On Thursday, July 23, the DC Council took its final vote on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, choosing to cut health and human services during a global pandemic because the majority of councilmembers decided that undoing an advertising tax was more important.

The DC Council needs to do so much more to get us to a #JustRecoveryDC. DC had a preexisting affordable housing crisis that is about to get much worse as a result of the global pandemic and economic recession.

It’s that time of year again—time to fight for DC residents through an equitable budget.

Black Lives Matter. The Legal Clinic stands with those throughout the country and in our community who are demanding change and striving to dismantle systems through which white supremacy runs deep.

Since we sent out our letter to the Mayor on April 24, 115 more people have tested positive and 3 more people have died, bringing the total numbers to 260 who have tested positive and 12 who have died. There is still no universal testing.

DC must act immediately to protect the lives of its vulnerable communities. DC must also further its expressed commitment to racial justice by creating and maintaining housing that is deeply affordable for those who need it to survive here, now and post-pandemic.