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Friend
--
It's late October and we're still living in a pandemic. Winter and
cold weather are looming as our small businesses are fighting to hang
on. Parents are juggling the start of a new school year and trying to
answer every challenge from getting students plugged in online to
figuring out what Halloween will look like. We keep facing new
challenges as this drags on and disrupts more and more lives and
traditions of our community. There's something real called COVID
fatigue and I want you to know I feel it too. It's almost impossible
not to. But as we watch cases surging again in other parts of the
country, it's more important than ever to keep up all the important
steps you've taken this year - protecting yourself and your neighbors.
Hang in there and let me know if I and my team can help you in any
way.
Quick Links: Schools Re-Opening | Mail-In Voting | COVID Alerts to
Your Phone | Halloween | Small Biz Grants for Winter | Vision Zero Passes | Unemployment Extension | Testing Locations | Free
Meals | Rental Help | Mortgage Help | Volunteer | Diapers | Groceries
I Want Your Thoughts on Schools Re-Opening: On
Friday, the Council will hold a roundtable
discussion with the Chancellor on DCPS's proposed return to the
classroom for some students, beginning with our youngest PK3 students
through 5th graders. I know this is both a big concern and challenge
for parents who are juggling way too many things at once. I have many
questions of my own – both as a parent and Councilmember. DCPS has not
communicated effectively to parents or teachers and it’s creating a
lack of trust and uncertainty, right at the time when they need it
most.
I will be at the hearing on Friday afternoon, but with the number
of Councilmembers participating, I’ll likely only have about 10
minutes overall to ask questions of the Chancellor. That’s simply just
not enough. So I’ll be sending DCPS additional questions, many that
I’ll take directly from parents and educators that have been
contacting me, to get more information out about what they’re
proposing so folks can make the best decisions for their kids and
family.
I want to know what you think. Do you feel comfortable sending your
student back into the classroom? As a neighbor, do you feel
comfortable with schools resuming limited in-person instruction?
It's important to emphasize right up front that DCPS is offering
in-person classrooms as an option - any family with a student
offered an in-person seat may choose to continue virtual learning (read
the proposal from DCPS Chancellor Ferebee here). In-person
classroom instruction will first resume for students in grades PK3-5,
with a priority on high-need students, including students who may be
experiencing homelessness, English language learners, or students
receiving special education services. In each school, one classroom
per grade will be in-person five days a week, with half days on
Wednesdays. DCPS will also offer what they are calling Student CARE
Classrooms. These are rooms that bring together a small number of
students and an adult. The students will continue virtual learning,
but have the opportunity to socialize and use DCPS technology. Again,
the priority is on those students who might not have a reliable way to
fully engage with virtual learning.
I am still trying to understand the implications here, as well as
the engagement (or lack thereof) with teachers and other education
staff on the frontlines. The Council will hold a roundtable discussion
on Friday, but the Education Committee Chairs have decided to only
hear from and question school leaders, not the public, so I wanted to
make sure I offered Ward 6 families the chance to let me know what you
think of the proposed plan. I will be sharing concerns from Ward 6
with the Chancellor in a letter. If you want to share your
thoughts, simply reply back to this email and let me know your
concerns.
 Mail-In Voting is Underway In DC, Early Voting
Begins Next Week: In case you hadn't heard, there's an
election underway. By now, the Board of Elections should have mailed
every DC resident a ballot. While there might be a few still arriving
in mailboxes, most residents should have a ballot. If you haven't,
contact the Board of Elections directly at 202-727-2525. And if you
can't get a response, please loop in my office constituent
services team. If you received a ballot for someone who does not
live at your address, please mark "Return to Sender" on the envelope
and put it back in your mailbox for USPS. Remember, you can return
your completed ballot via USPS or at
any secure drop box throughout the District, each of which is
emptied twice a day.
I pulled together a
two minute video explaining the different parts of your mail-in
ballot.
Vote Week begins October 27! If you prefer to vote
in-person, District residents can vote at any Early Voting Center
beginning Monday, October 27, through Monday, November 2. In Ward 6,
the Early Vote Centers are at Sherwood Recreation Center, Kennedy
Recreation Center, and Washington Nationals Ballpark (wow, what a home
run!). Here's
the full list of locations. Vote early and avoid long lines!
If you need to easily share or revisit this information, I've
put all of the information Ward 6 residents need to either vote by
mail or vote in person safely in the General Election on my
website.
A New Tool in Fighting COVID-19 Spread...Your
Phone: This week, DC Health launched a voluntary app that
allows you to receive notifications if you've been in close contact
with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The DC COVID Alert
Notification system is used by the DC Contact Trace Force to work to
contain outbreaks and the spread of the novel coronavirus by quickly
alerting people who might have been exposed. This DCist
article has more information. For iPhone users, if you have the
latest operating system upgrade, you don't even need to download
anything. It's an option under settings labeled "Exposure
Notifications." For Android users, you'll need to download the DC CAN
app and follow instructions from there. The app does not track your
geographic location or share your name or personal data. It uses
bluetooth to detect nearby phones participating where a user has
tested positive, which sends out a randomized beacon alert based on
proximity, alerting folks who might otherwise not realize they may
have been exposed. The more people who participate, the more
successful this effort can be at slowing the spread as we head into
winter months.
Questions About Halloween? As a parent and a
neighbor, Halloween in Ward 6 is incredibly special time. It's also
the latest conundrum facing parents and houses who love to decorate
and hand out candy. Here is what the Department
of Health has issued for guidance, including laying out low,
medium, and high-risk activities.
Small Business Resiliency Fund Deadline Oct 23: If
you run a small business in DC, don't miss out on the chance to
receive up to $10,000 in grant support in preparing your business for
winter. Winter will present new challenges for our small businesses,
including many restaurants that have found a lifeline in takeout and
outdoor dining (keep supporting your favorite places and be sure to
tip well if you can afford it!). The city is making funding available
as we prepare for colder weather. Information
here!
 Council Passes My Vision Zero Enhancement
Legislation! Last month, the Council unanimously passed my
Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus bill, which takes major steps to
improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. This bill
is close to my heart personally, having
lost a close friend who was hit in a crosswalk, well-known Ward 6
cycle advocate and friend Dave Salovesh, and many other neighbors in
crashes in just the last three years. We've
seen a spike in traffic deaths this year despite far less
commuting due to COVID. But the changes required by this law, which
range from ensuring crosswalks are restored following construction in
a timely manner to planning for deliveries and ride-sharing without
blocking access to laying out a plan forward, will not only improve
safety, but will create a stronger street life and provide an economic
boost. Read
more in the Post.
Unemployment Benefits Extended Another 7 Weeks:
This week the Council voted to extend unemployment benefits another
seven weeks, taking advantage of federal funding that can help keep a
lifeline to our workers who have lost income due to the pandemic --
this should apply both to PUA recipients and traditional unemployment
recipients. Thanks to my colleague and Chair of the Committee on Labor
and Workforce Development Elissa Silverman for her hard work to make
this happen. More
information on the extension on her website.
New Hours for Firehouse Testing: There is
free, public testing for COVID-19 available in Ward 6 or across the
District nearly every day. Keep in mind most testing sites are
outdoors and are subject to closure during bad weather. It seems like
testing results are getting turned around much faster the longer this
pandemic goes on, but let me know if you're finding otherwise. As a
reminder, here are the testing sites in or near Ward 6 each
week:
Fire Station Engine 8: 1520 C St., SE
Tuesdays,
Thursdays, 3-7 pm (new days and hours!)
Saturdays,
12-4 pm
Fire Station Engine 10: 1342 Florida Ave, NE
Thursdays
and Fridays, 3-7 pm (new days and
hours!)
Saturdays, 12-4 pm
Of course, you can find a
site open most days in the District here if you'd like to get
tested sooner.
Free Student/Kid Meal Sites As Of Sept 1: Click
here to see the updated list of school
meals being provided as we begin the 2020-2021 school year. Please
note, students can get a meal from any school. Here's a link
to meal sites based on bus lines.
Extra Rental Assistance Available: If you are
behind in your rent, there might be support available. Additional
funding from the federal government will be available to assist
District residents. More
information here.
DC Re-Launches Mortgage Assistance: If you're a
home owner in the District of Columbia whose income has been hurt by
the pandemic, you could be eligible for mortgage assistance through
DC's Housing Finance Agency. Get
the information here!
Here's Who To Support Financially or By Volunteering During
COVID: At this point, we've been living physical distancing
for more than 100 days. The initial burn to do something may have
faded, but these organizations are still doing great work to help our
neighbors and they're worth your support. 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:
-
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:
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
Thanks and keep wearing your mask,
Charles
Allen
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