Volume 26 | July 2019
  Stay Connected with Me
LEGISLATION UPDATES FOR DISTRICT RESIDENTS
Dear Neighbor,
I started the month of July by writing a second letter to the Board of Directors for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) requesting for a public hearing to discuss the policing of African-American children. I wrote the letter after viewing a video of Metro Transit Police officers acting inappropriately and violently toward a group of African-American children and another African-American. As Chair of the Committee on Facilities and Procurement, WMATA is now under my purview, and I am planning to hold hearings on this and other WMATA issues when the Council returns from recess. To read my letters in their entirety click here and here .

I also joined Brianna Keilar live on CNN to discuss DC's involvement in the 4th of July celebrations and the costs imposed on our residents. It was sad to see our President use our nation's holiday for his ego and partisan division, but I did enjoy walking with my staff, family, and neighbors in the Barracks Row and Palisades parades. I ended the Palisades parade in a dunk tank for charity but with so little time in between events, I had to do the CNN interview in my swim trunks and suit jacket (pictured above)!

I introduced the  Perinatal Health Worker Training Access Act of 2019 ,  which establishes a grant program to expand perinatal health worker training programs. The grant would provide women living in Wards 5, 7, and 8 with greater access to high-quality care during pregnancy, childbirth, and post natal and provide residents with training for careers as perinatal health workers. I thank the full Council for cointroducing this bill as its passage will be a huge win for parents, children, and health care workers.
 
June was also Pride Month, a month to celebrate the LGBTQ community and to continue to advocate for equal rights. However, this Pride Month was marked by violent and fatal attacks against LGBTQ individuals across the nation including right here in our very own community. I released a statement rebuking these hate crimes and also wrote letters to the Mayor and to Chairman Mendelson asking them to work with me to address how the city supports LGBTQ residents. LGBTQ communities continue to face discrimination and harassment in public spaces both in DC and across the country, and we must do more to protect and support them. I plan to work with the Mayor, my colleagues on the Council, government agencies, and LGBTQ organizations and individuals to improve safety and to help LGBTQ residents meet basic needs, such as safe housing and mental health services.

I will continue to fight for all District residents' safety, rights, and equality during these challenging times.
COMMUNITY CORNER
June & July 2019
I visited the Recreation Wish List Committee’s S.E.T.U.P. summer program where I read aloud while the scholars acted the story out.

A huge thank you to Ms. Cora Masters Barry for inviting me back and for your work with our children.
This month I held another oversight hearing with  the Department of General Services on District of Columbia government leasing practices and the decision-making process for identifying locations for District agencies. 
I visited the 801 East Men’s Shelter and the site of the replacement shelter along with the office of Councilmember Brianne Nadeau the Department of General Services, and the  Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless  to evaluate environmental, health, and safety concerns that residents have raised


It was great to listen to and speak with rising high school seniors at the 2019 DC American Legion Boys State program about the District's unique government structure and what it’s like to be an At-Large Councilmember for this great city.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who walked with me in the Barracks Row and Palisades Fourth of July parades. I had a great 4th!
 
 Shout out to Spread Love, the percussion and brass band that kept the party going.
I met with brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Omicron Lambda Alpha chapter to discuss our shared priorities of education and affordable housing. I'm looking forward to working closely with the m on issues impacting DC residents in the near future.


I was excited to join We the Kids lobby event. I brought my daughters along so they could see local engagement in action - all while eating pizza and popsicles.
 
Thank you to Commissioner Erin Palmer, ANC4B02, and her family for this organizing and hosting this cool event.

I joined the  Randle Highlands Citizens’ Civic Association meeting. I shared my legislation that provides women with access to high-quality care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum and my bill that expands voting rights to residents incarcerated with felony convictions.


I was excited to visit a new local small business doing media work in the city.  Platinum Media Concepts  is providing an opportunity for residents to get their messages heard worldwide.

I joined Capitol View Civic Association in Ward 7 where I shared my legislation to restore voting rights to DC residents incarcerated with felony convictions. I also discussed the fiscal year 2020 budget and listened to concerned residents. Thank you President Myron Smith for the invite.
The Committee on Facilities and Procurement held an oversight hearing to examine best practices for c ontracting and procurement . It’s important that we continue to examine our practices and policies to ensure we are working in the best interest of DC taxpayers.

I joined the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization to discuss recent budget wins impacting education and returning citizens.
Continuing with my senior outreach, I helped paint a community room in the Hayes Senior Wellness Center.
I had a blast hanging out at Nationals
Stadium, where I was able to invite 350 District residents to join me in watching the Nats beat the Phillies!
I was honored to give the commencement address for  KIPP DC College Preparatory Public Charter School. 100% of the senior class has been accepted to colleges around the country, and I expect nothing but greatness from them.
I spoke to the young leaders of t he Black Swan Academy Youth Summit at Sousa Middle School about how my personal struggles growing up in DC inspired the work I do today. I love this program, so I was honored to be a part of it.

As part of my senior outreach, I visited the residents of Forest Hills Senior Living and listened to their concerns . I really enjoyed our conversations about how the city can better serve seniors.


Congratulations to DC for Democracy on celebrating its 15th year anniversary. I was proud to join them and even more proud of the work they do for our city.


I spoke at ANC 7C’s meeting to discuss my recent legislation and the concerns of the community.
I joined regional leaders, including Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Chair of Arlington County Board Christian Dorsey, Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Phyllis Randall, and Journalist Robin Hamilton at the Housing Association of Non-Profit Developers annual meeting to discuss housing challenges and the work our jurisdictions and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments are doing.   
Long Live Go-Go, led by Justin "Yaddiya" Johnson, had a concert at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts with the T OB band. These students were so excited about this surprise concert, and were engaged when I discussed the importance of protecting both our culture and our residents.  

I was a guest on WUSA’s Off Script with Adam Longo where I discussed Metropolitan Transit Police Department (MTPD) tactics for policing minors, particularly children of color. We have a responsibility to take this issue head on for patrons on the Metro system, and to improve relationships between communities and law enforcement.
NEED HELP?
PLEASE CONTACT ME OR ANYONE ON MY TEAM
I hope you enjoyed this month's edition of my newsletter. If you have any questions or need to bring an issue to my attention, please call my office at (202) 724-8174 or reach out to my team.
PERSONAL OFFICE STAFF









COMMITTEE ON FACILITIES AND PROCUREMENT STAFF




My best,

Robert
Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember, At-Large | Council of the District of Columbia
Phone: (202) 724-8174 | Fax: (202) 727-8210 |   www.RobertWhiteAtLarge.com