Roughly $237 million sits in the District’s tobacco settlement fund, earning nearly $800,000 a month in interest and awaiting withdrawal for what health care advocates hope are the right causes. Unlike past years, when the tobacco settlement windfall was spent on everything but solving the District’s health crisis, D.C. leaders say these dollars will be divvied up among critical needs. Some $79 million will be used to salvage Greater Southeast Community Hospital, $10 million for smoking cessation, $20 million for cancer prevention and $10 million for chronic disease management.

“We blew it the last time,” said D.C. Council Member David Catania, chairman of the health committee. “We are trying to do our best about having informed choices on how to spend the money going forward.”