Coronavirus Update

Dear Neighbors,

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced that it would be extending the deadline to renew expired licenses and identification cards from July 1st to September 9th. Perhaps more promising than the enforcement extension is the announcement that the Rhode Island Avenue Service Center will reopen at full capacity at the end of the month, and that the DMV will now be able to release 10,000 in person appointments every week. However, until all of our DMV sites are able to re-open at full capacity, securing an appointment (details: here) may remain a frustrating process for new and long-term residents. My office is happy to help residents navigate the DMV's portal or in booking an appointment.

On vaccinations, the District will be rolling out additional vaccination incentive programs throughout the summer and, with enhanced mobile vaccine clinic outreach, our data shows that we are on track to have 70% of the District's population at least partially vaccinated by July. Many who have been vaccinated outside of the District have asked how they may report their vaccination status to DC Health, and while there is not currently a mechanism to do so, the agency has informed me that it is sharing our vaccination data with other jurisdictions and that eventually all states will freely exchange this data. This means that we will have a more complete picture of our local vaccination rate from the demographic information shared with us by those states that vaccinated DC residents. So, it is quite likely that our vaccination rate is actuality higher than what we are currently able to report.

The reasons for vaccine hesitancy; however, remain largely unchanged: the fear of potential side effects, skepticism over the safety of vaccines, concern over the speed at which the vaccine was developed, and the belief it is not truly needed. We do know that personal connections between a physician and patient and a patient and his or her community greatly help with vaccine hesitancy. So, DC Health is going to shift to a more community-centered and provider-reliant approach to reach those who remain skeptical or fearful of COVID-19 vaccines. A paid workforce of canvassers will also be deployed across the District, many of whom were vaccine hesitant themselves, to reach those who remain unvaccinated. These canvassers will also not be limited to door-to-door efforts and will aim to reach residents in community gathering spaces as well, such as at parks and bus stops. If you would like to help join the volunteer outreach effort, please see the details for the Day of Action event listed later on in this newsletter.

With all these positive developments, it is still important to remember that District residents die each week from this virus. That is why it is so critical for all of us, even those who are vaccinated, to remain cautious and safe when out in public. We can certainly enjoy the many benefits of vaccination, but we can also help protect those who are not yet vaccinated or who are unable to be vaccinated due to preexisting medical conditions. And, in a somber reminder of that fact, the National Cathedral tolled its funeral bell 600 times on Thursday in honor of the 600,000 American lives lost to COVID-19. It took a full hour for the bell to ring 600 times, with each ring representing 1,000 lives lost.

Regards,

Mary

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

The Public Health Emergency is currently in place through July 25th, 2021

Get vaccinated TODAY at any of the District's walk-up vaccination sites

Please Support Ward 3's Food & Cleaning Supply Pantry

Helping Ward 3 Neighbors in Need - The International Women's Democracy Center and Ward 3 Mutual Aid are looking for volunteers for the Feed the Family Pantry in Ward 3! The Feed the Family Pantry focuses on offering fresh produce and cleaning supplies to neighbors in need every Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at 4225 Connecticut Ave NW (the former Walgreens site right across from the UDC-Van Ness Metro Station).

For anyone looking to volunteer in-person or to help out remotely, please email: [email protected].

Updates at the Department of Motor Vehicles

Enforcement Extension & Additional Appointments - Last week, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) extended the time residents have to renew expired driver's licenses and identification (ID) cards to September 9th, 2021. The previously announced deadline was July 1st, 2021. This action, as well as other changes, will give residents more time to renew driver's licenses and other ID cards that require an in-person appointment at a DMV Service Center. This announcement does NOT affect the enforcement of valid inspections and vehicle registrations that took effect on June 1st, 2021.

Additional Changes at DMV include:

Beginning this month, the number of new appointments released each week will increase from 6,000 to 10,000 as DMV employees return to work and the agency increases its operating capacity
The DMV's Rhode Island Service Center will reopen at full capacity beginning Friday, June 25th
Employees will continue to work overtime so appointments may be scheduled on select Monday and Wednesday evenings
As a reminder, District residents with REAL ID-compliant credentials (indicated by a black star in upper right corner) may renew online at dmv.dc.gov, by mail, or through DMV's mobile app

Appointment Strategies - While the DMV has shifted many of their services online (full list: here), there are a number of services that must be conducted in person. Until the DMV reopens at full capacity, the agency will continue to use an appointment system for those who need in person services. For strategies to secure an appointment, please see the last Ward 3 Newsletter. If you need assistance in navigating the appointment portal, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at 202-724-8062 to speak with the Constituent Services team.

District Hospitals & Mandatory Employee Vaccinations

From The Washington City Paper - D.C. Hospitals to Require Employees to Be Vaccinated

"Hospitals and health systems across D.C. will require all employees and clinical team members to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the District of Columbia Hospital Association.

Each provider will set its own date for when vaccination will become a condition of employment or contract engagement for non-employees who work at hospitals. DCHA says medical and religious exemptions will be determined by individual hospitals or health care systems. All hospitals will still be expected to continue infection control precautions, including wearing masks and other personal protective gear, social distancing, hand washing, and other measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance."

Read the Full Story

Third Day of Action Scheduled for June 19th

Reminder: Ticketing & Street Sweeping Has Resumed

Enforcement & Ticket Amnesty - As of June 1st, the District has resumed several government functions—such as all parking enforcement, towing of illegally parked vehicles, and street sweeping—that had been suspended during the public health emergency.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the four-month ticket amnesty program launched to give drivers the opportunity to pay outstanding tickets for parking, photo enforcement (including speed, red-light, and stop sign), and minor moving violations. During the amnesty period, drivers are still obligated to pay the original ticket amount; however, all penalties will be waived.

At the end of the amnesty period on September 30th, 2021, all penalties will be added back on all tickets

From the Washington Blade - Longtime LGBTQ activist, DC schools official Clark Ray dies

"Clark Ray, a longtime LGBTQ rights advocate who worked for four D.C. mayors and most recently served as executive director of the District of Columbia State Athletics Association, died at his home on Saturday...

News of Ray’s passing, which first surfaced in Facebook postings on Saturday, drew dozens of messages of sympathy from friends and political associates who have known Ray through his more than 20 years of political and local government involvement in D.C."

Read the Full Story

National Park Service to Hold Community Meeting on Beach Drive

From The Washington Post - Part of Beach Drive will stay closed to cars while National Park Service studies permanent closure

The National Park Service will keep part of Beach Drive car-free through Rock Creek Park while it analyzes what would happen if it made the restriction permanent, the agency said Friday.

The northern section of Beach Drive was closed to vehicles in April 2020 as the coronavirus raged, creating a popular weekday recreation area for people on foot and bikes. Before the pandemic, commuters used the route to make their way downtown from Northwest D.C. and Maryland. It was closed to cars only on weekends and holidays...

The Park Service will host an online public meeting July 8 to lay out possibilities and to seek public feedback. In the fall, it will present “refined alternatives, along with an analysis of the impacts in the environmental assessment,” then take a new round of public comments, the agency said.

Read the Full Story

Your Input Wanted: The Chevy Chase Small Area Plan

What's Your Vision for Chevy Chase? - The Chevy Chase Small Area Plan (SAP) is a community-centered planning process to help guide inclusive growth in the Chevy Chase neighborhood. The focus of the Chevy Chase Small Area Plan is the Connecticut Avenue corridor that runs through Chevy Chase DC, which is subject to land use changes on the blocks from Livingston Street to Western Avenue, with the Community Center and Library at its heart. Community engagement is central to this process.

In particular, community input is wanted for the Chevy Chase Vision Survey, the results of which will be used to inform the Small Area Planning Process and help realize the vision and goals of the neighborhood through changes to the built environment along Connecticut Avenue. This survey will be open through June 24th, 2021.

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

The National Cathedral is Illuminated for Pride!

Pride is Beautiful - The National Cathedral was illuminated in rainbow hues on Monday and Tuesday night in honor of the Capital Pride Alliance’s 'Still We Are' Celebration of 2021. The lighting of the Cathedral is a symbol of the Cathedral’s message that all are welcome —and all really does mean all.

For more virtual and in-person Pride Month events scheduled for this month, please see: Celebrate Pride.

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.