Councilmember Kevin P. Chavous
Accomplishments for Ward Seven
Committee to Re-Elect Kevin P. Chavous
3230 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. Suite 240
Washington, D.C. 20020
(202)584-7710
WARD 7 COMMUNITY
Councilmember Chavous' primary mission is to serve the people of Ward In addition to
his legislative functions, Councilmember Chavous and his staff have worked to improve the
quality of life of the Ward 7 community. Some of these efforts include:
- Responsible for distributing hundreds of food baskets to families for Thanksgiving Day
through Project Harvest.
- Distributed toys to hundreds through the "Toys for Tots" program.
- Honored Ward 7 ANCs at Christmas Party where over 400 persons attended.
- Co-hosted "Ward 7 Census 2000 Community Meeting".
- Organized numerous community walks through the Ward.
- Hosted monthly Ward 7 Townhall Meetings featuring various department directors, the U.S.
Attorney, government officials, and organization staffers.
- Hosted "Apprenticeship Career Day on Job Opportunities in the Building and
Construction Trades" for young people graduating from high school.
- Responsible for an additional general registration by DOES for summer jobs for youth.
- Partner with Marshall Heights' "Fight Back Governance Board", to stem drugs
and violence in the community.
- Partner with the Ward 7 Prayer Group, a coalition of residents and organizations, to
unify the ward and improve the work and living conditions for all in Ward 7.
- Hosted "Ward 7 Utility Day - Get Help in Paying Your Utility Bills" at the
Boys and Girls Club with Bell Atlantic, Pepco, Washington Gas, and the Office on Energy.
- Encouraged the Mayor to nominate members who reside East of the River for various
positions to the Boards and Commissions.
- Partnered with the Solid Waste Transfer Facility Site Selection Advisory Panel with DPW
to discuss relocation of a trash transfer station near Benning Road. Due to the numerous
complaints, the station was not relocated in Ward 7.
- Worked with government agencies to close down the apartments behind Benco Shopping
Center. Found Section 8 certificates for legal tenants.
- Spearheaded Minnesota Avenue Day, where 15,000 Ward 7 citizens came together to
celebrate our neighborhoods and our youth.
- Cosponsored Marshall Heights championship football team and was honored with the Annual
Kevin P. Chavous Football Bowl tournament.
- Paired youth at the Richard England clubhouse with mentors from the business community.
- Co-sponsored legislation to save D.C. General Hospital
- Secured increased funding for the Office on Aging
EDUCATION
As Chair of the Council's committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation,
Councilmember Chavous has been at the forefront of educational reform and has fought to
make sure that every child has equal access to a quality education. Specifically he has:
- Increased funding for public education by $260 million new dollars, including $100
million dollars for charter schools.
- Found resources for two teacher pay raises.
- Improved the school lunch and summer feeding programs.
- Mandated that DCPS place more control and money in hands of local schools.
- Established the Special Committee on Special Education which has investigated problems
in Special Education including transportation and the assessment and placement of our
children.
- Distributed annual Community Spirit Award to outstanding Ward 7 students.
- Funded a new Roving Leaders Program.
- Found funding to build nine new schools in the city. The first two will be in Ward 7 -
Kelly Miller and Randle Highlands.
- Increased funding for adult education and transferred program to UDC.
- Successfully fought to stop efforts to close or change the mission of UDC
- Stalled the Mayor's plan to relocate UDC while providing funding to establish a
satellite UDC campus east of the river.
- Funded extension of library hours. Moved legislation that would put speed bumps around
all schools to to protect our children from speeding cars.
- Started anti-truancy campaign with the Mayor, Chief Ramsey and the D.C. Public School
Superintendent to address problem of truants frequenting city businesses during school
hours.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Councilmember Chavous has continued to fight crime and the proliferation of drugs in
our community. He has worked with the Mayor, the Police Chief, and the Fire Chief to make
our streets safe for our citizens. His efforts include:
- Co-introduced legislation requiring that 2/3 of the officers be assigned to the streets.
- Fought efforts to reassign 6D officers away from Ward 7.
- Assisted in bringing police substation to Pennsylvania Avenue corridor.
- Introduced the "Seniors Protection Amendment Act of 1999", which requires the
Mayor to establish a task force to combat fraud against senior citizens.
- Pushed legislation allowing for housing opportunities for police officers.
- Established collaboration between District and Prince George's County Police to patrol
adjoining borders.
- Co-introduced legislation which would require additional EMS personnel on emergency
calls.
- Member of the Board of Handgun Control.
- Amended the police reform law to include a high school cadet program.
- Supported new and improved fire fighter's cadet program.
- Provided $500,000 for Criminal Justice Institute at UDC
- Passed law that would allow use of all controlled substances to be grounds for drug
evictions.
- Introduced legislation to stiffen penalties for pit bull owners who abuse their dogs or
use them as weapons.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Councilmember Chavous has been the strongest advocate for economic projects east of the
river. He has fought to ensure that Ward 7 shared in the city's renaissance. To that end
the Councilmember has:
- Facilitated the East Capitol Dwellings Redevelopment Project, which will renovate 1,100
units of public housing and include a Giant Food and retail stores.
- Helped coordinate the East Gate Redevelopment Project, which will develop a minimum of
200 units of single family homes.
- Led fight for relocation of the Department of Employment Services on Minnesota Avenue,
N.E.
- Assisted in obtaining the Penn Branch Shopping Center to include government offices for
MPD, DCRA, and DPW to serve residents.
- Assisted in obtaining Denny's Restaurant, the only family style, sit down restaurant in
Ward 7.
- Supports Banneker Ridge townhomes development, a community of 27 single family homes
designed and built by Marshall Heights Community Development Organization.
- Supports East of the River Health Care Center's new facility. Lobbied for $30 million to
redevelop the Minnesota Avenue corridor.
- Support renovation of Fort Dupont/Stoddert Terrace public housing development, and the
creation of new homes in the neighborhood.
- Pushed council legislation, which provides incentives for minority business owners who
reside in the city.
- Assisted in development of Good Hope Marketplace.
- Stopped the Barney Circle Freeway Project, which provided millions for sidewalk and
street renovations in Ward 7.
- Stopped the Children's Island Project.
- Continued moratorium on new Class B liquor licenses in Ward 7.
- Led fight to lower taxes.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Kevin P. Chavous Dr. Marie
Aldridge, Treasurer |
