Posted on January 13, 2017 at 2:57 PM

New Main Street and Clean Team will Help Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant Thrive

This week I officially launched the District’s newest Main Street organization which will cover Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant. I secured funding for the organization because it will grow our small businesses, build a stronger community, and allow both Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights to thrive in their own unique ways.

In addition, I recently secured funding for and supported the expansion of the Ward 1 Clean Team, which will now bring additional resources to keep Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant cleaner as the neighborhoods continue to grow. I also secured $250,000 for gang violence prevention activities in Ward 1, which will go to local nonprofits working with youth.

Upcoming Brianne On Your Block in Adams Morgan

I’ll be holding informal office hours in the community next week to chat one-on-one about issues that matter to you. Drop by and chat:

WHAT: Brianne on Your Block community office hours

WHERE: Songbyrd, 2477 18th St NW

WHEN: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 6:30pm-8pm

The event is part of my Brianne on Your Block series, which are regular opportunities for Ward 1 community members to meet me at locations across the ward. Participants will sign in as they arrive, and I’ll speak with residents in informal conversations about topics that interest them.

New legislation to create public restrooms, improve ethics laws, and support mixed-use affordable housing development

This week was the first legislative session of the new Council, which gave me the opportunity to introduce three new bills:

Public Restrooms – In an effort to provide dignified facilities for residents experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations including the elderly and people with disabilities, I introduced legislation that would create a plan for the District to provide public restroom facilities and create incentives for businesses that make restrooms available to the public. As the new Chair of the Human Services Committee I have oversight of the D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Learn More:

• Fox 5: DC bill seeks to provide public restrooms for homeless
• DCist: Proposed Law Would Look For A Way To Bring Public Bathrooms To D.C.

Ethics Reform – After consulting with the D.C.’s independent Board of Ethics and Government Accountability, I introduced this bill that updates some of the requirements of the Ethics Reform Act.  Among its provisions, the bill prevents lobbying for a period of two years and permits BEGA to issue fines. District employees must also disclose outside employment. Additionally, the bill requires reporting of donations in excess of $1000 to Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. 

Mixed-Use Affordable Housing – This bill allows nonprofit affordable housing developers to make the best use of their properties and of available funding sources without losing the benefit of their tax-exempt status. It clarifies that D.C. law will allow for the affordable housing buildings to have additional mixed uses such as child care, job training or other non-profit uses on site while remaining eligible for certain tax credits.