Councilmember Brianne Nadeau is observing Yom Kippur today, but asked us to send these timely updates on her behalf. She wishes a meaningful fast to all those observing. 

Neighbors,

I hope you were able to make it to the Ward 1 block parties before the cold weather moved in. Thank you to our neighbors who planned such fun events for all of us to spend time together in community!

The temperature drop didn’t stop us from enjoying Open Streets on Georgia Avenue last weekend. If you stopped by and want to learn more about the Open Streets initiative, you can find more information here.

Legislative Updates

I'm excited to share updates on votes that the Council took this week. 

Protecting Abortion Access

After Politico circulated a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization foreshadowing that the Supreme Court would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, I promised District residents that I would take legislative action to defend the rights protected in Roe v. Wade. Yesterday, the Council took the first of two votes to move my bill, the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022, forward.

The legislation protects the rights of those seeking care for abortion, contraception, sexual conduct, intimate relationships, and gender-affirmation. The bill will prevent the District government from cooperating or facilitating investigations or proceedings that try to prosecute any individual seeking any of these protected acts. It also extends protections by creating a private right of action against parties who bring Texas-style bounty claims against others for engaging in protected conduct.

An Inclusive Democracy

It’s important that we have an inclusive democracy and that we are encouraging full participation in our elections. The Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 also passed the first of two votes yesterday and will expand voting rights in local elections to eligible residents of the District who are not United States citizens. The newly qualified electors will be able to vote in elections for Mayor, DC Council, State Board of Education, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and Attorney General. They will not be able to vote in Federal elections. 

Every day, as elected officials, we are making decisions about affordable housing, education, human services and city services that impact the daily lives of all residents. Those who have made the District their permanent home should have a say in who represents them in their local government.

In 2019, I introduced the Vote By Mail Amendment Act to require the Board of Election to mail all registered voters a ballot. This bill has been incorporated into the Elections Modernization Act of 2021 by Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, along with provisions for providing alternatives for voters with disabilities, drop boxes requirements, and establishing ballot tracking. The Elections Modernization Act of 2021 will be moving to a second vote.

Equal Access to Changing Tables Amendment Act of 2022

My bill, the Equal Access to Changing Tables Amendment Act of 2022, passed yesterday. This bill requires the installation of changing tables in new or substantially renovated bathrooms and in District-owned and occupied buildings.

There are many public spaces across DC, including government buildings, that lack diaper changing accommodations - and generally, they are only found in women’s restrooms.  Caregivers who need to change a diaper, but who cannot use a women’s restroom, are forced to find alternatives. This poses a health and safety risk for caregivers, infants, and the patrons sharing spaces with them.

The bill does carve out exemptions from the changing station requirement for nightclubs, businesses that do not serve very young children, and situations where compliance would restrict access to restrooms for people with disabilities.

This small, but significant requirement makes the District more humane, more livable, and more equitable at little cost to anyone other than the $150 it costs to install a changing table.

Paid Family Leave

On October 1st, hundreds of thousands of private-sector workers in D.C. became eligible for expanded paid leave benefits!

Up until now, the city’s program offered 8 weeks of paid parental leave, 6 weeks of paid family leave, 6 weeks of paid medical leave, and 2 weeks for prenatal leave. The expansion will allow for 12 weeks of paid parental leave, 12 weeks of paid family leave, 12 weeks of paid medical leave, and 2 weeks of prenatal leave.

I’m a strong supporter of Paid Family Leave and will continue advocating for programs that help our working families. The Council is now working on funding similar benefits for DC Government employees.

Community Updates

Potential Traffic Delay Friday

MPD and DC FEMS will be holding a training exercise on Friday, October 7th at the MPD Third District Station that may cause minor traffic delays in the area.

General Election Information

The DC Board of Elections (BOE) has mailed out the first wave of mail in ballots for the General Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Here’s a graphic that BOE has shared with more information on mail in ballots and ballot drop boxes:

You can also vote in person during the early voting dates and on Election Day. Click here for a list of locations early vote centers and here for Election Day locations.

DCPS School Visitors

This week, DC Public Schools returned to their pre-pandemic School Visitor Policy. Parents and caregivers will have more opportunities to visit their child’s school. Here’s more information and the full policy.

Zero Waste DC

The Department of Public Works is hosting a second round of virtual community engagement events. Join the conversation! Register here.