Newsroom

Last week, the Council passed on first vote the $16 billion budget for the District of Columbia's FY21 (Oct 1 - Sept 30). We will take a second and final vote next Tuesday, July 21, followed by a final vote on the Budget Support Act on July 28.

Happy July! Originally, I was going to focus an update on my proposed budget for public safety agencies, but there's a lot of other important information to share, so please forgive the length of this newsletter.

Proposed budget would restore funding for violence interruption, civil legal aid, affordable housing, and victims’ services, including new domestic violence shelter

Starting today, the Mayor has declared the District will enter Phase 2 of Re-Opening. There are a lot of big changes in store, and I'll run through a few that are likely to affect many of us.

A lot has happened since my last update. I want to begin by saying thank you.

The Council of the District of Columbia unanimously passed Councilmember Charles Allen's the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Act.

Statement from Councilmember Charles Allen on Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight of Protests:

I am sure you felt, as I did, so many emotions watching or being part of the protests over the weekend. Thousands of DC residents peacefully and passionately exercised their First Amendment rights as Americans to call out injustice, racism, and police brutality against Black Americans.

Councilmember Allen will also hold a virtual hearing for public testimony

Today, the District of Columbia enters a Phase 1 Re-Opening, loosening a few of the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. I'd like to share what those changes are, and also what they aren't.