Dear Friends,
 
After the D.C. Council's vote on Tuesday, December 14, to rescind $83 million in Parks and Recreation Contracts many of you called and wrote to me asking what that meant for Justice Park, Park View and LeDroit Park.
 
I am happy to report that these parks construction projects are already "back on track."  The Deputy Mayor for Economic Development has assured me that the $750K Justice Park project and the $1.2 million Park View project will be overseen by Allen Lew − Executive Director of the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization − and will move forward.  This is excellent news given the great speed and success with which Mr. Lew has handled school renovations and constructions.
 
The final project, the LeDroit Park (former Gage school transformation) will remain in the Deputy Mayor's portfolio and the contract for the reconstruction will be re-bid and move forward.
 
Bests Jim

Dear Friends:

Last March, I authored an emergency bill to improve fire safety in D.C. apartment buildings. I am happy to announce today that the permanent legislation, The Fire Alarm Notice and Tenant Fire Safety Act, passed the full council and will become law. The legislation now covers apartment buildings - structures containing 4 or more dwelling units - condominiums and building cooperatives.

The serious fire at Harvard Hall (1650 Harvard Street NW) on February 23 prompted this action. I appreciate all the help I received from the tenants at Harvard Hall. Two people were injured in the Harvard Hall fire, one seriously. All the other tenants escaped safely. However many complained at a meeting with tenants, myself and Fire Chief Rubin that they had not heard a fire alarm and that there was insufficient information on fire safety.

The permanent legislation requires:
- Owners to erect fire escapes in certain buildings in the city
- Owners of buildings 75 feet and higher develop and maintain fire safety and evacuation plans
- owners conduct fire drills at least once a year
- Notices must be delivered on a form in the tenants first language developed by the Mayor's office according to the Language Access Act

Landlords will be required to give existing and new tenants written notice by first-class mail or by hand telling them whether smoke alarms in their residences are connected to the buildings' fire alarms or to emergency rescue services. Landlords also must instruct tenants to call 911 immediately if there is a fire.

Bests,
Councilmember Jim Graham
 

Well friends, the weather held off, and we were finally able to get this walkthrough done.  Our friends in Northwest Columbia Heights, in the Spring/Perry and Oak Street areas along 14th Street have a great deal to be thankful for.  There are several new businesses, moving into the attractive space created by the renovation of apartment buildings. Other renovations, some done by building owners, some forced by the city and some completely city managed are underway.

What we found in the walkthrough is that more work still needs to be done.  We received reports that the drug territory we thought we had taken back is now being invaded by dealers from other neighborhoods. And in one case the dealer moving in is from Maryland. The police are aware of the problem and are actively investigating.

It was good to see my good friends NWCHCA President Cecilia Jones, Mayor Feny and others. We all saw that things are so much better. But we will need the help of everyone getting involved to shape this community into the joyus beauty we know it will become.