"I got the message, okay? How could I possibly have missed such a forceful and entertaining way to say what it is that you want."  These were DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray's first words when greeting nearly 300 attendees at Jews United for Justice's Labor Seder in Cleveland Park on April 11th.  The Seder focused on the urgency of protecting vital DC social safety net services in the coming budget cycle.  More than 150 participants wrote letters to DC Councilmembers in support of raising taxes on the highest-income earners in order to protect vital services like emergency housing assistance, food assistance, and child care.  The proposed measure would create new tax brackets at $250,000 and $1 million.  Currently, DC's highest tax bracket is $40,000.

However, since the Labor Seder, Chairman Gray has backed away from his assertion that protecting safety net programs is his "top priority," hanging back while other Councilmembers have spoken out in support of the measure.

 "Now is the time for Councilmember Gray to step up and show his leadership," said JUFJ Executive Director Jacob Feinspan.  "This is his opportunity to make good on his promises to protect the most vulnerable in our community.  Instead, he is demanding even more cuts to critical safety net programs while he hides in his office and refuses to return our phone calls." 

"The concern that wealthier residents wouldn't be willing to pay their fair share is false, and frankly, insulting," said Daniel Solomon, a JUFJ supporter and DC resident.  "I would absolutely be willing to pay more to protect these services.  It is in all of our interests that everyone who lives here has a roof over their head, enough to eat, and good quality jobs."

At the Labor Seder, Councilmember Gray said, "The earlier we can intervene in the lives, especially of those who are socially and economically challenged, the better those children will have a chance of being successful in this city and in life." 

"In this budget cycle, the lives of more than 400 children are at risk of being put into the foster care system - not because they don't have loving and caring families, but because their families are struggling in the economic crisis," said Jacob Feinspan.  "And 650 more families will face eviction and homelessness in a city whose shelter system is already bursting at the seams."

"These cuts aren't just ethically wrong, hurting the most vulnerable in our community, but they are short-sighted.  It costs much more to care for a child through the foster care system than it does to keep them out of it.  And maintaining shelters costs a lot more than making a one-time payment to help keep  a family in their apartment," said Rabbi Elizabeth Richman, Program Director and Rabbi in Residence of JUFJ.  "Despite hearing from hundreds of constituents of all income levels who support fully funding these programs, Gray has yet to speak out.  What is he waiting for?"