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CITY COUNCIL HOLDING CRUCIAL HEARINGS, ROUNDTABLES & VOTES BEFORE SUMMER BREAK
Washington, D.C. — John A. Wilson Building — Since the end of June, 2018, the District of Columbia City Council has had fiery hearings and more explosive ones are upcoming.
DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC LAND
During the last week of June, many people spoke out to protect the Crummel School at a joint hearing held by Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Kenyan McDuffie. The Crummel School is a public asset in the center of Ward 5’s Ivy City neighborhood. Sarosh Olpadwala of DMPED wants to give the land around the school away to a real estate speculator for new luxury condos and a fish market development. There will be some “affordable” housing included. Ivy City families and neighbors testified in overwhelming opposition to any project that paves over the vast majority of the open area around the school at a time when the community desires green recreation space & experiential learning to uplift a community struggling with air quality and health issues, not to mention poverty. Link to Video of Hearing. The record is still open.
NOISE “ABATEMENT”
On July 2, 2018, local DC artists and buskers were put on notice of an “emergency” bill that give discretion to DC authorities to jail people who may be playing music or speaking out on the sidewalks and streets of DC. Kymone Freeman, of WEACT Radio, called the legislation for cultural “gentrification.” Jack Evans, Councilmember of Ward 2 cheered on the bill saying he was tired “the guys banging on big bucket drums . . . its horrible.” DC Culture makers and free-speech advocates will have a press conference at the Gallery Place Metro on July 9.
THIS WEEK: BARRY FARMS // DC GENERAL // SCHOOLS TRANSPARENCY // DC WATER BILLS // DC POLICE IN WARDS 7 AND 8 // DCRA ACCOUNTABILITY
The week after the fourth of July (7/9/18–) has a Council calendar key public hearings and roundtables:
- DEMOLITION AND PEOPLE’S LIVES AT DC GENERAL SHELTER Pausing the demolition of DC General shelter until all families are relocated safely in appropriate housing (a sign on letter has gone out to the Council). Council to take a vote on Councilmember Trayon White’s legislation to protect families at the shelter on, July 10, 2018.
- POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ANC Commissioner A. Lorenzo Green, “Because of the resilient young people in Deanwood, and the amazing work of so many organizations that have been waging this fight for years, we’ve been able to finally have a public hearing/roundtable on policing.” Judiciary & Public Safety Public Oversight Roundtable, Thursday, July 12, 2018, 9:30AM, Room 412, The Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety will hold a Public Oversight Roundtable on the following Matter: “Policing and Public Safety in Wards 7 and 8” >> http://dccouncil.us/events/judiciary-public-safety-public-oversight-roundtable6 - HISTORIC BARRY FARMS IN WARD 8
The future of this amazing Ward 8 historic land and public housing (The DC Housing Authority has scheduled a meeting for Barry Farms families in conflict on the same day) LINK. Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Public Roundtable, Thursday, July 12, 2018, 2:00PM, Room 123, The Committee on Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization will hold a Public Roundtable on the following Matter: “Barry Farm Redevelopment Update and Public Conversation” >> http://dccouncil.us/events/housing-neighborhood-revitalization-public-roundtable6 - DC WATER BILLS
Transportation & the Environment Public Hearing, Thursday, July 12, 2018, 10:30AM, Room 120, The Committee on Transportation & the Environment will hold a Public Hearing on the following Legislation: B22-662, the DC Water Consumer Protection Amendment Act of 2018 >> http://dccouncil.us/events/transportation-the-environment-public-hearing15 - DCRA ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee of the Whole Public Hearing, Thursday, July 12, 2018, 9:30AM,
Room 500, The Committee of the Whole will hold a Public Hearing on the following matter: Bill 22-683, Substandard Construction Relief Amendment Act of 2018; Bill 22-684, Blighted Property Redevelopment Amendment Act of 2018 >> http://dccouncil.us/events/committee-of-the-whole-public-hearing47 - SCHOOLS TRANSPARENCY
Committee of the Whole & Education Public Hearing, Friday, July 13, 2018,
10:30AM, Room 500, The Committee of the Whole and Education will hold a Public Hearing on the following Legislation: Bill 22-776, District of Columbia Education Research Advisory Board and Collaborative Establishment Amendment Act of 2018 >> http://dccouncil.us/events/committee-of-the-whole-education-public-hearing