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?
17 results found
-
Create a publicly owned DC Partnership Bank for DC government accounts and to invest capital in our economy
A publicly owned, publicly accountable bank in D.C. would, in partnership with local financial institutions, delivers quality, sound financial services to promote jobs, sustainable local businesses and affordable housing in Washington, DC; enhances the financial health of the city’s general fund; and establishes the District of Columbia's sovereignty over its fiscal and monetary policies.
It is modeled after the Bank of North Dakota, with a 92-year history of safe, secure and highly profitable banking. North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country; and in 2009, when other states were floundering, it had the largest budget surplus it had…
20 votes -
18 votes
-
Organized senior programs with seniors as the overseeer of the programs
I feel that if you put an senior in charge of a senior program , they can inter act with seniors better than a twenty or thirty year old individual. Twenty or thirty year old person doesn't know how it feel to grow old and have some twenty year old person telling them how they should feel about coming back in a working environment ,making them feel worthless. Thank You
15 votes -
Create legislation that makes government look to the private sector first to provide services for citizens
Too often the DC government does not rely on the services that are provided by DC's rich and diverse non profit community but rather will create a larger more bureaucratic, layered system that delays and often prevents services to those who need them. The city must look to the very rich and diverse and highly qualified professional private non profit community to streamline service delivery to citizens and cease creating more and more mini bureacrcies that do not serve the people for whom they were purportedly created. Look first to the private non-profit community who can reliable do the same…
9 votes -
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 -
Invest and grow of an innovation economy in DC. Focus on iBed job creation and competitiveness for the 21st cent. DC Innovates, Inc
DC needs to establish a 21st century economic development framework that will foster an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem with the goals of expanding new job and business opportunities for the residents of the District of Columbia. The District has been the proverbial 'hole-in-the-donut' as compared to its suburban MD and Northern VA counterparts. So, even though the District is:
home to several leading universities and is the geographical center of the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan Region
located in proximity to perhaps the largest federal R&D centers including the NIH, Navy Medical, Fort Detrick/USAMRIID and others
located in…6 votes -
5 votes
-
Explore economic benefits of creating Sister Ward ( City) relationships in building "One City" (example...ward 1&7...ward 2 & 8 ).
Sister Ward relationships with a shared vision could diversify our economic base and create job opportunities. Also......
• Attract businesses to wards that will provide employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed, diversify the economy, and offer salaries that will increase District of Columbia’s median income.
Assist existing businesses in wards accross the city with issues impacting their growth and development.
• Support international trade and investment opportunities for local businesses.
• Support small business start-up and development in all wards accross the city through the provision of information and technical assistance. Revitalize our neighborhoods and commercial districts.
• Encourage…
5 votes -
Major Economic Development in Ward 7's East Capital/Nannie Helen Burroughs area.
I am ready to see diversification in Ward 7! Major Economic Development in Ward 7's East Capital/Nannie Helen Burroughs area. The old Strand theater should be revitalized and used for entertainment purposes such as the Atlas, Lincoln Theater, etc. We have lots of greenery such as the Marvin Gay Park and I would like to see more POSITIVE use with this park. Park side dinning & entertainment would be great!!! Maybe summer concerts like Ft. DuPont park. There are lots of abandon property that can be transformed for housing, restaurants & entertainment purposes. These are things that will help with…
5 votes -
Invest in Metro and lobby Congress to reinstate the full transit subsidy for Federal employees.
Congress just cut the public transit subsidy for Federal employees in half, which means up to $1,200 a year in lost benefits, while wages are frozen. This will force many DC residents into their cars, making DC's terrible traffic even worse. In addition, that's $1,200 that can't be spent at local businesses and invested in the community. Metro connects the city and the region, and is key to making DC "one city." Let's keep it strong.
3 votes -
2 votes
-
Real Estate Utilization
The city could have a formalized process for underutilized or abandoned real estate (particularly in urban areas) that can allow for temporary use. If a list of properties were available, there could be a process for taking proposals for the use of the property. The key ingredient is expediency. If proposals for creative, temporary use of property could be rapidly processed, entrepreneurs and developers of the economy could quickly bring money into new areas.
2 votes -
Persuade the Federal Govt to adopt policies less unfavorable to cities than current policies
Persuade the Federal Govt to adopt policies less unfavorable to cities than current policies. Scholars have identified several policy areas, , including transportation, that favor suburban sprawl or rural areas rather than more efficient urban life styles. The facts should be conveyed repeatedly and in a public manner to Federal officials and Congressional leaders. Any change here should benefit the District in retaining its population.
2 votes -
1 vote
-
1 vote
-
Revamp or Eliminated --> KSA (ranking factors) when applying for JOBS in the District of Columbia
The Federal Government has eliminated the KSA process when applying for federal employment. I believe the District of Columbia should follow by recvamping or eliminating the whole process. The whole process takes up to much quality time and space to apply for something that is so time sensitive. The ONLY beneficiaries of said process are current and former employees (federal and district). Also, this process requires reading and expensive writing that proves long-term skills and experience. Individuals on the outside (DEU, US Citizen and the Public) are encourage to apply oftern passed over for current (federal/district) employees and special preference…
1 vote -
Stop making our city the highest taxed in US. Coupler D-40 tax Deductions & Exemptions with the Federal IRS104 figures.
Every year the US govt. raises the D & E figures for inflation. DC last raised this figure in 2008. From 1991 to 2005 there was no increase in DC
Exemptions and Deductions ($2,000 and $1,370) putting us way behind.
* DC Exemption 2011, single and married $4,000, Deduction $1,650 each.
* Federal Exemption 2011, married $11,600, single $$5,800, Ded. $3,700.
* Unincorp. Franchise Tax, required for all with business gross of $12,000.
Unchanged since 1986. Inflation adjusted should be $25,000.
* Basic Business License is a disaster. Many people are renting a room or
two illegally not knowing the…0 votes