March 8, 2024
Dear Washingtonians,
On Tuesday, the Council passed Councilmember Pinto’s Secure DC omnibus legislation, which includes provisions from my Safer Stronger Amendment Act of 2023 as well as the Addressing Crime Trends Now Act of 2023.
Passing and implementing Secure DC is a critical step in the work to build a safer DC by rebalancing our public safety and justice ecosystem in favor of safety and accountability. I am grateful for all the people who made their voices heard and demanded action. And I am also grateful for the leadership of Councilmember Pinto and all the councilmembers who listened to the concerns of our community and voted in support of common-sense legislation that recognizes the importance of accountability in our ecosystem.
We are a city that is committed to creating opportunity and that believes in second chances, but we will not tolerate violence and we will not tolerate criminal activity that disrupts our sense of safety and our ability to build thriving neighborhoods. The provisions that were passed on an emergency basis last summer have already had a positive impact on crime trends. Together, we can continue to drive down crime and build a safer, stronger DC.
Sincerely,
 View photos from this week on Facebook.
 Mayor Bowser is inviting residents to celebrate Women's History Month at the 6th Annual FITDC HerStory 5K, which will take place tomorrow on Saturday, March 9. The 5K will start at Freedom Plaza in Downtown DC, rain or shine. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the 5K will begin at 10:00 a.m. The 5K is free and open to people of all ages and abilities.
This year's festivities will also include the first-ever HerStory Kids Dash for children 12 and under. Kids Dash participants will receive a special t-shirt giveaway before taking part in a modified "race" on the 5K route.
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When: Saturday, March 9
- Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. and 5K starts at 10:00 a.m.
- Kids Dash will be at 9:30 a.m., please arrive early to pick up materials
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Where: Freedom Plaza
Learn more and register at herstory5k.com
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 The 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival is almost here! Spring’s biggest welcome party will take place between March 20 to April 14. The festival will include much loved traditions, new experiences, and plenty of community celebrations during four weeks of fun, food, culture, and entertainment. The National Park Service predicts peak bloom will happen between March 23 and March 26.
Plan your trip to the cherry blossoms and learn more about upcoming events at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
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 Artomatic is now open in Downtown DC! Artomatic is a massive arts event that is activating 300,000 square feet of an empty office building at 2100 M Street NW with an eclectic art exhibition.
Artomatic is open to the public from March 8 through April 28. The exhibit is free to attend, with donations accepted.
When:
- Wednesday and Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, Noon – Midnight
- Sunday, Noon – 9:00 p.m.
Where: 2100 M Street NW
Find a full schedule of events at artomatic.org.
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