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John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004

 

Phone: (202) 727-2643
Email: [email protected]

Chief of Staff:
Lindsey Parker <[email protected]>

City Administrator:
Kevin Donahue <[email protected]>

Director of the Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel:
Eugene Adams <[email protected]>

Senior Advisor:
Beverly Perry <[email protected]>

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Affairs:
Jackie Reyes-Yanes <[email protected]>

Director of Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services:
Phil Thomas <[email protected]> <[email protected]>

Scheduling Requests:
mayor.dc.gov/page/invite-mayor [ [link removed] ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


February 14, 2025

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Washingtonians,   

It was another busy week in DC: we announced legislation to protect and strengthen our housing ecosystem [ [link removed] ]; I shared with the community my vision for the RFK campus [ [link removed] ]; we launched a new partnership with UDC and Howard University Hospital to train more DC residents to become paramedics [ [link removed] ]; and the District Snow Team once again got to work [ [link removed] ] keeping our city safe and clear.  

If you missed our announcement about the RENTAL Act, I want to share with you why we need it and how it will help. Since 2015, we have made historic investments in affordable housing. The District has invested more per capita into affordable housing than any other jurisdiction in the nation. As a result, 30,000 more Washingtonians live in affordable housing today compared to a decade ago.  

But now, our progress is at risk. While we know that most people are paying their rent, too many people are not. The financial strain on affordable housing providers is threatening property maintenance, security, and the long-term sustainability of affordable homes. If those buildings go into foreclosure, the city and those tenants are at risk of losing the affordable units. In addition, DC is falling behind the region in overall housing production. Unmitigated, this will drive housing costs up for all.  

"It is helpful to listen to local affordable housing providers describe the problem in their own words and based on their experiences:" [ [link removed] ]   

dm [ [link removed] ]

To provide immediate relief, we’re making the largest-ever Housing Production Trust Fund investment in preserving affordable housing, supporting 69 affordable housing projects and preserving nearly 8,000 homes across DC.  

But we also need to rebalance our housing ecosystem. The RENTAL Act includes proactive provisions to preserve existing affordable units and expand residents’ access to them. It also includes provisions to make it clear that investing in DC is a strong bet. You can learn more about the legislation at rentalact.dc.gov [ [link removed] ].  

Our population is growing faster than any state in the country, a sign of our strength, vibrancy, and momentum. And with the right policies and the right investments, we’ll meet this moment together and keep DC moving forward.   

Sincerely, 

Muriel Bowserfems

"View photos from this week on Facebook [ [link removed] ]. "

In This Week's Newsletter:

* Mark Your Calendars: Budget Engagement Forums [ #link_2 ]
* DPR Summer Camp Lottery Now Open! [ #link_4 ]
* #BeDowntown: Step Afrika! Community Day [ #link_1 ]

Mark Your Calendars: Budget Engagement Forums
budget

Mayor Bowser is inviting residents to participate in the annual Budget Engagement Forums to share their priorities for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. These forums provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the budget process, discuss key issues, and offer direct input before the Mayor submits her budget to the DC Council.

Since launching the forums in 2015, Mayor Bowser has used public feedback to make key budget decisions. Residents can learn more and register for all upcoming budget engagement forums on budget.dc.gov [ [link removed] ].    

*Senior Budget Engagement TeleTownhall*  


* When: Monday, February 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
* Call-in Number: (844) 881-1314. Watch parties will also take place at all Senior Centers.
* RSVP: [link removed]  

*Budget Engagement Forum at Rosedale Recreation Center*  


* When: Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
* Where: Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St NE
* RSVP: [link removed]  

*Budget Engagement Forum at Kennedy Recreation Center*  


* When: Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
* Where: Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street NW
* RSVP: [link removed] 

DPR Summer Camp Lottery Now Open!
DPR S

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) summer camp lottery is officially open! Families have until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 3 to enter and select up to four camp choices per child, per session. Once the lottery closes, camp rosters will be randomly selected and results will begin to roll out on Tuesday, March 4. DPR camps will run in four sessions from June 23 to August 15 and offer a variety of exciting programs for kids ages 3-13.  

As a reminder, families who qualify for reduced rates [ [link removed] ] must apply by Monday, February 24. 


* *Lottery opens:* Now through Monday, March 3
* *Learn more and view camp offerings at:* DPRsummercamp.com [ [link removed] ] 

#BeDowntown: Step Afrika! Community Day
Step Afrika!

Celebrate the art of stepping at the Step Afrika! Community Day, an all-ages celebration of stepping and Black culture. Take part in free dance workshops, enjoy electrifying performances from the country’s top step teams, let kids get creative in the interactive Kid Zone, and witness Step Afrika!’s GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ attempt for the largest stepping dance! Don’t miss this day of movement, music, and community.  


* *When*: Saturday, February 15 at 11:00 a.m.
* *Where*: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW
* *Register to attend:* here [ [link removed](details:ticketing-summary) ] 

Back to Top [ #gd_top ]




Mayor Muriel Bowser

John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | Washington DC, 20004

(202) 727-2643

[email protected] | mayor.dc.gov [ [link removed] ] | @mayorbowser

 



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