Gary Goodweather

Wages / Job Benefits At the same time, the Responsible Innovation Security and Employment initiative will ensure that DC leads responsibly in the age of artificial intelligence and emerging technology. Workers will receive advance notice and transition support when automation changes jobs, while residents gain access to free or low cost AI tools and training. Small businesses will receive support to modernize and compete, and new career pathways will open in high demand technology sectors. Wages / Job Benefits The Capital Corps will create a new pathway into service, education, and employment. Residents will commit to structured weekly service while receiving training, mentorship, and education benefits that prepare them for careers in healthcare, education, technology, public safety, infrastructure, and community development. Infrastructure / Transportation Through Fare Free DC, we will eliminate fares for DC residents on Metrobus and Metrorail. That means families keeping more of their paychecks and residents having the freedom to move across the city without worrying about the cost of the next ride. Environment / Energy Through Power DC, my administration will deploy proven technologies that reduce electricity costs today while preparing the District for a fully electrified future. This includes expanding solar installations on public buildings, partnering with federal agencies to create community solar programs that provide bill credits to residents, and scaling innovative systems like geothermal energy and sewer heat recovery that dramatically reduce heating and cooling costs. Healthcare My administration will expand access to community based healthcare by strengthening neighborhood health clinics, supporting preventative care, and partnering with hospitals and providers to bring affordable services closer to where people live. When people can get care early and locally, families save money and our entire healthcare system works better. Immigration We will launch a citywide Know Your Rights campaign so residents understand their constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel. A legal defense fund will provide representation for residents targeted by federal enforcement actions, ensuring that no one faces the system alone. Taxes / Budget Our government should answer to the people who live in Washington, DC. That means ensuring the Mayor and Council can set policies on public safety, budgeting, education, and city services without Congress stepping in to override local decisions. Education When students are in the building, everything else becomes possible. A Goodweather administration will treat attendance as the foundation of student success and build systems that make showing up easier, safer, and expected. Education We will fully implement the Science of Reading across DC schools with evidence based instruction focused on phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Every K through third grade student will receive universal literacy screening multiple times per year so struggling readers are identified early. Environment / Energy My administration will support innovative food systems by repurposing underused buildings into hubs for indoor vertical farming and sustainable agriculture. These facilities can produce fresh food year round while creating good paying green jobs and workforce development opportunities in emerging agricultural technology. Education Defending Home Rule also means strengthening civic education in our schools and ensuring residents understand the stakes when federal lawmakers attempt to override DC laws. Housing My administration will tackle the housing crisis by increasing supply and protecting long term affordability. We will accelerate the construction of new homes across every ward, convert vacant office space into housing, and support permanently affordable housing through tools like community land trusts and social housing. Environment / Energy Power DC will also hold utilities accountable and reduce the city’s dependence on volatile regional energy markets by generating more power locally. At the same time, we will build long term partnerships for clean energy production and prepare DC’s grid for next generation technologies. Environment / Energy My administration will invest in resilient infrastructure that protects homes, businesses, and public services while prioritizing communities that face the greatest environmental risks. That includes flood mitigation, heat resilience strategies, and long term planning to ensure the District remains safe and livable for generations to come. Infrastructure / Transportation My administration will expand access to reliable public transit, strengthen infrastructure for biking and walking, and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and cleaner transportation systems. Investments in transit accessibility and sustainable infrastructure will reduce congestion, improve air quality, and lower the cost of getting around the city. Healthcare No resident should have to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor. Healthcare costs are a growing burden for many families, especially seniors, working parents, and those without easy access to care. Criminal Justice / Public Safety My administration will strengthen both public safety and community trust. We will support law enforcement while expanding community based violence prevention and intervention programs that stop crime before it starts. Through initiatives like the Public Safety Support branch of the Capital Corps, residents will be able to work alongside first responders and community organizations to build trust, strengthen prevention efforts, and create safer neighborhoods across every ward. Education Every student accounted for. Every child reading by third grade. Every teacher supported. Every neighborhood connected to opportunity. That is the future we will build together. Legislation DC residents deserve the same representation as every other American. That means a voting seat in the House of Representatives now and ultimately full representation in Congress with two Senators through DC statehood. Legislation While statehood remains the most direct path to equal representation, my administration will pursue every available legal, legislative, and constitutional pathway to expand DC’s autonomy today. That includes pushing to eliminate the Congressional review period that allows lawmakers from other states to block our laws, ending congressional budget riders that restrict how our city spends its own money, and advocating for limits on presidential authority to interfere in DC’s local government. Education A Goodweather administration will expand after school and summer programs with tutoring, enrichment, and safe spaces for young people. Late night recreation centers will provide supervised spaces staffed by mentors. Every school will have a full time nurse and a mental health clinician so students receive the care they need to succeed. Education Washington, DC has everything it needs to lead the nation in public education. We have the resources, the talent, and families who show up every day believing our schools can do better. A Goodweather administration will make that belief real. Education We will introduce a Third Grade Reading Gate with retests, summer reading programs, and appropriate exemptions for English language learners and students with individualized education programs. Universal dyslexia screening will begin by first grade, and free one on one tutoring will be available for students in grades one through twelve. Civil Rights Through the Defend DC framework, my administration will coordinate legal, legislative, and public strategies to protect our autonomy. We will prepare legal responses to congressional interference, build national coalitions with organizations like the ACLU, NAACP, and DC statehood advocates, and raise the political cost when Congress attempts to undermine the will of DC residents. Taxes / Budget At the same time, we will protect existing residents by lowering property tax pressure on longtime homeowners and expanding pathways to homeownership so more families can build wealth and stability in the District. Immigration My administration will strengthen sanctuary protections by prohibiting DC agencies from cooperating with immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant and preventing the use of local resources for federal immigration activities. Schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and city facilities will be treated as protected spaces where residents can access services without fear.