mcduffie5

01Apr 2021 by mcduffie5

Police Reform Commission Report Highlights the Urgent Need to Fully Implement Councilmember McDuffie’s NEAR Act

Press Release

Commission’s report identifies areas where the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Act (NEAR) remains unimplemented and recommends changes to improve public safety For Immediate Release: Friday, April 1, 2021Contact: Malcom Fox, 202-227-1701, mfox@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Today, the DC Police Reform Commission released its report entitled “Decentering Police to Improve Public Safety. The Commission’s report culminates a year of work following calls for social justice this past summer and recommends that the District undertake sweeping changes to reimagine its approach to public safety. The report also makes it clear that critically important provisions of the NEAR remain unimplemented and underfunded. “Today’s report reaffirms my concerns that the NEAR Act has yet to be fully implemented and this lack of implementation is a detriment to public safety, said Councilmember McDuffie. “The Commission…

02Mar 2021 by mcduffie5

At Councilmember McDuffie’s Behest, Council Office of Racial Equity Releases Vaccine Framework

Press Release

New report proposes changes to ensure residents with the greatest risk get the vaccine For Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 2, 2021Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Today, the Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE) released a framework to ensure amore equitable vaccine distribution program. Councilmember McDuffie requested this framework to addressthe disproportionate impacts this pandemic has had on communities of color and low vaccine rates amongBlack Washingtonians. “Every aspect of our public health and economic response to this pandemic must be done through the lensof racial equity,” said Councilmember McDuffie. “Black communities have been the hardest-hit by thisvirus but are getting vaccinated at the lowest rate. This new framework provides useful suggestions to helpguide our actions." The report makes clear that there are real barriers for Black and…

01Mar 2021 by mcduffie5

McDuffie Calls for Sweeping Investments in Black Communities to Address Covid Crisis and Eliminate the Racial Wealth Gap

Press Release

Urges the Mayor to advance a racial equity agenda that dismantles structural racism and empowers residents For Immediate Release: Monday, March 1, 2021Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie released his FY 2022 budget request lettercalling for resources to alleviate the immediate impacts of Covid, address Ward 5 constituent priorities, andadvance a racial equity agenda that gives all residents a real fair shot. In the document, CouncilmemberMcDuffie calls for a $120M dollar investment to eliminate the racial wealth gap including $100M for aguaranteed income program and $20M to develop and implement a District-based Baby Bond initiative. “Centuries of slavery, segregation, and government-sanctioned discrimination have prevented BlackWashingtonians from building wealth and becoming financially secure,” said Councilmember McDuffie.“We must be bold and intentional about closing the…

26Feb 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember McDuffie’s Statement on the February 2021 Revised Revenue Estimates

Statement

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 26, 2021Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair Pro Tempore of the Council andChair of the Council Committee on Business and Economic Development, released the following statementon the DC Chief Financial Officer’s updated revenue estimate: “District CFO Jeffrey DeWitt just provided the Mayor and Council with an updated financial forecast forthe FY 2021 – FY 2024 financial plan. It is clear that this recession continues to devastate workingfamilies across the District, particularly low-wage workers in the hospitality and service industries.Furthermore, I am concerned to see projected declines in revenue from commercial property taxes. Despite these challenges, the revised estimates hold some good news; an increase of $227 million over thefinancial plan since the December estimates, but still far…

17Feb 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember McDuffie’s Statement on the Resignation of DC CFO Jeff DeWitt

Statement

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 17th, 2021Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, Jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, D.C. -- Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, Chair Pro Tempore of the Council andChair of the Council Committee on Business and Economic Development, released the following statementon the resignation of DC’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff DeWitt: “I want to thank Jeff DeWitt for his years of service to our city and congratulate him on his new position.Despite the devastating economic impacts of this pandemic-induced recession, the District’s underlyingfinancials remain sound, including 24 consecutive clean audits and two consecutive years of our governmentmaintaining 60 days of operating reserves. Those strong fundamentals are due in no small part to Mr.DeWitt’s stewardship. Now more than ever, Washington, D.C. needs a strong and experienced CFO, one that understands theunique nature of the…

16Feb 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember McDuffie Calls on MPD to Release Stop-and-Frisk Data Mandated by 2016 NEAR Act

Press Release

This call comes after a second ACLU lawsuit alleges MPD failed to release criticallyimportant policing data since March of 2020, despite the NEAR Act requiring data bereleased twice per year For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 16th, 2021Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, Jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Today, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie renewed his call for the MetropolitanPolice Department to release certain policing data as statutorily required. The Neighborhood EngagementAchieves Results (NEAR) Act, authored by Councilmember McDuffie and passed unanimously by theCouncil in 2016, requires MPD to publicly release comprehensive stop-and-frisk data twice per year. Thiscall for transparency and accountability comes amid recent national and local calls for racial justice andpolicing reforms. “At a time when police practices have come under deservedly higher scrutiny, I find it disturbing that theMPD is, yet…

18Jan 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember McDuffie’s Landmark REACH Act Begins Implementation with Launch of the Council Office of Racial Equity

Press Release

Creates racial equity impact assessments that will be required for new legislation andresearch tools to help Council ensure someone’s race no longer predicts their success For Release: Monday, January 18th, 2021Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, Jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Today, the Council of the District of Columbia celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day byofficially launching the Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE). This new office comes fromCouncilmember McDuffie’s Racial Equity Achieves Results (REACH) Act, which seeks to dismantle theinstitutional barriers that prevent many Black residents from succeeding in Washington, DC. CORE willadvance racial equity across the District, provide equity impact scores for future Council legislation, createequity tools to eliminate racial disparities in government as well as the budget, and ensure all Council staffundergoes equity training. The REACH Act also creates a…

15Jan 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember McDuffie’s Call for Equitable Vaccine Distribution Results in Priority for Wards Hit the Hardest

Press Release

More than 4,000 new appointments made available for residents in Wards 1,4,5,7,8 For Immediate Release: Friday, January 15th, 2021 Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Today, the DC Department of Health announced there will be an additional 4,309 vaccine appointments for residents of Wards 1,4,5,7, and 8 aged 65 and older, or who work in a health care setting, starting on Saturday January 16th at 9 AM. This new ward-based approach comes after Councilmember McDuffie requested that DC Health distribute vaccine appointments more equitably. “We must ensure residents hardest hit by this pandemic can access the vaccine,” said Councilmember McDuffie. “I appreciate the Department of Health making this critical course correction to provide additional appointments for residents with the greatest needs. I want to thank Dr. Nesbitt for…

14Jan 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember McDuffie’s Years of Work on Environmental Justice Issues Earn a Win for Ward 5 Residents

Press Release

This legal action by the Office of the Attorney General highlights Councilmember McDuffie's legislative and constituent services work to address pollution, air and water quality and environmental justice for Ward 5 residents. For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 14th, 2021 Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC – Tuesday, the Office of the Attorney General announced a $350,000 settlement with the owners of 2201 Channing St., LLC for years of violating DC environmental laws. The settlement comes from a lawsuit alleging that this company, and the businesses operated on the property, improperly stored hazardous waste and allowed used oil to spill and leak into District storm sewers and other public spaces. This ruling highlights years of legislative and constituent services work by Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie to better utilize industrial land in…

11Jan 2021 by mcduffie5

Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Statement on Planned Inauguration Demonstrations

Statement

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 11th, 2021 Contact: Jonathan McNair, 202-288-0714, jmcnair@dccouncil.us Washington, DC — “Following the horrific events of this past Wednesday, I am deeply alarmed to hear reports that more armed, right-wing extremists plan to return to Washington, DC next week. District residents and business owners should not knowingly provide accommodations to such individuals who are planning to do harm to people, our democratic institutions, and impede the peaceful transition of power. Airbnb's community policies ban domestic terrorists and members of violent hate groups from using the platform. I urge Airbnb to vigorously enforce this policy and ask that people remain vigilant against the threat of future violence. A public emergency is in effect until January 21, and the Mayor has asked people to refrain from traveling to…