How can we make the District of Columbia truly “One City?”
Making genuine progress toward creating “One City” is the Mayor’s highest priority. Mayor Gray has said that One City “is the recognition that all District residents, no matter their differences, are bound together by a common destiny and a shared desire to make the city even better for the people who live here. Regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ward or neighborhood, we all want a vibrant, sustainable city, where all residents have an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, where every neighborhood is safe, where every student goes to a good school, where every tax dollar is spent wisely on a government that works, and where citizens’ voices really count.” Yet the District government cannot achieve this goal alone.
We’d like your thinking on some of the specific questions that we’ll be wresting with at the summit:
- How do we grow and diversify the economy?
- What do DC government, businesses, and non-profits need to do to help people who aren’t currently job-ready get the skills they need to find work, especially in growing sectors of the economy?
- In order to have healthy, thriving infants and toddlers, what District government services and resources will be most important for our families and communities?
198 results found
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Citywide Participatory Budgeting
Follow cities from Brazil to Canada, from Chicago to NYC, in giving residents a meaningful voice in how city funds are spent to improve neighborhoods. Participatory budgeting creates a process for involving neighborhoods where people come together and discuss local needs and then set priorities for how city funds should be allocated to benefit neighborhoods and the city as a whole. Neighborhood representatives from across the city then come together to agree on citywide priorities. This grassroots process ensures real economic democracy. No backroom deals.
17 votes -
7 votes
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5 votes
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DC Govt - Program Mgrs will not promote or hire DC residents even if qualified
The Mayor and Council of the District work hard to promote opportunities for the people of the District of Columbia, but their are people in postions of power and authority that will not hire or promote DC residents, even though, they have the skill set to be an actual contributor of their government. But, when DC Program Managers hire people outside of DC, because they want their friends in the position, then resident don't stand a chance.
All of us know that 70% is outside of the District and 30% is made up of the residents of the District.
How…7 votes -
Expand the Capital Bikeshare system with more stations to further reduce traffic congestion and parking shortages
Everyone complains about traffic congestion and lack of parking but real solutions to these problems are hard to come by. Increasing reliance on biking is a tried and true way to solve both problems.
The Capital Bikeshare program has been a huge success with a recent expansion bringing the total number of stations to over 140 stations, but membership and usage is still growing so fast there's often full and empty stations where and when they're needed most.
There are also many areas of the city without stations making the system unusable for those who live or work in those…
6 votes -
Quality vocational programs for unemployed and underemployed residence.
One could start in high school. Implementing quality vocational programs such as Heating/Cooling, Plumbing, Electrician, office assistance/clerical, retail, and a host of other vocations that will earn a living wage upon successful completion and job securement.
18 votes -
Survey and map what outreach programs DC houses of worship have - so we know what help is available and where. Work on what is missing.
We could use city resources where they are most needed, if we knew what kinds of help - such as tutoring, mentoring, job training, senior programs, ESL, etc. - are already available, and what isn't therel. Mapping helps us see unmet needs and make good plans to fix them.
30 votes -
Open a psychiatric facility for those who are mentally ill and homeless
Since the closure of St. Elizabeths Hospital in Greater S.E., the mentally ill and unstable have been tossed to the streets. This is becoming an increasing larger problem in that they are mingled with those who are not mentally ill, they have no central location to obtain medications and/or live. A new facility needs to be created for those who fall under this category.
4 votes -
14 votes
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DC Residents Concerned about Job Growth and Spurring Economic Development
DC Residents Concerned about Job Growth and Spurring Economic Development
Are you concerned about job growth, economic development, and improving access to retail services throughout the District of Columbia?
Here are recommendations for DC residents to consider to encourage the Mayor’s Office and DC Council to support the creation of good-paying jobs and to improve economic development and neighborhood revitalization planning within the District.
A Comprehensive Workforce Development Strategy for the Entire City. There are neighborhoods in Wards 5, 7 and 8 with the highest unemployment levels in the city, such as Ivy City and Brentwood in Ward 5. A…6 votes -
City subsidized programs to develop workers' skills
As a garment manufacturer looking to create new production to contribute to not only the US economy but the District's it would be nice to have the city develop programs that taught residents without higher education or highschool diploma the skill of garment making to give production factories a reason to set up shop in the city and create jobs quickly that are paying livable wages. Garment production includes everything from fashion, to uniforms, to undergarments. Something to think about
7 votes -
Conduct a review of hiring decisions at OSSE and DCPS to ensure qualified DC Residents are given preferance.
The mayor's office should monitor his policy of First Source by periodically reviewing the hiring practices/decisions of DC agencies in particular OSSE and DCPS. We must ensure that city contracts and jobs benefit DC residents first unless egancies can show there are no qualifed residents or contractors to perfom the job.
16 votes -
If you are in DC illegally, you are not entitled to any benefits.
There are people who have made it past border patrol and think just because they got here they are entitled to live free. They keep coming because they know once they get here, DC will feed, clothe, house and educate them. We have to change our immigration policies.
27 votes -
Hold followup listening and problem solving sessions to identify the barriers from the viewpoint of people who could help grow the economy..
Hold listening and problem-solving sessions to identify barriers to achieving economic and educational objectives. There are things government can do to allow and encourage more capital investment to be made available for startup and online businesses to create more economic training opportunities and growth. Startups, small and disadvantaged businesses are held back and discouraged by things which can be changed or removed.
11 votes -
Put some new Council Members on the City Council, please !!!!!!!!!!!
We need new Council Members !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 votes -
Have an annual Music Festival
Have an annual Music Festival. It would be three-five days long. It would hightlight various music genders. One day guitars, the next day rock and roll; another day gospel music and so forth and so on. Have the event all over the city.
9 votes -
Equitable funding for high quality Infant/Toddler Programs
Honor and respect the commitment of those community based Early Care and Education programs operating nationally accredited Infant/Toddler programs by provididng funding, public/private, to ensure infants and toddlers in the city have access to high quality programs and related services.
9 votes -
Do not close DCPS schools in our nieghborhood.
Keep DC schools open.
33 votes -
Think exercise and community a Roller Rink and Bowling alley
Think exercise and community a Roller Rink and Bowling Alley!!!!!!
6 votes -
Keep all libraries open maximum number of hours!
Sundays are when kids do their homework assignments, special projects, research, etc. And that's when adults can search for better jobs.
32 votes