Over the last week, you’ve likely heard the news about lead in the drinking water at twelve DCPS schools. As a Councilmember, and also as a father, I have found this news totally infuriating. There is no safe level of lead and we all should feel a sense of urgency about getting to the bottom of how this happened and why parents weren’t notified immediately. At hearings last week, and again this week, I have talked with Chancellor Henderson, other DCPS leadership, and DGS Director Chris Weaver about the testing and notification process and I’m not satisfied that the city has done everything we should to make sure parents can have full confidence in the safety of the water in our schools. DGS has committed to retesting every water source at every school and DCPS has committed to notifying parents when above-limit results are found. I also believe testing should be offered for the children at the impacted schools to give parents greater confidence in their child’s safety.
I have been working with my Council colleagues Mary Cheh and David Grosso, and I’m looking forward to the joint hearing their Committees will hold in June with the whole range of city agencies involved in lead testing, remediation, parent notification, and student health. I don’t think our current testing protocols are thorough enough or far enough reaching. We may need to look at expanding testing to our DPR Recreation Centers and fields, our libraries, and also ensure charter schools have trusted testing protocols. Parents deserve full confidence that the water their children drink is safe and if it’s not, that the appropriate actions are taken immediately to notify them and fix the problem.
For parents and neighbors looking for more information on testing results and other resources, please click here and here.

Last week, I co-hosted our 7th Career Fair at Arena Stage in Southwest. I partnered with my friends Councilmember Elissa Silverman and Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity Courtney Snowden. Without question, this was the best Career Fair we’ve hosted yet. Over 700 DC job seekers came prepared to talk with nearly 50 employers. Our goal was to have people ready to be hired and to have employers ready to offer. Hundreds of connections were made, and the Career Fair started off in the best way possible. Thomas Penny, General Manager of the Marriott Marquis, helped us start the day by presenting a full-time job offer to a very deserving DC resident! And the matches and job offers continued all day!
DC United Demolition Begins

Ward 6 Budget Town Hall

Small Business Week in DC

Upcoming Events
- Are you ready for one of DC’s best festivals on the Anacostia River? Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival, Saturday, 4/30: http://www.kingmanislandbluegrass.com/.
- The Hill Center will host the annual “Volunteer Capitol Hill” event. How do you give back to your community? Find out how on Saturday, 4/30. Over 35 volunteer organizations will be participating: http://hillcenterdc.org/.
- Amidon-Bowen ES hosts a community day and yard sale fundraiser, Saturday, 4/30, 400 I Street, SW, 10am – 2pm.
- JO Wilson ES hosts Market Day, Saturday, 4/30, 660 K Street, NE, 10am – 3pm. Games, arts, face painting, train rides for the kids!
- Miner ES hosts a PTO Community Yard Sale, Saturday, 4/30, 601 15th Street NE, 9am – 12noon. Plus, DPW will be on site to dispose of hazardous waste!
- Friends of Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library are holding their quarterly Book Sale, Saturday, 4/30, 1630 7th Street, NW, 10am - 2pm.
Charles Allen
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