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Muriel Bowser Moving Forward Together:Priorities for the Districts Future


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Moving Forward Together: Priorities for the Districts Future

AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Washington, DC is a city on the rise,and as Ive traveled the District sincedeciding to run for Mayor eighteenmonths ago, Ive been continually im-pressed and inspired by the hardwork-ing and compassionate residents whocall Washington home. Ours is a cityheaded in the right direction but thereis work to be done and progress to bemade in all eight wards to help theDistrict reach its full potential.

We are all Washingtonians - whetheryou were born here, went to schoolhere, moved here to start your workinglife, or have been a lifelong resident.

We are the people who live, work,study, play, pay taxes, and vote in theDistrict of Columbia. We are all dif-

ferent, but we share so much. We sharethe values of fairness, justice, honoringolder generations and hard work. Weshare the rights to quality education,healthy living, and safe neighborhoods.We share the responsibilities to care forand educate all of our children, helpthe least among us, and to ensure that

we make our city better for succeedinggenerations. Together, we will accom-plish these goals.

As a native Washingtonian, I am ful-ly committed to the Districts success

both now and into the future and

Muriel Bowser

I am excited to share my priorities tohelp you understand how I plan to leadour city. I have no doubt that the Dis-tricts best days are yet to come and Ilook forward to working with all Wash-ingtonians to move our city forward to-gether.

n World-Class Schools for AllEvery child in the District of Colum-bia deserves the opportunity to attenda clean, safe, modern, high-qualitypublic school in their own neighbor-hood. As mayor, my duty to all ofour students, regardless of where theylive, is to ensure they are college-andcareer-ready when they graduate fromhigh school. As Mayor, a top prioritywill be to provide a world-class publiceducation that prepares all students inall eight wards for success. I am settingspeci c goals for my administration to

achieve this, including transformingmiddle schools by 2020, launching myGood to Great Initiative, improvingaccountability and results, broadeningSTEM education, and expanding earlychildhood education opportunities.

n Building Success

The Districts future is bright. We havemore people moving into the Districtevery day learning, eating, shopping,working and thriving. We weatheredthe recession better than most cities.People around the world are taking no-tice of DC. The progressive values that


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commit to ending homelessness in theDistrict by 2025 and work to accelerateproduction of more affordable housing,preserving what we have, while help-ing residents prepare for the future bycreating quality educational options,targeted training programs, and good

jobs so families in all eight wards canafford to call DC home.

n Connecting NeighborhoodsEnhancing and preserving our localtransit and transportation options is a

matter of economic and environmentalnecessity, not merely a matter of con-venience. Smart transportation pol-icy must be about more than simplymoving people, it must also be aboutproviding innovative options that pro-mote economic activity and connectour neighborhoods and region to en-

sure the vitality of our city for yearsto come. As we prepare for more newresidents and preserve our quality oflife for long-term residents, we mustencourage technological innovation,ensure that we can get where we needto go with the least impact on our en-vironment, and do so thoughtfully andequitably. And we must guarantee thatour senior citizens are provided for inall our transportation planning. Aboveall else the Districts Department ofTransportation must make safety itsnumber one priority.

n Greener, HealthierCommunitiesA healthy environment is not only im-portant for the well being of Districtresidents, it can also be an economicdriver that makes our city more livable.Healthier, greener, cities dramaticallyimprove the quality of life for residents,save cities money, and increase their

we have advanced in recent years havegiven our local government a solid -nancial footing; now it is time to makesure were positioned to take advan-tage of future opportunities to becomean economic leader in the region andacross the country and the world. AsMayor, I will use our growing tax baseto reinvest in job creation and econom-ic opportunities for all DC residents.I will work tirelessly to diversify oureconomy, strengthen our business cli-mate, foster entrepreneurship and small

business growth, and focus workforcetraining on jobs available now in alleight wards.

n A Safer Washington for AllEnsuring the safety of the public isamong the highest priorities of citygovernment. As Mayor, I will make

sure the Districts police of cers, re -ghters, and emergency services per -sonnel have the support, training, andresources they need to do their jobs ef-fectively. I will also focus on curtailingyouth violence with targeted invest-ment. I will hire leaders who will workwith all our rst responders to builda sense of community and strengthenpublic trust. You will be able to dependon trustworthy, excellent care from ourpublic safety departments in the Bows-er Administration.

n Building NeighborhoodsHousing is one of the most pressingissues we face as a city. One of ev-ery ve DC householdsover 50,000familiesspend half of their incomeon housing. Many families feel forcedto look outside DC for an affordablehome while others face homelessness

these are not choices we want any ofour residents to face. As Mayor, I will


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competitiveness and ability to attractnew residents, businesses, and tourism.The District of Columbia should be atthe forefront of these efforts, both re-gionally and nationally, and as Mayor,I am committed to making that happen.Read more about my plans to work withyou on energy policy, waste manage-ment, and greening our city. Together,we will show that good environmentalpolicy can be good economic policy.

n Healthy Living for Residents

As Mayor, I will lead efforts to trans-form the delivery of healthcare to res-idents of the District to ensure that ev-ery resident, regardless of where theylive, is able to access quality healthcareservices and live a full, healthy, andful lling life here in the nations cap -ital. We must improve maternal and

infant health, reduce HIV/AIDS infec-tion rates, lower childhood obesity, andprovide more preventative health mea-sures in all neighborhoods. Healthy living is more than

just healthcare and insurance. Myadministration will focus on wellness

expanding the scope and quality ofour recreational facilities and program-ming. In addition, I will direct agen-cies across the government to look foropportunities to increase programs thatlead to healthier environments.

n Restoring Trust We deserve a government that is repre-sentative of, and accountable to, eachand every one of us. As Mayor, I will beready to lead on day one. I will work torestore your faith in our local govern-ment and push for the most open andtransparent administration possible, soas to provide better and more ef cientcity services. You will be able to know

where your tax dollars are going andwhy. You will have a voice in creatingour budget before it is set in stone. Iwill hire the best minds in informationtechnology, including the Districts

rst Chief Innovation Of cer, who willwork to improve how our governmentprovides the services we all need. I willbe accountable to you.

n Fostering the CreativeEconomyThe Districts creative economy is tes-

tament to our citys diverse cultural pastas well as our inclusive and innovativefuture. As Mayor, I will put in place astructure that engages residents acrossthe city to come together to celebrateour rich arts culture, to invest in publicinstallments for our neighborhoods andto nd more private partners to stand

up robust arts learning programs in ourschools.


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ABOUT MURIEL

Muriel Bowser brings a pragmatic,hands-on approach to leadership, legis-lation, oversight, and policy making inthe District of Columbia. Muriel was

rst elected Ward 4 Councilmember ina special election in 2007, re-elected in2008, and again in 2012. Each time,voters endorsed Muriels ambitiousagenda focused on an open and ethicalgovernment, rebuilding quality neigh-borhoods, delivering affordable hous-

ing, and transforming our schools andcommercial corridors.

As Chairman of four different legis-lative committees, Muriel possesses abroad record of achievement. She hasoverseen billions in annual budgets,fought for tougher consumer protec-tions and better public transit, stood

up for senior citizens, regulated banks,improved recreation options, stream-lined business regulations, and usheredin a new era of ethical, responsive gov-ernment.

Muriels Record

Affordable HousingAs Chair of the DC Council Commit-tee on Economic Development, MurielBowser has addressed the diminishingsupply of safe and affordable housinghead on. She authored legislation ded-icating no less than $100 million peryear to the production of new afford-able housing units the largest com-mitment made by any councilmemberto date. She co-authored a bill mandat-ing that 30% of all new residential unitsbuilt in the District be affordable. Shealso ushered into law the Tenant Billof Rights Act of 2014, which empow -ers tenants to hold corrupt landlords

accountable. And, she has approvedlegislation and overseen developmentthat will result in the creation of almost2,500 affordable apartments. As an advocate for public housingresidents, Muriel discovered the Ad-ministrations mismanagement of theDistricts most ambitious affordablehousing plan and spent the next 18months working to create a bettersolution for DC residents. She was the

rst to call for an audit of the costs tomaintain 8,000 units of public housing

and to provide a home for each of the70,000 Washingtonians currently wait-ing for affordable housing. And whenthe Administration sought to reduce thenumber of affordable housing vouch-ers, Muriel fought back and success-fully preserved the program. Muriel,in her role as a member of the Metro

Board, adopted the rst-ever affordablehousing policy, which dictates howMetro-owned land will be developed.

Muriel has backed up her commit-ment to producing more affordablehousing by providing millions of dol-lars in nancial resources to make ithappen. She allocated additional re-sources to assist rst time homebuyers,led the charge to increase funding toabate lead contamination in homes, andsecured grants for families to better af-ford home renovations. She also fund-ed an affordable housing pilot projectfor the Districts LGBT senior citizens.

Senior CitizensBy 2015, 20% of District residents areprojected to be 60 years of age or older.The senior population faces signi cantand unique issues impacting their qual-ity of life, including housing, chronicdisease, disability, and access to tech-nology. Since rst taking of ce, Muri -


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tion to counter a growing trend of pub-lic drunkenness by banning the sale ofsingle beers in Ward 4. Later that year,her efforts led to a law that requiresneighbors and local leaders to be no-ti ed before a property is demolished.She successfully opposed efforts thatsought to increase the number of bill-boards in the District, and she foughtback a bill that would have allowedused car dealers to blight commercialcorridors.

Accountable LeadershipIn order to help restore District resi-dents trust in their local government,Bowsers Council colleagues put herin charge of crafting a comprehensiveethics reform package. The ground-breaking 109-page law she authoredstrengthens nancial disclosure re -

quirements, improves ethics training,disquali es elected of cials convictedof a felony, and requires the Councilto take action when colleagues abusetheir position. Muriel also establishedthe Ethics Board, which the Washing-ton Post has touted for its strength andindependence.

Muriel put an end to closed-doormeetings by authoring the Open Gov-ernment Is Good Government Act,which requires full transparency whenpublic bodies meet. She also fundedthe Open Government Of ce, whichpolices violations of the open meetingslaw, and budgeted an additional milliondollars to the Of ce of Campaign Fi -nance to enhance its ability to investi-gate and enforce campaign fraud.

Fighting for the Working ClassAs the daughter of working class par-ents, Muriel understands that growingthe middle class is critical to the Dis-

el fought to make it easier for seniorcitizens to live, work, play, and age-in-place in the District of Columbia. In 2013, Muriels legislation to ex-pand the number of seniors eligible fora 50% property tax credit became law.She authored legislation to eliminateproperty taxes for long-time residentsin the District of Columbia, and cre-ated a grant fund that allows seniorsto age-in-place more affordably byoffsetting renovation costs, for exam-ple, those associated with installing a

wheelchair lift or a downstairs bath-room. Muriel also amended the taxcode to remove penalties for large-scale home renovations such as thoseneeded to make ones home more ac-cessible, and she was the rst to call forthe Districts participation in the WorldHealth Organizations Global Network

of Age-Friendly Cities and Commu -nities; a program that is making citiesand communities age-friendly by re-sponding to challenges facing seniors.

A Neighborhood FocusAs a Ward Councilmember, formerAdvisory Neighborhood Commis-sioner, and current member of theLamond-Riggs Citizens Association,Bowser understands how governmentdecisions affect the day-to-day livesof residents and neighborhoods. In2008 and 2009, Muriel stood up forneighborhoods by authoring and shep-herding into law legislation that incen-tivizes owners of vacant and blightedproperties to renovate. She recognizedthat these properties harm neighbor-hoods by deterring investment, invit-ing crime, and welcoming neglect. To-day, hundreds of formerly vacant andblighted homes are now occupied. In 2008, Muriel introduced legisla-


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tricts success and that the governmenthas a duty to ensure a fair and equalpathway to upward mobility.

Muriel co-authored the Earned Sickand Safe Leave Act of 2013, casting thedeciding vote on a law to provide min-imum wage workers with mandatorypaid sick and safe leave. She voted toincrease the minimum wage to $11.50per hourone of the highest minimumwages in the country. She sponsoredlegislation to deter wage theft, and sheauthored an amendment that gives re-

turning citizens a chance to have a fairand impartial job interview.

EducationMuriel believes that the straightestline to educational achievement andaccountability in our public schools isto empower and support a Chancellor

of Schools and her team of educationexperts to implement reforms. Educa-tion reforms initiated seven years agoare beginning to pay off. ChancellorHenderson has made great strides. Butwith less than half of District studentsscoring at pro cient levels for theirgrade, so much can be improved withfocused leadership from the next May-or. Muriel has worked to bring to lighteducational issues in critical need ofgreater attention and resources, andto propose and fund programs com-plementary to those of the Chancellor.Last year she authored and funded theKids Ride Free Program, which offersa free bus ride to school for all DC stu-dents. Muriel knows that the rst stepto learning is getting students to schoolon time and ready to learn. It helps, too,that saving families money wheneverpossible is the right thing to do.

At the same time she was working to

pass Kids Ride Free, Muriel also draft -ed legislation detailing the problem ofthe Districts failing middle schoolsand urging reform. Muriel later intro-duced legislation highlighting the needfor an educational system that preparesstudents for careers in the growing

elds of science, technology, engineer -ing, and math, and she introduced a billoffering free computer coding camps toall DC youth.

As Ward 4 Councilmember, she hasfought to drive hundreds of millions of

dollars toward the modernizations ofPowell, Shepherd, Lafayette Elemen-tary Schools, Roosevelt and CoolidgeHigh Schools, secured millions morefor the opening of two new middleschools, spearheaded efforts to locateE.L. Haynes, Washington Latin andCapital City Public Charter Schools

in three vacant school properties, pro-tected equitable feeder pathways whileadvocating for better neighborhoodoptions, and served as a accountablevoice to parents of the wards schools.Muriel has fought hard to deliver mod-ernization funding for schools in everycorner of Ward 4.

Economic DevelopmentSince being elected to the Council in2007, Bowser has taken a hands-on ap-proach to redeveloping and revitalizingWard 4. She spearheaded efforts to re -claim and redevelop over 60 acres ofthe Walter Reed campus from the U.S.Army for economic development. Shedelivered new shopping, housing, anddining on Georgia Avenue, includingthe long-awaited new Petworth Safe-way, Residences at 4100 Georgia Ave -nue, Vida Senior Wellness Center, andChez Billy, a locally owned restaurant.

During this time, Muriel greatly ex-


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TransportationBeyond her Kids Ride Free program,which provides free bus rides to allDistrict school children, Muriel hasplayed a central role in developing asystem of transit options that work forDistrict residents; no matter their zipcode.As a member of the Board of Directors

of the Washington Metropolitan AreaTransit Authority, Muriel developedand approved the Momentum long-range strategic plan with critical transit

proposals that must be implemented tohandle the 2 million new residents and1.5 million new jobs the region is ex-pecting by 2040. To fund Momentum,Muriel supported dedication of futureinternet sales tax revenue to the initia-tive and introduced her Public-PrivatePartnership Act legislation. Likewise,

Muriel has overseen the continuationof the 6-year, $5 billion capital invest-ment effort to ensure the safety andreliability of the bus and rail systems.For bus riders, Muriel fought for thepreservation of a key cross-town route,serving residents from Chevy Chase toIvy City. She promoted late night ser-vice, more articulated buses, and thestudy of dedicated lanes on the heav-ily used 16th Street line. Muriel alsoprevented a $0.25 increase on faresthat would have most impacted riderswho were least able to afford it. And, tomake riding public transit safer, Muri-el spearheaded efforts to deter juvenilemisbehavior by fostering better coor-dination between MPD and Metro po-lice and launching a public awarenesscampaign across the regions schoolsystems. Muriel also spearheaded thepassage of legislation making it easierto arrest perpetrators of sexual assaultand requiring Metro to train all of its

panded the boundaries of Ward 4sGreat Streets initiative, which providesgrants to businesses along emergingcorridors. She also laid the ground-work for future redevelopment in theWard by commissioning major plan-ning studies, including the Central 14thStreet Vision Plan and RevitalizationStrategy; the Upper Georgia AvenueLand Development Plan; the Kenne-dy Street Corridor Revitalization Plan;and the Riggs Road/South Dakota Av-enue Area Development Plan. These

studies focused the attention of the Ad-ministration and sent a strong signal tothe private sector that Ward 4 was openfor business.

As a result, a 106,000 square feetWal-Mart has opened at the corner ofMissouri and Georgia Avenues, NW; aHarris Teeter is planned for 7828 Geor-

gia Avenue; at the Takoma Metro Sta-tion, two hundred residential units areplanned; and near Ft. Totten, develop -ers will build hundreds of thousands ofsquare feet of new retail and 800 res-idential units. All told, these projectswill produce hundreds of jobs for DCresidents. In her role as Chairman of the Com-mittee on Economic Development,Muriel has overseen the redevelopmentof large-scale real estate projects suchas the proposed soccer stadium deal,St. Elizabeths, the Skyland ShoppingCenter, the Southwest Waterfront, theMcMillan Sand Filtration Site, and HillEast. These projects represent thou-sands of new jobs, hundreds of newunits of affordable housing, millions offeet of new retail and shopping options,and tens of millions of dollars in newrevenue.


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employees on how to handle sexualassaults, track the occurrences of thesecrimes in the Metro system, and createa dedicated hotline to report incidents. Muriel also serves on the NationalCapital Region Transportation Plan-ning Board, where she was its Chairin 2011. In this role, she organized aneffort for a federal grant for rst wheel -chair accessible taxicabs in the metroregion, RollDC, and a website and callcenter to give transportation informa-tion to disadvantaged populations.

Prior to holding elected of ce, Murielworked for Montgomery County, MD,where she oversaw a downtown trans-portation management district and wasresponsible for ensuring that balancedtransportation options were availableto residents, workers, and visitors. Shealso served as the Assistant Director

of the Silver Spring Regional Center,the County Executives mini-townhall. She was responsible for connect-ing residentsto the growth planned fordowntown Silver Spring.


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tion policies and procedures acrossthe District (pre-K, K-12 (Charter andDCPS, OSSE, UDC, and the Commu-nity College), with a focus on speci careas in need of improvement. In ad-dition, Muriel will prioritize efforts tomake the budget process, both overalland at the school-level, more transpar-ent and participatory, to increase theability of stakeholders to be active andengaged.

Ensure Strong, Innovative, and Mis-

sion-Driven Leadership at DCPS. Great school systems and great schoolsrequire strong, innovative, and vision-ary leaders at the helm. As Mayor,Muriel Bowser will prioritize the at-traction, development, and retentionof outstanding educators and schoolleaders and support the continued

leadership of DCPS Chancellor KayaHenderson. Continuity in leadershipat DCPS is the best way to ensure theDistricts reform efforts move forwarduninterrupted, and as Mayor, MurielBowser will work diligently to providethe Chancellor and all the Districts ed-ucational leaders with the support andresources necessary to be successful toprovide a high-quality education to ev-ery child.

Transform the Districts MiddleSchools By 2020. Many of the Dis-tricts elementary schools have madegreat strides in recent years, as evi-denced by increased enrollment andimproved test scores. It is now an ide-al time to focus in a more deliberateway on providing high-quality middleschool options for students and parentsacross the District. As Mayor, MurielBowser will work with the Chancellorto completely transform the Districts

MURIEL BOWSER FOR MAYOR

Education: World-Class Schoolsfor All Eight Wards

Every child in the District of Colum-bia deserves the opportunity to attend aclean, safe, modern, high-quality pub-lic school in their own neighborhood,and while we have made great prog-ress towards that goal in the past seven

years, there is more work to be done toensure that all of our students, regard-

less of where they live, are college- andcareer-ready, when they graduate fromhigh school. As Mayor, the ability of allstudents in all eight wards to receive aworld-class public education that pre-

pares them for success will be my top priority, and I will, with renewed vigorand energy, marshal the resources of

the Districts government and all of our partners both public and private tomove our schools forward.

- Muriel Bowser

Accelerate the Pace of School Re- form with a Renewed Focus on Ac-countability and Results. Parents andstudents across the District expect anddeserve a Mayor who will lead bothcollaboratively and decisively, with anevidence-based approach to movingour schools forward as quickly as pos-sible. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willaccelerate the pace of school reformby discontinuing ineffective programsand policies and replicating those thathave demonstrated strong outcomes toensure that all students receive a highquality public education. Speci cal -ly, Muriel will expand SchoolStat, adata-driven performance-managementsystem currently used by DCPS, toevaluate the success of public educa-


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Middle Schools by 2020, a process thatwill include the identi cation of thoseschools that need change the fastest,the renovation and/or construction ofnew buildings, and the evaluation andre-imagination of the curricular andextra-curricular offerings at each ofthe Districts 13 stand-alone MiddleSchools, which serve nearly 6,000 stu-dents, and for middle school studentsenrolled in K-8 educational settings.

Increase Collaboration Between

DCPS and Charter Schools. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser will work toincrease collaboration between andamongst our public school sectors toensure the sharing of resources and bestpractices, recognizing that the numberone priority across both sectors is thedelivery of a high-quality education to

every child in every neighborhood inthe District of Columbia. Speci cally,Muriel will empower the Deputy May-or for Education to make recommen-dations about improving collaborationbetween DCPS and Charter Schools.In recent years, both sectors have iden-ti ed unique and innovative ways to,among other things, better educate stu-dents, train educational professionals,and utilize facilities; those best prac-tices should be shared and both sectorsshould nd ways to work together ina more seamless fashion includingaround efforts to locate charter schoolsand provide a neighborhood preference

to ensure the delivery of a high-qual-ity education to every child in the Dis-trict of Columbia.

Support Targeted Efforts to TakeSchools from Good to Great. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser will launch theGood to Great Initiative , an effort

speci cally targeting those schools onthe brink of being highly-regarded byparents. By focusing on these schoolsin a targeted way, parents and studentswill have more high-quality optionssooner, which will allow the District tothen focus its energy and attention onthose schools in most need of support.The process of targeting schools for theGood to Great Initiative will requiresubstantial community input whichwill in turn build capacity among par-ents and community partners and aid

in the long-term success of all Districtschools.

Expand Early Childhood Educa-tion Programs. Investments in highquality early childhood education forchildren from birth to age ve dramat -ically increase the likelihood of their

educational success because much ofa childs brain development occurs inthe earliest years of life. Early child-hood education initiatives have alsobeen shown to allow educators to betteridentify the needs of each child so asto prepare them for long-term success.As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will work toexpand quality early childhood educa-tion programs to reach more studentsat a younger age across the District toensure that all children are prepared tosucceed in K-12 education and beyond.

Increase STEM Education Options Across the District. Between 2008-2018 Science, Technology, Engineer-ing and Mathematics (STEM) occu-pations will grow 1.7 times faster thannon-STEM occupations, and in orderto meet these workforce needs, theUnited States will need more than 1million new STEM professionals thanare currently expected to graduate. 1


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to support and create innovative poli-cies and programs that better prepareour students to meet the new and ex-isting workforce needs in the Washing-ton, DC region. The continued successof UDC and the Community Collegeare critical to the Districts efforts toensure that all students have a pathwayto success, and as Mayor, Muriel willprioritize increased investment in botheducational institutions.

Expand Parent and Family Engage-

ment Efforts. Effective school reformrequires the active and informed en-gagement of all community stakehold-ers, particularly parents, families, andcaregivers. As Mayor, Muriel Bowserwill work to ensure that parents are inthe best position possible to participatein the process of creating high-quality

public schools in every neighborhood,by working to ensure the collection ofcitywide student and parent satisfac-tion data from both DCPS and charterschools. The District should welcomeand be responsive to parent feedbackand requests for help, and parentsshould be included in decisions abouttheir childs education.

Expand the Number of CommunitySchools in the District. In 2013, theOf ce of the State Superintendent ofEducation (OSSE) awarded severalone-year grants to create communityschools at a limited number of sitesacross the District. 2 The communi-ty-school model, which has been adopt-ed by numerous school districts acrossthe country, focuses on turning schoolsinto centers of the community with anintegrated focus on academics, healthand social services, youth and com-munity development and community

This growing need is particularly evi-dent here in the District in our growingtechnology sector. As Mayor, MurielBowser will work to increase STEMeducation options across the District toensure that our students are preparedfor the jobs of the future by strength-ening partnerships with industry, uni-versities, the federal government, andthe many outstanding STEM-relatednon-pro ts based in the District andthroughout the region.

Provide Additional Resources to Un-derperforming Schools To Close the

Achievement Gap. Despite the prog-ress seen in recent years, too many ofour schools continue to underperformas evidenced by stagnant test scoresand a persistent achievement gap acrossdifferent student populations. As May-

or, Muriel Bowser will create a strat-egy to provide additional resources tochronically underperforming schoolsin all eight wards, with a speci c focuson the 25 lowest performing schools inthe District. With additional concen-trated resources, evidence-based inter-ventions, and the creative efforts of theMayors Of ce and DCPS Leadership,these schools can and will be turnedaround to better prepare students forlong-term educational success.

Improve and Expand Career andTechnical Education. As Mayor,Muriel Bowser will prioritize the im-provement and expansion of career andtechnical education opportunities thatare aligned with workforce options andexpectations in the region by workingwith the Department of EmploymentServices (DOES), the University of theDistrict of Columbia Community Col-lege, and partners in the private sector,


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educate our students, beginning witha proposal to lengthen the school dayfor every public school student inthe District. To that end, Muriel willwork with the Chancellor and teach-ers to expand upon efforts to lengthenthe school day in a careful way thatsupports increased instructional timefor students and additional planningand professional development timefor teachers. In addition, Muriel willsupport efforts to provide greater au-tonomy to high-performing schools

and support the development of a moreholistic approach to evaluating schoolsuccess that looks beyond standardizedtest scores.

Improve the Quality of Special Edu-cation in District Schools. The Dis-trict has made signi cant progress in

complying with its various class actionlawsuits, which primarily focus on theprocess of special education (meetingevaluation deadlines, delivering man-dated IEP services, compliance withlegal procedures, etc.). This is nec-essary but not suf cient to improvingoutcomes for special education stu-dents. Recently, the US Departmentof Education announced an initiativeto improve the quality of education forstudents with disabilities and is work-ing to include this in how it overseesstates. 4 As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willsupport the Districts shift in the direc-tion identi ed by the Department ofEducation to focus more on outcomesfor students with special needs, whilecontinuing the progress that has beenmade on basic compliance and deliv-ery of services. Muriel will also workto increase the Districts investment inprofessional development for teachersof students with disabilities, promote

engagement, which leads to improvedstudent learning, stronger families, andhealthy communities. 3 As Mayor,Muriel Bowser will work to double thenumber of community schools in theDistrict in an effort to better meet theneeds of all communities in the Districtof Columbia.

Encourage Greater Private Support for Public School Reform. The Dis-trict needs thoughtful and engagedpartners from both the public and pri-

vate sector to support efforts to reformand improve our public schools be-cause the success of our students inaddition to ensuring better outcomesfor students and their families willguarantee the long-term stability andsuccess of our region. When schoolreform efforts were rst launched near -

ly eight years ago, the private sectorprovided tremendous support to launchkey initiatives designed to improveour public schools. As Mayor, Muri-el Bowser will reengage private sectorpartners and raise an additional $50million to support new school reformefforts in the District to better prepareour students for success and makeWashington, DC schools a proof pointfor the nation.

Dedicate Resources to Innovative Initiatives to Lengthen the School Day, Increase School Autonomy, and Holistically Evaluate Schools. TheDistricts students deserve the high-est quality education possible, whichmeans all of the Districts educationalof cials must be innovative in theirthinking about how to improve schoolsand educational outcomes for our stu-dents. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willsupport innovative efforts to better


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cross-sector collaboration on promis-ing practices for closing achievementgaps and raising performance throughdifferent instructional strategies, andcommit to expanding the Districtsmonitoring of special education be-yond simple compliance measures tothe development of aggressive goalsfor improving student outcomes.

Evaluate Model of School Gover-nance. As mayoral control of DC Pub-lic Schools approaches its eighth year

and third mayoral administration, nowis an opportune time to thoughtful-ly and collaboratively assess how thecurrent school governance structurehas aided school reform and determineif changes can or should be made toaccelerate the pace of school reformefforts in the District. As Mayor, Mu-

riel Bowser is committed to mayoralcontrol of public schools and lead aneffort to evaluate the current model ofschool governance in the District to en-sure that all pieces of the school gov-ernance apparatus t together in a waythat positions the school system and itsstudents for long-term success.


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ditionally, Muriel will work with thebusiness community and the public tomake sure the complex system of fees,

nes and taxes are understandable andincentives are consistent to promote re-sponsible business practices.

Develop Pro-Active and Streamlined Business-Friendly Customer Service Processes. Based on Thumbtack.coms2013 Small Business Friendly Survey,the keys to a pro-growth environmentare ease of compliance with tax and

regulatory systems and helpful trainingprograms. 7 While the citys Surveyscore has markedly improved over thepast three years, there is still more todo to ensure businesses interactionswith DC government agencies are asstraightforward as possible. As Mayor,Muriel Bowser will demand that our

government agencies are pro-activein their approach to interacting withbusinesses, including the Departmentof Consumer and Regulatory Affairs,the Department of Small and LocalBusiness Development, and the Of-

ce of Tax and Revenue. Muriel willprovide a one-stop-shop, online and onsite, that provides up-to-date and easilyaccessible information and processesfor businesses seeking permits, licens-es, and other government services anddocuments. The process will be stream-lined to enable a new business ownerto obtain a business license in less thanone day and renew it quickly online.

Foster Engaged Eco-System to Boost Innovative Small Businesses. Smallbusinesses are created and fosteredin markets with talented workforces,purchase-ready consumers, strong pro-fessional services offerings, affordableof ce space, and a supportive govern -

Jobs & Economic Development:Building Success in All EightWards

The Districts future is bright. We havemore people moving into the Districtevery day learning, eating, shopping,working and thriving. We weatheredthe recession better than most citiesand people around the world are tak-ing notice of DC. The progressive val-ues that put DC on the map have givenour local government a solid nancial

footing; now its time to make surewere positioned to take advantage of

future opportunities to become an eco-nomic leader in the region and acrossthe country. I am committed to usingour growing tax base to reinvest in jobcreation and economic opportunities

for all DC residents by diversifying our

economy, fostering entrepreneurshipand small business growth, and focus-ing workforce training on jobs avail-able today in all eight wards.

- Muriel Bowser

Establish Business-Friendly Tax and Regulatory Policies. To remain region-ally and globally competitive, everyonewho starts, owns and grows a businessin DC deserves a fair shot at success.As indicated by the DC Business Reg-ulatory Reform Task Force Report 5 and the DC Tax Revision CommissionReport, 6 the District government cando more to make sure business bot-tom-lines arent impacted by confusedand inconsistent taxes and fees. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser is committedto showing that DC is business-readyby reforming business taxes, includ-ing our capital gains tax, regulationsand licensing fees to bring them inline with our regional neighbors. Ad-


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ment infrastructure. As Mayor, Muri-el Bowser is committed to creating anurturing environment for local start-ups and small businesses by leverag-ing city resources to do so helpingsupport the nancial, legal and otherprofessional services needs for thesesmall businesses to succeed and pro-vide jobs to DC residents. Muriel willelevate the mission of the Departmentof Small and Local Business Develop-ment (DSLBD), not as a business cer-ti cation center, but as a real resource

to connect small business owners toreal economic opportunities, informedand relevant training programs andskilled workers in order to grow theirbusiness in the District. Additionally,the reformed DSLBD will provide in-centives for companies to share theirof ce space with new businesses and

promote collaborative workspace envi-ronments to build and grow DC busi-nesses, including incubators and accel-erators succeeding today.

Focus Local Procurement Power toSupport Small Enterprises. Last year,the DC Of ce of Contracts and Pro -curement (OCP) processed approxi-mately 8,000 purchase orders, totalingapproximately 1.2 billion dollars. As anumber of agencies in the District gov-ernment have independent procurementauthority, even more local governmentmoney was spent to purchase servicesand products. While current law re-quires that a certi ed small business beinvolved in any contract of $250,000or more, there are many contracts letby the DC government that waive thesmall business requirement citing thatno small business in the city providesthe service or product. The process isbroken and has failed to support local

businesses in the way originally envi-sioned. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willhold agencies accountable for doingbusiness with quali ed small business -es in the city.

Target Financial Support to GrowingSmall Businesses. Operating in a bull-ish market like Washington DC as alongtime or new small business is chal-lenging, but critical, to growing anddiversifying the local economy. Ac-cess to capital is a constant roadblock

to success for many small businessesin the District, including woman-, mi-nority- and veteran-owned operationsunable to fully nance opportunitieswith business equity, bank nancingor other private and public sources.Many states have developed programsin partnership with the banking sector

to assist these small businesses in ac-cessing start-up capital, low interestloans and credit enhancements in theconstruction sector to obtain bonds.As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will take acomprehensive look at the programsthe DC government currently offersand consolidate the various programsto give small businesses access to nec-essary services and resources.

Invest in New and Growing BusinessSectors. Historically, the Districts lo-cal economy has become overly reli-ant on federal government spending,signi cantly impacting unemploymentnumbers and the tax base when federalspending slows down. In recent years,the Districts tourism, hospitality, andtechnology elds have taken off despitesequestration threats and a slowdownin federal procurement spending. Fos -tering these new sectors will help re-duce the impact of any long-term slow


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Brookland. Recent developments in afew government projects demonstratethat more opportunities are on the hori-zon, including Walter Reed, SouthwestWaterfront, Skyland, and McMillanPark. These major projects help spureconomic opportunities, jobs and oth-er neighborhood services. As Mayor,Muriel Bowser is committed to mak-ing sure development projects continueto move forward with communities atthe table, including Hill East, St. Eliz-abeths, Poplar Point, and the Anacos-

tia Waterfront. Muriel will ensure thatthese hubs of economic activity willinclude quality retail, education andhousing partners, create jobs for Dis-trict residents and are accountable topromises made to impacted communi-ties.

Drive Development to Overlooked Neighborhoods Across the City. Whilemany neighborhoods across the cityhave grown in population and econom-ic activity, neighborhoods east of theAnacostia River have fewer people,less housing units and lower medianincome than even ten years ago. With-out sustained and quality investment,some of the Districts most historicallyimportant and culturally vibrant neigh-borhoods are at risk. As Mayor, MurielBowser will launch the DC First Pro-gram to focus government resources,procurement dollars and hiring incen-tives to bring DC residents, businessowners, developers, and communityinvestors together in historically over-looked corridors to work together tofoster sustainable, long-term develop-ment. Muriel has committed to creatinga deputy mayor position responsiblefor ensuring that greater economic op-portunities are delivered to these over-

down in federal government spend-ing. Smart people, unique researchinstitutions, strong collaborations andother partnerships and resources haveattracted new industries and entrepre-neurs to DC. As Mayor, Muriel Bows-er is committed to making sure thesesectors and new ones are here to stay.Diversifying our economy will providestrategic advantages for existing smalland medium-sized companies as wellas high-growth companies competingin the global economy. Muriel will

launch Invest DC to attract and grownew industry sectors in DC through aseries of incentives and bene ts in or -der to diversify our economy and cre-ate new jobs for DC residents, makingDC less dependent on federal govern-ment spending.

Support Innovative Industries and Entrepreneurship. The District gov-ernment has made an effort to promoteand market the Districts growing tech-nology and other innovative sectors.An innovation eco-system is beginningto take shape thanks in part to sharedworkspaces, incubators, accelerators,venture capital attention and other or-ganic communities. As Mayor, MurielBowser will commit to further sup-porting these innovative sectors byfurther bolstering Digital DC offer-ings, appointing the DC governments

rst innovation of cer, and investingin technology-focused training centersand workspaces.

Move Development Projects Forwardwith Community Involvement. Devel-opment of government-owned proper-ty has continued to propel economicopportunities in the city, includingColumbia Heights, Penn Quarter and


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looked neighborhoods. With additionalresources and direct oversight from themayors of ce, Muriel looks forwardto the revitalization of these importantneighborhoods.

Attract and Retain Federal Govern-ment Investment and Jobs. Federalprocurement spending has increasedsigni cantly over the past two decades.As a result, the federal governmentcontinues to be DCs major industry,attracting federal workers, our defense

sector and policy-minded think tanksand associations to locate in and aroundthe city. Over the past few years, fed-eral government spending has slowed,causing higher unemployment in sur-rounding jurisdictions. In order to limitthe impact on the Districts economy,as Mayor, Muriel Bowser will work

with our federal government partnersto identify areas near major transit hubsto invest in new buildings as federaldepartments continue to consolidatein order to spur new economic devel-opment in DC neighborhoods. Murielwill work to keep and attract federalworkers in DC by investing in LiveNear Your Work programs, whichhelp working class federal employeessave money by living in the City.

Create New Economic Opportuni-ties and Quality Jobs. Creating part-nerships to meet industry demandsfor jobs will allow all DC residentsto take advantage of economic devel-opment across the city. The Districtgovernment spends over $100 millionin workforce development and approx-imately $1.3 billion on constructionprojects each year, but the truth is, ourtraining programs dont align well with

jobs available for DC residents and

that needs to change. As Mayor, Mu-riel Bowser will appoint a WorkforceOpportunity Advisor to evaluate andrefocus the more than $100 millionspent by the DC government on vari-ous workforce development programseach year to ensure these programs arealigned with jobs that exist now andare expected in the future in order togive our residents the best chance tosucceed. Muriel Bowser will investin coordinated resident training andapprenticeship programs (including

SYEP expansion), alongside industryleaders and small business owners, tomake sure our workforce and the nextgeneration are ready to compete in to-days New Economy. In order to ensureDC residents including our returningcitizens are able to take advantage ofthe millions in local taxpayer dollars

spent on employing trade and serviceproviders, Muriel Bowser will launch aGeneral Services and Public WorksAcademy.

Champion Public Private Partner-ships to Further Economic Oppor-tunities. DC weathered the recessionbetter than most cities regionally andnationally, but the city still has billionsof dollars in infrastructure needs thatare inadequately funded, including $3.5billion for school modernization, $26billion for Metro improvements, $2.4billion for sewers, $1 billion for pow-er line undergrounding, $1 billion foraffordable housing, and millions morefor new libraries, Police, Fire and EMSequipment, and others. These criticalinvestments will be increasingly hardto pay for as the District is expected toreach its debt cap before 2020, haltingthe Districts ability to borrow. Earlyinvolvement of the private sector can


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bring creativity, ef ciency, and capitalto address these complex infrastructurechallenges. As Chair of the DC Coun-cils Economic Development Commit-tee, Muriel Bowser has already intro-duced legislation that will encouragethe use of Public Private Partnerships(P3s). P3s will provide a valuable toolfor meeting the citys infrastructureneeds while minimizing the impact onthe District governments bottom-line.As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will estab-lish an Of ce of Public Private Partner -

ships (OP3) to partner with the privatesector to tackle these major infrastruc-ture projects, helping manage the bor-rowing risk and producing thousandsof jobs for District residents.


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Public Safety:A Safer Washington for All EightWards

Ensuring the safety of the public is thehighest priority of city government. As

Mayor, I will work diligently to makesure Washingtons police of cers, re -

ghters, and emergency services per -sonnel have the support, training, andresources they need to do their jobs ef-

fectively, in order to make Washington, DC the safest big city in America.

- Muriel Bowser

Proactively Promote Emergency and Disaster Preparedness. As demon-strated by the terrorist attacks of Sep-tember 11, 2001, Washington, DCremains a target for those who wouldseek to harm Americans. Since that

time, the District has worked collabo-ratively with its local and federal part-ners to ensure the safety and security ofall who live in, work around, and visitthe nations capital. As Mayor, Muri-el Bowser will work to ensure that allDistrict agencies, particularly MPD,FEMS and HSEMA, are fully equippedand prepared to deal with emergentsituations including natural disasters,public health emergencies and terroristand criminal threats. Muriel will alsowork to ensure that all District agen-cies have fully operational emergencyplans that are reviewed and amendedon a quarterly basis, as well as regular-ly tested/drilled.

Invest in the Districts Youth. Theprevention of violence, particularlyyouth violence, requires the sustainedsupport and contributions of numer-ous partners including families, com-munity and faith-based organizations,

and government entities like the hu-man services agencies, DYRS, FEMS,MPD and DCPS. As Mayor, recog-nizing the importance of addressingthe multiplicity of issues associatedwith youth violence, Muriel Bowserwill prioritize investment in programslike the Summer Youth EmploymentProgram (SYEP), that create and pro-vide opportunities for young people toparticipate in meaningful activities thatsupport their social and educationalgrowth and development. She will bal-

ance this prevention with targeted lawenforcement that focuses resources onthose individuals and neighborhoodswith the highest risk of re-offendingand violence. Muriel will also focuson opportunities to proactively engageand support young people before vio-lence occurs by creating a con dential

crime and violence prevention hotlinethat can be promoted in schools andutilized by young people across theDistrict.

Promote Community Engagementand Integrity in Policing. MPD of -cers cannot be truly successful with-out the support and involvement of thepeople they serve. Positive communityrelations are central to good policing.Moreover, a strong relationship be-tween MPD of cers and the commu -nity makes community members morelikely to come forward with informa-tion, which helps keep both of cersand citizens safe. As Mayor, MurielBowser will work to increase opportu-nities that promote community engage-ment with MPD and all of the Districtspublic safety agencies by conveningbi-annual town hall meetings withDistrict residents in all eight wards toensure District residents have an op-


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MPD and FEMS training programs atUDC and the Community College; and3) propose funding to increase the sizeof the force when it becomes neces-sary to meet the Districts growingpolicing needs, in a way that preservesthe quality of of cers/recruits and en -sures the safety of all District neigh-borhoods, from those that still strugglewith crime and violence, to those thatneed more police attention due to de-velopment and rising populations.

Reduce Homicides and Other ViolentCrimes, Including Armed Robbery.While violent crime has plummeted tohistoric lows across the city in recentyears, the number of homicides andother violent crimes in certain partsof the District remains at unaccept-able levels. Armed robberies threaten

the gains that the District has made inimproving the quality of life in manyneighborhoods. Homicides and otherviolent crimes too often disproportion-ately impact underserved communitieseast of the river and too often involveyoung men of color. As Mayor, MurielBowser will strongly support commu-nity policing and targeted, collabora-tive efforts that focus speci cally onthose neighborhoods in most need ofdedicated MPD resources. She willalso support strategies that target themost violent, repeat offenders whocause the most harm to the community.Moreover, Muriel will appoint a Depu-ty Mayor to focus on issues of speci cconcern to residents living east of theriver, including job creation, housing,transportation, and public safety.

Expand Successful Policing Strate- gies By Investing in New Technology.New and emerging technologies are

portunity to participate in an open andhonest dialogue about public safety intheir neighborhoods. She will also en-hance citizens faith in MPD and theintegrity of the police force by holdingof cers accountable when they engagein misconduct.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

Support Continuity in MPD Leader-ship. Since 2007, Chief Lanier has ledthe Metropolitan Police Department

(MPD) with great skill, energy and in-tegrity, and her commitment to smart,innovative, policing that positivelyengages the community has resultedin a dramatic decline in the Districtscrime rate. As Mayor, Muriel Bowserwill support Chief Laniers continuedleadership of MPD and work with her

to achieve their shared vision of mak-ing Washington, DC the safest big cityin America.

Provide Resources to Hire More MPDOf cers. Like many big cities acrossthe country, the District of Columbiafaces unique challenges as a signi cantnumber of of cers approach retirementage.8 Compounding this issue, as theDistrict of Columbia continues to pros-per, adding more than 1,000 new resi-dents each month, the need for an ex-pansive force of highly skilled of cerscontinues to grow. As Mayor, MurielBowser will provide the Chief with theresources necessary to recruit, hire, andtrain as many of cers as possible in aresponsible way, with a commitment to1) bring the size of the force to its au-thorized strength of 4,000 sworn of -cers as quickly as possible 2) hire qual-i ed District residents and increase theavailability of resources available for


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playing an increasingly crucial role inthe daily work of frontline police of -cers, thus enabling them to be more ef-

cient, effective, and responsive to theneeds of the communities they serve. 9 As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will investin technology that enables the men andwomen of the Metropolitan Police De-partment to do their work in new andinnovative ways. Speci cally, Murielwill allocate funding for the purchaseand use of body cameras and mobiledevices, both of which increase of cer

effectiveness in the eld. In addition,the strategic use of body cameras candecrease both the number of policecomplaints led and the use of force,thereby increasing the communitystrust and con dence. 10

Increase Support Provided to Vic-

tims of Domestic Violence. In 2013,32,794 domestic-violence related callswere made to the Metropolitan PoliceDepartment, an average of 1 call every16 minutes. According to the DC Su-perior Court, more than 5,000 petitionsfor Civil Protection Orders were ledin 2013, a 7% increase in lings from2012, and 14% increase from 2011.Unfortunately, these trends are re ect -ed in the increase in domestic-violencerelated homicides that have occurredin the District this year, a cause forserious concern. 11 As Mayor, MurielBowser will 1) proactively work withMPD and community partners to con-nect domestic violence victims with theservices needed to leave violent situa-tions and 2) work to ensure the safetyand well-being of all domestic violencevictims, particularly impacted children,by targeting law enforcement resourcesto situations that have the most poten-tial to escalate into lethal violence.

Support Efforts to End Hate Crimes.Under the leadership of Chief Lani-er, MPD has worked with communitypartners to assess the manner in whichthe department interacts with commu-nities targeted for hate crimes, partic-ularly the LGBTQ community. Basedon an assessment conducted by the An-ti-Defamation League (ADL), ChiefLanier has undertaken steps to makeprogress in this critical area, includingthe training of all of cers in LGBTQcompetency in 2015. As Mayor, Mu-

riel Bowser will support the Chiefs ef-forts, work to create a comprehensivemulti-agency strategy to identify andreduce violence directed towards theLGBTQ community and improve thecitys strategic efforts to reduce bully-ing and ensure all youth can be safe inand out of school.

Utilize Traf c Cameras to PromoteCommunity Safety. The Metropoli-tan Police Departments AutomatedTraf c Enforcement (ATE) programhas been in operation since 2000. Theoriginal goal of the program was to re-duce aggressive driving and protect pe-destrians, bicyclists, and other motor-ists, by deploying cameras that wouldhave the effect of modifying driverbehavior throughout the District at alltimes. Recent studies have shown thatthe ATE program has resulted in fewercollision-related fatalities and injuries,and it has reduced speed-related traf-

c collisions across the District, evenas the citys population has increased.Nonetheless, a recent Of ce of Inspec -tor General report found that the pro-gram needs to be re-focused on publicsafety, with less emphasis on potential-ly unfairly pro ting from District cit -izens. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will


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partments performance, improve pro-vider and customer con dence, andensure results.

Support the Delivery of Quality Emer- gency Medical Services Backed by Evidence-Based Data. The deliveryof high quality emergency medical ser-vices must continue to be the priorityfor the Fire/EMS Department and thedelivery and evaluation of those ser-vices must be driven by reliable, ob-

jective data. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser

will provide additional resources toallow for better assessment of servicedelivery, including the evaluation ofpatient care indicators and other datathat goes beyond merely measuring re-sponse times.

Prioritize the Recruitment and Reten-

tion of Highly Quali ed Paramedics.The provision of high-quality emer-gency services throughout the Districtrequires a fully staffed department ofskilled men and women who are pre-pared to meet the challenges associat-ed with responding to emergencies ina big city. As Mayor, Muriel Bowserwill provide the department with theresources necessary to meet its staf ngneeds by prioritizing the hiring, train-ing and career development of skilledemergency service professionals, in-cluding the number of paramedicsrequired to meet EMS response timetargets and provide quality patient care.

Ensure our First Responders are Equipment-Ready to Protect Resi-dents. The latest reports that 7 of 17ladder trucks in the FEMS eet failedinspection, and that our residents willbe relying on equipment and resourcesfrom neighboring jurisdictions, is trou-

improve the administration of the pro-gram by preserving the utilization ofspeed enforcement cameras deployedin a manner that is supportable by datashowing a reduction in driver speedand an increase in pedestrian, bicyclist,and motorist safety.

Support MPD Facility Upgrades and Modernization. Originally construct-ed in 1941, the Henry J. Daly Buildingcurrently serves as headquarters forMPD. However, as the size and the

needs of the District and the Depart-ment have increased, the usefulnessand ef ciency of the building has de -clined. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willsupport the upgrade and modernizationof MPD Headquarters and police sta-tions across the District to ensure thatMPD of cers work in an environment

that re ects the value of their work andsupports their ability to do their jobseffectively.

Fire and Emergency Medical ServicesDepartment (FEMS)

Hire A New Fire/EMS Chief With A Medical Services Background. TheDistricts Fire and Emergency ServicesDepartment (FEMS) is among the mostcritical agencies in the city because itprovides life-saving services to Districtresidents on a daily basis. However,the department has faced signi cantchallenges in recent years resulting in

the departure of skilled emergency re-sponders, a decline in employee moraleand a loss of con dence in its provisionof EMS in particular. As Mayor, Mu-riel Bowser will hire an experienced,forward-thinking leader with a strongEMS background to improve the de-


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bling. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willmodernize the departments eet main -tenance operation to ensure all of our

rst responders have access to inspect -ed protective equipment and vehicles.

Housing: Building Neighbor-hoods for All Eight Wards

Housing is one of the most pressingissues we face as a city. According tothe DC Fiscal Policy Institute, rentshave increased 50% and home pric-es have doubled in the DC over the

past decade. At the same time, theaverage family income has remainedat the same level. This means that1-in-5 DC householdsover 50,000

familieshave a severe housing bur-

den and spend half of their income onhousing. This forces families to rethinktheir choice of living in DC. And thatis not a choice we want any of ourresidents to face. I am committed to athree-pronged approach to counter thistrend: produce more affordable hous-ing, preserve what we have, and pre-

pare for the future by creating qualityeducational options, targeted training programs, and good jobs so families inall eight wards can afford to call DChome.

- Muriel Bowser

Preserve and Create AffordableHousing Options

Produce New Affordable HousingWith Stable, Long-Term Funding. The citys primary source of fundingdedicated to the creation of afford-able housing, the Housing ProductionTrust Fund (HPTF), relies primarily onproperty transfer tax revenue, which

uctuates wildly with the economy.Tax revenues drop signi cantly duringeconomic recessions when affordablehousing needs are the greatest thisfunding stream cannot be relied upon.While 1 in 5 DC households spendmore than half of their income on hous-


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8. Most importantly, Muriel will workwith the Chief Financial Of cer so thatfamilies never again lose their homesover minor or mistaken tax debts. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser will also dou-ble the amount of down-payment assis-tance under the Home Purchase Assis-tance Program (HPAP) program from$40,000 to $80,000 so that more fami -lies can realize the American dream ofowning their own home.

Launch System to Connect Residents

with Affordable Homes. Residents andnewcomers struggle to locate resourc-es to help identify affordable homesto rent or buy in the city. And whena home is identi ed, government pro -grams that incentivize homeownership,

nancial literacy and rental assistanceare unable to support the demand. The

Department of Housing and Com-munity Development (DHCD) hostsDCHousingSearch.org, a detailed list-ing of available for rent and for saleproperties as provided by DHCD, theDC Housing Finance Agency and theDC Housing Authoritys HousingChoice Voucher Program. As Mayor,Muriel will refocus DCHousingSearch.org to include all affordable housing inthe District, allowing residents to ndhomes and access government resourc-es to get and stay in those homes. Thissystem will ensure that housing unitssubsidized by the government, includ-ing those built on public land or re-quired by inclusionary zoning regula-tions, and the application requirementsare easily accessible. The search toolshould be made available across thecity at libraries and recreation centers,but should also be accessible by phone.

ing, two-thirds of households with in-comes under $30,000 per year are pay-ing more than half of that on housing.Long-term and sustained funding of af-fordable housing will help these house-holds live for less. As Mayor, MurielBowser will dedicate $100 million ev-ery year to meet DCs affordable pro-duction goals, producing 10,000 unitsneeded each year.

Increase Housing Production withGreater Private Sector Accountabili-

ty. As Mayor, Muriel will demand thatat the very least 20% of units built onDistrict-owned land be reserved forlow-income households. Using pub-licly accessible performance measure-ment tools, Muriel will insist that themillions in government dollars beingspent every year are going to the right

projects and ful lling our greatestneeds. To leverage greater private sec-tor resources for affordable housing,Muriel will evaluate the new Districtlow-income housing tax credit pro-gram, modeled after a similar federalprogram, and, if the program provessuccessful, will work to expand dedi-cated resources to the program.

Invest in Homeownership and Pres-ervation of Homes. As Mayor, Muri-el Bowser will increase resources andexpand eligibility for the single-fam-ily rehab program that awards grantsand loans for residentsespeciallyseniorsto renovate and make theirhomes accessible. Muriel will im-prove tax subsidies and cap propertytax increases for long-time residentsso they arent priced out of neighbor-hoods that they helped establish in the

rst place. A particular focus will beto increase homeownership in Ward


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Deliver High-Quality Housing Re- placement Projects. There are 8,000units of subsidized housing in theDistrict, many of which are in need ofcritical renovations. The DC HousingAuthority reports more than 70,000residents are on their now-closedwaiting list for new units. This back-log needs to be addressed. In orderrenovate 6,500 units, it will cost $1.3billion, and to address that backlog of70,000 will cost another $1 billion toproduce enough housing for everyone

on the waiting list. Most critically,the program envisioned to revitalizethe most distressed subsidized hous-ing into redeveloped mixed-incomeneighborhoods, the New CommunitiesInitiative, has failed to meet the needsof our most vulnerable residents, dueto mismanagement and lack of leader-

ship. The New Communities processneeds to be xed. As Mayor, Murielwill focus greater public subsidies onmixed-income developments coupledwith greater accountability and cleardelegation of responsibility to theagencies tasked with realizing theseprojects. Muriel is committed to tak-ing better care of existing subsidizedhousing that residents are living in,while the New Communities programis refocused.

Restructure Government Agencies to Meet Growing Demands. Currently,government agencies focused on pro-ducing affordable homes in our com-munities have priorities that divertattention away from this critical task.Restructuring reporting lines so thatall agencies with affordable housingbudgets are coordinating, sharing bestpractices and working together to meetthe demand for affordable and subsi-

dized housing is necessary. As May-or, Muriel will ensure that there is anoverall vision and priorities set for theuse of all funding for housing. Murielwill also ensure that all agencies thatadminister this funding: including theDepartment of Housing and Commu-nity Development, the Department ofBehavioral Health, the Department ofHuman Services, and, the DC HousingAuthority are coordinating and allocat-ing funding according to the vision andpriorities. She will task these agencies

to ensure that all communities in needare considered when expending thesefunds, including seniors, veterans, re-turning citizens, LGBT communitymembers and families.

End Homelessness

End Family Homelessness By 2018.The District has approximately 8,000units of public housing and under36,000 units of affordable housing.Of the more than 260,000 householdsliving in the District, more than 50,000households live below the nationalpoverty line. In recent years, due tothe short supply of affordable hous-ing options and no new public housingoptions, more and more of these fam-ilies have turned to homeless sheltersto nd housing options. This inabilityfor the government to nd alternativehousing becomes more acute duringthe winter months. As Mayor, MurielBowser is committed to ending fami-ly homelessness by 2018. Muriel willenlist a multi-pronged approach to (1)invest greater resources in preventinghomelessness, such that families donthave to enter the homeless system toaccess needed services and housing,and (2) produce quality affordable and


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subsidized housing options for thesefamilies, including rapid rehousing andpermanent supportive housing.

Close DC General. The Districts fam-ily shelter accommodations at the oldDC General are structurally challengedand not equipped to house the numberof families that ll the rooms. Securityis an added concern. In working to pro-duce more affordable and subsidizedhousing as well as implementing ad-ditional prevention services, as Mayor,

Muriel Bowsers goal will be to lessonthe number of families and individu-als in need of shelter. Muriel is com-mitted to nding long-term solutionsfor would-be homeless families andindividuals before turning to a shelter,developing smaller shelter alternatives,and, ultimately, closing DC General.

Implement Integrated Human Ser-vices Case Management System. Themajority of individuals and familiesturning to homeless shelters to accessservices previously interacted with orare currently connected to a humanservices agency. The lines for fami-lies and individuals to sign up for theTemporary Assistance for Needy Fam -ilies (TANF) program, the Child CareSubsidy program and other humanservices programs wrap around cityblocks, starting early in the morning.Many families are in need of servicesbut are unable to wait in these lines allday to be helped and sometimes evenafter making it to an appointment nev-er receive the help requested. Some ofthese same individuals and familiesturn to DC General as a last resort. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser will implementan integrated case management systemthat ensures a pro-active approach to

providing human services, so we canidentify those among us most at risk ofbecoming homeless before homelessservices are needed.

Initiate Comprehensive Review of Human Services Agencies. Over theyears, the organizational changes with-in the human services agencies havebeen frequent and while much hasbeen done to improve service offer-ings, these changes have occasionallyled to further confusion of missions

and reporting lines. As Mayor, MurielBowser will charge a task force withreviewing the organizational struc-ture of our human services agencies toevaluate whether the District could beproviding human services in more ef -cient and effective ways, based on bestpractices from other jurisdictions and

even within the District government.The task force will evaluate whetherthe service models, including servicecenters, are best equipped to deliver theDistricts full range of human servicesor if alternative options would enhanceservices for District residents.

End Homelessness By 2025. As May-or, Muriel Bowser will work to fullyimplement the Interagency Council onHomelessness strategic plan to endhomelessness by 2025. That includesboosting staff capacity and resourcesat our human services agencies so thatmore people have access to preventionservices to avoid losing their homesand others can get placement under therapid re-housing program. Muriel willincrease resources for programs thateffectively prevent and end homeless-ness.


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Transportation: ConnectingNeighborhoods in All EightWards

Strengthening local transit and transportation options is about so muchmore than convenience for Districtresidents and visitors, it is a matterof economic necessity. Having a safe,modern, reliable transit system ensuresthat residents and visitors alike canlive, work, and play in the District; italso ensures the facilitation of com-

merce, which is vital to the Districtscontinued growth and development.Smart transportation policy must beabout more than simply moving people,it must also be about providing inno-vative, ef cient transportation optionsthat promote economic activity andconnect our neighborhoods, thereby

ensuring the vitality of our city and re-gion for years to come.- Muriel Bowser

Improve Safety for Pedestrians, Cy-clists, and Drivers. Above all else theDistricts Department of Transpor-tation (DDOT) must make safety itsnumber one priority. As Mayor, MurielBowser will focus on safeguarding thelives of residents and visitors as theywalk, bicycle, take transit, drive, park,and take taxis throughout the District.Speci cally, Muriel will lead the Dis -tricts effort to join other cities like SanFrancisco, Chicago and New York inadopting Vision Zero , a transpor-tation safety approach that focuses onkey areas including engineering, edu-cation, enforcement, and policy formu-lation, to eliminate dangerous behavioron our roadways, in all communities.The goal of Vision Zero is straight-forward: reduce serious injuries and

fatalities on our streets to zero by 2024.Adopting a comprehensive, holistic ap-proach to transportation safety will notonly place the District at the forefrontof transportation safety efforts acrossthe United States, it will ensure thatthe District addresses every factor thatmakes our streets dangerous from be-havior to road design in a thoughtful,deliberative manner.

Ensure Equity and Inclusion inTransportation Planning and Policy

Development. The Districts popu-lation has expanded at a rapid pacein recent years and the transit optionsavailable for newcomers, long-timeresidents and visitors have as well.From Capital Bikeshare and the Circu -lator to the DC Streetcar, the Districtcontinues to invest in innovative efforts

to link our vibrant neighborhoods. Un-fortunately, some efforts and policieshave failed to address the needs ofcertain neighborhoods, particularly inunderserved parts of the District. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser will designatea senior District Department of Trans-portation (DDOT) of cial to be theagencys Transportation Equity andInclusion Of cer . This of cial willensure that the agencys policies andplans address the needs and concernsof all residents, particularly those in theDistricts most underserved communi-ties. This of cial will also coordinatewith other agencies to ensure that allcity services include accessibility as apriority. The Districts transit policieswill not be truly successful unless theybene t residents in all eight wards;this newly created of cer will move uscloser to that goal.

Focus on Improving Transit Options


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champion service improvements forDistrict residents and employees.

Support Continued DC Streetcar Ex- pansion. The simulated streetcar ser-vice expected to begin in October 2014along H Street and Benning Road NEis a welcome sign of progress for res-idents of the District, as a fully opera-tional streetcar will provide additionaltransit options for District residentsand visitors alike. Most residents uti-lize multiple forms of transportation

often in the same day and the newStreetcar will be one additional wayresidents can connect with businessesand city services. However, there ismuch to be learned from the processthat will eventually lead to the oper-ation of the Districts rst streetcarline in 50 years, and District residents

have been rightfully concerned aboutthe projects excess costs and delays.As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will lead acomprehensive assessment of the DCStreetcar project to learn from misstepsmade, correct planning and operationalde ciencies by reforming the Districtsprocurement apparatus, and responsi-bly and con dently move forward withan expansion of streetcar service in away that meets the needs of Districtresidents and visitors.

Increase Bicycling Options for District Residents and Visitors. The number ofDistrict residents who utilize their bi-cycles to commute to work and travelaround the city continues to grow. Bi-cycling promotes public health, servesas an inexpensive alternative to the useof public transportation and personalvehicles, and is critically important toour efforts to become the greenest cityin America. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser

for Residents That Utilize Metrobus.Metrobus provides more than 400,000trips each weekday to District residentsand those in the surrounding region, in-cluding children and young adults nowbene ting from Kids Ride Free, an ini -tiative that provides free bus rides toschool for District students. As Mayor,Muriel Bowser will continue to focuson strengthening options for residentsthat utilize Metrobus by improvingtransportation services provided to in-dividuals with disabilities, adding ca-

pacity to underserved transit corridors,and encouraging the use of dedicatedlanes, traf c signal priority, and re -al-time arrival screens at stops.

Pursue Additional Investments for Metro. As a three-term WMATA BoardMember and Chair of the Planning,

Program, and Real Estate Committee,Muriel Bowser understands the long-term challenges facing the system. Sheled the adoption of comprehensive re-visions to joint development policiesthat promote transparency, competi-tion, higher quality transit oriented de-velopment, and the systems rst-everaffordable housing policy. Muriel alsoparticipated in the development andadoption of Momentum, WMATAslong-range strategic plan to improvethe bus, rail, and paratransit systems.While Metro continues to be one ofthe highest quality transit systems inthe United States, it faces ongoingchallenges due to a lack of dedicatedfunding. As Mayor, Muriel Bowserwill seek additional investments fromlocal, regional, and federal partners toensure that the systems infrastructurecan effectively serve the regions needstoday and into the future. She will alsoutilize her knowledge of the system to


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will continue efforts to expand bicyclelanes throughout the District to ensurethat bicyclists have a safe space to rideand pedestrians and drivers alike havemore predictable streets and traf c pat -terns. Muriel will also expand the Cap-ital Bikeshare program to more neigh-borhoods, including those that havebeen historically underserved by publictransit, increase educational outreachto promote bicycle safety, and dedicatethe appropriate resources to completethe Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT).

Focus on Efforts to Support Trans- portation Options for District Seniorsand Persons with Disabilities. Whilemany District residents and visitorshave adapted to the evolving landscapeof transit options now available tomove throughout the District, many of

the Districts seniors for a variety ofreasons have not. As Mayor, MurielBowser will work with the DC Of ceon Aging (DCOA) to create Seniorson the Move , a District-wide initiativedesigned to ensure the Districts Se-niors are aware and can take advantageof the new and exciting transit optionsthat are making District neighborhoodsmore accessible than ever before. Mu-riel will also work with the Of ce ofDisability Rights (ODR) to ensure thatresidents with disabilities are also ableto enjoy the expanding transit optionsavailable in the District.

Utilize Public Private Partnerships To Expedite Major Infrastructure Proj-ects. Last year, Muriel Bowser intro-duced the Public-Private PartnershipAct of 2013 to streamline the procure-ment process for public-private part-nerships (P3) and create an innovativefunding model for the growing infra-

structure needs of the District. Whenadopted, the legislation would alsoestablish an Of ce of Public-PrivatePartnerships (OP3), led by an Execu-tive Director that reports to the Mayor.As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will lead theDistrict in efforts to join the 31 stateswith legislation authorizing P3s to pro-mote predictable, responsible growthand economic development.

Appoint an Experienced, Energetic, Innovative, Leader to Run DDOT.

The Districts Department of Transpor-tation (DDOT) has made progress inrecent years addressing fundamentalslike pothole, alley, and street resurfac-ing. And while District residents havebene ted from an uptick in responsetimes to everyday transportation issuesas DDOT has focused on this back-to-

basics approach, more can be done.The Department has started to betterengage communities on several long-term plans and projects that have im-proved the quality of life for residents,business owners, and visitors alike. AsMayor, Muriel Bowser will appoint aninnovative leader to guide DDOT as itincreases focus on meeting the basicneeds of District residents, includingsidewalk improvements, alley repairsand street paving needs, while explor-ing cutting-edge ways to increase tran-sit options for all who visit, live, andwork in the District. This individualwill work together with city of cialsto incorporate transportation into ev-ery component of city planning whilemaintaining a fully functioning agencythat is responsive to the safety needs ofDistrict residents.


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Develop A Long-Term Strategy to Ease Congestion and Address Park-ing Needs. Every urban center inAmerica faces similar issues with re-gard to congestion and the need forinnovative parking solutions; the Dis-trict of Columbia is no different. Whilethe District is committed to long-termstrategies that make it easier to travelthe city without a car, many Districtresidents continue to rely on their carsas a primary mode of transportation.As Mayor, Muriel Bowser will create a

Parking and Congestion Task Force to identify and recommend legislativeand regulatory solutions to ease con-gestion and address the long-termparking needs and concerns of Districtresidents and visitors. (e.g. accommo-dating parking near city churches).The Task Force will look at best prac -

tices employed by jurisdictions in theregion, and across the country, to makesure that District efforts are current andevidence-based.

Review the Districts Model of Trans- portation Governance. In many ju-risdictions across the country, trans-portation functions such as parkingand traf c enforcement, roadwayconstruction and repairs, and taxicabregulation are housed within the sameagency. In the District, however, manyof these functions are handled by mul-tiple agencies including the Depart-ment of Transportation (DDOT), theDepartment of Public Works (DPW),the Metropolitan Police Department(MPD), and the DC Taxicab Commis-sion, among others. As Mayor, MurielBowser will convene a cross-agencyteam of government of cials to reviewthe Districts model of transportationgovernance, with the goal of identify-

ing potential savings and/or ef cien -cies that could be realized by increasedcollaboration or consolidation.

Encourage Technological and Trans- portation Innovation. The District hasbene ted greatly in recent years fromtransportation innovations that savepeople time and money while ulti-mately making travel safer. As Mayor,Muriel Bowser will encourage and pro-mote transportation innovation by con-vening a working group comprised of

transportation policy experts, thoughtleaders, inventors, and local residents,to identify ef ciencies and technolo -gies that can be utilized to expand andimprove transportation access. Witha broad focus to include mobile ap-plication advances, roadway design,and the expanded use of electric vehi-

cles, among other things, Muriel willharness the creativity of the workinggroup to proactively seek ways to en-courage technological innovation intransportation to provide safe, ef cientand cost-saving services to Districtresidents. These efforts will also focuson climate action and ensuring that theDistrict is leading the way in reducingcarbon emissions and incorporatinggreen technology into future planning.


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Environment: Greener, HealthierCommunities in All Eight Wards

The importance of having a healthyenvironment can not be overstated.

A healthy environment is not only important for the well being of Districtresidents, it can also be an economicdriver that makes our city more livable.

Healthier, greener, cities dramaticallyimprove the quality of life for residents,save cities and rate-payers money,and increase their competitiveness and

ability to attract new residents, busi-nesses, and tourism. The District ofColumbia should be at the forefront ofthese efforts, both regionally and na-tionally, and as Mayor, I am committedto making that happen.

- Muriel Bowser

Develop a Modernized Energy Poli-cy to Make the District More Energy Ef cient. The District published its

rst comprehensive energy policy in1987 and its most recent version, Ener-gySmartDC, adopted a series of ambi-tious goals, some of which are contem-plated in Sustainable DC. However,the District must do a better job ofcapturing the cutting-edge ideas andtechnology being developed here in theDistrict and elsewhere, and in concertwith all the interested stakeholders,collectively plan the Districts EnergyFuture, to transform the way energy isproduced and delivered, with a speci cfocus on developing localized sourc-es like microgrids. As Mayor, MurielBowser will lead efforts to develop amodern, comprehensive, innovativeenergy policy that ensures Districtresidents and businesses have the bestservice and the lowest rates fromreliable sources of energy, with the

smallest environmental footprint pos-sible.

Work to Make Solar Power Accessibleand Affordable to All DC Residents.Many jurisdictions across the country,including the District, have recognizedthe bene ts of utilizing solar technol -ogies, which can capture a reliable,renewable source of energy, generateelectricity, store thermal energy, and re-duce demand on electrical grids and re-liance on other sources of fuel. In fact,

in 2010, the District was identi ed as#1 in Solar Density among states. Un-fortunately, installation of solar tech-nology has high upfront costs, oftenviewed as prohibitively expensive, par-ticularly for low-income households,despite the known bene ts. The Dis -trict has many of the building blocks in

place. As Mayor, Muriel Bowser willwork to ramp up programs and policiesthat encourage and incentivize the useof solar technologies, particularly bymiddle and low-income households.

Expand the Districts Urban TreeCanopy. Trees are a valuable part ofour green infrastructure and providetangible bene ts including clean air(reduced asthma cases), shade (lowerheat island effect, and heat-relatedillnesses and mortality) and habitat,and the natural reduction of pollution

owing into streams and rivers. Ac -cordingly, Sustainable DC, followingthe lead of prior efforts begun in 2009,established a goal to increase the Dis-tricts urban tree canopy by 40% by2032. Meeting the established goalwill require the addition of more than2,000 acres of canopy across the Dis-trict, nearly half of which would like-ly need to be on private property. As


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Mayor, Muriel Bowser will work withcommunity partners, both public andprivate, to aggressively expand theDistricts urban tree canopy effortswith the

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