May 27, 2020

Coronavirus Update: Phase 1 to Begin May 29th

Dear Neighbors,

Mayor Bowser has announced the lifting of the District's stay-at-home order
and the beginning of Phase 1 of the District's reopening plan effective
Friday, May 29th. Notably, non-essential businesses will be permitted to
reopen with curbside pick-up, restaurants may provide outdoor dining in
addition to pick-up and delivery, and hair salons and barbers may accept
clients under specific social distancing protocols. Our public parks, dog
parks, golf courses, tennis courts, and fields will reopen for public use,
but our playgrounds and indoor recreation centers will remain closed. For
specific health guidelines on other Phase 1 subjects, including childcare,
elective surgery, dental care, seniors, and more, please see:
[1][link removed].

Today's reopening announcement follows 14 days of reported decline in
community spread, but it should be emphasized that coronavirus remains in
our community and, as such, the public health emergency remains in effect.
As the Mayor noted at her press conference, the risk for infection
continues as more residents move around the District. The best way we can
protect others, ourselves, and our essential workers is to get tested when
experiencing symptoms, to maintain social distancing, by wearing masks when
outside of the home, and by practicing good hygiene. There is always the
possibility that the stay-at-home order may be reinstated or modified
should DC Health see untenable increases in cases and/or the decline in
other reopening metrics. Worse, this would mean that members of our
community will have suffered, and some will have died, from this extremely
contagious disease.

As many others have noted, wearing masks may be inconvenient and tiring,
but it can also be viewed as an act of kindness to others—especially to our
essential and frontline workers who are exposed to hundreds of people
throughout the day. And for anyone who is interested in learning more about
the ethics of wearing a mask or changing one's personal behavior during the
coronavirus emergency, the Kojo Nnamdi Show explored this topic on today's
program: [2]Ethicists Tackle The Pandemic’s Moral Dilemmas.

Regards,

Mary

Please see [3]coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates &
resources on COVID-19

If you know someone who would like to receive these updates directly, he or
she may sign up through [4]marycheh.com or by
emailing [5][email protected]

Food Access During Coronavirus

Help with Buying Food - There are several programs available in the
District to help residents buy food, including:
* Unemployment Benefits - Apply [6]here or call (202) 724-7000 for more
information
* SNAP (EBT/food stamps) - Apply [7]here, submit a paper application in
person, or call (202) 727-5355 for more information
* WIC - If your household has a pregnant woman, infant, or child under 5
years old, you may be eligible to receive WIC benefits. Visit [8]here or
call (202)442-9397 for more information
* Stimulus checks - The federal government is sending one-time checks of
up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child to anyone with a social security
number. If you did not file taxes in 2018 or 2019, you must register to
receive a check. Visit [9]www.irs.gov/coronavirus for more information

Help with Accessing Food -
* Need help applying for SNAP or WIC? Call DC Hunger Solutions at
202-640-1088
* Online Resources - Visit [10]coronavirus.dc.gov/food for food resources
in the District and to access the District resources map
* Get Help Hotline - Call 1-888-349-8323 or visit [11]gethelp.dc.gov if
you have been told to quarantine by a doctor and need food and supplies

Homeless Services, Day Programs, & Meal Sites - To mitigate the spread of
the coronavirus (COVID-19), many programs serving individuals experiencing
homelessness across the District are modifying their operations. The
District has created a day shelter and meal site list with the most
up-to-date information on the operations of privately funded day programs
across the District.
* The complete list may be found: [12]here. For more information, please
call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093

New Website to Help Residents Shop Local

[13]

Shop Local - Residents may use the new, resident-operated [14]Support DC
website to find neighborhood businesses that are open for delivery,
takeout, pick-up and are selling gift cards and merchandise. Search by
category, name, or by neighborhood and support our small business
community!

Consumer Protections & Help during COVID-19

Have you been scammed, charged late fees on rent, threatened with eviction,
denied sick leave by an employer, or otherwise treated unfairly?

Additional FY21 Budget Resources

From the Budget Office - The Office of the Budget Director provides support
to Councilmembers and staff on matters related to the District’s budget,
finances, and economy (this includes policy research and economic
analysis). The Budget Office has also launched a [15]budget website with
resources and tool kits for Council staff and the public, including:

FY 2021 Budget Oversight Hearings Schedule. Budget Oversight Hearings will
be held between May 20, 2020 and June 16, 2020. View the most recent [16]FY
2021 Budget Oversight Hearing Schedule. Watch [17]live or archived hearings
via DC Granicus.

Proposed FY 2021 Budget and Financial Plan (released May 18, 2020):

The [18]Mayor's proposed FY 2021 budget is published by the Office of the
Chief Financial Officer in multiple volumes.
* [19]Volume 1 is the Executive Summary, which has detailed information
on revenue, expenditures, and other components of the budget.
* Volumes [20]2, [21]3, and [22]4 are the [23]Agency Budget Chapters.
Each agency chapter includes the operating budget, full-time equivalents,
and other information related to that fiscal year.
* [24]Volume 5 is the Capital Improvements Plan for FY 2021 - FY 2026.
* [25]Volume 6 includes all the Operating Appendices for the agency
budget chapters (coming soon).

[26]FY 2021 Budget Tool Kit: The budget tool kit features resources such as
a glossary of terms, step-by-step process, and budget legislation summary.

Talk to Your Kids about Tobacco & Vaping

Protect Children - Now is a great time to talk to your kids about the
dangers of vaping and smoking. The U.S. Surgeon General and other public
health experts have made it absolutely clear: The use of e-cigarettes is
unsafe for kids, teens and young adults – and even for adults who currently
don’t use other tobacco products.

E-cigarettes pose a number of health risks for young people:
* Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine – some deliver as much nicotine as a
whole pack of cigarettes or more. Nicotine is very addictive and can harm
development of the adolescent brain, which affects attention, memory and
learning. Brain development continues into the mid-20s.
* Studies have found that young people who use e-cigarettes are more
likely to become smokers.
* The Surgeon General has also found that using nicotine during
adolescences can increase risk of future addiction to other drugs.
* In addition to nicotine, e-cigarettes can also expose users to other
harmful chemicals, like formaldehyde and lead.

Get equipped with the information you need at: [27]FightFlavoredECigs.org.

Legislative Update - The [28]Flavored Electronic Smoking Device Prohibition
Amendment Act and the [29]Electronic Smoking Device Sales Restriction
Amendment Act, both introduced by Councilmember Cheh in September of 2019,
received a hearing by the Judiciary Committee on February 18th, 2020. While
they are unable to advance out of the Committee during the public health
emergency, Councilmember Cheh is hopeful that both bills with move to the
full Council in the fall.

Reminder: Metro Requires Masks

Being Mindful of Spring Wildlife

City Wildlife - Residents should be especially watchful for wildlife when
doing spring yard work and home maintenance: this is the time when a
diligent eye can help a chick fallen from its nest, identify a rabbit's
nest in the grass before mowing, or even save an orphaned baby
animal. [30]City Wildlife is the District's best resource for responding to
sick and injured wildlife.
* To report an animal in need, call Animal Care and Control at (202)
576-6664. Officers will transport the animal to City Wildlife's center for
rehabilitation and care.

A Mother's Day Rescue - A dead tree oak was being removed from Forest Hills
Connection editor Marlene Berlin's backyard when three baby raccoons were
discovered alone in the tree's hollow. Ms. Berlin worked with City
Wildlife, Barlett Tree Experts, and Councilmember Cheh to ensure that the
baby raccoons were kept safe and warm until the mother returned that
evening.

[31]Read the Full Story

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

First Responders Salute Sibley Memorial Hospital

[32]

Healthcare Heroes - On Friday, May 15th, the Metropolitan Police Department
and DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services caravanned through Sibley Memorial
Hospital's campus to salute our frontline medical workers during National
Hospital Week and Johns Hopkins Health Care Week.

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is
closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are
teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to [33]email the office directly or reach us via phone
through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget
requests, and constituent services requests.

[34]Facebook [35]Twitter

FOLLOW MARY

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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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