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Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety to vote on six bills strengthening gun laws, re-sentencing laws, hate crimes, and confirming DC as a Sanctuary City

In a few days, we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving. And I wish the very best in health and happiness to you and your family. Like many, I'll see extended family through FaceTime rather than gathered together around the table. It is difficult, and I'll admit a disappointment. But here's my central message on COVID-19 as we enter the holiday season and see infections rising across the area: don't let up now.

Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety approves bills on opioids overdose prevention, overhaul of professional licensing for returning citizens, and stronger legal protections for vulnerable road users.

The Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, chaired by Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), met today, November 12, to advance three bills out of the Committee and to the full Council for consideration in the next month.

I wrote to you yesterday reflecting on the last four years and our work to push back on federal interference in DC values. And I told you I would be writing again today as we get back to work on our shared priorities. Below are updates on a wide range of issues from helping small businesses to protecting residents from eviction to strengthening our antitrust laws. Let's dive in!

Today is Sunday, November 1, 2020. If you haven't voted yet in the General Election, time is running out, but the good news is your options aren't!

The following is a statement from Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, following yesterday’s partial release of MPD body-worn camera footage:

It's late October and we're still living in a pandemic. Winter and cold weather are looming as our small businesses are fighting to hang on. Parents are juggling the start of a new school year and trying to answer every challenge from getting students plugged in online to figuring out what Halloween will look like.

I hope you are staying safe and well. The upcoming November 3, 2020 General Election will look different from any we’ve ever had in DC, and I want to make sure you know how to cast your ballot safely. Ballots are already arriving in mailboxes, so please review this important information on how to vote:

Two key legislative items passed today that Councilmember Charles Allen introduced: Vision Zero and the Office of Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing. Background and quotes on each below:

I hope you’re doing well and staying safe. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy around Ward 6, as well as at home with our two kids starting their virtual school year, and at the Council as it ramps up for its fall legislative session. In addition, I’ve also been working with local leaders as we continue to respond to, and work to prevent, the persistent gun violence in some parts of our city. This is a multi-faceted challenge, but something we must bring the full weight of government to combat. I’ve seen how we can mobilize government to respond to the public health emergency of COVID-19, and I believe we can and should do the same to respond to the public health emergency of gun violence. I believe that response must be more than a call for “law and order“ -- it must be an effort that leverages the resources, talents, and capacity of every part of government. Gun violence doesn’t just come out of nowhere. It is often the product of trauma and violence, a loss of hope for the future, personal conflict that should be resolved peacefully, challenges with mental health or substance use, and much more. Our Office on Neighborhood Safety and Engagement is engaged in that work and we need to act strategically and with urgency. That’s also why I’ve created, working with anti-gun violence advocates like Moms Demand Action and others, a new Gun Violence Prevention Director position within the highest levels of DC government. Their job will be to focus solely on stopping gun violence and to bring all the resources -- cutting across all DC government agencies -- needed to meet this challenge. This isn’t the only way we will work to end gun violence, but it’s another step we need to take in a comprehensive response to save lives. If you’d like to read more about the many efforts underway to address violence, support survivors and victims, and work on root causes, check out the recent report from the Council on how we’re enhancing funding and initiatives through the District’s budget.