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.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Health Care for Kids
Ensuring that our children have access to quality health care is just as important as providing an excellent education. While many kids have insurance coverage, many do not have access to decent facilities or the resources to get to a doctor's office. Wouldn't it be great if we could bring decent medical care to our kids instead of forcing them to travel to a facility?
I have been studying the concept of community schools. This approach takes a holistic approach to caring for children, and ensures that additional services of benefit to our kids are provided at their schools. Health care is one of those services that every child needs to have as part of their upbringing. If DC public schools provided adequate health care, like a physician assistant on site, for example, the quality of care our students receive could increase dramatically. Parents would no longer have the stress of figuring out how to get their kids to the doctor--and how to pay for those visits-- and increased regular check-ups would prevent escalating illness and the use of hospital emergency rooms for non-emergencies.
While I have not yet done the cost-benefit numbers, I think we can take existing funds from Medicaid, the Department of Health and from other sources to fund school-based health care. In the long run, it would not only save us money, but would provide a much-needed service for our children and families in desperate need of accessible, affordable, quality care. What do you think about this idea? I would really like some feedback.
I have been studying the concept of community schools. This approach takes a holistic approach to caring for children, and ensures that additional services of benefit to our kids are provided at their schools. Health care is one of those services that every child needs to have as part of their upbringing. If DC public schools provided adequate health care, like a physician assistant on site, for example, the quality of care our students receive could increase dramatically. Parents would no longer have the stress of figuring out how to get their kids to the doctor--and how to pay for those visits-- and increased regular check-ups would prevent escalating illness and the use of hospital emergency rooms for non-emergencies.
While I have not yet done the cost-benefit numbers, I think we can take existing funds from Medicaid, the Department of Health and from other sources to fund school-based health care. In the long run, it would not only save us money, but would provide a much-needed service for our children and families in desperate need of accessible, affordable, quality care. What do you think about this idea? I would really like some feedback.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
WIN with Affordable Housing
Last night I attended Affordable Housing Accountability Night organized by the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN). WIN is comprised of a group of churches in DC dedicated to political action and the improvement of our city. Their Vote Neighborhoods First campaign centers around creating vibrant and livable neighborhoods that can be enjoyed by all residents regardless of income. The evening centered around a speech by Mayor Fenty about his commitment to affordable housing and his progress and plans for the creation of affordable units across the city.
With support from WIN, Mayor Fenty has embarked on a mission to provide 14,000 "Nehemiah" homeownership units, which are deemed affordable to residents with incomes ranging from $20,000 to $75,000. What was so impressive about the evening, was that the Mayor's plans were not just plans, they were already actions.
The vast changes in our city have caused many long-time residents to be priced out of the city. Through increased rents and property tax assessments, owners and renters alike have been forced to move to more affordable areas outside the District. This just isn't right, especially for those that have been DC residentss their entire lives.
There are some positive stories. though. For example, Ms. Brenda Jordan, who spoke at last night's event, started the Pleasant Park Tenants Association to organize neighbors and purchase their building when threatened with an owner who wanted to convert all the units into condos. But this is only one case, and not all residents can afford to do the same thing that Ms. Jordan and her neighbors did.
We must ensure that a certain percentage of all units in this city remain affordable and available for those with limited financial resources. Residents who do not want to leave our great city have the right to live here and participate in our urban renaissance.
With support from WIN, Mayor Fenty has embarked on a mission to provide 14,000 "Nehemiah" homeownership units, which are deemed affordable to residents with incomes ranging from $20,000 to $75,000. What was so impressive about the evening, was that the Mayor's plans were not just plans, they were already actions.
The vast changes in our city have caused many long-time residents to be priced out of the city. Through increased rents and property tax assessments, owners and renters alike have been forced to move to more affordable areas outside the District. This just isn't right, especially for those that have been DC residentss their entire lives.
There are some positive stories. though. For example, Ms. Brenda Jordan, who spoke at last night's event, started the Pleasant Park Tenants Association to organize neighbors and purchase their building when threatened with an owner who wanted to convert all the units into condos. But this is only one case, and not all residents can afford to do the same thing that Ms. Jordan and her neighbors did.
We must ensure that a certain percentage of all units in this city remain affordable and available for those with limited financial resources. Residents who do not want to leave our great city have the right to live here and participate in our urban renaissance.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Kenny Barnes is a True Hero
Kenny Barnes is an amazing man. He is the President of ROOT, Inc., which stands for Reaching Out to Others Together. This group is dedicated to ending violence in our city and creating peaceful and safe communities. ROOT's mission is to ensure that communities, police, faith- based organizations, media, business and others all need to work together if the violence epidemic is going to be stopped. In a way, this is very similar to Hillary Clinton's "It Takes A Village" theme. His inspiration for ROOT came from a very tragic circumstance.
On September 24th, 2001, his son was brutally murdered in Ward 1. He was shot in cold blood by a 17-year old. While Mr. Barnes was devastated, he was driven to find his son's killer, and worked tirelessly with members of the community to bring the perpetrators to justice. He found witnesses, worked with the police, and followed a trail that ultimately led to an arrest and conviction. None of this would have been possible if Mr. Barnes had not sought out and engaged members from across the community.
This experience led Mr. Barnes to start ROOT. If he could engage the entire community to find a killer, why not engage the same community to prevent violence before it happens? Churches, businesses and others can and should provide mentorship services to youth and offer ways to turn them away from violence. Mr. Barnes has had resounding success with his endeavor and is a true hero to his city.
To improve our lives here in DC, we must all work together. Government must encourage residents to get involved. Residents must hold their government accountable. Non-profit organizations can complement these efforts and help provide services that the government cannot. Teamwork is the only way we will solve our city's ills. Mr. Barnes has proved it.
On September 24th, 2001, his son was brutally murdered in Ward 1. He was shot in cold blood by a 17-year old. While Mr. Barnes was devastated, he was driven to find his son's killer, and worked tirelessly with members of the community to bring the perpetrators to justice. He found witnesses, worked with the police, and followed a trail that ultimately led to an arrest and conviction. None of this would have been possible if Mr. Barnes had not sought out and engaged members from across the community.
This experience led Mr. Barnes to start ROOT. If he could engage the entire community to find a killer, why not engage the same community to prevent violence before it happens? Churches, businesses and others can and should provide mentorship services to youth and offer ways to turn them away from violence. Mr. Barnes has had resounding success with his endeavor and is a true hero to his city.
To improve our lives here in DC, we must all work together. Government must encourage residents to get involved. Residents must hold their government accountable. Non-profit organizations can complement these efforts and help provide services that the government cannot. Teamwork is the only way we will solve our city's ills. Mr. Barnes has proved it.
Monday, July 9, 2007
More Greater SE Horror Stories
I hope that my focus on the quality of health coverage in DC is not becoming redundant to many of you, but I keep hearing of stories and problems that I feel need to be told. The story in Sunday's Washington Post gave me an even greater perspective on the crisis at Greater Southeast Community Hospital. It is hard to imagine that wings of the hospital are completely closed and that layoffs continue to reduce the staff despite a shortage of health facilities for residents. Is this the face of health care in this city? Why did the DC government allow this to happen? Some of our Councilmembers were asleep at the wheel during this ongoing deterioration. Fortunately, Councilmember Catania is now focusing on this issue and is determined to make things right.
The Post did an excellent job reporting on the state of the hospital, but I want to share with you the story of one of my good friends who was an in-patient at Greater Southeast. While he will remain unnamed, I assure you this is a true story. He currently suffers from a heart condition that causes him to to have occasional mild heart attacks. After one of these, he was admitted to Greater SE. While recovering, he had another episode while walking through the hospital. He passed out and fell to the floor. He was wearing a heart monitor which was working perfectly and detected his cardiac arrest.
While the heart monitor was working, he remained on the floor unconscious without anyone coming to help. Thirty minutes later he was noticed by someone who realized what had happened. In the middle of a hospital, wearing a heart monitor, my friend remained on the floor unconscious for 30 MINUTES and was completely ignored!!! He is lucky to be alive today, most likely because his doctor was able to move him to George Washington University Hospital. As I recount his story, tears are in my eyes. This could have happened to any of us and, sadly,one can only imagine such unfortunate incidents occurring again and again at Greater SE and other under-resourced health facilities in our city and elsewhere.
The wheels have come off our health system and we need to fix it. It is a problem that affects all of us. We have a moral obligation to care for each other. Over the next few weeks I will be presenting ideas to help increase and improve coverage for all DC residents. We can't sit idly and allow this to continue.
The Post did an excellent job reporting on the state of the hospital, but I want to share with you the story of one of my good friends who was an in-patient at Greater Southeast. While he will remain unnamed, I assure you this is a true story. He currently suffers from a heart condition that causes him to to have occasional mild heart attacks. After one of these, he was admitted to Greater SE. While recovering, he had another episode while walking through the hospital. He passed out and fell to the floor. He was wearing a heart monitor which was working perfectly and detected his cardiac arrest.
While the heart monitor was working, he remained on the floor unconscious without anyone coming to help. Thirty minutes later he was noticed by someone who realized what had happened. In the middle of a hospital, wearing a heart monitor, my friend remained on the floor unconscious for 30 MINUTES and was completely ignored!!! He is lucky to be alive today, most likely because his doctor was able to move him to George Washington University Hospital. As I recount his story, tears are in my eyes. This could have happened to any of us and, sadly,one can only imagine such unfortunate incidents occurring again and again at Greater SE and other under-resourced health facilities in our city and elsewhere.
The wheels have come off our health system and we need to fix it. It is a problem that affects all of us. We have a moral obligation to care for each other. Over the next few weeks I will be presenting ideas to help increase and improve coverage for all DC residents. We can't sit idly and allow this to continue.
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