December 29, 2022
Updates from Adams Morgan
Click Here
to see previous updates in our newsletter archive
Check
ObviouslyDC.com
for the latest in DC government funding and grant opportunities for businesses.
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Offices of the Adams Morgan Partnership will be closed on Monday, January 2.
The Adams Morgan clean team works a 365-day schedule but will work a shortened schedule on the holidays.
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Adams Morgan Partnership Annual Meeting & Elections
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The Adams Morgan Partnership BID (AMPBID) annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14.
We will have elections for 6 positions on the Board of Directors (4 property owners and 2 business owners). Additional nominations (per the process in our bylaws) will be accepted until February 2nd (40 days prior to the meeting).
Join the Adams Morgan Partnership BID Board of Directors
The Adams Morgan Partnership BID (AMPBID) holds elections every year at our annual meeting in March. The board consists of 15 seats, nine of which are reserved for commercial property owners and six for business owners. Board members are elected to serve three-year terms (unless they are replacing a board member who resigned before the end of their term).
The nominations committee will be meeting in January so if you are interested in board membership or know someone who is, please email committee chairperson
Wendy Hauenstein
for more information on qualifications and the election process. The nominating committee will present the slate of candidates at the February 14 board meeting.
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New Year's Eve in Adams Morgan
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Below are links to some of fun to be had ringing in the New Year in Adams Morgan.
If your event is not listed, please email the info to
Brian Barrie
and we'll include it next week.
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New Laws Effective January 1
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Read the press release
from the Executive Office of the Mayor for a complete list of new laws effective January 1.
Living Wage
As of January 1, 2023, in accordance with the Living Wage Act of 2006,
the living wage in the District of Columbia will increase to $16.50 on January 1, 2023
.
On July 1, 2023, the District’s minimum wage will increase to $17.00, trigging an increase to the living wage for non-tipped workers to the same rate.
This increase is due to provisions of the amendment that tie DC’s minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index.
Coverage for Medically Necessary Foods
As of January 1, 2023, any health benefits plan issued after December 31, 2022 must provide coverage for the cost of medically necessary food ordered as necessary by a provider for a number of diseases or conditions. View a complete list of the diseases or conditions that qualify
here
.
Paid Family Leave Enhancement
Beginning January 1, 2023, for the first time, as part of the total 8 maximum weeks of paid leave currently available, employees will be eligible to receive up to 2 weeks of paid medical leave to care for their own serious health condition. Employees will also be eligible to receive leave for more than one qualifying event per year, within the 8 maximum total paid weeks.
Zero Commercial Food Waste Requirements
Starting January 1, 2023, commercial food waste requirements will extend to retail food stores with a floor area of at least 10,000 square feet and colleges and universities with at least 2,000 residential students. These entities must now abide by 6 key food waste requirements such as ensuring proper storage for food waste on site, including a container with a secure lid. View a list of food waste requirements and other information
here
.
Parking Cash Out Law Requirement
As of January 1, 2023, all employers with 20 or more covered employees in the District, regardless of whether they offer a parking benefit, must report to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) with details of how they comply or their basis for being exempt from the requirements by
January 15, 2023
. The Parking Cashout Law requires District employers with 20 or more covered employees that offer a parking benefit (free or subsidized parking) to their employees to either offer a Clean Air Fringe Benefit to employees receiving the parking benefit, develop a transportation demand management plan, or pay a Clean Air Compliance fee.
All District employers with 20+ employees must report to DDOT every other year, regardless of if they offer a parking benefit.
This Law was enacted in 2020 as an amendment to the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014 and the first reports are due by January 15, 2023. More information can be found
here
.
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What a year. (Again.) It kicked off with surging Omicron and a vaccine mandate for DC restaurants and finished with a (thankfully) much better holiday season. In between, our NFL team got a new name, Phase 2 of The Wharf opened, the Silver Line made it to Dulles, recovery efforts continued, voters made historic choices, and the DC Council made Metrobuses free. It certainly wasn’t all roses – and there is much more to do – but this year sure felt a little closer to fine.
Before saying, “So long, 2022!” and eagerly charging into next year, let’s look back at some of the biggest news in the local restaurant industry.
DC voters pass Initiative 82.
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First in a generation. Despite a hard-fought counter campaign, DC will become the first city or state in more than 20 years to scrap the tip credit, throwing the region into uncharted territory at a time when restaurants are already struggling to regain their footing following the pandemic.
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I82 impacts every corner of a restaurant’s operation. One thing already clear is that I82 – which raises front of house labor costs by more than 200% – not only affects servers’ pay but is also flattening back of house wages, increasing use of self-serve tech, discouraging new restaurants from opening, shrinking menus, and hiking prices for everyone.
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Entrepreneurs of color are disproportionately at risk. As we saw in the pandemic, small, independently owned restaurants, in particular those owned by entrepreneurs of color, are at greater jeopardy during times of destabilization, economic uncertainty, and hardship. Similarly communities of color, who make up most of the restaurant workforce, are disproportionately more likely to see a pay cut or to lose their job.
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RAMW is working relentlessly. More than ever, our jobs now are to keep restaurants open, people working, and as best we can position the industry to thrive in the coming years. We’ve previously shared that RAMW has been working out next steps to mitigate I82’s broad effects as it continues to upend the industry. Much more news about the road ahead to come in January.
DC Council permanently caps delivery apps at 15%.
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DC’s Other Caps: While many of us were following Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin make NHL history scoring his way to 800 goals, the pandemic’s temporary 15% cap on delivery services was extended into perpetuity. Pickup orders placed over apps are capped at 5%.
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It applies to basic delivery. Marketing and other services can be added for a fee.
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It’s the most comprehensive law of its kind in the country. The Fair Meals Delivery Act also requires delivery services to have written agreements with operators and prohibits advertising a restaurant without its permission. RAMW played a big role in introducing the legislation, and thanks go to our longtime counsel Andrew Kline and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie for their efforts.
DC also slashes some licensing and late fees.
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Simply the BEST: The Business and Entrepreneurship Support to Thrive (BEST) Amendment Act, championed by Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, simplified key licensing and renewal processes and reduced some fees.
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New business licenses were cut to $99. A 6-month license is now $49 and businesses with less than $10,000 in revenue pay no fee.
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Late fees were also cut from $250 to $75 (if less than 30 days behind) and from $500 to $150 (if more than 30 days).
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More good news: While not in the original bill, RAMW successfully advocated for adding a rule preventing health inspectors from closing a restaurant solely for a lapsed business license, something that has been a real headache for operators.
DC drops insurance hikes on outdoor cafes and streateries.
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It would have cost operators tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks to an inquiry led by At-Large Councilmember Robert White, the Office of Risk Management stepped back from a planned increase in insurance requirements.
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Great, BUT: The question remains why are all of DC’s insurance requirements so much higher than Maryland, Virginia, or similar metro areas, costing operators thousands of dollars a year.
DC delays deadlines for sexual harassment training to 2023.
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Background: As part of legislation that repealed previous efforts to eliminate the tip credit, operators with at least one tipped employee must certify their business has a sexual harassment policy and provide training every two years.
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Latest: After pushing back this year’s due date for implementation, officials set new deadlines of March 31, 2023 for businesses to certify they have a policy and August 31, 2023 to complete training. More info and resources to come.
Voters choose other historic firsts during fall’s elections.
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DC Mayor Muriel Bowser won a landmark third term.
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Councilmember McDuffie, who was supported by RAMW, prevailed in his At-Large race. Chair Phil Mendelson won reelection, as did Councilmembers Anita Bonds (At-Large), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), and Charles Allen (Ward 6). Matt Frumin and Zachary Parker came out on top in their Wards 3 and 5 races, respectively, becoming the newest members to the council.
Federal Legislation: Congress declines to replenish RRF
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Despite the industry’s best efforts, Congress failed to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. They also passed on taking up a proposal to provide a tax credit for businesses who applied for but did not receive RRF.
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Similarly neglected was the Credit Card Competition Act, which would inject more competition among processors, driving down fees. Watch for this bill's reintroduction next session.
RAMW names new CEO.
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Meet Shawn. Many of us know Shawn Townsend from his time heading the DC Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture, where he was an ally and advocate for the industry as we navigated the pandemic’s shutdowns and mandates along with numerous other industry issues. Shawn’s official first day is in mid-January.
RAMMYS turned 40.
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Ruby Anniversary: After 2 years of slimmed down pandemic-era award shows, the RAMMYS returned in rare form to celebrate the best of the region’s food and drink. The event also raised nearly $30,000 for the RAMW Education Foundation to support the next great generation of culinary and hospitality stars.
Local ProStart Invitational returns to DC after 10+ years.
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High school students from more than 40 states competed in the nationally recognized training program’s annual competition, hosted in DC. While our home team from Ballou High School was unsuccessful in their bid to bring home the trophy, we celebrated having a DC team compete for the first time in more than a decade.
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Make Metro Your Safe Trip on New Year’s Eve
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Are you planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the region? #YourMetro announced
Metrorail and Metrobus service will be extended until 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan.1. Additionally, all trips will be free for customers who choose Metrorail or Metrobus after 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.31.
To promote public safety in the region, Metro’s Board of Directors gave direction to the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer to provide free trips and extended hours this New Year’s Eve.
Click here
for more info.
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FY23 Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Guide (Green Book) released
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Mayor Bowser recently released the
FY23 Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Opportunity Guide
, also known as the Green Book. The Green Book assists SBEs in navigating the local government procurement process by providing an agency-by-agency overview of SBE spending availability.
For the third year in a row, SBEs can search for opportunities in real-time using the interactive dashboard on the Green Book website –
GreenBookDC.com
. The site brings spending data from the Green Book to life with dynamic data that allows businesses to sort opportunities quickly by district agency and product.
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Now Accepting Applications for ELEVATE Cohort III
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CNHED’s Executive Leadership Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs (ELEVATE) Program provides best-in-class training to minority-owned small businesses (MBEs) located in DC. Through ELEVATE, MBEs work to acquire new skills that allow them to more effectively and efficiently manage their business, products, and services, as well as increase revenue and employment.
ELEVATE is the only minority executive education program in DC that is backed by a university partner. The 3-month ELEVATE curriculum, developed by the George Washington School of Business (GWSB) Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, is led by GWSB faculty members.
Accepting applications
for Cohort III through January 17, 2023
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2023 ABC Board, ABRA Office Schedule
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The
2023 Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board and Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) office calendar
is now available.
The ABC Board will reconvene from their winter recess on Wednesday, January 11. Agendas and streaming links are published in advance of their weekly meetings
here
.
On days the ABC Board is in recess, ABRA will maintain its normal hours of operation (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.).
Please note that ABRA’s office will be closed as follows in observance of Christmas and New Year's Day.
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New Year's Day—Office will be closed on Monday, January 2 and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3.
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FALL in love with your BUSINESS
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Register for upcoming business sessions.
SBRC One-On-One Call Session: Steps to Obtaining a Business License
Monday – Friday; By appointment between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Register
SBRC One-on-One Call Session: "Talk Business After Hours"
Wednesdays by appointment between 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm?
Register
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsor one of our community events! Partner with our community while reaching some of the city's most desirable demographics. For details, contact
Kristen Barden
at
202-997-0783.
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BOARD MEETINGS
The Board of Directors of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except August). Meetings are currently being held online and begin at 5pm.
Our Annual Meeting is held in March. Contact
Brian Barrie
for information about attending board meetings.
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©
Adams Morgan Partnership
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