We the People of D.C.

Taking Actions & Loudly Speaking Up, Plus Other Report-Outs from Our Get-Together

TAKING ACTIONS INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY TO STAND UP FOR D.C. AND DEMOCRACY

Thank you to the more than 60 people who came to Guapo’s! The report-out from last week’s get-together starts with a draft statement of D.C. values. You may have read that along with our democracy and the rule of law, D.C. Home Rule is also under attack, both by members of Congress and the White House. As we organize, speak up, and take actions for our community, we need to establish what we are fighting for. This is a draft from your comments at the meeting; I am open to your thoughts, edits, and amendments. (Maryland, Virginia, other state allies can amend appropriately)

We the People of the District of Columbia:

• uphold the rule of law

• support justice and equal protection under the law for all our residents, regardless of citizenship status, race, or gender

• embrace our diversity as a strength and treat all members of our community with dignity and kindness

• value our freedoms, including the right to vote for our elected representatives, to free speech, to have a free and independent press, to marry who we love, and to exercise freedom of religion

• operate public services used by all residents, businesses, and visitors largely through taxes generated within the District of Columbia

• decide representation of our elected offices including Mayor, Council, and Attorney General to create and enforce the laws that govern the District

• authorize our Mayor, with the Council’s consent, to decide local government administrators including the chief of police

• give the duly elected members of the Council authority to appropriate locally-raised revenue as well as special funds and federal dollars allocated to the District, with input from the Mayor

• spend those dollars efficiently and effectively to maintain safe neighborhoods, to fund high-performing public schools that meet the needs of children and adults, to build homes that are affordable, and to create and maintain an economy that pays its workers fairly and invests in and grows its businesses

• deserve the same federal voting rights as every other citizen of the United States living in the 50 states, including equal representation in Congress

We talked about how to effectively organize and loudly speak up for our values, our city, our country, our federal workers and democracy. Many in attendance said they wanted to take actions, and they wanted to know ways to do that.

For ease of scanning, I’ve divided this information into categories:

YOU WANT TO SPEAK UP AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Action: Call Members of Congress both in their D.C. offices and their local offices!

Phone calling is effective because it is personal, and it is tough to ignore. If you want more explanation, 5 calls spells it out and provides phone numbers for you.

Part of what we are fighting for in D.C. is equal representation in Congress and Statehood, so if you are a D.C. resident, call D.C. Delegate Eleanor Homes Norton and then the Democratic House and Senate leadership. Phone numbers are at the bottom of the landing pages.

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

• House Minority Whip Katherine Clark

• Senate Minority Speaker Chuck Schumer

• Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin

YOU WANT TO SPEAK UP AND EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS WITH OTHERS IN PERSON OR ONLINE

Action: Attend a rally in person or a strategy session online!

Many at Guapo’s asked: How do you know when protests and rallies are happening in our area? How can you strategize with others? Our email list includes Democrats, Independents like myself, and even some Republicans; some who label themselves progressive, some moderate, and some of fiscally conservative—but I am confident that everyone on the list values democracy. That’s to say, some groups who organize might not be our political soulmates, but this is a time when we need to work with a broad range of allies.

• This list compiles actions in D.C., and you can get a sense of their politics from the list of Provisional Organizing Principles. This list is compiled by some neighbors in Arlington and includes events in D.C. and VA.

• The founders of Indivisible have both a list of local events and a weekly Thursday call you can participate in to talk strategy. Learn more at this link.

• Move On also has a list of events and national strategy.

YOU WANT TO ORGANIZE LOCALLY AND PROTECT HOME RULE

Action: Sign on to ask AG Schwalb for a meeting and join other D.C. groups working on preserving Home Rule.

At Guapo’s, we agreed that we wanted to meet with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb to talk about the city’s legal strategy to combat Trump, Musk, and Project 2025. Elissa is putting together a letter to AG Schwalb. The plan is to have this meeting on an upcoming weekend at a community space on the east side of the city in wards 5, 7, or 8.

• Sign your name to this link if you want to ask D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb to meet with us. One idea that several people brought up: Should D.C. residents not pay federal taxes and put them in an escrow account? Let’s ask AG Schwalb his opinion.

  

• A D.C. Chevy Chase resident is putting together a website on DC autonomy and events to support Home Rule: https://dccitizens.com/

• Community Change, which funds grassroots efforts to organize working families, has sponsored a locally-focused coalition of groups which initially came together as Hands Off DC: https://freedcproject.org/

• Jews United for Justice has a D.C. Autonomy and Home Rule working group meeting tonight: https://jufj.org/event/dc-home-rule-213/
  

YOU WANT TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS AND FEDERAL WORKERS

Action: Design a visible show of support for the Constitution and our federal workforce.

We spoke about ways to visibly support our federal workers. We had several suggestions including a ribbon, a statement of “I support federal workers” with a ribbon graphic, and these online graphics.

I think the top is too vague, and the second is too suggestively vulgar, but I like the “I support federal workers” and will continue to work on this.

In the realm of education, I thought this New York Times article is an excellent explainer on Musk:

YOU HAVE LOST YOUR JOB AND NEED HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND OTHER ECONOMIC SUPPORTS FOR THIS TOUGH TIME

Action: Help yourself and others get the resources they are entitled to at this difficult time.

• If you are an employee of the federal government or a contractor and have been laid off or furloughed, you are likely eligible for unemployment insurance. You file unemployment insurance in the jurisdiction where you worked. Elissa has spent a fair amount of time helping workers with UI claims; feel free to get in touch with questions.

  *D.C. Unemployment Insurance
  *MD Unemployment Insurance
  *VA Unemployment Insurance

• If you separate from your job, you will likely lose the employer contribution to your health insurance plan. You might be offered COBRA plan fully paid for by you through your employer, you can buy a plan through a state health exchange and be eligible for tax credits, or you might qualify for Medicaid. You should use the health insurance exchange in the jurisdiction where you live. If you have questions, Elissa can also help connect to you to resources. Feel free to reach out.

• Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau has put together a helpful guide, including housing and food resources.

SEABURY RESOURCES FOR AGING AND FRIENDSHIP TERRACE

Now, a report-out on the first half of our get-together! We learned about Seabury Resources for Aging and Seabury at Friendship Terrace. Thank you to CEO Dawn Quattlebaum, Board Chair Craig McCullough, Seabury staff, and Friendship Terrace residents Buddy and Iris for joining us! Quick summary: Seabury provides dignity and community for our seniors, particularly those who worked hard all their life and earned moderate incomes! If you want to learn more how you can use Seabury’s services and contribute:

• Here’s a link to Seabury’s care management services to understand how Seabury can help you make good decisions in caring for Mom, Dad, and others. There is high demand right now in this area, and Seabury is working to expand its capacity.

• Wards 5 & 6 residents, Seabury is the lead agency for seniors! Learn more here.

• Friendship Terrace offers truly affordable housing, and Seabury is redeveloping another property, Springvale Terrace, in Silver Spring! Read more here.

• You can help Seabury provide these services through a donation of time and financial resources!

FINALLY, LOST AND FOUND

Did you leave a colorful scarf at Guapo’s? Email Elissa to get it back!