|
Click
here to view this email as a webpage.
If you'd like to
unsubscribe from these updates, click here.
Friend --
I hope you’re doing well and staying safe. If you’re like me, it’s
a tough adjustment to hear the sounds of Spring all around us, and
then see neighbors in face masks from a distance. These are difficult
realities we’re all settling in to. And to be blunt, as the crisis
continues, we’re going to see the number of cases increase
significantly over the next couple of weeks. This is something we've
always known was coming, and I just want to once again emphasize how
critical it is to stay at home as much as you can right now. Today.
This week. We can flatten the curve and protect our neighbors who are
working in hospitals as doctors, nurses, technicians, janitorial
staff, and more. Go outside when you need a breather. Keep your space.
If you're going for a jog, please be mindful you may need to adjust
your path to allow other neighbors to safely pass. It might mean
coming to a stop for a few seconds. Think of it as interval
training!
Alright, I've got a lot of updates to get to, so let's jump
in.
Quick Links: What's In the New Emergency
Bill? | How to Vote By Mail | Census | Schools | What Orgs Are Helping in Ward 6? | Good News | Cheetah
Cam!
A Note on Ward-Level And Racial Data in Coronavirus
Reporting: Recently the Mayor and her team began including
both racial and ward-level data in the daily Coronavirus Data reports,
which is good. But it needs to be kept in context, as the Mayor urged.
I
wrote a longer response on Facebook around what the data does and
doesn't tell us when it comes to ward by ward comparisons (in short,
Ward 6 has anywhere from 10-15,000 more residents than any other Ward
at the moment and likely benefits from greater access to testing). So
to be clear, there is no localized outbreak - the reality is that the
virus is in every neighborhood and we’re at the point of wide
community-spread. Remember, the virus does not care about Ward
boundaries, so take every precaution you can.
We are seeing, much like the rest of the country, the historic
health inequities and underinvestment in the African American
community play out in a very serious way during this pandemic. A
pandemic like this doesn't just create inequities, but it also puts in
a stark light just how dangerous preexisting inequities are and how
they manifest in a crisis. Longstanding lack of access to healthy and
affordable food, housing, access to sound medical care, health
insurance, workplace safety, and interventions to improve health are
just some of the many causes behind the inequities we are seeing now.
We can't wait until this crisis is over to begin better understanding
and being ready to take on those challenges. It's everything from the
lack of a full-service maternity ward in the eastern half of the city
to the longer commutes and lower paychecks of black residents and lack
of affordable housing. All of that is playing out right now, in front
of our eyes. We have to do more and be better.
 Council Passes Second Emergency Bill Responding to
COVID-19: Today the Council passed a second wide-ranging
emergency bill to expand the District's response to the novel
coronavirus and the many ways it has disrupted life in our community.
This was also the first time ever the Council met and voted remotely.
For a reminder, here's a link to everything
in the first bill. I'll quickly run through some of the major
components of the bill:
Creates Mortgage and Rent Payment Deferral: If you've
experienced a financial loss or hardship due to coronavirus, many
commercial and residential landlords can now legally request to defer
payments for up to 90 days from their mortgage servicer and that
provision will last until 60 days after the conclusion of this public
health emergency -- without charging any fees or reporting a deferment
to credit monitoring agencies. A mortgage servicer under DC's
authority must honor that request and work to reach a repayment plan
that can last up to five years. The bill requires if you do receive a
deferment that those savings be passed on to any tenants in the
building as necessary. As in, you can't ask for a delay on mortgage
payments, but then deny a tenant's request if they ask for a
deferral. Read
more from Urban Turf.
Freezes All Rent Increases: Landlords cannot increase the
rent during a public health emergency, even if it was previously
notified prior to the start of the public health crisis.
Freezes All Debt Collection: No debt collection can take
place until after the public health emergency. In fact, debt
collectors can't even contact anyone during the freeze, though they
can answer questions that debtors might have.
Expands Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance: The bill
also made changes to the District's unemployment insurance following
the passage of the federal CARES Act, which makes independent
contractors and gig workers eligible for unemployment dating back to
any disruption in income from January 27, 2020. But please wait just a
little longer if you are an independent contractor -- the Department
of Employment Services is not yet ready to process your application
quite yet. But benefits will backdate! Stay tuned, I'll share an
update as soon as I have one. Keep an eye here as well: does.dc.gov
Additionally, the Council waived any requirement to search for work
as a precondition to receiving unemployment benefits and acted in
accordance with new federal law that employers are required to provide
14 days paid sick leave annually.
Related: Still waiting on Support for undocumented neighbors
and other excluded workers: There was a big hole in what we were
able to address yesterday, as the bill did not include anything
providing direct cash assistance to our neighbors who don't have legal
status or are otherwise excluded from many of the benefits provided to
residents. This is a huge issue and one I had hoped was going to be
addressed in yesterday's legislation, but it wasn't. I am committed to
working to find a way to help out our neighbors, and I think all of my
colleagues are as well. These are folks who are every bit members of
our community as any of the rest of us, and from whom's work we all
benefit. I know this was an issue many Ward 6 neighbors cared about,
and I'm sorry we couldn't reach a solution that was workable between
the Council and the Mayor in time.
Expanded Ability for Courts to Review Sentencing for Aging,
Ill, and Other Long-Serving Inmates: If anything can be
considered a hotspot for coronavirus with certainty, it’s jails and
prisons. What happens inside our jail will exacerbate our health
crisis outside of those walls. As Chair of the Committee on the
Judiciary and Public Safety, I am proud to say this bill expands
eligibility for who can appeal for a release based on either
compassion or good time credits. Every inmate automatically earns good
time credit annually when they follow the rules and behave well. We
expanded the value of those good time credits and also mirrored the
federal First Step Act (which largely neglected the District) with
compassionate release standards. The goal is to reduce the population
of people who are living at DC Jail, but are no longer a threat to
public safety in the interest of keeping other inmates, correctional
officers, and others safe.
Additional Authority for DC's Attorney General to Prosecute
Violations: The Council also temporarily extended prosecutorial
authority to DC's Attorney General to bring legal action against
anyone violating DC's Human Rights Act, which provides extensive
protections for many different residents. Currently, all violations of
the Human Rights Act are handled by DC's Office of Human Rights, which
is still the best place to start if you believe you've experienced a
civil rights violation.
$25 Million to Support Local Hospitals: As the District
prepares for a surge in demand for hospital use, the Council approved
spending of $25 million for hospitals to add more beds and other
capacity needs to handle an increased demand of people who have
COVID-19 and need intensive treatment.
Electronic Wills: Residents can now create a will with a
witness present electronically, as in over video chat, as long as you
can see the witnesses and they can see you; you can also create a will
electronically, as in using a Word document with an e-signature. For
more info about wills, check out www.lawhelp.org/dc
or contact an estate attorney.
Miscellaneous Provisions: Creates a Funeral Bill of Rights
to protect residents in the event of a tragic loss of life, which OAG
will enforce; strengthens your rights against utility cutoffs with
internet and phone services.
DCPS Sending Home More Laptops and Hot Spots: I'm
very concerned about the 'digital divide' in our homes now that every
student is part of distance learning. Yesterday, Chancellor Ferebee
announced more laptops and other technology will be distributed to
middle school students this week and elementary school students
beginning next week. I wish this had been done sooner, but
distribution is now underway for high school students. And DCPS
purchased 10,000 mobile hotspots for homes who don't have reliable
internet access. Look for more information from your school and please
share this information within your school community!
Vote Safe (By Mail) in DC's June 2 Election: The
District is in the process of rolling out a big effort to get as many
residents to vote via absentee ballot in the mail as possible so you
don't have to go vote in person. DC has a plan to ensure every
registered voter who wants to vote using an absentee ballot can.
Request an absentee ballot today from DC's Board of Elections - there
are five ways to get one, including the Vote 4 DC app, download
and printing a form, and calling to request a form be mailed to you.
If you aren't a registered voter yet in the District of Columbia, no
problem! You
can register to vote online today.Everyone can vote by mail this
election and stay safe while still carrying out one of our most
important civic duties as citizens.
 Ward 6 - Participate in the Census! So
much is at stake in how the Census counts different state's population
changes - including funding levels for many federal programs. Take the
Census now and ensure you and your family are counted in our
community. Right now, ANC 6E (Shaw, Mt. Vernon Triangle) and ANC 6D
(Southwest) are a little behind the rest of the Ward in participation
- check out the map on participation rates as of April 4 to the right.
But we can all do more! Here's
how you can fill out the Census, which only takes about 10
minutes, from your home. If you are at home all day, take a moment and
call a friend or neighbor, catch up with them, and remind them to do
the Census.
CDC Advises Wearing a Cloth Mask in Public: As
you've probably noticed, the CDC has revised its guidelines and is now
advising all Americans to wear a cloth mask in public when social
distancing is tough to maintain (like grocery stores). They are not
advising residents to wear surgical or N95 masks, for which there is
still a huge national shortage for our health care workers. Here's
more info from the CDC. And if you're looking for the Shop Local
angle here, Shop
Made in DC has you covered (although out of stock at the moment!).
Keep an eye on that page for a chance to support local makers and get
a few cloth masks.
Related: It's very important to note that wearing cloth
masks in public and in stores will be a difficult decision for many
black men and other members of our community who worry about how
others will react. I still urge everyone to wear a mask and practice
social distancing, but be mindful there's a lot behind that decision
for some of your neighbors. Here's
a quick op-ed if you wanted to read more.
Facebook Town Hall and Future Virtual Events: Last
night I held a Facebook Town Hall with a few hundred Ward 6 residents
tuning in. If
you missed it, you can watch it right here. I provided an update
on the legislation and tried to answer as many questions as possible.
I also heard from folks who either don't have Facebook or don't want
Facebook due to privacy concerns. I hear you loud and clear. We're
looking into alternatives. For me, a big key is that I need is to be
able to reach Ward 6 neighbors, especially folks who aren't as plugged
in, where they are. While new platforms might offer some benefits, its
not helpful if Ward 6 residents don't know how to find it. I'll
keep working on it with my team, just wanted to make sure you
understand what we're trying to balance.
COVID-19 Resources in Ward 6: My staff and I are
keeping a running list of resources available for Ward 6 residents on
my website. That includes information on free daily meals for students
and senior residents, free groceries and diapers, how to volunteer,
how to get tested if you are symptomatic, and more. If there's
something you'd like to see added or corrected, reach out to Erik
Salmi on my team ([email protected]): http://www.charlesallenward6.com/covid_19_info
World Central Kitchen Teams Up With The Nationals:
In the last newsletter, I shared some good news that we were able to
get hundreds of seniors in Ward 6 who live in affordable housing
buildings free meals prepared by our restaurants and delivered each
day. Now Chef Jose Andres has taken over the kitchen at Nationals Park
(on
what was supposed to be Opening Day, no less!) and is prepared to
cook thousands of meals for residents in need, including Ward 6
residents. Thank you Chef!
Related: I know many of our BIDs are rolling up their
sleeves and jumping in on how to help feed our neighbors. Southwest
BID, Mt. Vernon Triangle CID, and Capitol Riverfront BID staff and
clean team members are delivering meals to homebound seniors,
students, and more. I'm incredibly grateful for these partners, who
are helping make connections that are keeping folks afloat. Who else
have you seen stepping up? Let me know and I'll update this list!
Three (So Far) New Baby Cheetahs at the
Zoo! Here's some good news and something fun. You can watch
the National
Zoo's Cheetah camera to check in on the three new baby cheetah
cubs born today!
Look for the Helpers, Ward 6 Edition: I know many
folks are looking for ways to be helpful during these hard times.
There are a lot of organizations pitching in, and I can't list them
all, but let me highlight a few that my staff has relied on to help
when we get calls. If you want to support them, you can know you are
helping your neighbors. And if you want to volunteer, here are the
folks doing great work just around the corner from you.
-
General Assistance:
-
Ward 6 Mutual Aid: Set up by Maurice Cook of Serve
Your City, the Ward 6 Mutual Aid is meeting a range of needs from
groceries to collecting and distributing laptops to
students. For more information, if you want to help, or if you
know of someone who could use assistance, email [email protected] or
call 202-683-9962. Donate by visiting https://www.serveyourcitydc.org/covid-19-emergency-response
-
Table Church DC (via Ward 6 neighbors): Started by
Ward 6 neighbor Allison McGill, this is a great effort pairing
volunteers with residents who need help with a range of needs,
including just someone to run to the store for them. Start here: https://thetablechurchdc.org/coronavirus-assistance
-
DC Medical Reserve Corps: Organized by the DC
Government, here's a way to help out as our medical response needs to
scale up. Information here: https://dchealth.dc.gov/mrc
-
Free diapers:
-
Free groceries for residents:
-
Martha's Table: Daily grocery distribution at 2nd and
H Street from 5:15-5:45 pm. Donate here to support their work: https://marthastable.networkforgood.com/projects/95536-martha-s-table-martha-s-table-expanded-programs-covid-19
-
Capital Area Food Bank: Behind many good nonprofits
is the CAFB, supplying many groceries from bulk purchasing to food
pantries across the region. Help them today: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/donate/
-
H Street Food Drive for Ward 5-6 Neighbors:
Contactless food/groceries available for neighbors who need some extra
assistance. They also offer contactless food delivery for anyone in
the area that needs it, especially elderly, single parents, those with
special needs. Drop off or Send Non-Perishable Food Deliveries To: @maketto1351 |
Attention: H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE | 1351 H ST. NE, Washington, D.C.
20002. Send all monetary donations To: PayPal: PayPal.me/CHRiSCARDi
| Venmo: @ChrisCardi
-
Pick up at Maketto: 1351 H Street, NE
Monday – Saturday:
7:30am – 9:30pm
Sunday: 7:30am -5pm
- If in need of delivery assistance text 202-681-3532.
 Ward 6 Happy Hour Friday at 5 pm: The last
three Fridays, Ward 6 neighbors have ended the week by stepping
outside onto their porch, stoop, balcony, or front door to take in
some springtime air and get to know neighbors. I think it's a
wonderful way to make the most of staying at home. I do want to
emphasize a few things, based on feedback we've been getting. First,
please don't block sidewalks if you want to sit near your neighbors
while still being spaced away. That's not physical distancing and it
can make it harder for neighbors to pass you. Second, just because its
a happy hour, please don't take that as a push to drink alcohol. While
many neighbors might opt to enjoy an adult beverage, a nice cold glass
of DC’s finest tap water works as well. This is really about getting
to know each other safely and maintaining (if not growing) our social
connections during this time of physical isolation. All laws around
public consumption still apply, so please exercise your better
judgment. See you Friday at 5 and remember to share online using
#Ward6HH! Last week was a particularly tough one for my household, so
getting to Friday and stepping outside was just a nice opportunity to
step back for a few minutes and let the kids play.
Stay safe!
Charles Allen
|