This summer the Council adopted emergency legislation to improve police accountability and transparency. Although adopted in light of the numerous incidents of police brutality in other jurisdictions – specifically the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis (and the deaths of Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Breonna Taylor, and too many others) – I think it fair to say that the Council was not suggesting that our Metropolitan Police Department is as problematic.
But it is also fair, even critical, that the Council continuously look for best practices in policing, especially now when implicit (and explicit) racial bias is top of mind across the country.
An important component of the Council’s legislation is the establishment of a Police Reform Commission. This was amended onto the bill by Councilmembers Vince Gray and Anita Bonds.
The 20-member Commission was appointed by me last week. The diversity of representatives was selected for their range of community involvement or expertise in racial and social justice reform.
It includes individuals familiar with reform efforts in other jurisdictions. I think these outside perspectives will be invaluable to the Commission.
Further, most of the members have worked with the criminal justice system in the District, but mostly from the perspective of victims rights or social justice; this, too, will be invaluable to the Commission.
The co-chairs are Robert Bobb, who was City Administrator under former Mayor Anthony Williams, and Dr. Christy Lopez, who served in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice where she led pattern-or-practice investigations of police departments across the country.
The Council has asked the Commission to examine policing practices and provide evidence-based recommendations for the District. I want the Commission to exercise its mandate broadly, but its review should include: (1) looking at the role of sworn and special police officers in public schools; (2) developing alternatives to police responses such as community-based, behavioral health, or social service co-responders; (3) reviewing police discipline; and (4) integrating conflict resolution strategies and restorative justice practices into policing.
The law requires the Commission to submit its recommendations to the Council by year end, but if necessary, I will ask the Council to allow more time.
This could be a big deal. I hope so. There are talented, knowledgeable individuals on the Commission who care about our city, quality policing, and justice. As one member expressed it: “if we want our daughters to grow up in a city where their bodies (and those of their loved ones) are not living in fear of police violence (or intra community violence), I need to honor my family by serving as a member of this commission.”
Here is a chance for your elected officials – and the public – to benefit from expertise right here in the city. And have the best police department and law enforcement process in the nation.
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Another important component of the police reform bill was an amendment I made to end the practice whereby the police union bargains management’s disciplinary process. Discipline is the ultimate tool for accountability. Yet MPD’s ability to discipline its officers is so difficult that if George Floyd had died at the knee of an MPD officer, Chief Newsham would have been unable to immediately fire the officer – unlike Minneapolis.
So now, per the new law: “All matters pertaining to the discipline of sworn law enforcement personnel shall be retained by management and not be negotiable.”
The importance of this reform was brought home in early August when the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) sued the District government in federal court to enjoin this provision in the Council’s legislation. The FOP argues that prohibiting the FOP from bargaining how to discipline bad cops is punitive, discriminatory, and “lacks...a rational legislative purpose.”
I couldn’t disagree more. Police officers are unique among government workers. They alone have incredible power: to deprive individuals of their liberty and to use deadly force. Moreover, public trust and confidence in our police is the only way that law-enforcement can be effective in our society. And for that to happen, there has to be accountability.
When the disciplinary process is difficult, time-consuming, and even opaque, then accountability suffers and public mistrust grows. We’ve seen this across the country. But here, too: where a police officer couldn’t be fired after raping a drunk college student; a police officer couldn’t be fired after, off-duty, shooting someone for being too near his truck; where a police officer couldn’t be fired after seriously assaulting his ex-girlfriend; where a police officer couldn’t be fired after being criminally convicted for purchasing stolen property.
Taking back the disciplinary process is a big deal. It is no longer acceptable that the blue line is so intimately involved in protecting its own from accountability.
This is why the FOP is fighting this. But now the Mayor and Chief have the ability to craft a better disciplinary process where the police aren’t policing themselves. And that, too, is a big deal.
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CONSTITUENT SERVICES CORNER
In the midst of the first phase of the District's Public Health Emergency, our office was inundated with requests for help with unemployment benefits. The Department of Employment Services (DOES) was deluged and not responding to a great many applicants. One request for help from our office was from a Ward 8 single father with two children. For two months he made call after call to DOES to get his benefits. To no avail.
Once he contacted our constituent services team, we jumped into action.
One week later we were able to inform the father that he would soon be receiving benefits.
If you’re out of work, but working hard, trying to get the government to respond, reach out to our constituent services team.
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Other News
Last week I appointed Pierre Oury as an alternate member of the Reagan National Airport Community Working Group. The Working Group was established several years ago by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in response to persistent noise complaints from communities near the airport’s flight paths.
Planes flying in and out of National Airport are supposed to follow the Potomac River, thereby limiting the noise impact on residential communities below. Residents on both sides of the River, however, can tell you that aircraft noise is still very much a problem. A big problem.
The Working Group is intended to advance the noise discussion beyond past community forums, toward identifying and recommending practical noise-mitigation initiatives for the entire National Airport area.
Members are appointed by Maryland and Virginia jurisdictions, as well as residents from Wards 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 appointed by me.
Vigorous participation by the District’s members is critical because, if you think about it, the Northern Virginia representatives would be happy to push the flight paths north and away from the Virginia shore, which would adversely affect the D.C neighborhoods along the river.
Ultimately, the best solutions will benefit everyone, not just the District. These include shifting flights from National to Dulles, fewer long-range flights out of National (because these tend to require larger, noisier airplanes), and improved flight paths so as to impact the fewest communities.
Mr. Oury, a resident of the Palisades, is an airline pilot with over 30 years’ experience. I am very hopeful that he will bring an expertise to the Working Group that will enable it to better push back the Federal Aviation Administration which has been recalcitrant in the search for solutions.
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As you know, the Committee of the Whole shares jurisdiction with the Council’s Committee on Education on matters pertaining to K-12 public education. Accordingly, we are planning several important oversight hearings this fall. Not yet scheduled, but in the works:
- A hearing on school security, especially in light of the Council’s decision last month to shift oversight of the private security contract from MPD to DCPS;
- A hearing on distance learning since the new school year will start without any in-school teaching. This hearing will look at related issues including attendance and access to digital equipment;
- A hearing, probably in November, on the Masters Facilities Plan (the one prepared by the Executive last year was disapproved by the Council, and we await a new one) which will be an opportunity to look at how the Mayor is addressing the enrollment crisis.
Also, the Committee of the Whole has scheduled a September 15th hearing on a Sense of the Council Resolution supporting efforts to rename Woodrow Wilson High School and, more broadly, the names of all public schools that are considered inappropriate. The resolution also calls on DCPS to update quickly its school naming protocol. Anyone wishing to testify must call the Committee at 724-8137 or email cow@dccouncil.us
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Upcoming Hearings
of the Committee of the Whole
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Public Hearing (9/15/20):
Elaine M. Carter Community Center Designation Act of 2019 (Bill 23-508)
Dr. Montague Cobb Way Designation Act of 2019 (Bill 23-532)
Lucy Diggs Slowe Way Designation Act of 2019 (Bill 23-533)
Elaine M. Carter Way Designation Act of 2019 (Bill 23-538)
Gail Cobb Way Designation Act of 2020 (Bill 23-609)
Lafayette-Pointer Park & Rec. Center Designation Act of 2020 (Bill 23-619)
Cecelia’s Way Designation Act of 2020 (Bill 23-680)
Black Lives Matter Plaza Designation Act of 2020 (Bill 23-787)
Earl Wright, Jr. Way Designation Act of 2020 (Bill 23-839)
Ronald “Ron” Austin Memorial Park Designation Act of 2020 (Bill 23-840)
September 15, 2020
9 a.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
Public Hearing:
Sense of the Council Woodrow Wilson High School Renaming
Protocol Resolution of 2020
(PR 23-892)
September 15, 2020
12 p.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
Public Hearing (9/17/20):
Closing a portion of Chesapeake Street, S.W., Magazine Road, S.W., and
Closing of Columbian Quarter Alley in Square 5860 Act of 2019 (B23-562)
Closing of a Public Alley in Square 2892, S.O. 19-47478, Act of 2019 (B23-580)
Closing of a Public Alley in Square 740, S.O. 18-41567, Act of 2020 (B23-656)
Closing of Public Streets and Alleys and Dedication of Land for Public...(B23-784)
September 17, 2020
10 a.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
Committee of the Whole Meeting
September 22, 2020
10 a.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
Legislative Meeting
September 22, 2020
11 a.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
Public Hearing:
Tax Revision Commission Reestablishment Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-316)
September 30, 2020
9 a.m. via Virtual Meeting Platform
For More Information on How to 'Attend' a Virtual Public Hearing & Meeting or to Testify for Public Hearings
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CHAIRMAN MENDELSON'S STAFF |
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The majority of the Chairman's Staff has shifted to telework during this public health emergency. Should you need to contact them, use the following information: |
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BECOME AN ELECTION WORKER!
80+ Vote Centers will be open Nov 3rd
What can you do to help? Not high risk?
Volunteer to be a poll worker!
The DC Board of Elections (DCBOE) is recruiting District residents to serve as Election Workers for Early Voting Week, starting Tuesday, October 27 - November 2, 2020, and the November 3, 2020 General Election. DCBOE needs responsible and reliable individuals to assist voters and to ensure a smooth voting process at polling locations throughout the city. Election Workers can earn up to $600, and training will be provided.
If you are interested in becoming an Election Worker, please complete an online application.
You may also contact the Call Center at 202-741-5283
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