Khan For Mayor of Washington DC: Because affordable rent and safety in every ward aren’t “monumental” asks

Over a year ago, when Khan decided to run for Mayor of Washington, DC, he didn’t reach for a high-priced consultant; he grabbed his car keys. By driving for a rideshare app, Khan turned his vehicle into a rolling town hall, witnessing the 'Tale of Two Cities' unfold through his windshield.

While his rivals collected massive checks from wealthy donors, Khan—an engineer with a reputation for crafting elegant solutions to complex problems—put himself on the front lines. He navigated through crumbling infrastructure and 'snowcrete' slabs in Wards 7 and 8, learning firsthand why no neighbor should ever need three bus transfers just to find a fresh apple, a quality hospital, or a safe space for their toddler. His platform wasn’t written in a boardroom; it was written by the people whose struggles he witnessed every single day.

As a two-decade DC resident, Khan isn't just aware of our city’s gruesome statistics; he has clocked the mileage on them. He knows that an eight-mile trip from Georgetown to Anacostia isn’t just a drive—it’s a journey that costs a resident 17 years of life expectancy and nearly $170,000 in annual earnings. Even the two-mile crossing from Capitol Hill to Anacostia comes with a $150,000 earnings drop and 10 fewer years of life expectancy.

Khan knows 'The District' cannot thrive as a Dickensian struggle for some and a gold rush for others. He isn’t running to politely 'bridge' the gap; he’s running to pave it over with $900 rents, $100K teacher salaries, 24/7 Metro access, and non-profit grocery stores in every neighborhood.

With the AI revolution threatening to decimate our most vulnerable communities, we need a Mayor who favors hard metrics over vague promises. A Mayor who understands that a 17-year life expectancy gap isn't just a Ward 7 and 8 problem—it’s a District-wide failure. We are moving past the 'Tale of Two Cities' to build one united, thriving capital, rooted in the engineering truth that injustice in any ward is a structural threat to the entire city.

Khan’s '100% Plan' hits the warp speed button for real change: (Download the flyer and share!)

• Real Housing Affordability: Deliver 100,000 new housing units with rents and mortgages capped at $900 for 1-bedrooms and $1,500 for 3-bedrooms, so no one has to choose between a roof and groceries or prenatal care.

• Family First Guarantee: Establish 36 weeks of paid parental leave with FULL job protections and guaranteed, universal, no-cost childcare.

• The $100K Teacher and Student Payday: Set teacher starting salaries at $100,000 and provide $25/day stipend to EVERY public and charter school student in grades 6-12. We will reduce teacher turnover to 5% from 25% (national average is 16%) and slash chronic high school absenteeism to 10% from 70% (national average is 24%): It’s time to value educators and students as much as the lobbyists on K Street.

• Abolish Health Apartheid: Non-profit grocery stores serving low-cost, high quality, and natural nourishment that doesn’t cost a whole paycheck and FREE fitness centers within a five-minute walk in every Ward.

• Environmental Detox: Replace ALL lead water pipes. Aggressively fight the toxic pollution in underserved Wards that fuels the obesity crisis, spikes stress levels, and is linked to higher crime rates, cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

• Brain Power for Schools: End the 'nutrition gap' by fortifying school meals with Zinc, Tryptophan, fiber, and Omega-3s. When our kids are nourished, absenteeism drops and public safety rises.

• The $10 billion AI shield: Upskill and shockproof DC’s most vulnerable communities and ensure workers are the owners and architects of the new AI and automated economy, not just its displaced observers. We will also ban algorithmic wage discrimination.

• $50/Hour Minimum Wage: We will raise the pay for jobs that require physical presence, emotional intelligence, and complex manual dexterity that algorithms cannot effectively replicate: Construction, Sanitation, Personal Care, Childcare, Snow Removal, Housekeeping, Security.

• The $5 Billion Creative Engine: Invest $5 billion in nurturing those who define DC’s soul—artists, writers, engineers, designers. We will build the next Broadway, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Louis Vuitton, and Goyard right here in DC.

• Total Mobility: 24/7 Metro + electrified buses that can fit our narrow streets. Streets cleared of snow within 24 hours, thanks to a new $50/hour emergency pay plan for snow shovelers. No more “snowcrete”!

• Equitable Traffic Enforcement: Remove unnecessary speed cameras and cap fines at $20; reduce parking fines to $15 and eliminate predatory double fining.

• Gold Standard Infrastructure: Pothole-free roads, and enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety measures that reduce fatality rate by 50%, because getting to work shouldn't feel like an Olympic endurance competition.

• Better Mental Health For All: Expand access to care and reduce opioid overdose death rates and suicide rates by 75%.

For too many, DC is descending into a 'soulless playground' for the 1%. As Mayor, Khan will transform DC into the ultimate Dream City for the 100%. We will be safer than Doha, more high-tech than Shenzhen, and more creative than Tokyo, Paris, London, and New York. By empowering ALL our people, we will make DC the undisputed envy of the world. By slashing the 'stress tax' of high living costs and restoring safety to every DC ward, Khan will clear the path for every Washingtonian to unleash their full potential. Buckle up. We aren't just joining the world stage; we’re grabbing the mic.

If you’re tired of the same old 'Tale of Two Cities,' follow Khan. We’re posting the sequel where a united DC finally wins.

(Read: Why I’m running)

Khan’s game plan for a NEW era of Washington DC: The Platform

Khan’s formula of success for DC is built on a simple, unbreakable connection: Affordable housing is the foundation of a functional city. When we cap rents at $900 for 1-bedrooms and $1,500 for 3-bedrooms, we create the stability that leads directly to safer neighborhoods. When neighborhoods are safe, we can focus on building the strongest schools in the nation—starting with a $100,000 teacher salary and meals that actually nourish our kids. These issues are the gears of a city that works for everyone. Khan is running as an Independent to move past the partisan gridlock and deliver the three pillars of a united District: $900 Rents. Safer Streets. Stronger Schools.

• Safe, fair, affordable housing: Rents capped at $900 for 1-bedroom; $1250 for 2-bedroom; $1500 for 3-bedroom units

  • Add 100, 000 PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE housing units, 60% of these in Wards 7 and 8, historically most neglected in DC. New housing communities will boast on-site NO-COST childcare, nonprofit grocery stores, covered parking and fitness clubs. Multigenerational home designs will better serve the “sandwich generation” — those with aging parents and young children.

  • Slash electricity bills by 75% by making data centers — primary drivers of the 30% spike in energy costs in DC — shoulder the financial burden.

  • Replace 50,000+ lead water pipes — lead has been known for decades to impair cognitive development and is linked to higher crime rates.

  • Aggressively combat toxic pollution that triggers violent behavior, mental illness, heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, COPD and cancer.

  • Crackdown on landlords who violate safety codes, neglect repairs and exploit tenants.

  • End homelessness in the District by tackling root causes and replacing failed approaches with innovative, proven solutions. When a resident has a stable home, their use of emergency rooms and the justice system drops by over 50%, saving the District millions of dollars in the long run.

• Modern schools that are a joyful, inclusive and inspiring destination for learning and healing

  • Starting salary of $100,000 for teachers + $25/day stipend to EVERY public and charter school student in grades 6-12. We are teaching kids to build wealth, and help their families breathe. We are reducing teacher turnover to 5% from 25% (national average is 16%) and chronic high school absenteeism problem to 10% from 60% (national average is 24%) by making schools a fun, safe and FINANCIALLY REWARDING place to be.

  • Upgrade school meals to deliver nutrition that improves student attention. We will swap “mystery meat" for brain fuel, loading every tray with zinc for immunity, tryptophan for focus, fiber and synbiotics to keep gut health—and grades—on the rise. Foods containing essential vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids support brain communication and myelin development, leading to improved attention spans and clearer thinking, and boosting motor and cognitive skills. Students receiving adequate nutrition have higher math and reading scores and display fewer behavioral issues compared to those on a high sugar, processed foods diet.

  • Transform drab classrooms into delightful, high tech, creative hubs that actually make students and teachers want to show up. Learn everything from making nutritious meals to AI.

  • Integrate students, parents and care givers in social emotional learning (SEL) to equip family units with the tools and support necessary to cope with trauma, manage stress, and build healthier relationships.

  • Introduce materials that better reflect the student body, to increase student engagement and relatability.

  • Classroom without walls: Integrate learning into the infrastructure via digital billboards that serve up science facts, health resources and nutrition and wellness tips (like how Omega-3s and quality sleep fuel focus, help maintain a healthy weight) directly in neighborhoods with high rates of school absenteeism.

• NINE months paid maternity / parental leave with FULL job protection

  • Mothers should not have to choose between their newborn and their next paycheck. Khan’s plan for

    36 weeks of paid maternity leave ensures that while parents focus on the most important 'startup' in DC—the next generation—their seat at the office table remains rock-solid. Protecting a mother's health and bonding time isn't just common sense; it’s a productivity hack that ensures our workforce returns stronger, healthier, and fully supported.

• 24/7 Metro with flat $1 fare + new bus lines to underserved areas with $1 fare

  • Greatly improve the reliability, frequency, cleanliness and safety of our public transportation system.

  • Deploy autonomous buses and vans that can navigate narrow streets and run 24/7.

  • Expand free rides program to more residents.

• City-run, nonprofit hospitals, grocery stores, and fitness spaces

  • Build more hospitals in Wards 7 and 8, which have just one full service hospital between them, leading to a 15-year life expectancy gap compared to wealthier zip codes.

  • Create more indoor, temperature-controlled spaces for walking, running, strength training, pickleball, tennis, basketball and more, so fitness becomes a daily habit, not a seasonal hobby.

  • Blanket under-served areas with nonprofit grocery stores that provide healthy, nutritious fare to power your day and keep you out of the hospital.

• Snow plowed and sidewalks cleared within 24 hours of a storm

  • Greatly expand the city’s capacity to handle extreme weather related events, including snow storms, flooding and heatwaves.

  • $50/hour emergency pay for snow shovelers, so folks never have to tackle “snowcrete”.

  • Turn existing covered parking garages and parking lots into FREE temporary parking shelters that residents can use to store their vehicles, allowing plows to swiftly clear the streets.

• Make DC’s streets the easiest, smoothest and safest to navigate for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians

  • Fix potholes that cost residents thousands of dollars annually in vehicle repairs, property damage, excess fuel consumption, depreciation, and lost time.

  • Enlarge and illuminate street signs. Protect bike lanes and pedestrian crosswalks to improve safety, reduce fatality rate by 50%. Deploy AI-powered sensors to detect presence of cyclists and pedestrians and alert drivers via high-intensity LED lighting Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB).

  • Replace rigid, timed stop lights with smart, adaptive “green wave” signals to reduce congestion, delays, and pollution. Address hazardous locations before accidents occur.

  • Add more low-cost, covered parking garages for bikes and vehicles near transit, residential and business hubs.

• Slash fines for parking and speed camera violations and eliminate fine doubling

  • Reduce parking meter overtime violation fines to $15, with no-fine warnings for first time violations.

  • Reduce speed camera tickets to $20 with no-fine warnings for first time violations.

  • Replace speed cameras in many areas with speed tables to eliminate costly fines that disproportionately target low income workers.

• Invest in DC’s at-risk youth and foster a PERMANENT creative class that provides high value alternatives to crime

  • Low income students highly engaged in the arts are more than twice as likely to graduate college as their peers. As Mayor, Khan will bolster DC's creative sector to create 300,000 new jobs and generate $25 billion in annual income.

    • Expand arts-based, healing-centered programming to provide youth with tools to process trauma and imagine new possibilities, directly reducing the likelihood of involvement in violence.

    • Cut crime at its roots by launching the 'Digital Frontier' program—an intensive tech-and-trade pipeline that provides at-risk youth with industry-standard certifications in cybersecurity, AI, and green tech, paired with guaranteed paid apprenticeships and long-term career mentorship.

  • Groom D.C.’s next generation of designers and entrepreneurs and build a robust 'Made in DC' talent pipeline that guarantees our top creative youth have the infrastructure to build global business empires right here at home.

• Reverse the brain drain and make DC the global cultural and technology capital of the world

  • Dave Chapelle, Samuel L. Jackson, Goldie Hawn, Louis CK, Whitney Cummings, Maury Povich, Stephen Colbert, Katherine Heigl have one thing in common: they were born in DC, but had to leave for NY and LA to actually get paid. For too long, the District has been a world-class incubator that exports its best talent to our rivals. As Mayor, Khan will stop the 'creative drain.' We will invest $5 billion in DC’s creative community and turn it into a magnet for global talent—a city where artists, designers, innovators and dreamers don't just start, but stay and thrive. It’s time DC stopped being the place dreamers are from, and started being the place they flock.

  • Khan’s $5 billion “Creative Capital” plan will end this 'brain drain' by building the infrastructure to turn D.C. into the 'Broadway of the South' and the 'Hollywood of the East,' creating a creative scene that doesn't just rival NYC, London, or Paris—it surpasses them.

  • Art as an Alternative to Incarceration: We are trading handcuffs for headliners; by investing in massive new theater districts, world-class film studios, and fashion hubs, we are giving our at-risk youth a stage instead of a cell, ensuring the next generation of D.C. legends can build their empires right here at home.

    • The "Creative Capital" Vision

      • $5 Billion Investment: Targeted funds for state-of-the-art music venues, design incubators, and film production facilities across all eight Wards.

      • Youth Leadership Pipeline: Specialized vocational training in technical theater, digital design, and film production specifically for youth in high-trauma areas to provide high-paying, creative career paths.

      • Global Cultural Hub: Leveraging D.C.’s international status to host global fashion weeks and premier theatrical runs, moving the city beyond its "government town" identity.

• Leverage the power of intergenerational community centers to benefit DC’s seniors and youth

  • Add more third spaces that serve as "neighborhood anchors" that repair the social fabric by intentionally bringing seniors and youth together under one roof. Unlike traditional age-segregated facilities, these centers leverage the strengths of one generation to meet the needs of the other.

  • Restore the "Village" Mentorship: By co-locating senior services with childcare or youth programming, these centers will facilitate mentoring and storytelling, while promoting empathy, cooperation, and respect. This provides youth with stable role models and gives seniors a renewed sense of purpose and legacy.

  • Combat Isolation and "Soul-Crushing" Loneliness: Seniors in intergenerational programs report lower rates of loneliness and depression. The "energy and enthusiasm" of children acts as a natural antidepressant, leading to improved mental and physical health.

  • Close the Education and Technology Gap: Centers can host programs where tech-savvy youth teach digital skills to elders, while seniors provide tutoring and oral history lessons. This mutual exchange will be especially important to bridging the digital divide in Wards 7 and 8.

  • Economic and Family Stability: These centers can offer all-in-one support—combining senior care, childcare, and Family Success Center services like food security and mental health resources. This reduces the logistical burden on the "sandwich generation" of parents caring for both kids and aging parents. In neighborhoods facing rapid change, these hubs become repositories of community history, allowing long-term residents to pass down values and traditions to the next generation.

Read: Why I’m running

Learn more about Khan’s plan to end homelessness in Washington DC

Permanently Affordable Housing in DC with rents capped at $900? Working on it!