COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING

1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004

VINCENT C. GRAY Committee Member:

Ward 7 Councilmember Business and Economic Development
Chair, Committee on Health Judiciary and Public Safety
Co-chair, Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery

March 12, 2022

The Honorable Muriel E. Bowser

Mayor of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Dear Mayor Bowser:

I am writing to request that a series of citywide initiatives and important Ward 7 investments be
included in your proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

We have spent nearly two and a half years in a pandemic and while the rate of transmission and
hospitalizations is lessening the impact of COVID-19 on the District as a whole, the effects of the
virus in wards 7 and 8 are still keenly felt. Wards 7 and 8 still have the lowest vaccination rates,
more cases and sadly more deaths than other wards in the District. You and your team are to be
commended for the investments you made in last year’s budget for projects addressing health
specifically for the Ward 7 community such as two grocery stores, two urgent care centers, and
especially the groundbreaking of the Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center. Unfortunately, more is
needed to not only reverse generations of historic inequity but to also build the workforce
necessary to create healthier communities, care for our growing senior population, and create good
jobs for District residents for every role in our health care continuum.

The Office the Chief Financial Officer revised local revue estimates on September 30, 2021,
upward by $1.1 billion for fiscal years 2021-2025. We also still have the benefit of federal dollars
that the District can use to strengthen our communities, create jobs that will allow families to bring
home a decent living wage and address the wealth gap between black and white residents. I believe
these are goals we share. I strongly urge you to consider each of following Ward 7 and citywide
health and workforce initiatives for funding as our opportunity to address generational health
inequity, systemic wealth gaps, and create a strong healthcare workforce which will make the
District stronger than we were before the pandemic.

I. Continuing to address health inequity

I have identified the following health initiatives which will address health inequity, improve our
healthcare workforce, and close the wealth gap between black and white households.
 A. Ending food deserts in Wards 7 and 8

One of my priorities as the Ward 7 Councilmember has been to address the food deserts in Wards
7 and 8 to ensure that people on the East End of the District have access to full-service grocery
stores and healthy foods in their neighborhoods. Having ready access to healthy foods is key to
keeping a community healthy.

During this pandemic, we saw the connection between the higher incidents of COVID-19 cases
among African American residents who have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
I was pleased to work with you to bring two grocery stores to Ward 7 and replace a third that is
closing. I urge you to continue that work and use the undesignated end of year surplus for pay-as-
you-go capital funding allocated through Bill 22-207, the “East End Grocery Incentive Act of
2018,” which I introduced, to fund seven more grocery store projects that have been identified
which will help create healthier communities, spur economic growth, and end food deserts in
wards 7 and 8.

B. Continuing reforms to the DC Healthcare Alliance

Ensuring there are no barriers to healthcare services is a goal we share. I was pleased that you
directed your agencies to halt the termination of residents from the DC Healthcare Alliance
program, our locally funded health insurance program, during the pandemic. Ensuring that all
District residents have access to healthcare goes a long way in the fight to end COVID-19 and stay
healthy. I appreciate your policy last year to not terminate a person’s insurance while their
application for re-certification to the Alliance was pending, and the more recent proposal in PR-
24 582, the “Health Care Safety Net Administration Rulemaking Approval Resolution of 2022,”
which will end the requirement for in-person interviews as part of the application or recertification
process and have rules to tract like those in Medicaid. However, the rule to end in-person
interviews is valid only until October 1, 2022. I strongly urge you to permanently end the in-
person requirement for in-person or face-to-face interviews in your budget.

C. Further investment for Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center

I am thrilled that we recently broke ground on the Cedar Hill Medical Center, GW Health at the
St. Elizabeths campus. This new community hospital will mean a lot for improving the health of
residents in Wards 7 and 8 as it will serve as not just a hospital, but as the anchor of a larger
comprehensive and integrated health care system. Part of that equation must be that we build this
hospital to a size that will accommodate the needs of a growing East End community. For the last
few years, we settled on a hospital with 136 beds with the capacity to grow to 196 beds. This
hospital was also assumed to include beds to accommodate residents who must be involuntarily
committed for psychiatric evaluation. Last fall, in a hearing before the State Health Planning and
Development Agency, the plans revealed the hospital would not include beds for involuntarily
psychiatric commitments.

We agree that we do not need a hospital that is too big, however, we also need a hospital that has
the space to meet the needs of its patients from day one and increase if need grows.

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The best time to build space to accommodate beds for these patients is while the entire hospital is
being built. I strongly urge you to include the necessary capital funds to accommodate those beds
now.

D. Additional support for the School-Based Behavioral Health (SBBH) program

The pandemic has exasperated the mental trauma that many District children were already facing.
This is especially true for the District’s African American children, who, on top of the isolation of
a global pandemic, also must grapple with the effects of economic uncertainty and unstable
housing caused by the pandemic, food insecurity, more violent crime in their neighborhoods and
the effects COVID-19 will or has had on their family circle. The need for mental health
professionals to be available for our students at their schools is vital to truly heal the trauma
experienced by our younger residents and give them a chance to succeed.

The SBBH program is chronically underfunded and in desperate need of long-term stabilization.
The current grant amount does not meet the needs of students or community-based providers in
the pandemic climate, which undermines the success of the program. The grant funding the
program was originally created in 2016 and was based on projections that drastically
underestimated its needs. The current funding provides $70,344 per year for each school which
has been insufficient to cover the costs of the program. For the last two years, the District has used
one-time funding supplements to stabilize the community-based organization grant program and
address the financial strain of the pandemic on providers. These supplements should be made
permanent, and the community-based organization grant amount should also cover the inflationary
cost increases over the next three years while a cost study is conducted. Each of the 251 schools
in the program will require roughly $80,000 which is $9,656 more per school than is currently
budgeted for. Covering this budget shortfall will, therefore, cost roughly $2.42 million for FY23.
I ask that you include the $2.4 million additional recurring local dollars for this program in your
budget. By providing this additional recurring funding the District can build a workforce pipeline,
expand information sharing and family engagement efforts and provide for the most effective
school-based behavioral health program for District children and their families.

Relatedly, it is past time for the District to fund said cost study to determine the true cost of the
SBBH program to properly fund it going forward. I urge you to include in your budget $300,000
in one-time local dollars to fund the cost study to right size the grant amounts for participating
community-based organizations.

E. Funding Mental Health Trauma Centers in high crime areas

The shared trauma of living in a high crime area turns around and fuels that same level of crime to
continue.

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Youth who are exposed to violence are often not given the mental health treatment they need to
process and cope with what they have seen. We must break the cycle of violence by giving our
youth the tools they need to deal with what they have experienced without lashing out at others.
Establishing mental health trauma centers in high crime areas may help to reduce overall violent
crime as the PTSD shared by many people in this kind of community is treated and excised.

F. Funding programs to prevent involvement with the criminal justice system and
support for returning citizens

The District is committed to treating crime as part of public health. To do this effectively, we need
to have police officers trained to assist in this goal, so we no longer use our jail as an inevitable
landing for those with behavioral health or substance use disorders. Between 2015 and 2019,
almost 48% of the people in the Department of Corrections custody had a documented substance
abuse disorder while 32% had a documented serious mental illness. During that same time period,
people who received care for their substance abuse disorder after release from custody had a 36%
lower chance of being rearrested or reincarcerated within 90 days.

I strongly ask you to include in your budget $15 million in recurring funds to strengthen provider
and Metropolitan Police Department training, workforce development, and worker recruiting and
retention. I also ask that $2 million be allocated for expanding the use of the housing-first model
among reentry housing providers. This would allow funding for housing and case management
services and create new beds for 55 more returning citizens.

I also ask that you include in your proposed budget $10 million in local dollars to increase non-
Medicaid billable services to support justice-involved consumers with $5 million, $2.5 million
increase to improve technological capability and ease of sharing released records with the
Department of Corrections and CSA, and $2.5 million to boost connection to care services at
federal Department of Corrections jail facilities, the D.C. Superior Court, and the new Stabilization
and Sobering Center.

G. Medicaid Buy-In Program for residents with disabilities

Currently, District residents with significant physical disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid are
forced to artificially limit their salary and reject promotions to keep their Medicaid eligibility
because they cannot afford to lose their Medicaid coverage. This forces a person into a life of near
poverty wages to stay on Medicaid to ensure they have access to the healthcare they desperately
need. A Medicaid Buy-In Program would allow District residents who are on Medicaid to earn
more income. A portion of that income would help to pay for their Medicaid services on a sliding
scale as their income increases. Although this program should increase tax revenue for the District
without increases to ongoing healthcare costs, there may be a one-time cost for establishing the
program. I ask that you include a Medicaid Buy-In program in the budget of the Department of
Health Care Finance.

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 H. Additional resources to improve behavioral health

Part of how we improve behavioral health for District youth is to ensure that those children in need
of services are timely connected with care. I ask that you create within the Department of
Behavioral Health (DBH) a competitive grant to allow pediatric healthcare providers to build
capacity and offer additional services including direct tele-mental health treatment, care
coordination services, and training. This will ensure there is appropriate expertise and capacity to
meet the needs of District youth. I ask that you include in your budget a new multi-year grant
investment of $2.2 million so pediatric health experts can improve referrals to community-based
providers and school-based health centers, provide teleconsultation to families, and offer
additional support to primary care providers.

Finally, to address major challenges faced by behavioral health providers attempting to contract
with the District, I ask you to include in your budget funding for two additional full-time
employees (FTEs) in the Office of Contracts and Procurement who would be dedicated to contract
processing with DBH. These two positions will aid providers and DBH to ensure that contracts
are moved with all due haste so that the community gets the benefit of the services as swiftly as
possible. These FTEs could make a significant improvement to reduction of wait times for license
application processing.

I. Provide capital grants funding through DC Health and the Departments of Human
Services and Behavioral Health for community-based nonprofits on the East End of
the District

Nonprofit organizations provide vital services to their local constituencies but are often in
buildings that require updates to better serve their clients, many of whom are individuals with
disabilities. I request that you provide $2 million in capital grants funding to help these
organizations with their facilities. The money should be purposed for making them ADA
compliant, installing life improvement systems, and general quality of life repairs.

II. Workforce Development

The following initiatives are vital to addressing the healthcare workforce shortage the District is
facing. I ask that you consider them in our effort to deliver better care to District residents,
strengthen our healthcare workforce and create more economic opportunity for District residents.

A. Workforce Development for all sectors of the healthcare workforce

We are grappling with a dire shortage of healthcare workers, particularly for those healthcare
businesses that are reimbursed primarily through Medicaid. To increase the healthcare workforce,
people need to know before they sign up for the long months of training that they will receive a
decent living wage for the hard work they are being asked to do. Too many have left the healthcare
jobs funded primarily through Medicaid reimbursement because of the low pay in contrast to the
demanding work. This really affects home health workers, nursing homes and disability workers
who we rely on to keep residents safe in care.

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There is an opportunity for the Department of Healthcare Finance (DHCF) to use the bulk of the
$88 million in approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support the wage rate
increase for healthcare workers that rely on Medicaid billing. If these funds are used for the wage
rate increase, the funding could generate an additional $61.6 million in federal matching funds.
This is more than sufficient to fund the anticipated cost of the wage increase for the next two and
a half years. This would go a long way to mitigate the historic and largely racially driven
disinvestment in this essential workforce. I believe this is the best and highest use of the
funding. Currently, DHCF’s ARPA spending plan includes 30 separate projects - a project list
that does little to address the critical staffing issues facing the industry and that will be challenging
for the agency to execute prior to the current March 31, 2024 deadline set by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services to spend the funds. I strongly urge you to include in your
proposed budget $88 million in approved ARPA funding to support the wage rate increase for
these vital healthcare workers.

Community residential facilities have been hit extremely hard by the pandemic with the task of
providing 24/7 staff coverage to some of the District’s most vulnerable residents. Workforce
shortage issues are devastating, driving tremendous cost increases due to overtime and increased
salaries and the costs are beyond what mental health community residential facilities can afford to
continue. I strongly urge you to include in your proposed budget an additional $2 million for
Mental Health Community Residential Facilities. This amount is based on an 11% increase, which
is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index increase from December 2018 (when they
received the last increase) to December 2021.

Finally, in order to care for the behavioral health needs that present in our communities, we must
have a trained workforce capable of meeting those needs. To attract people into this vital career
opportunity, reimbursement rates for community-based behavioral health services must be
adjusted for inflation. Provider reimbursement rates were last calculated using 2016 cost data, and
current reimbursement rates are not financially sustainable for critical community-based
behavioral healthcare providers. I urge you to include an additional $8.2 million to increase
Medicaid billable services through our local Medicaid Match and $2.1 million to increase non-
Medicaid billable services.

III. Additional supports for District children

We both share the desire to improve health outcomes and the lives of the District’s mothers and
young children. I ask that you fund the legislation discussed in this section as a commitment to
invest in the future of District children and families.

A. Fully fund the Birth-to-Three for All DC Act

Early child education and health are vital in the wellbeing and development of children. Since 80%
of a child’s brain development occurs by age three, we know that if we want to put District kids in
a position to succeed, we must ensure that systems are in place to support their development. B22-
203, the Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018, is the most comprehensive developmental health
and education legislation for children under three years of age.

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The pandemic has reversed much of the progress we made on implementing this legislation, but it
is clear that if we want people to return to the workforce, especially young mothers who bear the
brunt of childcare, it means that we must make sure there are supports and quality early learning
centers available for their young children.

For your Fiscal Year 2023 budget, I request that you add recurring funding to support Healthy
Steps and an additional $700,000 to expand Healthy Futures to add an additional child
development center during the next fiscal year. This additional funding is needed to hire additional
early childhood mental health professionals and continue to build the program’s infrastructure to
support sustained growth and services to District families.

B. Ensure All DC Public and Charter Schools have a Full-Time School Nurse

Because of COVID-19, parents are more concerned than ever that their children are safe while
they are at school. The Council has previously made investments to close the gap in nurse
coverage, however, there are still many more schools without a school nurse. I support the request
of District parents to ensure there is a school nurse at every public school. Before the pandemic,
parents came out in great numbers to support B22-27, the “Public School Health Services
Amendment Act of 2017,” which requires 40 hours per week of registered nurse or licensed
practical nurse coverage at all District public and charter schools. District parents overwhelmingly
support the full implementation of this legislation as a critical part of safely schooling our children
especially as COVID-19 becomes a smaller and more manageable part of community health. I
urge you, on behalf of Ward 7 and District parents, to provide the additional funding needed to
fully implement this legislation to ensure that all schools have a full-time registered or licensed
practical nurse on staff.

IV. Education Funding and Expansion

In addition to the above important healthcare initiatives, this budget request letter lays out the areas
of focus that residents and community leaders in Ward 7 and I have identified as important funding
priorities for Ward 7. I present these requests as our continuing resolve to improve the quality of
life directly and significantly for Ward 7 residents through the city’s investment and commitment.

Educational opportunities and equity are a particular point of concern for me and for many of the
advocates who reached out to my office. Ensuring full funding for our education initiatives as they
exist now is vital. Additionally, several constituents suggested changes to the current approach
that our schools take which may be able to improve learning outcomes in DC if we give them a
chance.

A. Advance and fund the modernization of Ward 7 Schools

Ward 7 has a disproportionate share of buildings that have yet to be modernized, in addition to
schools that seem to have lost their place in line after receiving incomplete (Phase 1)
modernizations. Many of these communities have some of the highest number of at-risk students.
I ask that you fund the full modernization of Beers ES, and accelerate the modernizations for
Burrville ES, Drew ES, JC Nalle ES, Plummer ES and Neval Thomas ES.

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 B. Fund programs and approaches that address learning loss

Data on the District’s public schools showed glaring opportunity gaps and other equity challenges,
including a digital divide, before the coronavirus public health emergency. The pandemic has
exacerbated preexisting inequities and challenges while also adding the large challenges of
learning loss, compounding the disproportionate effects on students of color, at risk students, and
those historically underserved, many of whom live in Ward 7. While learning loss will not be
overcome with one swift act in a short period of time, it is crucial that the District commit to
bridging gaps, addressing learning loss, and bringing our students up to our high expectations of
achievement. As teaching and learning in the District proceed, ample funding needs to be provided
to programs geared towards addressing learning loss for all students. I ask that you fund efforts to
counteract learning loss. In particular, provide no less than $1 million to support afterschool and
tutoring programs at schools in Ward 7 to address learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

C. Ensure adequate funding for existing schools and programs

Several schools servicing Ward 7 families currently face budget cuts significant enough to cause
staff shrinkage if they are not rectified. Removal of the SEM (school-wide enrichment) program
from the budgets of local elementary- and middle-schools means that roughly a dozen schools will
lose a teacher and the students will lose the opportunity to participate in this program. Restoring
funding to cover this shortfall will pay dividends in student outcomes later on.

D. Expanding current programs to meet the needs of residents

One of the best ways to improve overall outcomes is to see which ideas get good results and
expanding/replicating them to spread those good practices. In that vein, there are a few programs
worthy of extra consideration for this year’s budget.

First, the LETRS training initiative which instructs teachers on best practices for teaching kids to
read. Implementing research-based techniques helps students who may otherwise struggle to keep
up. The program has proven popular so far and opening it up to more teachers can only improve
our outcomes. Additionally, expanding the program to non-teachers who are involved in the
learning-to-read process would help. School personnel such as principals, administrators, and other
school leaders may not teach children directly, but they have input into the reading programs that
the teachers run. Teachers who have undergone the training have consistently reported frustration
implementing new techniques due to friction with personnel who have not had the training. As
such, expanding the program will help our schools run more smoothly.

Second, the community school model wherein a variety of social services are directly connected
to a school to allow for easier access. This can include programs such as health and employment
and can help the community use the resources afforded to it that may otherwise be difficult to
access. The District should work in conjunction with the OSSE Community Schools Incentive
Initiative Office and the DCPS Connected Schools Office to invest in making more of these
schools to service the people of DC.

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 E. Implement new programs to improve learning outcomes

New research on techniques to improve education outcomes is emerging all the time. As such, it
is important for the District to invest in innovative learning programs to ensure our students have
access to the best education possible. The following options represent input from members of the
community on where they think the District should focus on.

Flexible scheduling is a promising new area that approaches students’ educational well-being from
multiple angles. Programs such as “Enrichment Wednesdays” promote regular breaks from the
classroom for hands-on experiential learning. This is valuable in-and-of itself, but it also provides
much-needed downtime for teachers to collaborate and plan, improving the students’ experience
even outside the experiential learning session. It would be a good idea to invest in a pilot program
implementing this policy for grades 10-12, which would cost roughly $6 million.

Financial literacy is chronically undertaught. Students graduate from high school without basic
knowledge of the way money works, often to their detriment. Simple additions to coursework such
as basic instruction on income taxes and withholding or on credit and student loans would give
new graduates the tools they need to thrive as adults. These skills are also valuable to employers
and may give our students a competitive edge over those from other areas without this training.

Outdoor education is also a priority. The current outdoor programs are spread unevenly around the
District which is a fundamental lack of equity at some of our most underprivileged schools. The
District should perform an audit to determine exactly where these problems lie and then work with
partner organizations to bring new opportunities to those whose needs are currently being ignored.

V. Economic Development, Planning and Housing

The following investments are needed to support the long-term development and housing needs
of Ward 7.

A. Finish the construction of Skyland Town Center

As you are aware, the Skyland Town Center project has been in the works for many years and is
nearing completion and could be fully operational within the next couple of years but needs the
District’s continued support. The developers are asking for a $22 million public investment to
finish Phase B construction, of which roughly $6 million will be returned to the District in the
form of fees.

This Town Center’s completion would be a big step towards meeting many goals for Ward 7. It
includes nearly 150 townhouses in the northwest section along with a significant number of rental
units within the commercial area in the southeast, helping fulfill promises about new housing
opportunities. The Lidl grocery store will go a long way to alleviate the current food desert
situation in the area, as will the restaurants who have already leased property at Skyland. Other
commercial establishments will provide valuable services such as a pharmacy, banking, and dental
services. We are so close to having all of this for the people of Ward 7.

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 B. Bring a full-service grocery store and a completed development to East Capitol
Gateway

Ward 7 residents gave me the charge upon my return to office to bring more full-service grocery
stores to the ward. My efforts have included conversations about bringing full-service grocery
stores and restaurants and retail amenities to the East End of the District. My East End economic
development bills, chiefly the Grocery Incentive Act, have been catalysts to the progress we are
now seeing. I was happy to partner with you and DMPED to pass eminent domain emergency
legislation for Capitol Gateway to give the District site control and the ability to bring a new
grocery store to the site. I request that you make the financial, collaborative, and innovative
investments to actualize the full and complete development of Capitol Gateway.

C. Fund a small area plan (SAP) for the Marshall Heights/Benning Ridge Area

A $250,000 investment for a small area plan will help provide a strategic framework that improves
the quality of life and enhance neighborhood amenities and character while supporting a
community of culturally, economically, and generationally diverse residents of the Marshall
Heights/Benning Ridge area.

D. Provide a tax and fee exemption for MHCDO properties located on Hanna
Place, SE and G Street, SE

The Marshall Heights Community Development Corporation, Inc. (MHCDO) intends to turn the
property it owns on Hanna Place, SE and G Street, SE into either workforce housing or affordable
housing. A District investment to unencumber the property from real property taxes and fees will
significantly help this project to come to fruition. A special exemption here would allow more
accessible housing in the District with comparatively modest investment on the part of the
government.

VI. Business Support and Workforce Development

As we continue to recover from the pandemic, supporting local businesses and workers is more
important than ever before. Mitigating harm to our local economy requires public aid and backing
of our local businesses and workforce, whether it be through grant programs or workforce
development and training. With the changes that have happened in the last two years and will
come, we must ensure that we are ready to face the challenges up ahead.

A. Increase funding for small businesses through the Dream Grant initiative

The Dream Grant initiative is a micro-grant program that provides support for small businesses in
Wards 7 and 8 through awards of up to $10,000 per business. Small businesses are the lifeblood
of our community and deserve our full support, especially with the impact the pandemic has had
on the economy. Previous funding for the grant program has been around $200,000 but it may be
prudent to increase the funds for this year. It is important that this funding reach the businesses
that need it.

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 B. Mitigate the economic damage caused by construction on the Minnesota
Avenue/Pennsylvania Avenue, SE intersection

As you know, the District is currently working to renovate and improve the Minnesota Avenue
intersection with Pennsylvania Avenue. While ultimately a long-term benefit, the construction
project threatens the short-term success of businesses in the immediate area due to the expected
loss of foot traffic and other issues that will reduce revenue. I request that you establish and fund
through DDOT a $1.5 million budget allocation to defray the cost to local businesses within a
quarter mile and make sure they can keep their doors open. After all, it would be awful to spend
all this time and money improving that intersection only to find that nobody wants to go there as
all the businesses have shuttered.

C. Fund feasibility studies and pilot programs for BIDs on the Minnesota Avenue
NE/Benning Road, NE and the Pennsylvania Avenue SE/Southern Avenue, SE
corridors

These corridors are flourishing with new businesses and may be ready for the implementation of
Business Improvement Districts. The District should provide $150,000 for feasibility studies and,
if appropriate, pilot programs in these areas to assess the fitness and potential success of a BID.

D. Create a Real Estate Planning and Land Acquisition Fund

Small nonprofit development organizations seeking to acquire and build affordable housing and
workforce housing units face predevelopment costs that often hinder nonprofits from making
competitive bids. These organizations in the District would benefit from the creation of a fund
intended to aid them in paying for real estate services such as land acquisition, preplanning
analysis, feasibility reports, and rehabilitation financing. This would allow them to acquire
property more readily to be put towards residential or mixed residential/commercial development.
A District investment of $4.2 million would fund a three-year pilot program, after which point the
Fund’s impact can be assessed and potentially continued. This investment would also help
improve a number of smaller properties as affordable and workforce housing to help address our
area’s critical housing crisis.

E. Supplement DHCD’s budget to support community development organizations

DHCD partners with several nonprofit organizations to provide housing counseling services to the
residents of the District. These organizations provide information about all aspects of the
homebuying process, from credit and finance to property management to foreclosure mitigation.
The programs and workshops provided by these partners have aided many residents of Wards 7
and 8 to become homeowners. I request an infusion of $1.5 million to allow these organizations
to expand and fund their operations to bring more aid to residents looking to buy a home.

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 F. Fund community-based programs to support and provide services to residents
affected by the moving of DCHA’s portfolio

This portfolio shift has left certain communities in Wards 7 and 8 without proper access to services
they need. The District should provide $3.5 million to local organizations with physical proximity
to the areas in question so that they can provide these services. In particular, MHCDO has created
a proposal to provide financial literacy housing and workplace development skills building courses
which shows promise. They want to help fill the void that DCHA created in these areas.

G. Fund computer literacy training for District residents who lack access to digital
resources

Developing our workforce is a fundamental goal and endless challenge for the District. New skills
are constantly required and sometimes the future moves faster than people can keep up with. This
is doubly so for those whose material conditions prevent them from acquiring the technology much
of this progress is based upon. I request a $3 million addition to OCTO and/or DOES to allow
them to offer training courses to those who currently lack access to the futuristic devices we now
take for granted, such as smartphones and the internet.

H. Fund training for future employees in the medical, retail, hospitality, and
construction industries

These industries are some of our fastest growing fields and are in need of workers. Providing
training should allow us to maintain a large talent pool that ensures our businesses keep chugging
along. I request that the District provide $2.5 million to DOES which should then be deployed to
support community-based organizations that provide this training, along with training on basic job
skills like resume preparation and interview preparedness.

I. Fund a training and workforce development center at the Hill East development
site

The development of the Hill East site presents an opportunity to provide workforce development
training to District residents. Workforce training is a very valuable offering to bolster the careers
and livelihoods of Ward 7 residents and their households. An additional $500,000 should be
included in the budget to support this effort.

J. Renovate a District building in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

The District currently owns a dilapidated and disused property on Pennsylvania Avenue which
needs substantial renovation. The Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc.
recently approached my office with a plan to transform the property into a community serving
center and office to house the activities of the Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Street. With
District funds for the renovation of the space, with an estimated cost of $250,000, and with a lease
from the District, MCHDO will operate their center, providing services to nearby residents. This
is a chance to take a blighted building and convert it to a higher community-serving use whereby
both the government and the people of the Ward 7 can benefit.

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VII. Community Facilities, Resources and Services to Improve Quality of Life

A. Fund a Caretaker Grant for Fletcher Johnson

Before vertical redevelopment on Fletcher Johnson starts, we have an opportunity for a caretaker
to implement programming and maintain, secure, and activate the site for community use prior to
redevelopment of the property. The caretaker should have ties to the local community and a long
record of providing successful programming. I ask that the District provide $1 million to support
and fund the caretaker grant.

B. Ensure the maintenance of Fletcher Johnson

While development is pending, the vacant Fletcher Johnson site falls under the Department of
General Services (DGS) vacant building protocol. Under this protocol, DGS assigns building
managers to monitor all vacant properties, utilities such as water and gas are usually cut off. Lights
may be left on for security reasons; the plumbing systems are drained; the boiler systems are
deactivated; and entry points are secured to prevent entrance into the vacant buildings. However,
the Fletcher Johnson Task Force and the respective communities it represents (Marshall Heights,
Capitol View, Benning Ridge, and Benning Terrace) continue to express concerns regarding the
on-going nuisances brought on by lack of proper maintenance for this vacant DGS property. I
request that you allocate funds within the District’s budget code “3009” (public education facilities
funds) to ensure regular maintenance of the grounds; preventative maintenance as needed; and
graffiti and trash removal.

C. Maximize the collaborative Hillcrest Recreation Center and Winston EC

opportunity to meet the immediate community’s needs

The Hillcrest Recreation Center has been a vital entity for the Hillcrest neighborhood in Ward 7.
Since some improvements were made in FY 2015, the recreation center has been the subject of
several maintenance issues and community requests for improvements to the facilities, including
the desire for an aquatic center and programming. The Winston Education Campus is a former
District of Columbia Public Schools building at 3100 Erie Street, SE in the Hillcrest neighborhood,
directly adjacent to the Hillcrest Recreation Center. The building has been passed over as the
potential location of a school and no final plans have been announced as the building continues to
deteriorate and the site is unused. Some in the community have expressed a desire for a quality
middle school.

The proximity of the two sites and the need for improvements present a unique opportunity through
the current budget to make a critical investment. I request capital funds for the full, robust
modernization of the Hillcrest Recreation Center. I also request funding for a study to examine
the feasibility of combining the use of the Hillcrest Recreation Center and the Winston Education
Campus to improve the facility offerings of the Center, including the addition of an indoor pool.

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 D. Fund the establishment of a River Terrace Recreation Center

River Terrace is a geographically isolated community and unique in this sense in the District of
Columbia in which there are not regularly available, indoor public spaces for use by its residents,
seniors, or youth. The community is hugely committed to achieving this needed facility. Through
the budget process and with the support of my colleagues, the Council funded feasibility studies
for establishing a recreational facility in River Terrace and for expanding the Benning Stoddert
Recreation Center. I request that you provide capital funding for a new recreation center to serve
the River Terrace community.

E. Renovate the Deanwood Library Kiosk

Located next to Marvin Gaye Park, the historic Deanwood library kiosk is one of the nation’s
smallest libraries and a historic relic many believe is in need of preservation. Many have fond
memories of this kiosk, the only library in their local area for over four decades. While Deanwood
is now scheduled to have a full-service library, the kiosk remains a curio and a relic of some
historical importance to the people of the area. I request an investment of $750,000 so the District
can maintain the kiosk and let it continue to service residents for years to come.

F. Fund community-serving enhancements at the Woody Ward Recreation Center

I am pleased that the former Benning Park Community Center received a much needed and
community supported modernization, including a new name, now called the Woody Ward
Recreation Center as a posthumous honor of a community hero. On behalf of the community, I
request $250,000 to fully fund improvements and maintenance to the Woody Ward baseball field,
and $150,000 to fully fund improvements and maintenance to the Woody Ward Garden.

G. Execute the orderly, timely, cost effective completion of the Fort Dupont Ice Arena

The Fort Dupont Ice Arena is a citywide treasure and remains in urgent need of renovation. For
many low-income children it provides the only access to participate in ice sports, such as skating
and hockey. The project has changed in scope to only include one sheet of ice and has faced other
criticisms and concerns, including those about cost. I ask that you make sure the project moves
forward in an orderly, timely, efficient, cost effective, fully funded manner. If a second ice sheet
remains excluded from the scope, I further request that you provide $10 million in capital funds
for a second sheet of ice.

H. Support the raised garden beds near the Deanwood Recreation Center by providing
a water connection and some rain barrels

A walking path between the Deanwood Recreation Center and the Ron Brown College Preparatory
High School has a set of raised garden beds. The site has great potential as the location of a
community garden. Unfortunately, the grounds have not been used as there is simply no
convenient way to provide the water plants need to grow. The local community is enthusiastic
about establishing, maintaining, and enjoying this community garden.

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 The Friends of Deanwood Library has been working with and supportive of efforts from ANC
7C07 Commissioner Antawan Holmes, Deanwood Citizens Association, Friends of Deanwood
Recreation Center, Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, and DC Parks and Recreation to
activate these raised garden beds, but the issue has been that there is not a water source, so the
raised garden beds remain unused. I request $250,000 to create a water connection and backup
rain barrels for the unused raised garden beds. This will not only activate the land, but also
complement the existing willingness and support of neighbors with green thumbs to care for and
grow vegetables and flowers on these raised garden beds, transforming a currently underutilized
space into a community feature that the community can enjoy.

I. Help seniors to maintain lawns and landscaping

Our seniors are some of the most valuable contributors to our neighborhoods, and they are also
some of the most vulnerable and mobility challenged. I request that you establish and fund a $1
million program that provides landscaping and lawncare services for seniors.

VIII. Transportation and Infrastructure

A. Maintain the budget for and provide the timely completion of the Benning Road and
Bridge Transportation Improvement Project

I have often stated but never overstated my enthusiasm for and belief in the Benning Road streetcar
expansion project and its ability to be transformative. The streetcar extension is a much-needed
investment in Ward 7 and will serve as a direct connection to the H Street corridor for Ward 7
neighborhoods east of Minnesota Avenue and a critical economic development driver and catalyst
to bring more businesses and opportunities to this community, including grocery stores and
restaurants, similar to the success of the streetcar that I have seen with my own eyes in Portland,
Oregon on two visits there. The project to extend the streetcar to the Benning Road Metro station
includes the replacement of the Whitlock Bridge, the revamping of the Ethel Kennedy Bridge, and
the addition of new ramps from DC-295, all of which will collectively improve safety and transit.

B. $15 million for the Pennsylvania/Minnesota Avenue, SE Intersection Improvement

Project

I request $15 million to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety; create a consolidated, useable
park space; improve multimodal connectivity and access; and support land use and community
needs within the intersection. In 2007, the Great Streets Framework Plan and the Revitalization
of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE for the Great Streets Initiative Concepts Design Final Report
recommended transportation improvements to the Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues, SE
intersection. Since that time, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the District
Department of Transportation (DDOT), and the National Park Service (NPS) have been working
on various aspects of this project. However, to date, this intersection remains an eyesore and
creates vehicular and pedestrian problems. Complaints about the intersection focus on a lack of
pedestrian safety, insufficient time for pedestrians to cross the street, and issues with the cut-
through traffic on L’Enfant Square, SE. Funding this important transportation project will improve
pedestrian and vehicular safety.

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 C. Provide funds to establish transportation equity for those living in the Pennsylvania
Avenue corridor

Pennsylvania Avenue, SE remains the only major corridor in DC without its own subway station.
Residents who work in other parts of the District are subjected to 45-minute commutes, not to their
jobs, but just to get to the nearest Metro station. Expanding transportation access, through a new
Metro subway station and/or through other means such as circulator and Metro bus routes, will
provide area residents with improved access and transportation mobility, hyper-locally and
throughout the District. As a result, businesses will have access to more employees and consumers,
people will be able to reach shops and jobs that they otherwise couldn't, and it will help DC feel
more connected to this currently underserved area.

D. Implement corridor studies of Ward 7 corridors

As the District proceeds with transportation infrastructure improvements and planning pursuant to
a multimodal long-range transportation plan and studies, it is important that Ward 7 and its
corridors are not left behind, nor the safety and access to transportation of Ward 7 residents left to
chance and happenstance. Accordingly, I request $300,000 to complete recommendations
included in the Central Avenue Corridor Study and $250,000 to support the completion of the
Benning Road Transportation Study.

E. Provide “No Littering” and “No Speeding” signs for the Pennsylvania Avenue East
corridor

Littering and speeding remain common concerns along Pennsylvania Avenue. Appropriate
signage to prevent littering and speeding have met success elsewhere in the District, and I request
that they be specifically deployed in the Pennsylvania Avenue East area to the keep our main street
safe and beautiful while benefitting the residents, pedestrians, motorists, and businesses along the
Pennsylvania Avenue corridor as well.

F. Establish a grant to keep Southern Avenue and other Ward 7 corridors clean

As a main thoroughfare and a significant part of the District’s border with Maryland, Southern
Avenue, SE is subject to heavy use and traffic. And, unfortunately, Southern Avenue is also the
unfortunate beneficiary of two jurisdictions’ worth of litter and garbage. In response, I request
that you allocate $500,000 for a Litter Prevention Grant Program that provides grants to
community-based organizations to clean-up high littering corridors such as Southern Avenue, SE.

G. Employ traffic calming solutions in dangerous intersections and corridors

Ward 7 has several dangerous intersections and corridors. While Southern Avenue, SE and the
intersection of Minnesota and Benning Avenues are often discussed, other neighborhood
intersections and roadways have also seen unnecessary injury and the tragic loss of life. I request
that you provide $1 million to support the implementation of traffic calming solutions in areas that
are disproportionately impacted by transportation fatalities.

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 H. Plant flowers in the median strips on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Flowers and other greenery are a rarity in most cities. Any opportunity that we have to promote
beautification and placemaking spread as a distraction from the dull Grays and Browns of the
surrounding area should be taken. Medians are one such opportunity. The city has had success
planting flowers in the medians of other areas and should do so for the Pennsylvania Avenue
corridor as well.

I. Provide funding to complete the installation of a wall along the right side of the
street from the 3000 block of 33rd Street & Pennsylvania Avenue up to 3800 block
of Pennsylvania Avenue & 38th Street

The 3100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE at Branch Avenue has a brick retaining wall that was
installed, and something similar should have been installed from the 3300 block of Pennsylvania
to the 3800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE when the Pennsylvania Avenue Great Street federal
project was completed but was not. Sidewalk safety along this portion of Pennsylvania Avenue,
SE is needed now and especially as more amenities come online at The Shops at Penn Branch.

J. Funding for renovations to the bus shelter at 38th Street, SE and Pennsylvania
Avenue, SE

Currently, the shelter needs upgraded lighting, repairs to siding, cleaning, replacement of existing
gutters, aligning the downspouts, brick tuck pointing, and power washing of the concrete inside
the shelter. It is the only all brick-style bus shelter structure in our area and requires upgrading.
Also, it is a perfect location for a “Smart Bus Shelter” that includes a security camera, solar
lighting, WI-FI connectivity, and more.

K. Maintain and complete the work regarding the O Street Wall

The O Street Wall, which is a District asset in Square S-5542, S.E. in Ward 7, has been enhanced,
repaired and re-stabilized, requiring millions of dollars. This retaining wall was built in the late
1970s to control soil erosion and sedimentation between the 3200-3300 block of Highwood Drive,
S.E., and the 3200 block of O Street, S.E. Since then, the wall has been subject to soil erosion and
poor drainage that caused the wall to crack and shift and caused a portion of the wall to fail in the
1990s. The wall deteriorated to a point that residents whose homes on Highwood Drive, S.E. that
abutted the wall were in severe jeopardy of foundation failure, mudslide, condemnation and losing
their property. There were continuing street and sewer maintenance problems and the increasing
possibility of rupturing gas lines. It has been communicated numerous times by the residents living
in Square S-5542, S.E. that protecting and enhancing the stability of the O Street Wall is of great
concern to them.

Previously, the District purchased several unimproved lots on O Street, S.E. next to the wall to
prevent any further damage. Unfortunately, more than half of the unimproved lots remain
unacquired by the District, and thus threats to the integrity of the wall, including its drainage
systems, persist.

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To preserve the O Street Wall’s integrity, I introduced B24-0245, “the O Street Wall Protection
Act of 2021,” which requires the Mayor to prohibit activities that may compromise the retaining
wall commonly known as the O Street Wall or contribute to soil erosion and sedimentation, and
requires the Mayor to acquire by purchase or condemnation the remaining unimproved lots
adjacent to O Street, S.E. between Branch Avenue, S.E. and Carpenter Street, S.E. I request that
you fund and implement this bill.

IX. Public Safety

A. Fund a balanced approach to public safety and public wellbeing

Public safety has been one of the chief concerns of Ward 7 residents. The relationship between
the community and the police/law enforcement is an ongoing concern. Ward 7 residents continue
to face increasing homicides and gun violence, even in the midst of a pandemic, that has claimed
and impacted the lives of too many on the East End. Left behind are trauma, families in need of
services, and opportunities to make the kind of coordinated, evidence-based improvements that
will not only improve statistics, but also save lives. It is paramount that our approach to public
safety match the specific needs of our neighborhoods and communities. It is also paramount that
the underlying needs of residents be addressed to minimize the attractiveness and benefit of
unlawful options.

To prevent the rising violence in our neighborhoods, I ask that you:

• Significantly invest in community-based violence prevention programs and services to

prevent the rising violence in targeted neighborhoods while also providing empirical
metrics by which to measure their success;

• Specifically increase the existing budget of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and
Engagement to support the expansion of violence interruption programs and services, with
a particular emphasis on Police Service Area 604;

• Enhance Metropolitan Police Department recruitment and retention efforts, particularly

those efforts that effectively bring in DC residents (e.g., the cadet program), and conduct
in-depth analysis of officer attrition, including an examination of the Senior Police Officers
Program for Sergeants and Detectives; and

• Allocate $1 million to support increased programs and services at DPR Centers located in
high-crime areas.

B. Provide much needed parking facilities at the MPD Sixth District station

The untenable congestion caused by lack of parking at the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sixth
District headquarters can be solved by the construction of a parking garage. Capital funds are
needed to support a parking garage at this site. One need only visit the site to see firsthand the
need.

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The Sixth District headquarters is increasingly used by many people – the large number of police
officers who park on the street and the number of people who visit the Sixth District headquarters
– clearly demonstrate the insufficient capacity to accommodate street parking leaving too many
people without the ability to park while using the Sixth District headquarters. I request $11 million
for a parking facility that can be constructed on the grounds of the building in the rear.

C. Fund services dedicated to treatment of sexual violence victims

Unfortunately, sexual violence services have been underfunded in recent years, not in keeping with
the vital role that sexual violence services in particular play in mitigating the damage resulting
from such incidents. I request an additional $3 million to OVSJG to cover the budget shortfalls of
sexual violence clinics, allow them to hire more staff, maintain full supplies, and otherwise
perform their vital work. This money should specifically target sexual violence services as the
current funding structure does not distinguish between sexual violence services and gender-based
services.

X. Fund outstanding legislation for tax relief

I ask that you fund the following tax relief legislation pending before the Council:
• B24-0071, the Pension Exclusion Restoration and Expansion Act of 2021
• B24-0072, the Senior Citizen Tax Cap Transfer Act of 2021
• B24-0070, the Senior Citizen Real Property Tax Relief Amendment Act of 2021
• B24-0073, the First Responder Income Tax Exclusion Amendment Act of 2021
• B24-0453, the Affordable Housing Opportunities, Inc. Tax Abatement Act of 2021
• B24-0452, the Square 5539 Tax Abatement Act of 2021

As you continue the important task of formulating and finalizing the Fiscal Year 2023 proposed
budget, I thank you for your consideration of these requests.

Sincerely,

Vincent C. Gray

Cc: Fitzroy Lee, Chief Financial Officer

Kevin Donahue, City Administrator
Councilmembers of the District of Columbia

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