COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Grand Opening of Eden Place at Beulah Crossing

On March 22, Mayor Gray, government officials and representatives of the development team celebrated the grand opening of Eden Place at Beulah Crossing – a public-private collaborative project that provides affordable housing for purchase along the northeastern corridor of the historic Deanwood community in Ward 7.

Principals from the development partnership, Dix Street Corridor Revitalization Partners, were joined by Mayor Gray, Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander, US Department of Housing and Urban Development representative Mary Ann Henderson, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor Hoskins, Washington Interfaith Network leaders, and new homeowner, Juanita Hutchison, to celebrate the grand opening of the townhome community.

The project’s first phase was recently completed and five homebuyers have moved into their respective units. When completed, the new construction will contain a total of 63 Craftsman-style townhomes, including three-and-four-bedroom units. The project also includes designated replacement units for Lincoln Heights/Richardson Dwellings residents. Read more.

Mayor Gray Mourns the Passing of Civil Rights Leader and Former District Corporation Counsel John Payton

Last week, Mayor Gray released a statement on the death of NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund President John A. Payton, a former DC Corporation Counsel:

“I am saddened to learn of the passing of John A. Payton, a great legal advocate and fearless civil rights leader both nationally and locally.

Although John is no longer with us, his efforts have left a permanent mark on the District’s legal and civic life. For many years, he fought discrimination in all forms through his efforts as a civil-rights attorney – including work on multiple landmark Supreme Court cases. John’s service to the District came not only in his time as Corporation Counsel, but also as a longtime attorney and partner with WilmerHale and as a former president of the DC Bar Association.

Throughout John’s career, he served as a teacher and mentor to generations of young lawyers, including stints as a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center and Howard University School of Law and Harvard Law School.

John always used his keen mind, his firm resolve and his prestigious legal training to ensure that government agencies honored the legal rights and interests of the public. I am grateful for all that he has done to make life better for people in the District of Columbia, across the nation and around the world.”

Produced by the Executive Office of the Mayor, Office of Communications | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 | (202) 727-5011 | Email: Vincent.Gray@dc.gov

Mayor On The Move

Mayor's New Website!

To stay informed on all that Mayor Gray is doing to advance the District of Columbia as a world class city, you can be "in-the-know" by going to www.mayor.dc.gov. Using Drupal 7, the newly updated website was developed by the Executive Office of the Mayor, Office of Communications and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) with the intention of improving information delivery and accessibility for all. Kindly let us know your thoughts at Vincent.Gray@dc.gov.

Mayor Gray Announces Plans for Year-long DC Emancipation Celebration

This week, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange announced events and activities, as well as introduced partnerships and unveiled a website to kick off the 2012 District of Columbia Emancipation Day and 150th Commemorative Anniversary of the Emancipation Act in the District of Columbia. Mayor Gray also presented a proclamation in recognition of this special occasion at the African American Civil War Museum.

The year 2012 marks the 150th Commemorative Anniversary of the Emancipation Act in the District of Columbia and includes a year-long celebration of educational and cultural events and activities throughout the city. April 16, 2012 is DC Emancipation Day in the District and is an official city government holiday.

The DC Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 ended slavery in Washington, DC, freed 3,100 individuals, reimbursed those who had legally owned them and offered the newly freed women and men money to move on to a better life. District residents commemorate the Act, and the courage and struggles of those who fought to make it a reality, on DC Emancipation Day each year.

Mayor Gray Releases Vibrant Retail Streets Toolkit

Mayor Gray announced yesterday the release of the Vibrant Retail Streets Toolkit, which evaluates the essential elements of outstanding retail areas and offers a customizable toolbox of strategies and implementation steps to improve retail streets. Developed by the DC Office of Planning (OP) and its consultant partner, Streetsense, the Toolkit provides a framework for retail streets in the District to thrive by supporting a dynamic retail experience, retail entrepreneurs and greater collaboration between public and private stakeholders. Enhancing the city’s retail sector is also critical to achieving Mayor Gray’s job creation and economic development goals for the District.

The Toolkit follows up on OP’s Retail Action Strategy and Retail Action Roadmap, both released in 2010, which assessed opportunities in established and emerging retail areas in the District and offered strategies for matching retail opportunities with neighborhood needs and expanding opportunities for small and local retailers. The Toolkit builds on this by taking into account that, as the District’s retail economy continues to evolve and grow, retail streets in DC’s neighborhoods face a variety of challenges. Read more.

Mayor Gray and Police Chief Lanier Announce Arrest in March 11 Shooting at Columbia Heights Restaurant

On March 26, Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced that a suspect had been arrested in a March incident in which a person was shot after allegedly being subjected to anti-gay harassment.

At approximately 6:30 am on March 11, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District responded to a reported incident at the International House of Pancakes, located in the DC USA retail complex at the intersection of 14th Street and Irving Street NW. Upon their arrival, they located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment.

Detectives from the Third District reached out to the public for assistance and conducted an extensive investigation into this shooting. MPD closed the case with the arrest of 27-year-old LaShawn Carson, who has been charged with Aggravated Assault while Armed. Read more.

Mayor Gray to Propose Changes to the DC Tech Incentives Program

Yesterday, Mayor Gray announced he will introduce legislation next month to make improvements to the DC Tech Incentives Program to assist in building the new economy he outlined during his State of the District Address. He made the announcement at the Dupont Circle headquarters of LearnZillion, an education-oriented tech-startup firm.

The proposed changes would modify the personal income tax rate that “angel investors” – individuals who invest their personal funds in start-up businesses – would pay. Instead of the normal rate, those residents who invest in program-participating companies will pay a 3 percent capital gains rate on angel investments. The impending change is designed to entice angel investors and successful start-up company employees to remain in the District and continue fueling growth of the technology sector locally. The modifications to the program signal a major technical step forward in accomplishing the Gray Administration’s goals for DC’s tech sector.

The Mayor also announced that his administration will expand the incentives program beyond its current parameters – limited to businesses located in pre-identified technology development zones – to all qualifying District technology businesses no matter where they are located. Read more.

New Department of Parks and Recreation Headquarters and Announcement of Summer Program of Activities

At last week’s biweekly press conference, Mayor Gray, Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Director Jesús Aguirre, DPR Recreation Specialist Santia Jackson and other officials officially unveiled the new DPR central office; announced the upcoming schedule of DPR-sponsored summer events (including DPR Summer Camps, DPR Summer Jobs and the DPR Aquatics Lifeguard Job Recruitment); announced the launch of the 2012 DPR Spring/Summer Guide; and highlighted the agency’s transformation into what officials call “The New DPR,” with the slogan, “Move. Grow. Be Green with DPR.”

DPR has recently completed the task of moving its central office to two new locations: administrative functions have been relocated to the U Street site, and program development and management functions are now located at the Columbia Heights Community Center at 1480 Girard Street NW. The move is aimed at providing a better working environment for DPR employees and a place to better serve customers.