Make One City possible by creating real opportunities for people of all income levels to live and work in DC
Use the City Budget process to:
• restore funding to preserve or build decent housing that people can afford
• increase support for adult literacy, job training and child care
• provide sufficient shelters and stable housing for homeless families and youth
• help low-income families and residents with disabilities to meet their basic needs
• restore funding for crime victims’ and domestic violence services
• maintain health insurance for DC residents
• protect food assistance for seniors.
pursue options to increase revenue if needed to preserve or restore funding to critical services
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Kevin Golden commented
Please remember to "confirm" your email address...I'm not sure that your votes count if it isn't confirmed...
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John Hisle commented
It is vitally important the Washington, DC become a city for all it's people, especially those among us who are very poor and or homeless. The City's Housing First Program needs to be expanded and funded on a consistant basis so that those among us in need have a permanent place to call home while at the same time receive the services they need to remain housed and safe!
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Veronica commented
I read all nine pages and can not believe no one commented on how the METRO fare is seriously hurting poor people as well as social service agencies that offer bus tokens and bus passes. The SmartTrip card is too complicated for some people. (I have received c/o from clients.) Also, I have lost A LOT of money from SmartTrip because it doesn't give me a receipt (so my job can reimburse me), or numerous other reasons. Between SmartTrip and the parking meters and cameras; I'm being sucked dry by D.C !
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Anonymous commented
If all the city does is think of more ways to spend money and tax people more, instead of weeding out waste, inefficiencies and corruption, then DC will drive out people who pay taxes, create quality jobs and want access to retail businesses. If all it thinks about is taxing for more revenues, instead of spending on services DELIVERED in a cost effective manner and with a high return on investment, then the city will not grow and its citizens will continue to suffer. The greatest investment of the city could be in high quality education. Instead it continues to tolerate powerful teachers' unions that stop all efforts to terminate teachers who are serious underperformers. When DC employees commit fraud and felonies by taking unemployement while employed and the person in charge just says we need to straighten that out, we know that we have leadership that is not committed to excellence and we live in a very costly and very ineffcient .city.
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ALL of these programs are important ! The City got its influx of 20k+ college educated and high-wage earners (taxpaying) increase of new residents it sought with the building boom that trampled on the poor; now give back to the poor. We ALL pay taxes...sales, fees, parking/camera tickets, etc. The (unspoken) suspension on protecting tenants during the building boom; and 40% cut in funds of services (yet 25% increase in demand) has hurt us all: clients and service providers. It's time for City Councilmembers and Developers to give back to the community.
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Anonymous commented
I agree with these priorities and would add that since many in this city do not have a car that mass transit and the walking environment is important to getting to jobs, and the budget should support maintaining a good sidewalk infrastructure.
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Elizabeth Donahoe commented
The best way to improve the quality of life for all Washingtonians is to preserve housing budgets, increase budgets for adult literacy, job training and health care, and continuing to provide assistance to seniors. To prevent crime, provide alternatives for people to grow and thrive.
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Anonymous commented
Agreed with both the original proposal and the comments thus far. Providing a real support system for our most vulnerable neighbors is crucial, as well as investing in/building a city where all people can truly afford to live should be our top priority.
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Ward5mommy commented
The majority of the affordable housing options are concentrated in certain areas. If the IFF study is to be used for anything constructive use it to guide where the city should have invested more affordable housing options.
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Anonymous commented
Restore the confindence of all government employees in their government, who on average have not had an increase in salaries for 4.5 years. The impact is about to be felt by many if this continues . Restore basic Colas, encourage managers to give deserving employees grade increases. This action will go along way in rejuvenating the spirit of the dedicated work force and encourage others to enter the work force .
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Lisa commented
How come housing costs so much that I can work full time in DC and barely afford to live here? Housing is too expensive!
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Anonymous commented
I'd like to add another bullet to the list.
Provide assistance and support to individuals with disabilities so they can live and work in the District. -
Kurt commented
The gap between high and low income DC residents is higher than almost any other city. It's time for DC to start investing in real solutions to this problem.