Councilmember's Corner: Reimagining the Future of Georgia Avenue

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Councilmember's Corner: Reimagining the Future of Georgia Avenue

Georgia Ave has had its share of recent challenges. We’ve seen the pandemic take its toll on local businesses, neighbors struggle to afford the cost of rent, and buildings left vacant and blighted. Our public gathering spaces need to be more welcoming and accessible, and too often, lack of public transportation options prevent opportunities that exist here from reaching the people who need them most. 

That’s why I’m excited to announce a new initiative to lead on this critical work: Reimagining Georgia Avenue.

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Councilmember's Corner: DC programs we should all know (Copy)

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Councilmember's Corner: DC programs we should all know (Copy)

My team and I wanted to highlight some great DC programs that are already in place but go underutilized because not enough people know about them. This CM Corner article offers a ton of DC programs and services, with a brief description and link to more information. I hope it is a useful resource for you and your families as we begin spring in DC!

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Councilmember's Corner: What a new Northern Bus Barn with all electric buses means for Ward 4

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Councilmember's Corner: What a new Northern Bus Barn with all electric buses means for Ward 4

For many years now, our community has been steadily advocating for the facility to reopen without the harmful fumes of diesel buses. As recently as 2021, WMATA had committed that Northern Bus Barn would become its first all-electric bus garage with "infrastructure and equipment needed to run 100% electric vehicles."

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Councilmember's Corner: So many Halloween weekend festivities in Ward 4!

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Councilmember's Corner: So many Halloween weekend festivities in Ward 4!

As we gear up to celebrate Halloween, I wanted to share some of the many amazing Halloween events happening across our community. Chances are that you won't have to go far from home to get your frights and treats this weekend.

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Councilmember's Corner: Why I support the Dance Loft affordable housing project

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Councilmember's Corner: Why I support the Dance Loft affordable housing project

Today, DC faces a staggering affordable housing crisis. The workers who serve this city are priced out of living in most of our neighborhoods, and homeownership is a distant dream for many lifelong DC residents. The skyrocketing cost of living here is fueling our homelessness crisis, eviction crisis, foreclosure crisis, and displacement crisis.

The core DC value of being a welcoming city is undermined by housing prices that systematically push people out and keep people out.

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Where to celebrate Halloween in Ward 4! Councilmember’s Corner

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Where to celebrate Halloween in Ward 4! Councilmember’s Corner

No one goes all in on Halloween quite like Ward 4! I'm excited to see our community joyfully and safely celebrating this weekend, and for our youngest Ward 4 residents to stock up on delicious treats. Look out for me around Ward 4 in a very topical Halloween costume!

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Councilmember’s Corner: Responding to gun violence in our communities

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Councilmember’s Corner: Responding to gun violence in our communities

Our communities are reeling from the devastating gun violence that our city is experiencing. From the shootings by Nationals Park and 14th Street to the tragic killing of 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney in Southeast DC and the public safety incidents in our own neighborhoods, it’s clear that DC and Ward 4 have not been spared from the nationwide surge of gun violence. These crimes are senseless and catastrophic.

We cannot afford for this situation to continue and for more lives to be claimed by gunfire.

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Councilmember’s Corner: Hope through the vaccine 

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Councilmember’s Corner: Hope through the vaccine 

Yesterday I stepped forward to be vaccinated because I believe it’s important for me as a Black woman and as a community leader to persuade my Ward 4 neighbors to do the same through the power of my example. I also took this step so I can better serve our community. My role requires me to respond in person to emergencies, visit local businesses, and interact with constituents on a daily basis. Although I take every precaution possible by social distancing and wearing a mask, being immunized will add an extra layer of protection for all the people I encounter as your Councilmember.

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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George commits to a “people first” agenda in Ward 4

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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George commits to a “people first” agenda in Ward 4

Like many of us, newly elected Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is shaped by her environment. Her visions, aspirations and policies are a product of Ward 4, the community she grew up in. And as of January 2nd, she’s now representing her community on the DC Council, sharing Ward 4’s and Petworth’s ideals and aspirations with the rest of the city. Here’s our first interview with Janeese as the Ward 4 Councilmember.

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Councilmember’s Corner: Lemonade stands should be legal for kids

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Councilmember’s Corner: Lemonade stands should be legal for kids

I firmly believe that government should promote youth entrepreneurship. The legislation I introduced supports and encourages the entrepreneurial ambition of children across the District and will allow our future tycoons-in-the-making the opportunity to begin their enterprising path to becoming business owners.

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Councilmember's Corner: Expanding dual language immersion for all DC students

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Councilmember's Corner: Expanding dual language immersion for all DC students

All across Ward 4, from Petworth to Shepherd Park, from Chevy Chase to Riggs Park, parents tell me that they want expanded dual language immersion education options for their children. After visiting every Ward 4 school and engaging with parents, educators, and administrators, I consistently hear from families who are frustrated by long wait lists and are unable to get their children enrolled in these highly sought-after multilingual programs.

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Councilmember’s Corner: Let kids play – save parent play groups!

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Councilmember’s Corner: Let kids play – save parent play groups!

On Thursday, October 31st, the Council’s Committee on Education held a public hearing on the Parent-led Play Cooperative Amendment Act of 2018. This legislation, temporarily enacted in emergency form last month, would fully exempt parent-led play co-ops from the regulatory requirements imposed on formal child care facilities. I voiced my full and enthusiastic support for the legislation. We cannot allow this critical service for families to be regulated out of existence.

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Councilmember’s Corner: Addressing maternal mental health disorders 

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Councilmember’s Corner: Addressing maternal mental health disorders 

One significant but often overlooked component of maternal and infant well-being is mental health. According to the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, at least 20% of mothers suffer from pregnant and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.

After studying the problem more closely, I knew something had to be done. I am proud to report that legislation I introduced in 2017 to improve maternal mental healthcare has recently become official law in the District of Columbia.

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Councilmember’s Corner: Protecting immigrants from extortion

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Councilmember’s Corner: Protecting immigrants from extortion

I am making a concerted effort to double down on our sanctuary city policies and reaffirm that all people, regardless of immigration status, are welcome and worthy of protection in the District of Columbia.    

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