Council

“By Order of DC Council, DC Circulator Fares to Be Reinstated Effective October 1”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Pablo Raw

From DDOT:

“Today, by order of the DC Council, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that the fares on the DC Circulator will be reinstated effective October 1, 2021.

On March 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Muriel Bowser announced all DC Circulator fares were suspended through the public health emergency that ended on July 25. After positive feedback from District residents, the Mayor announced her extension of fare suspension on DC Circulator through September 30.

The Mayor’s FY 2022 budget proposal set aside $6.5 million in funding for free DC Circulator service. After deliberation, the Council rejected the zero-fare policy funding, requiring DDOT to reinstate the one-dollar fare on October 1, the beginning of FY 2021. (more…)

Mayor Bowser: “I also put forth an $11 million proposal for new police officers based on what Chief Robert J. Contee said he needs right now. The Council, however, was only willing to do half of what he requested.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Billy Hoag

From the Mayor’s Office yesterday:

“Today, the Council of the District of Columbia unanimously approved Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2022 spending plan – the District’s 26th consecutive balanced budget. Following the Council’s vote, the Mayor released the following statement:

“This budget is transformational, as it is a $17.5 billion investment in a more equitable DC, and an opportunity to give more Washingtonians a fair shot. It allows us to meet the moment we are facing by making the biggest investments in the residents and local businesses hit hardest by the health and economic crises of the past 17 months. By combining once-in-a-lifetime federal and stable local revenue, we are able to make historic investments in our city’s greatest challenges. (more…)

“Council Puts Forward $11 Million Investment in Additional Police Officers and Expanded Violence Prevention Programs”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Office of Council Member Charles Allen:

“In response to a request for $11 million for additional funding for police officers from Mayor Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, are proposing a compromise package of investments, with support from a majority of the Council.

The package was circulated today by Chairman Mendelson in an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to the budget legislation to be considered at tomorrow’s final vote.

The changes would revise the Executive’s requested $11 million enhancement for sworn police officers to instead reduce gun violence by investing in both traditional law enforcement and public-health based programs. (more…)

“Councilmembers Allen, Nadeau and Lewis George to Propose Budget Amendment to Transform Childcare, End Homelessness for Thousands, and Launch a Monthly Basic Income”

By Prince Of Petworth

From a joint press release:

“DC Councilmembers Charles Allen (Ward 6), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), and Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4) will propose an amendment to the budget that would fund major goals of the Council’s landmark Birth-to-Three legislation by raising wages for thousands of early educators, make a historic investment in ending homelessness and introduce a monthly basic income for DC individuals and families earning less than $57,414 for a family of three. To fund these investments, the proposal would increase the marginal income tax rate on individuals earning more than $250,000 a year.

The proposal comes as the Council is set to hold a first vote tomorrow on the proposed budget, which includes $2.8 billion in federal dollars that will disappear in the next few years.

Statement from the three councilmembers: (more…)

“Legislation Will Give DC Consumers Needed Protections After Expiration of Debt Collection Relief Provided by COVID-19 Legislation”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by angela n.

From the office of Attorney General Karl Racine:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today issued the following statement after the DC Council passed emergency legislation — introduced by Chairman Mendelson earlier this week, and written in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) — that will protect DC consumers from abusive and unfair debt collection practices after the District’s temporary COVID-19 protections end and debt collection activity resumes. (more…)