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Councilmember Charles Allen and DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) Director Ana Harvey joined Mayor Muriel Bowser at Union Market yesterday as she signed Councilmember Allen’s Made in DC bill into law. Dozens of local business owners were in attendance as the Mayor also presented a proclamation in honor of Small Business Week.

Over the last week, you’ve likely heard the news about lead in the drinking water at twelve DCPS schools. As a Councilmember, and also as a father, I have found this news totally infuriating. There is no safe level of lead and we all should feel a sense of urgency about getting to the bottom of how this happened and why parents weren’t notified immediately. At hearings last week, and again this week, I have talked with Chancellor Henderson, other DCPS leadership, and DGS Director Chris Weaver about the testing and notification process and I’m not satisfied that the city has done everything we should to make sure parents can have full confidence in the safety of the water in our schools. DGS has committed to retesting every water source at every school and DCPS has committed to notifying parents when above-limit results are found. I also believe testing should be offered for the children at the impacted schools to give parents greater confidence in their child’s safety.

Did you miss the Ward 6 Budget Town Hall? Click here for the slides from the budget presentation. Channel 13 filmed the Town Hall and will have the video available for streaming soon.

Still have questions about the FY17 Budget? Let us know.

As a Councilmember and also a dad, I find the news about lead in drinking water at DCPS schools totally infuriating. There is no safe level of lead and we all should feel a sense of urgency about getting to the bottom of how this happened and why parents weren’t notified immediately.

At today’s DC Council legislative meeting, Councilmember Charles Allen introduced the End Taxation Without Representation Amendment Act of 2016 to update the District’s standard motor vehicle license plates.

At today’s meeting of the DC Council, Councilmember Charles Allen’s Made in DC Program Establishment Act and Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act were passed unanimously.

After the snow and ice last weekend, I hope everyone is looking forward to some beautiful spring weather in the days ahead! With the Emancipation Day commemoration, the conclusion of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and the Anacostia River Festival this weekend as well as many other great community events, I hope to see you around the neighborhood. And as spring arrives, so does the annual work on the District budget for next year. I have spent the last several weeks preparing for budget hearings and working hard on priorities across Ward 6.

At today’s meeting of the DC Council Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs, Councilmember Charles Allen’s Made in DC Program Establishment Act of 2016 was unanimously approved and will move next to the Committee of the Whole for consideration by the full Council.

It looks like spring has officially arrived and the Cherry Blossoms will soon be here. I've been spending most of my days at the Wilson Building in oversight hearings, and my evenings out at community events. Last night, we had a great conversation with ANC 6A about Books From Birth, public safety efforts, DC Streetcar, residential parking, and much, much more. I hope to see you around Ward 6 soon!

We've talked in the past about public safety concerns and the important role a Security Camera Rebate Program could play in helping MPD with more eyes on the street. I was very proud to lead this effort at the Council and have been working hard with the Mayor's team to get this program up and running. Earlier this week, the Mayor released the application and eligibility guidelines for rebates. I appreciate that she’s moved quickly to get this program started.