CMs On FY2014
CMs On FY2014
CMs On FY2014
From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Cheh <updates@marycheh.com> Monday, March 25, 2013 4:43 PM susie.cambria@gmail.com Cheh Requests Support for Ward 3 Projects in FY14 Budget
Dear neighbors,
My Office The Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 108 Washington, D.C. 202-724-8062 www.marycheh.com Social Media Follow Mary on Twitter @marycheh Connect with Mary on Facebook by clicking here!
STAFF CONTACTS Jonathan Willingham Chief of Staff jwillingham@dccouncil.us Kiara Pesante Communications Director kpesante@dccouncil.us Dee Smith Director of Constituent Services dsmith@dccouncil.us Judy Hubbard Asst. Dir. of Constituent
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This week, the Mayor is expected to deliver his Fiscal Year 2014 budget to the Council. Once we receive it, we will begin the next phase of the oversight process, with each Councilmember conducting another round of oversight hearings for the agencies under their committee jurisdiction. I have asked for a number of things in the budget, related both to the Ward and my committee. The items identified below are those that touch Ward 3 residents most directly. Regards, Mary
WARD ISSUES
1. Full Funding for Hearst and Mann Modernizations in FY 2014
~$16 million for Hearst and ~18 million for Mann in FY 2014 Hearst and Mann are two high achieving schools that serve students from across the District. Hearst is more than 50 percent over capacity, and half of its students are in trailers. Hearst is the only school that we know of that has no common space whatsoever no cafeteria, no gym, no auditorium, and no multipurpose room. Students receive their lunch in a hallway and eat it in their classroom. Similarly, Mann is 36 percent over capacity, and
Services jhubbard@dccouncil.us Leah Singleton Community Outreach Director & Scheduler lsingleton@dccouncil.us Drew Newman Legislative Director anewman@dccouncil.us Aukima Benjamin Administrative Assistant abenjamin@dccouncil.us
half its students, too, are in trailers. Many years ago, a group of neighbors built a small community room adjacent to Mann, but it holds only a fraction of the student body. Like Hearst, Mann has no cafeteria, no gym, no auditorium, and no multipurpose room. The Department of General Services planned and promised the communities complete modernizations this year. Unfortunately, there is only funding to modernize the existing buildings not to add any new spaces that these overcrowded schools desperately need. Fully funding these modernizations in FY 2014 would allow work to continue uninterrupted from this summer and be completed by August 2014 which would ultimately save the District money! 2. Modernization of Palisades Library & Cleveland Park Library $2.965 million & $2.3 million, respectively The modernization of the Palisades Library was included in last years budget, but is not slated to begin until FY 2017. The same is true of the modernization of the Cleveland Park Library. The two libraries are next in line to be modernized (the Northeast Library modernization is already underway and Lamond Riggs is not slated until FY 2018). In both instances, modernization is needed to replace aging buildings with limited capacity. Modernized facilities are expected to significantly expand the availability of electronic resources and programing capabilities, consistent with the mayors educational priorities and reflective of the vibrant communities in which they are sited. 3. New Hardy Recreation Center ~$15 million A new facility is needed to replace the current small, inadequate, dilapidated facility on Q Street off of MacArthur Boulevard. 4. Modernization of Palisades Recreation Center ~$12 million A modernized facility would complement the refurbished fields at the Palisades Recreation Center. The current facility is inadequate with nothing in the neighborhood to offset its failings. 5. Trash and Recycling Containers $10 million in FY 2015 or FY 2016 Capital Budget The District last replaced residential trash and recycling
containers throughout the District in 2001. DPW stated that the containers have a 10-year lifespan. Despite the fact that these containers are beyond their intended lifespan and DPW would like to replace them, funds are not currently budgeted for this purpose. I have also asked DPW to increase the size of the recycling bins. 6. Repealing the Out-of-state Municipal Bonds Tax ~$1.19 million The tax on out-of-state municipal bonds was inserted into the BSA during the discussion of the FY12 budget as a placeholder. It was then enacted based on maneuvering during the vote. Thanks to the Mayor, we have managed to delay its implementation until January 1, 2013, but it should be removed altogether. Contrary to the common refrain that it is a tax on high-income earners, the most recent data shows that approximately 57% of bondholders reported an income of less than $200,000 and 38% are over 65. In truth, these bonds are mainly used for retirement planning. And although the current law grandfathers in bonds purchased prior to January 1, 2013, that doesnt sufficiently insulate seniors. For one, most individuals hold their municipal bonds in the form of bond funds. Those funds sell and purchase bonds on a regular basis. As that normal churn occurs, more and more of an individuals holdings will lose its tax-exempt status, even though the individual hasnt made any new purchases. Second, the District simply does not have the variety or number of bonds issued each year to cover the demand to offset the bonds from other jurisdictions that have lost their tax-exempt status. 7. DMV Customer Service Improvements Recurring Funds in FY 2014 Operating Budget With over 1,000 new residents moving to the District each month, the Districts population is steadily growing. As almost every new resident must visit the DMV, this rising population puts an increasing strain on DMV resources. While the DMV used to have four service centers, it currently has only three, which can have very long waits. I support creating a fourth DMV service center either at the Georgetown Park mall or somewhere else in Wards 2 or 3 and increasing the staffing levels at all DMV centers to accommodate the increased number of residents.
Susie Cambria
From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Cheh <updates@marycheh.com> Thursday, March 28, 2013 6:00 PM susie.cambria@gmail.com Cheh Secures Funding for Modernization of Hearst, Mann, More in FY14
My Office The Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 108 Washington, D.C. 202-724-8062 www.marycheh.com Social Media Follow Mary on Twitter @marycheh Connect with Mary on Facebook by clicking here!
STAFF CONTACTS Jonathan Willingham Chief of Staff jwillingham@dccouncil.us Kiara Pesante Communications Director kpesante@dccouncil.us Dee Smith Director of Constituent Services dsmith@dccouncil.us Judy Hubbard Asst. Dir. of Constituent
Services jhubbard@dccouncil.us Leah Singleton Community Outreach Director & Scheduler lsingleton@dccouncil.us Drew Newman Legislative Director anewman@dccouncil.us Aukima Benjamin Administrative Assistant abenjamin@dccouncil.us
$13.535 million in FY 2014 to fully fund the renovation and modernization of Hearst Elementary School; $22.02 million in FY 2014 to fully fund the renovation and modernization of Horace Mann Elementary School; $4.85 million in FY 2014 to add additional classrooms to Janney Elementary School; $8.655 million in FY 2014 to increase the budget of the renovations to the Rose-Reno School; $46.3 million divided between FYs 2014, 2015 and 2016 for Lafayette Elementary School; $32.6 million divided between FYs 2015, 2016, and 2019 for Murch Elementary School; $7.9 million in FY 2015 and $5 million in FY 2019 for OysterAdams; and $6.5 million in FY 2016 and $4.2 million in FY 2019 for Eaton Elementary School. Public Libraries $10 million to increase library hours and $2 million for new library books; $15.225 million divided between FY 2015 and FY 2016 to modernize the Cleveland Park Library. This is an increase of more than $12 million from the original $2.3 million in FY 2017; and $21.7 million divided between FY 2015 and FY 2016 for a new Palisades Library. Recreation Centers $1.5 million in FY 2014, $4 million in FY 2015, and $4 million in FY 2016, totaling $9.5 million, for a new Palisades Recreation Center; and A study on the future modernization of Hardy Recreation Center in FY 2014. Other Issues The permanent repeal of the out-of-state municipal bond tax; $2 million each year for phased replacement of Supercans and recycling bins, with larger recycling bins to come; and $400 million for the expansion of the Streetcar throughout the District. Councilmember Cheh said she is confident that these appropriations will enhance the quality of life for all residents, continue our economic recovery, and provide vital infrastructure improvements to our schools and libraries.
Susie Cambria
From: Sent: To: Subject: Councilmember Anita Bonds <dcdocs@dc.gov> Thursday, March 28, 2013 7:28 PM susie.cambria@gmail.com Councilmember Anita Bonds on Mayors proposed Fiscal 2014 Budget
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release: March 28, 2013 For more information call David Meadows at 202-431-3216
Fully supportive of the proposal to renovate, build and restore the operations at our public libraries, Councilmember Bonds will also fight to secure funding to extend the hours of operations at our public pools. Currently, the 19 city pools are only open from 1:00PM until 8:00PM and she agrees with families across the city that the pools should open earlier. I remain committed to funding priorities that help provide quality services, eradicate poverty and keep longstanding residents and businesses in this great city, stated Councilmember Anita Bonds, adding, I look forward to working with the Mayor, Chairman Mendelson and the Council to adopt a budget without waste that will reflect the needs of the people and keep the district moving forward.
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Susie Cambria
From: Sent: To: Subject: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie <dcdocs@dc.gov> Wednesday, March 27, 2013 7:20 PM susie.cambria@gmail.com McDuffie Fights for Ward 5 Projects in FY14 Budget
Dear Residents, Tomorrow, the Mayor will deliver his Fiscal Year 2014 budget to the Council. Once the Council receives the budget, we will begin a month-long process of conducting budget oversight hearings for the Districts agencies. The Government Operations Committee, of which I am chair, has oversight over 19 agencies, and will hold budget oversight hearings on April 11, 22, 25, and May 2. For a full listing of hearings, see the Councils calendar. I have heard from many of you about what you would like to see in this years budget for Ward 5. Over the last several months, I have outlined my budget priorities with the Mayor and various agency heads, related both to Ward 5 and the agencies under my committee. I presented them with realistic priorities that I feel would have the greatest impact on our Ward. Details of some of those priorities are listed below. Over the next two months my staff and I will work diligently through the Council budget process to ensure that we are improving the quality of life for Ward 5 residents, incentivizing economic development, and enhancing job and educational opportunities throughout our Ward. Warm regards, Kenyan
Improvements for Rhode Island Avenue N.E. The Rhode Island Avenue N.E. corridor has lacked the resources necessary to become a truly vibrate gateway into the city. In 2012 I introduced, and the Council passed, a bill formally designating Rhode Island Avenue as a Retail Priority Area. To realize Rhode Island Avenues full potential, my priority is to allocate funding for economic development incentives, walkable streetscape enhancements, a Main Streets program, and targeted assistance for small businesses along the corridor.
Spurring Economic Development Along Bladensburg Road N.E. Bladensburg Road N.E. deserves the same resources and capacity-building assistance as H Street NE. To this end, I have been working to enlarge the boundaries of the H Street Main Street to include Bladensburg Road N.E., an expansion that would extend critical support to small businesses along the Bladensburg Road corridor. On a parallel track, I am advocating to designate Bladensburg Road N.E. as a Retail Priority Area, which will provide access to funds for larger-scale economic development.
Supercans for Seniors Last year I introduced the Supercans For Seniors Act 2013, which provides free replacement 96-gallon trash cans and 32-gallon recycling carts to senior citizens within the District. I, along with my colleagues on the Council, have encouraged the Mayor to fund this bill, and to go further by allocating funding for replacement cans for all District residents.
Shaed Elementary Conversion For many years, the residents of the Edgewood community have asked for a new recreation center that meets the needs of their growing community. To address this need, I have asked the Mayor to consolidate the Shaed School and the Edgewood field house into a state of the art community service center and sports facility.
Langdon Elementary School Modernization As Langdon Elementary School prepares to absorb students from other schools, I have heard from many Ward 5 parents about the need to modernize the school in the FY 14 budget year. Therefore, I am advocating for improvements to the facilities over the summer, in advance of the upcoming school year. I am also requesting a FY14 modernization that includes a new gym, auditorium, and cafeteria.
McKinley Tech Middle School Cafeteria Enhancement As we move towards opening the new STEM middle school at the McKinley Tech campus, we need to ensure that students have the facilities to make the best out of their learning experience. The current cafeteria configuration is not adequate for McKinleys needs. To address this issue, I have requested funding to convert the courtyard into an expanded cafeteria for McKinleys students.
Lamond Riggs Library Ward 5 deserves not one, but two great libraries. That is why I have requested a full modernization of the Lamond Riggs library similar to the Woodridge library modernization plans.
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Susie Cambria
From: Sent: To: Subject: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie <dcdocs@dc.gov> Friday, March 29, 2013 5:19 PM susie.cambria@gmail.com McDuffie Secures Funding for Critical Ward 5 Projects and Fights to Improve the Quality of Life for District Residents
McDuffie Secures Funding for Critical Ward 5 Projects and Fights to Improve the Quality of Life for District Residents Washington, DC Yesterday, Mayor Vincent Gray (D) presented to the Council of the District of Columbia his proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 budget. Over the last several months, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D Ward 5) outlined his Ward 5 and agency budget priorities with the Mayor and agency directors. The Mayors proposed $10.7 billion dollar budget addresses many of these requests, including funding for Ward 5 schools and libraries, increasing
the citys investment in affordable housing, promoting economic development, and enhancing job and educational opportunities. Mayor Gray presented a solid budget, one that is aimed at improving the quality of life for residents, incentivizing economic development, and increasing educational opportunities for our students, said Councilmember McDuffie. I am pleased to see many of the issues for which I advocated in the Mayors plan. A number of my legislative initiatives over the past year are reflected in the FY14 budget, including replacement Supercans for all residents throughout the city. I am also pleased to see $100 million for affordable housing, full funding for the new Brookland Middle School, and the modernization of Spingarn High School and Langdon Elementary School, as well as capital to improve Ward 5s Great Streets. These are all critical investments in the future of Ward 5. Additionally, McDuffie supported and is pleased to see increased funding for the DC Board of Elections (BOE), the Office of Campaign Finance (OCF), and the DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA). These agencies play a critical role in McDuffies plan, as Chair of the Government Operations Committee, to restore integrity to the Districts electoral process. Elections and a transparent campaign finance system are vital elements of our democracy. BOE, OCF, and BEGA must be equipped with sufficient resources to accomplish their missions this has been lacking in the past and has contributed to the problems we have faced as a city. Through the budget oversight process, I will ensure that BOE, OCF, and BEGAs budgets enable them to uphold and enforce our laws, said McDuffie. Working with the Mayor, Councilmember McDuffie secured and preserved funding for the following:
Over $49 million, including receiving school realignment funds, for Ward 5 school construction and modernization; $2 million to expand the Supercans For Seniors Act 2013 to include all residents; Up to $5 million to increase the Retail Priority Area program to include Ward 5 Great Streets, including a study for streetscape enhancements on Rhode Island Avenue, N.E.; Funding for the Langdon Park Community Center, Harry Thomas Sr. Recreation Center, Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, and Noyes Recreation Center; Over $1 million in operating funds to implement the Bloomingdale Flooding Task Forces recommendations to combat systemic flooding issues; Initial funding of $1.4 million for McMillan redevelopment and $47.8 Million over the next four years for construction; $4.8 million to complete funding for the Woodridge Public Library; $9.8 million for the much needed rightsizing and realignment plan of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC); and $1.7 million in FY14 in UDCs operating budget to enhance programming and activities for students.
I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council to refine the budget over the next 56 days, stated McDuffie. ###