July 13, 2022

Ward 3 Update: Climate Bills and Summer Recess

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, the Council held our final Committee of the Whole and
Legislative Meetings before our summer recess. I am especially proud of my
two pieces of environmental legislation that passed second reading:
* B24-0267, the Climate Commitment Act of 2021 codifies the 2050 carbon
neutrality commitment, as well as adding interim targets for greenhouse gas
reductions between 2025 and 2050. It requires the District to achieve
carbon neutrality for emissions associated with District government
operations by 2040, and prepare an inter-agency action plan for achieving
this goal. The legislation revises the 50% target to 2030, to align with
the recent 2030 target announced by the Biden Administration. It also
requires the Department of Energy and the Environment to report annually on
the District’s progress toward these targets.
* B24-0420, the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2021
requires the Mayor to adopt a net-zero-energy building code that would
apply to most new buildings and substantial renovations by December 31,
2026. This would ensure that new buildings in the District are constructed
to be highly energy efficient and produce renewable energy on site wherever
possible. Through this combination of renewable energy generation and
energy efficiency, these new buildings will be “net-zero energy,” meaning
they will produce as much or more energy as they use in a given year. And
because the energy they produce will be from clean sources, they will also
have virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The Council will return from recess on Friday, September 16th, and our
first Committee of the Whole and Legislative Meetings back will be on
Tuesday, September 20th.

Regards,

Mary

Upcoming Events
* Wednesday, July 13th at 5pm: [1]Wisconsin Avenue Community Walk
* Thursday, July 14th at 7pm: [2]ANC 3B
* Saturday, July 16th at 10am: [3]Wisconsin Avenue Community Walk
* Monday, July 18th at 7:30pm: [4]ANC 3C
* Tuesday, July 19th at 7pm: [5]ANC 3F
* Wednesday, July 20th at 7:30pm: [6]ANC 3E
* Monday, July 25th at 7pm: [7]ANC 3/4G

Fourth of July Parade

My granddaughter Dahlia and I had a great time walking (and riding) in the
Palisades Fourth of July Parade last week. Thanks to everyone who came out
and made it a fun event for all.

Wisconsin Avenue Community Walks

The Office of Planning will host two Community Walks about the Wisconsin
Avenue Development Framework.

The Tenleytown walk is on Wednesday, July 13th at 5pm. It will start at
the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Brandywine Street (behind the Tile Shop
at 4530 Wisconsin Avenue) and will end around Rodman Street.

The Friendship Heights walk is on Saturday, July 16th, at 10am. It will
start at the corner of Wisconsin and Western Avenues, by the Chevy Chase
Pavilion (5335 Wisconsin Avenue) and will end at Fessenden Street NW.

For more details and to register for the Tenleytown walk, [8]click here,
and to register for the Friendship Heights walk, [9]click here.

COVID Centers

Every ward in the District has a COVID Center, where you can receive
vaccinations, boosters, PCR tests, and take-home rapid antigen tests.

Ward 3's COVID Center is located at 5335 Wisconsin Ave NW, and its hours
are:
* Monday: 10 am - 8 pm
* Tuesday: CLOSED
* Wednesday: 10 am - 8 pm
* Thursday: 11 am - 9 pm
* Friday: 9 am - 7 pm
* Saturday: 10 am - 8 pm
* Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm

For a full list of all locations and more details, [10]click here.

Cleveland Park Trivia Night

Join Cleveland Park Main Street for an evening of DC-themed trivia. The
event is at All Fired Up (3413 Connecticut Avenue NW) on Wednesday, July
13th. Doors open at 6:30pm, and trivia starts at 7:30pm. For more details,
[11]click here.

Movie Night in the Park

Van Ness Main Street will host outdoor movies at the UDC Amphitheater on
Wednesday, July 13th and Wednesday, July 20th at 9pm. For more details,
[12]click here.

Bastille Day

Our own Tenleytown Main Street is hosting Bastille Day this Saturday, July
16th, from 2-4pm in Fessenden Park. The event will feature French food and
drinks, games, music, and crafts.

For more information and to purchase tickets, [13]click here.

In the News

DCist: [14]D.C. Residents Will No Longer Need A Doctor To Access Medical
Marijuana

The bill, which was introduced by Councilmembers Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5)
and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), instead allows residents over the age of 21 to
“self-certify” they need marijuana for medicinal uses when they register
for a patient card. The card allows them access to any of the
city’s [15]seven medical marijuana dispensaries. Earlier this year the
council passed a similar bill [16]allowing residents over the age of 65 to
self-certify that they need medical marijuana.

Proponents of the bill say it aims to ease access to medical marijuana for
potential patients, some of whom may face challenges in finding a doctor
who will provide a recommendation for medical marijuana (there are 620
registered with the city to do so, out of thousands in D.C.) or may not
have the time, insurance coverage, or money to manage a visit to a doctor.

But the measure also looks to help sustain the city’s medical marijuana
dispensaries, which face growing competition from unregulated “gifting”
shops and services — known as the “gray market.” D.C. officials say those
illicit vendors can offer lower prices that undercut the legal and
regulated dispensaries.

“Due to the lower barriers to access in the gray market, a significant
number of medical marijuana patients have shifted from purchasing their
medical marijuana from legal medical dispensaries to the illicit gray
market, creating a significant risk to the long-term viability of the
District’s legal medical marijuana industry,” reads a [17]declaration from
McDuffie and Cheh accompanying the emergency bill. “If this trend
continues, it is possible that gray market sales could wipe out the
District’s legal marijuana dispensaries. Given the… benefits that regulated
and safe legal dispensaries provide to medical marijuana users in the
District, it is vital that the industry survive until the District can
stand up a regulated recreational market and transition toward full
regulation of recreational marijuana products.”

Washington Post: [18]D.C. Council to let drivers with unpaid tickets stay
on the road

Council members Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3),
Christina Henderson (I-At Large) and Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) were in the
minority, voting for an amendment that would have narrowed the bill to
allow the city to keep withholding license renewals from those who have at
least three unpaid tickets for certain violations like speeding and running
red lights.

“Make no mistake, we are sending a message that will go out and tell people
they can run red lights, they can go significantly over the speed limit,
and nothing will happen to them. They won’t have to pay their tickets,”
Cheh said. “We’re inviting dangerous drivers. We’re making our streets less
safe.”

To read the full article, click on the headline

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 [19]email or phone through our main line
at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent
services requests.

[20]Facebook [21]Twitter [22]marycheh.com

FOLLOW MARY

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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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