The nonprofit group D.C. Appleseed is betting $8,500 in prize money that people who commute to, and live in D.C., have solutions to some of DC's most pressing issues. D.C. Appleseed is hoping the contest will help to shape the next mayor's political agenda. The tree top prizewinners will be invited to present their ideas at a mayoral forum.
April 18, 2006
NBC 4, Washington DC
WASHINGTON -- Since there has never been a shortage of opinion about what people would like to see improved in the District, there's now a Web site where people can post their two cents and maybe win some money.
The nonprofit group D.C. Appleseed is betting $8,500 in prize money that people who commute to, and live in D.C., have those solutions.
Walter Smith of D.C. Appleseed said D.C. commuters and residents have until May 5 to go to www.dcappleseed.org, and draft a single solution to a single Washington, D.C., problem.
Smith said the top prize is $5,000.
"There is no one silver-bullet solution to any of this," Smith said. "And I think the people writing these proposals know that."
But in spite of that, D.C. Appleseed is hoping the contest will help to shape the next mayor's political agenda. The tree top prizewinners will be invited to present their ideas at a mayoral forum.
"This is an opportunity to say how the mayor ought to fix things," Smith said.