Meet and Greet with Christina Henderson July 17 2024

Virtual Meet and Greet with D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson

I’m hosting a virtual meet-and-greet with D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 7 PM ET. Henderson is running for re-election in November of this year for one of the At-Large seats representing the entire District.

Registration is required for this Zoom conversation: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtfuCqpjwrH9SMpySbqCpEfXc50KL9uGyY

Back to Basics on re-electing Christina Henderson

I’m voting for Christina Henderson in November 2024 with one of my selections for D.C. Councilmember At-Large, where she would serve another 4-year term as an Independent. In the fall, D.C. voters will select two candidates to (re-)join the cadre of five at-large members of D.C.’s defacto state legislature. Fellow At-Large incumbent, Robert White, the 2024 Democratic Primary winner, is likely to garner the other seat. In the 2026 election, the other three At-Large seats will be up for re-election.

Let’s go back to basics: As an At-Large representative, Henderson has resolutely fulfilled the duty of representing all Washingtonians. Since I interviewed her before her first term started in December 2020, Henderson has shown a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective, connecting the dots between often-siloed policy areas coming across the dais at the Wilson Building. If you review her questions during Council oversight and legislative hearings, you’ll hear her ask piercing questions regarding the entire geography of neighborhood challenges from Western to Eastern to Southern Avenues. 

In our 2020 interview, Christina Henderson narrated my favorite example of the nuanced approach necessary to create inclusive uplift: research shows that planting trees in low-income neighborhoods increases residential displacement, a harmful result of gentrification. But, we know that we need to plant trees to assist with climate change, reducing the urban “heat island” effect, and specifically in D.C., we are called to increase the tree canopy – especially in poor, minority neighborhoods – where public health outcomes are harmed by disproportionately concrete-strewn public areas.

These dynamics mean public policies can’t stop with planting trees. We have to create wraparound policies that manage negative impacts, communicate better about the “whys” of tree planting, and staff the outreach and operations departments just as much as the technical and administrative roles. You can map a LOT of meritorious government policy onto that framework. Henderson discusses health in our interview – and that D.C. can’t just plop down a new hospital at St. Elizabeth’s in Ward 8 (or a new Bread for the City clinic on Marion Barry Ave SE, for example) and expect good patient outcomes.

I hope you’ll join me on July 17th for an open-ended discussion with CM Christina Henderson.

Advocacy opportunities on D.C. local issues - Week of July 1, 2024

• Through the end of July, complete DDOT’s South Dakota Avenue NE survey and add comments to their virtual map [Public Mtg Video | Suggested Comments]

• Through July give WMATA your feedback on their “Better Bus Network” re-vamp, which has significant bus service changes [June 11 webinar | June 25 webinar]

• Through July, complete NoMa BID’s 2024 community survey and ask for transportation and infrastructure improvements

DISCLAIMER: All opinions and analyses in this newsletter are those solely of Gordon Chaffin and do not represent his employer or community groups with which he’s affiliated.