The Council just finished five weeks of public hearings on the city’s fiscal year 2018 budget and now is working vigorously to finalize it. I’ve heard testimony from many of the District’s agencies, community advocates, and everyday residents about how they think the city should spend its nearly $14 billion budget. I want to share some insights into the process and the investments I’ve been fighting for.
INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT
My team and I have pored over the Mayor’s budget proposal and public testimonies, and discussed how we can best invest your tax dollars. I was committed to adding investments to my priority areas of education, affordable housing, workforce development, and returning citizens. On top of my priorities, I’ve advocated for $25 million for the arts and humanities locally, because I fear that the federal government may defund the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Education:
I’ve continued to ask questions about bridging the academic gaps between District students. Much of the economic inequality in our city today results from the educational inequity that has plagued our city for decades. Throughout the budget process, I’ve focused on programs that can close the achievement gap and provide the highest standard of education for all ages and economic backgrounds.
Becoming a father last year gave me critical first-hand exposure to the city’s urgent need to expand access to early childhood development centers for our residents. There are over 22,000 children under the age of three in the District of Columbia, but there is only enough space for one-third of those children at licensed early childhood development centers. Mayor Bowser proposed a $15.3 million investment to create 1,300 new child care slots. This is a terrific step in the right direction that I’ve worked to protect.
In addition to expanding early childhood development access, I’ve pushed for increasing the per student funding by at least 2%, enhancing special education services, a program to allow adult students to ride Metro for free while they pursue an education or job training, and for planning money for West Education Campus to begin a long-overdue modernization project. When we finally invest properly in our students, we will have a solid foundation for bridging our academic gaps.
Affordable Housing:
I know the importance of protecting affordable housing in the District. Many members of my own family are renters who were pushed out of the city by the lack of affordable housing. Skyrocketing home prices have exacerbated the underlying inequality in the District as many families face the choice between paying rent or buying food, clothing, and other necessities.
To protect the affordable housing stock in the District, I’ve fought for $125 million in funds for the Housing Production Trust Fund, which is a key tool for preserving and developing affordable housing. I’ve also fought vigorously for funding for additional staff for the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA). This investment ensures that OTA has the resources to protect the thousands of renters who call DC home.
According to Mayor Bowser’s 2017 Point-in-Time Count of People Experiencing Homelessness in the District of Columbia, there are 7,473 homeless people in the District. The total number of people experiencing homelessness decreased by 10.5% since 2016, but there is more work to be done to end homelessness in the District. I will continue to advocate for the Homeward DC Plan, which is a study that calls for significant investments in three programs: Targeted Affordable Housing, Rapid Re-Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing.
Workforce Development:
The District spends millions of dollars on workforce and adult education programs, but we have no comprehensive accounting of how each program is doing. We need an audit. Unemployment is still a real problem in the District of Columbia. While the city-wide unemployment rate is at 5.8%, that figure masks the fact that there is an unacceptably high unemployment rate of 9.2% in Ward 7 and 12% in Ward 8, and I believe the real number of unemployed people is higher than the official count. We need to find better ways to connect our residents to employment opportunities. I will continue working with Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who chairs the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, to make sure we invest wisely in our workers. I know she is focused on this.
Returning Citizen Affairs:
According to a George Washington University report published in 2015, we have approximately 67,000 returning citizens in the District of Columbia. I am concerned that this is the same demographic of residents who are being priced out of the District, except that returning citizens face an even steeper disadvantage than the average Washingtonian. Without strong, deliberate investments, returning citizens will continue facing high rates of unemployment, homelessness, and re-incarceration. So, I have been working hard to get funding for returning citizens.
The Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) is tasked with providing aid and resources to our returning citizens, but it does not have enough staff to serve them. That is why I have been advocating for funding to add two new employees as case managers to better assist returning citizens in finding housing and employment. I also have been advocating for funds to develop a strategic plan for the agency, because in order to meet the vast needs of tens of thousands of returning citizens, MORCA will need a plan for growth.
Additionally, I have been advocating for funding for the Incarceration to Incorporation Entrepreneurship Program Act of 2015. Our returning citizens face wide discrimination when searching for employment. To address this issue, this program would help returning citizens start their own businesses. The program also provides a fast-track GED program, business training, and scholarships for returning citizens to attend the University of the District of Columbia. This is a wise investment in our returning citizens that will have positive impacts across the city.
A LOOK AT LEGISLATION
Throughout the budget process, my legislative work has continued. I’ve introduced a bill to begin converting our older, under-utilized office buildings into affordable housing. I’ve also recently co-introduced legislation to provide grant funding for low-income condo and housing cooperative residents, and legislation to dedicate tax revenue to the arts and humanities. Here is a closer look at those bills.
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
Office to Affordable Housing Task Force Establishment Act of 2017
I wrote my bill to convert underutilized office buildings into affordable housing. The bill will bring building experts, advocates, and the government together to determine exactly what would be required to turn our half-empty office buildings into full apartment buildings that better serve our residents in need. I’m very excited about this bill, which I spoke about during my campaign, because I believe it could be a monumental step toward creating a significant amount of housing, quickly.
CO-INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
Human Rights Amendment Act of 2017
This bill, written by Councilmember Charles Allen, protects District residents by allowing victims of discrimination to bring civil actions in court without regard to any earlier findings of misconduct by the Office of Human Rights. This bill would give residents a more thorough sense of justice when they face workplace discrimination or harassment.
Community Impact Investment Tax Credit Act of 2017
This bill, written by Councilmember David Grosso, establishes a tax credit program for investors that invest in affordable housing development in the city. It aims to spur the creation and preservation of more affordable housing so families and individuals can flourish in the District.
Diversity in Fund Management Amendment Act of 2017
This bill, written by Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, requires the District of Columbia Retirement Board to report annually on the steps it has taken to hire diverse retirement fund managers for pension funds. This bill will help ensure that the city utilizes strong and diverse investors in an industry where minorities and women are underrepresented. I’m grateful for Councilmember McDuffie working with me on this important bill.
Common Interest Communities Remedial Funding Act of 2017
This bill, introduced by Councilmember Anita Bonds, provides grants for low-income co-ops and condos to help make repairs. The bill also helps ensure that board members at these properties receive ethics training on board conduct and management training.
Dedicated Funding for the Arts and Humanities Amendment Act of 2017
This bill, introduced by Councilmember Jack Evans, dedicates the sales tax collected from vendors at the Smithsonian Institution as well as from home playoff games played by our professional sports teams to fund the Commission on the Arts and Humanities. This dedicated funding will help provide additional grants to support the arts across the District and would help grow our creative economy.
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
My team and I work hard to maintain a presence in the community so that every resident can connect with us directly. Here are a few highlights from our community outreach over the past month:
I assisted the efforts of a six-year-old advocate named Lucas who is fighting for a bike trail and playground at the Fort Circle Park in Ward 5 near his home. He named the project “Happy Wheels.” He approached me during my campaign and asked for my help. Because the park is owned by the National Park Service (NPS), I recommended that we take the issue to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who called a meeting with NPS, Lucas, and me. Lucas is a born leader who is already doing great things for the District of Columbia. I also really admire his mom who supports him every step of the way.
I spread awareness for environmentalism during Earth Day at Johnson Middle School in Ward 8. We contributed by building mural benches to spread environmental awareness with several members of the community. This showed an example of sustainable and environmentally friendly habits.
I spoke to graduates from DC Central Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training program. This program is one of many services that the organization has established to help end the cycle of poverty for District residents. DC Central Kitchen takes our hardest to employ residents, trains them, lifts their confidence, and puts them into career track jobs. I hope we can find them a larger space so they can transform more lives.
I met with members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. during their DC Council advocacy days to learn more about their priority areas. I have great respect for Black Greek organizations, like the AKAs and the Deltas, whose work within their communities aligns with my own.
I introduced my niece, Tami, and two nephews, Michael and Matthew, to a day in my life as a Councilmember. My daughter, Madison, is a little too young for “Take Our Kids to Work Day,” so my niece and nephews were able to see what goes on in and out of the Wilson Building. Whether family members or young residents, I believe that one of my responsibilities as a city leader is to plant seeds of leadership and civic responsibility for our future leaders. I look forward to passing the torch of leadership.
HELPING RESIDENTS TO BEAUTIFY YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS
The District of Columbia is known for its beautiful avenues and sight lines, but one problem that has annoyed residents for years is unsightly double utility poles. I received a call from a concerned resident about this and he asked for my assistance getting rid of them.
My Legislative Counsel, Breanna Bledsoe, and I reached out to Pepco to find a solution. Pepco worked at record speed to develop an online resource to report double utility poles across the city.
You can learn more about the program or report a double utility pole at https://goo.gl/FraC7e.
Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember, At-Large | Council of the District of Columbia Phone: (202) 724-8174 | Fax: (202) 727-8210 | rwhite@dccouncil.us