Greetings Ward 8 Residents,

Let’s talk about the Comprehensive Plan. This plan is the guiding document that District agencies, residents, ANC’s, community leaders, and developers use to interpret and approve projects that will rebuild the future of our beloved city.

As a guiding document, it is imperative that we as leaders understand the adverse impacts of these decisions onto communities that fare to be the most impacted.

This amendment cycle has been critical, in that for the first time, (through our office work) the District Comprehensive Plan contains language on:

1. Racial Equity and Resilience
2. Equitable development
3. Protection against all forms of displacement
4. Public Safety and trauma-informed violence prevention
5. Cultural Heritage Preservation,
6. Community-led participation
7. Transportation Equity that prioritizes choice over luxury

In the past, the framework element stopped at the acknowledgment that the benefits and opportunities of living in the District are not available to everyone equally.

Now, it provides guidelines on how to grow and develop equitably and by including racial equity and equitable-centered approaches that address the needs of underserved communities. We must sit on that for a moment because that took lots of work, and it was the will of the District, but there is still more work to do.

The Comprehensive Plan is designed to give residents a voice. We must use this opportunity to amend the plan to ensure that the problems that our residents consistently voice to us, displacement and affordable housing, are addressed.

Trayon White, Sr.
Councilmember, Ward 8

On Thursday, October 17th, Councilmember White met with students from Johnson Middle School to discuss violence, new recreation centers, community projects and his role and responsiblities as the Ward 8 Councilmember. He concluded the conversation by encouraging Johnson scholars to create a vision for themselves to continue to be successful. 

On Saturday, October 19th, Councilmember Trayon White joined the women of Ward 8 in a walk for breast cancer awareness. 

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it is reported that in 2019, approximately 202,000 new cases of cancer and 73,000 cancer deaths are expected to occur among African-American's in the United States. 

We must continue to fight for equitable healthcare East of the River and work on preventative health and wellness initiatives to treat all of our residents. 

In their latest attempt to curb soda consumption, and ultimately the soda industry’s influence in low-income communities, several D.C. Council members have garnered the support of local nonprofits and grassroots organizations, some of which have framed food insecurity as a matter of public safety.

Earlier this month, DC Councilmembers, Brianne Nadeau (D- Ward 1), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Trayon White (D-Ward 8), and six of their colleagues introduced the Healthy Beverage Choices Amendment Act. If approved, it would replace the 8 percent sales tax on sodas and sugary drinks with a $0.015-per-ounce excise tax, the revenue from which would fund healthy food initiatives, child care, and recreation programs.

Read the full article in the Washington Informer

Ward 7 and Ward 8 Restaurant Incentive Program Establishment Act of 2019 

Criminal Record Expungement Amendment Act of 2019

Close Relative Caregivers Subsidies Amendment Act of 2019

Sense of the Council Urging Fair and Equitable Funding for Ward 8 Public Schools Resolution of 2019 

Housing Production Trust Fund Affordability Levels Amendment Act of 2019 

Prohibition of Marijuana Testing Act of 2019