Today, Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) was asked to continue his leadership as Chair of the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, as well as take on a leadership role as Co-Chair of the Council’s new Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery.

“I’m grateful for the trust to continue our work at the Council on the important and urgent issues of public safety: ending gun violence, moving forward non-law enforcement solutions better suited to meet community needs, reducing recidivism through opportunity, and strengthening our emergency response infrastructure. The District, and cities all around the country, are at a critical moment in redefining public safety in a way that focuses on community investment to address root causes of violence and break cycles that create pain and trauma again and again. In the coming year, we have an opportunity to make significant gains solving gun violence as the public health emergency that it is.

I’m also honored to help lead the Council’s planning for recovery from the devastating impacts of this pandemic. We’ve watched the health and economic consequences of this virus lay bare the inequities in our city and our country – and we’ve seen the danger in leadership that won’t take action. As we begin a new year, it presents new opportunity to work with urgency for the essential workers, families, small businesses, and direct service providers disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Our recovery can also be an opportunity to accelerate investments to reverse the infrastructure inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a renewed focus on equitable access to high-speed broadband internet access, high-quality early childcare, excellent transit options, a continuum of health care services, and much more. I look forward to working with my friend and co-chair, Councilmember Vince Gray (Ward 7), and in partnership with Mayor Muriel Bowser and her team as we work together for the common goal of the District’s strong recovery.”

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