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Last week, the Council held the last legislative meeting before summer recess. Recess is between July 15 and September 15, and during this period, legislative meetings are not held.
Of the recent community discussions in our Ward, and throughout the city, have focused on data showing a sharp rise in homicides and other crimes year-to-date from last year. This discussion typically gains urgency during the summer, when the weather and school breaks and social activity peaks. In hopes of avoiding a summer spike in crime, the Council passed an emergency public safety measure at the legislative meeting, the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2023, which was introduced by the Chairperson of the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Councilmember Brooke Pinto. Among other provisions revising the District’s criminal code, the bill established new criminal offenses and corresponding penalties for strangulation and certain firearm discharges, and adopted stricter pretrial detention policies for persons accused of committing certain violent and dangerous crimes. This measure, in emergency form, was the last opportunity for the Council to address public safety before the fall due to recess. The Council will resume hearings and discussion on a permanent public safety measure after recess.
The Council also passed three resolutions introduced by Councilmember White. The first, the Oxon Run Park of Day Recognition Resolution of 2023, celebrates the many contributions of Oxon Run Park and declares August 26, 2023 to be Oxon Run Park Day. The other two resolutions, the Travis Dread-Hughes Recognition Resolution of 2023 and the Sandra Erica Chambers Recognition Resolution of 2023, recognizes two residents with decades of service to the District. Mr. Travis Dread Hughes has worked for the District’s Department of Health and Department of Behavioral Health, and serves the community through his membership in three service organizations: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Prince Hall Masons, and the Shriners. Ms. Sandra Erica Chambers worked for the Social Security Administration for forty decades and is in the last month of an eight year term as president of the New-York Washington Missionary Society.
Councilmember White’s recently introduced measure prohibiting the causeless wearing of ski masks in the District, the Ski Mask Prohibition Act of 2023 was included in the Secretary’s log of introductions for the July 11, 2023 meeting, as well as a measure designating the 800 block of Southern Avenue, S.E., between Chesapeake Street and Bonini Road, as Robert L. Yeldell way. Mr. Yeldell was a business and civic leader in Ward 8 for over three decades, and his contributions to Ward 8 are well worth this honor.
The legislative meeting was one of several important meetings held during the last week before recess. The Committee on Facilities and Family Services held a public roundtable on a resolution confirming the Delano Hunter as the new director of the District Department of General Services (DGS). DGS is responsible for supporting schools and other government facilities with maintenance and related services. In addition, the committee on Health, the Committee of the Whole, and the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety all held public hearings on proposed measures.
During recess, we will be researching new ideas and gearing up for the fall legislative period. Have a safe summer and see you in the Fall!
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