Ward 8 Questionnaire: Salim Adofo

Safe Communities

Please provide 1 - 3 policies or strategies you support to make residents, workers, and
businesses safer in DC.

Safe communities require both proactive public safety measures and strong economic
opportunities. As the next Ward 8 councilmember, I will support expanding Main Street
organizations and Business Improvement Districts in Ward 8 to create safer commercial corridors
by fostering thriving local businesses and activating public spaces. Well-lit, well-maintained, and
economically vibrant areas deter crime and increase community engagement.

Additionally, I will advocate for more investment in workforce development and job creation,
ensuring residents—especially young people—have access to stable, well-paying jobs. Also, expanding farmers markets and supporting local entrepreneurs will provide economic mobility
while increasing access to fresh, affordable food.

I will push for responsible development in Congress Heights, Navy Yard, Bellevue, and beyond,
ensuring that new investments benefit longtime residents, create local employment, and promote
community-centered growth. Strengthening partnerships between businesses, residents, and law
enforcement through community policing initiatives and public-private safety programs will further
enhance safety. By addressing economic disparities and fostering inclusive growth, we can make
Ward 8 safer for all.

Abundant & Affordable Housing

1. DC’s average housing costs are 140% above the national average. Many experts argue that
DC laws, rules, and regulations make building housing here expensive, time-consuming, and
bureaucratic – creating a scarcity of available housing that drives up rent and home prices.
Do you support or oppose reforming the housing permitting process to make building new
housing easier?

a. Support
b. Oppose

2. Opportunity DC believes that DC must modernize and streamline outdated regulatory barriers
like The Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) to dramatically increase the supply of available
housing and bring down the cost of rent for residents. Do you support or oppose exempting
market-rate buildings built or significantly renovated in the 21st century from TOPA
requirements?

a. Support
b. Oppose

3. Do you support or oppose B26-0046, the Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment
Act of 2025, to normalize DC’s ERAP program and help stabilize DC’s housing ecosystem?
a. Support
b. Oppose

What policies and strategies do you support to address the housing needs of current and
future residents at all income levels in the District?

Every Ward 8 resident deserves safe, clean, and affordable housing, with a clear path to
homeownership for those who choose it. Currently, 20% of public housing units in D.C. sit
vacant. As the next Ward 8 councilmember, I will work with the federal Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the D.C. Housing Authority to rehabilitate and
make these units available, ensuring they provide safe, stable housing for families in need.

Additionally, I support stronger tenant protections, rental assistance programs, and
expanded affordable homeownership opportunities to prevent displacement and keep
long-term residents in the community. We must also prioritize investment in deeply
affordable housing while streamlining the permitting and development process to increase
the overall housing supply.

For future growth, I will advocate for inclusionary zoning policies that require new
developments to set aside more units for low- and moderate-income families. Expanding
community land trusts and down payment assistance programs will also help residents build
generational wealth through homeownership.

By taking a comprehensive approach—preserving existing affordable housing, creating new
pathways to ownership, and ensuring responsible development—we can make housing in
Ward 8 and across D.C. more equitable and accessible for all.

Economic Growth & Workforce Development

1. Last July, DC lawmakers increased the paid family leave tax (a payroll tax on District
employers) from .23% to .75% of total wages. The additional revenue went to offset $2
billion in new general fund expenses rather than towards expanding paid family leave. The
higher payroll tax makes it harder for local employers, especially schools, hospitals, and
small businesses, to grow and hire District residents. Do you support or oppose eliminating
last year’s payroll tax increase on DC employers over the next four years?

a. Support
b. Oppose

2. Do you support or oppose B25-0999, The Personal Property Tax Form Simplification Act,
which eliminates the requirement for businesses to file personal property tax form (FP-31) if
they are below the proposed $325,000 threshold?

a. Support
b. Oppose

3. In DC, some workers must obtain occupational licenses from government-appointed boards
and pay large fees just to work as an interior designer, barber, cosmetologist, athletic trainer,
and manicurist, among others. These barriers artificially limit employment and
entrepreneurship opportunities for District residents. Do you support or oppose reducing the
time and financial requirements necessary to obtain occupational licenses in the workforce
categories listed above?

a. Support
b. Oppose

Quality Education

1. Do you support or oppose Mayoral control of the District’s public school system, as
established by the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007?

a. Support
b. Oppose

2. Do you support or oppose funding DC Public School (DCPS) and DC public charter school
students at equal levels, weighted by student need, through the Uniform Per Student Funding
Formula?

a. Support
b. Oppose

Efficient & Effective Government

1. Do you support or oppose requiring the Council to review economic impact assessments,
generated by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), for all new legislation and
regulations that impact District employers?

a. Support
b. Oppose

Since 2020, the District’s budget spending has outpaced new revenue growth. DC government will have to become more efficient and grow the tax base, without raising tax rates, to sustainably fund core services moving forward. Where are three areas you believe the government should reduce spending or grow our tax base?

1. Expanding the St. Elizabeths Campus – Transforming St. Elizabeths into a vibrant
mixed-use development with a hotel, grocery store, housing, and commercial spaces will
generate new tax revenue, create jobs, and provide essential services for Ward 8 residents.

2. Supporting the Bridge District Development – This project presents a unique opportunity
to bring new businesses, housing, and economic activity to Ward 8. By ensuring it includes
mixed-use development, we can create jobs, increase property values, and expand our
commercial tax base while maintaining affordability for longtime residents.

3. Strengthening Workforce Development Partnerships – I will advocate for stronger
collaboration between Ward 8-based workforce programs (such as UDC, CCPrep, and the
United Planning Organization) and local universities to accelerate certification and
credentialing in high-growth industries like cybersecurity, hospitality, technology, and AI. A
well-trained workforce attracts new employers and ensures residents benefit from the
District’s economic growth.

Do you believe there are any government rules or regulations that should be updated,
streamlined, or eliminated to make government more efficient and lower administrative
burdens on residents?

a. Business Permitting & Licensing Reform – The current permitting and licensing
process for small businesses in D.C. is overly complex and time-consuming,
discouraging entrepreneurship. I will advocate for a streamlined, one-stop online
system to simplify applications, reduce wait times, and provide clearer guidance,
making it easier for Ward 8 businesses to start and grow.

b. Housing & Building Permitting Efficiency – Developers and homeowners face long
delays in getting permits for construction and renovation projects. These delays
increase costs and slow down much-needed housing development. I support
modernizing DCLP’s permitting process by implementing a fast-track system for
affordable housing projects and small-scale home renovations, ensuring that critical
development moves forward efficiently.

c. Public Benefits & Social Services Access – Many Ward 8 residents struggle with
unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles when applying for public benefits like SNAP,
Medicaid, and housing assistance. I will work to simplify application processes,

expand multilingual support, and improve coordination across agencies to ensure
residents receive timely assistance without excessive paperwork and delays.

Additional Questions

What do you believe are the three largest policy challenges facing the District and what are
your legislative or oversight solutions?

1. Crime & Public Safety – As the next Ward 8 councilmember, I will support violence
interrupters so they can better perform their duties while ensuring effective oversight of
intervention programs. This means providing them with the necessary training, resources,
and coordination with other community safety efforts. At the same time, I will push for
data-driven evaluations and increased transparency in funding allocation to ensure these
programs achieve meaningful results. Expanding job opportunities and youth engagement
programs will also address root causes of violence, creating safer neighborhoods for all.

2. Economic Growth & Small Business Support – As the next Ward 8 councilmember, I will
do more to partner with DSLBD and community leaders to ensure Ward 8 entrepreneurs
have the resources they need to succeed. This includes expanding wraparound business
assistance, improving access to capital, and streamlining the regulatory process to make it
easier for residents to start and sustain businesses. Strengthening mentorship
opportunities and reducing bureaucratic hurdles will help create a thriving local economy
and more jobs for Ward 8 residents.

3. Education & Workforce Development – As the next Ward 8 councilmember, I will fight to
remove external barriers that hinder student success, from housing instability to food
insecurity and inadequate school facilities. I will push for stronger investments in
wraparound student support services and demand that the Department of General
Services (DGS) respond more urgently to critical school infrastructure issues. Additionally,
I will work to expand career and technical education (CTE) programs and ensure that
students have access to career

(Optional) Please elaborate on any of your answers above.

"Q1 Payroll Tax Repeal [Economic Growth & Workforce Development]: TOPA plays a vital role to prevent our most vulnerable residents from displacement and while this proposal doesn’t appear to displace Ward 8 residents from the information I have
available to me right now, I would need to hear from residents and housing experts directly about
the impact this bill would have on our community.

General Information - More About Salim Adofo

Candidate Name: Salim Adofo

Campaign Website: salimforward8.com

Campaign and/or candidate social media account(s): @SalimForWard8

Please share any accomplishments or experiences that reflect your commitment to
advancing Opportunity DC's policy priorities.

a. Expanding Economic Opportunity: As the current Chair of ANC 8C, I have worked
with small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to promote economic
development in Ward 8. I will continue advocating for strategic investments, such as
expanding the St. Elizabeths Campus and supporting mixed-use developments like
the Bridge District, to create jobs, drive innovation, and lower costs for residents.

b. Cutting Bureaucratic Red Tape: I support eliminating outdated and inefficient
government regulations that make it harder for businesses to start and grow. I will
push for streamlining business permitting and licensing, as well as reforming the
housing development approval process to increase affordable housing supply and
lower costs for residents.

c. Building Safe & Affordable Communities: I believe in a comprehensive approach to
public safety that includes both violence prevention and economic empowerment. I
will advocate for better oversight of violence intervention programs, expanded job
training opportunities, and stronger tenant protections to keep housing stable and
accessible.

d. Improving Education Access & Quality: As the dean’s project coordinator at UDC’s
Workforce Development Campus in Ward 8, I have worked to expand career and
technical education (CTE) opportunities that connect residents to high-demand
careers. I will continue pushing for stronger workforce partnerships between local
universities, training programs, and employers to ensure Ward 8 students and
workers have access to the skills needed to thrive in the modern economy.
Additionally, I will demand that the Department of General Services (DGS) urgently
address long-standing school facility issues.

Current and recent occupations(s):

Outreach Coordinator, Anacostia Coordinating Council, Project Coordinator at UDC.

Professional Affiliations:

National Society of Black Engineers, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., National Black MBA Association

Community service honors:

Mayor’s Community Impact Award (2020), Phi Beta Sigma’s
Social Action Impact Award (2023), UDC’s Student Humanitarian and Civic Engagement
Award (2023)

All endorsements to date:

TBD

Involvement with business organizations:

Anacostia Business Improvement District, African American Real Estate Professionals, Industrial Bank Financial Literacy Program

Previous offices held:

Current Chair of ANC 8C.