The Council of the District of Columbia

The Office of Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Ward 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2011

Director of Communications: Kiara Pesante o: 202-724-8089 c: 202-701-9439

Councilmember Cheh Unveils 2011 Council Holiday Gift

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the most anticipated move of the legislative session, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh presented her colleagues with her annual holiday gift, which consisted of:

· a Schwinn bicycle helmet;

· a custom D.C. Council bicycle license plate;

· a D.C. bicycle map; and

· a 24-hour pass for Capital Bikeshare.

“I consider this to be the crowning achievement of not only this legislative session, but also of my entire tenure on the Council,” said Councilmember Cheh, Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Works, and Transportation. “I regret that this gift may overshadow other legislative matters of relative note that took place this week, such as the vote on the ethics bill.”

Additionally, Councilmember Cheh has created a custom booklet for her colleagues, which includes directions from the Wilson Building to their homes, to the Reeves Center, to One Judiciary Square, and to DDOT’s Headquarters.

Like other initiatives, Cheh expects the gifts to spur significant infrastructural and cultural changes in the District of Columbia.

“I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that this will change people’s lives, and it’s absolutely just the beginning” said Cheh. “I convened a working group for six months, consulting various stakeholders, residents, and national safety experts to select these items.”

Cheh emphasized that the group conducted hundreds of tests with the helmets and maps to ensure their effectiveness.

“While using the maps, I got lost only a handful of times going home,” said Cheh. “And as far as the helmets go, I think my safety record speaks for itself. After all, I haven’t broken a single bone since Labor Day.”

Cheh also hinted at future legislative efforts and next year’s holiday gift.

“I want to build on the powerful momentum this gives new transit initiatives,” said Cheh. “I don’t want to give anything away, but I’ll say this: in-line skates.”

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