Newsletter: Join Me on 2/23 to Celebrate Black History Month!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on February 18, 2020 at 3:30 PM

Dear Neighbor,

In celebration of Black History Month, I invite you to join me and my staff for a free screening of HARRIET on Sunday, February 23, at 2:00pm at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library (1630 7th St. NW)! 

Special thanks to Pat Joseph and Charnisa Royster on my staff, along with D.C. Public Library, who have organized the screening of this film based on the inspirational life of Harriet Tubman. The movie follows Tubman’s escape from slavery and road to becoming one of our country’s most revered freedom fighters and icons of courage. If you’re still undecided, we’ll even have popcorn and light refreshments thanks to Naval Lodge No. 4! Additional details about Sunday's screening are here.

Silverman Good Government Bill Protects the District Against Ethics Concerns on D.C. Housing Finance Agency Board

Posted by Ashley Fox on January 21, 2020 at 3:31 PM

A bill introduced today by D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) addresses concerns about conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest on a critical board that approves government funding tools for affordable housing developments, the D.C. Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) Board of Directors.

The bill, known as the “Housing Finance Agency Conflict of Interest Prevention Amendment Act of 2020” prohibits DCHFA board members from using agency programs during their terms of service in an effort to prevent actual and perceived business-related conflicts.

Newsletter: Happy New Year! Open House & New Hires!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on January 17, 2020 at 5:16 PM

Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year! Best wishes to you and your family for a joyous and healthy new year.

Almost all of us are back to our work and school schedules, and my staff and I are excited to hit the ground running this year to represent you on the critical issues that face our city. Ensuring that we are making the best investments of your tax dollars to create a pipeline of living wage jobs and affordable housing remains a major focus for me in 2020. Our investments in public education are absolutely critical to this. I have also challenged myself and my staff to think more boldly about how we can play a role in public safety and supporting efforts to interrupt and end gun violence. Additionally, this summer we will launch the paid family and medical leave program for District workers, and my committee will continue to work with the Department of Employment Services to do oversight of the program.

First things first, however: I am on the hunt for a few new colleagues in my office and will be hosting an office open house at the end of January. Keep reading for details!

Newsletter: What a Week. See You in 2020!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on December 13, 2019 at 5:39 PM

Dear Resident,

Expulsion is an ethics insurance policy; a legislative body has it in place and hopes to never use it. Unfortunately, this week, the D.C. Council needed to exercise that authority. The Council’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans unanimously voted to recommend expulsion to the Committee of the Whole, which means that 12 out of 13 councilmembers (all but Evans himself) are in agreement that Councilmember Evans is no longer fit to serve.

Silverman Letter to WMATA Regarding Ongoing ATU 689 Strike

Posted by Ashley Fox on December 05, 2019 at 7:02 PM

December 4, 2019

Paul J. Wiedefeld

General Manager and Chief Executive Officer

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency

600 5th Street, NW

Washington, DC, 20001

Mr. Wiedefeld:

As we enter the sixth week of Amalgamated Transit Unit 689’s strike at the Transdev-operatedCinder Bed Road Bus Garage, I am concerned that little is being done to help resolve the conditions that led to the strike.

Silverman “Reckless Driver” Bill Advances Vision Zero with Required Class for Dangerous Drivers

Posted by Ashley Fox on November 19, 2019 at 11:20 AM

A bill introduced today by D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) would reduce dangerous driving incidents in the District by targeting routinely reckless drivers and requiring them to take a restorative-justice-focused course before returning to the road.

The “Reckless Driver Accountability Act of 2019” allows the District to boot or impound any car that has either three tickets for speeding by more than 25 miles per hour over the speed limit, or five tickets for speeding or running a red light. The law would apply to all vehicles located in the District with qualifying offenses, even if they are registered outside of the city.

Newsletter: Impeachment and Expulsion

Posted by Elissa Silverman on November 14, 2019 at 4:58 PM

Dear Resident,

Like many of you, I went about the business of yesterday with one eye on the impeachment hearing that took place on Capitol Hill. The proceedings are of pivotal importance to the health of our democracy, and the issues that brought us to this point deserve our attention. Unfortunately, however, it is not the only inquiry into government ethics and the rule of law happening in DC. On the local level, the DC Council is engaged in an investigation about the actions of my colleague, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans.

Newsletter: Happy Halloween!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on October 23, 2019 at 6:14 PM

Dear Resident,

We have two big civic-oriented holidays coming up: Scherzday/Strasmas and Halloween!

First, Scherzday/Strasmas! Many of you know I grew up in a baseball-rooting family, so I can’t hide my excitement that our Washington Nationals are in the World Series! This has been an exciting couple years in D.C. sports with a Stanley Cup championship, a Women’s NBA championship, and now a World Series bid. Let’s #StayInTheFight and cheer on our Nats.

Many of you also know I apprentice as a balloon maker, and I’m trying to learn how to make Baby Shark balloons. I’ll be rocking the red and twisting balloons at one of my favorite kids’ costume celebrations in the District this Friday at Hilloween in Eastern Market! I’ve ordered a hefty batch of candy for the festivities. For those with little ones, I hope you will dust off your favorite Halloween wig and stop by! The Department of Parks and Recreation is also back with a full schedule of Halloween activities happening this week in every ward for both kids and adults. Our Metropolitan Police Department will be hosting citywide Halloween events this Friday too. Take a look at where to stock up on candy, do some pumpkin carving, visit a haunted house, and even join a Halloween game night.

Now onto legislative updates!

Newsletter: Happy Fiscal New Year!

Posted by Elissa Silverman on October 08, 2019 at 4:57 PM

Dear Resident,

Happy Fiscal New Year!

October 1 marked the beginning of a new fiscal year (FY 2020) for District government. That means the budget we worked so hard on last spring is implemented, and we're now starting new investments in resources for District residents and workers! I want to highlight a few items that residents and workers can look forward to in FY 2020:

• New wage garnishment protections and procedural safeguards for low-wage earners through my Wage Garnishment Fairness Amendment Act
• An apprenticeship initiative within D.C. government for District residents and students with the launch of my Pathways to Government Careers Act 
• An expanded Career Pathways Innovation Fund grant program that combines literacy and occupational training for the District’s adult jobseekers
• A new work-based learning coordinator position within D.C. Public Schools and enhanced career and technical education programs in District public charter schools
• Additional support for community-based organizations to help workers understand their rights under District employment law through a Wage and Hour Education Grants Program
• A boost in education efforts around tipped wage workers’ rights and workplace protections by increasing workplace posters, informational websites, and public education campaigns

Silverman Bill Bans Non-Compete Agreements for Entry Level and Moderate-Income District Workers

Posted by Ashley Fox on October 08, 2019 at 2:16 PM

D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) today introduced legislation that would ban the use of non-compete agreements in entry-level and moderate-income employment. These agreements, which are often a condition of employment, unfairly limit a worker’s ability to earn better pay and benefits by restricting employees from taking an additional job or future job with another business in the same industry. The bill would apply to D.C. workers who earn up to three times the minimum wage.

“We need to remove every barrier keeping District workers from earning what they deserve and from taking advantage of better pay and working conditions,” Silverman said. “These non-compete agreements are particularly unfair for low-wage workers and contribute to income inequality in our city.”