Neighbors,

I often find myself talking with long-time District residents who are facing the pressure of increasing housing costs and even fear the loss of their homes due to increased property taxes. So when I learned that over 2,100 Ward 5 seniors are not taking advantage of the senior citizen real property owner tax relief program, I knew I had to take action. 

For those not familiar, the senior citizen property tax relief program provides a 50% reduction in property tax to eligible seniors, meaning eligible households have their property tax bill cut in half. My office developed an outreach strategy to reach each of the 2,188 eligible Ward 5 residents that are not taking advantage of this program. We are in the process of going door to door across Ward 5 and talking to eligible senior citizens who are not signed up for the program.

A detailed explanation of the program and eligibility requirements can be found here. If you think you know someone who might be eligible, please call the DC Office of Tax and Revenue at 202-727-4829. There is so much more work that we must do to address our city’s housing crisis, however, making sure that our most vulnerable residents are taking advantage of all the programs for which they qualify an important step I am proud to be taking.

In service,

Kenyan

Councilmember McDuffie's bill, Go-Go Official Music of the District of Columbia Designation Act of 2019 [B23-317], will be the subject of a hearing in the Council Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, October 30 at 4:00 PM.

You must sign up in advance to testify at the hearing. To sign up to testify, contact the Council Committee of the Whole at [email protected], or call (202) 724-7002 by the close of business Monday, October 28, 2019.

A hearing will be held on November 6th on Councilmember McDuffie's bill to support long-term local small businesses facing increasing costs, the Protecting Local Area Commercial Enterprises (P.L.A.C.E.) Amendment Act of 2019 or the ‘Affordable PLACE Act' [B23-432]. 

The public is invited to testify or to submit written testimony. Anyone wishing to testify at the hearing should contact the Committee on Business and Economic Development via email at [email protected] or at (202) 727-3888, and provide their name, telephone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any), by close of business Monday. November 4th.

At its October 8th Legislative Meeting, the Council passed a new Comprehensive Plan Framework in which Councilmember McDuffie prioritized racial equity and environmental justice, while addressing the need for a workable Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Watch his remarks at the meeting above or read more about his work on the 'Comp Plan' here.

The office is typically open from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday. To make an appointment at the office, visit www.calendly.com/ward5, or call our main office number at (202) 724-8028. When entering the Ward 5 Community Office at Luke C. Moore, please use the Monroe Street, NE entrance.

Great Streets is one of the ways DC government supports small businesses and retail corridors. Since joining the DC Council, Councilmember McDuffie has consistently expanded the boundaries of the Great Streets within Ward 5, which now include part, if not all, of Bloomingdale, Truxton Circle, North Capitol Street, Union Market, Trinidad, Dakota Crossing, Rhode Island Avenue NE, New York Avenue NE, Gateway, Fort Lincoln, Arboretum, Ivy City, Brookland, Edgewood, Bladensburg Road NE, Eckington, and Brentwood. 

This grant is open to retail stores, restaurants, arts-based organizations, and personal service businesses that are located in a Great Street area. Funds can be used for building improvements, equipment purchases, inventory management supplies, and marketing. Click here to view the Request for Applications and to start your own application. The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) runs the program and will be hosting in-person and virtual information sessions through mid-October.

You are invited to participate in the Financially Fit DC Workshop Series. This series will highlight tools and resources to help you manage your finances and build generational wealth. Throughout the series, the participating libraries will feature a curated collection of books and online resources on wealth building for you to explore!

The Financially Fit DC Kickoff and Series Launch will take place at the Woodridge Library on Saturday, October 19th with a day of networking, music, and mocktails as we learn about personal finances.

On October 25th, the DC Department of Employment Services in partnership with CBG Building Company, MRP Realty, and BMAC Consulting Group is hosting a hiring event for the Bryant Street NE development project. The event will take place from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the CBG Offices located at the Rhode Island Avenue Center Plaza, located at Rhode Island and 4th Street, NE.

This will be an excellent opportunity to interview/select credentialed new hires for skilled trades, skilled labor, general labor, entry-level and apprenticeship opportunities. Please confirm details about your participation using this registration link no later than Friday, October 18th. If you have any questions, please contact Stacey Johnson at [email protected] or 202-615-0094.

Explore your path to expungement with Rising for Justice at the Brentwood Recreation Center on Saturday, November 2nd from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.