I recently learned from a colleague at the Fair Budget Coalition that in the District of Columbia, the wealth of about 1,500 people comprises almost 50% of the wealth in the entire city.

That number was staggering to me.

I have always believed that the way we treat our most vulnerable communities is a measure of how well the District is doing. And in recent years, we have asked those with too little to shoulder far too much of our budget burden–even as my colleagues and I have fought to restore and expand the safety net our neighbors most in need rely on–without asking others to pay their fair share.

The Council will take up this issue Friday at our roundtable on revenue proposals to address anticipated funding shortfalls in the Fiscal Year 2028 budget and beyond. We will cover a number of possible solutions, including a new business activity tax, a sales tax increase, an income tax increase, and my legislation to establish a wealth proceeds tax and transitioning to a land value tax. Having now worked on 12 annual budgets, I believe the residents of D.C. deserve a more just tax system as a way to shore up our social safety net. We need to explore what is possible and what is fair.

In preparation for this conversation, I’m reminded once again that this is never just about the numbers, but rather about the people affected. I am never surprised by–and always in awe of–the way we care for each other here in the District, especially our neighbors in need. I have been proud to do this work in partnership with you over my time as your councilmember–the work of making sure our government serves people and meets their needs.

As chair of the Council’s Human Services Committee for six years, I pushed for funding to ensure a path for safe and affordable housing for every District resident. And in 2021, Councilmembers Charles Allen, Janeese Lewis-George and I crafted the Homes and Hearts budget amendment. By raising taxes on our wealthiest residents just a little bit, we were able to provide more than 2,400 residents a safe and stable home.

In addition to a place to call home, everyone in the District, from newborns to seniors, should have access to high-quality services and supports that create a strong foundation for health. From healthy food access to early child development and lower costs of healthcare, I have pushed for a comprehensive approach to public health to foster healthy communities in D.C.

The Council passed my bill to expand access to home visiting services that help new parents and children thrive by providing at-home care and parental coaching. I fought to preserve funding for the D.C. Health Care Alliance and support life-saving care for residents who depend on it, including immigrant families, as well as comprehensive behavioral health services for our students.

The substance use disorder outreach pilot I created and funded in Columbia Heights and Shaw led to a 51% decrease in nonfatal overdoses in the 600 block of T Street NW in less than a year by focusing on trusted relationships and sustained outreach. The program has since expanded to wards 5, 6, 7, and 8, and we’re working to make this kind of outreach a permanently funded program.

Dedicated neighbors and I also made access to public restrooms a policy priority for over a decade, because bathrooms are essential to public health, disability access, community well-being, and equity. Our pilot program with Throne Labs to make bathrooms accessible across our District logged 145,000 uses and 56,000 unique users with zero safety incidents and will soon expand to 11 locations.

And the conversation on how we continue to build on the progress we’ve made has only just begun. We have made so many strides in addressing homelessness in the District of Columbia by working together. We have demonstrated that here in this city, we take care of each other, especially our neighbors most in need.

Now is not the time to backtrack. Instead, let’s talk about a way forward where everyone contributes their fair share.