June Newsletter – A Victory for Early Childhood Education
A Victory for Early Childhood Education
Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Passes! Major Wins For You
Hello neighbor, I’m excited to share with you that yesterday the Council passed the $14.5 billion fiscal year 2019 budget. I t is no secret that I’ve been very active fighting for affordable housing, education, workforce preparation, and returning citizens. While the budget funds many new and existing programs, I want to highlight a few that I…
Freedom, But Not Yet Equality – My Reflection on DC Emancipation Day
Freedom, But Not Yet Equality – My Reflection on DC Emancipation Day Each year on this day, the District of Columbia celebrates Emancipation Day, commemorating the abolition of slavery in the District on April 16, 1862. Today, as DC observes Emancipation Day, the country is reflecting on the injustice of two Black men arrested in a…
November 2017 Newsletter
Many District residents are being forced out of the city by the rising cost of living. We know that we are still losing affordable housing at a frantic pace as more people continue to move into the city and many older apartment buildings are rehabbed and turned into very expensive housing. While we are investing…
October 2017 Newsletter
Several weeks ago, I visited the DC Jail to meet with and talk to the men who were preparing for release about available city resources and to get feedback on their needs as they begin the process of coming back home. I didn’t go alone—I went with my brother, Michael, a former inmate who once…
September 2017 Newsletter
It’s hard to believe that I have been in office for a full year. September 16, 2016, seems like just a few weeks ago. That morning my wife, daughter, and some of my family and close friends gathered in the Council chamber of the John A. Wilson Building for a quick swearing in as I assumed the…
April 2017 Newsletter
The District Government has improved significantly over the years, but we still have room to grow to meet the needs of the residents we serve. I believe that strong oversight often is just as effective as new legislation, which is why oversight over our local agencies is one of the Council’s most important responsibilities.
March 2017 Newsletter
On March 1, I released my Transition Report to detail my legislative agenda. Days later, I began working to unravel the early childhood development crisis in the District. As a new father, I have been astounded by how much my infant daughter, Madison, learns each day. Watching her grow in her first months made me realize how vital the early months and years are for our children’s development, and that if we are going to cut away at the enormous academic achievement gap and meet parents’ need in the midst of a baby boom, we need to invest more in our children’s most critical learning years.
February 2017 Newsletter
The Chief Financial Officer recently released the 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which shows that the District is in its strongest ever financial state. However, we face a great risk if we do not address the growing income gap and shrinking middle class. That is why I sent a letter to Mayor Bowser asking her to include in her budget request funding for education initiatives, affordable housing, and job opportunities. This is how we bridge the gap for those who are being left behind.