January 12, 2024
Dear Washingtonians,
This week, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, introduced her omnibus legislation, Secure DC.
We know that driving down crime requires us to send a clear message that if you make our city less safe, if you bring violence to our community, you will be held accountable. I appreciate Councilmember Pinto’s leadership and partnership on this legislation that includes most of our Safer, Stronger 2.0 legislation and our ACT Now legislation. Passing it will support a system that prioritizes safety and accountability. In 2023, we saw pieces of this legislation move our city in the right direction. Now we can make those provisions permanent and focus on strategies and policies that will continue to make our city safer.
I look forward to signing this bill into law and urge the Council to move with urgency to unanimously pass this legislation. I encourage you to reach out to Councilmembers and share your support for Secure DC. Councilmember Pinto will move Secure DC for a vote out of the Committee on Wednesday, January 17, and you can find contact information for committee members HERE.
Find contact information for all Councilmembers HERE.
Sincerely,
 View photos from this week on Facebook.
 Mayor Bowser invites residents to sign up to walk with her in the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade and to join other events that honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
This year, the Coalition for Peace’s Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade theme is “Bending Toward Peace, Truth, and Justice.” The parade will start at the R.I.S.E Center and continue to Anacostia Park.
- When: Monday, January 15 @ 11:00 a.m., assembly begins at 10:00 a.m.
- Where: R.I.S.E Demonstration Center (2730 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE)
- Register to walk with the Mayor HERE.
Residents are also encouraged to attend these upcoming events to celebrate and honor the legacy of Dr. King:
Serve DC’s MLK Day of Action: Join Serve DC and the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs for the MLK Day of Action. This year, Serve DC will lead community volunteers in preparing meal ‘Go Kits’ for seniors. Once assembled, the group will deliver the items to the Arthur Capper Senior Apartments.
- When: Saturday, January 13 @ 10:00 a.m.
- Where: Arthur Capper Community Center (1000 5th Street SE)
- Register to volunteer HERE.
A Conversation on Martin Luther King Jr. and Activism in DC: Join the District of Columbia’s Office of the Secretary for a conversation with historian G. Derek Musgrove to discuss Martin Luther King Jr.’s role in and support of activism in Washington, DC.
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 This week, Mayor Bowser launched a Task Force focused on shaping the future of the Gallery Place/Chinatown Neighborhood. The Gallery Place/Chinatown Task Force will develop a vision and recommendations for potential future uses of the two-block District parcel encompassing Capital One Arena and Gallery Place.
Residents are encouraged to submit their ideas for the Task Force and the future of Downtown DC at BeDowntown.dc.gov.
The Task Force, which will be chaired by Jodie McLean and Deborah Ratner Salzberg, is charged with creating an immediate activation plan, long-term vision, and investment plan for the Gallery Place/Chinatown neighborhood.
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 Make plans now: Winter Restaurant Week begins on Monday, January 15 and goes until Sunday, January 21. Participating restaurants will offer multi-course brunch and lunch menus for $25 per person, and multi-course dinner menus for $40, $55, or $65 per person for on-premises dining. Many restaurants will also offer cocktail, wine, and non-alcoholic pairings.
View participating restaurants and make reservations for Winter Restaurant Week at rwdmv.com.
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 The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash and recycling on Monday, January 15. Trash and recycling collections will “slide” for the remainder of the week into Saturday. For example, households that normally receive trash and recycling collections on Monday, will be serviced on Tuesday, January 16. Leaf collection will operate on schedule. Bulk trash removal will be suspended on Monday, January 15.
The Benning Road Transfer Station is closed for renovations until further notice.
The Fort Totten Transfer Station is always closed to the public on Mondays and will resume on Tuesday, January 16.
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