​​Dear neighbors,

Last week, Mayor Bowser presented her proposed FY24 budget to the Council. My staff and I are analyzing the numbers. Many of the priorities outlined in my budget request letterfor Ward 7 and healthcare are reflected in the mayor's proposal.

We will continue to review the mayor's budget, hold hearings and offer amendments. At the same time, your involvement is vital to the process. Nothing in the mayor's proposed budget is guaranteed. The Council has many options to weigh and difficult decisions to make.

One thing is for sure, I will fight to protect every dollar directed toward Ward 7 or budgeted for our ongoing efforts to build an equitable healthcare system that serves residents on the East End. We will keep you posted throughout the process.

What follows, below, is a list of my Ward 7 and healthcare budget requests that are in mayor's proposed budget.

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In service,

Vince

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HEALTHCARE

•    Our new hospital --Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center at St. Elizabeths-- is fully funded. $126 million budgeted in FY24 will get us to the finish line.
•    An additional $55 million will fund infrastructure across the St. Elizabeths campus.

SCHOOLS

•    $79M for the renovation of Neval Thomas Elementary School
•    $72M for the renovation of Drew Elementary School
•    $22M to finish renovating Lorraine H. Whitlock Elementary School
•    $35M to repurpose Winston Elementary School into a state-of-the-art lab and technology facility
•    $95M for the renovation of Burrville Elementary School
•    $11M to begin design for the renovation of Beers Elementary School
•    $12M to renovate the Kenilworth swing space to support planned school modernizations
•    $86M for the modernization of J.C. Nalle Elementary School
•    $11M to complete the modernization of Old Miner ECE
•    $5.4M to replace the cafeteria at Plummer Elementary School

LIBRARIES, REC. CENTERS, POOLS

•    $20M for the renovation of Deanwood Library
•    $25M for a full-service Rosedale Library
•    $20M for the construction of a new DPR center in River Terrance
•    $29M for the renovation of Fort Davis Recreation Center
•    $60M to create an indoor sports complex at the RFK Campus
•    $15M for the development of Hillcrest Indoor Aquatic Center
•    $5.7M for the replacement of Rosedale Pool
•    $750K to renovate the splash pad at Hillcrest Recreation Center

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GROCERIES, HOUSING

•    $25M for infrastructure to support a new full-service grocery store at the East Capitol Gateway site
•    $42M to lay groundwork for future development at Fletcher Johnson
•    $68M to continue redevelopment of the Hill East site

TRANSPORTATION and INFRASTRUCTURE

•    $23.5M to repair/upgrade Ward 7 streets
•    $10M to connect the Anacostia River Trail through Kenilworth Park
•    $1.6M for the Fort Davis and Texas Ave. SE bicycle and pedestrian trail  
•    $61M for streetscapes and safety improvements along four miles of Alabama Ave., SE to make it safer to walk and bike
•    $1.4 to begin planning and design work for the Eastern Ave., NE streetscape project (Kenilworth to Southern Ave.)  
•    $6M for a new roadway connection that will improve access for the Mayfair community
•    $26M for eight Bus Priority projects citywide, including Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave., Minnesota Ave. to Eastern Ave. route.
•    $112M to rehabilitate, reconstruct, and maintain sidewalks (Ward 7's share of citywide funding)
•    $100M to rehabilitate and reconstruct alleys (Ward 7's share of citywide funding)

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