June 23, 2020

Coronavirus Update: 10,000+ COVID-19 Cases & Phase II

Dear Neighbors,

Just as the District entered [1]Phase II, we hit and then surpassed 10,000
positive coronavirus cases in our community. To date, 537 residents have
died from this virus. Around the country, we have witnessed spikes in new
cases and the erosion of progress made by other states that have adopted
premature and lax reopening protocols. This should serve as a warning to
all of us that we cannot similarly lose our focus and commitment in doing
our individual part in stopping the spread of coronavirus. And that entails
wearing a mask when in public—even as the weather warms—, maintaining
social distancing, and practicing proper hygiene. Residents will now have
the option to dine at restaurants, shop indoors, and enjoy greater access
to public spaces such as playgrounds and libraries, and we should not
succumb to a false sense of security during Phase II as much of the
normalcy of life returns to us. And, of course, if you are participating in
the protests please do so [2]as safely as possible. I believe that Phase II
can be successful, but that will only happen if we all act responsibly. For
a recap of what Phase II will entail, please see my [3]last newsletter.

This week the Council is finalizing and marking up our committee budgets
for consideration by the whole body in the Committee of the Whole. On
Thursday, not only will my committee, the Committee on Transportation & the
Environment, mark up our portion of the budget, but [4]the much-anticipated
budget from the Judiciary Committee will be released and marked up as well.
While neither budget will be considered final until the full Council votes
in July, I will provide updates on what both budgets include later on this
week after the markup process. If you would like to watch either of those
committee meetings, please tune-in [5]here.

Regards,

Mary

Please see [6]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 [7]marycheh.com or by
emailing [8][email protected]

Events DC Expands Community Grant Program

Additional Funding Available - Events DC is increasing grant funding for
their Community Grant Program from $200,000 to $500,000. The program
provides financial support to qualifying non-profit organizations dedicated
to supporting children through sports, performing arts, or the cultural
arts in the District of Columbia. Funding will be made available in two
grant cycles, with applications for the first grant cycle due no later
than August 1, 2020.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend an upcoming virtual
information session to learn more about the program.

Upcoming Virtual Information Session Dates:
* Tuesday, July 7, 2020
* Friday, July 21, 2020

To RSVP for a virtual information session, email
[9][email protected]. For Community Grant eligibility criteria,
application links, and additional information, please see the [10]Events DC
Community Grant Program page.

The DC Community Loses Allen Lew

From The Washington Post -

Allen Lew, hard-driving D.C. city administrator, dies at 69 of coronavirus

Allen Y. Lew, a city-planning executive who built a generation of
Washington landmarks with a speed that countered the District government’s
reputation for corruption and incompetence, died June 23 at a hospital in
Queens. He was 69.

[11]Read the Full Story

An Update on DMV Operations

DMV Service Update - The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is expanding
services available to residents during Phase II:
* All service centers, adjudication services, and the Brentwood
Commercial Driver License Office have reopened and will operate on an
*appointment only* basis
* The inspection station will operate on a first come, first serve basis
with modified hours (7 a.m to 3 p.m) Tuesday through Saturday
* The Self-Service Vehicle Emissions Inspection Kiosk will reopen with
24/7 access

Road Testing - Road testing will resume by *appointment only* on June
30th. When customers call to schedule their appointment they must provide
their learner’s permit number, first name, last name, social security
number and the date they wish to schedule their appointment.

Making an Appointment - To schedule an appointment online, please see
[12]DMV Appointment Details. To schedule an appointment by phone, call 311
or (202) 737-4404.

Online Services - Most DMV services are already available [13]online.

Expiration & Penalty Reminder - The expiration date for all documents
expiring March 1 through the duration of the public health emergency
(including driver licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations,
inspections, ticket payments and ticket adjudication responses) has been
extended until 45 days after the health emergency concludes. Right now, the
public health emergency is scheduled to extend until July 24th, but may be
extended.
* All tickets will remain in their current status for the duration of the
public health emergency and no additional penalties will be added during
this period

Metro to ReOpen15 Stations

15 Metro Stations to Reopen - Metro has announced that the 15 rail stations
that were closed as part of the transit agency’s coronavirus response will
reopen this Sunday, June 28. This includes Cleveland Park Metro Station in
Ward 3.

Bus Service Modifications - Beginning Monday, June 28, buses will be added
to the system’s 14 busiest bus lines to provide greater capacity and more
frequent service as the region reopens. Among the bus routes that will
receive additional vehicles are the 30N and 30S buses that service Ward 3.
For additional bus route modifications, please see [14]Metro.

Enjoying Outdoor Spaces

ReOpening Outdoor Spaces - As the District enters into Phase II, many
public and private outdoor spaces will also reopen under modified
operations and hours. Below are some outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy:
* The Sculpture Garden - The National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden
has reopened to the public and is operating under reduced daily hours, 11
am to 4 pm, with limited capacity. The Pavilion Café will offer prepackaged
salads, sandwiches, and beverages for credit card-only purchase just
outside the doors of the restaurant.
* The National Arboretum - The U.S. National Arboretum is open to
visitors Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 5 pm. Car access is only
available from the New York Avenue entrance while visitors arriving on bike
or foot should enter via the R Street NE gate. All buildings, including the
National Bonsai & Penjing museum, are closed and restroom facilities are
extremely limited. There is no access to water or food services.
* Rock Creek Park Reminder - Consistent with the previous weekend
closures, segments of Rock Creek Park are closed to vehicle traffic from
now through the end of the public health emergency. To continue the
promotion of walk, runner, and cyclist use of these spaces, Councilmember
Cheh recently sent a [15]letter to the National Park Service requesting
that this closure extend through the District's economic recovery period.
* Oak Hill Cemetery - The grounds of the Oak Hill Cemetary are open for
[16]visitors during normal operating hours, however the business office
will remain closed at this time.
* Hillwood Museum Offering Free Entry to Frontline Medical Workers - The
Hillwood Museum and Gardens is open to members and [17]offering free
admission to frontline medical workers. On June 27th, Hillwood will expand
entry to the public. Entry is by ticketed [18]reservation only.

On Wearing Masks From NPR

[19]

From National Public Radio -

Yes, wearing a mask helps. Here's why

"Researchers emphasize there are two main reasons to wear masks. There's
some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is
that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person
wearing the mask. And infected people can spread the virus just by
talking...a[20] [21]study published in Nature Medicine in April that looked
at people infected with the flu and seasonal coronaviruses. It found that
even loose-fitting surgical masks blocked almost all the contagious
droplets the wearers breathed out and even also some infectious aerosols
— tiny particles that can linger in the air."

[22]Read the Full Story

This Week: DC Water Virtual Town Hall

Virtual Town Hall Meeting -

Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 pm

DC Water CEO David Gadis is hosting a meeting to discuss proposed rates,
current projects, and issues in the Ward 3 community.

The meeting will be held by phone and online using Microsoft Teams. Join
the conversation at [23]dcwater.com/Ward3TownHall or call 202.753.6714.
Conference ID: 529 122 416#

Volunteer Opportunities: Fighting Food Insecurity

Join the DC Food Project - If you are interested in helping children,
families, and seniors who are struggling with food access during the
coronavirus pandemic, the [24]DC Food Project has amassed an extensive list
of volunteer and donation opportunities across the District.

The following is a list of organizations who may be looking for item and
food donations, financial donations, or are in need of volunteers:
* 30-Second Thank you - Create a 30 second or less video message
expressing gratitude to our healthcare heroes. Once you create a video,
send it by an email to [25][email protected] along with your first
name and the state that you live in. This project was started by high
schoolers in the District of Columbia to show healthcare workers across the
country how much they are appreciated.
* [26]Black Swan Academy - Providing toiletries and other items to young
people and their families in Wards 7 & 8. Donations are needed.
* [27]Bread for the City - Accepting monetary donations for groceries,
diapers, and medical supplies to give clients during open hours. Please
consider making a donation to support their efforts [28]here.
* [29]Capital Area Food Bank - They are experiencing a shortage of
volunteers and are in critical need of help sorting and packing food in
their warehouse and assisting at their offsite food distributions. To learn
more and sign up, visit: [30]volunteer.capitalareafoodbank.org.
* [31]DC Central Kitchen - Financial contributions are needed to ensure
that they can continue to serve the community during the pandemic.
* [32]DCPS Meal Site Operations - Volunteers needed! Please complete
their short survey and someone from the DCPS meal site operations team will
contact you.
* [33]Food it Forward - Martha’s Table has teamed up with Clyde’s
Restaurant Group, among others, to deliver meals to those in need while
helping keep restaurant workers employed.
* [34]Food Rescue US D.C. - This organization delivers healthy food from
businesses, to people who have too little. Volunteers needed.
* [35]Food & Friends - Provides free meal and grocery delivery available
to people living with life-challenging illnesses. They are in urgent need
of extra volunteers throughout the coming weeks. There are two volunteer
opportunities: food preparation and packaging and meal and grocery
delivery. More information is available: [36]here.
* [37]Grace’s Table - Looking for volunteers to help feed the homeless
each Saturday.
* [38]Shopping Angels -A program designed to provide services to those
populations deemed especially at-risk for COVID-19. They are volunteering
to deliver groceries or other necessities to those who may need to stay
home. To volunteer, please see:
[39][link removed]. To request services, use
the following link: [40][link removed].
* [41]We Are Family - Volunteer to deliver groceries to seniors.

For a full (and growing) list of donation and volunteer opportunities,
please see the DC Food Project's [42]Emergency Food Access website.

Support the Van Ness Main Street's Online Auction

The Van Ness Main Street has partnered with the Paypal Giving Fund and Ebay
for their very first online Silent Auction.

So many local small businesses and entrepreneurs have made generous
donations to the auction and items include everything from teeth whitening
to restaurant gift certificates to art pieces. [43]Click here to go to the
VNMS Silent Auction page.

The auction is now live and will end on Thursday, June 25th at 12pm.

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 [44]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.

[45]Facebook [46]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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