Good morning, Chairperson Nadeau, and members of the Committee. My name is Emilia Calma, and I am the Director of Research and Policy of the D.C. Policy Center—an independent non-partisan think tank advancing policies for a strong, competitive, compelling, and vibrant District of Columbia. I am here to testify in support of…

Introduction Mayor Bowser has submitted to the D.C. Council her budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 and the four-year financial plan period. The proposed budget represents a 7 percent growth in spending over the approved Fiscal Year 2024 budget, with significant investments in public safety and downtown recovery. It also substantially raises…

On April 17, 2024, the D.C. Policy Center was cited by The Eagle: In 2017, the D.C. Policy Center found that food deserts — geographic areas where people have limited access to healthy food — make up about 11 percent of D.C.’s total area and are concentrated in the neighborhoods of Anacostia, Barry Farms,…