Mayor Bowser: “In August, I proposed #SaferStrongerDC, a comprehensive public safety agenda to combat violent crime. All these months later, the Council has failed to act.”

The Mayor tweets:

“In August, I proposed #SaferStrongerDC, a comprehensive public safety agenda to combat violent crime.

All these months later, the Council has failed to act. Today I will make stops across the District to highlight the need for action.”

From a press release:

“On Monday, January 4 starting at 10:30 a.m., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Kevin Donahue will host a “Safer, Stronger DC Tour” to highlight the legislative package proposed by Mayor Bowser in August. The proposal includes increasing police presence on streets and in communities, getting tough on the relatively small number of repeat violent offenders who continue to bring harm to the DC community, and providing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with the tools and resources it needs to protect neighborhoods. For more information on Safer, Stronger, visit here.

Mayor Bowser will start the day by visiting the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), where she will meet with Director Jenifer Smith and two of the city’s crime scene investigators. Passage of the legislation would provide incentives for MPD officers nearing retirement to join DFS without the risk of negatively impacting their retirement benefits.

At noon, Mayor Bowser will appear on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show, where she will discuss public safety, her first year in office and her vision for the coming year.

Later, Mayor Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity Courtney R. Snowden will have lunch at Mama’s Kitchen in Ward 8 with small business owners talk about the importance of security cameras to combat crime. This past year, after Mama’s Kitchen was robbed five times, community members started a GoFundMe Campaign to help the owner buy security cameras. Mayor Bowser’s legislation would create incentives to encourage businesses, property owners, and churches to install security cameras – to deter crime and identify criminals.

Finally, ​Mayor Bowser will visit the DC Central Detention Facility, where she will be joined by Department of Corrections Director Thomas Faust. They will meet with inmates participating in the work-readiness program. The Mayor’s proposal would increase the number of good time credits inmates with misdemeanor sentences may receive from eight to 10 per month (for participating in work-readiness programs). These programs help returning citizens successfully reintegrate back into society.”