Dear Neighbors, I’m writing to update you on the latest about the DC budget, including a budget amendment that will have a huge, positive impact on our most vulnerable, most neglected, and most excluded residents. I’ll also share an update on the devastating gun violence crisis our city is experiencing. And as always, I have lots of events, resources, and community news to share. Legislative Updates A Huge Step Towards Ending Homelessness, Funding Child Care, and Lifting Up Working Families On March 5, 2016, city leaders gathered in a crowded Foundry Church and made a commitment to end chronic homelessness in the District.

Dear Neighbors,  I hope you’ve had a great week! I’m writing to share important updates to DC’s moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs, lots of Ward 4 news, and quite a few events and resources for our community. We’re also working hard to finalize DC’s budget, which will have its first of two final votes on Tuesday next week. Ward 4 News Citi Open Returns to Ward 4 at Full Capacity with Rafael Nadal Citi Open, DC’s prestigious tennis tournament is returning to Ward 4 at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center from July 31-August 8 after being cancelled last year due to

Dear Neighbors,  As we head into the weekend, here is the latest on what’s happening in Ward 4 and DC! Ward 4 News NPS Opens Public Comment Period on Upper Beach Drive Ward 4 encompasses more of Rock Creek Park than any other Ward, so it’s important that our residents have a say on determining the future of Upper Beach Drive. Yesterday the National Parks Service held a public meeting and opened the public comment period for whether Upper Beach Drive should reopen to cars and during which time periods. The comment period will last until August 22, so you have until then to weigh in.

WASHINGTON, DC – Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, joined by five other Councilmembers, introduced the Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act of 2021, a bill to protect the safety of residents by restricting the use of police chases in the District. “Verdicts are not substitutes for policy change,” said Councilmember Lewis George. “Police chases are inherently dangerous for officers, suspects, and bystanders, and they should only be used when absolutely necessary. An officer’s decision of whether to speed after someone should always prioritize safety and safeguard human life.” The Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act of 2021 would prevent law enforcement

When I was younger my mom used to hold my hand, but yesterday I held hers as she received the vaccine. And then I was fortunate to receive my vaccine, too.  Several of my family members, including my mom, have been hesitant about being vaccinated. They share the justified reluctance that many DC residents feel, especially seniors and people of color. In the past, racist and dangerous health practices have targeted vulnerable Black and Brown communities. And when DC began providing vaccines to seniors, these residents were discouraged by an inaccessible system that seemed to only serve the affluent and

Our community is rightfully concerned and saddened by the longstanding public safety issues along the Kennedy Street corridor. We are heartbroken by the tragic incidents of gun violence as well as by the  conditions that led to Cheesemonster’s decision to close. Every resident should be able to feel safe in their neighborhood. I had a community walkthrough on Kennedy Street last Friday to hear the concerns of our local businesses, and I have reached out to Alice and Kara to offer support. Many of the issues we are seeing are the outcome of economic desperation, substance abuse, people being cut

WASHINGTON, DC — Today Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, joined by seven other Councilmembers, introduced the White Supremacy in Policing Prevention Act of 2021, a bill to investigate any ties between members of MPD and hate groups that could prevent fair enforcement of the law, and to recommend preventive and detection safeguards for the Department.  “We cannot confront the bias and discrimination in policing without rooting out explicit racism. Investigating links to hate groups within MPD and identifying reforms to prevent and detect these ties is critical to protect our communities and move us closer to equal justice under the law,”

Today is a dark day for our city and our nation. We witnessed an attempted coup by a violent mob that sought to overturn the results of our fair, secure Presidential election. I condemn the shameful, dangerous, and destructive behavior of these seditionists and call on them to cease their violence and leave the District immediately. Each person who participated in these attacks must be held accountable for their actions with the full force of law. Our democracy is fragile. It depends on decency, integrity, and respect for one another. None of that was present among the crowds that stormed

Councilmember Lewis George is a signatory of the No Pepco Pledge, which asks leaders to: Reject all contributions from Pepco, Washington Gas, and fossil fuel companies Voluntarily disclose all meeting times and topics with Pepco and Washington Gas representatives and lobbyists, and take and make available detailed minutes of all such meetings Support legislation for an economic feasibility study on the implementation of alternative utility models such as Community Choice Aggregation and municipalization in DC Meeting Disclosures February 11, 2021: Introductory meeting with PEPCO representatives, which touched on avoiding electricity shutoffs in DC, preventing rate hikes, and transitioning to clean,