Letter From RAMW President and CEO Shawn Townsend To The US House Of Representatives
April 23, 2024
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
568 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
2267 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries:
On behalf of the restaurant industry in the District of Columbia, I am writing to ask you to move quickly and pass S.1077, District of Columbia Local Funds Act, to enable the District’s government to spend already approved local funds to ensure a safe, clean, and functioning business environment for operators across the city. S.1077 has broad bipartisan support as it passed out of the Senate unanimously and has the President’s support. Without quick action, the District must make serious cuts to its budget that will further endanger neighborhood restaurants at a time when they are already at the breaking point.
For over 100 years, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has advocated for thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses in Greater Washington. RAMW counts among its members favorite neighborhood spots, family-owned businesses, homegrown restaurant groups, and national favorites. Together we are one of the largest job creators in the region and leading contributors to revenues. When visitors from across the United States visit our great capital, our members greet them with warm hospitality, fun environments, and delicious food.
Operators in the District are already facing a critical breaking point of resilience like we have never seen before. The District’s restaurant industry reached a cruel benchmark in 2024: nearly 12 straight months of job losses accompanied by a record 73 closures — outpacing 2023’s 53 closures and the prior year’s 48. Already this year we’ve seen several high-profile closures and announcements. The lingering impacts of the pandemic and a diminished downtown workforce have combined with a recently passed voter initiative to reduce foot traffic and significantly raise labor costs for restaurants.
We all want the District to be a safe, clean, and welcoming place for those who visit, work, or call it home. As the capital of our nation, we want it to be the greatest city in the world. However, to accomplish that goal, the District’s government must be able to spend its resources on critical government services like the police and fire departments. Without quick action on S. 1077, District leaders must take drastic steps that will involve major cuts in government services. Those cuts will harm the current business environment and make D.C. less safe for our customers and employees.
I greatly appreciate your attention on this matter. Together we can all work to make a great city even better for all.
Sincerely,
Shawn Townsend
President and CEO