Elise Kline - 91��

Supreme Court landmark abortion case could have historic repercussions

Elise Kline — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:27:20 +0000

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Dec. 1 on a Mississippi state abortion law that would limit abortion access to 15 weeks, much sooner than the current law.

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, could alter Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling protecting a woman’s right to have an abortion nationwide.

The ruling of this case could have implications nationwide. Some states have even enacted “trigger laws,” laws that will “trigger” abortion bans if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

According to the twenty-one states are ready to immediately ban or restrict access to abortion if the Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe. v. Wade.

While states like California have planned to act as a safe haven for those seeking abortions. Yesterday, California lawmakers and abortion providers unveiled the which includes a series of recommendations to “protect, strengthen and expand abortion care,” in California.

On the day of the hearing, Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa said she came to the rally to represent the non-profit organization she founded and is president of, called New Wave Feminists. (Elise Kline/ 91��).

During the oral arguments, questions from the justices focused on when a fetus is viable, women’s constitutional rights and stare decisis, the precedent this ruling could set for other states.

Scott Grant Stewart, attorney for the state health officer of the Mississippi Department of Health, argued that the Mississippi state law would return the issue of abortion to the states.

Julie Rikelman, Center for Reproductive Rights senior director and Elizabeth Prelogar, U.S. Solicitor General, representing the Biden administration, argued that women have a constitutional right to bodily autonomy and liberty.

Stewart said he believes the court should return to a neutral stance on the constitutional precedent and overturn Roe v. Wade so that the states and the people can decide.

“Abortion is a hard issue. It demands the best from all of us, not a judgment by just a few of us,” Stewart said in his opening statement. “When an issue affects everyone and when the Constitution does not take sides on it, it belongs to the people.”

Stewart argued that abortion is not protected under the Constitution.

“They pointed to the 14th Amendment, that privacy in Roe, autonomy and similar values in Casey led to a right to abortion,” Stewart said. “That is not how this court traditionally does things.”

Stewart argued that the court typically looks at history and tradition, and in the cases of Roe and Casey cases, the court did not do that.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor grilled Stewart during the oral arguments.

“Counsel, there is so much that is not in the Constitution,” she said. “And here in Casey and Roe, it is inherent in our structure that there are decisions that belong to the individual that the court cannot impede on.”

Sotomayor questioned Stewart further, suggesting that he seemed to be disregarding how this ruling could impact women.

“How is your interest anything but a religious view?” she asked.

Justice Elena Kagan said Stewart’s argument to overturn Roe v. Wade would reset a nearly 50-year-old legal precedent.

“Usually there has to be a strong justification for this, beyond the fact that you think it’s wrong,” Kagan said.

Where is the line drawn?��

The court argued for nearly two hours about fetal viability, bodily autonomy and constitutional rights.

Chief Justice John Roberts questioned why changing the law to only allow abortions before 15 weeks would limit access to abortion.

Rikelman argued that a 15-week rule is unreasonable, as many women are unaware they are pregnant during that time.

Protesters from both sides rallied outside the courthouse starting around 7 a.m. (Elise Kline/ 91��).

Rikelman said for the State of Mississippi to take control of a woman’s body is a “fundamental deprivation of her liberty” and would have monumental consequences.

“Eliminating or reducing the right to abortion will propel women backwards,” she said.

Stewart argued that the 15 week viability argument discounts and disregards state interests.

Rikelman said in addition to bodily autonomy and the health risks of forcing women to endure pregnancy, there are also economic effects of forced parenthood.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett responded that safe haven laws, which allow a parent in crisis to give up a newborn at a hospital or fire station for adoption, would take care of the forced parenthood issue.

Rikelman said it is 75 times more dangerous for a woman to give birth in Mississippi than to have an abortion.

Rulings possible effects on the Supreme Court

Some of the justices also expressed concern about the implications of this ruling on the Supreme Court as an American institution.

Justice Stephen Breyer said this ruling could “kill us as an American institution,” because people will likely think the court is “just being political.”

Sotomayor said the Supreme Court “won’t survive the stench of overturning Roe v. Wade.”

Emotions and anxieties are high outside the courthouse

Protesters rallied outside the Supreme Court with signs, music and speeches to voice their opinions.

Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, founder and president of the non-profit organization , said she traveled from her hometown of Dallas, Texas, to speak at the rally today and fight for her and her organization’s beliefs.

Thirty-three-year-old Lisa Grimm, who identifies as pro-life, traveled from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to participate in the rally. She said she believes life starts at conception and hopes the court overturns Roe v. Wade.

“I’m a feminist,” she said. “Women deserve better than abortion, and their children deserve better than abortion.”

Lisa Grimm protested on the Hill Wednesday Dec. 1. She said she has been doing pro-life activism since she was 15 years old. She is now 33. (Elise Kline/ 91��)

Grimm said she is adopted, and her birth mother made two appointments to have an abortion before eventually deciding against it.

“I’m grateful for my life,” she said. “It was very important for me. So I’ve been doing pro-life activism since I was fifteen.”

Kathelene Kiopatrick, a 79-year-old protester and rape survivor, said she protested at the court to fight for women like her — for bodily autonomy, liberty and equality.

Kiopatrick said she was raped by a member of her local church at the age of sixteen. She said she had to drop out of school as a result of the assault.

“It’s been a long-time struggle for me,” she said.

She said while she is grateful that her son, now 61, grew up to be a wonderful man, she doesn’t want other women to face the pain she did at sixteen.

Laura Winick, a 61-year-old Maryland resident, said she thinks reproductive freedom is everything.

“I believe that women and pregnant people need to be able to control their bodies,” she said.

Laura Winick said she is protesting at the Supreme Court for her personal story, for her two daughters and for women everywhere. (Elise Kline/ 91��)

Winick said she is a mother of two daughters and has had two abortions in her life. She said she feels blessed to have been able to choose, and she wants her daughters to have the same opportunity.

“I want them to have every right to control their futures,” she said.

Winick said she hopes Roe v. Wade continues and the court overturns the Mississippi state law. She said it’s essential to stand up for everyone’s right to “control their lives.”

“I’m afraid that if they uphold the ban, then it’s going to be a domino effect of many states cutting back rights,” Winick said.

The court is expected to decide the case by June 2022.

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Two victims shot near a playground in Fort Totten

Elise Kline — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:39:14 +0000

Metropolitan Police are looking for a black car used in a drive-by shooting last night. Two men were shot around dusk near a community center while local neighborhood kids were playing soccer.

Kenney Henson, a witness at the scene, said he was inside working when he heard gunshots.

“I wasn’t comin’ outside, that’s for sure,” Henson said. “If I had to get a tool, I had to wait a minute.”

Henson, who works for Kinder Construction company, said he was working on renovating a bathroom in one of the local homes on Riggs road when he heard the gunshots. He said he knew he had to stay inside.

MPD stated that the dangerous weapon assault took place at approximately 6:09 p.m Thursday in the 500 block of Nicholson Street NE.

Throughout the evening and into daylight this morning, the police updated 91�� on the shooting details.

In an email to 91�� this morning, MPD stated there were two victims, one adult male and one juvenile male. Both were transported to local hospitals for treatment of their suffered gunshot wounds.

Last night the Metropolitan Police got the call about the shooting at 6:14 p.m, according to a Police Information Officer from MPD.

Police and EMS released medical information on one of the victims last night, but not the other.

MPD said the adult male victim was conscious and breathing when police arrived on the scene and then transported to an area hospital.

A spokesperson for the Fire Department and EMS said the adult male victim was transported to an area hospital priority one, which he said means at the very least serious and or life-threatening injuries.

The shooting took place on the block of Nicholson Street NE near the soccer field at Riggs LaSalle Recreation Center. Immediately following the shooting, the police tweeted out that they were on the lookout for a black vehicle fleeing the crime scene.

Shooting in the 500 block of Riggs Road, NE. Lookout for a unknown black vehicle with unknown tags last seen fleeing on the 500 block Nicholson Street, NE towards Kennedy Street, NE

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept)

While police were on the scene investigating, the kids continued with their soccer game, seemingly unfazed.

A witness on the scene said that shootings are not uncommon in their neighborhood.

“People just ride around shooting,” she said.

The witness asked 91�� not to publish her name for fear of being targeted.

According to from MPD, dangerous weapon assault crime has increased around Nicholson Street NE over the past two years. So far in 2021, there have been six dangerous weapon assault incidents around Nicholson Street NE, compared to no incidents in 2019.

Neighborhood residents said shootings are an occurrence that happens relatively often in their neighborhood near Nicholson Street NE.

A police officer on the scene carrying caution tape back to his patrol car after clearing the scene. (Elise Kline/ 91��).

The police cleared the scene around 7:15 p.m., an hour after the incident, but patrol cars continued to circle the area.

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Rise in violent crime in NoMa creates anxiety for residents

Elise Kline — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:43:43 +0000

NoMa residents expressed concern over a recent increase in violent crime. Laura Hernandez, NoMa resident, said even though she feels relatively safe walking around her neighborhood, she is still always looking over her shoulder.

“You kinda always have to have your guard up,” Hernandez said.

Another NoMa resident, Gabriella Fernandez, said she feels similarly.

“I feel relatively safe, but I still am cautious in the way I think most women are cautious in a city when it’s darker or less populated,” Fernandez said.

According tofrom MPD, dangerous weapon assault increased over 1200 percent from 2019 to 2020. That trajectory has remained the same for 2021. The number of dangerous weapon assault incidents jumped from 4 in 2019 to 54 in 2020 and is currently at 47 to date, for 2021.

Source: Pictured is a screen grab of MPD’s crime card data website, representing three years of dangerous weapon assault crime within 2000 feet of 22 M Street NE. The year total includes 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Because this number is so dramatic, the Wash contacted MPD to verify the data posted on their website is correct. MPD verified that it is accurate.

Hernandez said she lives close to First St. NE, pictured here, and that she sees a lot of residents walking their dogs which helps bring her some comfort when feeling worried about her safety walking alone. (Elise Kline/91��).

Neighboring NoMa resident, Caty Jay, who lives in Trinidad, said she normally has confidence walking home alone at night because of the self-defense classes she takes, but after becoming a victim of a recent attack with multiple assailants, she said she feels more fearful.

“I feel like if it were one or two people, I might be able to get away,” Jay said. “At the same time, it was not one or two people — it was four.”

Dustin Sternbeck, director of communications for MPD, stated in an email that the department’s data query shows an increase in dangerous weapon assault crimes in NoMa, and they are committed to addressing residents’ concerns.

“We recognize the negative impact that these incidents have on the community and are committed to violence prevention,” Sternbeck stated.

Illegal guns fill the streets

Sternbeck replied that in addition to an increase in weapon assault crimes, they have also seen an increase in the number of confiscated firearms since 2019. MPD confiscated nearly 1,998 firearms in 2019 and 2,028 within 2021 thus far.

In the last week, officers removed 56 illegal firearms from the streets of and out of the hands of criminals.

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept)

In an effort to reduce violent crime, Sternbeck stated they have implemented an intelligence-led policing strategy.

“This approach targets individuals we know are committing violent acts and uses data-driven deployment strategies to supplement existing patrol,” Sternbeck told the Wash. “Our members remain focused on removing illegal guns from our neighborhoods, holding violent offenders accountable and preventing crime.”

Fernandez said she is confident that MPD is confiscating more illegal firearms off the streets of D.C., but at the same time it is also very concerning to hear how many there were in the first place.

Fernandez said a few weeks ago she made dinner reservations at Copy Cat, a local H Street restaurant, and right before she left her home she got a call from them asking if she wanted to keep her reservations because there had been a shooting just outside the restaurant.

“It was one of those things where you’re like, ‘Wow, that’s like super scary to think about,’” Fernandez said. “To think I might have been walking down there to grab food.”

Fernandez said gun violence has become a rising concern for her, as she hears more and more about it from both news outlets and friends.

According to recent data released from MPD, gun violence is on the rise. Last week D.C. reached its 200th homicide by gun violence — a number not seen in 2003.

Source: Data retrieved from the ��

MPD say they plan to keep residents safe

Sternbeck stated that reducing violent crime and making D.C. a safe community is of the utmost importance to MPD.

“Our agency goal is for Washington, D.C. to be the safest city in the world, and we work tirelessly to make our community safe,” Sternbeck stated.

In addition to the intelligence-led policing strategy, Sternbeck wrote that MPD has implemented other initiatives to reduce violent crime.

Sternbeck stated that MPD recently kicked off their summer and fall crime prevention initiative, which serves as a collaborative effort to “reduce violent crime through strategic prevention and focused enforcement.”

Pictured is the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives located on New York Ave, NW. Caption (Elise Kline/91��).

Sternbeck also stated that MPD recently created the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Investigations Unit that partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Attorney’s Office in D.C.

Back in July, MPD created a community-focused patrol unit deployed to areas of the city based on data analysis to address critical incidents and key community concerns, Sternbeck stated.

Finally, Sternbeck stated that MPD kicked off a district-wide engagement initiative a few weeks ago, with a mission to have MPD officers interact with as many community members as possible.

Sternbeck told the Wash that all of these initiatives are only a handful of methods MPD plans to use to address violent crime in the community, and they are committed to continuing their efforts.

“While these are just a few examples of ways we are addressing crime and engaging community, we will continue to be laser-focused on curbing violence, particularly gun violence,” Sternbeck replied.

NoMa residents said they are happy to see initiatives being put in place to discourage gun violence, but they also have concerns.

Fernandez said she hopes the new initiatives are�� effective, but she does have concerns about the wider impact when it comes to the community.

She said she lives in a “pretty diverse” neighborhood, and she is concerned about an increased police presence based on what she has seen recently around police interactions with marginalized populations, especially when weapons are involved.

“We’ve seen very publicly how well that can go, depending on the community that you belong to and how you’re perceived by members of law enforcement,” Fernandez said.

Jay said she is also happy that MPD is attempting to do something to discourage gun violence, but she hopes it doesn’t stop there.

“I just hope that they don’t use that as a ‘well we’re tryin’ — we don’t have to do anything else because, you know, we’re gettin’ stuff. We have a number here, here you go,’” Jay said. “Like, we can’t stop there.”

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A bipartisan bill intends to help combat pet shelter hunger

Elise Kline — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 16:19:34 +0000

Lawmakers recently introduced the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act, which intends to provide liability protections for pet suppliers donating food to animal shelters.

D.C.’s Humane Rescue Alliance, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and animal lobbyist organizations such as D.C. Voters for Animals all fully support the BARK Act.

“It’s simple. Companion animals are just like us. You know, they need food, and they get hungry when they don’t have nourishment,” said Max Broad, president of D.C. Voters for Animals. “So this is a great initiative to reduce barriers.”

Emily Hovermale, director of government affairs at the Humane Rescue Alliance, said this legislation would directly impact their organization, including their shelters in Brightwood and in NoMa— which is currently only partially operational and not open to the public.

Local NoMa Petco, located on H St. NE, is home to a large variety of pet food brands. (Elise Kline/91��)

In their introducing the BARK Act, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-MD, Fred Upton, R-MI, Lucy McBath, D-GA and Young Kim, R-CA, said fear of liability is driving pet stores to throw away surplus food instead of donating it.

PetSmart said they instruct their stores nationwide to destroy any damaged food bags due to potential health risks for pets. In 2013, about seeing full bags of pet food in dumpsters behind some of their stores. PetSmart responded with a statement explaining that they are concerned about liability which is why they instruct their stores to destroy damaged food.

Janice McLain, owner of the local D.C. pet supply store Pet MAC, said while she doesn’t think companies should throw away surplus food, she also understands their concern.

McLain said when manufacturers deliver pet food to her store, sometimes she gets dented cans and ripped bags, which are impossible to sell. However, rather than throwing out the damaged food, McLain said she calls the manufacturer to get credit for the items and then donates them to animal fosters.

“I mean, that just seems crazy to me,” McLain said. “They should just be giving it to local shelters around the area.”

McLain also said as a small local pet supply store owner she is not on anyone’s radar for potential liability, so she understands it can be a bigger concern for larger companies.

Representatives Raskin, Kim, McBath and Upton also said in their for the BARK Act that they have seen many recent reports from animal shelters nationwide expressing concern about overcrowding, which contributes to a pet food supply shortage.

According to a recent from the U.S.’s adoption data site Pet Point, from March to September 2021, more than 900,000 animals entered shelters nationwide. While shelters are making progress, overcrowding is still a nationwide issue.

Hovermale said the Humane Rescue Alliance fully endorses the BARK Act. She said she thinks this legislation will be very helpful in removing barriers to pet food donations.

“Often large organizations with legal teams and lawyers are kind of always concerned about what might happen,” Hovermale said. “I think this is helpful in removing that barrier, so that doesn’t have to be a reason to not donate surplus food.”

Hovermale said the Humane Rescue Alliance donated nearly 200,000 pounds of free pet food last year as part of their Pet Pantry program, which greatly expanded as a result of the pandemic. (Courtesy of Humane Rescue Alliance)

Katie Kraska, director of federal legislation for the ASPCA stated in an email that the pandemic revealed a tremendous need for innovative, flexible and resilient supply chains.

“The ASPCA applauds Rep. Jamie Raskin and the bipartisan leadership team for introducing the BARK Act to create more options for commercial pet food donations for agencies that care for dogs, cats, and other vulnerable animals in need,” Kraska said.

Kris Patton, head of brand public relations and internal communications at Blue Buffalo, stated in an email that because the legislation was just introduced, they are still reviewing it and do not currently have an official comment. However, Patton said Blue Buffalo has a long history of supporting pet food donations.

“All dogs and cats deserve to be loved and fed like family, so we applaud all those whose efforts seek to help animals in need, both with food donations and adoptions into loving homes,” Patton said.

Pictured is an adoptable dog from Humane Rescue Alliance. (Courtesy of Humane Rescue Alliance)

Hovermale said if this legislation goes through, she hopes to see an increase in food donations to their organization.

“It will really help us to be able to provide even more support to pets in the community,” Hovermale said.

After the bill was introduced to Congress on Oct. 22 by Rep. Raskin, D-MD, it was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. The next hearing has not been scheduled by the House yet. When a follow-up hearing date is selected it will be posted .

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Here’s what’s going on with the infamous mail delays and delivery issues in DC

Elise Kline — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:24:34 +0000

With mailed paychecks disappearing and piles of personal mail delivered to the wrong addresses, D.C. residents and local politicians continue to feel frustrated with USPS.

Ward 5E Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Denise Wright said she has tried contacting USPS officials, including the Postmaster General’s office, and she has not received a response.

“It’s just been an ongoing issue, and nobody seems to have any answers,” Wright said.

Over the past year alone, there have been shuffles in leadership. Executive D.C. Postmaster Sherry Harper has been away from Washington on assignment for the past five months. Interim postmaster Eddie Masangcay served in her absence.

In an ANC meeting last month after she returned, Harper stated that USPS has been experiencing staffing shortages due to COVID-19.�� She said her office is working diligently to fill vacant positions and is actively hiring and recruiting.

According to the 6E ANC meeting online recap, the U.S. Postmaster General wanted to hire nationally 40,000 employees for the fall and Jan. 2022. Since the last local update in April, D.C. Harper said USPS had hired 87 carrier assistants in D.C.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton addressed a formal letter to Harper at the beginning of�� Sept. asking for an update on the measures USPS is taking to combat the mail delivery issues in D.C. Norton received a about a week later stating they are continuing their efforts to increase staff support.��

Norton said in an interview that she continues to receive complaints about mail delivery in D.C.

She said she contacted Postmaster Harper to get another progress update on Oct. 12 and has yet to receive a response. All responses from the postmaster will be posted on Norton’s�� .

Local Le Droit Park post office has only a handful of people working right now, local residents said. (Elise Kline/ 91��)

The United States Postal Service was established in 1775 and is one of the nation’s oldest governing institutions. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, USPS operates with very little financial benefits as a federal agency. However, the USPS 2021 second quarter report showed that overall revenue has increased since last year’s second quarter.

Source: U.S. Postal Service reports for second quarter fiscal and results.

Kimberly Frum, Senior Public Relations at USPS Corporate Communications, stated in an email that the communications office is currently not giving interviews. Frum did not provide further explanation.

When asked to supply a comment, Freda Sauter, Corporate Communications field contact for D.C., sent a statement regarding USPS’s plans for peak holiday season 2021, including its . Delivery for America is USPS’s plan to achieve financial stability and service excellence, which includes allocating $40 billion in capital expenditures over the next ten years.

Commissioner Wright said she feels that USPS officials seem to be disinterested in helping resolve these issues pertaining to the “little people,” like senior citizens who are not getting their medication, which may not seem like a big deal to USPS officials. Wright said it is a big deal.

While local D.C. residents did mention issues with holiday mail, the primary problems they experienced included year-round occurrences like not receiving checks and other critical business information.

Janice Melvin, a LeDroit Park resident, said she is tired and frustrated with USPS.��

Melvin said postal employees were consistently delivering her mail to the wrong address and her neighbor was holding it “hostage.” Melvin said she is consistently not receiving checks, along with other important mail.��

She said she did not receive any mail for an entire month.��

“I was just over it. Half the time, I didn’t know when I was getting mail,” Melvin said.��

She said she complained to her local post office, where they gave her “attitude” without helping her resolve the issue.��

“I was like, ‘Come on now. This is my mail we’re talking about,’” Melvin said.��

Melvin also said she recently sent a letter via next-day priority mail, and USPS lost the letter. She complained to the post office, and she said they refused to refund her. She said the management team acted as if they didn’t know anything about it. (Elise Kline/ 91��)

Ron Ericson, Ward 5 resident who works near the Shaw district in D.C.,�� also said his mail is frequently not�� delivered to the correct address.

He said his mail continues to be delivered to a neighboring business. Luckily, he said, his neighbors have been kind enough to deliver the mail back to him.

Ericson said he has contacted USPS recently about this and is still waiting on a response.

Wright said residents need to be able to rely on USPS, and right now, that’s not how residents are feeling.

“It’s a really big problem because people get their medication, people get checks, people get all kinds of information,” Wright said. “You can’t order a check through Amazon.”

NoMa resident Kimberly Morrall said USPS lost her debit card in the mail earlier this year, which had a total of $5,000 on it. She also said the debit card hosted her unemployment check.

Morrall said her debit card was never delivered to her address. She suspects someone intercepted her mail, because her building’s locked mailbox makes the chance of mail theft low. She said her card was hacked and all of her money spent.

Morrall called USPS customer service, filed a lost mail complaint and filed a claim with the inspector general from USPS. She said they never responded or followed up with her.

Morrall did eventually get reimbursed from her local bank, but it was a very long and aggravating process, she said.

USPS mailbox located in Ward 5 (Elise Kline/91��)

Christina Pickeral, Ward 5 resident, said although she is frustrated that her New Year’s cards were never delivered last year, she does not think it is an employee problem but rather a corporate organizational problem.

Pickeral said she loves to send holiday cards to friends and family, and cards are a great way to connect with others, especially through the stress of COVID-19.

She said her Valentine’s Day cards this past year were still late, but they did arrive at their destination.

“I think my Valentine’s Day cards got a little bit better,” Pickeral said. “I’m hoping my Halloween cards will be just the same.”

Wright said residents all have different ways to utilize their local post office, and their concerned voices need to be heard.

“Everybody is different, and people have different needs, and a lot of people depend or have ways in which they conduct their lives. And that needs to be respected. Period,” Wright said.

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DC Latinx small business owners fight to overcome disproportionate pandemic challenges

Elise Kline — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:10:57 +0000

The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently took important steps to combat lending discrimination Latinx communities face, but there is still more work to be done, a Latino Studies expert said.

The Chamber of Commerce used to only use captions in their education webinar sessions, but they recently added live Spanish and sign language translations to create greater accessibility.

Robert Albro, research assistant professor in Latino Studies at American University, said this is a positive step forward because accessibility is one of the greatest barriers for the Latinx business community.

“There has to be good lines of communication,” said Albro.

Albro noted that people already have to be well-versed in how to run a business.

Albro said during the economic crisis of the pandemic, many Latinx small business owners did not have those crucial lines of communication and prior entrepreneurial knowledge, which left many unprepared and consequently unable to receive the relief funds such as the Paycheck Protection Program— a loan backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration to help protect businesses during the pandemic crisis.

Barnabei is from Venezuela. She said her mission with ARTTEPUY is to show people the beauty of her country. (Elise Kline/ 91��)

Tamara Barnabei, owner and founder of , said that even though she had some entrepreneurial knowledge prior to the pandemic, the process was still a challenge. She applied for the PPP loan in the first round, but she didn’t get the full amount she applied for.

“When I tried to apply for all the grants and the financial help, I didn’t have a full financial statement for one year and that’s why for me it was very hard,” Barnabei said.

According to Albro and Eric Hershberg’s recently released study at American University, only 7% of Latinx small businesses received the PPP loan during the pandemic compared to 83% of white-owned businesses.

Experts said there were many reasons for this dramatic number.

Grisel Saez, Director of Grants and Programs at the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said Latinx businesses cannot and did not get a loan because they were woefully unprepared.

She said they did not have their financials in place; most did not even have financial tracking software such as Quickbooks or spreadsheets. So when they would go into the bank to get a loan, they did not have the documents and paperwork they needed filled out.

“The pandemic, if anything, was a wake-up call that people should always be prepared.”

Saez said they have not let up on their communication outreach and education efforts at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

She said they currently have more people attending their sessions and are much busier compared to pre-pandemic.

Saez said she recently hosted a webinar about federal contracting, and over 1500 people registered compared to last year’s 40 registrants.

Saez said education and outreach are crucial because small businesses need to understand the importance of numbers.

“Most businesses are very passionate about what they do, but they don’t spend nearly enough time with the numbers,” Saez said. “It doesn’t matter how good of a product you have or how great of customer service you have if you can’t make the numbers work.”

Saez said for banks, small business loan applications are just a number. She said for banks to sort through the large amounts of applications, they need to look very closely at the paperwork– which includes tax forms, projection sheets and cash flow analysis.

Albro said Latinx business owners often disproportionately rely on friends and relatives and manage their businesses in informal ways. He said this consequently causes Latinx businesses to be unprepared financially.

Albro said it’s crucial for Latinx businesses to have access to proper lines of communication and education programs like the at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a local bank or financial institution with a proper system in place to facilitate loans.

While conducting his research at American University, Albro said he frequently heard that some banks provided Latinx businesses with incorrect or contradictory information.

Furukrona said that the grants helped her for about a month or two but nothing more than that. (Elise Kline/ 91��)

Carolina Furukrona, CEO and Founder of , said she applied for a PPP loan during the first round of the pandemic. Because of a massive mistake made by her bank,�� she ended up only receiving a quarter of the money owed to her.

“So basically, it was almost nothing in financial help,” Furukrona said. “If I wasn’t self-funded, I would never have made it.”

Saez said understanding business processes like loan applications is very hard especially during an economic crisis, and that’s why education is so important.

“At the end of the day, you have to have fiscal responsibility, and that is something that has to be taught. It’s not something that comes easy for most,” Saez said.

Albro said moving forward, one of the key ways to address the disproportionate challenges Latinx businesses face is to increase accessibility to education efforts and make an essential distinction between education and communication.

He said Latinx communities often have preferred channels of communication such as meeting at their place of business, text message, Facebook and listening to Spanish radio, and it’s important to know where these communities are and how to reach them.

Saez said the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is constantly working on improving its outreach. She said their efforts currently include their newsletter list, social media marketing and working with partner organizations such as the Small Business Administration, the Department of Community Housing Development and the Mayor’s Office.

“People just need to speak up, raise their hand and be counted and take advantage of the resources. They’re there. They just need to take the time to do it,” Saez said.

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‘Plant’ parenthood, a millennial pandemic trend helping DC residents combat declining mental health

Elise Kline — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 17:03:16 +0000

A young married couple started their local Noma plant business, PLNTR, over the pandemic and are helping D.C. residents add more green space to their homes and overcome mental stress.

Residents said becoming ‘plant parents’ is helping them decrease anxiety and stress levels.

Jacqueline Hase, a local D.C. resident, said since the pandemic, she feels people have become very internal, and gardening helps her combat stress and connect more to nature.

“It really does give me a chance to disconnect from the indoor life,” said Hase.

Since 2020’s lockdown, the pandemic and its indirect mental health effects continue to increase. According to a recent , symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are growing. The data collected from Aug. 19, 2020, to Feb. 1, 2021, showed a 5% increase in anxiety and depression among adults.

Source: Household Pulse Survey data collection from Aug. 19, 2020- Feb. 12, 2021. Research data posted to on cdc.gov.

Washington, D.C. ranks high compared to other cities, which indicates adults in D.C. have a higher rate of mental illness, according to recent data from .

Mary Margaret, Behavioral and Health Promotion Manager at 98point6 Inc., said there is a significant amount of research showing how “forest bathing” or immersing oneself in nature can lower your physical heart rate, lower your cortisol levels and improve your experiences of well being.

One of the ways plants promote well-being is through horticulture. The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) defines as the process where participants enhance their well-being through plant-related activities.

Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago, certified horticulture therapist and member of the AHTA, said horticulture therapy can be used in a variety of ways to promote wellness, including therapy offices, hospitals and rehabilitation.�� Research shows specific bacteria in soil, such as the infamous , can boost the human brain’s serotonin levels, much like antidepressants or SSRIs.

James said the inspiration behind PLNTR started when his wife Caitlin gave him his first plant when they began dating. Since then, they have grown their plant family at home to 120 plants. (Elise Kline/�� 91��)��

James and Caitlin Beach, owners of, started their business in July of 2020.

They started sharing their mission, to bring joy to people’s lives through plants, with the Noma community a few weeks ago when Shop Made DC opened its new location in Union Market. James and Caitlin are vendors for Shop Made DC, and they also host pop-up events in Union Market.

At one of their recent interactive gardening events, local residents said they were excited to welcome more plants and green space into their homes.

“It’s one of those things that I don’t think you can ever have too many,” said D.C. resident Kimberly Yates.

James said one of the reasons the ‘plant’ parenthood trend continues to be so popular during the pandemic is because human beings have a natural instinct and desire to be around plants.

“At our base, we are mammals, right — we are monkeys when it comes down to it, and we started in the forest,” said James. “And even though we have evolved into a bit of a concrete forest, we want to be back — we still want to be around the green.”

He said the lockdown forced people to think about how their home space impacts their energy and mental well-being.

Local Noma residents Courtney Bye and Taylor Carvalho said they each parent over 30 plants in their home spaces. (Elise Kline/�� 91��)��

Local program manager Courtney Bye said her green space helps serve as a meditation zone where she can unwind and decompress from anxiety and stress.

“Having more green space in my home makes me feel more connected to the outside,” she said, “and comforted.”

Taylor Carvalho, local Associate at a clean energy company, said she feels it’s important to curate your space and have plants around, especially with many D.C. residents still working from home.

Carvahlo also said the caretaking and plant parenting aspect is very comforting.

“Something that comes to mind for me is, responsible for something you choose to be responsible for and not like a forced obligation which is really nice and peaceful,” said Carvalho.

Curbelo Santiago said the time you spend nurturing a plant also serves as a time where you nurture yourself by putting your worries aside and getting fresh air, water and sunlight.

According to Margaret, plants are a reminder to slow down and think about the elements needed to thrive. She said just like plants need light, the human body needs to experience natural circadian rhythms—the internal process that regulates one’s sleep cycle to wake cycle.

Curbelo Santiago said that making time for physical breaks, using the restroom, eating a meal, showering, are equally as important as taking mental health breaks or what she calls “garden breaks.” (Elise Kline/�� 91��)��

Curbelo Santiago said having plants in your home ultimately provides a space for mindfulness and reflection, a space to try and de-stress or even be vulnerable and let yourself fall apart.

“You feel part of something bigger, so you start building yourself up and you cope better for whatever the day brings you,” said Curbelo Santiago.

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