Councilmember Robert White Statement on Mayor’s FY2025 Budget Proposal
As we gather for this critical budget hearing, I want to begin by acknowledging the concerns that are weighing heavily on the minds of our residents. As we sit here in this chamber, there are families across our city facing tough decisions at their kitchen tables—decisions about how to pay rent, worries about their kids’ […]
Councilmember Robert White’s 2025 Budget Letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser
March 13, 2024 The Honorable Muriel BowserMayor of the District of ColumbiaJohn A. Wilson Building1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20004 Dear Mayor Bowser: This year, we face the incredible challenge of both responding to residents’ basic needs and preparing a balanced, fiscally responsible budget. The pandemic forever changed the District. Remote work is here to […]
Councilmember Robert White Statement on What the Loss of the Wizards and Capitals Would Mean for DC’s Safety Net
I join residents all over DC who are disappointed about our possible loss of the Wizards and Caps. This is a blow to DC’s culture and sports identity. A loss of tax revenues from the sports arena could mean fewer funds for social services at a time when the Mayor is actively slashing every social […]
Councilmember Robert White Statement on Mayor Refusing to Give Snap A Raise
The Mayor refusing to increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as required by law, which she signed, is the latest in a series of decisions that harm low-income Washingtonians. About 140,000 residents who depend on SNAP to put food on the table —neighbors making tough choices about who in the house will or will […]
An HPAP Update for Potential Homebuyers
Many first-time homebuyers rely on programs like the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) to make their homeownership dreams possible. HPAP prioritizes people who are elderly, disabled, displaced, or with lower incomes with a goal of supporting economic mobility and financial growth. In June, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced HPAP had run […]
Councilmember Robert White statement on Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Reprogramming Disapproval Resolution
Residents need emergency rental assistance in a big way right now. Last fiscal year the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) blew through all of its funding–$43 million–in just five months. This fiscal year, when the ERAP portal opened in October, the website initially crashed because so many residents were trying to submit applications, and then […]
Councilmember Robert White Statement on the Israel-Gaza Conflict
My heart aches for the people in DC and around the world watching in horror as the violence continues in Israel and Gaza. I denounce Hamas’s violent, evil, attack and the escalation of the already dire humanitarian crisis in Palestine. So many of our residents who have family, friends, and other connections to this region […]
CM Robert White Statement on Announcement of new Permanent Executive Director at DC Housing Authority
Today the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) Stabilization and Reform (STAR) Board voted to appoint Keith Pettigrew as DCHA’s Executive Director. I am encouraged that Mr. Pettigrew has an extensive professional background in public housing authority administration, coming most recently from the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and also brings with him the lived experience of […]
CM Robert White Comment on DCHA Trash Collection Contract Malfeasance Allegations
Since taking over the Council’s Committee on Housing, I have sounded the alarm about a culture of unethical behavior and a systemic lack of accountability at the DC Housing Authority (DCHA). The recent media coverage of a DCHA trash collection contract allegedly steered to a particular vendor is one of many concerning allegations that have […]
Councilmember Robert White Statement on Appointment of Dorian Jenkins as Interim Director of DCHA
Today the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) Stabilization and Reform (STAR) Board voted to appoint Dorian Jenkins as DCHA’s Interim Executive Director as of August 1. I’m grateful to the STAR Board for working to ensure a smooth leadership transition as they continue to look for a permanent director. I asked the STAR Board to appoint […]