Robert Gross

Taxes / Budget Participatory budgeting will expand citywide so residents can help shape how public funds are used in their communities. Housing New housing construction and major renovations will follow a Green Housing Modernization Standard, aligned with the District’s climate and affordability goals. Economy Incentivize District-based startups and scale-ups with local hiring commitments and apprenticeship pipelines. Arts / Culture Our administration will align cultural programming, local businesses, artists, and neighborhood organizations so that visitors experience a living city one that welcomes without displacing, celebrates without commodifying, and honors the residents who built its neighborhoods and traditions. Housing Family Housing Vouchers prioritized for households with children. Education Community colleges and workforce training programs will be strengthened through expanded dual-credit opportunities, early academic support, and lifelong learning pathways that begin as early as prenatal and early childhood development programs. Housing Integrate senior housing into mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods—ending the isolation of elders and reinforcing community stability. Education Expanded after-school programs - That nourish both body and mind through academic enrichment, arts, athletics, and mentorship. Criminal Justice / Public Safety My administration will establish a citywide, tiered public safety response system in Washington, D.C. That ensures every call for service is answered by the responder best equipped to handle the situation. Housing Individual Housing Vouchers designed for single residents, seniors, and workers. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Instead of police, fire, medical, and mental health responders operating through separate systems, the city will coordinate them through one command center using shared data and AI-assisted dispatch. This ensures residents receive the right type of help faster while reducing unnecessary police deployments and hospital transports. Education Mental health counselors in every school - Strengthening student wellbeing and crisis support. Social Services Strengthen senior centers as community anchors, offering health navigation, digital literacy, social programming, and access to city services. Economy Accelerate clean retrofits, resilient housing, and public works that create high-quality, union-pathway jobs while strengthening the city’s long-term environmental resilience. Arts / Culture Preserve neighborhood histories, languages, music, and traditions—because cultural continuity is a public health asset, especially for elders whose lives carry the city’s memory. Education New transition programs will support residents ages 18 through 27, ensuring young adults have access to workforce training, higher education guidance, and mentorship programs that provide a clear path to stability and purpose. Arts / Culture Support intergenerational programming that brings youth and seniors together through arts, storytelling, mentorship, and civic participation. Infrastructure / Transportation Design public spaces to be age-friendly: shaded seating, accessible paths, public restrooms, lighting, and safe transit connections so seniors remain visible, active, and connected. Education The mission of District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) must extend beyond graduation. It must prepare every student for a stable and meaningful future, whether through higher education, skilled careers, or entrepreneurship. Education The next mayor must treat education reform in Washington, D.C. As a whole-community effort that addresses academic performance, student wellbeing, and family stability. Housing Expand support for aging in place, including home modification assistance, neighborhood-based care coordination, and predictable property tax and rent protections for seniors. Infrastructure / Transportation Reinvest in parks, plazas, community theaters, cultural corridors, and night markets—spaces that reduce isolation, encourage movement, and improve mental and physical health at every age. Criminal Justice / Public Safety For calls involving behavioral health crises or emotional distress, co-responder units will pair law enforcement officers with licensed mental health professionals. These teams will provide immediate crisis stabilization while reducing unnecessary escalation. Education Aligning investments with the District’s existing Moonshot goal of achieving an 80 percent college graduation rate. But we should not stop there. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Non-violent situations including behavioral health incidents, family distress, and displacement-related crises will be handled by trained civilian crisis response teams equipped to provide care, mediation, and support services.