Welcome to the April 2018 issue of the DC Statehood Green Party monthly newsletter!

Follow along to learn more about a HUGE victory for democracy right here in Washington, DC, hear from our newest declared candidate for the 2018 election, and get the latest updates about how you get can get involved in the "DC Divest" and "Put a Price on Carbon" campaigns.

The DC Statehood Green Party (DCSGP) is a progressive, grassroots organization dedicated to representing the interests of the citizens of the District of Columbia. We are the District’s second largest political party by vote total and we’ve had enough of corporate-dominated politics. The longer we wait for change, the harder it gets. Join us! Vote Green!

We need YOU to become a sustaining donor!

Meet our newly Green-endorsed candidate for Mayor!

Ann Wilcox for Mayor

A former Ward 2 DC Board of Education member from 1994-1998, Ann Wilcox has the experience and the vision to work for a progressive, neighborhood-based city that respects all persons regardless of income level and background. A practicing attorney, Ann regularly represents DC protesters and defended gay activist and former Army Lt. Dan Choi after his arrest in 2010 at a protest in front of the White House against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

If you or someone you know is thinking of running, fill out our candidate questionnaire or send us an email at [email protected].

We are also looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out our volunteer form.

Victory For Democracy In DC: Mayor Bowser Signs Fair Elections Act

It's no secret: the same big-money fossil fuel corporations that pollute our air and water are also polluting our democracy and flooding our political system with dirty money.

Activists celebrated a HUGE victory on March 13th in the fight to get the corporate money out of politics here in Washington, DC after Mayor Bowser signed the Fair Elections Act into law. With the bill's passage, small donor empowerment programs provide public matching funds to candidates who accept only small contributions, rather than relying on wealthy donors and special interests to bankroll their campaigns. This way, candidates can run for office, and win, even if they don't have access to wealthy friends or a message that appeals to wealthy donors.

The bill provides a 5:1 match on small dollar-contributions from D.C. residents, as well as start-up support to help qualified candidates get their campaigns up and running. In order to qualify, candidates will have to collect a required number of small contributions from D.C. residents before receiving any public money, as well as accept lower contribution limits and reject all corporate and political action committee contributions.

By reducing participating candidates' reliance on large individual, corporate, and out-of jurisdiction donors, while providing incentives to reach out to constituents for small contributions.

Read the press release HERE!

April 13th Climate Day of Action: rally + lobby day!

Councilmember Mary Cheh is offering a June 5th introduction date for a carbon rebate policy! This is an exciting step forward for the climate movement in the District. But here's the thing: the June 5th introduction date is just a proposal, not a commitment. Councilmember Mary Cheh and Chairman Phil Mendelson worried about pushback from Big Business.

We're bringing EVERYONE together to descend on the Wilson Building just before Earth Week to urge our Councilmembers to introduce the carbon fee-and-rebate policy.

On Friday, April 13th, we'll kick off an action-packed day with a rally at 12:30 pm outside the Wilson Building, led by students from across the District. Then around 1:00 pm, we'll head inside to lobby for the proposed carbon rebate bill. We'll meet our legislators face to face so that they hear from young people--and our whole coalition of nearly 70 groups--urging the D.C. Council to protect all of our futures.

When: Friday, April 13th 12:30-3:00 pm
Where: John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 506 Washington, DC 20004
What else: Wear yellow!

RSVP for the Climate Day of Action!

Changes to DC's Comprehensive Plan Would Mean More Corporate Handouts, Less Affordable Housing

The DC Comprehensive Plan, a planning document that affects development decisions today and during next few decades, doesn't do enough to encourage and direct growth in an inclusive way.

The Comprehensive Plan lays out policy goals and statements on everything from housing and arts to culture and sewage. Inside each chapter are guidelines, goals, and recommendations that spell out a vision for what DC is supposed to look like in the coming decades. The first Comprehensive Plan was adopted back in 1985. In 2006, DC re-wrote the plan, and now the Office of Planning is undergoing a public process to amend the document.

The plan is not zoning or prescriptive, but is supposed to guide everyday decisions and policy for the city as it grows. That's why it's so important.

As the District continues to grow, housing is getting more expensive every day, and our city can do more. Inclusive growth, taken seriously, is going to demand change from our old systems and patterns. Inclusive growth demands a bolder Comprehensive Plan, not one that defends the status quo.

That means five things:

1. Curbing subsidies to developers who are prioritizing the creation high-income apartment complexes and shifting these subsidies to the repair and expand public housing;
2. Expanding TOPA and further strengthening rent control;
3. Establishing a DC Public Bank to facilitate these measures;
4. Reducing income inequality by hiking the DC income tax rate on the top 5% of earners here in the District;
5. Reducing the chronic level of homelessness in the District by expanding the provision of rapid rehousing and rent supplements to keep individuals and families in housing when market rates kick in.

DC Reinvest Update: Lobby D.C. Council on April 9th!

Come for snacks, stay for strategies to get the Council to divest D.C. from Wells Fargo!

On April 3rd, DC ReInvest is offering a training to give people tools and strategies for lobbying the D.C. Council to cut ties with Wells Fargo. This training will be useful to anyone who wants to lobby the Council for other campaigns too -- everyone is welcome!

After this training, you'll be prepared to join us to lobby the Council to divest from Wells Fargo, which has a long and shameful history of racially discriminatory lending, ripping off customers, and investing in fossil fuel pipelines and for-profit prisons.

Once you've learned the skills and strategy on April 3rd, put them to practice at our exciting lobby day on April 9th! Even if you can't commit to lobbying with us on the 9th, you should still come to the training, because there will be more lobbying opportunities in the future. The lobbying will lead into our big rally on April 18th -- the day of the oversight hearing for the Chief Financial Officer. We'll take action outside the Wilson Building in the morning to demonstrate strong support for divestment, and then head inside to pack the room and testify to demand a hearing on the resolution to divest from Wells Fargo!

RSVP to the facebook event here!

WHAT: Lobby Training Day
WHEN: Tuesday, April 3rd 6:00-8:00 pm
WHERE: 1730 M St NW, Suite 1115
WHO: Led by the DC ReInvest's Council Strategy team

DC Statehood Green Party Monthly Meeting on April 5th

Join us on Thursday, April 5th for our next monthly meeting in Petworth! We will talk about the DC Statehood Green Party's electoral strategy for 2018, update members on McMillan Park, and will likely have more candidate announcements!

Please invite your friends on Facebook HERE! You can also register to attend HERE!.

Upcoming Events

DC ReInvest Lobby Day Training Meeting

Saturday, April 3, 2018 (6:00-8:00 PM)
If you plan to attend, please RSVP on the Facebook event page HERE.

DC Water Town Halls

April 3, April 5, and April 17, 2018.
Maryland has officially granted a wetlands and waterways permit for the Potomac Pipeline. Please come to the DC Water Town Halls to voice your concern about the possible construction of the Potomac Pipeline.
To find out more information and RSVP, click HERE.

Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting

Sunday, April 8th (3:00-5:00 PM)
To find out more information and RSVP, click HERE.

City Council Chairman Candidate Forum (CM Mendelson and Ed Lazere are confirmed)

Thursday, April 12, 2018, at 7:00 PM
This is a Democratic primary debate, but it is a great chance to pin down candidates on their positions!
Where: St Columba's Church at 4201 Albemarle St, NW.

Climate Day of Action: rally + lobby day!

Meet our newly Green-endorsed candidate for Mayor!Friday, April 13th (12:30-4:00 PM)
To find out more information and RSVP, click HERE.

Made it this far in the newsletter? Appreciate what you read? Please consider becoming a sustaining donor to ensure we have more news to bring you!

In Solidarity,
The DC Statehood Green Party