reports from the eight ANC task forces, detailing their recommended new ANC and SMD boundaries, can be found here ([link removed]) . The full maps showing the recommended boundaries will be posted soon. ***
Reports of the ANC redistricting task forces have been compiled and are now available through the website. A complete set of maps showing the recommended boundaries will be posted as soon as they are available, which I hope will be today.

The Subcommittee on Redistricting will hold two hearings on Bill 24-700, on April 7 and April 28. At the hearings, witnesses will be grouped into panels by ward. Links to the hearing notices with signup instructions are also available on the website.
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Register: tinyurl.com/MOCAFreeTaxClinic ([link removed])
MBI Urgent Care is open to all District residents.

Councilmember Trayon White is excited that MBI has consistently stepped up to serve district residents.

"Our goal is to build a health care system that is affordable, accessible and available to residents east of the river. This facility shares that vision of health care equity and I look forward to working with MBI to open an urgent care center in Ward 8. I would like to thank Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage and Councilmember Vincent Gray for their leadership," stated Councilmember Trayon White on social media.

The urgent care center is located at 5140 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20019 and is open for use to all district residents. For more information, contact 202-984-7310 or visit www.mbiucdc.com.
April 5th Committee of the Whole/ Legislative Meeting Introductions

RESOLUTIONS:
1. “Mary Cuthbert Posthumous Recognition Ceremonial Resolution of 2022” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, Gray, Bonds, R.White, McDuffie, Nadeau, Pinto, Cheh, and Chairman Mendelson

2. Donate Life Month Recognition Resolution of 2022 ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, Allen, R.White, McDuffie, Pinto, Lewis George, Nadeau, Henderson, Silverman

3. “Frank W. Ballou Senior High School 2021-22 District of Columbia State Athletic Association Basketball Championship Ceremonial Resolution of 2022” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, McDuffie, Cheh, Henderson, Nadeau, Bonds, Lewis George, and Allen

4. “Friendship Technology Preparatory High School Public Charter School Athletic Association Class AA High School Basketball Championship Ceremonial Resolution of 2022.” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, Nadeau, McDuffie, R. White, Pinto, Silverman, Henderson, and Cheh

BILLS:

5. “Reimbursable Grant Disbursement to Non-Profits Act of 2022” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, and Bonds

6. “Illegal Dumping and Vehicle Abandonment Patrol and Resolution Act of 2022” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, Bonds, Lewis George, and Nadeau

7. ([link removed]) “Chief Medical Examiner Family Accountability Act of 2022” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White and Lewis George

8. “Fire Displaced Resident Rental Application Exemption Act of 2022” ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T.White and Bonds

9. Housing Assistance for School-Based Mental and Behavioral Health Providers Amendment Act of 2022 ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, Pinto, R. White, and Nadeau

10. "Wilhemina and Calvin Rolark Way Symbolic Street Designation Act of 2022" ([link removed]) - Councilmembers T. White, R. White, Henderson, McDuffie, Nadeau, Allen, Gray, Silverman, and Chairman Mendelson
PUBLIC HEARING

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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries & Youth Affairs held a Public Hearing on the following Legislation:
* B24-0554 ([link removed]) “Fairness in Use and Negotiation for All Recreational Property Act of 2021”

On March 30th, Councilmember Trayon White heard testimony from students, community leaders, advocates and government witnesses on B24-0554, "Fairness in Use and Negotiation for All Recreational Property Act of 2021".

This proposed legislation would require that before the Mayor enters into an exclusive agreement regarding the use of District-owned recreational property. The Mayor must engage the public for review and comment, submit to the Council for review and approval of all exclusive use or license agreements for District-owned recreational property that cover a period of one year or more.

"I am a big advocate for equity. These agreements must be made with considerations of District residents in mind to ensure access to these valuable public assets," stated Councilmember Trayon White.
BUDGET OVERSIGHT HEARINGS
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Thursday, March 31, 2022

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries & Youth Affairs held a Budget Oversight Hearing. The following agency testified:
* Department of Parks and Recreation

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Monday, April 4, 2022

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs held a Budget Oversight Hearing. The following agency testified:
* D.C. Public Library

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

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Tuesday, April 5, 2022

B24-0747- Medical Marijuana Patient Access Supplemental Extension and Civil Enforcement Emergency Amendment Act of 2022

Councilmember Trayon White voted no to implementing the emergency legistlation to impose civil penalties for I-71 businesses. This measure would have penalized businesses that "gift" marijuana and sell other items such as art and clothing and include a free gift of cannabis with a purchase.

The council voted 8-5 in favor of the bill, but because it was emergency legislation, it needed nine votes to advance.

On April 5th, 2022, Councilmember Trayon White voted in opposition to bill B24-0747 - Medical Marijuana Patient Access Supplemental Extension and Civil Enforcement Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 ([link removed]) .

"I appreciate the set of provisions in this bill which would lessen obstacles for medical marijuana patients by allowing for self-certification, eliminating the requirement for caregivers to submit criminal background checks to ABRA, increasing the amount of cannabis a patient may possess. However, I am deeply concerned about the provisions implementing civil penalties for I-71 businesses," stated Councilmember Trayon White.

The historic racial disparities around the cultivation, sale and use of marijuana are only further aggravated by these provisions. Many of the I-71 shops are black owned and they employ and serve the District's Black and Brown residents. These will be the residents most hurt by this bill. Instead, we should make it easier for existing I-71 businesses to obtain licenses, not slapping the owners and landlords with punitive fines and redirecting all of the District's cannabis users to the 7 ABRA-controlled medical dispensaries.

This emergency legislation does not provide business owners with enough notice and, as amended, leaves hundreds of business owners and employees out of luck and without adequate recourse.

"I am not confident that this legislation adequately considers and centers equity, and if we want to address I-71, we need to go back to the drawing board rather than pushing this through as an emergency," stated Councilmember Trayon White.
Click to read article at: [link removed]
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