Newsroom

Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act passes Committee votes 5-0

Today, Councilmember Charles Allen and members of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety voted 5-0 on comprehensive legislation to reform the Youth Rehabilitation Act (the “YRA”), a law passed in 1985 to provide a second chance to young adults convicted of eligible crimes. The bill now proceeds to the full Council for a first vote.

Reforming the “YRA”: The “Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act of 2018”

What is the Youth Rehabilitation Act?

Under the District’s Youth Rehabilitation Act of 1985, or the “YRA”, young adults under the age of 22 convicted of, and sentenced for, a crime other than homicide are eligible to have their convictions “set aside” if they successfully complete their sentence. They may also be eligible for different sentencing options. This means their conviction won’t be a barrier to future jobs and housing, for example, but can still be used in determining their sentence if they commit another crime or to place them on the sex offender registry, among other uses. Certain offenses are currently ineligible for YRA sentencing and the set aside: murder, first degree murder that constitutes an act of terrorism, and second degree murder that constitutes an act of terrorism. The YRA also requires specific facilities for the treatment and rehabilitation of YRA-sentenced young adults.

This past Monday marked the 11th anniversary of the fire that burned Eastern Market. That was a tough day. But, there's a reason Eastern Market is the longest continuously operating farmer's market in the city. We came together as a community and we rebuilt. Today the market remains a vibrant part of Capitol Hill and DC. As we mark that milestone, I'm working hard to ensure the future of Eastern Market is secure in our upcoming budget.

The DC Council voted unanimously to pass Councilmember Allen's bill that would shield the home addresses of survivors of domestic violence, sexual offenses, stalking, and human trafficking, as well as employees of organizations who serve those survivors or work at reproductive health clinics.

Bill also adds penalties for evicting tenants under false premise

Today, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen introduces the Housing Conversion and Eviction Clarification Amendment Act of 2018, a bill that would disincentivize developers from downsizing multi-unit buildings to protect the total number of units in the market and add a protection for tenants evicted by homeowners under the guise of using the rented space for themselves, but then renting the same space again within one year.

On April 5, 2018, Councilmember Charles Allen sent the following letter to his colleagues on the Council to consider his proposal to decouple the District's estate tax threshold from the federal governments: 

This Friday, April 27 we will have 40 employers looking to meet job seekers at Arena Stage at the latest Ward 6 Career Fair. Join Councilmember Charles Allen, along with At-Large Councilmembers Elissa Silverman and Robert White Jr., at this semi-annual Ward 6 Career Fair at Arena Stage (1101 Sixth St., SW) from 9 am to 1 pm. 

Thanks to the many Ward 6 neighbors who attended Councilmember Allen's fourth annual Ward 6 Budget Town Hall. Each year, this event is a great opportunity for Councilmember Allen and staff to hear directly from residents about your concerns and priorities for the budget. You can watch the entire Town Hall or check out the presentation here:

New authority would gather data on how and when energy is used and create marketplace for renewably-sourced energy to add to DC’s grid, creating jobs for DC residents with DC dollars while lowering rates for DC residents

Today, Councilmembers Charles Allen (Ward 6) and Mary Cheh (Ward 3) introduced the Distributed Energy Resources Authority Act of 2018, which would modernize the District of Columbia’s energy grid by collecting real-time energy use data in one location and opening the door for DC businesses and residents to contribute renewable energy toward the total capacity of the District’s energy supply.