Hello Ward 8 Residents,

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the disease and to learn more about its causes, treatment and cure.
 

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. According to breastcancer.org, an estimated 290,560 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States, along with 51,400 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. 
 

Although breast cancer is much more common in women, men can also be diagnosed with the disease. Some men choose to refer to their cancer as chest cancer. 
 

President Biden designated October 17th to October 23rd as Men's Breast Cancer Awareness Week. According to breastcancer.org, an estimated 2,700 men in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. An additional 530 men in the US are estimated to die from the disease. Because of the lack of awareness and stigma, men face barriers to early detection and proper treatment.
 

We dedicate October to ensuring access to lifesaving mammograms and breast health education for underserved women. 
 

Remember, early detection is the best protection. More information on breast cancer is available at cancer.gov/types/breast. 

Regards, 

Trayon White, Sr.
Councilmember, Ward 8

2nd Annual Ward 8 Trunk & Treat 
Saturday, October 29, 2022
4:00pm - 7:00pm 

Location
Oxon Run Park
On the corner of Wheeler Rd SE & Valley Ave SE 
Washington DC 20020
On the field near the basketball courts

Activities

• Game truck
• Bounce house
• Hayrides
• Facepainting
• Food, drinks, concession snacks and
• Live performances

October 3,2022

Contact: Chantal Fuller, Communications Director
202-355-8431
[email protected]

Councilmembers Christina Henderson and Trayon White, Sr. Introduce Legislation to Provide Transparency for Recreation Facility Capital Improvements 

Washington, DC- Today, Councilmember Christina Henderson and Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. introduced the Planning Actively for Recreational upKeep so Neighborhood Resources Elevate Communities (PARKSNREC) Act of 2022. This legislation would require the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to provide transparency in the agency’s capital improvement plan (CIP).

Currently, DPR operates and manages 14 indoor aquatic centers, 19 outdoor pools, 4 children’s pools, and 27 splash parks. It also has over 100 playgrounds and over 200 small parks that vary in size. Some of these community assets are woefully underutilized, and some are need of repair and refresh. Unfortunately, it is hard for the public to know which recreational facility will receive capital investments and when the funding will be appropriated. The PARKSNREC Act seeks to change that.

“Much like the PACE Act of 2016 for education facilities, the PARKSNREC Act of 2022 will provide stability to District communities by requiring the DPR CIP to include investments according to facility need and expected community growth, provide full-funding cost estimates for projects, and fund projects throughout the 6-year CIP,” noted Councilmember Henderson.   

“DPR facilities provide space for communities to come together in positive ways.With the introduction of this legislation, DC residents and Councilmembers will have a better understanding of facility needs and project timelines, while ensuring DPR has the resources to carry out improvements and updates in a timely manner. I am proud to support this legislation and what it will mean for those who rely on DPR facilities,” added Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.  

This legislation will complement efforts currently underway by DPR. In 2020, DPR initiated theReady2Play Plan, which is a master facilities plan that evaluates and assessesDPR public recreational spaces. Together with the Ready2Play Plan, the PARKSNREC Act will improve transparency and accountability as it pertains to DPR facilities. PARKSNREC requires guiding principles for the Recreation Facility CIP to ensure correlation with the DPR master facilities plan and the needs of the community. Additionally, this bill requires future analyses on the neighborhood growth in areas surrounding a facility, as well as comprehensive engagement with community members throughout the process. 

                                                                                                                                             
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Metro to launch warning campaign aimed at deterring fare evasion

Metro has a message for fare evaders: operating buses and trains isn’t free. Customers riding Metrobus and Metrorail are required to pay fares and will be warned accordingly. Starting Oct.4 your Metro will begin a warning campaign to alert people who neglect to pay fares that there are fines associated with fare evasion in each jurisdiction. 

The warning campaign will begin with notices displayed on digital signs throughout the system. After the digital signs run for two weeks, Metro Transit Police (MTPD) officers and other Metro personnel will start distributing physical fliers to fare evaders with the same warning information.

"As I mentioned previously, the region needs to decide what we want Metro to be, and fare policy should be part of the conversation," said General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. "Many people have mentioned going to a fare-free model, but fare-free does not mean free. There are costs associated with running the community’s transit system and therefore the necessary revenues must exist to deliver the services the community needs.” 

Below is the warning that will appear on digital signage and on fliers:

Meetings & Hearings Schedule

Browse, search, or filter to find past and upcoming D.C. Council meetings, hearings, and events.

The Committee on Recreation Libraries & Youth Affairs will hold a Public Hearing on the following Legislation:

• Bill 24-0946 the “Eliminating Restrictive and Segregated Enclosures (“ERASE”) Solitary Confinement Act of 2022”

 The Committee invites the public to testify remotely or to submit written testimony. Anyone wishing to testify must sign up using the following hyperlink at https://forms.gle/sWNMfpTtXpvdHmAn6 or by phone at (202) 417-1706, and provide their name, phone number or e-mail, organizational affiliation, and title (if any) by the close of business on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Witnesses are encouraged, but not required, to submit their testimony in writing electronically in advance to [email protected].