Dear Neighbor,
The Council has resumed the legislative session, and I am thrilled to rejoin my colleagues as we work to improve the lives of residents in our ward and city. I am focused this session on efforts to improve public safety, provide more affordable housing opportunities, and support our business community in our recovery and growth efforts.
Last week, the Council held its first post-recess legislative meeting and also announced dates for upcoming public hearings concerning redistricting. You can also find more on this in the “Legislative Updates and Council News” section of this newsletter.
During summer recess, our team was pleased to meet with residents right in their neighborhoods through a series of planned community events – both virtual and in-person. I am continually amazed by and grateful for the level of engagement, creative ideas, and strong sense of community so palpable in these meetings. Thank you for your continued engagement and perspective. We will continue to offer opportunities for neighbors to connect with our office throughout the year. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out if you need us. You can complete a help request form at www.brookepintodc.com/help.
In this newsletter, you will find the following information:
- In the community: Highlights of our office in the community. From jobs fairs, to townhalls, to baseball, it was such a pleasure to see and meet so many neighbors during recess!
- Legislative News & Council Updates: Check out information on redistricting, school and environmental updates, as well as a new pilot program to move neighbors experiencing homelessness into housing.
- Announcements: Review the latest on immunizations, ticket amnesty, community events, and more!
Yours in Service,
Brooke
During the Council’s summer recess, Councilmember Pinto and her team were excited to connect with neighbors in their communities and at other public events.
A few of Team Pinto’s highlights from these events included:
- Community Office Hours in Logan Circle and at the MLK Library;
- The R Street Career Fair to bring news of employment opportunities to residents;
- Saturday morning music training with the DC Youth Orchestra Program in Takoma;
- A tribute to the over 700K Americans who have lost their lives to COVID-19 on the National Mall;
- A celebration of the School Without Walls' 50th Anniversary;
- Councilmember Pinto’s presentation at the National Cannabis Festival;
- Visits to our Ward 2 schools to ensure they were ready to welcome our students back;
- The Let’s Paint the Streets Art Event with Logan Circle Community Association;
- Walk to School Day at Ross Elementary and the annual meetings at the Georgetown, Dupont, and Golden Triangle BIDs to discuss the state of small businesses in Ward 2;
- The 2nd Annual Ward 2 Telephone Townhall to share updates from the last year;
- The 1st Annual Marathon Swim in the Potomac River;
- The North Dupont Circle Transportation Walk; and a
- Ward 2 Senior Baseball Outing at Nationals Stadium.
Legislative Updates and Council News
The Council’s First Post-Recess Legislative Meeting
On Tuesday, October 5, the Council held its first post-recess meeting. During the meeting, Councilmember was pleased to vote in favor of measures including:
- The Protecting our Children Emergency Amendment Act of 2021, which expands remote learning opportunities for students with family members who would be at high risk for complications if they contracted a COVID infection;
- The Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 and Post-Public Health Emergency Protections Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2021, which provide protections for District renters; and
- The Public Service Commission Member Qualifications Emergency Amendment Act of 2021, to ensure that environmental expertise is prioritized on our Public Service Commission.
Redistricting is Coming to Ward 2, Here’s How You Can Make Your Voice Heard
Redistricting is near! Once every ten years, after the completion of the census, we redraw our city and ward boundaries. The process will be led by the Council’s Special Committee on Redistricting, which is chaired by At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman. At-Large Councilmembers Anita Bonds and Christina Henderson are also members of the Committee. Throughout October, residents have an opportunity to testify at Ward-specific hearings to discuss the process. The Ward 2 hearing will take place on Monday, October 25, at 2:00 p.m. The final hearing to discuss our citywide boundaries will take place on Friday, November 5, at noon. For more information on redistricting, click here to visit Chairperson Silverman’s dedicated webpage.
Letter to Deputy Mayor Turnage on the Homelessness Encampments Pilot Program
This week, Councilmember Pinto was joined by seven of her colleagues in sending a letter to Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services concerning the Encampment Pilot Program. In the letter, Councilmember Pinto expressed her support for “the comprehensive approach to move our neighbors experiencing homelessness into housing through targeted case management, data collection, and expedited housing” and addressed the recent, unacceptable bulldozing that occurred at one site, injuring a resident. Councilmember Pinto looks forward to working with the Deputy Mayor to ensure the success of the program and a more expedited housing process. Click here to see the full letter.
Announcements
Residents are now able to get their flu shots, and eligible residents are encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. To find out who is eligible and how to register for the shot, please click here to view the information presented at the District’s comprehensive website for the coronavirus vaccine and pandemic recovery. Residents are also encouraged to get their flu shots and can check with their primary care doctors or local pharmacies for availability.
Mayor Bowser announced that the Ticket Amnesty Program deadline has been extended from September 30, 2021 until December 31, 2021.
Under the program, eligible drivers only have to pay their original ticket amounts; any penalties are waived. Beginning in 2022, the penalties for late payment will be reinstated.
Who is eligible? District and non-District drivers with outstanding tickets, including District residents who are having trouble obtaining a REAL ID credential because of outstanding tickets.
What tickets are eligible? Tickets issued before December 31, 2021.
What types of tickets are eligible? Parking, photo enforcement (including speed, red-light, and stop sign) and minor moving violations issued by law enforcement.
What will I have to pay? You will pay the original ticket amount. Any penalties will be waived. Department of Public Works tow and storage fees, if any, will not be waived. Residents and non-residents facing financial hardship should contact the Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s Central Collection Unit (OCFO CCU) for hardship options.
More information can be found at ticketamnesty.dc.gov.
The District’s 34th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race will be hosted the Tuesday before Halloween! The High Heel Race is one of DC’s most unique events with a rich history. Join Councilmember Pinto as thousands of spectators pack the Dupont Circle Neighborhood to watch hundreds of costumed drag queens show off their extravagant outfits & race down 17th Street, NW. The event will be lively with entertainment, a parade, and much more!
Parade Begins: 6:30 p.m
Race Time: Begins at 9:00 p.m
Click here for more info.
The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) invites District teachers to complete a 10-minute / 22-question survey. The purpose of this teacher survey is to better understand educators’ experiences with the District’s school accountability system—the School Transparency and Reporting (STAR) Framework—as we consider what, if any, changes should be made to it. We recommend that you use a computer or tablet to fill out this survey. Thank you for taking the time to fill this out, and please know your identity will remain anonymous.
Participants are asked to submit responses no later than Friday, October 15 at 5 p.m. If you have any questions, please reach out to the State Board at darren.fleischer@dc.gov.
Please use the following link to start the teacher survey: https://bit.ly/38ixJOW
The DC Office of the People’s Counsel will host a virtual event about the impact of climate change on District residents called “The Price You Pay: Straight Talk About Climate Change and Environmental Injustice.”
The event will be held on October 16, and residents citywide are invited to participate and learn about the issues of climate change. Registration is free and easy. D.C. residents just go to https://www.opc-dc.gov/
