Category Archives: Council

DC Council Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

The DC Council has begun performance oversight hearings for District government agencies. This is a good opportunity to let the Council know both the good and the bad with respect to agencies and offer suggestions for improvement. The schedule is available at https://dccouncil.us/2021-2022-performance-oversight-fy-2023-budget-schedules. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the hearing notice to find out how to testify live or submit written testimony for each committee.

As an aside, I sometimes question the extent to which Council staffers actually read written testimony that is not accompanied by oral testimony. A couple of months ago, there was some discussion about the extent to which having virtual hearings during the pandemic increased public participation. It is nice having virtual hearing options. What would also be nice and a means to facilitating public participation is making sure the Council reads written testimony that is submitted for the record. It is probably easier to pay attention to oral testimony, especially when it comes from repeat players and questions can be asked. But I also think well done written testimony can be really valuable if people pay attention to it. And also, while it does take time to write, one can do so without having to take leave from work, unlike with live testimony.

In any case, go ahead and check out the performance oversight schedule and comment to your heart’s delight.

Reminder: Complete Budget Surveys

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Seems like it is survey season. Please take a moment to complete Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Ward 5 budget survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/McDuffie. Complete this survey by noon on February 19.

Also, please take a moment to complete Mayor Muriel Bowser’s budget survey at budget.dc.gov.

This is the time to request that specific neighborhood items and other items you believe are a priority be funded.

Upcoming Council Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Have thoughts about how DDOT is doing? Want to give praise to DCPL? DC Council agency performance oversight hearings are coming up. Instructions on how to participate or submit testimony are at the end of the public hearing notice.

In addition, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is asking residents for input regarding the oversight hearings. Councilmember Lewis George sits on the Committee on Human Services; Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs; Committee on Labor and Workforce Development; and the Committee on Transportation and the Environment. Share your input via this google form and be as detailed as possible.

New Ward 4 Councilmember Staff Contacts

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Saff contact information for Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is now available on the Council’s website.

Lenace Edwards
Chief of Staff
Email: ledwards@dccouncil.us

Tamira Benitez
Constituent Services Coordinator
Email: tbenitez@dccouncil.us

Alexandros Taliadoros
Communications Director
Email: ataliadoros@dccouncil.us

Matthew Landrieu
Constituent Services Coordinator
Email: mlandrieu@dccouncil.us

Katherine Eyster
Legislative Director
Email: keyster@dccouncil.us

Will Perkins
Senior Policy Advisor
Email: wperkins@dccouncil.us

August 8: CM McDuffie Office Hours at Lamond-Riggs Library-CANCELLED

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has published office hours for the month of August. He will be at Lamond-Riggs Library on August 8 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Mon, Aug 7 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM Starbucks Edgewood/Brookland 655 Michigan Ave NE
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Joe Cole Rec Center 1299 Neal Street NE
Tues, Aug 8 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Ward 5 Day:
National Building Museum		 401 F Street NW
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Lamond Riggs Library 5401 South Dakota Ave NE
Wed, Aug 9 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM MGM Roast Beef 905 Brentwood Road NE
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Starbucks
Dakota Crossing/Fort Lincoln		 2430 Market Street NE

July 31: Farewell event for Councilmember McDuffie’s Chief of Staff

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Chief of Staff Jeanette Mobley is retiring. Mrs. Mobley has worked tremendously to address concerns of our neighborhood. A farewell event will be held on July 31 at 6:30 pm at Busboys and Poets (Brookland).

 

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July 25, 2015  •  John A Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 506 (202) 724-8028

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KM Banner

The Ward 5 Report

Dear Resident,

Over three years ago I had the distinct honor and pleasure of beginning my role as Councilmember in service to you.  At my side then was one of the most respected women in Ward 5, Jeannette Mobley.  Jeannette, who now serves as my Chief of Staff, promised me a year, or maybe two, just long enough for me to “get my feet wet.”  Now the time has come, and Jeannette has decided to retire.

Though Jeannette certainly can never be replaced, I am confident my staff will do its best to continue the work that Jeannette has started.  In the meantime, I would like to invite you to bid a fond farewell to Jeannette this Friday, July 31, 6:30 pm at Busboys and Poets 625 Monroe St., NE.

Ward 4 Council Special Election

Posted by nextstoprp in Council, Ward 4 and tagged with ,

On April 28, 2015, Ward 4 residents will elect a new councilmember in a special election. As of February 6, slightly more than a dozen candidates are listed on the DC Board of Elections’ website. February 9 marked the end of the challenge period to petitions submitted by candidates to appear on the ballot. One challenge to candidate Brandon Todd’s petitions was submitted.  The DC Board of Elections has until March 2 to decide the validity of the challenge.

A Petworth resident has set up a “Ward 4 Candidates Information” website that is not affiliated with any particular campaign. There you can find information submitted by the candidates as well as a calendar of events related to the election, such as meet and greets and forums.  You can also submit questions that you would like the candidates to answer.

Save the Date for March 2:  The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association plans to hold a candidate forum with all of the candidates at the LaSalle-Backus Education Campus.

 

Washington City Paper sponsoring at-large debate April 15

Posted by nextstoprp in Council and tagged with ,

Washington City Paper is sponsoring a debate for the vacant at-large city council seat at Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW) on Monday, April 15, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm.  Send questions to lldebate@washingtoncitypaper.com or tweet them using hashtag #LooseLips between now and April 15.  The moderators will be Loose Lips reporter Alan Suderman, NBC4’s Tom Sherwood, and Washington Examiner columnist Jonetta Rose Barras.  The special election takes place April 23.

Ward 5 budget townhall April 10 & Lamond Riggs neighborhood library

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten, Council, Lamond Riggs Library and tagged with , , ,

Mayor Gray will host a budget townhall with a focus on Ward 5 on April 10, 2013 at Luke C. Moore Academy (1001 Monroe St. NE) at 6:30 pm.  In his press release on the mayor’s budget, Councilmember McDuffie said that he would like to see money allocated for the modernization of Lamond Riggs library.  The mayor’s proposed budget does not include any money for modernizing Lamond Riggs library, but it does provide money so that all DC public libraries will be open 7 days per week.

Updated  3/29/2013

The mayor’s proposed FY 2014 budget includes a line item for renovating the Lamond Riggs library (pdf), with full funding estimated at over $18 million.  It notes that the library is 45 years old and is energy inefficient.  The spec calls for the library to be substantially renovated “to create a new 21st century state-of-the-art LEED Silver Rated vacility.”  The budget includes zero FY 2014 funding for renovating the library, but includes proposed funding for FY 2015 & FY 2016.  It notes that Cafritz’s development (Art Place at Fort Totten) includes a spec in a (much) later phase to build a new library for the neighborhood as part of the Art Place development.  The document states DCPL is still involved in discussions with Cafritz about this.  An older budget timeline projected that the design for a renovated library would be completed by October 2011, with construction starting in Jan 2012 and completed by June 2018.  Of course none of those milestones was met and it’s unclear at this point if Cafritz’s proposal is the reason for the delay.

March 27: Candidate forum for at-large city council seat

Posted by nextstoprp in Council and tagged with

A special election for the vacant at-large city council seat and a vote on a DC Charter Amendment for budget autonomy will be held on April 23, 2013.  The DC Federation of Civic Association is sponsoring a candidate forum on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 6:30 pm, at Eastern Senior High School (1700 East Capitol St. NE).  WJLA news reporter Sam Ford will moderate.

Shuffling in council committee leadership and council staff

Posted by nextstoprp in Council and tagged with

Chairman Phil Mendelson announced new committee assignments today.  Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) will chair the economic development committee.  Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) will chair government operations.  He will also sit on the economic development committee along with new councilmember Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), and Vincent Orange (D-At Large).  That means the economic development committee will have 3 councilmembers who reside in Ward 5.  Pending council vote, Councilmember McDuffie will also be chairman pro tempore.

Education now is a standalone committee, chaired by David Catania (I-At Large).  Committee of the whole retains oversight of UDC and UDC-CC.

In other news for Councilmember McDuffie, he has a new chief of staff.  Jeannette Mobley moves to the slot from her position as constituent services director after the departure of Corey Arnez Griffin.