The Ward 5 Report: Office of Councilmember Kenyan R.

McDuffie March 8, 2013

Hello Ward 5, On February 26, 2013, Department of General Services (DGS), District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), held a meeting in the community to discuss the design of the new Brookland Middle School. Like many of you, I was dismayed to learn of the new concept proposed by DGS to co-locate the new Brookland Middle School with the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center without community input. As a result of this, I convened a meeting this week with the directors of DGS, DCPS, and DPR, along with members of the Ward 5 Council on Education and the Brookland School Improvement Team (SIT). In the meeting, we discussed the lack of communication regarding the manner in which DGS presented the new concept to the community without input. DGS ensured me that the co-location concept needed, and would have, more public scrutiny and that all previous site plans are still on the table. More importantly, all three agencies committed to better engaging the community and make the process more transparent going forward. I appreciate the feedback many of you have provided my office on this issue and look forward to continuing to work with DGS, DCPS, DPR, and all Ward 5 residents on plan that we can all support and be proud of. Our Ward 5 students need, and deserve nothing short of, a new, high quality middle school. Best,

Ward 5 Highlights: Councilmember McDuffie Teams Up To Address The State of the District's Poverty On March 5, Councilmember McDuffie joined members of the Human Services Committee and the Fair Budget Coalition to discuss the State of the Districts Poverty: Whats the Story Behind the 600 Kids at DC General? There is a disconnect between the Washington of luxury and power and the Washington of entrenched poverty, said Councilmember McDuffie. Too many who want to call Washington home cant afford to live here. Its absolutely vital that community activists, advocates, and members of the Council work together on a number of fronts in order to make a dent in poverty. Advocates and member of the public shared data and personal

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testimony with the goal of shedding light on poverty in the District. The Fair Budget Coalition also released Recommendations for FY 2014. For more information, click here.

Councilmember McDuffie Host Town Hall Meeting on Flood Hazard Protection On March 5, Councilmember McDuffie hosted a community town hall with DC Insurance Federation, Councilmember Jim Graham (D Ward 1) Councilmember Vincent Orange (D At-Large), Councilmember, the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB), and others to provide information on flood and homeowners insurance. The forum was designed to educate residents, in advance of the summer season, as to why their homeowners policy is not flood insurance and what resources are available to them from flooding hazards. For more information on flood insurance and flood hazard protection, visit http://disb.dc.gov/. Legislative Updates: The Council Passes Several Key Bills Introduced by Councilmember McDuffie During this weeks legislative meeting, the Council passed several temporary bills introduced by Councilmember McDuffie relating to the powers of the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA), DC Hatch Act, and refinements to the medical marijuana laws. The Board of Ethics and Government Accountability Temporary Amendment Act of 2013 temporary legislation expands the powers of the Ethics Board. This bill clarifies that the Ethics Board can issue advisory opinions upon its own initiative and expands the range of penalties available to the Ethics Board to address violations of the Districts Code of Official Conduct. The Prohibition on Government Employee Engagement in Political Activity Temporary Amendment Act of 2013 harmonizes the Districts local Hatch Act with federal legislation. The bill clarifies the role District government employees can take in elections and political campaigns.

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Additionally, the Council passed the Medical Marijuana Cultivation Center and Dispensary Location Restriction Temporary Amendment Act of 2013 to limit the number of medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries that may locate in a ward. This bill is identical to the permanent bill introduced by Councilmember McDuffie in January. Hearing on Medical Marijuana Cultivation Center and Dispensary Location Restriction Amendment Act of 2013 On March 20, the Committee on Health is holding a public hearing on Councilmember McDuffies Bill 20-30 the Medical Marijuana Cultivation Center and Dispensary Location Restriction Amendment Act of 2013. This public hearing will be held in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW at 1:00 p.m. The bill allows for five medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the city, which the Mayor may increase to eight and calls for a limit of no more than two dispensaries per ward. In addition, the bill sets further limitation of no more than one dispensary in a ward where there are five cultivations centers registered to operate, and no more than six cultivation centers per ward. Councilmember McDuffie would like residents from Ward 5 to testify in person or submit written testimony. Residents interested in testifying should contact Ronald King at the Committee on Health at rking@dccouncil.us or 202-741-0909. Please also inform Councilmember McDuffies staff that you plan to testify by contacting Stephanie Liotta Atkinson at satkinson@dccouncil.us or 202-724-8918.

Announcements DC State Board Of Education to Hold Working Session on Graduation Requirements The District of Columbia State Board of Education (DCSBOE) will hold a working session to discuss revisions to the proposed high school graduation requirements. The working session will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. at 441 4th Street NW, Room 1114. While working sessions are open to the public, individuals and representatives of organizations are not permitted to speak or participate. However, individuals and representatives of organizations may submit written testimony for consideration by the Board. Written testimony may also be submitted by email at sboe@dc.gov.

DC Office of Tax and Revenue Offers FREE Tax Assistance for Individual Income, Business and Real Property Taxes The DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) is making your filing season less taxing. Throughout March, OTR staff will be in communities across the city offering a full range of tax services for Individual Income, Business and Real Property taxes. This service is open to any District resident. OTR will offer tax services at the Lamond-Riggs Library, located 5401 South Dakota Ave., NE on Tuesday, March 26 from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

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**Ward 5 Events: Councilmember McDuffie, or a member of his staff, will attend the following events: Tuesday, March 12 The Arboretum Neighborhood Association meeting will take place at the Arboretum Community Center, located at 2412 Rand Place, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 The Queens Chapel Civic Association meeting will take place at the Union Wesley AME Zion Church located at 1860 Michigan Ave, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 ANC 5D will hold its monthly meeting at the 5th District Police Station, located at 1805 Bladensburg Road, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 ANC 5B01 and PSA 503 will hold its monthly meeting at the Hospital for Sick Children, located at 18th and Bunker Hill Road, NE, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14 The Woodridge South Community Association meeting will take place at the New Canaan Baptist Church, located at 2826 Bladensburg Rd, NE, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 18 The Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting will take place at St. Georges Episcopal Church, located at 160 U Street, NW, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 The Ward 5 Council on Education meeting will take place at the Lamond-Riggs Library, located at 5401 South Dakota Ave, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 ANC 5E will hold its monthly meeting at the Summit, located at 116 T Street, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 ANC 5B will hold its monthly meeting at the ANC 5B Office, located at 1322 Irving Street, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 ANC 5C will hold its monthly meeting at the 5th District Police Station, located at 1805 Bladensburg Road, NE, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 ANC 5A will hold its monthly meeting at the Potomac Lighthouse PCS, located at 4401 8th Street, NE, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ** Councilmember McDuffies public schedule is subject to change.

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For more information, please follow Councilmember facebook.com/KenyanRMcDuffie or contact our office at (202) 724-8028. McDuffie at twitter.com/CM_McDuffie,