Born and raised in Columbia Heights, I have seen Ward 1 grow dramatically over the years.  As it continues to grow we must ensure that it remains the vibrant and diverse community that we love.  That requires housing that is affordable and livable for all our residents -- no matter their socioeconomic position. As I canvassed our neighbors it has become increasingly clear that Ward 1 needs solutions that provide more housing options while not displacing our long-time neighbors We must work to support our elderly residents’ ability to age in place and not be priced out of our neighborhoods.  Working families should be able to afford to become homeowners here in Ward 1 and not be forced to look at homes in Maryland or Virginia. Young adults should be able to afford housing in Ward 1 even on their entry level salaries.

When I am on the Council I will support tax abatements for long time homeowners and first-time home buyers so that we can maintain our neighbors and continue to support home ownership here in Ward 1.  The city forfeited 15.8 million affordable housing dollars over the last 3 years.  When I am elected we will make sure we use those dollars to build much needed affordable housing.  We must also utilize the District Opportunity to Purchase Act to fix our vacant and blighted properties and convert them into housing with paths to ownership for all our neighbors.

Safe neighborhoods are essential to building a vibrant and livable Ward 1 community.  No one should feel unsafe, anxious about their car being broken into, or worried that their packages will be stolen.  Public safety demands responsive, collaborative leadership in the DC City Council and the Metro Police Department -- leadership committed to engaging the Ward 1 community in designing practical solutions that have been proven to reduce crime and enhance neighborhoods.

Communities across the country have learned that public safety is not the sole responsibility of law enforcement. The most effective solutions are those that involve all of us -- neighbors, schools, churches, and community organizations. To forge a thriving Ward 1, I will fight for fully funding and implementing the NEAR Act (Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act of 2016), an innovative approach to public safety that focuses on providing appropriate supports and treatment to prevent crime. I will advocate for additional funding for effective youth programs like summer school and after-school programs to engage our youth in building essential skills and establishing healthy relationships. Last year DC reduced the budget for workforce development within the Department of Employment Services.  When I am your Councilmember I will fight to expand that funding.  I will also work hard to empower community leaders to serve on the Police Accountability Review Board to encourage Restorative Justice alternatives to incarceration

As your Ward 1 Councilmember, I commit to prioritizing you by providing constituent services that are responsive and results-driven. I pledge to seek your input and hear your concerns, whether in person, by phone, or online. I expect you to hold me accountable and will use data to help me track my success record in resolving your requests effectively and efficiently. Constituent Services Funds will allow me to be there when you need my help and to activate the resources necessary to address your problems. You can count on me to care, to listen, to understand, and to act.

An investment in our children is an investment in the future, an investment that we can’t afford to shortchange. Even before children enter the public and public charter school system, early childhood programs prepare youngsters to be healthy, happy learners. These early intervention opportunities are especially critical for youngsters who are homeless, in foster care, or living in deep poverty. Children with special needs must be identified early and supported effectively. As your Councilmember, I will fight to ensure early childhood programs are appropriately and fully funded.

Once they have entered the pre-K-12 system, our children deserve the very best if they are to graduate well prepared for college or the workforce. Not only must the curriculum be challenging, engaging, and relevant, but all of our teachers must be highly skilled. I will advocate for a meaningful teacher evaluation system that enhances educational outcomes for all of our students and ensures that our children are taught by exceptional educators.

As your Councilmember I commit to collaborating across agencies to review the school system’s current suspension, attendance, and truancy policies. I will also advocate for evaluation of the investment of our at-risk funding streams and the new DCPS Excellence Through Equity investment to ensure that the funding is being spent effectively as our school system works to close the achievement gaps. Our Ward 1 students and all of DC’s youngsters deserve policies and programs that improve learning and behavior while keeping children on the path toward graduation equipped to succeed in whatever postsecondary choice is right for them.  To better meet student needs, I will strongly encourage DCPS to work collaboratively with the many youth and family focused nonprofits that provide services throughout the city, determining where services overlap and where there are service voids, particularly in Ward 1.

In today’s wired world, it is also critical that DC’s children and families not be left behind. I will work closely with Connect DC to deploy free DC WiFi access for students and teachers so that all students have access to technology in their homes and are taught to use the Internet safely and productively.

Ward 1 is home to many small businesses that keep our community flourishing. It is critical to support small and local businesses through the small business property tax credit, but tax credits are not enough. Many of the small businesses in gentrifying areas of Ward 1 are owned by people of color who are at risk of getting pushed out by big chain stores or larger businesses. I will vigorously advocate for prioritizing DC residents and their businesses as well as for enforcing the District’s First Source Law which requires all beneficiaries of contractual agreements totaling $300,000 to enter into a First Source Agreement with the Department of Employment Services. The First Source agreement is an important part of the District’s strategy to reduce unemployment in the city.

We know that Washington is enjoying remarkable prosperity. Ward 1, sitting at the heart of the economic boom, has benefited tremendously from the city’s success. As visitors flock to our community by the thousands to take advantage of our culturally rich historic venues and enjoy all that our commercial corridors offer, our residents also enjoy our thriving city.  Yet, amid this abundance, we in Ward 1 face complex challenges that affect community livability.

Not all of us have been able to benefit from the expanding economy.  Throngs of neighborhood visitors often make parking difficult and bring traffic, trash, crime, and crowding to our streets.  Housing prices have gone skyward while new development can change the character of our unique neighborhoods. We need bold, creative, and assertive leadership to bring these critical issues to the City Council and to go to bat for Ward 1’s residents. I am deeply committed to identifying issues specific to Ward 1 and associated with the flourishing city. As a lifelong Ward 1 resident, I have the insight and motivation to push the Council to examine the impact of DC’s current bonanza and to rethink ways to make our Ward the most livable it can be for all our residents.