Priorities & Policies
Rondell Magic Jordan has a plan to build a better Ward 2 for everyone, from the unhoused to the White House. See his policy proposals, priorities, and concerns below.
Cost of Living
Everyone knows the cost of living (really, the cost of survival) is too damn high in Ward 2 for middle-income, working class and impoverished folks.
Some initiatives Magic will introduce or support on the Council include, but are not limited to:
Increased Access to Early Childhood Education: Invest in high-quality, affordable early childhood education programs for low-income families, ensuring every child has a strong start.
Universal Free Meals: Expand the provision of free school meals to all students in low-income neighborhoods to alleviate food insecurity and support academic success.
School-Based Health Services: Implement or enhance school-based health services to provide regular check-ups, vaccinations, and mental health support directly in schools.
Job Training Programs: Develop and expand job training and career development programs targeted at low-income parents to increase their earning potential.
Childcare Support: Provide subsidies or tax credits for childcare to ease the burden on working parents and enable them to remain employed.
Poverty
DC has a unique opportunity to end childhood poverty - as we saw during the pandemic, child poverty was more or less halved. But now, Baby bonds have taken a backseat.
Our objective should be to leverage the unique opportunity presented by the recent reduction in child poverty rates and the impact of the pandemic to develop a comprehensive, sustainable strategy for ending childhood poverty in Washington, D.C.
This initiative will reinvigorate and expand the baby bonds program, alongside other key measures, to ensure long-term economic stability for children and families.
Housing
Magic believes we must ensure the housing needs of ALL people in Ward 2 are met.
This starts by addressing housing insecurity and skyrocketing housing costs for the forgotten middle, for young people, and for the elderly, while providing adequate shelter space for the unhoused individuals in our community.
We also must ensure contracts with housing developers guarantee mixed-income housing that provides for all kinds of residents.
Finally, new housing must meet environmental standards that contribute to a lower carbon footprint to the city as a means of combatting climate change.
Gun Violence
Gun violence destroys individual lives, families, and communities. Magic knows this is a Public Health crisis, and has several ideas on how to address it.
Expansion of Violence Interrupter Programs: He will increase funding and personnel for community-based mediators who work to prevent violence by intervening in conflicts before they escalate; enhance training programs for personnel, and strengthen partnerships with local organizations, faith-based groups, and community leaders to support violence interrupters and ensure their integration into community networks.
Integration of Gun Violence Education in Schools: Work with educational experts and public safety professionals to develop a comprehensive gun violence prevention curriculum; and provide training for teachers and school staff on how to effectively deliver interactive programs on gun violence education and how to handle sensitive topics related to violence, alongside mentorship programs, after-school programs, and mental health services before and after these life-changing events occur.