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Letter from Kenyattah Robinson, President & CEO of the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District

Tuesday April 7, 2020

Dear Friends of Mount Vernon Triangle –

Much has changed since we shared news about our robust retail environment and celebrated Women’s History Month in our March issue of Triangle Times.  Never has one month felt like an entire lifetime.  But like all of you, the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District (MVT CID) has had to quickly pivot and shift our focus in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency in an environment that can best be described as business as unusual.

And while there is no playbook for addressing a crisis like this, our main priorities during the last month can best be described as:

  • keeping our workforce safe while adhering to the recommended social distancing guidelines;
  • ensuring the continuity of essential public works activities in support of our core clean and safe function;
  • advocating for economic relief needed by our business owners to survive in this environment;
  • connecting our restaurants, retailers and consumers with each other to facilitate the commercial exchange of essential goods and services in addition to helpful information resources as they become available;
  • maintaining the community’s morale, social health and civic cohesion while keeping Mount Vernon Triangle connected and together; and
  • organizing with colleagues on the DC BID Council and at International Downtown Association, local and Federal government and association partners, and our Board of Directors to lay the planning groundwork for our community’s and city’s long-term recovery.

MVT CID commits to continue being a resource for you throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond while doing all that we can to achieve the objectives outlined above in a meaningful and effective way. But there’s also something we need from you.

We also kindly ask that the community continue to do its part by staying at home unless necessary. And if you must leave home, please maintain a safe social distance from others, with current guidance advising separation of at least six feet. National medical experts and our local leaders continue to promote staying at home as the most effective way to stop the spread of coronavirus. And the sooner we stop the spread, the sooner we can all return to our favorite Mount Vernon Triangle places and spaces. This includes the popular FRESHFARM MVT Farmers Market, the current opening date for which remains to be determined until we can ensure the safety of its operation.

Please continue to use the DC government’s official website – coronavirus.dc.gov – as a resource for up-to-date local information about the COVID-19 public health emergency. For information specific to Mount Vernon Triangle, visit our COVID-19 resources page at mountvernontriangle.org/coronavirus. And as always, never hesitate to reach out to us directly at info@mvtcid.org with any questions or suggestions.

We’ve all been touched by the impacts of COVID-19. Our thoughts therefore remain with all of you and we continue to send positivity your way.

With very best regards,

Kenyattah A. Robinson
President & CEO
Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District

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