Opinion

The truest test of any society is how its most marginalized members fare during times of crisis. We at the Bainum Family Foundation ― like many others in philanthropy and across the nonprofit field here in DC ― have particular concern for…

Last summer, Washington Post columnist Colbert King wrote a tribute to the late Don Fraser, an eight-term congressman from Minnesota. While we do not disagree with the sentiment in the headline — “The District is a better place because of…

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has insisted that to slow or halt the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 citizens must practice what has been characterized as social distancing. Agency officials have advised…

Kent Cooper may look like some mild-mannered bureaucrat. However, he is the epitome of that oft-provided counsel to those interested in understanding the inner workings of government and politics: Follow the money. The co-developer of…

Right now, a large portion of DC’s elected officials are considering whether they should run for another term in office. Members of the District’s 40 advisory neighborhood commissions (ANCs) are discussing with loved ones the unpaid time…

Political floodgates in DC opened after at-large Council member David Grosso announced he would retire at the end of his term this year, rather than seek reelection. A virtual sea of individuals — at least a dozen at last counting — have…

Like many others in our city, I have been closely following news about the recent sweeps of homeless encampments. I, too, have been upset that these men and women experiencing homelessness have few other options for housing in our…

It might seem like working people in the District of Columbia have a lot to celebrate. In fact, researchers at Oxfam not long ago named DC the most worker-friendly place in the country. Over the past few years, the DC Council has raised…

The District is one step closer to ensuring that access to safe, legal abortion is protected for its residents. The DC Council voted unanimously in its first reading Feb. 4 to approve legislation that would ensure that the full range of…

When my husband and I first began looking for child care while I was pregnant with our first child in 2013, we were overwhelmed by the difficulty of finding it. We toured several child care centers, paid application fees and heard nothing…

Politically progressive activists and advocates were among the first to choose sides in a few of this year’s DC Council races. Even before anyone has officially qualified for the ballot, several organizations have announced endorsements.…

“The pace of deterioration is accelerating,” DC Housing Authority director Tyrone Garrett recently warned the DC Council during an oversight hearing. With 41 properties, 8,000 units and more than 20,000 residents, the DCHA is the largest…

This week, residents across the District are gathering with Mayor Muriel Bowser and her administration for her three budget engagement forums. The first conversation took place Tuesday night in the newly renovated Edgewood Recreation…

The initial excitement among some parents and advocates was palpable last week after DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans to increase by 4% per pupil funding for public education in her upcoming 2021 budget plan. Overall spending in 2019…

The District Department of Transportation plans to construct more than 20 miles of protected bike lanes from 2019 through 2022, as shown on this map. (Image by DC Department of Transportation) Protected bike lanes are an extremely…

This week, the District of Columbia celebrated the second annual “Bus to Work Day.” It purposely coincided with Transit Equity Day, which honors Rosa Parks and recognizes public transit as a civil right. Increased access to public transit…

Let’s all calm down. The furor over former Ward 2 DC Council member Jack Evans’ attempt to mimic Houdini, escape political death and cast himself as brand-new shouldn’t surprise anyone — neither longtime District residents, nor local…

Until a week ago, we had dared to hope the Jack Evans nightmare was over. But Evans continues to haunt DC politics like a vengeful zombie. Ward 2 voters can expect to see his disgraced name on the ballot in both the Democratic primary and…

As Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Council consider legislative priorities for the coming year, the city’s educational system ought to be a major focus. While we have made encouraging progress in recent years, there is still critical work…

When DC Council member Brandon Todd introduced legislation in 2018 to create a task force that would focus on the prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and related trauma, the proposal died in committee — although there had…