November 23, 2020

Coronavirus Update: DCPS, ZooLights Express, & Slow Streets

Dear Neighbors,

Earlier this month, I sent a six page letter to the DC Public Schools Chancellor outlining a number of outstanding questions and concerns I had on DCPS's reopening plan. The items and recommendations noted in the letter (including safety and testing protocols, HVAC operations, and data transparency) were informed by my and my staff's experiences during DCPS's small group school tours that were held the end of October and during the first week in November. If there was any degree of certainty to be garnered from that experience, it was that our local school leadership and staff are deeply committed to student safety and are putting forth every effort, often in the absence of assistance from the Central Office, to meeting the needs of their students.

Last Friday, I received a response to my letter that I would like to share with parents and the DCPS community. In his letter back to me, Chancellor Ferebee provided a helpful snapshot of what DCPS is considering in terms of reopening procedures and basic school operations. Notably, DCPS has committed to publicly reporting the total number of personnel and students who test positive and are under quarantine due to COVID-19. However, it is troubling that, to date, specific guidance for each school's unique circumstances/needs has not yet been provided, even though DCPS anticipated that in-school learning would have resumed on the 9th. As regional coronavirus cases only continue to rise, it is unclear when a return date will be announced. Until that happens, I'll continue to pursue my unanswered questions and express my reopening concerns with DCPS and will keep residents updated of any further developments.

Regards,

Mary

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

All public coronavirus testing sites will be closed on Thursday, November 26th, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday

If you know someone who would like to receive these updates directly, he or she may sign up through marycheh.com

The Bridge Fund: $100 Million for Local Businesses

National Zoo Closing, Woodley Park Business Support & ZooLights Express

Zoo Closure & the Local Business Community - Due to rising regional and national cases related to the coronavirus pandemic, all Smithsonian museums, including the National Zoo in Ward 3, will temporarily close to the public starting Today, November 23rd.

While a responsible decision, this will undoubtedly adversely effect our local businesses in Woodley Park that traditionally depend on Zoo crowds and tourism. In the coming months, these businesses will especially need our support and patronage. To learn more about promotions, holiday specials, and ways to support local businesses, please see the resources provided by the Woodley Park Main Street: here.

Councilmember Cheh's Experience in the Moderna Vaccine Trial

Combating Animal Cruelty: A Discussion with the Humane Rescue Alliance

Protecting the District's Animals - Earlier this week, Lisa LaFontaine, President and CEO of the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), hosted a virtual discussion with Councilmember Cheh on the Animal Care and Control Omnibus Act currently under consideration by the Council. The legislation makes several important changes to the manner in which the District protects domestic animals and supports HRA's important work, including its ability to respond to life-threatening animal-related emergencies. HRA’s vice president of field services, Chris Schindler, joined the discussion and provided updates on recent Humane Law Enforcement cases that highlight the need to pass the omnibus legislation.

To watch the discussion, please click here or on the above video.

• If you are interested in receiving future updates about the Animal Care and Control Omnibus Act and HRA’s other advocacy work, please email [email protected] to be added to the Animal Advocacy Alliance email list.

Help DDOT Improve the Slow Streets Program

Slow Streets Community Questionnaire - In June of this year, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) closed a number of residential streets to through traffic and created a network of Slow Streets to better enable residents to safely exercise and enjoy the outdoors while maintaining a safe social distance from others. These street modifications have been in place for a few months and just recently received new, additional signage. However, there have been mixed reactions from residents concerning the effectiveness and implementation of the program.

This Week's Public Testing Schedule

Free Coronavirus Testing - For a larger format of the schedule above, please see: Situational Report.

Public Input Needed: A New Name for Wilson High School

Vote on a New Name - As noted in previous Ward 3 community newsletters, the District is in the process of selecting a new name for our Ward 3 high school. A nomination form released by DC Public Schools (DCPS) in October received over 2,000 responses, and, from that list, DCPS has narrowed the names to seven finalists for public input. DCPS has provided the following descriptions for each candidate:

1. August Wilson (1945 – 2005) - Mr. Wilson was a playwright who chronicled the African American experience in the 20th century through his plays. Among the numerous honors and awards that he received for his work are the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play for “Fences,” and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for “Piano Lesson.”
2. Edna B. Jackson (1911 - 2004) – Ms. Jackson was a DC native and educator. Possibly known best for being the first black teacher at Wilson HS, she also taught at Cardozo HS and volunteered at River Terrace Community School upon her retirement.
3. Hilda Mason (1916 – 2007) - As a member of the DC Statehood Party, Ms. Mason was an advocate for DC statehood and served as an at-large member of the DC Council for 22 years. She was also an educator who held roles in the District as a teacher and assistant principal.
4. Marion Barry (1936 – 2014) – Mr. Barry served two stints totaling 16 years as the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and two stints as the Ward 8 Representative on the DC Council totaling 12 years. Prior to his political career in the District, he was involved in the civil rights movement, serving as the first chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
5. Northwest – This is the quadrant of the city where the school sits. DCPS has other schools named for areas of the city, for example Brightwood EC, Capitol Hill Montessori EC, and Eastern HS. A number of individuals submitting nominations expressed that in naming the school for a location as opposed to an individual, we would be more likely to avoid controversy in the future as an individual’s legacy could come into question.
6. Vincent E. Reed (1928 – 2017) – Dr. Reed’s career in education saw him hold a number of teaching and administrative roles. These include being the first black Principal of Wilson High School, Superintendent of DC Public Schools, and Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the US Department of Education. He also served as the Washington Post’s vice president for communications.
7. William Syphax (1825 – 1891) – Mr. Syphax served as the first President of the Board of Trustees of Colored Schools of Washington and Georgetown. He was involved in the creation of the Preparatory High School for Colored Youth which became Dunbar HS, as well as the Lincoln, Stevens, and Sumner Schools that were the first African American schools considered equally designed to those built for white students. He was also active in movements for racial and civic advancement and served as one of the founders of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for twenty years.

Feedback provided on these names will be considered by Chancellor Ferebee and Mayor Bowser in selecting a new school name to propose to the DC Council.

If you would like to weigh-in on any of the candidates above, please fill out the following survey: A New Name for Ward 3's High School.

Ward 3 Leaf Collections - Round 1

2020 Leaf Collections - The Department of Public Works (DPW) announced that the agency has returned the leaf collections program back to vacuum collections and that residents will no longer be required to bag leaves this season. Just as in prior years, residents are asked to rake leaves to the curb or into the tree box in front of their homes (but not into the street).

Collections will occur twice in each neighborhood during the collections season that runs from November 9th through January 30th, 2021:

More Electric Charging Stations Coming to the District

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Ward 3 Business Steps Up for Seniors this Thanksgiving

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 reach us via phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.

FOLLOW MARY