2016 in Washington, D.C.

2016 in Washington, D.C.
Year	2016
Location	Washington, D.C.
Mayor	Muriel Bowser
City council	Council of the District of Columbia
Population	681,170

2016 in Washington, D.C. was marked by national politics, high-profile demonstrations, major cultural programming, and local policy debates that intersected with federal issues. The year featured activities at The White House, events at National Mall, and municipal actions led by Muriel Bowser, set against ongoing national developments involving Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and federal institutions. Local institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), and the World Bank played visible roles in civic and cultural life.

Incumbents

Mayor: Muriel Bowser. Chair of the Council: Phil Mendelson. Delegate to Congress: Eleanor Holmes Norton. Federal officials based in the District included President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Loretta Lynch as Attorney General, Jeh Johnson as Secretary of Homeland Security, John F. Kelly in later cabinet positions, and numerous agency heads working at Department of Justice (United States), Department of State (United States), and Department of the Treasury (United States). The District hosted leaders visiting from United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and other nations who met at Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Blair House, and diplomatic missions including the Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington, D.C..

Events

The year opened with activities surrounding the inauguration anniversary of Barack Obama and observances at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Major events included the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, programming at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the Uniting the World Concert at Kennedy Center venues. The Women's March on Washington aftermath planning and protests related to the 2016 United States presidential election produced demonstrations near United States Capitol, FBI Headquarters (Washington, D.C.), and the Supreme Court of the United States. The District hosted campaign appearances by Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Gary Johnson at sites such as Convention Center (Washington, D.C.) and Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Cultural premieres at Arena Stage and exhibitions at National Portrait Gallery and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden drew national attention. The city also observed the passing of prominent figures with services at Washington National Cathedral.

Politics and government

Local governance saw debates in the Council of the District of Columbia over budget allocations, school reforms involving District of Columbia Public Schools, and housing initiatives tied to the D.C. Housing Authority. Bowser's administration negotiated with federal entities including Congress of the United States and the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer. High-profile legal and oversight matters intersected with federal investigations conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation and litigation in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Advocacy groups such as ACLU, National Rifle Association, Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign, Sierra Club, and AARP engaged in lobbying and public campaigns. International diplomacy in the District involved delegations to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and meetings at the State Department (United States).

Crime and public safety

Law enforcement responses were led by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia with federal coordination from United States Park Police and United States Secret Service during high-profile visits. Significant incidents included protests that required crowd management near Pennsylvania Avenue, security sweeps around Capitol Hill, and policing of events at RFK Stadium. Public safety agencies such as District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department handled emergencies and mutual aid exercises with United States Coast Guard units in the Potomac River. Criminal justice discussions involved United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the D.C. Superior Court regarding prosecution policies and pretrial services.

Culture and entertainment

Museums and performing arts institutions including the Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera, Folger Shakespeare Library, The Phillips Collection, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Air and Space Museum, and National Museum of American History presented major exhibitions and season programming. Festivals such as the National Folk Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Capital Fringe Festival, and the Cherry Blossom Festival animated the National Mall and neighborhoods like Adams Morgan and Georgetown. Nightlife venues on U Street (Washington, D.C.) and theaters at Studio Theatre (Washington, D.C.) hosted premieres featuring artists associated with Library of Congress initiatives and residencies supported by National Endowment for the Arts.

Sports

Washington-area professional teams—Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards, Washington Redskins, and Washington Mystics—held seasons drawing fans to Nationals Park, Capital One Arena, FedExField, and St. Elizabeths Hospital redevelopment related venues. College athletics involving Georgetown Hoyas, Howard Bison, and George Washington Revolutionaries produced marquee games at on-campus arenas and Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium events. The city hosted running events such as the Marine Corps Marathon and cycling events organized by DC Bike Ride and local clubs.

Infrastructure and transportation

Transit and infrastructure developments involved the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority with maintenance at Metrorail (Washington Metro), repairs on Metrobus (Washington, D.C.) routes, and Service Board deliberations. Projects included streetcar work related to the DC Streetcar and planning with District Department of Transportation (DDOT), coordination with Amtrak at Union Station (Washington, D.C.), and aviation traffic through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Urban planning and capital projects engaged the National Capital Planning Commission, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and developers working on redevelopment of The Wharf (Washington, D.C.) and waterfront parcels.

Category:2016 in Washington, D.C.