I hope that you and your families had a wonderful holiday season and that your entry into 2024 was joyous.

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January 9, 2024

Launching into the New Year

Hello Neighbors,

I hope that you and your families had a wonderful holiday season and that your entry into 2024 was joyous. We are entering into a busy time here at the Council and thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to read about the work ahead.

The Future of Downtown and Capital One Arena

Last month, I shared my statement ([link removed]) on Monumental’s decision to pursue a new home for the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals in Alexandria, VA. Tomorrow, the Committee of Business and Economic Development ([link removed]) will conduct a roundtable ([link removed]) on the future of Downtown DC and Capital One Arena. We will be joined by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and representatives from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer ([link removed]) , and the D.C. Policy Center ([link removed]) .

This event takes place four weeks after Monumental Sports announced their intentions to relocate. Our roundtable seeks to better understand the timing, commitments, and strategies for both the Arena and Downtown, as well as the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Ward 8.

I welcome the Mayor’s announcement of members to the Gallery Place-Chinatown Task Force and have already engaged with several of them on the work ahead. The vitality of our downtown, the sustainability of our tax base, and our economic development climate depend on bold, innovative, and inclusive approaches to how we’ll shape our future. I stand ready to work with those who will make that happen. Be sure to tune in ([link removed]) at 11 am.

2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

Please join our team on for the Martin Luther King Jr. parade on Monday, January 15th. It's a wonderful chance for us to unite and reflect on Dr. King's powerful message of peace, while actively contributing to our shared goal of ending the culture of gun violence that exists in our city.

For more information and to sign up to walk with us, check out our flyer and enter your information into this link ([link removed]) . We’ll convene at 10 am at the RISE Demonstration Center located at 2730 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave, SE. I look forward to seeing you there.

Green Book

Last week, we welcomed the release of the fiscal Year 2024 Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide, better known as The Green Book ([link removed]) . It is an important tool that can assist in accessing opportunities in the District government. We have seen great strides taken in the last decade to remove barriers and make contracting opportunities more accessible to our local small businesses. Yet, there is still more we can do to increase inclusive economic development across our eight wards. Be sure to engage with the interactive District Spend Dashboard ([link removed]) to identify procurement opportunities!

Legislative Introductions

Last month, we introduced two new pieces of legislation, the Protecting Affordable Loans (PALS) Amendment Act of 2023 ([link removed]) and the Clean Hands Certification Economic Expansion and Revitalization Amendment Act of 2023 ([link removed]) .

The PALs bill would exercise the District’s right to opt out of the federal requirement that the District apply the interest rates of state-chartered federally insured banks. It also closes the loophole that allows foreign (non-District) state-chartered banks to import usurious interest rates and largely end the explosion of nontraditional, fintech-enabled efforts targeting District consumers with these types of predatory loans. This change will allow us to protect District consumers from predatory lenders that ruin their credit scores and jeopardize their financial security.

Our Bill would exclude Clean Hands from preventing licensing of DC residents for occupational and small business and would also raise the Clean Hands threshold limit from $100 to $2,500 to ensure that District residents seeking government support, benefits, and services, are not prevented from accessing these services over modest amounts of debt. Be sure to read Tzedek DC’s ([link removed]) Locked Out ([link removed]) report to learn about the impact these changes can make in the lives of many of our residents.

Stay tuned for additional updates as these bills make their way through our legislative process.

Holiday Trees and Greenery Collection

The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will collect holiday trees and greenery from January 3 through March 2 from DPW-serviced households, which includes single-family homes and apartment dwellings with three or fewer units. Trees and greenery collected during this time will be composted in support of DC's Zero Waste initiative.
* Holiday trees and greenery will be collected within 5 days of set out.
* Holiday trees and greenery will be collected from the front of the residence at the curb.
* For missed collections, residents can call 311 and make a “Christmas Tree Removal - Seasonal” service request from January 3 - March 2.

All residents can also drop off holiday trees and greenery at three locations, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. beginning January 3:
* 201 Bryant St. NW (Roll off box)
* Guy Mason Recreation Center (3600 Calvert St NW)
* 2700 South Capital St., SE (Roll off Box)

For more information on recycling this holiday season, visit zerowaste.dc.gov

Constituent Services Requests

Remember to use [link removed] or connect with our Constituent Services Portal ([link removed]) and Director, Kelley Cislo at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Office Resources

Staff Listing ([link removed])
Request a Meeting with Councilmember McDuffie ([link removed])
Invite Councilmember McDuffie to Your Event ([link removed])

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