Mayor Gray Enthusiastically Kicks Off BID’s 2028 Planning Sessions
Mayor Vincent Gray naturally likes to talk about how well the District is doing, what with a swelling population, taxes pouring in and cranes in every direction. On Tuesday, he brought his message of optimism to the Georgetown’s Business Improvement District’s kick-off session for Georgetown 2028 to effort to ensure “Georgetown remains a world-class commercial district.”
“I love to come to Georgetown,” the Mayor said, as he recognized Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners Ron Lewis, Bill Starrels and Ed Solomon. “I may get in trouble for saying this, but you have the best ANC I’ve seen.”
Stressing the important role Georgetown plays in the city, he pointed to progress and plans for growth in the District in several key areas, including retail expansion and the taxes it generates, building an environment that is business-friendly and not “strangled by the regulatory process,” making the city a technology center, increasing visitors and tourism and fostering more foreign investment. “All things being equal, people want to be in the District of Columbia,” he said proudly.
Crystal Sullivan, the BID president and general manager of Georgetown Suites echoed the Mayor’s enthusiasm. “It’s exciting to be partnering with the city,” she said. She and the BID’s CEO Joe Sternlieb stressed that residents and all of Georgetown’s many constituencies are encouraged to participate. This includes online and/or at the follow-up session on Thursday, June 13, 5:30 to 8:00 pm, at the Foundry office building, 1055 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, for “neighbors, merchants, business representatives and friends of Georgetown.”
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