- Chairman pro tem, committee chairs, and committee members
- Dave Zvenyach as General Counsel
- Jen Budoff as Budget Director
- Nyasha Smith as Secretary
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Agenda and draft rules for January 2, 2015 council org meeting
The DC Council will hold its organizational meeting January 2 at 1:00 pm (note time change). The business at hand will be approval of the rules and major staffing and leadership resolutions. As to the first, see the draft rules below. As for staffing, the following positions and people will be approved:
And the budget director is...
Wait for it.... Matt Brown, current DDOT director, is @MurielBowser 's budget director.
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) December 31, 2014GLBT director Sterling Washington says his goodbyes
DC's @GLBTAffairsDC director Sterling Washington bids farewell and cites numerous accomplishments. Best of luck SW!
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) December 31, 2014Another departure from JAWB
It's not goodbye, it's until next time #jawb pic.twitter.com/5MygcyaB9p
— Chris FitzGerald (@OnTheFitz) December 31, 2014@MurielBowser's budget office
No separate budget office in @MurielBowser admin. Will be in OCA like under Fenty.
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) December 31, 2014@WildApricot's most popular blog posts of 2014
Do you have a favorite? Tell all in the comment section on the Wild Apricot site.
What the revenue estimate means according to @mikedebonis
Fun times ahead for @MurielBowser: Has to close $203M gap in first budget. ($163M CSFL [http://t.co/6wRaffQ0ey] + $40M rev decrease)
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) December 30, 2014Tuesday, December 30, 2014
OCTO has a leadership change
Rob Mancini is out of OCTO and word is that Tegene Baharu is interim CTO. @MurielBowser
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) December 31, 2014December 2014 rev estimate down from September
On December 30, CFO Jeff DeWitt released the December 2014 revenue estimates for FYs 2014-2018. Two documents explaining the revised estimates are available: a presentation and the letter to elected officials. The highlight is that while revenue is down from the September 2014 estimates, the slowed trend will reverse by FY 2018.
Bowser appointments Dec. 30
The news in short:
More @MurielBowser hires: Betsy Cavendish, general counsel; Charon Hines, dir of community affairs; Lindsey Parker, dep chief of staff...
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) December 30, 2014The longer version:
- Betsy Cavendish, General Counsel
- Charon Hines, Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs
- Lindsey Parker, Deputy Chief of Staff
- Rob Hawkins, Deputy General Counsel
- Sean Floyd, Director of Scheduling
The even longer version:
DC loses statehood and social activist
RIP, Ed Guinan. Activist. DC Statehood supporter. I knew him as the father of a great family http://t.co/9duTxluYMy
— Michael Martinez (@MikeMartinezDC) December 29, 2014CM-elect Charles Allen's staff announcement
Ward 6 CM-elect Charles Allen has announced his team members:
- Laura Marks, Chief of Staff
- Anne Phelps, Legislative Director
- Nichole Opkins, General Counsel
- Jamaal Jordan, Director of Constituent Services
- Naomi Mitchell, Ward 6 Community Liaison
- Myisha Atchison, Scheduler and Administrative Assistant
Draft of DC Council CP 21 committee jurisdiction
As recently blogged (First meeting of CP 21: January 2, 2015), the DC Council will meet Friday, January 2 at 10:00 am to vote on the rules governing processes and more over the next two years. Of particular interest to the public is committee jurisdiction; the draft is below.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Introducing the new Ward 1 staff
When will you tell us about your staff @tweetelissa @BrianneforDC @CharlesAllenW6 ?
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) December 29, 2014
Ward 1 CM-elect Brianne Nadeau was the first to respond with the staff list (deets below):
- Tania Jackson, Chief of Staff
- Tom Fazzini, Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director
- Danielle Burs, Legislative Director
- Claudia Barahona, Constituent Services Director
- Cherryl Bradley, Scheduler and Constituent Services Representative
- Maricela Nava, Administrative Assistant
Waiting on word for emails, but I'm presuming they will all follow the pattern FirstInitialLastName@dccouncil.us. CM-elect Nadeau reports that all staff emails will follow the pattern (12/19/14 6:30p).
Join #LitterFreeDC and keep DC clean
Hey DC! Want to get involved with #LitterFreeDC? Become part of the movement! Contact @DCDPW http://t.co/4sG62Cvry8 [Sponsored by @DCDPW]
— ABC7News (@ABC7News) December 29, 2014WaPo news
BOOM: @spulliam is joining WaPo as a religion reporter and @PerryStein is coming on board to blog about the region for @postlocal.
— J. Freedom du Lac (@jfdulac) December 29, 2014December 31: Candlelight vigil and rally for youth killed in 2014
The Northeast Performing Arts Group (NEPAG) will host the annual candlelight memorial vigil and rally in memory of young people killed in DC Wednesday, December 31 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the organization's center (3431 Benning Rd NE).
More information is available from Carrington Lassiter at (202) 388-1274 or via email, classiter@nepag.org.
@MurielBowser cabinet announcements Dec. 29
More cabinet announcements coming tomorrow from @MurielBowser
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) December 28, 2014Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser will be announcing more appointments Monday, December 29 at 11:00 am , time to be determined at Miriam's Kitchen. Likely they will be in the health and human services cluster given the location of the event.
UPDATED: 12/29/10:23a.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
New endeavors for some @mayorvincegray staff
On Friday, December 26, long-time DC government employee Latisha Atkins sent this email:
Good afternoon all & happy holidays-It is with bittersweet sentiments that I send this email to you today, however, my last day working as the Executive Director of the Office on Women's Policy and the DC Commission for Women will be next Tuesday, December 30, 2014. After 5 long years of working in an Excepted Services position (and in two Mayoral Administrations), I am now seeking to transfer the skills and knowledge I have acquired in continuing my efforts to build and strengthen communities and vulnerable populations through advocacy and community development. It has truly been a pleasure working with all of you to identify solutions for challenges that exist Ward wide and I remain even more committed to continuing to serve and support our great ward and its residents for years to come. From my days as the Ward 7 Outreach & Services Specialist under Mayor Adrian Fenty to serving as Mayor Vincent Gray's Deputy Director of his Office of Neighborhood Engagement, I value all that I have come to learn from these various experiences. I am hopeful that we are leaving the DC Commission for Women/Office on Women's Policy & Initiatives in great hands and that our work will go on for others to benefit and enjoy for future generations.
I will continue to stay connected to each communities list serve and look forward to seeing you around the Ward.
Earlier this month, Amy Loudermilk sent this email:
Dear Colleagues –It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of my departure from DC government at the end of the month. It's been an amazing roller coaster ride serving as the Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of GLBT Affairs, an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. Under Mayor Gray's leadership, the needle for LGBT equality in DC has been moved to an unprecedented level. I'm incredibly proud of all the work we've done, especially on behalf of the trans community. I have faith that this great work will continue and look forward to seeing more amazing things come out of this office. Thanks to each of you who have partnered with the office to help achieve so much. Without your assistance none of these things would have been possible.
I'm excited to let you know that I have accepted a position with The Trevor Project, the national nonprofit that runs the country's LGBTQ Youth Suicide Hotline. I will be leading the organization's government affairs department in DC, working both on federal and state legislative and policy issues. I am excited to return to my suicide prevention roots and fight every day to create a better world for LGBTQ youth. I am also very fortunate to still be able to keep a foot in the world of local DC advocacy.
All the best to two long-time colleagues!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
DCEN kicks off 2015 right with awards and intro to @tommywells, nominee to head DDOE
Join the DC Environmental Network Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Noon for a not-to-be-missed event featuring Mayor-Elect Bowser's nominee for District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Tommy Wells and DCEN advocacy awardees CMs Mary Cheh and Kenyan McDuffie (among others).
Reservations are required; RSVP online.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Dogs we love in literature
My first listicle. (I'm not going down without a fight): "Clifford the Big Red Dog & Other Pups I've Loved in Books": http://t.co/sXo7bTiAde
— Ron Charles (@RonCharles) December 17, 2014WaPo's book editor Ron Charles thinks about literary dogs in his life and lists more than 10 books for children and adults. Readers chime in with others. This column reminds me of the op-ed penned by Frank Bruni earlier this year, Read, Kids, Read, and Katherine Schulten's Do You Read for Pleasure?. The latter asked young people 13 and over to comment on their favorite books, why they read, and more. As I write in Frank Bruni and kids on reading for fun, some comments on the Schulten piece recommended Where the Red Fern Grows and Old Yeller.
Two of my favorites are the "Harry the Dirty Dog" series and Sounder by William Armstrong. Sounder holds a special place in my heart since Armstrong was my father's favorite teacher at Kent School for Boys (Kent, CT) and I spent a bit of time with Armstrong, learning about the trilogy and his life.
What are your favorite dog literary characters?
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Staff changes at CFSA
A message from the Director, CFSACFSA Team and Partners:
I want to let you know CFSA has filled two important leadership positions that will maintain and further our many practice improvements.
Michele Rosenberg, who has served as CFSA chief of staff since February 2012, will become the deputy director for Program Operations effective January 11, 2015. She will oversee out-of-home case work, foster and kinship care, and placement, among other critical functions. Over her 18-year career in child welfare, Michele has risen through the ranks from social worker to top leadership, collecting national policy and practice experience along the way. Her recent work in managing implementation of the Trauma Systems Therapy (TST) grant and developing practice pathways to help social workers understand options based on screening and assessment outcomes shows that Michele is prepared to take CFSA practice to the next level. Her concern about and actions to begin to address secondary trauma in the workplace demonstrate she's in touch with front-line needs. Following her hands-on work in building the Office of Well Being, continuing to integrate attention to child well being will be a major focus for Program Operations under her leadership.
As we continue to infuse concern for well being throughout every aspect of a child's experience with CFSA, I've recognized a need to create a top leadership position to direct the broad scope of this critical work. I'm pleased to tell you that the new position of deputy director for Well Being will be filled by Marie Morilus-Black. Many of you know Marie and have worked with her at our sister agency, the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), where she has been the Child and Youth Services director since 2008. She has an impressive array of clinical, administrative, leadership, and human services skills gained over more than two decades in the mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice arenas. Marie earned her MSW at the State University of New York, Buffalo, and she is also a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R). She will join CFSA January 20, 2015.
With these key leaders in place, I continue to feel that I'm leaving CFSA in excellent hands. All of your contributions will be welcome and invaluable to continue moving forward in the new year. Thank you and all the best of the season to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Brenda
More January 2, 2015 open houses
Ward 5 CM-elect Kenyan McDuffie's open house will take place Friday, January 2, 2015 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm (JAWB, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 506). Refreshments will be provided. RSVP via email, dwade@dccouncil.us.
At-large CM-elect Elissa Silverman is holding a dessert reception Friday, January 2, 2015 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm (JAWB, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 408). RSVP online.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Bowser transition documents archived
Here are some Mayor-elect Bowser transition documents in case you need them in the future.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Tori Goldhammer is new SAC coordinator
Save the date: April 3 is when Bowser proposed #dcfy16 budget is due
Monday, December 22, 2014
First meeting of CP 21: January 2, 2015
The DC Council will get to work Friday, January 2, 2015 at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber. On the agenda:
Swearing In Ceremony and Organizational Meeting. What this means practically is that the council will approve the rules, included in which is the list of committees and agencies under their purview.
WBJ's got a new tech reporter
You can reach new WBJ staff writer Kasra Kangarloo via email, kkangarloo@bizjournals.com; phone, (703) 258-0831; and Twitter, @TechFlashWBJ.
WCP's D.C. Encyclopedia of 2014
The D.C. Encyclopedia of 2014 - Washington City Paper http://t.co/VxTziAqwcw
— Social SWDC (@SoSWDC) December 18, 2014Ward 6 CM-elect Open House Jan. 2
Following his swearing in, Ward 6 CM Charles Allen will hold the office Inaugural Open House. The event takes place Friday, January 2 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW) in Suite 406. RSVP online.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
TA: Using selfies in your communications and advocacy
American Journalism Review's piece 5 Ways Reporters Can Capitalize on the Selfie Fad is applicable to nonprofits, generally, and advocates, specifically (think recent protests, etc.). Selfies can be used in fundraising appeals and annual reports, advocacy efforts (with hashtags, naturally), general awareness raising, and volunteer recruitment and recognition.
Some local examples are from the Air and Space Museum's It’s Museum Selfie Day! Go Ahead, Snap Yourself and this from CARECEN:
One of my most memorable experiences was when I interpreted at the naturalization interview of a client who qualified for the language exemption. She had lived here for over 20 years, but decided in her 91st year of life to become a citizen of the United States. Working with her was inspirational; I felt the tension in the room evaporate as she remembered the name of the main political parties in the United States and ultimately passed the test. It was heartwarming when her face lit up and she looked like she was practically ready to hug the uptight officer. We, of course, took a selfie in front of an American flag and then sat down for pupusas and stories about her life. (Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?)
Does your organization use selfies? Tell us in the comment section.
Structure of the DC Council during CP 21
The news broke over Twitter:
As per Mendo rule, DC Council freshman @BrianneforDC, @CharlesAllenW6 + @tweetelissa will not get committee chairs: https://t.co/4LJu8UvdN1
— Chuck Thies (@ChuckThies) December 19, 2014WAMU's Martin Austermuhle also covered the news in Mendelson Shuffles D.C. Council Committees, Keeps Education . The DC Council itself got in on the information-sharing with Initial look at Council Period 21 includes reduced number of committees, shuffling of jurisdictions.
Perhaps the most straightforward info comes from council secretary Nyasha Smith:
Committee Period 21 Structure:Committee on Finance and Revenue
- J. Evans, Chair
- D. Grosso
- K. McDuffie
- V. Orange, Sr.
- E. Silverman
Committee on Health and Human Services
- Y. Alexander, Chair
- D. Grosso
- M. Cheh
- B. Nadeau
- Ward 4 or 8
Committee on Judiciary
- K. McDuffie, Chair
- M. Cheh
- J. Evans
- A. Bonds
- Ward 4 or 8
Committee on Transportation and the Environment
- M. Cheh, Chair
- C. Allen
- J. Evans
- K. McDuffie
- Ward 4 or 8
Committee on Education
- D. Grosso, Chair
- Y. Alexander
- C. Allen
- A. Bonds
- Ward 4 or 8
Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
- V. Orange, Sr., Chair
- C. Allen
- B. Nadeau
- E. Silverman
- Ward 4 or 8
Committee on Housing and Community Development
- A. Bonds, Chair
- B. Nadeau
- V. Orange, Sr.
- E. Silverman
- Ward 4 or 8
In the coming days, expect much more info about the council on the council website dccouncil.us. Posted will be the list above with contact information for the committees coupled with contact information for all members. We'll also see the CP 21 rules (to be voted on at the first meeting of the council in 2015), the list of COW and Legislative Meeting dates, and more.
Cold-weather recipe: Not-quite-vegetarian Vegetarian Chili
This could be made vegetarian by replacing beef bouillon with vegetable bouillon.
This recipe is also in the recipe section of the blog.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
@murielbowser's pick for DHCD: Polly Donaldson
At @TMAtalks event, @MurielBowser announces Polly Donaldson will take over @DCDHCD, replacing Michael Kelly.
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) December 20, 2014TA: More free online photo resources
Design Tips for the Social Media Marketer does more than offer some incredibly useful tips ― it provides links to free online photo sites! Scroll down to the "Where do you go to find stock photos?" section for the list.
Be sure to take some time to review the other tips and links too.
A Wells vs. Orange match-up in 2016?
.@tomsherwood's scuttlebutt on @kojoshow today: @TommyWells will challenge @VOrangeDC in 2016.
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) December 19, 2014Will @murielbowser's pick for DPR stick around?
Fingers crossed that whoever @MurielBowser selects for @DCDPR sticks around for more than 9 months (at least 9 directors in 10yrs is rough)
— Mindy Moretti (@mindymoretti) December 19, 2014Friday, December 19, 2014
Bowser's comms director "announced"
Broke some more news on @kojoshow ...Bowser comms director will be @MikeCzin now of DNC
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) December 19, 2014CP 21 committees announced!
As per Mendo rule, DC Council freshman @BrianneforDC, @CharlesAllenW6 + @tweetelissa will not get committee chairs: https://t.co/4LJu8UvdN1
— Chuck Thies (@ChuckThies) December 19, 2014@WBJNeibs on the film office director
Pierre Bagley, head of the DC film office, has been told he will not be head of the film office under Muriel Bowser.
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) December 19, 2014Bagley tells me he will remain in DC, perhaps as a film producer. He likes it here.
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) December 19, 2014Don't know who will replace Bagley, but I would NOT anticipate a third stint in the job for Crystal Palmer.
— Michael Neibauer (@WBJNeibs) December 19, 2014DDOE director announcement Dec. 19
(UPDATE: Title updated 12/19/14, 8:04a)
Mayor Vince Gray's last interview on NewsTalk
On December 18,
Bruce had his final monthly interview with DC Mayor Vincent Gray. The outgoing mayor discussed the legacy he leaves behind, the soccer stadium deal, the marijuana referendum and more.
DOH director honored
one of the most prestigious public health honors, for his commitment, innovative thinking and uniquely effective approach to developing strategic public health plans, initiatives and programs, as well as his profound impact on global public health. (DOH release)
Garcia is the first to receive this honor. According to DOH, the flag "was the actual flag displayed in Dr. Garcia's office during his tenure at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)."
Learn the basics of money management in 2015!
CAAB Announces New Money Management 101 Financial Education Classes for January 2015: http://t.co/9Wpg77NAQl cc: @BankonDC @susiecambria
— CAAB (@CAAB_GreaterDC) December 15, 2014Thursday, December 18, 2014
Mayor Vince Gray on WAMU Dec. 19
Mayor Vincent C. Gray will join WAMU 88.5's The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi Friday, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. You can listen to the program online or on the radio, 88.5 FM.
The DC Council's CP-end report requirement
Did you know each committee of the Council of the District of Columbia is required to prepare a CP-end report? 'Tis true:
According to DC Council Secretary Nyasha Smith, committees are working on them this week. I'll share the links this week or next, so stay tuned.
Budget transparency, here we come!
(C) Agency budgets shall be restructured to ensure accessibility and transparency for how taxpayer dollars will be disbursed. Agency budget structures should align with current or proposed agency organizational structures and programs and clearly indicate the source and amount of funding needed for each individual program, facility, or venue identified on the agency's website.
FY16 Budget Submission Requirements Resolution of 2014 - ANS (12!16!2014)
Mayor Gray on NewsTalk Dec. 18
Mayor Gray will make his final regular monthly appearance on NewsTalk Thursday, December 18 at 10:00 am. Tune in to the show streaming here: http://news8.net/. If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Online archives for Vincent C. Gray live
Tonight the mayor's comms team released the news that two websites archiving the work of the Gray administration are live.
The two sites are mayorgravearchive.dc.gov and vincegray.org. According to the release, the sites will
give visitors access to a plethora of information related to the accomplishments and progress made during Gray’s term. They include links to key mayor’s orders, legislation, speeches, and action plans."These websites will provide District residents an opportunity to look back on all that my Administration has achieved over the past four years and celebrate the tremendous progress we have made together as a city," said Mayor Gray. "I especially invite young Washingtonians to spend time on the websites to get a historical perspective of their great city and delve into the inner-workings of their government."
The launch of these websites coincides with the Mayor's farewell address this evening at 7 pm at Dunbar High School, and the release of "One City, Stronger Together-The Final Report of the Administration of Vincent C. Gray," that the public will be able to pick up tonight at the speech and is also available online.
Read One City, Stronger Together-The Final Report of the Administration of Vincent C. Gray online.
WAMU wants to know: What's the deal between DC and Congress?
DC folks: what do you think are the stickiest parts of the relationship btwn Congress & DC? Let us know for a January edition of @wamumetro!
— Rebecca Sheir (@rebeccasheir) December 17, 2014Volunteers needed to prepare taxes for low-income folks
Call for Volunteers for @DCEITC for #Tax Preparation in 2015: http://t.co/YMYAsUxBkL cc: @susiecambria @BankonDC @DCFPI @TalkPoverty @cfed
— CAAB (@CAAB_GreaterDC) December 17, 2014Olivas leaves OLA for ISG
Ibarra Strategy Group announced (PDF) December 15 that Roxana Olivas will join their team January 2, 2015.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
CM Anita Bonds' Inaugural Open House Jan. 2
CM Anita Bonds, At-large member, will have an open house Friday, January 2 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW), Suite 105. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to Tamika Finnell at (202) 724-8064 or email via email, tfinnell@dccouncil.us.
Energy advocates take on the proposed Pepco-Exelon merger
is a coalition of DC citizens, business leaders and community advocates opposed to the purchase of Pepco by Exelon. Its members represent electricity customers from across the District of Columbia concerned about electricity prices, reliability, renewable and efficient energy and local control over our energy supply.
You can get involved in this effort by getting informed (follow POWER DC on Twitter, @PowerDCnow, take a look at their Facebook page, or read more about the issue on the website), party with a cause December 17, or sign on in opposition to the merger.
TA: Design Tips for the Social Media Marketer
Design Tips for the Social Media Marketer delivers on the promise of tips. Consider:
"Marketing is all about getting your message seen-The better design, the easier the message will be delivered…and received." @apartmentalist
"Stay within your brand guidelines, be consistent, and have a second set of eyes! Analysis paralysis can set in pretty easily"@marymallard
"Always err on the side of caution. Ask before using som1's work if it's not clearly marked FREE to use."
Monday, December 15, 2014
The status of services and supports for homeless families in DC
On December 10, the Department of Human Services (DHS) issued Progress Report: Family Shelter Restructuring Plan (PDF). The website summarizes the approach the city is taking to better serve families which are homeless and those at-risk of homelessness, introducing readers to the philosophical, and practical underpinnings of the restructuring plan originally published in 2013. The report presents the status of the five goals and many more sub-goals presented in the restructuring plan. Perhaps the most accessible part of the report is the cover, shown below, which highlights key results. An impressive data point is that 12,000 units of affordable housing have been created or are in the pipeline.
DCFPI has a different take on DHS's progress. Last week, DCFPI and other organizations released Helping Families Home Roadmap: A Report Card on DC’s Progress in Helping Homeless Families. Not surprisingly, the advocates criticize DHS and the Gray administration for doing too little too slowly. Samuels' coverage of the report in the Washington Post, Is the city on track to solve its homeless crisis? Depends on who you ask., presents both sides and both reports.
Where does the truth lie? The easy answer is somewhere in between. The more nuanced answer is that the advocates' report would be much stronger if they had objective measures for the grades given. It also appears as though the report authors did not ask DHS for information. The phrase "it is not clear" appears seven times. Does this mean that the authors asked DHS or other relevant agencies for information but received no response? Or, does it mean that the authors didn't ask and were not proactively told? Finally, it's important to recognize that the advocates are measuring DHS actions against priorities with which they may or may not agree. The grades are given not based on the goals of DHS's Family Shelter Restructuring Plan, but rather on the goals laid out in April 2014 byt he coalition.
For sure, numerous issues identified in the DCFPI report require the government's attention. As is often the case, the government can always do more.
Brianne Nadeau looking for policy ideas from Ward 1 residents
Ideas will be shared with Nadeau's transition teams and her staff.
A great way to use Twitter
Last wk, you supported us like never before! Mailing out ~200 thank-you notes was a treat. Thank you! #GivingTuesday pic.twitter.com/ftwOs4yor1
— CollectiveActionDC (@SafeSpacesDC) December 11, 2014Sunday, December 14, 2014
DC's 2015 editorial calendar, a great advocacy and communications helper
The DC version includes DC- and issue-specific items including the Bowser inaugural events, dates of hypothermia season, the date the FY 2016 proposed budget is due, and more. If your organization has day, week or month celebrations or recognitions you hope others will rally around, please add them to the DC calendar; Progress Notes did! It's open to the public for editing.
Get Hypothermia Alerts from AlertDC
If you don't already get Hypothermia Alerts via AlertDC, sign up today. It's easy and free and the alerts will give you the information you want when you need it. In addition to the Hypothermia Alerts, you will learn about location-specific info such as transportation incidents, utility outages, government/school closings, and Amber/Silver Alerts.
Go to alert.dc.gov to sign up.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Tweet of the day (hint: about Sustainable DC)
lunchtime reading - #SustainableDC Task Force reports released! @SustainDC http://t.co/Xydo6uYBKz
— dc greenworks (@dcgreenworks) December 11, 2014Friday, December 12, 2014
If you missed the Barry funeral, it's on this weekend
#DC #MayorForLife @marionbarryjr Funerals on #DCN SAT 12/13 & SUN 12/14. Times @ http://t.co/KvWujguXrJ @susiecambria pic.twitter.com/DeYp86MGAW
— DC OCT (@OCTDC) December 12, 2014
Want to honor AJ Cooper?
Earlier this week, AJ Cooper was laid to rest. The family did not want flowers or cards. Instead, the family has requested that contributions be made in Jay's honor to DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1112 11th St NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20001 or (dccampaign.org).
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Transparency on the Bowser transition website
.@MurielBowser Will the written statements from #FreshIdeas fora be public like testimony is at DC Council & exec branch hrgs?
— Susie Cambria (@susiecambria) December 11, 2014And the response from the Bowser transition: "Written ideas shared by the public at the forums and online will be available on our Resource page soon"
A must-participate in webinar: Acknowledging Charitable Contributions, Dec. 16
Acknowledging Charitable Contributions - A Webinar on What a Nonprofit Needs to Know will take place Tuesday, December 16 from Noon - 1:00 pm. Register for the free event.
According to the notice,
This webinar will discuss the IRS rules for properly acknowledging contributions. It will discuss what a nonprofit must do when it receives non-cash contributions, including gifts of stock; how properly to acknowledge contributions in excess of $250, and what are the rules for receipting donations made in conjunction with a fundraising event, such as a dinner or silent auction. Learn what the rules are so that your nonprofit meets the IRS requirements, and your donors can properly deduct their contributions.
Thought you might be interested Thursday
Lunch Talks at Hyperakt - Christopher Fabian from Hyperakt on Vimeo.
Today's share interests me primarily because of the inter-connectivity promoted by UNICEF and their understanding that solutions can and should be shared.
Meet the new DC Auditor: Kathy Patterson
The Georgetown Dish has some great news: Chairman Mendelson Swears In Kathy Patterson as DC Auditor. That's right, Kathy Patterson, former Ward 3 CM, is back in DC government, this time as the DC Auditor. Fritz Mulhauser and I testified in support of Patterson at the October 30 hearing. Our testimony, along with the committee/nominee Q & A, is below.
Testimony - Patterson Nomination Fritz Mulhauser
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Mayor Gray releases Age-Friendly DC strategic plan at regular presser Dec. 10
Mayor Gray will release the Sustainable DC final report and the Age-Friendly DC strategic plan Wednesday, December 10 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm at the D.C. Armory (2001 East Capitol St SE, Ceremonial Room).
From the release:
WHAT/WHO: Mayor Vincent C. Gray will be joined by District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Office of Policy and Sustainability Director Brendan Shane and Age-Friendly D.C. Program Coordinator Gail Kohn to announce the release of two major documents: The final Sustainable DC Task Force Report, and the Age-Friendly DC Strategic Plan. The documents will guide the continued implementation of two of Mayor Gray's most important initiatives.MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: The announcements will be part of Mayor Gray's final Biweekly Press Briefing.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (PLEASE NOTE DIFFERENT-THAN-USUAL TIME)
BACKGROUND: Sustainable DC and Age-Friendly DC have been two of the Gray Administration's signature initiatives to improve the quality of life for all District residents. Sustainable DC is a comprehensive effort to make the District the greenest, healthiest, most sustainable city in the nation. Age-Friendly DC is a comprehensive effort to align the District with World Health Organization standards for age-friendliness, making the District inclusive and accessible for all residents regardless of age.
Mayor-elect Bowser to announce CA appointment Dec. 9
Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser will announce here appointment of Rashad M. Young as City Administrator at a press conference Tuesday, December 9 at 9:30 am at the Farragut Salt Dome (401 Farragut St NE, at South Dakota Ave and Gallatin St).
See Rashad Young, Alexandria city manager, is Bowser’s pick to run D.C. government for the scoop details.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Constituent services in Ward 4
From a recent email:
A number of you have been contacting us regarding ongoing responses to constituent needs after January 1st. Below is a statement from the Councilmember:"I am 100% committed to making sure that Ward 4 constituent concerns will be addressed professionally and speedily-during the time the Ward 4 seat is vacant and after it is filled. After I am sworn in on January 2nd, I will announce contact information for the office and the person to whom you can call with questions and comments. That person will also make him or herself available at ANC and community meetings. I believe that the first job of government is to deliver high-quality services every day in a way that responds to the needs of all constituents."Judi Gold
Deputy Director, Constituent Services
Councilmember Muriel Bowser
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW #110
Washington, DC 20004
202 724-8052 -o
202 741-0908-f
TA: Six experts on what's working on Facebook now
Do you use Facebook for your organization? Read Facebook Marketing: What is working on Facebook right now? to learn from six marketing and social media experts. Some of their advice you've heard before―post consistently, for instance―and other advice maybe not.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Sherwood on referring to DC institutions correctly
ATTN New York Times - DC doesn't have a "city" council or a "City Hall." We expect better from you. Accuracy counts. Doesn't it?
— Tom Sherwood (@tomsherwood) December 5, 2014Saturday, December 6, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
AG-elect Karl Racine launches transition website
Learn about opportunities to inform AG-elect Karl Racine and then get involved.
CM Evans introduces new staffer Brian McClure
From CM Evans' December 4 newsletter:
Councilmember Evans is pleased to announce the addition of Brian McClure to his staff as a Legislative Assistant. McClure will assist the Finance & Revenue Committee with oversight issues and advise Councilmember Evans on issues related to homelessness, affordable housing, and small business policy. Before joining the office, McClure earned a Ph.D. in History from the University of Memphis, a M.A. from North Carolina Central University, and a Bachelor's degree from Hampton University."I'm very happy to have Brian join my staff, and be a part of our team," says Evans. "I know that Brian will be an asset to residents in the Ward."
You can reach Brian at bmcclure@dccouncil.us or 202-724-8058, or say "hello" the next time you see him around Ward 2.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
FY 2016 CSFL shows gap of $163.1 million
On November 21, CFO Jeff DeWitt sent Mayor Gray the FY 2016 CSFL (Current Services Funding Level, aka the baseline budget). And it's not good news:
The budget and financial plan submitted to Congress on August 7, 2014 included $181 million of projected efficiency savings or cost reductions that would need to be achieved during FY 2016. An update of these efficiency savings requirements reflecting the most recent revenue estimates and projected spending levels indicates a budget gap of $147.4 million. Incorporating the recently identified spending pressure in the Department of Human Services (DHS) for homeless services, as a result of the court order in Reid v. District of Columbia, increases the estimate by $15.7 million, resulting in resource needs of $163.1 million (2.3 percent of the projected FY 2016 budget) for the CSFL to match projected revenues for FY 2016.
That's right: a gap of $163.1 million in FY 2016. And that's before Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser takes a crack at her first proposed budget.
More information on FY 2016, the CSFL, etc. as soon as it becomes available.
#FreshIdeas fora on-demand and on DCN
- 12/2/14 Public Engagement Forum – Public Safety Committee
- 12/2/14 Public Engagement Forum - Health, Human Services & Homelessness Committee
- 12/3/14 Public Engagement Forum – Affordable Housing Committee
If you prefer to watch the replays on DCN, Channel 16, the dates and times are:
- Friday 12/5/14 3pm: Public Safety Committee
- Sunday 12/7/14 3pm: Health, Human Services & Homelessness Committee
- Monday 12/8/14 3pm: Affordable Housing Committee
Thought you might be interested Thursday
As you may know, I love Berkman Center videos and the latest watched is Molly Sauter on "The Coming Swarm". I watched to learn about DDOS actions and learned a whole lot more, including about how censorship, social movement theory, actions planning, and power intersect and influence actions and responses.
The book (hardcover, paperback, Kindle), is available at Politics and Prose and from that website is this description of the book:
In The Coming Swarm, rising star Molly Sauter examines the history, development, theory, and practice of distributed denial of service actions as a tactic of political activism. The internet is a vital arena of communication, self expression, and interpersonal organizing. When there is a message to convey, words to get out, or people to unify, many will turn to the internet as a theater for that activity. As familiar and widely accepted activist tools-petitions, fundraisers, mass letter-writing, call-in campaigns and others-find equivalent practices in the online space, is there also room for the tactics of disruption and civil disobedience that are equally familiar from the realm of street marches, occupations, and sit-ins? With a historically grounded analysis, and a focus on early deployments of activist DDOS as well as modern instances to trace its development over time, The Coming Swarm uses activist DDOS actions as the foundation of a larger analysis of the practice of disruptive civil disobedience on the internet.
I'll leave you with this review:
The Internet is changing the nature of civil disobedience. Molly Sauter's book is an interesting and important discussion of political denial-of-service attacks: what has come before, and what's likely to come in the future. - Bruce Schneier, Author of Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust that Society Needs to Thrive and Schneier on Security
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
December 2 #FreshIdeas session registrants
Barry funeral arrangements updated
See the DC Council website for updated funeral arrangements for Marion Barry.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Watch the #FreshIdeas engagement events live
December 4: Community conversation about LRSP
The DC Affordable Housing Alliance is holding a meeting to talk about DC's Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP). The meeting will include a discussion of the questions below along with brainstorming policy and program solutions to improve the program. The meeting is being held Thursday, December 4 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at City First Homes (1436 U St NW, Suite 404). RSVP via email.
From the invitation:
The District struggles annually to provide enough housing options for households with income under 30 percent of AMI. LRSP was conceived as a locally funded solution to provide rental vouchers to individuals as well as funding to developers/providers to support affordable housing units. Some key issues/questions have emerged since the program's inception:
- How do you ensure that the most vulnerable residents, such as those waiting in shelter, are prioritized in the program?
- How do you broaden the program to serve other households besides homeless families (like singles and seniors, who are also extremely low-income and unable to afford their housing?
- How do you sustain political viability and support for a program that still has a lot of growing to do over the long term?
Monday, December 1, 2014
@DCCADV will live Tweet from several #FreshIdeas fora
.@susiecambria we'll be tweeting from Public Safety and Heath and Human Services tomorrow. And probably the Education hearing. #FreshIdeas
— DCCADV (@DCCADV) December 1, 2014TA: Sharing #FreshIdeas with the Bowser transition team
- Format your recommendations like you would testimony. While you don't need a title page, you should include all your contact information so the team can get in touch with you. By formatting this way, you save time when you need to repurpose the document for oversight or budget hearings.
- Consider commenting on the Mayor-elect Bowser's priorities described in the transition plan. Help flesh out the ideas, critique them, provide research to support or oppose.
- Be specific. Generalities such as "it's bad" and "it's not equitable" are not helpful. Tell the transition team why. Which leads to the next recommendation.
- Provide solutions. Give the team options for solving the problem you identify. Is it a legislative solution? What law should be amended and why? Is it a practice fix? Suggest alternatives.
- Finally, tell the team what your goal is. That will help them, and members of the Bowser administration, understand why you are proposing what you are. Why? It has been my experience that the solutions are different depending on whether you are outside government or inside government. Telling the transition team what the end game is will help them implement a solution or improvement that will actually work.
Should you want to share your recommendations with the world, I'm happy to post on the blog what you submit to the transition team. Email me (susie.cambria@gmail.com) your recs (or the link if you post them on your website or blog) and I'll share them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)