Newsroom

District residents face two crises of air quality right now: an emerging awareness that gas-burning appliances are creating significant air quality issues inside homes, and the broader air quality and temperature concerns in the environment heating up from mass consumption of fossil fuels. Today, Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) introduced legislation aimed at taking on both issues.  

Recognizing the growing demand for electric vehicles and the need for charging stations, today, Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) introduced legislation charting the path forward to at least 7,500 public charging stations in the District of Columbia in the next four years.  

Did anyone have 80 degrees for the first weekend of November on their bingo card? I certainly didn't. It's been a beautiful weekend to get out and about across Ward 6 though! October has already come to an end – I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.

We’re already more than halfway through October! Happy almost Halloween and almost Election Day! I hope you’re planning out your costumes and dropping those ballots off in the mail (see here for the list of drop boxes)...or planning to drop off your ballot in your costume if you’re really into the season. And of course, starting October 26th, I hope you'll join me in participating in the annual Halloween Literary Walk! Check out a map here.

A Vote is Scheduled on Recommendations from Independent D.C. Commission to Modernize, Organize, and Clarify DC’s Criminal Code for First Time Since 1901 

It’s October! And I’ve got good news to share: Hilloween is back (see old photo of me dressed as a councilmember with a princess), among a host of fun events happening this month. As I’ve mentioned in recent newsletters, we’re in the final stretch to get bills passed at the Council this session.

Today, the full DC Council will hold a vote on nine bills passed out of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, chaired by Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6). Unless otherwise noted, these bills were on the consent agenda, which doesn’t have debate and passes unanimously. Below is a brief summary of some of those bills with links to more information.

Includes Banning Use of Race and Gender to Reduce Civil Damages, Permanent Vote-By-Mail, Non-Citizen Voting Rights, Power of Attorney Reform, and More 

Today, the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment will meet at 3 p.m. to vote on Councilmember Charles Allen’s Metro for DC bill, which would allow all DC residents to sign up for a recurring monthly balance of $100 on their SmarTrip cards and dedicate at least $10 million annually to improving and expanding bus and transit service in the District. 

Today, the DC Council will vote on emergency legislation from Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen to give DC’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles authority to enforce traffic violations by app-based food, beverage, and parcel delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and others.