February 16, 2024
Dear Washingtonians,
This week was a somber reminder that as a community, when you see something wrong, call the Metropolitan Police Department – they will show up for us every single time. I am thankful that all three officers who were shot during a troubling incident on Wednesday, and a fourth officer who was also injured, will be ok. And I am incredibly grateful for everyone at MPD who worked for hours to resolve the situation. Every day, our officers are in the community, responding to calls, building cases, making arrests, and getting guns and criminals off our streets. And we must support them.
Last week, the Council took their first vote on and advanced Secure DC, Councilmember Pinto’s public safety legislation that includes provisions from Safer, Stronger 2.0 and Act NOW. Now, we need the Council to act with urgency to hold a second vote and pass it without adding any amendments that will weaken the legislation. With Secure DC, we have an opportunity to rebalance our public safety and justice system so that, above all else, it prioritizes the safety of our community. Here are three ways we can do that:
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Share the facts about Drug-Free Zones and the mask prohibition. Drug-Free Zones will not allow MPD to randomly break up any group of people in DC. They will allow the Chief to thoughtfully address open-air drug markets so that communities can reclaim public spaces. Additionally, we continue to see ski masks used in carjackings and robberies. Reenacting a mask prohibition will not include a ban on hoods or hijabs, but it will give MPD a common-sense tool to engage those wearing ski masks in our community who intend to do harm.
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Call on the Council to remove the amendment that was added that will end the expansion of holding people before trial who have been caught committing a violent offense. This was already passed on an emergency basis last summer; after it went into effect, we saw a decrease in crime. When a person is caught committing a violent crime in our city, commonsense requires that we ask our judges to first consider keeping that person off the streets as they await trial.
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Call on the Council to keep the threshold for first degree organized retail theft at $500. We must take seriously the effect that organized theft is having on businesses and the residents who depend on those businesses. And we must give MPD and prosecutors the tools they need to hold people accountable when they target businesses.
We have an opportunity to send a clear message: if you commit a crime in DC, if you hold a gun to someone in DC, if you bring violence to our neighborhoods – there will be swift and certain consequences. I am grateful for Councilmember Pinto’s leadership on Secure DC, and I am grateful that the Council moved it forward. Now, we must act with urgency to pass and implement common-sense legislation that will rebalance our public safety ecosystem and make our communities safer.
Find contact information for the Council HERE.
Sincerely,
 View photos from this week on Facebook.
 Mayor Bowser is inviting residents to join her at the annual Budget Engagement Forums. For the tenth year in a row, the forums will give residents the opportunity to share their values and priorities with the Mayor before she sends her Fiscal Year 2025 budget to the Council.
Citywide Budget Engagement Forum
Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall
Citywide Budget Engagement Forum
Gen-Z Budget Engagement Forum
Learn more at budget.dc.gov.
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 The lottery for 2024 summer camps at the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is now open and will close on Monday, February 26. After February 26, DPR rosters for each camp will be randomly selected from those who are registered for the lottery.
Families will receive their lottery results by March 1 at which time they will receive an enrollment offer via email if they have been selected. In the email, there will be a link to sign on to your DPR account and view the enrollment offers for all children in your household. Families then “accept” or “reject” the offers for camp placements. When a family accepts the offer for placement, payment is due, the child is enrolled into camp, and a receipt for that enrollment is emailed to the customer. All enrollments and payments are due by March 6.
DPR summer camps will operate this year in four sessions from June 26 to August 16, with before and aftercare also available for families. DPR summer camps for 2024 include camps that offer youth the chance to cheer, learn about technology and science, play basketball, and more!
Visit DPRsummercamp.com to register for the summer camp lottery and to learn more about available camps.
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 From February 18 through February 23, Mayor Bowser and the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment are inviting community members to celebrate the rich legacy and ongoing influence of Go-Go in DC during the 4th annual “Keep the Beat Week.”
The week will include a series of family-friendly events that highlight the local Go-Go talent and the District's commitment to preserving the legacy and culture of Go-Go, including: Go-Go Honors, Women of Go-Go Panel, a Love & Go-Go Spoken Word event, and two sessions of Go-Go Fitness & Mindfulness.
Residents can learn more about all events HERE and can RSVP to the events on creativeaffairsdc.com.
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 The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash and recycling on Monday, February 19. 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, February 19 will be serviced on Tuesday, February 20. Leaf collection will operate on schedule. Bulk trash removal will be suspended on Monday, February 19.
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, February 20 for normal residential drop-off.
Residents are also reminded that you can still compost your Christmas tree and holiday greenery if you put it out by Saturday, March 2. Residents who live in DPW-serviced homes and buildings should place their greenery curbside, either in front of their home or in the tree box, for collection.
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 There are plenty of reasons to be Downtown this February, including these upcoming specials and events:
Be Downtown Specials: Over 40 restaurants across Downtown DC, with the support of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), are offering a variety of morning, lunch, and happy hour specials. Specials will run through March 31 and allow residents, visitors, and workers to explore the Downtown DC dining scene.
Additionally, 10 local coffee shops are offering a free cup of coffee to visitors each Monday through March 4. A full list of participating coffee shops and restaurants is available at BeDowntown.dc.gov.
Black Downtown Marketplace: This event will feature a Downtown market with Black business vendors that will showcase and sell their work.
- When: February 17 – February 23 @ 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Where: The Square (1850 K Street NW)
Presidents’ Day Family Fun Day: Celebrate Presidents’ Day and all things presidential at the National Portrait Gallery. The event will include activities for all ages and will allow residents to learn more about America’s Presidents through guided tours and story times.
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When: Saturday, February 17 @ 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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Where: National Portrait Gallery (800 G Street NW)
- Register to attend HERE.
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