Zachary Parker
@ZacharyforWard5
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Ward 5 DC Councilmember | Educator | Fighting for healthy communities and an accountable government | He/Him | ΑΦΑ | Personal Account | Official 👉🏾@cmzparker5
Washington, DC
Joined March 2018
I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Council of the District of Columbia.
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Introducing the next President and Vice President of these United States of America. Let’s get to work. So much to undo, so much more to rebuild, even more to push toward. @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris #bidenharis2020 #ElectionDay
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And just like that, He did it. I woke up to a notification that my loans were FORGIVEN! 🤯 The PSLF Program is a life-changer. Thank you, Joe Biden! Thank you, Jesus!.
Do it for me, Lord!.
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I'm reminded tonight that there are so many more of us on the side of freedom and justice than those against it. #KamalaHarris2024
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Happy #MardiGras2021 🎉 . New Orleanians are keeping the party going despite parade cancellations by decorating their homes like floats. Hopefully, the city will be back at it this time next year because there is no party like a Mardi Gras party!
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Black Lives Matters is being painted on 16th St leading up to the White House — by order of @MurielBowser — to reflect this moment and challenge Trump’s encroachment on DC. The Mayor is also expected to expel National Guard personnel staying in DC hotels. Shake the table, Mayor!
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1. Give Oprah her things - all of them. Masterful interview. 2. Protect Meghan at all costs. 3. Harry is a real one. 4. England is an imperialist, colonial, *and* racist empire. We knew this, y'all. #OprahMeghanHarry.
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On behalf of Karon Blake’s family, please consider supporting as they plan to honor his life.
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Props to #ReginaHall & @BET for recognizing DC, it’s culture, and the vibe that’s go-go. Even a nod to the phenomenon that’s Beychella. #SugarBearAndEU in households across the globe, proving that as much as some might, DC will never be silenced. #DontMuteDC #BETAwards2019
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Thank you, Ward 5! It is the honor of my life to serve this community I love.
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The leaked majority opinion striking down #RoevWade is an erosion of Supreme Court practice and a drastic shift toward government intruding on personal family rights and attempting to control women’s bodies. Unacceptable. Abortions are legal. Congress must act. We must fight.
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We deserve a DC where institutions like Captain White’s Seafood can manage to stay at the Wharf.
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Public transit is a public good, and it’ll now be FREE in DC! 👏🏾. #MetroForDC:.🚌 Free Metrobus service .🚌 24/hr service for 12 routes, including the x2, 80, and 92 in Ward 5.🚌 A $10 million Investment fund for bus line improvements .🚌 $100 Metrorail subsidy for DC residents.
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Black Women ignited a new way of engaging voters for Kamala. What started as a way to kick off grassroots fundraising for our future president has spawned multiple fundraising calls. Tonight, White Dudes for Harris has raised over $2 million in 20 minutes! . Let’s go! 🔥.
Kamala Harris is having an online video rally tonight called White Dudes For Harris. Over 140,000 people registered and over $1,500,000 million raised in the first 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Trump is having his tiny rallies. He can’t touch this.
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Today, DC raised the minimum wage to $16.10, higher than any other state in the country. A win for workers is a win for the District. 👏🏾
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Give @SymoneDSanders her things! She doubles as campaign strategist and advisor for @JoeBiden as well as top flight security — more so than the security detail. Trust black women. They do it all. Because, too often, they have to.
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I had a gay old time witnessing President Biden sign the Respect for Marriage Act into law. Love is love, and now we’ve enshrined it into law that it is honored and protected for everyone. #LoveWins
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Riveting discussion in the barbershop on DC politics. I don’t think they know. 👀 My barber keeps looking and laughing. 😆. This is a brilliant focus group on bike lanes, violence, development, displacement, etc. Wilson Building hearings aren't the only way to hear from people.
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Let's do this, Ward 5! I'm honored to serve as your Councilmember.
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Emails were sent out by the landlord lobby suggesting “landlords are under attack,” because “Zachery Taylor” is fighting so that tenants don't see drastic rent increases (nearly 10%) while folks struggle to rebuild. Glad to hear our 12th US president is fighting for renters. 💪🏾
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Karon Blake deserves justice. In the meantime, his community is celebrating his life.
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I'm joining my Council colleagues in calling on Senate Democrats and President Biden to stand with District residents. We need their reaffirmation that the more that 600,000 residents who call DC home have a right to local self-governance.
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Lord! If anyone can beat cancer, I trust Rep. Lewis can — and for our sake, he must.
Statement from Rep. John Lewis' office re: undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. “I have been in some kind of fight – for freedom, equality, basic human rights – for nearly my entire life. I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now."
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Montreal dedicated $12 million over three years to convert ten streets to open space boulevards with eateries, art, attractions, and more. Let's build a city and ward that is possible!
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Rest In Peace, Nyiah. 💔. Public safety can’t simply consist of parked police cars and chasing shooters after they kill. We must build a shared vision that centers community and puts forth youth, health, and social services as proactive means of curbing violence. Heartbreaking.
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If elected, would you vote YES for every DC resident to receive $100 in @wmata metro stipend per month?. #Ward5ForumDC4D #ward5 #BuildAHealthy5
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After Biden’s #CNN town hall, all I’m going to say is, cancel all student loans! Don’t tinker around the edges, implement litmus tests, or qualify forgiveness without acknowledging the barriers that exist for Black, Brown, low-income, and/or first-gen students. #CancelStudentDebt.
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I’m excited to announce my candidacy for the Ward 5 DC Council seat. Please learn more about why I’m running at and join me in building a stronger, healthier Ward 5. We can only #BuildAHealthy5 by working with the community, for the community.
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Today is the 49th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade, protecting every woman’s freedom to make her own choices about her body and health. Let's keep up the fight for all mothers, sisters, daughters to have the same rights and freedoms as men. #Roe49
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It's been a long road, but today is the day, Ward 5! I look forward to serving as the next Ward 5 Councilmember.
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Celebrating my first budget vote with a bike ride around town ✌️🏾. Thanks for the ride, @bikeshare 🤩
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Midwestern voters showed up and showed out by electing Brandon Johnson as the next mayor of Chicago and Janet Protasiewicz as the next Wisconsin Supreme Court judge. Their elections represent seismic shifts in everything from public education to reproductive rights. Good.
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We can do this in DC, too, by passing the Universal Free School Meals Amendment Act of 2023.💡.
In Minnesota, students are fed breakfast and lunch – no questions asked. It’s saving families thousands and making parents’ lives easier. That’s an investment I’ll defend every damn day.
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While anti-Blackness abounds, @Beyonce is constantly injecting affirming imagery and brilliant art grounded in Blackness into mainstream consciousness. 🙌🏾#BlackIsKing
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Beautiful tribute to Nyiah. 😇 Our city’s grief must fuel real action to stop the violence.
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This can only be read as a pedestrian attempt at a news dump, at the eleventh hour, on a holiday weekend to downplay the findings of a damning report about long-standing sexual harassment, bullying, and a culture that allowed it.
NEW: Probe finds that John Falcicchio, a top former advisor to Mayor Bowser who resigned in March, sexually harassed staffer. City releases summary of probe Saturday night on a holiday weekend.
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Does this mean no more Warnock emails? Asking for a friend. 👀.
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The way Black death is trivialized and made into a spectacle is indicative of society’s inner rot. Always has been.
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Well, that was fun! Here's to the gayest city in the world on 35 years of the 17th Street High Heel Race 🥂 #HHR35
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The disrespect for my cooking skills on the family thread is out of hand 🤨
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Textbook “guns don't kill people - it's people with guns that kill people” rhetoric. We are kidding ourselves if we think the endless flow of guns on our streets has no consequence. We must approach gun violence as the multidimensional problem that it is.
Just as autos don't strike pedestrians, guns aren't the source of the killing. The problem is that this city has a terrible time managing conflict among young men. It's not a gun problem, this is a violence problem. We have already seen an increase in cuttings and stabbings.
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I learned long ago to spot toxicity a mile away and to protect my peace. We must remain focused. More important than my feelings is the fact that homophobia, in its many forms, is why so many of our young lgbtq+ neighbors are homeless and turn to suicide. See @_DCHealth stats:
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I'm thrilled to receive the endorsement of @charlesallen. Wards 5 and 6 not only border each other, but we share values and a commitment to building a more just DC. I look forward to working with Charles to build a DC where we all can thrive. Join us 👉🏾
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I support @BrianneKNadeau’s emergency legislation to reinstate vaccine mandates for businesses up to 90 days. Many Ward 5 businesses are already keeping up the practice. We *must* keep our community safe, especially for the immunocompromised and youth under the age of five.
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“If elected, Parker will become the Council’s sole LGBTQ member, the first out Black LGBTQ person to serve on the Council, and the first LGBTQ person to serve on the council since 2014. ”.
The big winners in D.C.'s Democratic primary on Tuesday were @MayorBowser, who romped to an 11-point victory over At-Large Councilmember Robert White, and @ZacharyforWard5, who left his opponents, including Vincent Orange, gasping in the dust.
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DC has a larger LGBTQIA+ population per capita than any other city. And yet, we do not have representation on the Council, nor does the government do enough for our community. This election cycle, we will change that. Here's my PRIDE, Inclusivity, and Representation Platform.
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I count it an honor to receive the @MomsDemand Gun Sense Candidate Distinction. While this is different than an endorsement, it shows that I'm standing with moms across Ward 5 and the District to do something about the ongoing gun violence plaguing our city.
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Building a stronger, healthier Ward 5 requires safe streets. That’s why I’m proud to share my Safe Streets Platform that encapsulates the steps I will take toward a real #VisionZero, more equitable enforcement, and greater accessibility for all. #BuildAHealthy5 #Enough
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“I am 100 percent in for Zachary Parker, and I'm asking you to please support him too. Trust me, you're not going to regret it.” — Karl Racine.
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When we organize, mountains move. When we mobilize, nations change. When we vote, we make history. — Madam President @KamalaHarris.
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🔈 I join advocacy groups calling on Mayor Bowser to use surplus and/other funds to stop the avalanche of evictions that are predicted in DC. No one should lose their home due to the pandemic. Roughly $187 million stands between an estimated 40,000 households facing eviction.
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I plan to vote in favor of Initiative 82 and I hope my neighbors will too. What’s more, I will not under any circumstances repeal I82 if it passes. As I told @AlexKomaWCP, overturning the will of voters is not only wrong but dangerous.
Another tipped wage ballot measure is headed to voters this fall after surviving legal challenges. but will the Council try to repeal it if it passes?. So far, Initiative 82 looks safer than its predecessor. I polled the Council to see where they stand:.
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Congrats to @Henderson4Ward5. Do good work as Ward 5’s next @DCSBOE representative, my brother.
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I'm fully persuaded that JD Vance is more dangerous than Donald Trump. He's savvy and polished in a way that Trump is not, which to the MAGA base may be an issue, but it allows his venom and callousness to be normalized by the mainstream media and political apparatus.
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We are paying 911 call takers $49K a year. They often work 12-hour shifts. It should not be a surprise that we’re having recruitment and retention issues. These are critical roles, and the folks who fill them should be compensated as the frontline workers that they are.
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It's always great breaking bread with fellow Black queer electeds focused on creating policies for working families
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I’m Zachary Parker and I’m running to serve as your next Ward 5 Councilmember. #BuildAHealthy5
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Tomorrow we can bring change to Ward 5. Whatever the outcome, I am proud of the race I ran, inspired by the coalition we assembled, and committed to bringing the change we deserve. It’s been an honor serving, and I look forward to continued service on behalf of Ward 5.
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I’m ending 2022 on a high note as I witnessed one of my dearest friends marry the love of his life. #LoveWins
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Do it for me, Lord!.
Biden administration can move forward with student loan forgiveness, federal judge rules
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I quit my job back in December to run to build a stronger, healthier Ward 5. So to commemorate this #BikeToWorkDay, I'm biking to various campaign stops. See you around! . P.S. We must close the gap on 8th Street NE
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These past couple of years have been extremely tough for our teachers. Dear educators: I hope this video serves as a reminder of your (often unacknowledged) impact and necessity. And yes, we all have that one English teacher. Hey, @LP80870! 🙋🏾♂️ Thank you for everything.
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That's because @KamalaHarris is leading a people-powered campaign! I'm here in York County, Pennsylvania talking with voters about the Harris-Walz ticket and electing Democrats down the ballot. Let’s all do what we can to bring home the victory in three days. #WeWontGoBack
A Harris campaign official in Pennsylvania says their volunteer team is averaging 2,000 door-knocks per minute across the state on Saturday as of 12:54 pm . (Average during typical door-knocking hours).
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The real MVP is my mom. She stood on her feet talking to voters ALL day. I’m so grateful. She even told me how several voters brought her letter with them to the polls. Almost to the finish line. #BuildAHealthy5
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Our plan for safe streets CANNOT simply consist of asking drivers to slow down or stay off the phone. We meet human error with government action. Our government seems to REFUSE to change the design of our streets to make them safe. THAT IS A CHOICE. OUR BABIES PAY THE PRICE!.
Mayor Muriel Bowser provides an update for the Accident-Pedestrian in the 3300 block of Wheeler Road, SE
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It's been a heavy day for our community. Three shootings across our Ward. Families changed forever. Neighbors unnerved and tired. I’ll provide an update tomorrow — today’s events require action — but I wanted to send love to our community before signing off.
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Candidates recently received a Yes/No questionnaire from the Washington Post addressing issues facing our city. The questionnaire reflects what is wrong with our political discourse. That’s why I declined to participate. Instead, here’s my answer on whether to staff MPD to 4000:
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@maustermuhle @VictoryFund @czapary Interesting. Although we haven’t gotten any money from @VictoryFund, residents can help us close the gap to win. Donate any amount up to $50. And yes, we need all the support we can get — it’s a tough fight in Ward 5.
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Don't get mad, get elected. Representation matters. 🏳️🌈.@Henson4Virginia clap👏🏾.
BREAKING: @Henson4Virginia just won his race for Virginia’s HD-19, making history as the 1st openly gay Black man ever elected to the VA legislature. Rozia is committed to fighting for gun safety legislation, women’s rights, & ensuring public schools get the funding they need.
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Easily the best concert I've been to all year. @BustaRhymes @ciara @MissyElliott turned the Capital One Arena out. 🔥🔥🔥 Thank you, @MonSportsNet for a great night.
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My team is aware of the fatal crash involving a pedestrian on the 3200 blk of 8th St NE. My sincere condolences are to the family of the deceased. We will update neighbors as we learn more and are committed to working with DDOT to address safety risks here & elsewhere in Ward 5.
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Don't just thank #EugeneGoodman. Promote him (again). Give him a significant pay raise. Provide him counseling, sabbatical. His quick thinking and ingenuity helped save lives and perhaps our democracy. Words of appreciation aren't enough.
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Today is my mom’s birthday and I flew in to see her for the first time since December 2019. 🎉
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Thank you, @fox5dc, for elevating *peaceful* protests by Ward 5 neighbors. Proud of my neighbors, and my message is simple: let’s not be distracted. #GeorgeFloyd
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A once-in-a-generation opportunity to eliminate student loan debt squandered.
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The backdrop to #dcission22 is the rapid gentrification of DC. Tens of thousands of Washingtonians have been displaced, including members of my family. We must elect a Councilmember with the vision, courage, and independence to do things differently.
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👇🏾 This is the vibe in the Wilson Building right now. We are looking for every penny. Shout out to all the Council staffers. They are working around the clock to ensure we can do right by District residents and protect vital programs.
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Efforts to roll back police reforms in the District have less to do with MPD morale and more to do with officers wanting to go unchecked. If true, this latest attempt to interfere with DC’s legislative process makes clear that this isn’t about safety but a far-right agenda.
SCOOP: A new Congressional resolution to overturn recent local police reforms in Washington, D.C. is in the works, two sources tell Axios.
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What’s happening on the Hill is a deep injustice against the 700K residents of the District. I’ll keep fighting alongside my colleagues to protect local autonomy and the will of District voters. #HandsOffDC.
“The criminal code the DC Council passed gets rid of mand. minimums that are a relic of a racist past. It is about majority white body (Congress) intervening in a majority Black city”. #HandsOffDC Rally in DC
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I've never been more proud to serve alongside @chenderson, a true partner in the fight for our children and families.
“It feels as though we are proposing to balance this budget on the backs of Black and Brown women in the childcare sector with the elimination of the Pay Equity Fund.”.
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Here’s the email the Council received from DHS Director Zeilinger. While it’s great the administration will finally honor the law here, taking this email at face value, it’s bizarre that the Director’s opinion trumped the law and needs of Washingtonians. Are you kidding me?
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The message tonight in Ward 5 was unity. This is not about a person, a title, or a party — it’s about making a material difference in the lives of our fellow Washingtonians. Therefore, we must come together to advance the very important work before us.
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Kelia made it plain: “I want to stay here. I like parks, too. But it seems like they'll build a dog park before they build one for kids in this community.” C’mon y'all!
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Now that things are official, the Ward 5 Transition Committee met last night to begin the process of establishing the new Ward 5 Council office. I’ll share more in my newsletter tomorrow. Sign up for it here:
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The uncertain future of Metro For All provides an opening for increased investments in human service programs: ERAP, giving SNAP a raise, and fully funding domestic violence programs that were slashed. We must better meet residents’ basic needs.
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Silly politics are in full swing, clearly. Keep rising above the fray, @edlazere. Keep focusing on policy. Keep focusing on DC residents. The noise you hear is the gasp of pay-to-play politics slowly but surely dying.
Group called ‘Protect Black Women’ protesting at the home of D.C. City Council at large candidate @edlazere .It’s 10pm. They say he supports the group that protested outside Councilmember @AnitaBondsDC home Friday night. Bonds said that protest used KKK tactics. @wusa9
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Happy Emancipation Day, DC! . Black communities in DC have celebrated Emancipation Day since the end of the Civil War. Today, the District celebrates for all this day represents. As we celebrate this year, may we all commit to advancing policies that will undo past harm.
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I grieve with the family and neighbors of the young girl who was hit by a driver yesterday at 14th & Irving NE in Ward 5. I am meeting with neighbors today on the corner of 10th & Franklin NE at 6pm to listen to concerns about street safety and to explore meaningful solutions.
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June 20th is often difficult. On this day, six years ago, my middle brother passed away. I trust he’s been alongside me on this journey, and I hope I’ve done justice to the life he lived and the struggles he faced. Love you always, CBP Jr. 😇.
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Cutting the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund is a non-negotiable. I continue to stand in solidarity with our educators, and I'm ready to fight. And make sure you all save some of that energy for CFO Lee. It was the unnecessary fight he picked that prompted this cut.
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Hi @madshuffman — Congress also has the constitutional authority to hold members (like your boss, @Rep_Clyde) accountable for downplaying the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection —as stated in Sec. 3 of the 14th Amendment. Does he still believe the insurrection was a “normal tourist visit”?.
For starters, both resolutions passed the House with BIPARTISAN support. Congress has constitutional authority to intervene—as stated in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17. It’s a shame these “leaders” are more concerned about DC Statehood than keeping residents and visitors safe.
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