The Biden Administration is now underway and moving quickly to enact a new policy agenda. In this webinar, a panel of experts discuss Biden’s early moves on pandemic response, economic recovery, and more.
Moderator: Evan Kraus, Managing Director & President of Operations, APCO Worldwide
Speakers:
Dr. J. Stephen Jones, President & CEO, Inova
Evelyn Lee, President, Greater Washington Region, SunTrust Bank now Truist
Chris Scribner,Senior Policy Advisor, Venable, LLP
Dr. Kavita Patel, Physician and Health Policy Expert
Jack McDougle, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, served as a panelist during the MEDA 2021 Winter Conference on January 14. View the recording here or read the recap in the Baltimore Business Journal.
Following is a letter to Board of Trade members and friends from our President and CEO, Jack McDougle:
Washington, DC will host the 59th Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2021 under extraordinary circumstances that none of us could have imagined. As during past Inaugurations and even more so this year, we are in close contact with the Secret Service, FBI, DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and other agencies to monitor security procedures and other issues. As you might imagine, the situation is constantly evolving, and officials are striving to adjust as needed. Over the next week, we encourage everyone to err on the side of caution across the region, especially in downtown DC.
Please stay close to your preferred news sources and, if you have not already, visitinauguration.dc.govor text INAUG2021 to 888-777 for real-time updates from the DC government on public safety, street closures, weather alerts, transit updates, and more.
A few updates:
Beginning at 6:00 am this Friday, January 15, all parking garages in restricted zones will be inaccessible. Any vehicle still in a garage or loading zone after this time must remain there until after the Inauguration. Restricted zones include the White House Zone (19th to 14th Streets NW and K Street to Constitution Ave). More street closures and restricted zones will be announced later. Visit inauguration.dc.gov/closures for the latest.
Metro will close 13 stations (11 beginning Friday and an additional two on Saturday) in downtown DC through the Inauguration. Read the announcement for more details.
Mayor Bowser, Governor Northam, and Governor Hogan are asking people not to attend the Inauguration or travel to downtown DC. Most events have been canceled or will be held virtually.
Federal assistance has been approved to supplement DC’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions through January 24, 2021. More than 15,000 National Guard troops are expected.
DC non-essential businesses are required to telework to the maximum extent possible as per COVID-19 restrictions.
This will continue to be a fluid and dynamic situation. Please stay informed and have a plan for unexpected curfews, street closures, and transit disruptions.
After a year of upheaval with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic duress, long overdue attention to racial and economic inequality, and last week’s reprehensible attack on the U.S. Capitol, we are tired, frustrated, stressed, annoyed, and the list goes on. Yet, over the long term, our region will prevail and emerge stronger.
In the meantime, and I know you are, please take care and stay safe. And let us never forget to appreciate everyone who continues to work tirelessly on the frontlines for our benefit—nurses and doctors, firefighters and police officers, transit and utility workers, and many more. We owe them so much.
Please contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Yours very truly,
Jack McDougle President & CEO, Greater Washington Board of Trade
Scientists are making incredible progress in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, but there is still a long road ahead before the average American can get vaccinated. In this webinar, experts discuss the challenges of vaccine distribution and how employers can help make a widespread, rapid vaccination campaign successful.
Moderator:
Dr. Pooja Kumar, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Panelists:
Eugene Laney, Head of International Government Affairs, DHL Express USA
Dr. Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, Senior Director of Infection Prevention, The Johns Hopkins Health System
Dr. Samir Balile, Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager, Giant Food
Watch the Recording
Read the Summary
What are you doing to prepare for the vaccine?
Dr. Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, Senior Director of Infection Prevention at the Johns Hopkins Health System, said that the healthcare community must stay focused on the present. Their first priority is to make sure they can handle this current surge in COVID-19 cases. They are ensuring they have the supplies and staff to absorb the rising wave of COVID-19 patients which has yet to crash. They are focused on the basics of prevention—avoiding gatherings, wearing masks, etc. They are laser focused on strategies to maintain the healthcare workforce, which includes stressing the need for those workers to avoid exposure in their lives. Expecting hospitalizations and fatalities to increase over the coming weeks and months, Dr. Maragakis said this is a sobering time.
Eugene Laney, Head of International Government Affairs at DHL Express USA, said they are preparing for vaccine distribution using what they learned in distributing personal protective equipment (PPE). They know they need to prepare to deploy vaccines rapidly to places with growing outbreaks. But they must also work through capacity restraints, since they also have other delivery responsibilities, particularly e-commerce during the holiday season. They also need to plan for moving vaccine deliveries through areas with poor infrastructure and regulatory challenges.
Dr. Samir Balile, Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager at Giant Food, said that they are working through many unknowns. He offered an analogy: “We are told we are going to be hosting a dinner party, but we don’t know how many people, when they will show up, or what we are serving.” They are therefore staying focused on what they already know they can do, such as making sure all pharmacies have functioning freezers to store the vaccine and pharmacists have PPE. They anticipated a significant shortage in supplies such as needles, alcohol wipes, etc., so they are procuring what they can and trying to prepare as best as possible, but are waiting on more direction and assistance from the state department of health.
What are the biggest challenges ahead of us?
Eugene Laney elaborated on the logistical issues of widespread and rapid vaccine deployment. First, centralized production of the vaccine or related supplies (like needles) make us vulnerable to supply chain challenges; he cited needing to bring in supplies that are manufactured in China but struggling to do so because the US and China are in a trade war. He also described the challenges of sorting out counterfeit supplies. Dr. Maragakis added that her medical center had received PPE with mysterious labeling and questioned if it was medical grade. With very high demand for these materials and complicated international supply chains, it can be difficult to ensure product quality.
Eugene Laney and Dr. Maragakis also described the challenge of distributing a vaccine that must be kept cold—and in the case of some vaccines, must be kept extremely cold. This requires freezers or even special deep-freezers on shipping vehicles, in storage facilities, and in the offices were vaccinations occur. Eugene Laney described the difficulty in maintaining product integrity in situations where a country uses a paper import management system, leaving vulnerable products on a hot tarmac until the paperwork can be filed. (To distribute the quantity of vaccine needed, distributors must be prepared to distribute all vaccines, including the ones that must be kept in deep-freeze.)
Beyond the logistical challenges, Dr. Maragakis described the messaging challenge of convincing the US population to take the vaccine and providing accurate information on how and when to do so. She cited the lack of coordinated leadership from the federal government as a major disadvantage because it is hard to coordinate the message and actions of many different public health entities scattered across the country. She stressed the need for a national, robust vaccination campaign.
Dr. Balile explained that Giant and others involved in vaccinating the public need to think about how they can reach the populations that have been hardest hit, which are typically low-income. Giant is looking into a mobile immunization unit using an Air Stream so that they can provide immunization to communities outside of the range of their stores in a safe way.
What can employers and the public do to help make this vaccination campaign successful?
Dr. Maragakis explained that we still do not know whether any of the vaccines nearing FDA approval stop contagion to unvaccinated individuals and how long immunity will last. People should expect to continue to practice some social distancing measures until this is figured out. She recommends that employers continue to uphold practical policies that stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 within their facilities and serve as trusted providers of information for employees.
Dr. Balile echoed Dr. Maragakis, saying it is important that employers communicate with their workforce. Employers should educate them on the benefits and explain that this is not just about protecting themselves, it is about protecting their families and friends. He also said that as a community, we can lean into this cultural change of people taking more responsibility for their wellness and thinking comprehensively about their health and clinical needs.
Eugene Laney agreed that employers need to be good sources of information. He pointed out that a lot of companies still do not have a COVID-19 task force of senior leaders that talk about risks and coordinate internal communications. He also recommended that companies identify an information partner, like the CDC, where you can consistently get good information. Companies should also make sure whatever supplies they get are coming from trusted suppliers.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Greater Washington Partnership once again teamed up to host the region’s most highly anticipated transportation forum. Watch this 90 minute webinar to hear from top transportation leaders in DC, Maryland, and Virginia and national transportation experts on the future of transportation in our region.
Part 1: Panel Discussion
Shannon Valentine, Secretary of Transportation, Commonwealth of Virginia
Gregory Slater, Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation
Jeff Marootian, Director, District Department of Transportation
Part 2: Spotlight on the election’s impact on the national transportation landscape
Larry Willis, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Beth Osborne, Director, Transportation for America
Both discussions were moderated by Tanya Snyder, transportation reporter for Politico.
Watch the Recording
Read the Summary
Panel 1
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Tanya Snyder opened the conversation by asking the panel what the past eight months have looked like from the vantage point of a transportation leader. All three said that in the earliest days of the pandemic, ensuring the health and safety of transportation workers and travelers was the top priority. Safety-related construction had to continue, public amenities had to be regularly sanitized and properly ventilated. Secretary Slater also reminded the audience that just like their own companies, state departments of transportation also had to mobilize a remote workforce which entailed logistical and operational challenges, such as moving to fully paperless billing and deploying remote work technology.
Sec. Valentine of @vaDOT says how well the department balances providing service while protecting the health and safety of travelers and workers will determine how well the department builds trust with the public. #CRTF2020
— Greater Washington Board of Trade (@GWBoardofTrade) November 18, 2020
Director Marootian explained that in the beginning of the pandemic, leaders were taking the situation one day or week at a time. But by June, it became clear that the pandemic would be with us for a long time, so government leaders had to think differently. The District added new bike lanes and reduced speed limits on many streets to support the public’s need for outdoor recreation. It also changed some parking and traffic rules to accommodate “streeteries.” Secretary Valentine described that the reality of the pandemic being a long-term situation prompted them to develop a new cash management system so that they could continue with planned transportation projects and could avoid laying people off and making the economic situation worse.
Keeping transportation projects on track
All three transportation leaders expressed a commitment to moving forward with planned transportation projects without delay, despite the enormous operational and budget challenges created by the pandemic. They echoed each other in saying that the pandemic has not changed their priorities, and in fact has only increased the urgency with which they support an efficient and high-performing transportation system.
Secretary Slater was adamant that the Purple Line will be completed. They are focused on design completion but also permitting and contracting, and they have taken over management of hundreds of contracts and sub-contracts to keep the project moving forward.
Sec Slater w @MDOTNews says the Purple Line WILL be completed. Sec Valentine w @vaDOT provides similar reassurance regarding planned infrastructure – "This last year of my life has really been about managing these commitments and finalizing them through uncertainty." #CRTF2020
— Greater Washington Board of Trade (@GWBoardofTrade) November 18, 2020
Secretary Valentine expressed similar determination about the Long Bridge. They are now working on passing the Long Bridge Act of 2020, which would allow a rail bridge to be built across National Park Service land. She said, “This last year of my life has really been about managing these commitments and finalize them through uncertainty” related to finances, revenues, and demands. She also thanked the Partnership and the Board of Trade for their support in helping to move necessary legislation forward. (At another point in the discussion, Director Marootian kindly said that he has not seen anyone operate as effectively as Secretary Valentine has in managing the Long Bridge project.)
Improving racial and social equity
Secretary Valentine said, “On equity issues, there are many decisions but one commitment.” She said that leaders must make that commitment to support equitable access to transportation for all. It starts with having strong leadership on this issue in multiple positions within the department, and then the department can integrate this viewpoint into all department decision-making.
Secretary Slater added that all transportation decisions need to consider the communities they serve in addition to their impact on transportation. For example, they increased service where they had the highest percentage of transit-dependent riders and cut service where members of a community most likely had alternatives. He also cites that pollution has affected communities unequally and that good transit planning can help reverse that.
On combatting the climate crisis
Tanya Snyder reminded the panelists and the audience that the United States saw record wildfires this year, and transportation is on the front lines of decarbonizing our economy. Director Marootian responded with reassurance that their sense of urgency on climate change was already high, and now it is higher. They are exploring creative ideas to incentivize transit use and discourage the driving culture that harms both safety and sustainability—which he says go hand in hand. He also said that the District is working hard to electrify its bus fleet.
Secretary Slater pointed out that sustainability is also related to social equity. Supporting all types of transportation, including transit and cycling, also supports different types of people. He said that he sees a future where some people are still driving cars, but they are mostly electric, and people have more access to transit and walkable communities. He also stressed the importance of electrification and proliferation of charging stations.
On the need for federal stimulus
All panelists stressed the need for federal stimulus funding during the pandemic so that transportation departments can continue to make progress on critical, long-term issues. Secretary Valentine said that federal support that accommodates multi-modal transportation is an opportunity to not just protect what we already have but to make big improvements. Secretary Slater elaborated that the CARES Act was critical, but more funds are needed. While departments of transportation will usually take a “fix it first” approach and prioritize maintenance of existing infrastructure, the engineering and planning for our future’s transportation system must start now. Federal support is critical for addressing that longer-term need for innovation. Director Marootian agreed, saying that we need to think about projects that need to be built 10 years from now, because that planning starts today.
Sec. Valentine and Dir. Marootian agree that the pandemic has magnified the importance of an efficient and multi-modal transit system. Providing #CapitalRegion residents with multiple and safe transit options is essential for our recovery and future growth. #CRTF2020
— Greater Washington Partnership (@GW_Partnership) November 18, 2020
Panel 2
The likelihood of a relief package
Beth Osborne explained that even though there is critical need for federal funding to support transportation infrastructure in the United States, especially during the pandemic, and there is bipartisan support for those projects, Congress always gets stuck when debating how much to spend. There is longstanding, fundamental disagreement on the role of the federal government and what dollar value is appropriate. (She also mentioned that the Senate runoff races in Georgia may influence Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decisions, but it is unclear how.)
She advised transportation advocates to stress the benefits of the projects that would be funded and avoid talking about the price tags until legislators and their constituents are excited. She said, “If people want to sell me on things, they should start with what I’m going to get, not what I’m going to spend.”
Larry Willis added that we need to remind elected leaders that there is a real cost in failing to invest in transportation. Hopefully, that message can break through the political inertia that has prevented us from making the right levels of investments.
Infrastructure investments in the Biden Administration
Larry Willis pointed out that Biden ran on a very pro-worker, pro-labor, pro-union platform. A big infrastructure deal is a good way to execute on that platform. He thinks Biden is well positioned to jump in and is ready to go.
Beth Osborne reminded the audience that one of the difficulties in infrastructure is that it seems to be everyone’s top priority once we get through all the emergencies but we never get through the emergencies. It will take a real, sustained commitment and effort to move forward. She is optimistic that COVID-19 recovery might actually help create the urgency for reinvestment.
Beth Osborne w @T4America says "one of the difficulties in infrastructure is that it seems to be everyone’s top priority once we get through all the emergencies but we never get through the emergencies." Will take a real sustained, proactive effort to deliver. #CRTF2020
— Greater Washington Board of Trade (@GWBoardofTrade) November 18, 2020
What should be our top priority?
Beth Osborne advocated that we reverse some of the damage done by highway projects built in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. We need to think about long-term impacts of investments.
Larry Willis said we should make sure we have good labor policies in tandem with good infrastructure investments. He also stressed that the Biden Administration should be at the negotiating table on infrastructure legislation and not just leave it up to Congress—they ran on this platform and need to get in the fight.
Beth Osborne w @T4America and Larry Willis w @AFLCIO both strongly urge the Biden Admin to be at the negotiating table on important legislation and not leave it up to Congress – make sure the Democratic values they ran on are incorporated. #CRTF2020
— Greater Washington Board of Trade (@GWBoardofTrade) November 18, 2020
In this 1-hour webinar, a cross-sector panel of experts discuss how the Biden Administration is likely to change public policy in Congress and the White House and what that means for your company and community.
Moderator: Evan Kraus, President & Managing Director of Operations, APCO Worldwide
Speakers:
Larry Di Rita , Greater Washington, DC Market President, Bank Of America
Bart Gordon, Partner, K&L Gates
John Mayo, Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Business and Public Policy, Georgetown University
Karishma Page, Partner, K&L Gates
Read the summary
Priorities for the Incoming Biden Administration
Clearly, getting the COVID-19 pandemic under control, preventing more mass casualties, and getting our economy back on track are going to be top priorities for the Biden Administration. All panelists agreed that Biden must prioritize testing, contact tracing, distribution of a vaccine, and passing a stimulus deal. (Which, John Mayo thinks will not happen in the lame duck session.)
But there are other major priorities that will compete for the Biden Administration’s attention and resources. Larry Di Rita explained that all incoming administrations have a list of executive orders ready to go on day one, and that this is a way to set the tone early in their tenure. He expects Biden to release early executive orders on immigration and climate change.
Bart Gordon said that Biden will have to “walk and chew gum at the same time,” citing rebuilding our reputation with foreign allies as one of those other projects. Gordon also said it would be important for the Biden Administration to meaningfully engage on climate, both because it’s the right thing to do and because it is a way to build bridges with the progressives in the Democratic party. He can start by rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and rolling back some deregulations from the Trump Administration.
What the policy landscape may look like…
On SBA loans and stimulus
Karishma Page pointed out that there will be a great deal of scrutiny and oversight of how stimulus dollars are allocated and spent. This will not likely result in retroactive rule changes to SBA loans, but there may be changes to the rules in future stimulus deals.
Larry expressed his view that the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) should be considered a success, even if there is some room for improvement. There is tension between spending money correctly and see more of that money get pushed out, and we have an opportunity to fine-tune the program if it gets a chance to be continued.
Larry does not expect interest rates to increase above their very low rates anytime soon, and though the rising debt will need to be addressed, it does not need to be a priority in the short term. It will take a while to get to troubling levels of inflation, and getting stimulus spending out to people and businesses that need it is essential for economic recovery.
John pointed out that this recession has been demand-induced, so it lends itself to stimulus. But a nuance is that it is very idiosyncratic and depends on the sector—some have suffered, like restaurants and airlines, while others have done well, like the tech sector.
On tax policy
Karishma Page explained that the Biden campaign made it clear that review of tax policy is on the agenda, but a Republican Senate creates significant headwinds. However, that does not mean nothing will get done. A starting point is the stimulus for COVID-19, where tax policy can be used to stimulate economic activity.
On infrastructure
There has been bipartisan interest in an infrastructure package, but there is continuing disagreement between the parties on how much to spend and how we are going to pay for it.
On the minimum wage
On scale of 1 to 100, Karishma puts the likelihood that the federal minimum wage will change at 30. There is some bipartisan interest in raising the wage, but very partisan disagreement remains on the amount. We will likely see more state and local jurisdictions raising minimum wages, which creates a patchwork of policy across the country and increases pressure for a federal minimum wage increase. The chances might increase as we get closer to the 2022 race because there are more republican members of congress in vulnerable seats.
On tech policy
John says he expects the debates to continue but Biden’s influence may bring down the heat and hyperbole.
On healthcare
Assuming republicans hold their majority in the Senate and the ACA is not overturned by the Supreme Court, Karishma believes there can be some bipartisan support for certain issues, like curbing surprise billing and providing price transparency. There are probably not very big ramifications for employers.
The TD Bank Morning Star Speaker Series brings great authors and thought leaders to the Board of Trade community for conversations that spark ideas and inspiration. On November 10, the series hosted legendary sports writer John Feinstein.
Watch the Recording
About Our Speaker
John Feinstein is one of the great writers in American sports history appearing 23 times on the ‘New York Times Best Seller List’, including two books that reached number #1.
For many years John wrote for The Washington Post, The Sporting News, and Golf Digest and has also been a regular on-air commentator for a number of television and radio programs including The Golf Channel, United States Naval Academy Football, National Public Radio, Sirius XM and the Tony Kornheiser Show.
John’s latest work is in the form of an exclusive audio book. John Feinstein: The Friends I’ve Made, features five of John’s most meaningful relationships captured in a series of intimate conversations providing listeners with an in-depth look into both John and the backgrounds of the high-profile coaches and athletes he has covered. The Friends I’ve Made features remarkably personal exchanges with Michigan State Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Izzo, golf personality David Feherty, Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, tennis analyst, sports commentator and women’s journalism pioneer Mary Carillo, and Duke Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Today is Election Day! We encourage all our members to exercise their right and vote. We are also sharing two important resources from the Metropolitan Police Department.
This virtual event series presented by Capital One will give Board of Trade members and friends the opportunity to hear from local government officials on issues impacting the business community today.
On Friday, October 30, Board of Trade members and friends heard from the Hon. Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Executive; the Hon. Phil Mendelson, Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia; and the Hon. Jeff McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on their current and future actions they are taking to help navigate through these uncertain times.
Watch the Recording
Read the Summary
Prince George’s county was already leading the state of Maryland in job creation and transit-oriented development. County Executive Alsobrooks says that the pandemic has actually been an opportunity to accelerate investments in their community.
Chairman Mendelson said that the DC government is focused on closing the achievement gap among public school students, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. They are paying more attention to that now and making it a greater priority.
Regarding the pandemic, he is nervous to see how public health trends go as we head into the colder months. He said that DC is still in phase 2 of reopening. He also raised concerns about the potential efficacy and adoption of a future vaccine, warning that having a vaccine available may not be enough to completely solve the COVID-19 problem.
Chairman McKay says that his administration in Fairfax County has evolved to see the pandemic as a long-term change in our way of life, not just a short-term problem. We need to rethink how we get back to normal.
He says, “Our best days are when we are tested.” He agreed with County Executive Alsobrooks that the pandemic has caused our communities to double down on efforts to solve systemic issues, such as the lack of affordable housing.
County Executive Alsobrooks described her administration’s dedication to being forthcoming, clear, honest, and engaged with their community and facilitating continuous two-way communication. She says that has helped to build public support and participation in fighting the virus.
She also says that by continuing to make decisions in the best interests of the public and based on the guidance of public health experts, local governments can build and maintain trust from the public.
Chairman Mendelson notes that the whole region is seeing great compliance with mask mandates and that generally, wearing a mask has not become a political issue here. He credits the consistency and honesty of local government leaders, and echoed County Executive Alsobrooks in saying that this builds public trust.
He argued that having adequate supplies for testing and PPE so that the public can take care of their own needs is also important, and that allowing and concealing shortages of these materials breeds distrust.
Chairman McKay agreed with County Executive Alsobrooks and Chairman Mendelson that local governments must be a trusted source of information for residents. He described the decision of his county and others in Northern Virginia to slow down reopening in their jurisdiction at a time when the rest of Virginia was moving to the next phase, and he claims that this decision likely made a big difference in reducing transmission. He also credits this decision with building additional trust with the public.
Chairman McKay explained that Fairfax County does enforce its mask mandate and take it seriously. They employ multi-language campaigns to make sure that all members of the community are aware of the expectations.
On the economy, County Executive Alsobrooks admitted that she expects that the region will see some pain over the next few years, but she stressed the importance of continuing to make smart investments in transit, workforce, childcare, and other areas so that the region can stay competitive with other regions in attracting business.
Chairman Mendelson said that the DC economy is holding up surprisingly well, but still taking a big hit. There is a great amount of uncertainty. He does not wish to cause alarm but does believe we should be clear about the risks ahead.
He is particularly concerned about the looming eviction crisis. Right now, there is a moratorium on evictions, but when that expires, we could be facing a huge eviction surge. He says the DC government has not found a solution yet.
Chairman McKay says that Fairfax County is doing a great job attracting new businesses, the real estate market is “red hot,” and interest rates are low—all good factors for the county economy. However, he echoed Chairman Mendelson in expressing concern about commercial real estate and the future of that market.
The biggest challenge Fairfax County faces as a community is balancing the county budget if the federal government does not pass another stimulus that includes money for states and local governments.
He said that Fairfax County is testing the population aggressively so that they have a clear view of the degree to which COVID-19 is spreading. He said that the county is doing really well but it is important to keep a close eye on the health metrics and be ready to increase restrictions if needed, but if residents continue to comply with existing guidance, hopefully that won’t be necessary.
On education, County Executive Alsobrooks described that it was important at the beginning of the pandemic to ensure that all children can learn virtually, which meant distributing laptops and providing internet connections for some families.
She described their infrastructure financing program, which is emerging as a model for the country. That program includes building six new schools over the next few years, which will allow the county to create jobs, provide better facilities for students, and stimulate economic activity that is expected to benefit small and minority-owned businesses.
Chairman Mendelson said that DC is planning on bringing some children back to school, prioritizing the youngest children and those with disabilities, but there is controversy surrounding this decision. He said that education is a long-term investment, so not overcoming the gaps that are occurring because of distance learning will have long-term consequences.
Like Prince George’s County, the District has invested in providing laptops and wifi hotspots to the community to enable distanced learning, which Chairman Mendelson says is a silver lining of this situation.
Chairman McKay has small children at home, so he understands the frustration of parents. He also said that Fairfax County has invested in providing the digital tools for distance learning, like Prince George’s County and the District.
He described a summer camp that was used as an experiment for safe on-site childcare and learning, which was successful and has been expanded during the school year for children whose parents cannot supervise them during the day.
The panelists were asked for their views on how a Biden victory in the upcoming presidential election would impact their jurisdictions. County Executive Alsobrooks says she believes Prince George’s county would acquire the new FBI headquarters, a major asset for her community. Chairman Mendelson raised the issue of local governments needing additional federal stimulus, especially the District which was shortchanged in the CARES Act, and said this is much more likely to happen in a Biden administration (the Trump Administration has opposed providing additional funding for state and local governments). Chairman McKay agreed on these points and added that a Biden administration will carry the message of scientists on how to address the pandemic, which will help local governments who need to deliver those messages. He also said that under a Biden administration, he expects there to be more public trust in a vaccine, which is critical to getting the adoption we need. He summarized that a Biden administration would boost federal employee morale, be good for federal contractors, provide more desperately needed funding for state and local governments, and boost public trust in our public health efforts.
The panelists were asked to name one major priority for the remainder of the year. County Executive Alsobrooks said she is focused on supporting local businesses. Getting to a strong economic position will go very far in supporting families in our region. Chairman Mendelson said that a priority issue in the District is building public trust in their police force. He says that he believes DC is far ahead of other jurisdictions around the country on policing, but more can be done. Chairman McKay said a priority issue is instilling confidence in the public that when we begin to emerge from the pandemic, the county will continue to be a great place to do business. The county is committed to growing the economy and ensuring all residents can do well.
National Landing, which encompasses the Northern Virginia neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard, is undergoing an exciting transformation. Big investments in buildings, transportation, and public amenities are predicted to benefit local residents while stimulating economic activity. In this webinar, leaders behind National Landing’s development plans explain what we can expect and how lessons learned on the National Landing project can be applied across the D.C. metro region.
Moderator: Nora Gardner, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Panelists:
Jack Potter, President & CEO, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Lance Collins, Executive Director & Vice President, Innovation Campus, Virginia Tech
Evan Regan-Levine, Executive Vice President, JBG Smith
Watch the recording
Read the summary
JBG Smith
JBG Smith saw a lot of opportunity in the Crystal City area because there is a confluence of transit, access to DC, and density. But it lacked good retail amenities and had too high of a ratio of commercial to residential real estate—it needed more retail and housing.
JBG Smith sat down with Amazon and discussed what it would look like to revitalize the Crystal City area. Amazon also saw the potential.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech’s plan is to build a campus that in 10 years will produce 750 masters degree students per year.
Another goal is to increase diversity in tech, acknowledging that tech jobs can be high-paying, but the tech field is not always very diverse. They believe that this starts with academia and making sure that graduates are diverse so companies can then hire diverse candidates.
MWAA
DCA sees a lot of opportunity for growth and is eager to see more connectivity between the airport and surrounding communities. The traveler’s experience from their community to the airport should be seamless.
Jack Potter warned that there is going to be a lot of construction and there will likely be some traffic, and it will require some patience.
JBG Smith
On the long-term COVID-19 impacts, Evan assumes that teleworking will probably not go away, but people will value being able to enjoy public spaces and enjoy their communities. JBG has doubled down on “smart city” investment to bring more internet connectivity to public spaces.
Virginia Tech
Lance expects that COVID-19 will spur the development of virtual learning platforms that enable more peer to peer interaction, which is not easily accommodated right now.
MWAA
The airports are cutting costs as much as possible without compromising safety, but they are also trying to continue their capital investments so that they can continue to improve the travelers’ experience. Funding from the CARES Act has helped.
They expect that National Landing is going to be a part of their long-term financial solution, bringing a lot more travelers through the airports. So, they are staying optimistic, expecting the traffic to come back.
JBG
JBG’s vision for a digitally connected “smart city” starts with a strong fiber optic network. They are making those investments so that down the road new technology companies see the area as a strong foundation to build on because of the faster, more secure internet connectivity.
Virginia Tech
Lance noted that making STEM more inclusive actually starts all the way back in K-12. Early stage decisions can cost students with talent the opportunities they need. It is therefore important that local public school systems have strong STEM programs.
