Dear Ward 8 Residents:

The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge is set to open to traffic this weekend after the celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Tuesday, September 7th.

The $440 million bridge is the largest infrastructure project in the D.C. Department of Transportation's history.  This project was completed with 45 DC-based contracting companies and employed over 200 residents from the District of Columbia. These numbers are something I fought for and something we can celebrate. 

We know Frederick Douglass to be a connector, and this bridge symbolizes the connection between Wards 6 & 8. So, as we celebrate the bridge, we must also remember to consider our children. In the words of Frederick Douglass, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." Let us continue to invest in our children the same as we invest in infrastructure.

This weekend, the Frederick Douglass Memorial bridge will be ready for use by drivers, cyclers and walkers. I encourage all residents to get out and enjoy it. 

Peace & Love, 


Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.

The Subcommittee on Redistricting will hold a Public Hearing on the following Legislation:

• B24-0371,  the  Ward Redistricting (spacing) Amendment Act of 2021

Witnesses may use their phone or computer to participate in this virtual hearing. Those who wish to testify must sign up no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 27th, 2021, by providing their information using the following link: https://forms.gle/vg2gfB2N2UbtCJGc9. Witnesses must provide their name, email address, telephone number, organizational affiliation (if any), and job title (if any), as well whether they require language interpretation or sign language interpretation. Witnesses who require language interpretation or sign language interpretation are requested to email the Subcommittee at [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021, stating their need for interpretation and requested language. The Council’s Office of the Secretary will fulfill timely requests for language interpretation services; however, requests received later than September 20 may not be fulfilled due to vendor availability.

Watch Live:
– On the Council site, at https://bit.ly/2ooL0l1
– On the OCTFME site, at https://bit.ly/2JNZIro
– On TV, Channel 13 or 18

Click To Read Full Article Here

Last week, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s back-to-school news meeting failed to reassure parents with promises of rather vague emergency measures in the event of a worsening COVID-19 caseload crisis (“a trend of concern” in the COVID case count would trigger her administration to do what’s “necessary,” she said). 

But Ward 8 really stole the show with the frequency of events and community turnout. 

Councilmember Trayon White channeled feel-good family vibes at the back-to-school event he hosted last Saturday with a “We Are Family”-themed video. Staff members and 20 volunteers gave away backpacks and school supplies to more than 2,000 students, according to the Office of Councilmember Trayon White. 

For White, the event was a lot more than a book bag giveaway—it was also an opportunity to connect the community with each other and with local resources as Ward 8 faces dual safety concerns: the highest per capita COVID-related death rates and the highest crime rates for gun violence. The book bag drive is the culminating event for White’s 40 Days of Peace initiative, a response to a surge in crime disproportionately affecting the majority-Black neighborhoods in the District. 

Community-based organizations and health care agencies connected folks to health screenings, mental health services, trauma-related services, utility assistance, educational information, and COVID vaccinations. Apart from book bags, the councilmember’s staff and volunteers gave away new shoes, school supplies, and uniform vouchers to residents. The office also gave some backpack love to other back-to-school community events in the ward.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

America has seen a wave of murder. President Joe Biden highlighted this when announcing his six-point anti-crime initiative, noting that “cities across the country are in the midst of a historic spike in homicides, violence that disproportionately impacts Black and brown Americans.” And with that comment, he stopped talking about people and focused on inanimate pieces of metal and acrylic.

Regulating a tool used by murderers is not an innovative new idea. Most of the cities where homicide is skyrocketing are also the toughest gun regulators in the nation. Our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is a case in point.

Last month, following the murder of 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney, D.C. City Council member Trayon White cried out, “We keep seeing our babies … getting shot … innocent kids are getting shot. We are seeing this over and over again. This ain’t nothing new for us. It’s been going on far too long, and it’s on us to save us. Nobody’s coming to save us but us.”

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE