We Are The Dream

On Saturday, January 14^th, I had the honor of speaking at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The event was organized by the MLK Holiday Committee and held at THEARC Black Box.

It is befitting to host a prayer breakfast to begin a weekend of celebration in honor of Dr. King, truly a Drum Major for Justice. We oftentimes forget that it was Rev. Dr. King who embodied the spirit that we are a village. One that our ancestries prayed for, lived for, and even died for, as did Dr. King. He fully understood that the faith-based community had the structure and organizational skills to teach, empower and motivate us to get involved.

The greatest divide in our community is still as true day as it was on August 28, 1963, at the March of Washington, almost 60 years ago. In the spirit of Dr. King, we can clearly see that an economic and education agenda is still needed today in the Great Ward 8. We are still a long way away from all being “judged by the content of our character, and not the color skin color."

Dr. King also said that the most critical problem is economic injustices impacting the less affluent in our society. When there is a massive employment issue in our community, it is called a social problem. However, when it is a massive employment issue in the white community, it is called a depression. That must change!

To combat some of these issues, I was able to add money in the budget for the Douglas Community Land Trust to support more black and brown people become homeowners. I’ve also created and secured funding for the Dream Grant to support 50 small businesses expand their capacities, thereby having an even greater positive impact on Ward 8. In addition, I wrote legislation to create an Investment Fund, which provided 30 grants to small businesses. In the first year of the Fund’s existence, we received over 180 applications. Despite these efforts, much work remains before we achieve what Dr. King referred to as “The Beloved Community."

We as a people have the intelligence, power, and the wherewithal to create solutions for the problems impacting our community. The time has come to put our money where our mouth is. We are past equity. It is time to discuss equality.

In closing, and in the spirit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us empower each other today. Join me on February 16^th as we organize, push, and take back what we need and deserve in our community to demand a quality education, not just what is taught in school. That is not going to get our kids where they need to be and a real economic plan for our community. Please stay tuned for details on the February 16^th meeting.
As Dr. King once said, “Unity or Non-existence.”

Peace and love,
Trayon White, Sr.
Councilmember, Ward 8


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Looking for a new career in the new year? Join us on Saturday, January 28th at 8:30 am for MPD Prospect Day! Prospect Day allows you to complete multiple hiring steps in one day, without having to make multiple trips to the Department. So, what are you waiting for? Visit JOINMPD.DC.GOV ([link removed]) to register for an MPD Prospect
Day today! Please note that if you register for our 1/28 Prospect Day, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50.00 Amazon gift card on site at Prospect Day.

Friendly reminder that we are also now offering a $20k hiring bonus and $6k in temporary housing. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you aren't able to attend MPD's Saturday Prospect. Day, you can register for another date at JOINMPD.DC.GOV ([link removed]) , or by clicking on the below link.

Thank you and we look forward to you joining our team,
MPD Recruiting Division
202-645-0445
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Mayor Muriel Bowser and Amber Hewitt, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity (ORE), released the District’s first-ever Racial Equity Action Plan ([link removed]) , a three-year roadmap outlining actions that the District will take to close racial equity gaps and measure progress toward a more equitable DC.

Residents can provide feedback on the plan by accessing the online submission form. Deadline has been extended. See below for a list of locations to obtain a copy of the plan.
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CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT COMMENT FORM ([link removed])
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** Quick Links
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* Need a Test? Get a Test: Learn more about COVID-19 testing sites ([link removed])
* Check out the 2020 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])
* Check out the 2021 Ward 8 Progress Report ([link removed])

Councilmember White joined Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher of the Washington Informer, and other organizers of the Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr., Prayer Breakfast. The annual breakfast was held on Saturday, January 14th at THEARC Blackbox.

Listen to Councilmember White's speech below.
[link removed]

Hundreds lined the streets along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to watch the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. On Monday, January 16th, Councilmember White walked with supporters to honor the man who had a dream, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs

On Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 1:00pm, the Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs will host its first Committee meeting of Council Period 25.

During the meeting, the Committee will formally appoint SaFiya Hoskins as Committee Director and Marketta Buchanan as Legislative Clerk, and reappoint Kyle Yeldell as Policy Analyst, who served in this position during Council Period 24.

Hoskins previously served as Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director for Councilmember White.

In addition, the Committee will formally submit its Rules of Organization and Procedure for the council period.

Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. will chair the committee yet again during this council period and will be joined on the committee by Councilmembers Anita Bonds (At-Large), Kenyan McDuffie (At-Large), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), and Robert White (At-Large).

The Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs will have its monthly committee meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 12:00pm.
Performance/Budget Oversight Hearing Schedules (UPDATED)

Budget Oversight Hearing Schedule
Wednesday, March 29 3:00pm-6:00pm Serve DC
Friday, March 31 12:00pm-3:00pm Mayor’s Office of African Affairs
Mayor’s Office of African American Affairs
Mayor’s Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs
Mayor’s Office of Caribbean Affairs
Office of Fathers, Men and Boys
Monday, April 3 3:00pm-6:00pm Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment
Friday, April 7 3:00pm-6:00pm Department of Parks and Recreation
Tuesday, April 11 3:00pm-6:00pm Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
Thursday, April 13 3:00pm-6:00pm DC Public Library

Bill 24-416, the “Revised Criminal Code Act of 2021

As introduced, Bill 24-416, the “Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA) of 2021”, modernizes most District criminal offenses currently in use as proposed by the D.C. Criminal code Reform Commission (CCRC). It would be the first comprehensive revision of the D.C. Criminal Code since 1901.

The Revised Code does much to reclassify certain offenses and modify penalties. Most notably, except for first-degree murder, the bill eliminates mandatory minimum sentences and decreases the maximum number of sentences permitted in other cases.
Penalties for some violent crimes like sex offenses are increased under the Revised Code. The Revised Code penalties for most violent felonies range from 8 to 45 years in prison, before including other offenses. Some felonies would incur a lighter sentence but none involving the use of a weapon to inflict injury. Absent from the Revised Code is any provision for expungement.

The ‘Revised Code’ has not yet been funded and would not be effective until October 2025 and would be phased in thru 2030.
The Revised Code is over 300-pages. A full version of the bill can be viewed here: Microsoft Word - Bill For Introduction (1).docx (dccouncil.gov) ([link removed])

On November 15, 2022, RCCA was unanimously approved by the Council. The next step in the legislative process is mayoral approval. However, Mayor Bowser vetoed the Revised Code on January 3, 2023. She expressed concerns with how the RCCA addressed crime among the district’s youth and lowering penalties for certain crimes like robbery and carjacking. Additionally, she stated that she worried about the courts’ capacity to handle the number of new cases that the RCCA might bring.

When legislation is vetoed by the mayor, it returns to the Council, where members hold another vote to uphold the Mayor’s veto or to override it. It requires two-thirds of members to vote to override to move forward. During the legislative meeting on Tuesday, January 17, the Council voted on the veto. All but Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. voted to override the veto. The measure passed, 12-1, and will move onto the House of Representatives.

Councilmember White continues to emphasize the need for preventative measures, violence interrupters, and early intervention to reduce crime in the district. He remains deeply concerned about public safety and the long-term effects of reducing penalties in the way that the Revised Code has proposed.
Council Hearing Schedule: Week of January 16, 2023

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** Committee of the Whole Meeting ([link removed])
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** Legislative Meeting ([link removed])
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** Business & Economic Development Regular Committee Meeting ([link removed])
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** Judiciary & Public Safety Public Roundtable ([link removed])
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Executive Administration & Labor Regular Committee Meeting ([link removed])
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Transportation & the Environment Regular Committee Meeting ([link removed])
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Judiciary & Public Safety Additional Committee Meeting ([link removed])
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Health Regular Committee Meeting ([link removed])
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** Thou Shalt Not Kill | District leaders looking for new ways to curb surging violence in DC
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WASHINGTON, DC (7News) — They held the event at Busboys and Poets restaurant in Anacostia, where just outside, D.C.’s 200th homicide victim of 2022 lost his life.
Read Full Story ([link removed])
Organizers announced a “Thou Shalt Not Kill” movement Tuesday at the Busboys and Poets in Anacostia. At the podium is Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White.
Read Full Story ([link removed])
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