Brooke's Briefing - Voting, Community Office Hours, and Jelleff Community Center

Posted by

G.Hulick

November 4, 2022

Dear Neighbor,

I hope everyone is having a good and safe week. I am hard at work on initiatives to make our streets safer for all users, improve quality of life in all of our Ward 2 neighborhoods especially around crime and amplified noise, and on efforts to revitalize our Downtown. My team and I will be focused on getting my bills passed on these topics this Fall before the Council period ends at the end of 2022.

I’m writing today to share information about some recent Halloween events, invite you to my upcoming office hours this Monday, November 7th, and share important voting information about the election on November 8th.

Halloween & Jelleff Community Center

This past weekend was filled with fun events for Halloween! I enjoyed seeing so many neighbors in Logan Circle at the Little Gobblins Parade, in Georgetown at the Citizens Association of Georgetown Halloween Party at Jelleff Community Center, and at Mitchell Park for Fall Fun Day. Among the great costumes and fun activities, I had many great conversations with neighbors about important things happening in the community.

I am excited to share that the first community meeting for the modernization of Jelleff Community Center will be held on Monday, November 7th at Hardy Middle School from 6:30 p.m. - 8: 00 p.m. I was thrilled to secure $28 million dollars in last year’s budget for the needed full modernization of this special community asset. This is a great opportunity to meet the architects, learn the scope of work, review the timeline and provide feedback! This modernization will be transformative, making the facility more accessible and allowing for more programming.

Community Office Hours

On Monday, November 7th, I’ll be hosting another round of office hours in my office at the Wilson Building from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. My team and I have enjoyed welcoming neighbors to your Ward 2 office. You can sign-up for a meeting on November 7th or for a meeting at the next Wilson Building office hours in December here.

Voting in the Election on November 8th

Election Day is this upcoming Tuesday, November 8th. The right to vote is fundamental to our American and DC values. During my time on the Council, I have worked to make sure voting is more accessible to District residents and co-introduced legislation to ensure that ballots are mailed to everyone.

Below, I’ve included some important information on voting from the Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety on which I sit and you can also visit the Board of Elections website here to learn more. I hope those of you who are able and eligible will join me in casting a ballot during this election!

Yours in Service,

Brooke

VOTING

Important Messages for Voters

There’s still time to register to vote. You can register in person at any Vote Center during Early Voting (October 31-November 6) or on Election Day (November 8). Voter registration and proof of address requirements are here. Voter registration forms in languages other than English are here.
#VoteSafe by making a plan. Voters should consult the Board of Elections’ map to find Vote Centers and Ballot Drop Boxes near them.
Vote early in one of four ways:
Return your ballot quickly by mail – no postage required. Leave plenty of time for your ballot to reach the Board. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day (November 8), and they must be received by the Board no later than November 15.
Return your ballot in one of the Board’s 55 secure drop boxes across the District until 8 p.m. on Election Day
Drop off your ballot at any Vote Center from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. during “Election Week” (October 31-November 6) and from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 8)
Vote early in person at any Vote Center during “Election Week” (October 31-November 6) from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Voters can vote at any Vote Center during Election Week, regardless of residential address within the District. Early Voting Vote Center Locations.
If you choose to vote in person on Election Day, plan ahead! Bring water, snacks, and a mask, and dress comfortably. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Voters can vote at any Vote Center on Election Day, regardless of residential address within the District. Vote Center Locations on Election Day.

Important Dates to Remember

October 31-November 6: Early voting during “Election Week”. Polls are open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early Voting Vote Center Locations.
Note you can vote at any voting center in the city, but the Ward 2 centers are at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, and the West End Public Library.
November 8: Election Day! Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day Vote Center Locations.
I’ll be stopping by all of our Ward 2 poling locations on Tuesday and look forward to seeing neighbors there!
November 15: Deadline for the Board of Elections to receive ballots that are returned by mail and postmarked on or before Election Day.

IN THE NEWS

NBC 4: highlighted Councilmember Pinto’s dissent in the Council’s extension of the deadline for DCPS students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Georgetowner recapped Councilmember Pinto’s participation in the Citizen’s Association of Georgetown Halloween party and previewed the first community meeting for the Jelleff Community Center Modernization. The Georgetowner also covered Councilmember Pinto’s attendance and remarks from the Citizens Association of Georgetown Annual Fundraiser.
WUSA 9 shared Councilmember Pinto’s statement against antisemitism.
Legal Sports Report covered a new bill Councilmember co-introduced to revamp online sports betting in the District.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Consumer Protection: On November 3rd, Councilmember Pinto’s Consumer Protection bill had a hearing in the Committee of the Whole. This bill will enhance the Office of the Attorney General’s authority, provide greater protections for residents against scams, and prohibit retaliation against residents who report consumer protection violations. You can read more about the bill here.

Downtown Recovery: Councilmember Pinto’s Recovery Act bill will have a hearing on November 22nd in the Committee on Business and Economic Development. Learn how to sign up to testify or submit written testimony here. The Recovery Act is targeted to support District residents, workers, and businesses with the goal of transforming our office corridors from solely commercial uses to a vibrant city core that includes mixed-use developments, affordable housing, and jobs and green space as a driver of growth. You can read more here.

Menstrual Equity: On November 1st, the Council took the first of two procedural votes to pass Councilmember Pinto’s bill, the Period Equity Righting an Injustice of District Residents Act (PERIOD Act). This bill will require the provision of free period products in District buildings and government operated spaces. Building on the successful passage of Councilmember Pinto's bill to provide period products in all DC schools, the PERIOD Act is poised to make a meaningful difference in the lives of District residents and visitors placing DC as a national leader on this globally important issue.

Ending Chronic Homelessness: Councilmember Pinto attended a hearing about the Department of Human Services implementation of the historic investments in housing vouchers. Ending chronic homelessness and moving neighbors off the street and into homes has been a priority for Councilmember Pinto. During the hearing she asked pointed questions about what more can be done to accelerate the process. She will be working with colleagues to address any legislative fixes that are needed.