Read on Twitter
And we're off! The ANC 4B virtual meeting is underway for the month of May. You can view details here: https://anc4b.com/2020/05/21/virtual-meeting-materials-may-2020/
We've modified our agenda already. Resolution 4B-20-0501 has been pulled from the consent calendar and will be considered separately. Resolution 4B-20-0503 has been tabled until next month. https://anc4b.com/2020/05/19/agenda-may-2020/
Our April minutes have been approved and are online now here: https://anc4b.com/2020/05/26/minutes-april-2020/
Now hearing from @DCPSChancellor on the @MayorBowser's proposed budget.
Tech note: the YouTube Livestream to watch only is not working right now, but Zoom video and the call in line are both working.
First ? is from Commissioner Parks about devices that DCPS was slow to distribute for home learning during the pandemic. @DCPSChancellor says that they have distributed 10,000 of the 16,000 devices they purchased last year. So I guess by last week of school they have 6k unused?!?
Comm. Parks now asks about return to school without a vaccine. No clear commitments, frankly.
I ask @DCPSChancellor about the proposal for colocation with charters in the budget and how, to my mind, it seems to run contrary to the need to have more space post-pandemic. He demurs and says he has no knowledge beyond proposals at Springarn.
He also doesn't engage with my question about whether it is proper to engage in non-budgetary legislating through a pandemic budget.
Commissioner Johnson asks about the early end to the school year and accommodations for students who are trying to finish out their schoolwork.
Commissioner Bromaghim asks about the reductions in Head Start funding. @DCPSChancellor says some schools will see a reduction in wraparound funding.
Now @TakomaEC asking specifically about their lost resources and @DCPSChancellor says that schools will received differing resources based on their "Tier level" and he will share the Tier level and resources after the meeting. Takoma is Tier 2.
Q about the meals program and @DCPSChancellor says they plan to continue to serve meals over the summer at roughly the same level at the same sites.
Parent Q from @TakomaEC asks about the academic benefits due to reduced PARCC testing and reconsidering rankings of schools based on test scores. @DCPSChancellor says that the question is deferred to @OSSEDC
Q from @JGWhittierPTA about the capital budget and the inclusion of the need for an elevator at Whittier in ADA accessibility funds. @DCPSChancellor doesn't have an answer on that topic.
Chair Parks is on fire and asks @DCPSChancellor to commit to returning in July to answer another round of questions. I certainly hope he will take us up on the invitation.
Now onto a presentation from @tweetelissa, at-large CM, on unemployment and return to work due to the COVID pandemic, the budget process at the Council and reminding that today is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the June election.
More than 104,000 unemployment claims have been filed in DC since the start of the pandemic. About 50% DC and 50% residents from other states.
The @tweetelissa tips for unemployment: don't hesitate to apply - do it soon because federal supplemental funding won't last forever, pandemic unemployment assistance for independent contractors has been difficult to implement but folks are getting $779/week currently.
Encourages small businesses to look at work sharing to keep people employed and allow unemployment to pick up part of the tab. Plans to reduce hours evenly are submitted to @DOES_DC and your workers use unemployment to make up the gap in pay.
Benefits under this program are paid by the federal government, not by DC so it's a win-win program on multiple levels.
More resources are available on unemployment at: http://www.elissasilverman.com/coronavirus
@Erinfor4B02 asks about processing claims and amount of time and money spent. @tweetelissa says about 50% of claims are being paid in 14-21 days. As of May 21, $311 million in claims paid in DC.
I ask about worker misclassification as ind. contractors and how it's been highlighted in pandemic unemployment. @tweetelissa says they will be looking at the issue post-pandemic as there are clearly cases of abuse in the system, but is unsure if the CA/Dynamex solution is right.
Q from audience about @TheEventsDC money for undocumented workers and accessing it. @tweetelissa says that she's "disappointed" in Council approach. The EventsDC money is being administered by RAMW and other community orgs, but is not out yet.
Now onto Jason Sereno with @EYAHomes on Riggs Park Place in Fort Totten.
The project is on the corner of South Dakota and Riggs Rd NE across from the Riggs Rd Walmart.
Project is 90 3BR townhomes with parking garages, 84 senior apartments and 20k sq ft of retail. 20% affordable units and 5k sq feet of retail to be "local or unique."
5 affordable units in the townhomes and a minimum of 30 in the senior apartments. Want to make the rest of the senior apartments affordable, but dependent on government funding.
2 3BR for 30-50% AMI, 3 3BR at 50-80% AMI. They are 3BR units the the size of the 2BR market rate units.
8 units in the senior housing at <30% AMI, 22 at 30-50% AMI. Some studios, 1BR and 2BR.
Hoping to break ground July 1 and open to the first resident May 2021. Senior building starts September 2022. Final completion October 2024.
Now onto @DCOSTurner with @CMBrandonTodd. I asked about budget cuts to ONSE and Roving Leaders violence prevention programs in @MayorBowser's budget. The answer was that budget hearings are upcoming.
@Erinfor4B02 asks about the inequities faced by Takoma DC businesses because they are part of a joint jurisdiction @MainStTakoma. Unfortunately, no resolution was promised.
Now onto @keyharris of @DCMOCRS. I asked about the confusing coronavirus data. Unfortunately, there was no real answer but I'm hoping for follow up.
@Erinfor4B02 asks about the process for Commissions to participate in the Reopen DC process since they were largely excluded from the process.
Comm. Parks shouts out @keyharris for his efficient presentation style. At almost 10 pm, I support it 
Now onto @ForOleary who is delivering book donations to the food sites in the Ward. Reminds people that they are still open and Coolidge has grocery pickup.
Now onto our consent calendar. It includes two letters of mine. One asking for an audit by @ODCA_DC of @OUC_DC and another is asking @marycheh to conduct increased oversight of @DDOTDC. @Erinfor4B02 has an incredible resolution on closing the digital divide
And ensuring internet access. The consent calendar passes without objection.
We also consider a re re removing parking spaces in front of the Riggs Rd Walmart for safety reasons. The original resolution calls for removing two but there is an amendment to reduce it to a request to remove one. The amendment passes 6-1 with me opposed. Res passes unanimously
On to community concerns. No residents ask to speak but @DCOSTurner is back!
And we adjourn.
