Safe Streets and Healthy Communities
Everyone should be able to cross our streets without fear and get where we need to go safely, conveniently, and affordably. As Councilmember, I passed legislation to improve traffic safety around DC schools and fought to secure long-overdue traffic safety improvements block-by-block. Having safe, walkable communities requires prioritizing common-sense safety upgrades to our roads and intersections, providing safe ways for all road users to travel, and holding the most dangerous drivers accountable — especially out-of-state drivers who rack up thousands in speeding tickets in DC. It also requires pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, repaired and expanded sidewalks, and enabling streateries for the small businesses that make our neighborhoods vibrant. And above all, it requires building on Metro’s comeback by securing dedicated regional funding for WMATA and making public transit even faster and more reliable through Bus Priority Projects and more frequent bus and rail service.
DC families also deserve clean air, lead-free water, mold-free homes, pollution-free communities, and affordable energy. But right now, tens of thousands of DC families are being exposed to dangerous lead levels. As Mayor I’ll work to rapidly accelerate the rate of lead pipe replacement to protect DC families while also creating good, green union jobs. Pollution in the Anacostia River and other rivers, streams, and parks also poses serious health risks to DC residents. We must secure a clean and healthy Anacostia and safeguard DC’s waterways and parks by improving stormwater management and holding polluters accountable. DC residents’ electric bills are quickly spiraling out of control. We need to make energy rates affordable by investing big in renewable energy, and make sure utility providers prioritize lower costs for families rather than new data centers and their own profits. And year after year, green energy has not been a priority in DC’s budget. As Mayor I’ll prioritize programs that deliver critical energy savings for working families while also making sure DC is doing our part on the climate crisis.
As Mayor, I’ll go to the mat to make sure DC has streets that are safe for everyone and a world-class public transit system, as well as a healthy, sustainable future with clean water and affordable energy.