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Friend --
Hey folks! I'm working on a longer Ward 6 update, but we have three
events coming up fast, and I want to make sure I give you a heads up.
You can look for a more typical newsletter from me in the next few
days.?
It's budget season, and I need to hear from you! What are your
priorities? What in your neighborhood needs to be funded or upgraded?
Are we spending money on the right programs? Whether you nerd out on
local government budgets or just want to see that one small thing
fixed on your street, I'd love to chat. At the town hall, I'll walk
through the budget process, share what the Mayor has proposed (and
where I agree or disagree), and then turn it over to you for questions
and comments about what we should be prioritizing. We're holding it
this year in the beautiful, newly renovated School-Within-School at
Goding - come by at 6 pm if you'd like a special tour of the school,
and get inspired for our budget talk. The town hall itself begins at
6:30 pm. RSVP
here so we know to expect you.
We do plan to stream the town hall as well - please RSVP above even
if you'd just like to watch online.
The second annual Great Ward 6 Spring Clean is happening this
Saturday morning (rain or shine)! We have 13 sites across Ward 6 where
you can easily drop by and spend a few minutes helping clean up your
neighborhood and getting to know your neighbors.?Info for all of the host sites is listed here,
including any updates to start times. But it's also okay just to pick
up the trash on your block or in your alley; you don't have to clean
the whole park! (But don't let us stop you.) Even filling one small
bag makes a difference. You
can RSVP here for any last minute updates.
 My team will be at Eastern Market Metro Park
distributing bags, gloves, and more if you need some. Most of our host
sites will have their own supplies if you plan to show up at one of
those 13 specific sites across the Ward.
And of course, spread the love on social media
with?#W6SpringClean. Can't wait to see
you!
Tomorrow at 4 pm, my team and I will be in the NoMa neighborhood
for community office hours at Red Bear Brewing Co. I'll be there until about
5:15 pm. Stop by and start the weekend off right by chatting with us
about any issues in your neighborhood and supporting your local
brewery. RSVP
here.
A Note on Congressional Interference
Finally, yesterday, I testified before the U.S. House Committee on
Oversight and Accountability. The hearing was held directly before the
Committee voted to approve their second resolution to overturn a DC
bill, this time the unanimously-passed?Comprehensive
Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022?(most of which
has already been law since 2020). This is the second bill Congress has
interfered with in as many months. First, it was the Revised Criminal
Code Act. Now, this commonsense accountability and transparency
measure.
The hearing, ostensibly, was supposed to be about public safety,
but it was clear none of the members on the Majority side were
familiar with the bill before them or even how DC government operates.
They also weren't interested in improving the large part of our
justice system that's actually federal, like our prosecutor for adult
crimes, our courts, the pre-trial and post-release supervision
agencies, the parole commission, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I
provided ten recommendations in my testimony for Congress to join us
in reducing gun violence and improving public safety, including
through local control of the justice system, stopping gun trafficking
across our borders, confirming pending judicial nominations for the 11
vacancies on our courts, funding services for crime victims, and more.
But they were more interested in political theater and hurling insults
at our residents - even
our children. You can watch
the full hearing here. Recaps are in the Post?and
DCist.
Video
of my opening remarks is here, and you can also read both
my oral testimony and my longer written testimony here.
Crime - especially homicides and carjackings - is a persistent and
urgent challenge in the District, and no one on the Council or in the
Mayor's office believes otherwise. But as Rep. Raskin said at the end
of yesterday's hearing, "this was a great missed opportunity." Because
there are important and really critical ways Congress could
improve public safety, including through DC statehood, autonomy, and
representation in both houses.
Finally, President
Biden said today he would veto any disapproval resolution related
to the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act if it made its
way to him -- a welcome change. If we're going to see sustained
improvements in public safety, a major part of that will be rebuilding
trust between police and the communities they serve, and this bill is
a big step in that direction.
Charles Allen
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Ward 6 Budget Town Hall (Thursday, April 6 at 6:30
pm)