Inauguration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As I take on the role of Commissioner in Woodley Park, I am honored to serve the community and to use my platform to advocate for the rights and material needs of all residents. Our neighborhood is lush, kind, and home to many important sites. Above all, it has been a blessing to get to know so many of our neighbors. I am eager to work alongside you as partners in this upcoming term.

I am honored to be the second ever transgender elected official in Washington D.C. I recognize the historic nature of my election and the importance of representation. But I also understand that I cannot speak for an entire community and representation is not everything. I am deeply aware and often reminded of the unique challenges and barriers that Trans people face in our society, and when given a platform, I will uplift the voices of others and advocate for the rights and needs of my community and every community.

The working class of DC is being exploited. It’s too hard to get by and people feel that when they are wronged by those with more ‘power’ than them, they have no recourse. One issue that I plan to address is wage theft and unfair labor practices around the District. These unjust actions not only harm workers and their families, but they also undermine the integrity of our community. Workers deserve to be paid the full value for their labor and to be treated with dignity and respect on the job. As a union organizer, I know how important it is to fight for the rights of working people and to support our siblings in organized labor.

I plan to work with my colleagues on the ANC 3C Commission and work with a wide coalition across the city to bolster the process for defending worker rights. This will include partnering with labor advocates and community organizations to provide resources and support for workers, and to investigate mechanisms of enforcement that are available to us.

In addition to these efforts, I am also committed to supporting initiatives that make our community safer and more livable for all residents. One such initiative is the implementation of protected bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue. As a Commissioner, I will work with District officials, my colleagues, and community organizations to ensure that these previously-approved lanes are installed and maintained in a way that benefits everyone, including pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. By making our streets safer and more accessible for all modes of transportation, we can create a more vibrant, livable, labor-friendly, and overall more slay community for all.

Over the next two years, it is an imperative of our Commission that we welcome truly affordable housing into the neighborhood. We need to fill our empty storefronts with community institutions that will serve not only the people who live and visit Woodley Park, but the workers who will staff them. We need to stand up and continue to advocate for the agenda that the voters of DC want: CM George’s Green New Deal for Social Housing, Municipalization of the power grid, and a fair implementation of the recently passed Metro for DC bill.

By taking a stand, we can create a more just and equitable community for all. Together, we can work towards a future where all workers are treated with dignity and respect, and where everyone has the opportunity to live, laugh, and love in peace. We have a world to win, Solidarity Forever!