Dear Washingtonians: 

Four years ago, we came together to give DC Government a fresh start and more Washingtonians a fair shot.  

Since then, we’ve accomplished a lot together. We’ve built a more transparent government that includes the voices of District residents. We made historic investments in education and affordable housing. And we went back to basics to ensure that DC Government is working for DC residents.  

Along the way, our city continued to grow. People recognize that Washington, DC is a city that has something for everyone – from sports and entertainment to restaurants and museums to tech and innovation – and they want to be part of it. In 2018, for the first time in four decades, we became 700,000 residents strong. This growth has created new challenges, but it has also created new opportunities for our residents and new resources to invest in our neighborhoods.  

We know—we have some tough challenges ahead. It will not be easy to end homelessness, to close the achievement gap, or to rid our streets of illegal guns. But, as I like to say, with political will and the right investments, we can overcome just about any challenge.  

Over these next four years, let’s think big.  

From closing DC General to opening the Entertainment and Sports Arena to building more than 6,000 units of affordable housing across all eight wards, our biggest accomplishments are the result of our biggest dreams and commitments.  

So, let’s spend the next four years sharing ideas, working together to build an even stronger and more inclusive city, and supporting programs and policies that advance DC values and spread prosperity.    

If there’s one thing I know about Washingtonians, it’s that we never give up—that we never count ourselves out or consider our work done. Even when we know that we are already living in the greatest city in the world, we find a way to do better.    

Let’s get to work.  

Sincerely,  

Muriel Bowser 

Mayor