The Gap Widens

District Matters is back after a month-long hiatus. Though I haven't posted in the past few weeks, my crusade to make this city a better place for everyone has been ongoing throughout the summer.

As many of you know, keeping a strong and vibrant middle class in this city is a passion of mine. It is key to maintaining a strong and healthy tax base and will secure the long-term finanical health of our city. But a middle class must be about more than finances. A strong middle class must concern itself with the matter of human decency. When I read the data today from the U.S. Census Bureau about the widening income gap between blacks and whites in DC, I was extremely disheartened. The latest figures show that whites earn a median income of $89,000 per year while blacks earn only $34,000. The numbers don't lie; we have a problem on our hands.

This income disparity cannot be cured overnight. But the DC government can do its part to help level the playing field. We need quality schools, improved job training, quality health care and improved constituent services. DC residents in all income categories bring value to this city; we must provide possibilities for those with fewer opportunities to shine. I am committed to finding concrete policy solutions that will enable all residents in Washington to live productive, decent lives. DC is a family, and we must behave as such.