As we saw this past spring/summer, the budget process ended with numerous important, life-saving safety net programs having their budgets cut. DC Council made the choice not to pass a modest wealth tax on millionaires to prevent these cuts. Our communities are the ones who now pay the price - with far too few housing vouchers, health care losses, no cost of living increases for the poorest families, and loss of mental health services in many schools (and more).

Our tax system has never been equitable or just. Those with highest incomes pay a lower share of their income in taxes compared to many with lower incomes; and wealth is grown through tax policies that are biased in favor of those who already have wealth. Much of this wealth is built on the legacy of stolen labor of slavery and an exploitative economy.

This year we are fighting to build a more equitable tax system that provides the revenue that our communities need to thrive, not merely survive. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson recognizes that we need more sustainable revenue policies and is holding a hearing in October to consider options. But he is not welcoming community testimony - only "experts" will be able to testify. But community members are experts! Impacted community members bring deep experience of getting the short end of the stick in our inequitable tax system, and as the saying goes, those closest to the pain are closest to the solution.

Chairman Mendelson is effectively telling those most deeply impacted by DC's racially and economically unjust tax system that they are irrelevant in this conversation. Let him know how important it is to have community voices on the record about something as important in our lives as tax policy. Tell the Chairman to open the hearing to testimony from the public!