It’s been a challenging year and a half. We’re all tired of the COVID-19 pandemic. But unfortunately, we’re now seeing the spread of a new variant. Now is the time for everyone to double down, get vaccinated and wear masks. The more we take these safety precautions right now, the higher likelihood we have of reducing the spread of this variant and protecting our families and communities.

COVID-19 still exists, and it does not discriminate. The virus and its variants are dangerous—especially for those who are unvaccinated—and can infect anyone: young, old, rich, poor, those who are healthy, those that are immunocompromised, and more.

If you are able to get vaccinated, I strongly encourage you to do so. With widespread vaccine availability, the best time is now. It’s free, and you don’t need to have health insurance to get it.

There are several no-appointment-needed walk-up vaccination sites throughout the District. At the Brookland Middle School, Sousa Middle School, and Johnson Middle School walk-up sites, District youth who get their vaccine may be eligible to win different giveaway prizes.

In addition to walk-up sites, pharmacies, clinics, and health-care providers throughout the District are also administering the vaccine. These sites have their own scheduling systems. Click here to find a location near you. If you are unable to leave your house, call 1-855-363-0333 and the vaccine will be brought to you.

And today, my office’s Cure the Streets Program (CTS) is holding a vaccine clinic in partnership with the Howard University College of Medicine at The Vista Apartments, located at 4660 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SW, Washington, DC 20032, from 11:30am-1:30pm.

I understand that some of you may be hesitant to get the vaccine. One of my wonderful coworkers who helps run Cure the Streets, Lashonia Thompson-El, was originally the same way. Last week, she overcame her fears to help keep her community safe. I hope that you will do the same.

Below are Lashonia’s inspiring reflections:

“Today “I Took the Shot!” I was very scared but very brave. I just want to say, “Thank You,” for being exemplary role models and stepping up to the plate early on. I also appreciate you for your empathy and patience throughout this ordeal. For me, the deciding factor was the thought of being (once again) restricted to my home office during a time when my people and my community need me most! That didn’t sit well with me...so I did it… for the love of the people!!!!”

Thank you.

Karl A. Racine
Attorney General 

Cure The Streets Mobile Clinic

As mentioned above, Cure the Streets, my office’s violence interruption program, is partnering with the Howard University School of Medicine to hold a COVID-19 vaccine clinic today from 11:30am until 1:30pm at the Vista Apartments in SW. All are welcome.

New 18-month Designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just issued a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This new TPS designation enables Haitian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti) who have continuously resided in the U.S. since July 29, 2021, to file applications for TPS, so long as they meet other eligibility requirements. DHS has determined that an 18-month TPS designation is warranted because of “extraordinary and temporary conditions” in Haiti, including a political crisis, violence, human rights abuses, and threats to public health, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department estimates that approximately 155,000 individuals are eligible to apply for TPS under this designation.

To learn more about the benefits of TPS, if you are eligible for TPS, how to apply for TPS, and other frequently asked questions, click here.

OAG is Holding Several In-Person Clinics to Help DC Residents Access Rent & Utility Bill Help

If you or someone you know needs assistance applying for rental assistance support, my office is here to help. OAG attorneys and staff are partnering with local non-profit organizations to provide in-person volunteer support to help residents fill out the application for these benefits. The clinics will take place during August and September in Wards 2, 7, and 8.

STAY DC is a critical program helping DC residents pay their rent and utility bills during these challenging times. The program is meant to help families settle debts, pay landlords what they are owed and, ultimately, avoid a crisis when the District’s moratorium on eviction proceedings expires. But for many, the application process has been difficult. Partially as a result of application difficulties, STAY DC still has more than 80% of its assistance funds, which can be distributed to eligible residents. Since we know many of our neighbors have struggled financially during the pandemic, we want to get that help to as many individuals and families as possible.

The first STAY DC clinic took place on August 3. The remaining clinics will take place at:

• August 10, 6:00pm – 9:00pm Ward 8: Hart Middle School: 601 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032
• August 19, 6:00pm – 9:00pm Ward 8: Hart Middle School: 601 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032
• August 28, 10:00am – 2:00pm Ward 7: Marshall Heights Community Development Organization: 3939 Benning Rd NE, Washington, DC 20019
• September 18, 10:00am – 2:00pm Ward 7: East Washington Heights Baptist Church: 2220 Branch Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020

Residents interested in attending a clinic should take the following steps:

• Determine eligibility for STAY DC support.
• Register at this link to join one of the upcoming clinics to be paired with a volunteer who can assist. Residents can also walk up to a clinic without an appointment, but pre-registering will guarantee that someone will be available to help
• Before going to an appointment, review the list of required documents and bring those documents to the appointment.

Residents with questions can email oagcommunity@dc.gov or go to https://oag.dc.gov/STAYDC.

Helping Reduce Gun Violence in the District

I’m thrilled that Cure the Streets is poised to receive more funding from DC Council to expand to other neighborhoods in the District. Last Friday, I visited a Cure the Streets site in the Washington Highlands neighborhood. At this site visit, I was able to hear from the program managers, outreach workers, and violence interrupters about outreach plans in the community. I was able to listen to them discuss their successes and challenges and learn more about the day-to-day work they do every day to stop gun violence in their neighborhoods and make their communities safer. To read more about what the program is, how it operates, and to view some of the program’s early data, click here.

On this day 56 Years Ago, the Voting Rights Act was Signed into Law

Today marks the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, legislation that was created to ban barriers, such as literacy tests, that were used to prohibit Black Americans from voting. Unfortunately, this disenfranchisement never really ended. Black voters and other voters of color still to this day face barriers to casting their ballots and making their voices heard—and since 2020, the effort to make it harder to vote is intensifying. Combatting new forms of voter suppression requires Congress to pass robust federal legislation to protect voting rights. This is about our democracy and enabling every American to participate in it.

WIN: Car Sharing Company Getaround to Pay Nearly $1M in Unpaid Taxes & for Misrepresenting the Platform’s Features and Benefits

Last month, I announced that Getaround, Inc., a car sharing company that operates in numerous cities throughout the United States will be required to pay $950,000 to the District; pay restitution to car owners that experienced theft or damage to their vehicles while listed on the platform; and revise its business practices after allegedly misrepresenting the benefits and nature of its car sharing services, operating without a license in the District, and failing to pay District sales tax. In February 2020, my office issued a consumer alert to raise awareness about concerns with auto thefts in the District that appeared to be connected to the use of the Getaround app. With this settlement, Getaround will take the necessary steps to make sure it is providing complete and accurate information to its users.