The Ward 5 Report October 24, 2014

Letter from the Councilmember

Dear Reader,

Last newsletter, I mentioned that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Tuesday, October 21, the Council introduced a ceremonial resolution at our Committee of the Whole meeting to recognize an issue that impacts 1 in 8 women in the United States. Representatives from the American Cancer Society, Project Wish, and several hospitals were also at the meeting to receive the resolution.

On Thursday, October 16, I joined MedStar's Washington Cancer Institute to announce a new program. Ward 5 has the highest breast cancer mortality rate, but thanks to a grant from the Avon Foundation, MedStar has hired two breast health navigators/educators to conduct community outreach activities and support additional screenings for women. The navigators will also help women with an abnormal finding receive follow-up diagnostic testing and treatment.

A special thank you to all of our medical professionals in Ward 5. Together, as doctors, nurses, neighbors and friends, we can reduce our Wards breast cancer mortality rate.

In Service,

Kenyan

Legislative & Committee Updates

On Tuesday, October 21, Councilmember McDuffie introduced legislation that will allow the District to match its economic policies with the city's first-rate information technology infrastructure. The High Technology Investment Authority Act of 2014 establishes a new independent authority whose mission and purpose will be to work as an angel investor for startup high technology companies, to provide mentorship, access to infrastructure, operating space, assistance with locating additional capital, and generally to foster a tech-friendly environment in the District.

Next Tuesday, October 28, the Council will hold a Legislative meeting where two of Councilmember McDuffies bills will be up for a final vote:

The Solid Waste Facility Permit Amendment Act of 2014 is important, especially to Ward 5, because if enacted it will require the Department of the Environment and the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs to conduct quarterly inspections of each facility to ensure that solid waste is properly processed, enclosed, and disposed of, and that nuisance odors are eliminated. To reduce the impact of the facilities on the surrounding neighborhoods, the bill would also require facilities to close at 7:00 p.m. rather than 10:00 p.m., and would provide for public meetings and enhanced public comment periods on permit renewal applications.

The Disposition of Land for Affordable Housing Amendment Act of 2013 will require affordable housing set-asides whenever District-owned land is sold or leased for private multi-family residential development consisting of 10 or more units. Specifically, at least 30% of the new units must be affordable if the property is near a Metro station, major bus route, or streetcar line. All other developments using public land would be required to include a 20% affordable unit set-aside. Moreover, the guidelines set forth in the bill are designed to create mixed income buildings. For rental properties, the affordable units must accommodate two categories of residents: those earning up to 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and those earning up to 50% AMI. Ownership units would also be divided to produce mixed income residences, with a set-aside for those earning up to 50% AMI and another set-aside for residents earning up to 80% AMI.

Upcoming Committee on Government Operations Hearings

The Committee on Government Operations upcoming hearing schedule is as follows:

October 29, 2014

Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building

11:00 AM

Public Hearing on the Department of General Services Reporting and Use of Certified Business Enterprises and Small Business Enterprises

November 12, 2014

Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building

10:00 AM

Joint Public Roundtable (with the Committee on Economic Development) on the surplus and disposition of the McMillan Sand Filtration site. For more information about the roundtable, please visit our website.

Announcements

Councilmember McDuffie hosts the Mayor's Youth Leadership Institute

On Monday, October 20, Councilmember McDuffie hosted the Mayor's Youth Leadership Institute (MYLI) to talk shop: politics, policy and constituent services. Over 20 students, including many from Ward 5, attended the meeting and engaged the Councilmember on a host of subject matters. The MYLI was founded in 1979 as a year-round program to train District of Columbia youth in the concepts of leadership and self-development. The MYLI training model emphasizes practical, hands-on experience and a holistic approach to developing leaders for the 21st century. Each year, 250 young people participate in the year-round program and 500 youth participate in the Summer Training Program. Thousands of DC youth have received leadership training to date.

The Public Service Commission announces two upcoming community hearings

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia has two upcoming community hearings in November. Please feel free to share the following information with your constituents. Thank you.

FORMAL CASE NO. 1102, IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTINUED USE OF VERIZON WASHINGTON, DC, INC.S COPPER INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

The Commission seeks input on its investigation regarding Verizon Washington, DC, Inc.s continued use of its copper infrastructure for the provision of telecommunications services in the District of Columbia and whether, and under what circumstances, the Company plans to transition customers from the telecommunications services provided over copper facilities to telecommunications services provided over fiber facilities. On December 3 and 4, 2014, the Commission will hold an evidentiary hearing.

The Commission will convene community hearings to receive comments from the public on this issue on the following dates:

November 5, 2014 6:00 p.m.

Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia

Hearing Room

1333 H Street, NW, Suite 700, East Tower

Washington, D.C. 20005

November 10, 2014 6:00 p.m.

Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library

First Floor Auditorium

3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20008

Those who wish to testify at these community hearings should contact the Commission Secretary by the close of business on October 30, 2014 by contacting the Commission Secretary at (202) 626-5150 or Psc-commissionsecretary@psc.dc.gov. Representatives of organizations shall be permitted a maximum of five minutes for oral presentations. Individuals shall be permitted a maximum of three minutes for oral presentations. If an organization or an individual is unable to offer comments at the community hearing, written statements may be submitted by November 17, 2014, addressed to Brinda Westbrook-

Sedgwick, Commission Secretary, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, 1333 H Street, NW, Suite 200 West Tower, Washington D.C. 20005.

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FORMAL CASE NO. 1123, IN THE MATTER OF THE POTOMAC ELECTRIC COMPANYS NOTICE TO CONSTRUCT A 230kV/138 kV/13 kV SUBSTATION AND FOUR 230 kV/138 kV UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION CIRCUITS ON BUZZARD POINT

This Notice informs the public that the Commission seeks input on the Potomac Electric Power Companys (Pepco) Formal Notice of its intent to construct a 230 kilovolt (kV)/138 kV/13 kV substation and four (4) 230 kV/138 kV underground transmission circuits on Buzzard Point in the Southwest section of the District of Columbia.

The Commission will convene a community hearing at the following location on the specified date to receive comments from the public:

November 6, 2014 6:00 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

400 I Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20024

Those who wish to testify at the community hearing should contact the Commission Secretary by 5:30 p.m. on November 3, 2014, by calling (202) 626-5150 orPsc-commissionsecretary@psc.dc.gov.

Representatives of organizations shall be permitted a maximum of five minutes for oral presentations. Individuals shall be permitted a maximum of three minutes for oral presentations. If an organization or an individual is unable to offer comments at the community hearings, written statements may be submitted by November 14, 2014 to the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, 1333 H Street, NW, Suite 200, West Tower, Washington D.C. 20005.

Councilmember McDuffie attends the District of Columbia Commission for Women's Inaugural Policy Conference

On Saturday, October 18, Councilmember McDuffie joined Mayor Gray and Chairman Mendelson for the District of Columbia Commission for Women's inaugural policy conference. The Commission for Women hosted a full day of sessions on issues of importance to women in the District of Columbia.

Since taking office, Councilmember McDuffie has crafted legislation and identified resources to tackle critical women's issues. Councilmember McDuffie introduced legislation to address Title IX compliance in DC public schools, wage transparency, professional re-licensing for military spouses, and discrimination in employment against survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition, he doubled the Commission for Womens staff for Fiscal Year 2015, provided $120,000 to the Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs for domestic violence prevention initiatives, and created up to eight weeks of paid leave for DC Government employees for the birth or adoption of a child or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

Chairman Mendelson Announces a Public Roundtable on the Mid City East Small Area Plan

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces the scheduling of a public roundtable of the Committee of Whole on PR 20-1103, the Mid City East Small Area Plan Approval Resolution of 2014. The roundtable will be held Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The stated purpose of PR 20-1103 is to approve the proposed Mid City East Small Area Plan (SAP). The SAP was initiated by the Office of Planning in February 2013, a draft was made public on July 7, 2014, and a Mayoral hearing was held on July 29, 2014. The purpose of the SAP is to provide a framework for conservation,

development, sustainability, and connectivity in the Bates/Truxton Circle, Bloomingdale, Eckington, Hanover, LeDroit Park, and Sursum Corda neighborhoods, including portions of Edgewood and Stronghold. The Plan is based on the following core themes: neighborhood character; commercial revitalization; redevelopment opportunities and housing; neighborhood placemaking and public realm; parks, green space, and stormwater; and connectivity. Once approved, the SAP will provide guidance to the Zoning Commission and other District agencies in carrying out the policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or e-mail Jessica Jacobs, Legislative Counsel, at jjacobs@dccouncil.us and provide their name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business Tuesday, October 28, 2014. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on October 28, 2014, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the roundtable. Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses. A copy of PR 20-1103 can be obtained through the Legislative Services Division of the Secretary of the Councils office or on http://lims.dccouncil.us.

If you are unable to testify at the roundtable, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2014.