The DC Statehood movement continues to gather momentum in the 117th Congress, and there are many ways you can contribute.

• Ask 1 - Yard Signs: Due to overwhelming demand, the statehood organizations have gotten a little behind on delivery, but if you've requested a sign already and it hasn't arrived, don't worry - it's on its way. Still need to request your yard sign? Get yours at https://www.the51st.org/request-a-yard-sign. 
• Ask 2 - State-level Outreach: Do you have friends or family in Alaska, Arizona, Maine, West Virginia, or Utah? Statehood advocates are doing a major push to get constituents to call their Senators about statehood and to get residents to write Letters to the Editor or OpEds for local papers. If you know people in the target states who can help, email [email protected] for details.
• Ask 3 - Employer Support: Statehood advocates are working to get at least 1000 local employers (for profit and nonprofit) on the record supporting statehood. Do you think your employer might be willing to stand up for our right to equal representation? Email [email protected] for next steps.
• DC DSC Statehood Committee Meeting: The next meeting of the DC Democratic State Committee's Statehood Committee takes place NEXT Wednesday, March 10 (the night before the hearing). Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton will be speaking in advance of the hearing, and several Senate staffers will be in attendance. Details and RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dcdems/event/367791/. 
• H.R. 51 Hearing: Mayor Bowser will be making the case for DC statehood to Members of Congress in a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on Thursday, March 11. That morning, Representatives will debate H.R. 51, the bill that proposes making DC the 51st state. NOTE: because of COVID, you cannot attend the hearing in person, but it will be streamed on the Committee’s website. DC Vote is also hosting a virtual watch party - details and RSVP at https://secure.everyaction.com/U3VErg9VtEihLfuagV6GSw2. 

Want to do EVEN more to show your support for DC Statehood? DC Vote is organizing a "Line the Fence" in-person, physically-distanced event for the morning of March 11. Details and RSVP are at https://www.showup4dc.com. Can you help organize the event? Contact Andria Thomas at [email protected]. 

As we continue to get the Young Dems of Ward 6 off the ground, we're looking for Young Dems in Ward 6 who are interested in taking a more active role in guiding future programming and events. If that's you, contact Frank Avery at [email protected] for details. 

Serve Your City/the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network and the People For Fairness Coalition have launched DC 101, a monthly political education webinar series to tackle issues around housing justice and the fight for equity. The series will run monthly on Facebook Live on the fourth Monday of the month.

January's topic was housing and development, and featured speakers from Serve Your City, the People For Fairness Coalition, and Brothas Huddle. February's topic was the history of education in DC and the schools reopening plan, and featured DCPS parents and educational leaders.

To be notified of upcoming sessions, follow Serve Your City on Facebook. Recordings of previous sessions are available via Google Drive and on SYC's Facebook page. 

Looking for more ways to support our unhoused neighbors?

• The Brookland Manor Coalition is currently fighting BOTH COVID-19 and displacement. Find out how you can help them here.
• The pandemic has placed incredible pressure on rent-stressed families in our community, and in response, ONE DC is working to cancel rent. Find out how you can support their efforts here.
• If you want to use your voice more effectively for housing justice but aren't sure how to get started, SYC is organizing at the ANC level. Sign up to learn more here.

Fellow Ward 6 Democrats,

Happy Women's History Month! Now is an excellent time to visit - or revisit - the stories of some of the amazing women who've called Ward 6 home over the years in our Women of Ward 6 series.

In our last newsletter, we had highlighted Mayor Bowser's series of Budget Engagement Forums. If you missed them, you can still download the pocket guide to her proposed FY2022 budget at budget.dc.gov. You can also watch a recording of one of the forums at the site and share your thoughts about what our community priorities should be in the coming year. The budget will go to the city council so they can begin their review process on March 31. 

The fencing around the Capitol building continues to impact the entire city, but most particularly the daily lives of those of us who live and work in Ward 6. Our own CM Charles Allen authored a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, which the entire city council signed onto, requesting removal of the fence. If you'd like to add your voice, there is a Change.org petition requesting the same. DCist also recently covered the work our neighbors and elected officials are putting in on this topic and describes additional steps we can all take to help. 

Chuck Burger

President, Ward 6 Democrats

Last Thursday, Swing Left held a nation-wide organizing call to share their strategy for the 2021 state elections in Virginia and the 2022 midterm elections. As founder Ethan Todras-Whitehill noted: "Progress doesn't happen on its own - we have to make it happen," and now is the time for planning, while we await the results of the Virginia state primary this spring and the decennial national redistricting process.

Swing Left's 2021 focus - and ours as well - will be working to keep the legislative and executive branches of the Virginia state government blue. The focus for 2022 will be to protect and hopefully expand Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. This will be a significant task, as it is customary for the party in power to lose seats in the midterms, and Dems have no seats to spare in either chamber. We will need to reverse that trend for President Biden and Vice President Harris to be able to continue to make progress on the policies they were elected to implement. 

As one of the local volunteers on the call pointed out: "Everything we do has impact. There is room for every skill and every strength, so jump in and find a way to contribute to Democratic victories up and down the ballot that works for you." That's good advice, and we'll have more information and options for you to contribute to Democratic victories in Virginia this fall in the months to come. 

Show your support for DC Statehood with a yard / window sign! Here's how to participate:

• Want a single sign? Request it here.
• You can also arrange a pickup from Ankit, one of our Young Dems who lives near the Convention Center.
• Willing to take ten (or more!) signs to distribute to friends and neighbors? Sign up here and we will contact you.

Don't forget to take a picture of your sign and share it on social media, tagging #DCStatehood. Thanks to Neighbors United for DC Statehood, DC Vote, and 51 for 51 for leading and funding this effort. 

With the eyes of the nation on DC this past January, the calls for statehood for the District of Columbia are louder than ever. As Young Democrats move into the District - especially here in Ward 6 - many are eager to support the cause. But how can residents - especially new residents with friends and family predominantly outside DC - join the fight for statehood responsibly and effectively?

Join the Young Dems of Ward 6 as we host Bo Shuff, Executive Director of DC Vote, the leading statehood advocacy organization, for an intimate salon-style conversation. We'll cover everything you need to know about the history of the fight for statehood, the current environment, and how you can help DC achieve its long-sought recognition as the 51st state.

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021

Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom, link provided on registration

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/dcdemsward6/event/373345/

To keep conversations intimate and casual, RSVPs are typically capped around 25 attendees, so don't wait to RSVP (although we will also keep a waitlist should seats open up).

Fellow Ward 6 Democrats,

Happy Presidents' Day! 

At both the local and national levels, Democratic planning for 2021 and 2022 is well underway. 

Just over a week ago, your Ward 6 Dems officers gathered (on Zoom, of course) to set our plans for 2021. We'll be continuing our popular virtual salon series, building capacity and relationships with community groups, growing our Young Dems of Ward 6 group, and refreshing our website. You may have already noticed our more active social media presence. If you haven't already, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and if you see something you like, share it! 

DC FY22 budget season has begun, and Mayor Bowser is hosting a series of Budget Engagement Forums this week. Sign up to join one to learn more about her plans and share your thoughts. We anticipate that our Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen will also hold his customary Ward 6 Budget Townhall later this spring and will share information about that as it becomes available.

Swing Left and other national groups are beginning to plan for the 2021 state elections in Virginia and the 2022 midterms. You can learn more about what's in store below.

Chuck Burger

President, Ward 6 Democrats

With the eyes of the nation on DC this past January, the calls for statehood for the District of Columbia are louder than ever. As Young Democrats move into the District - especially here in Ward 6 - many are eager to support the cause. But how can residents - especially new residents with friends and family predominantly outside DC - join the fight for statehood responsibly and effectively?

Join the Young Dems of Ward 6 as we host Bo Shuff, Executive Director of DC Vote, the leading statehood advocacy organization, for an intimate salon-style conversation. We'll cover everything you need to know about the history of the fight for statehood, the current environment, and how you can help DC achieve its long-sought recognition as the 51st state.

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021

Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom, link provided on registration

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/dcdemsward6/event/373345/

To keep conversations intimate and casual, RSVPs are typically capped around 25 attendees, so don't wait to RSVP (although we will also keep a waitlist should seats open up). 

Fellow Ward 6 Democrats,

Happy Black History Month! We've done a little work on Black history in Ward 6 ourselves recently through our Women of Ward 6 initiative. You can read - or re-read - about notable Black women who have lived and worked in Ward 6, like Roberta Flack, Veola M. Jackson, Nadine P. Winter, and, of course, Eleanor Holmes Norton, on our website.

On Tuesday, January 19, we had a VERY engaging conversation with Maurice Cook, Executive Director of Serve Your City/the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network. Did you miss it? You can still get involved by giving to the W6MA, purchasing items for our unhoused neighbors from their Amazon wish list, or signing up to be a virtual tutor.

DC's statehood organizations are engaged in a major group effort to blanket DC with signs showing our support for our rights to equal representation. Check out #StatehoodSigns on your favorite social media platforms and find out how to request yours below.

We hope you're able to get out and enjoy this snowy Monday in our beautiful ward, but remember to #WearYourMask when you do.

Chuck Burger

President, Ward 6 Democrats

Ward 6 Survival Sheet for Living in D.C.

Police Emergency: 911 Metropolitan Police Department: http://mpdc.dc.gov

• Twitter: @DCPoliceDept
• First District Substation: (202) 698-0068 

City Services: 311; https://311.dc.gov

• Twitter: @311DCgov 

City-wide Residents Resource Center: https://dc.gov/page/residents-resource-center 

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (resident of Ward 6) (202) 225-8050; https://norton.house.gov;

• Twitter: @EleanorNorton 

Mayor: Muriel Bowser (202) 727-2643; https://mayor.dc.gov/biography/muriel-bowser

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @Muriel Bowser 

Mayor’s Ward 6 Coordinators: https://mocrs.dc.gov

• Ward 6 Liaisons: Talib Shakir (202) 442-4680 or Cell (202) 538-1241; Email: [email protected] 
• Isamar Vaquero (202) 545-3114 or Cell (202) 341-3659; Email: [email protected]  

D.C. City Council: https://dccouncil.us

• Twitter: @councilofdc

Chairman Phil Mendelson: https://chairmanmendelson

• Email [email protected]
• (202) 724-8032
• Fax: (202) 724-8085

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen: https://charlesallenward6.com

• Email [email protected]
• (202) 724-8072
• Twitter: @charlesallen

At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman: https://www.elissasilverman.com/  

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter @dccouncilesilverman
• (202) 724-7772
• Fax (202) 724-8087

At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds: https://www.anitabonds.com/

• Email: [email protected]
• (202) 724-8064
• Fax: (202) 724-8086

At-Large Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.: https://www.RobertWhiteAtLarge.com/

• Email: [email protected]
• (202)-724-8174
• Fax: (202)-727-8210

At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson

• Email: [email protected]
• (202) 724-8105

Watch DC Council Hearings LIVE: https://dccouncil.us/council-videos/

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions – Please see http://anc.dc.gov/events

• Email: [email protected]; (202) 727-9945
• Map of Ward 6 and our ANC: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=dc+voter+guide+map+of+ward+6&atb=v202-1&iax=images&ia=images

ANC 6A – https://anc6a.org

• Neighborhoods:  North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, Stanton Park
  P.O. Box 75115, Washington, DC 20013
  (202) 423-8868

ANC 6B – https://anc.dc.gov/page/advisory-neighborhood-commission-6b

• Neighborhoods:  Barney Circle, Capitol Hill, Eastern Market
  921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
  (202) 543-3344; Fax: (202) 543-3507

ANC 6C - https://anc6c.org/

• Neighborhoods:  Near Northeast, Penn Quarter, Union Station
  P.O. Box 77876, Washington, DC 20013-7787
  (202) 547-7168

ANC 6D – https://www.anc6d.org

• Neighborhoods:  Carrollsburg, Fort McNair, Navy Yard, Near Southwest/ Southeast, Waterfront
  PO Box 71156, Washington, DC 20024
  (202) 554-1795; Fax: (202) 554-1774

ANC 6E – http://anc6e.org

• P.O. Box 26182 LeDroit Park Station Washington, DC  20001

Capitol Hill Restoration Society - https://chrs.org 

• Email: [email protected]; (202) 543-0425

Voter Registration - District of Columbia Board of Elections  https://dcboe.org/FAQS/Voter-Registration

• 1015 Half Street, SE, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20003
• Tel: (202) 727-2525; Tollfree: 1-866-DC-VOTES; TTY: 711 (in DC)

Department of Motor Vehicles - https://dmv.dc.gov/

• Register Your Car - https://dmv.dc.gov/service/district-residency-and-documentation-vehicle-registrations
• Get a DC Driver’s License - https://dmv.dc.gov/service/driver-licenses
• How to Pay/Protest Parking / Moving Violation Tickets - https://dmv.dc.gov/service/pay-tickets
• Ticket Ombudsman: https://dmv.dc.gov/page/ticket-adjudication-ombudsman

Department of Public Works – https://dpw.dc.gov/services

• DPW: Trash & recycling; Alley cleaning; auto auction; booting and impoundment; bulk trash collection; commercial recycling; dead animal collection; leaf collection and more
• Trash/Recycling Schedule: https://dpw.dc.gov/service/find-your-trash-and-recycling-collection-schedule
• (202) 737-4404
• Bulk Trash Pickup: Call 311; make an appointment

DC Water - https://www.dcwater.com/

PEPCO - https://www.pepco.com/Pages/default.aspx

• Emergencies: 877-737-2662
• Twitter: @PepcoConnect

Washington Gas – https://www.washingtongas.com/help/contact

• Gas Emergency Hotline: 844-927-4427
• Twitter: @washingtongas

Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs – https://dcra.dc.gov

• (DCRA: building permits, vacant buildings, business licensing, home questions)
• (202) 442-4400

District Department of Transportation – https://ddot.dc.gov

• (DDOT: street and alley light repair, residential permit parking, pothole repair)
• (202) 673-6813

Join the Ward 6 Democrats tomorrow night for a salon conversation with Maurice Cook, Executive Director of the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network.

Serve Your City focuses on advocating to address systemic racism and inequity in DC. They won the 2020 Civic Pride "Brickie" from Councilmember Charles Allen's office; and they have distributed more than $30,000 worth of food to more than 2,000 families; provided students with laptops, backpacks and internet service; and much more. 

Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Time: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (note the early start time)

Location: Zoom, link provided on registration 

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/dcdemsward6/event/368845/ 

Mr. Cook will share information about the background of the group, what they mean by "solidarity not charity" and "we keep us safe," and will talk about the particular challenges and needs in our community and what the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network is doing to address them. There will be time for Q&A with Mr. Cook, and we'll provide information about specific things you can to do help.

Can't make the discussion, but want to support their work? You can contribute directly, purchase specific items to support our unhoused neighbors via their Amazon Wish List, or sign up to be a virtual tutor.

Are you a young professional in Ward 6 who wants to learn about what Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) are and how they work?

Join the Young Dems of Ward 6 for a salon conversation with ANC6A04 Commissioner Amber Gove, who is the chair of ANC6A. Commissioner Gove will cover the basics of what ANCs do and how they work, her experience as a Commissioner, and how young professionals like you can get involved (or maybe even run). Learn more about Commissioner Gove at The Hill Is Home.

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021

Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom, link provided on registration

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/dcdemsward6/event/370999/

Space is limited to 15 participants and exclusively to Young Dems of Ward 6 (age 36 and under), so RSVP right away to secure your spot!

The horrific attack on the Capitol of January 6 has brought new focus to the need for DC Statehood, not only within our local area, but across the nation. Our fellow Americans were able to see the impact of our lack of equal representation and self-determination on their own TV screens as they watched right-wing insurrectionists seize control of the US Capitol building, with DC local government and law enforcement limited in their ability to protect DC residents. 

NOW is the time to get involved to support the DC Statehood movement:

• Want to show your support publicly? Request your yard sign by contacting Andria.
• Do you have connections in Arizona, Maine, or West Virginia? Help advocate to get Senators Joe Manchin (WV), Angus King (ME), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), and Mark Kelly (AZ) on the record supporting DC Statehood by contacting Emily.
• Do you have connections in DC's business or nonprofit communities? Help advocate to get local businesses and nonprofits to publicly support of DC Statehood by contacting Emily.
• Do you have connections with state-level elected officials, particularly in New Jersey or Virginia? Help advocate to get them on the record supporting DC Statehood by contacting Noah. 
• Join the 51st State Virtual Inauguration Celebration, Friday, January 22 - details and RSVP here.
• Mark your calendar for the next DC Democratic State Committee Statehood Committee meeting, Wednesday, February 10 - details and RSVP here.

Fellow Ward 6 Democrats,

Today is the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, and, with it, the annual MLK Day of Service. The pandemic makes in-person volunteering much more difficult, so I urge you to register to join us tomorrow night for a salon conversation with Maurice Cook, founder of the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network. Through "solidarity, not charity" they are serving our neighbors here in Ward 6 every day, and you'll learn about safe, physically-distanced ways you can help. Details and RSVP below.

Ever wondered what the deal is with DC's ANCs, our unique form of hyper-local government? The Young Dems of Ward 6 (YDW6) have invited ANC6A04 Commissioner Amber Gove, who is the chair of ANC6A, to their next meeting, Thursday, January 28, to explain The ABCs of ANCs. Details and RSVP below.

Coronavirus vaccines are now available for our seniors. If that's you, you can now sign up for an appointment to get vaccinated. More information about how to do that is available via the dedicated DC coronavirus site or via the dedicated Capitol Hill Village coronavirus site. Get vaccinated as soon as you can, to protect both yourself and our community.

Speaking of keeping each other safe, I'm sure you've noticed the increased law enforcement and National Guard presence around our neighborhood in preparation for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris's inauguration later this week. As NPR reported, many violent right-wing white supremacists were staying at Airbnbs all over our community prior to their failed insurrection of January 6. They are planning to come back to try to wreak more havoc this week. Due to the efforts of local civic and neighborhood associations, local activist groups, our Councilmembers, and individual Airbnb hosts, Airbnb was successfully pressured into canceling all DC reservations for inauguration week and blocking new reservations for that time period from being made. There is an ongoing effort to pressure Mayor Bowser to use the authority of Mayor's Order 2021-003 to close the hotels as well. You can learn more about that - or add your voice - here. 

The horrific attack on the Capitol and the ongoing threats to DC have also brought new attention to the DC Statehood movement and to what exactly our lack of equal representation and self-determination means. Relatedly, there's a lot going on in the DC Statehood movement, and you can learn more about how you can help below.

I want to close with a quote from Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail that seems particularly appropriate for those of us in Ward 6 in this moment in time and in history: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." 

Be safe and take care of each other,

Chuck Burger

President, Ward 6 Democrats

DC statehood hero Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton definitely did NOT take the holidays off. She has been hard at work lining up original co-sponsors of H.R. 51, the Washington DC Admission Act, for the 117th Congress that was just sworn in yesterday, Sunday, January 3. As of the first day of the new Congress, Del. Holmes Norton had already secured a RECORD 202 co-sponsors, a mere 16 members away from being able to pass the bill entirely with co-sponsors. 

The DC DSC's Statehood Committee reports that most additional statehood actions are, for the moment, waiting on the results of tomorrow's Georgia Senate runoff elections. However, even if Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff win both seats, we will still need to work on Senators Sinema (AZ), Kelly (AZ), King (ME), Manchin (WV), and Padilla (just appointed from CA). Membership in the Democratic party is not an automatic statehood vote, so we have to keep up the pressure. Statehood activists will also keep working on Republican Senators Murkowski (AK) and Romney (UT), who seem to be the least hostile to the cause.

Want more? The next DC DSC Statehood Committee meeting, which is open to all, takes place Wednesday, January 13. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dcdems/event/367791/. 

The DC DSC also has their monthly general body meeting THIS week, Thursday, January 7. Topics will include plans for the Biden/Harris inauguration and hosting a panel on ranked choice voting. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dcdems/event/367455/. 

It's been a little while since our website has been re-done, and it's looking a little dusty. We need two types of volunteers to help us refresh it, one immediate and one later this spring/early summer.

• Immediate: we are looking for a few (2-3) people with significant experience in web design, web usability, IA, and/or UX to help us and our designer envision what the refreshed site will look like and how it will function. Familiarity with NationBuilder and/or Mobilize a plus.
• Summer: we will need a bunch of volunteers (10 or more) to help test our new site when it's ready to roll. No particular skill set required for this volunteer job, just some time. We'll give you one or two simple tasks to accomplish on the new site, and you'll let us know how it went. 

Can you help? Email Elizabeth Engel at [email protected].

Per the Washington Post, Mayor Muriel Bowser is asking city residents to avoid the downtown area and stay at home this Tuesday, January 5, and Wednesday, January 6. Trump supporters plan to come to DC ostensibly to protest the ceremonial acknowledgement in Congress of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's electoral win. But many of them appear to mostly be spoiling for an actual, physical fight, so our mayor has asked us all to cooperate in not giving them opportunities, even via counter-protesting. "[Bowser] urged residents 'not to engage with demonstrators who come to our city seeking confrontation'..." Full story here. 

Yes, Virginia loves elections so much, they have them every year. This year, governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general races are on the ballot, in addition to all the seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and various municipal races. As a reminder, Governor Ralph Northam is prohibited from running again. So far, four Democrats and at least two Republicans have announced for the gubernatorial race alone. As usual, we will NOT be getting officially involved in the Democratic primary. However, once Virginia voters have selected their Democratic candidates on June 8, we will work to elect their choices up and down the ballot. Of course, we will resume our highly successful GOTV postcards to voters, and, as the summer progresses and we achieve sufficient levels of vaccination in the DMV region, we'll be looking for volunteers to cross the river to canvass. More information to follow.

Fellow Ward 6 Democrats,

Happy New Year!

With the approval of two coronavirus vaccines to date (and hopefully more to come), we have a lot to look forward to this year: getting our kids back in school; resuming physically proximate social activities with our friends, families, and neighbors; more easily patronizing the small, local businesses that make Ward 6 special; and supporting Democratic candidates and Democratic causes with in-person volunteering. 

While we wait our turn to be vaccinated, your Ward 6 Dems officers are strategizing ways to assist in electing another Democratic administration in Virginia and protecting the Democratic majorities in both houses of the Virginia state legislature this year, working with the DC Democratic State Committee and our local statehood organizations (Free DC, DC Vote, Neighbors United) to keep promoting the cause of equal representation for our 700,000+ citizens, and planning some upgrades and updates in how we serve you and keep you informed.

Best,

Chuck Burger

President, Ward 6 Democrats