A new grocery store, neighborhood retail, parking, housing, and jobs are headed for lower Georgia Avenue! The Council approved emergency legislation yesterday, which I authored, to open the door for major new development on Lower Georgia Avenue at Howard University. The plans for the long-awaited Howard Town Center can be viewed here.

Councilmember Graham's Comments on Council Pay

 

We began discussing this issue because, through no action of this Council, legislation was thrust before us on an emergency basis. It came from the Mayor. No Councilmember that I know of would seriously consider introducing this type of action on an emergency basis. And on that basis, we said we want no part of it.

 

But I still believe a salary increase is justified.

 

I have some good progress to report on the upcoming Ward One Senior Wellness Center, to be located at 3531 Georgia Avenue (at Newton Place).

 

The latest: the Office of Property Management submitted the proposal for bids on November 29. DCRA has issued the building permits.

 

As I have stated on various occasions, I will be unable to support any fare increase, or any change in fare policy that results in a fare increase, until I am satisfied that we have as a Board done all we could to insure that every possible step was taken to address the shortfall by other means.

 

Assuming adoption of the staff-proposed reductions, the remaining shortfall is 64.1 million dollars.

 

The 5,000 dollar federal first-time homebuyer tax credit is here to stay for two more years. Both the House and Senate have approved the two-year extension.

 

This credit applies only to first-time homebuyers and only in the District. Residents can fill out a Form 8859, available here with their 2006 federal taxes.

 

The homebuyer tax credit has helped many District renters buy homes here.