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  • Writer's pictureCLPA Policy Staff
    • Aug 16, 2021

CLPA Weekly Policy Recap (August 8th-August 14th) and List of Upcoming DC Area Policy Meetings

Updated: Sep 4, 2021

Here is CLPA’s weekly recap of what occurred last week as well as a list of upcoming meetings. A number of County and City Councils are still out on recess for August, but there are still workgroup and Board of Education meetings occurring across the Washington Metropolitan Area.





CLPA Weekly Recap (August 8th-August 14th)


Maryland


Last Monday, the City of Greenbelt voted 5 to 1 to allow residents to vote during this year’s city elections on Tuesday, November 2nd.on whether or not to establish a 21-member commission, appointed by council, to study and develop reparations for Black and Native American residents of Greenbelt. The Commission would be mandated to issue a report “in a timely manner” for consideration by the city and participating community groups for incorporation into their respective short- and long-term priorities and plans.


Virginia


Alexandria

There was an information session hosted by the Alexandria City Council about The Guaranteed Income Pilot Program (GIPP) was spearheaded by Alexandria’s mayor, Justin Wilson. For two years, starting on November 1st, the city will give $500 a month to 150 households. Those households will likely fall just above the poverty level, making around 30-40% of the area’s median income. For more information about the program see this link.


State-wide

Virginia will now require everyone inside K-12 schools to wear a mask. This order follows guidance from the CDC recommending that everyone, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear a mask in schools. In the order from the state health commissioner, it was noted that only 40% of 12–15-year-olds and 51.7% of 16–17-year-old in Virginia were fully vaccinated. This mandate applies to everyone aged two and older indoors at either a public or private school.


Washington Metropolitan area


Infrastructure Bill

The Senate, by a vote of 69-30 recently passed the long-debated infrastructure bill (H.R.3684), which is now set for debate in the house. The White House published fact sheets to show how the bill would affect Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.


More can be read in the fact sheet linked above but a few highlights from the report can be found below:

  • Based on formula funding alone, Maryland would expect to receive $4.1 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $409 million for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five years.

  • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Virginia will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 473,000 Virginians who currently lack it. And, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 1,908,000 or 23% of people in Virginia will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.

  • Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, based on the traditional revolving fund formula, Washington, D.C. will expect to receive $355 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the District and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.

2021 Census

Last Thursday, more demographic data was released that will be used to redraw the U.S. political maps. Maryland was reported to be one of two states to flip from being majority White to majority to non-White and is now considered to be the most diverse state on the East Coast. The change in Maryland’s demographic makeup was driven by growing Asian and Latino populations in the District’s inner suburbs and areas around Baltimore.


Washington, DC’s Black population continues to decrease with only 40.9 percent of the population identifying as Black in the 2020 count, which is the lowest it has been since the 1950 Census when the Black population was 35%. Northern Virginia saw demographic shifts as well, specifically, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun County. Loudoun County’s White population decreased from 62.4 percent White in 2010 down to 51.5 percent in 2020. Fairfax became the latest D.C. suburb to become majority non-White, joining Prince William in Virginia and Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s in Maryland.


A link to the 2020 Census results can be found here but for an overview of the Washington Metropolitan area-related census news please read this article from the Washington Post.



August 9th-August 13th Meetings


Washington, DC

Maryland


Charles County

Montgomery County

Prince George’s County

Virginia

Alexandria City

Arlington County

Fairfax County




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