On Thursday, February 16th, over 100 people sat in a fully packed room at THEARC Blackbox to share ideas, concerns, and issues regarding the upcoming FY 24 budget allocation. Many others joined and watched the conversation via FaceBook and Instagram.
The budget conversation was hosted by Councilmember Trayon White and in attendance were: Scott Kratz (Sr. Vice President, Building Bridges Across the River); Phil Mendelson (Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia); Jennifer "Jenny" Reed (Director, Office of Budget and Performance Management (EOM)); and Averil Carraway (Senior Budget Analyst Council of the District of Columbia).
Several issues were raised during the conversation, including, but not limited, to the proposed budget cuts in Ward 8 schools; substance abuse and the lack of a facility for drug users to use in peace; the needs for more baseball fields and renovation of recreation centers; high college tuition costs and how students are feeling discouraged due to the lack funding for scholarships; and the desire for more funding to enable nonprofits to hire kids that live in the community.
Councilmember White concluded the conversation by encouraging those present to join him again on March 15th @ 6:30 p.m. for a follow-up virtual session. In this session, Councilmember White, in partnership with the Ward Eight Democrats, Inc., will hold a budget preparation/planning session. If you are interested or need assistance with preparing written or verbal testimony for the upcoming budget hearings, please contact Wanda Lockridge, Chief of Staff, at [email protected].
Trayon White, Sr.
Councilmember, Ward 8
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During Black History Month 2023, DC Public Library is lifting up those who have left their mark, using their words and actions to resist the oppression of the Black community. Throughout the month the library is hosting a series of events that will explore resistance movements locally, across the nation, internationally and most importantly, our individual relationship to resistance. How can you embody resistance to make positive change in your community? Upcoming events include:
For more information on resources, exhibits, and recommended reads for Black History Month, please visit our website.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 1, 2023 CONTACT:
Dr. Turnesha Fish – 202-294-1061; [email protected]
(Washington, DC)—The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for entities to provide intensive mentoring, career readiness and social development training, curriculum development, and family support services to at-risk youth ages 10-14. DYRS seeks a community-based organization to provide rigorous, effective, appropriate supports and services for youth and their families at the DYRS campus in Laurel, Maryland, and in communities District-wide. The funding available for the project is up to $500,000 for an 18-month period beginning March 2023.
All applicants should be in alignment with the DYRS vision – to provide the nation’s best continuum of care for court-involved and at-risk youth and their families through a wide range of programs that emphasize individual strengths, personal accountability, public safety, skill development, family involvement, and community support.
The complete Request for Applications (RFA) and all eligibility information can be found on DYRS’s website at https://dyrs.dc.gov/page/current-funding-opportunities. The deadline for all submissions is February 24, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. Applications must be submitted by email to [email protected].
Eligibility: All the institution types listed below may apply for this grant.
-Nonprofit organizations, including those with IRS 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) determinations
-Faith-based organizations
-Government agencies
-Universities/educational institutions
-Private Enterprises
For additional information regarding this RFA, write to: [email protected].
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ABOUT DYRS: The District of Columbia’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) is the District’s juvenile justice agency. DYRS improves public safety by allowing court-involved youth to become more productive citizens by building on the youths’ and families’ strengths in the least restrictive, most homelike environment consistent with public safety. DYRS seeks to incorporate best practices and promising approaches to creating the nation's best strength-based, data-driven juvenile justice agency.
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(OTR NOTICE: 2023-01): The District of Columbia Council has passed legislation increasing the sales and use tax rate on the gross receipts from the sale of or charges for any room or rooms, lodgings, or accommodations furnished to a transient by any hotel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, or any other place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are regularly furnished in the District. See Tourism Recovery Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 2022, approved on December 27, 2022 (A24-0703).
The total sales and use tax rate imposed on such gross receipts is increased from 14.95 percent to 15.95 percent during the time period of April 1, 2023, through March 30, 2027.
(Note: For bookings that were made before April 1, 2023, but were not fully paid by that date, the rate that applies to payments received on or after April 1, 2023, will be 15.95 percent. For bookings that were both made before and paid in full before April 1, 2023, the rate will remain 14.95 percent, even if the transient accommodation is furnished on or after April 1, 2023.)
For additional information, please contact OTR’s Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (4829).
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Stay ready, so you don't have to get ready! DPR will be opening spring program registration on March 1, so now is a great time to make sure your DPR Account is up-to-date.
DPR offers programming at reduced rates to qualiftying DC residents. New this year, sign up once and receive reduced rates on all DPR programs for all of 2023.
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Emmitt Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See is a touring exhibition recommended for visitors ages 10 and up that shares the story of how a mother's bravery and fight for justice more than six decades ago fueled the civil rights movement in America. It provides a framework for people and communities committed to racial healing. The exhibition will be at the Martin Luther King Jr., Library through March 12th.
For more information, visit https://www.dclibrary.org/lettheworldsee
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Black History Celebration: Achievement Preparatory Academy
On Thursday, February 16th, Councilmember White celebrated Black History Month with the students and faculty at the Achievement Preparatory Academy. He enjoyed listening and learning from the students about their knowledge of some of our most historic events and black accomplishments.
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Ward Eight Budget Conversation
On Thursday, February 16th, over 100 people attended in a fully packed room at THEARC Blackbox to share ideas, concerns, and issues regarding the upcoming FY 24 budget allocation. Many others joined and watched the conversation by way of FaceBook and Instagram.
The budget conversation was hosted by Councilmember Trayon White and in attendance were: Scott Kratz (Sr. Vice President, Building Bridges Across the River); Phil Mendelson (Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia); Jennifer "Jenny" Reed (Director, Office of Budget and Performance Management (EOM)); and Averil Carraway (Senior Budget Analyst Council of the District of Columbia).
Several issues were raised during the conversation, including, but not limited to the proposed budget cuts in Ward 8 schools; substance abuse and a facility for drug users to use in peace; baseball fields and the need to renovate recreation centers; college tuition and how students are feeling discouraged due to the lack funding for scholarships, and funding for nonprofits to hire kids that live in the community.
Councilmember White concluded the conversation by encouraging those present to join him on March 15th @ 6:30 p.m. for a follow-up session. In this session, Councilmember White in partnership with the Ward Eight Democrats, Inc. will hold a budget preparation/planning session. If you are interested or need assistance with preparing written or verbal testimony for the upcoming budget hearings, please contact Wanda Lockridge, Chief of Staff, [email protected].
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Congratulations Bard!
On Saturday, February 18th, Bard HS Early College DC defeated McKinley Technology HS, 54-44, to win the DCIAA boys basketball championship on Saturday.
In its first year at its new location in Ward 8, Bard won the first city title in school history and the first title for head coach Malcolm Battle.
It took three straight upsets for the fifth-seeded Falcons to win the trophy. During the playoffs, Bard defeated fourth-seeded Anacostia, 69-68, and then top-seeded Jackson-Reed (formerly Wilson), 71-65, before knocking off third-seeded McKinley Tech.
Bard will now wait for their seeding for the DCSAA playoffs.
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Legislative Happenings
This short work week began with a Committee of the Whole (commonly called the COW) meeting. On Tuesday, February 21st, the Committee of the Whole held a markup hearing and voted on two bills introduced by Councilmember White. Bill 25-7, the “Marion Barry Avenue Designation Act of 2023” and Bill 26-62, the “Dedication of a Portion of W Street, SE, S.O. 16-24322 Act of 2023” passed unanimously.
The “Marion Barry Avenue Designation Act of 2023” would officially designate Good Hope Road S.E. in Ward 7 and Ward 8 as Marion Barry Avenue, S.E.
The “Dedication of a Portion of W Street, SE, S.O. 16-24322 Act of 2023” would order the widening of a portion of W Street, S.E., between Railroad Avenue, S.E. to the northwest and Shannon Place, S.E. to the southeast; add a parking lane on each side of W Street, S.E., widen the street travel lane, and increase the pedestrian sidewalk area.
Councilmember White is thrilled to have the support of all of his fellow Councilmembers and Chairman Mendelson on these measures. Next, the bills will be placed on the agenda for the upcoming legislative meeting, and if passed on two separate readings, will become law.
This week, the Council continues to conduct performance oversight hearings. Among the Committees that Councilmember White sits on, notable agencies testifying this week include the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Department of Health Care Finance, the Office of Contracting and Procurement, the Contract Appeals Board, the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, the Not-for-Profit Hospital Corporation (United Medical Center), the Office of Zoning, the Office of Planning, and a continuation of the Committee of the Whole hearing on FY24 DCPS School Budgets. Also, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will also have its performance oversight hearing this week (Councilmember White is not on that Committee), and we hope that anyone with questions regarding public safety will tune in.
On February 16th, the Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs (RLYA) staff participated in a budget conversation with Ward 8 stakeholders to discuss priorities. Already RLYA staff has received budget appeals from DC residents requesting facilities to accommodate Pickle Ball, renovating recreation centers and libraries, and providing programs to support entrepreneurship and small businesses.
On Tuesday, February 21st, as the Chair of the Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. wrote a letter to Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan in support of his Ward 4 colleague, Janeese Lewis George, and her push to find a two-library solution in Ward 4. The current six-year capital budget (FY23-28) includes $25 million for a “New 4A Library” to replace the Juanita E. Thornton Shepherd Park Library. The budget says the new library project will “address service gaps for Brightwood Park/Manor Park communities and serve more Ward 4 residents.” This follows DCPL’s “Next Libris” master facilities plan, published in 2020 which identified Brightwood Park/Manor Park as suffering from a service gap of library services, with the closest facilities one mile away. Further, the report said “this area has a high concentration of individuals with low education attainment, children ages birth to 9 and single parent households. Additionally, there are a lot of individuals living in the area who do not currently use the library and have the potential to become customers.”
On Thursday, February 23rd, RLYA will hold a Performance Oversight Hearing for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Over 86 public witnesses are expected to offer testimony. In preparation, RLYA is reviewing testimony from the DPR Director Delano Hunter. In addition, the team is reviewing a minimum of 150 questions from residents to ensure a thorough round of questioning. Furthermore, Councilmember Vincent Gray of Ward 7 is expected to attend.
On Friday, February 24th, RLYA staff will meet with Sela Public Charter School about a new playground.
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Calendar of Events: Week of February 23rd - March 3rd
