Newsroom

Pools are open, splash parks are splashing, and we've had an incredible run of weather and temperatures to make getting out into the neighborhood easy. Hopefully you've been able to enjoy. Lots of updates in this newsletter below for your summer planning, as well as the latest news from the Council. 

Text of a June 8, 2022 letter from seven members of the Council to Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton:

Today, Councilmember Charles Allen – along with his colleagues Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau, Brooke Pinto, Mary Cheh, Janeese Lewis George, Vince Gray, Christina Henderson, Robert White, and Anita Bonds –  introduced legislation to overhaul the District’s Department of Forensic Sciences (“DFS”), which since April 2, 2021, has been unaccredited and incapable of analyzing evidence such as firearms and ballistics, DNA, digital evidence, and fingerprints in criminal prosecutions.

It's hard to argue with spring in Ward 6, isn't it? Truly every part of the Ward seems to be showing off as trees and gardens hit full bloom, the weather is perfect for walking, and the weekends are packed with trips to the local farmers market, little league games, outdoor dining, and lounging at the neighborhood park. I hope you've been able to get outside and enjoy some of the best weather we get each year. 

Over the next two years, low-wage DC workers, including undocumented DC residents, will start receiving on average a monthly basic income of $300 from DC government

Later today, the Council will take a first vote on the city's budget for next year -- here's a rundown of the many projects funded for across Ward 6 that I wanted to share. This is after months of public hearings and debate, and with a lot of details coming into focus.

Today, the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety voted unanimously to approve budget recommendations for every agency in the District’s public safety cluster, totaling more than $1.7 billion and reflecting input from the public during agency performance and budget oversight hearings.

By now, you've heard me talk about how much of a priority public safety is for Ward 6 and across the District. And you've also heard me talk about how the approach we have to take needs to fully fund public safety, rather than falling into "either/or" arguments. We need both action and accountability when harm is committed, and we need to invest in proven strategies to prevent, interrupt, and break cycles of violence. As the Chair of the Council's Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, I've moved a budget forward today that does exactly this, and it was unanimously approved.

April is here with plenty of happenings in the neighborhood. The Nats are back -- and I, for one, am an optimist who chooses to believe we're going to do better than projected this year. Live music will return to Eastern Market Metro Park soon, and allergies aside, I think everyone is looking forward to the sweet spot of spring where the weather is nice enough to sit out, but we have a brief window before the mosquitos truly make their debut. Let's hope anyway.

At a press conference on Tuesday, March 29, Councilmember Charles Allen and Councilmember Vincent Gray, co-chairs of the DC Council’s Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery, will present the Special Committee’s recommendations ahead of a vote on its final report on Wednesday afternoon.