Dear Neighbors,
Yesterday, I joined my Council colleagues at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Ward 2 for the release of Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget and Financial Plan. During the live press conference, the Mayor shared details on how money would be spent to support Covid recovery, job creation, public safety, affordable housing, transportation, and education. I am proud to say that many of the issues for which I advocated are included in the proposed budget, and in some cases, at unprecedented levels. The additional stimulus funds from the federal government, have positioned the District to not only recover from the COVID-19 pandemic but reach new heights in years to come.
Some highlights of our Ward 2 priorities reflected in the proposed budget include:
Education & Recreation
- $110 million for increased mental health supports in schools, work-based and professional learning, summer programming, and high-impact tutoring
- $74 million for modernization at School Without Walls at Francis Stevens
- $30 million for full modernization of Jelleff Recreation Center
- $3.5 million for renovations at Ellington Field
Economic Recovery
- $16 million for the Great Streets Program and a Bridge Fund for arts venues
- Nearly $13 million to increase permitting and inspection capacity as businesses reopen
- $30 Million for a new Employment Center Vitality Center and Local Job Creation Fund in our Downtown core
Public Safety
- $8 million for violence interruption and credible messengers
- $3.4 million to expand the MPD Cadet Program
Transportation & Environment
- $351 million for Streetscapes and trails, new protected bike lanes, and Vision Zero Initiatives
- $116 million for the K Street Transitway, providing protected bike lanes Downtown DC
- $25 million for roadwork and related improvements in Ward 2
Affordable Housing
- A historic $400 million investment in the Housing Production Trust Fund
- $67 million to purchase buildings for permanent supportive housing or deeply affordable housing - 758 new Permanent Supportive Housing units for individuals and 347 for families
We are thrilled to see some of our community’s priorities reflected in this proposal; however, the budget process is far from over. Now that the Mayor has presented the budget to the Council, my colleagues and I will conduct budget hearings, mark-up the budget, and vote to make changes.
- On Wednesday, June 2, the Mayor and her cabinet will come before the Council to make an in-depth presentation of her budget proposal. You can watch the presentation live on the Council’s website here.
- On Thursday, June 3, the Council will begin its series of budget oversight hearings throughout June and July. During that time, I encourage you to provide testimony regarding the agencies and programs most important to you. For more information on how to participate, please visit: www.brookepintodc.com/legislation/oversight.
Again, please reach out to my office to share your priorities -- I want to hear from you!
Yours in Service,
Brooke