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Friend --

I hope you had a restful Memorial Day weekend. Sometimes I feel like it’s hard enough to distinguish a weekend from a weekday, but a holiday almost seems hard to recognize. But Memorial Day is incredibly important to ensure we remember the sacrifice and selflessness of men and women across our country and right here at home. Of course, with powerful reminders like the New York Times front page this weekend, it’s not hard to see the parallels of loss and sacrifice happening right here and now as well.

Faced with these steep losses, and what feels like an endless drumbeat of bad news, I wanted to ask if you’d share a story of hope or resilience in these difficult times. I know much of what’s in these newsletter updates is often sobering or a painful reminder of loss, but I’d like to start adding a new feature - a story from one of you about something good that’s happened, a sliver of hope that you see, or a way a neighbor or family member has been resilient in the face of adversity. Maybe it’s the high school or college senior who found a way to have a special graduation, maybe it’s a neighborhood kid who left inspiring sidewalk messages written in chalk, or maybe it’s the neighbor who began the phone tree to check in with folks living alone in the building or on the block. The floor is yours, and I’ll share these messages with others so that we can all take comfort in the hope these acts play in our lives. 

And before we jump into the updates, I want to make sure you know today is the last day to request your Vote By Mail ballot for the June 2nd primary. Ward 6, I’m proud to let you know that we’re leading all other wards in the number of Vote By Mail requests - over 12,000! Remember, there will only be 3 voting centers open in Ward 6 (and 20 around the city) from now through the June 2nd Election Day. So avoid any lines, any wait, and #VoteSafeDC by getting your request in today. Seriously folks, do it now. You can request it through an app on your phone, you can pick that same phone up and call the Board of Elections, or heck, you can even fax in a form (yes, they still do that). Click Here for everything you need to know - but take action today because you won’t be able to tomorrow.

Quick Links: ReOpen DC Recommendations | FY21 Proposed Budget Released | Pushing For More Open Spaces | Summer Announcements | Ward 6 Budget Town Hall | COVID-19 Testing in Southwest | Judiciary & Public Safety Budget Hearings | How to Vote By Mail | Ward 6 Hits 57.3% in Census | Curbside Retail Pilots Launch | Florida/New York Ave Intersection | Metro Station Closings | More Food Assistance | Free Counseling "Warm Line" | | Volunteer With Neighborhood Groups | Diapers Help | Groceries Help 

ReOpen DC Recommendations Announced On Friday, Mayor Bowser announced the recommendations made by the ReOpen DC Advisory Group Steering Committee in support of the city's phased reopening from coronavirus-related closures. Also announced by the Mayor was specific guidance for restaurants and retailers on how to plan to reopen -- you can find reopening checklists here. You can view the specific recommendations by visiting the ReOpen DC page on coronavirus.dc.gov. We expect Mayor Bowser to share an update on the reopening timeline later today, so stay tuned.

Mayor Bowser Releases Budget Proposal While Facing Steep Revenue Drop Last week, Mayor Bowser released her proposed FY2021 budget. Not much about the last three months has felt normal and the budget process is no different. Usually, the budget proposal is sent to the Council near the end of March and we’d be voting soon to approve next year’s budget (after the public’s and Council’s review and changes). But instead, after this crisis has put about a $1.5 billion hole in the District’s fiscal outlook, we gave the Mayor more time to re-evaluate and re-write the city’s budget accordingly. Almost overnight, we’ve seen huge drops in revenue to the city and huge increases in needed expenditures to help those hurting most. Over the next several weeks, we’ll hold hearings on the budget and expect to vote this summer. As with any budget, there are things we’ll like, and things we won’t. There are some people being asked to make sacrifices, although I’m concerned that’s being done very unevenly - especially among our frontline workers and those most impacted by this crisis. I’ll be holding a Ward 6 Budget Town Hall on June 4th (online via Facebook Live) where I’ll walk through what’s in the budget - with both a focus on Ward 6 priorities, and issues across the city that we all care about. Please join me, engage with this important process, and let me know where you think our tough decisions will be. To be sure, there will be difficult decisions and cuts to be made. But I also don’t believe we should simply look to an austerity-style budget to address the shortfall. In the coming weeks, we’ll have to work together to meet this challenge, especially to support those that are being hit so hard by the impacts of this pandemic. 

DC Needs To Do More With Our Public Spaces About a week ago, Councilmembers Mary Cheh, Brianne Nadeau, and I sent a letter and proposal to Mayor Bowser and the Department of Transportation pushing on the need to open up more of our public spaces for residents and the people of our city during this public health emergency. Everyday, I see children and seniors forced into the street alongside cars to maintain our physical distance requirements on sidewalks. We need the city to move faster to identify residential blocks that could transition to open spaces that allow people to safely walk, bike, or have the kids ride a scooter. We need to move faster to identify commercial corridors where crowded sidewalks with people waiting patiently in line to buy essential goods need more space. And we need to be thinking and planning now about how we should use our sidewalk space to add outdoor capacity once we eventually get to a safe, phased reopening of some of our businesses. I’ve been encouraged by how many of you have agreed and we’ll keep pushing. You can read the full letter by clicking here. 

Schools Announcements. PLUS... Pools, Camps, and MBSYEP For parents of school-aged kids out there, I know there remain a lot of questions. Trust me, Jordi and I have the same questions you do. But first, to the 2020 graduating class, plans are underway to celebrate your accomplishments. I am very proud of you for powering through this public health emergency. You’ve been asked to sacrifice many of the traditions the spring of your senior year would hold. All of us know this isn’t the way your graduation was supposed to go. But I have a hunch you’re going to be stronger for it and more resilient in the face of challenges ahead. You’re being called to overcome and lead through something most will only experience once in a lifetime. I know you’re up to the task, and your family, neighbors, and community are proud of you.

In other school news, the big announcement last week was that the 2020-2021 school year will begin August 31st. What wasn’t announced was whether that will be in-person, virtually, or a combination of both. DCPS will also be creating a virtual summer school to begin on June 22nd for K-8th grade students that need academic assistance, need to make up class credit, or need assistance with English language. And, DCPS will be creating an optional two-week course for rising 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade students in August prior to the academic year starting. Stay tuned for more details and specifics on these initial decisions in the weeks to come.

FY21 Ward 6 Budget Town Hall: Rescheduled for Thursday, June 4, 7:30pm Our annual Ward 6 Budget Town Hall has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 4, at 7:30pm. Due to the public health emergency, we won't be able to gather in person so we'll be broadcasting on Facebook Live instead. Before the Council votes on the budget, I'll walk you through what's in the Mayor's proposed budget for Ward 6, where I'm focused in the budget debate, and what comes next in budget decisions. The Town Hall is also a great opportunity to ask your budget questions and share your own priorities before the votes are cast. If you're not able to log on that night but want to share your priorities or questions, you can leave budget feedback here for me and my team.

Free COVID-19 Testing in Southwest on Tuesday In response to concerns about potential community spread of the virus, DC Department of Health will be in Southwest on Tuesday at the King-Greenleaf Recreation Center (between the tennis courts and Greenleaf Senior) from 10am to 2pm to provide free COVID-19 testing. No appointments are needed -- free walk-up testing is available to anyone 18 years or older, with priority access for seniors. Bring your ID and contact information for an emergency contact.

Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety Hearings Due to COVID-19, this year’s Council budget oversight hearings will be conducted virtually on Zoom and livestreamed on the Council’s website. The full schedule of Council hearings on the Fiscal Year 2021 proposed budget can be found here. The Committee’s two budget hearings will be held on June 1 and June 9. For a full list of the Committee's agencies, click here. And due to the changes in this year's budget process that mean we can't gather in person, we're also expanding the many ways you can provide public testimony on the budget. Send us a video! Leave us a voicemail! Submit questions for our hearings! Find all the details here: http://www.charlesallenward6.com/committee. To watch last week's Virtual Town Hall on the budget, click here.

Tuesday is the Deadline To Request Mail-In Ballots. Have you Requested Yours? The District has a Presidential and Local Primary Election coming up on June 2. We've dramatically shifted how DC residents can still vote. Over 73,000 voters have already requested their ballot by mail. Have you? You can request a mail-in ballot and vote from your couch!

There have been a few glitches that the Board of Elections is working to fix, but I'll flag them here so you know: 

• Most people are not receiving an email confirmation after requesting an absentee ballot. Your request has still been received. I recommend taking a screenshot of the confirmation page that does pop up after submitting your request.
• The Vote 4 DC App works much better on iPhones than Android phones. Unfortunately, I don't think that's something that will be fixed in time for this Primary Election.
• The Track My Ballot feature generally works, but it often takes a week or longer before it is updated with new requests.
• The Board of Elections has repeatedly assured residents their applications are being received.
• Did I mention that ballots are being mailed out? You could be voting soon from your kitchen table!
• You must be a registered voter to receive a mail-in ballot. Here's where you can register: https://www.vote4dc.com/ApplyInstructions/Register
• If you have an issue, there are a few ways to engage BOE. On Twitter, tag @Vote4DC. Over phone, you can call 202-741-5283. Over email, send a note to [email protected]. Of course, let me and my team know if you're having issues.

Ward 6 Is Now at 57.3% Census Response (but our goal this week was 58%!): This is good news, but we need everyone to participate. Ward 6 still has four census tracts under 51%, so take a minute to respond if you haven't already and make sure you're counted. Here's how you can fill out the Census -- it's quick, easy, important, and you can do it from home.

Pilot Program Launches to Bring Curbside Retail to Some Ward 6 Local Businesses Last week the city announced a limited pilot program to let some local retail shops begin curbside, no-contact pick-ups. Businesses had to apply and several in Ward 6 were approved. The businesses are part of a pilot program to test out how phased reopening might occur and ensure safe pick-up of pre-ordered items by customers. I know each of these are beloved small businesses in our community - and you’ve probably been trying to find ways to support them already. So here’s one more way! Each store will have details on how they’ll work out customer pick-ups, so you’ll need to contact these shops directly. You can check out more details and get the full listing of approved businesses by clicking here.

Participating Ward 6 businesses include:

• Capitol Hill Books, 657 C Street SE, www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com
• East City Bookshop, 645 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, eastcitybookshop.com
• Fairy Godmother Child Books and Toys, 319 7th Street, SE, (202) 420-8276
• Groovy DC, 321 7th Street, SE, groovy-dc.myshopify.com
• Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, www.labyrinthgameshop.com
• Marie's Beauty Supply, LLC 1012 H Street NE, www.mariebeautysupplies.com/
• Politics and Prose, 70 District Square SW, www.politics-prose.com
• Solid States Books, 600 H Street NE, solidstatebooksdc.com
• Wilson-Epes Printing Co Inc., 775 H Street, NE, http://www.wilsonepes.com/contact-us/

Send In Your Input on Public Spaces at the Florida/New York Ave. Intersection Please share your feedback on the three new public spaces that will be created as part of the Florida and New York Avenue NE Intersection Project, also known as "Dave Thomas Circle." In partnership with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the NoMa Parks Foundation (NPF) is working with the community to develop designs for three new open spaces totaling approximately 25,000 square feet. DDOT and NPF hosted a virtual community meeting on May 18 via Zoom webinar, which was attended by more than 120 households. Missed the meeting? You can still see the presentations and provide your feedback via a survey through next Wednesday, May 27. Please watch the videos, then take the survey. The captioned videos represent four sections of the presentation: Introduction, DDOT Presentation, Concept A, and Concept B. Note: This feedback opportunity focuses solely on the new public spaces, not the traffic patterns or cycling infrastructure (feedback on those may be made directly to DDOT.)

Metro To Close Stations For Repairs With the public health emergency significantly impacting ridership on Metrobus and Metrorail, WMATA plans to make the most of the historically low ridership to complete capital projects at several Metrorail stations. During the months of June and July, they are planning to perform work at some stations in Ward 6, with short localized shutdowns to execute capital work around the clock. Shuttle buses will be provided across the closure areas.

Need Help Affording Food? Here Are New Ways To Get Help To support social distancing and give vulnerable residents more ways to shop from home, DC Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients can now order groceries online using their EBT card. Families can visit Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Pantry to order. To apply for SNAP benefits, visit dcbenefits.dhs.dc.gov. If you're new to the program, my staff is glad to help you out.

Feeling Stressed, Anxious, And Need to Talk? Talk with a clinician anytime in DC by calling 1-888-7WE-HELP (1-888-793-4397). It's hard right now. Even if you're staying in and working, it's hard. If you've lost a loved one or a friend or a job, it's hard. Talking it out helps. Here's information on how you can reach someone. This is a free service, considered a "warm line," meaning it's available just to help with stuff that might not rise to the level of an emergency, but it's certainly bothering you. It's okay to call and talk with someone who can offer a sympathetic ear and sound advice.

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

Here's Who To Support Financially or By Volunteering: I know many folks are looking for ways to be helpful during these hard times. If you find yourself with a lot of time and you are healthy and able to volunteer, these are groups that can put you to work. I cannot emphasize enough, however, that if you are not feeling well at all, please do not volunteer. And if you are fortunate enough to be in a position to make donations, these are organizations helping put food on the table and meet other needs for your neighbors right here in Ward 6 and across the District:

• 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.
• Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network: Started by Ward 6 neighbor Maurice Cook and Serve Your City, this is a group collecting and redistributing food and other essential items for neighbors. 
• World Central Kitchen: Chef José Andres' nonprofit kitchen has set up shop at Nationals Park and has been serving up hundreds of meals to Ward 6 seniors. If you can chip in to keep their work going, know it is helping your neighbors.
• DC Medical Reserve Corps: Organized by the DC Government, here's a way to help out as our medical response scales up.
• DC Public Schools: In need of volunteers to help keep running their many meal sites for kids in DC during school closures! Please fill out the linked survey.
• Capital Area Food Bank: In critical need of volunteers to help sort and pack food in their warehouse and assist at their offsite food distributions
• Food and Friends DC: In urgent need of extra volunteers throughout the coming weeks. There are two volunteer opportunities, food preparation and packaging and meal and grocery delivery
• Food Rescue US: Volunteers with vehicles needed to pick up and deliver food from businesses to DC residents in need
• Grace’s Table: Looking for volunteers to help feed the homeless each Saturday
• Martha’s Table: Volunteers needed to help prepare and bag food for their emergency food sites across the city
• We Are Family: Volunteer to deliver groceries to seniors. 
• Food for All DC: Volunteer to drive groceries to seniors, immunocompromised, and other DC neighbors who are homebound. Volunteer here.
• Aunt Bertha: Aunt Bertha’s network connects people seeking help and verified social care providers that serve them by zip code. Contact your local shelter to see what help and/or items may be needed

Free diapers: 

• Greater DC Diaper Bank: Long a staple of the region (and founded by a Ward 6er), the Greater DC Diaper Bank helps low-income families meet the need for diapers. DC Diaper Bank works with partner sites to distribute diapers. You can donate or support their work here: https://greaterdcdiaperbank.org/give-dollars/

Free groceries for residents: 

• Ten DC School Sites Distributing Free Groceries Each Week: I mentioned this above, but sharing here as well. Ten DCPS meal locations are now distributing groceries as well as student meals. Every Monday is Eastern High School's day to distribute in Ward.
• 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/
• Father McKenna Center Grocery Pantry Now Open: One of the programs partnering with the Capital Area Food Bank is the Father McKenna Center at 900 North Capitol St., NW. Information on how to support or receive groceries here.
  
• 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

Important Dates:

• Tuesday, May 26: Last Day To Request Your Vote By Mail Ballot
• Tuesday, June 2: Primary Election Day
• Thursday, June 4: Ward 6 Budget Town Hall

Charles Allen