We’ve Hit the Ground Running

  • Improving Our Neighborhoods
  • Renewing Our Schools
  • Revitalizing Our Corridors
  • Investing in Our People

We’re Getting Results

  • Accessibility and Responsiveness—We’re staying connected to the residents of Ward 4—hosting town hall meetings, attending community meetings, ANC and PSA meetings.. We are listening and responding to constituent concerns every day, 24 hours a day.
  • Fighting for Resources- I’ve gotten more money for vital public safety resources, improved visitor parking in Ward 4 and introduced legislation to renew the ban on single sales of alcohol. I’ve also been successful in opening new recreation and senior citizen facilities and fought to protect our neighborhoods from non-residential uses. I’ve introduced legislation to strengthen the punishment for repeat offenders and traffic violators and improve our fire safety programs.
  • No nonsense transformation of DC Public Schools – I’ve supported the transformation of our public schools and demanded the completion of new Ward 4 elementary schools; new enhanced staffing models for Ward 4 schools, and neighborhood serving uses for our surplus schools.
  • Exciting new revitalization plans are coming to Georgia Avenue, Kennedy Street and Riggs Road. I hosted the first ever ward-wide tour of investment opportunities in Ward 4. We landed a new sit-down restaurant at the corner of Georgia  and Missouri and there is more housing for seniors and a long awaited, new grocery store on the way in Petworth and Riggs Park.

Let’s Keep Ward 4 Moving Forward…

  • By expanding opportunities for children with quality childcare, public education, secondary education and vocational opportunities,
  • By expanding Age in Place housing programs and services for Ward 4 seniors,
  • By expanding tax relief and incentives for seniors and small businesses,
  • By bringing millions of dollars in public and private investment dollars to Ward 4,
  • By bringing clean and safe “Business Improvement District” services to Ward 4,
  • By demanding accountability at every level of government.

Working for Ward 4 Everyday…

  • We've attended over 1,800 community meetings and responded to thousands of emails and calls since taking office in May 2007.
  • We’ve visited all Ward 4 public schools to make sure that they were ready for opening day.
  • We’ve hosted town hall meetings on crime in Petworth and Takoma; a town hall meeting on education; a Ward 4 is Open for Business Roundtable; a tour of revitalization opportunities in our commercial corridors of Ward 4; hosted monthly Ward 4 Education Compact meetings and hosted two all ANC Commissioners-Civic Association President’s meetings.
  • We’ve celebrated the Grand Openings of Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, Jefferson Condo’s, Longfellow Condominiums, Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center, Georgia Avenue’s Meridian Restaurant, Coolidge and Roosevelt High School new state of the art football field and tracks.
  • We celebrated the groundbreaking at the Residences At Georgia Avenue, which will feature affordable housing and a new Yes! Organic market.
  • We’ve secured $300,000 for Riggs Park Air Quality Study.
  • We’ve secured an additional $200,000 for Rebuilding the Village Youth Investment programs in Petworth.
  • We’ve secured funding for more crime cameras in Petworth and Brightwood, and shot spotter technology throughout MPD’s Fourth District, in addition to gang prevention efforts.
  • We’ve secured $300,000 for Business Improvement District services in Ward 4.
  • We’ve secured $75,000 for comprehensive planning for Upshur Park Recreation Center.
  • We’ve secured $50,000 for a comprehensive marketing campaign for Georgia Avenue.
  • We’ve secured $20,000 in regional funding for Multimodal Takoma! – a study of transportation options around the Takoma Metro Station.
  • We launched the new Coolidge High School Health Suite.
  • We facilitated DC government’s purchase of a long-blighted property on 14th Street in Brightwood to be converted to attractive and affordable housing.

We launched the DDOT Visitor Parking Pilot Program in Ward 4—This has eased parking pressures in Ward 4.

  • We announced the revitalization of two vacant store front spaces in Petworth to bring quality retail to Ward 4 (let’s get square feet from RFP).
  • We’ve secured $10 million for neighborhood tax increment financing (TIF) for the Georgia Avenue corridor in Petworth. TIF is a tool the government uses to pledge a portion of the anticipated increase in real property and sales tax revenue from a new development project as repayment for bonds used to finance projects.

Legislative Highlights

I am pleased to have supported dozens of measures that affect our quality of life in the District of Columbia, I’ve highlighted a few:

  • I introduced legislation to name the new Kennedy Senior Wellness Center, located in the old Kennedy Theater at 324 Kennedy Street, NW, the Hattie G. Holmes Senior Wellness Center.
  • I introduced the Pesticide Consumer Notification Amendment Act of 2007 to protect residents from the harmful effects of pesticides.
  • I introduced the Fairness in Foreclosure Act of 2008 to enact a new mortgage law for the District of Columbia which will create a foreclosure process that is fair, and inclusive for all affected persons.
  • I introduced the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Program Amendment Act of 2008 to require the Mayor to develop an annual program to educate, test and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and batteries in the homes of District residents without working detectors.
  • I introduced the Rebuttable Presumption to Detain Juvenile Repeat Offenders Act of 2008 which will allow the immediate detainment of all repeat juvenile offenders who have previously been adjudicated for certain violent crimes.
  • I introduced the Senior Citizens Housing Modernization Grant Fund Act of 2008 which will authorize the Mayor to make grants available for home repairs to qualified senior citizens who live in an area affected by a new planned unit development.
  • The Payday Loan Consumer Protection Act of 2007 will require payday loan companies to adhere to a 24% cap on the annual percentage rate charged on a loan. This is a victory for Ward 4 residents and I hope will prevent them from being taken advantage of by unregulated loaning practices.
  • Taxi Cab Hybrid Technology Vehicle Expansion Act of 2007 will provide for a $2,000 one-time tax credit for the purchase of a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle to be used as a licensed taxicab in the District of Columbia.
  • Special Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 will require a detailed plan for the re-evaluation of all individualized education plans for the students in the District of Columbia public and charter schools classified as being in need of special education services.
  • Section 8 Preservation Act of 2007 will protect the availability of publicly-assisted affordable rental housing, including Section 8 housing, for low-income, very low-income, and extremely low-income households.
  • Fire Hydrant Inspection, Repair, Maintenance and Fire Preparedness Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2007 will require the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) and DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) to work together to remedy the problems with hydrants and water pressure.
  • Bicycle Commuter and Parking Expansion Act of 2007 will provide for the accommodation of additional bicycle racks in public space including in new condo and apartment buildings.
  • Compliance and Enforcement Agency Establishment Act of 2007 will establish a Compliance and Enforcement Agency within the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development related to real estate development transactions.
  • Georgia Commons Real Property Tax Exemption and Abatement Act of 2007 will support a mixed-income residential and retail project with approximately 130 affordable multi-family rental apartments on Georgia Avenue.
  • Mandatory Pre-Kindergarten for ALL DC Amendment Act of 2007 will establish a voluntary, high quality pre-K program to ensure that all 3 and 4 year olds have an opportunity to participate in high quality pre-kindergarten programs.
  • Pedestrian Safety Reinforcement Amendment Act of 2007 will increase the fine to $500 for motorists who do not yield the right of way to pedestrians.
  • Juvenile Speedy Trial Equity Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2007 will improve public safety by requiring fact finding hearings to be conducted not less than 30 days after a juvenile is ordered into secure detention or ordered into shelter care.
  • Public Education Personnel Reform Amendment Act of 2007 will allow the Chancellor to reform the central administration to better serve our children.