A special message from Councilmember David Grosso

Dear Resident and Neighbor,

I made a commitment to you when I sought public office eight years ago that I would work to build a better District of Columbia through smart public policy and strong community engagement. We have made historic progress since I was elected–fundamentally changing how our schools prepare students to succeed, how our families balance their work and home lives, and how our government and elections operate more ethically.

Closing the achievement gap in our schools requires us to actively recognize that every student can succeed academically–especially when we care for the whole child every day. When we do that, they show up to school on-time and ready to learn and succeed. I could not be prouder of the work I have accomplished as chairperson of the Committee on Education to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline by ending exclusionary discipline practices and to provide students greater supports and services in our schools to address the trauma and adversity they experience outside the classroom that can hinder their academic success.

The Committee under my leadership has ended the bygone era of well-connected communities driving our school modernization plan. Now, equity rules and school modernizations are prioritized using an objective ranking tool that provides communities clarity and confidence that they will receive a 21st century school facility according to need, not politics.

Working families in the District of Columbia no longer have to make the difficult choice between spending critical time with a new or ailing loved one and a necessary paycheck. The unprecedented Universal Paid Leave Act is something all D.C. residents can be proud of and is a model policy for working families across the country.

When I first ran for office, the Council was in the midst of numerous scandals–from stealing money intended for children’s afterschool programs to outright bribery. Reforms will only be as good as who we elect, but through the government and elections reforms I championed we have taken big money and government contractors out of our elections and created a strong public campaign financing system ensuring a local government that will work for the many, not just the few.

These are merely the highlights of a long list of accomplishments of which I am extremely proud. A nearly exhaustive list follows below of my work on education, good government, health, human services, criminal justice reform, human rights, racial equity, and supporting the arts, humanities, and culture of the District of Columbia. Your help and support over the last seven years have made these progressive victories not only possible, but real.

However, from the beginning of my first campaign, I ran with the intention of only serving two terms as an independent at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia. I have always believed at my core that holding the same seat for too long is not good for the office, it’s not good for the institution, and it’s not good for Democracy. I have decided not to seek a third term in 2020 and to pass the baton to the next generation of progressive leaders.

My work is not done! I remain committed to improving the lives of the residents of the District of Columbia over the remaining fourteen months of my term and into the future. I hope you will continue to join me in my human rights and racial equity agenda by remaining engaged with my office.


Sincerely,
David Grosso
At-Large Councilmember
Chairperson, Committee on Education