The Dignity Infrastructure Plan
Protecting Residents in the Face of Federal Cuts
Washington, D.C. is facing a historic fiscal challenge — a projected $1 billion budget shortfall compounded by deep federal cuts to essential programs like SNAP and Medicare. These reductions threaten the basic stability of families, seniors, and working residents across the District.
The Dignity Infrastructure Plan is a locally driven, fiscally responsible response to this moment. Rather than default to austerity or allow residents to bear the full cost of federal retrenchment, the plan focuses on protecting dignity, stabilizing communities, and preserving trust in local government — while maintaining long-term financial discipline.
This is not about expanding government indefinitely. It is about targeted, time-limited action to protect residents from the most damaging impacts of federal cuts.
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Policy Framework
The Dignity Infrastructure Plan is built on four coordinated pillars:
Food Equity
No resident should face hunger because of federal policy decisions.
The plan prioritizes targeted food access protections, including:
Emergency grocery credits for households most affected by federal SNAP reductions
Preserving universal school meals, ensuring children can learn without hunger
Support for community-based food cooperatives and grocers, particularly in areas with limited access to fresh food
These measures are designed to be focused, accountable, and locally administered, with an emphasis on stabilizing families and preventing deeper economic harm.
Healthcare Dignity
Access to healthcare should not be disrupted by federal retrenchment.
The plan includes:
Medicare Navigator teams to help residents understand coverage, resolve denials, and avoid gaps in care
Local healthcare gap supports to assist with costs not covered by federal programs
Targeted investments in clinics and mobile care, particularly in Wards 7 and 8, to strengthen access to preventive and primary care
The goal is continuity of care, reduced emergency interventions, and stronger community-based health systems.
Fiscal Recovery & Shared Responsibility
Protecting residents requires fiscal realism and shared responsibility.
The plan proposes a balanced recovery approach, including:
Voluntary tax-sharing partnerships with large nonprofit and anchor institutions
A temporary, narrowly targeted luxury property tax adjustment, designed to be time-limited and fiscally contained
A formal review of fair-share contributions from large digital platforms, consistent with federal law and regional coordination
All measures are designed to be legally sound, transparent, and subject to clear review timelines.
Community Accountability & Transparency
Trust is built through transparency and shared oversight.
The plan commits to:
Resident-led advisory councils to provide ongoing feedback
Public progress dashboards tracking outcomes, spending, and service delivery
Regular neighborhood briefings and town halls to report progress and hear concerns
This ensures the plan is not only implemented — but measured, evaluated, and adjusted based on real results.
The Dignity Infrastructure Plan reflects a simple principle: When federal support is withdrawn, local leadership must respond with discipline, compassion, and accountability. This plan protects residents, strengthens essential systems, and keeps Washington, D.C. on a responsible, sustainable fiscal path; without sacrificing dignity or trust.