OFFICE OF VINCENT C.

GRAY
WARD 7 COUNCILMEMBER
CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Takiyah “T.N.” Tate

Monday, December 6, 2021 ttate@dccouncil.us | (202) 705-2980

Councilmember Vincent C. Gray Applauds Council Chair Mendelson for

Equitable Redistricting of Ward 7

Washington, DC – Today, Ward 7 Councilmember and former Mayor Vincent C. Gray

acknowledged Council Chair Phil Mendelson for advancing a revised redistricting map that is
equitable and acceptable to Ward 7. Previously, in a letter to Mendelson, Gray outlined several
concerns that he shares with the Ward 7 community regarding the map approved by the Council
Subcommittee on Redistricting. Gray issued the following statement:
“The redistricting map approved in subcommittee was unacceptable to Ward 7 residents,
community leaders and civic organizations. Today, however, Council Chair Mendelson put
forward a new map that redraws Ward 7 fairly and equitably. The boundaries included in the Ward
Redistricting Amendment Act of 2021 circulated by Mendelson signal that the Council has heard
the outcries from leaders across Ward 7 and responded appropriately,” said Ward 7
Councilmember Vincent C. Gray.
“The Ward 7 Democrats, Ward 7 State Board of Education representative, leaders of Ward 7
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F) and leaders of Ward 7 civic and
citizen associations all support restoring and unifying the Kingman Park and Rosedale
communities to Ward 7. Kingman Park is a neighborhood that has been an active and established
community in Ward 7 for 20 years. Mendelson’s proposed amendment keeps Kingman Park intact
and includes neighboring Rosedale. Previously, the redistricting map approved in subcommittee
left Ward 7 unnecessarily divided and undersized, with the smallest population of all wards at just
81,997 residents, 114 residents above the minimum and thousands less than other wards,” said
Gray.
“I want to thank Chair Mendelson for working with me to include all of Kingman Park in Ward 7
and neighboring Rosedale and, as well, keep the Fields at RFK and Kingman Island in Ward 7. In
so doing, the Chairman has responded favorably to my letter and the Ward 7 community.
Mendelson has put forward a redistricting plan that is fair, equitable and acceptable to Ward 7
residents, especially Kingman Park residents,” said Gray.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to support Chair Mendelson’s amendments,
approve Ward 7 boundaries and complete the ward redistricting process in a manner about which
we can all be proud,” concluded Gray.
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