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Today, June 24, 2020, Councilmember David Grosso, Chairperson of the Committee on Education released the draft Report and Recommendations of the Committee on Education on the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget for Agencies Under Its Purview.
You can now access the documents below:
The Committee on Education will mark-up the District of Columbia FY21 Budget on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.
For Immediate Release:
June 19, 2020
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987
Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso, chairperson of the Committee on Education, today filed a resolution to disapprove D.C. Public School’s security contract with Security Assurance Management, Inc. which is administered by the Metropolitan Police Department.
“The District of Columbia, along with the rest of the nation, is re-examining the role of police in all aspects of our lives, including in our children’s schools. Currently, DCPS has one counselor for every 408 students. It has one psychologist for every 402 students and has one DCPS hired social worker for every 217 students. On the other hand, there is 1 security officer or special police officer for every 129 students. To me it appears as if we are more interested in policing our students than we are in ensuring their academic success,” said Grosso. “I am in active conversations with education leaders on how we move schools forward and better utilize the funding for this contract to invest in and support our students. The disapproval resolution allows the Committee on Education and the Council to continue those conversations throughout the remainder of the budget process.”
Councilmembers Robert White and Charles Allen, both members of the Committee on Education, along with Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau and Kenyan McDuffie, joined Grosso in introducing the disapproval resolution.
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For Immediate Release:
June 8, 2020
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987
Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso who will offer several amendments to the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 that will begin the demilitarization and reduction of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in the wake of sustained protests in the District of Columbia and across the globe:
“The past few weeks were another painful moment in the long history of white supremacy and police brutality that have plagued our nation since its founding. The protests in cities across the world have called out for police reform and I applaud Councilmember Charles Allen and the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety for their quick work among all that is going on to be responsive to community demands and pull this package together. My concern, though, is that the bill does not go far enough to fundamentally alter the dynamics of policing in the District of Columbia.
“Last week, we were all furious and unnerved by the occupation of the District of Columbia with the non-consensual deployment of federal troops and unmarked officers to our city streets, as well as the conduct of our own police department on Swann Street NW. For many of our residents, every day feels like an occupation because of how the police operate in their communities.
“The over policing of our communities and militarization of our police force must end.
“Tomorrow, I will propose four amendments. The first three will seek to reduce the use of military-style equipment and tactics by the police. The first would prohibit use of tear gas and other chemical agents on protesters, in accordance with permanent legislation introduced last week by Councilmember Brianne Nadeau. The second would further demilitarize the police by prohibiting use of rubber bullets and limiting the use of riot gear at demonstrations. Third, I’m proposing a ban on MPD participating in trainings with entities that practice discrimination or with any military or intelligence agency.
“The final amendment would limit MPD to a sworn officer force of 3,500. D.C. currently has 3,863 sworn officers, approximately 55 per 10,000 residents. That’s double the national average and well above other cities of its size or larger. D.C. would still lead the pack of similar cities with 50 officers per 10,000 residents under this new limit.”
“Even with these amendments the work will be incomplete. Police departments across the nation have grown too large and are relied upon for far too many of the issues that face our residents. Mental health. Homelessness. Substance abuse. Student discipline. This is the result of decades of failure by elected officials to solve non-violent issues in our communities without the police. I’m committed to making changes in the mayor’s budget proposal currently before the Council that will divert funding for the police in favor of investments in making our communities safe through greater economic security and strong social services. I will work with my colleagues to make that happen.”
“I had also planned to offer an amendment to tomorrow’s legislation to end stop-and-frisk, but have withheld that action for now in response to community requests. I will instead work with advocates and community members making the demands for changes to stop-and-frisk, as well as my colleagues, to introduce stand-alone emergency legislation on the topic at the next legislative meeting of the Council.”
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Nearly three years ago, Councilmember Grosso funded a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a public bank in the District of Columbia. Such an institution would enable D.C. to serve as a participation lender, partnering with–instead of competing against–local banks to drive lending to small businesses and others that have been historically denied access to credit.
Today, the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking finally published the feasibility study, which can be found here and below.
Over the coming months, the District will examine policies to create a stronger, more equitable financial footing for D.C., its businesses, and its workers. North Dakota’s experience shows that a public bank is one of them.
Public Bank Feasibility Study (FINAL) by Team_Grosso on Scribd
For Immediate Release:
June 2, 2020
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.286.1987 - mnocella@dccouncil.us
Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso:
“I share the outrage of many residents of our city about what occurred during the curfew last night. It began with an assault on protestors exercising their First Amendment rights in Lafayette Square shortly before 7pm and continued into the night, including downtown D.C. being buzzed by helicopters and protestors corralled by police on Swann Street, NW. The people have a right to peaceably assemble, but even that is being curtailed as the Secret Service has announced that access to Lafayette Square to the public will be prohibited indefinitely.
“The curfew and militarization of the police are only serving to increase conflicts between residents and police.
“The Mayor must:
Rescind tonight’s curfew;
End coordination with federal authorities who have demonstrated no interest in maintaining peace; and
Provide a full accounting to the Council and the public of the Metropolitan Police Department’s actions last night, in particular the deeply upsetting and terrifying images we saw on Swann Street, NW.
“This is a time of great pain, fear, and rightful outrage. We need leadership that is focused on healing, transparency, and accountability.”
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Dear Residents,
My heart breaks over the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery in recent weeks. Their deaths catalyzed protests for racial justice and police reforms that are long overdue across the nation, and here in the District of Columbia. Tragically, law enforcement has too often met those protests against police violence with more aggression. Our city has been in need of a new approach to policing for some time—a transformation of the Metropolitan Police Department into an agency whose highest priorities include non-violence, community engagement, internal accountability, and intervention when officers see misconduct.
This outrage at the injustice of racism comes at a time when the nation is in the midst of a once-in-a-century pandemic and record unemployment, all of which have been felt disproportionately by Black Americans. Our nation is in great pain and our future uncertain, especially as these concurrent crises are overseen by national leadership that at best seems uninterested in bringing about change and at worse intent on stoking the flames of racial animus.
Unfortunately, police reforms are not enough. The recent killings are merely symptoms of the systemic racism that runs through our country’s veins. This nation was built on the idea that Black bodies should be controlled, and Black lives are expendable. Though we have made progress, racism and white supremacy have not been stamped out and have been perpetuated from generation to generation.
White supremacy has been encoded in each of us, in every stage of our development. Most importantly, it is baked into our institutions. To have true racial justice in our country, we can’t only focus on it when another Black American is murdered. Our Black neighbors experience racism every day, when walking down the street, when at work, and even with friends. As white people, we must all take a hard look at ourselves, recognize that racism is a part of our world, and actively seek to confront it. It isn’t comfortable, but it is necessary, and it is a question of life and death.
Currently, the budget proposal before the D.C. Council expands our police department and continues the trend toward greater police militarization. The District of Columbia already has more police officers per capita than any other city in the nation, and yet our city is not any safer. What we truly need is an approach to our city’s safety that focuses on ensuring the economic security and physical and mental well-being of our residents. Investments in those areas go a lot further than continuing the failed approaches of the past.
I encourage all who have been tweeting, posting, and marching to get involved in our local government NOW. Make your voice heard at the Council’s hearings on the Metropolitan Police Department’s annual budget, and on the budgets that affect the health and economic security of our residents. D.C. is also in the midst of selecting the next leaders of our city. With tomorrow being the last day to vote in the D.C. primary, I urge you to voice your thoughts on how D.C. approaches policing and racial justice through the ballot box as you weigh the names seeking elected office.
With love,
David Grosso
Councilmember, At-Large
On March 3, 2020, Councilmember Grosso, chairperson of the Committee on Education, sent a letter to Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director of the D.C. Department of Heath (D.C. Health) with follow-up questions regarding her testimony at the Department of Health Performance Oversight Hearing. The councilmember requested further information from D.C. Health regarding health and gender equity in our schools, providing the required 40-hours of nurse coverage a week at every school, and provision of comprehensive sex education, including sexual violence prevention education.
Director Nesbitt and the Department of Health sent responses on May 22, 2020. That letter can be found below.
You can read the full letter and the responses below and here.
CM Grosso's Letter to DOH following POH by Team_Grosso on Scribd
DOH Response to CM Grosso's POH Letter by Team_Grosso on Scribd
Councilmember Grosso, as chairperson of the Committee on Education, has received responses from the following agencies under the committee’s purview as part of the FY2021 budget oversight process:
State Board of Education
Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education
Office of the Student Advocate
Public Charter School Board
D.C. Public Schools
Deputy Mayor for Education
District of Columbia State Athletic Association
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
You can find the Committee's questions and agencies’ responses here.
This post will be updated as outstanding agencies submit their responses, including:
D.C. Public Library
The Committee will hold virtual hearings for select agencies in June. A full schedule and procedures for the public to submit testimony to the Committee on Education can be found here.
For Everyone
Tax filing deadline extended: The deadline for D.C. taxpayers to file and pay their 2019 District of Columbia individual and fiduciary income tax returns, partnership tax returns, and franchise tax returns is extended to July 15, 2020. This means taxpayers will have an additional 90 days to file and pay from the original deadline of April 15, 2020. More info.
The Internal Revenue Service has also extended the federal filing and payment deadline to July 15, 2020.
Applying or re-applying for public benefits: Individuals who already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, DC Health Care Alliance, and other public benefits provided by the Department of Human Services, do not need to take any action at this time to continue receiving existing benefits that would otherwise expire on March 31 or April 30. Those benefits will be automatically extended.
For new applications for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Alliance or other public benefits, please go to dhs.dc.gov or visit their Service Centers to pick up a blank application. Applicants can drop off completed applications for benefits at DHS Service Centers and may be contacted by phone as necessary to complete the eligibility process. DHS is forgoing formal interviews for the time being and any subsequent questions will take place via phone. While there is no interim approval, because of the streamlined process (and the fact that all mid-certification and re-certifications have an automatic process), DHS is able to process new applications in less than 48 hours.
New applicants still have some verification requirements.
For Medicaid and Alliance: All verifications are waived except U.S. citizenship and eligible immigration status, which must be verified (for Medicaid but not Alliance). For all other eligibility factors, the agency accepts self-attestations.
For SNAP and TANF: verifications are still needed (we are working with the feds to obtain a waiver, and then would align TANF with that).
Residents with questions about their benefits should contact the Call Center at (202) 727-5355 from 7:30-4:45 pm.
Voting in the June 2 Primary and June 16 Ward 2 Special Elections: District officials are encouraging all residents to request mail-in ballots to ensure they can exercise their right to vote while maintaining social distancing during the ongoing public health emergency.
Voters can request mail-in ballots online by clicking here, via the DC Board of Elections’ mobile app (vote4dc), or by mailing or dropping off in person a ballot request form to the DC Board of Elections, 1015 Half Street SE, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20003. Voters can also call the DCBOE at (202) 727-2525 or (202) 741-5283, but due to expected high volumes of callers, calls may not be answered immediately.
As a result of COVID-19 pandemic guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other health experts, the District of Columbia’s 144 voting precincts, which contain the polling stations where voters cast their ballots, will remain closed on election days in June 2020.
Instead, the 15 early voting centers, where early voting typically occurs, will be expanded to 20 to accommodate additional voters. The BOE strongly urges voters to request a mail-in ballot instead of voting in person.
Click here full information from the DC Board of Elections on how to Vote Safe!
DC Mutual Aid Network is a relief system where members of the D.C. community come together to support one another during the pandemic. Mutual aid creates a symbiotic relationship, where all people offer material goods or assistance to one another. The mutual aid network is volunteer-run and driven by the needs articulated by community members.
Find ways to access the network in your ward here.
Essential items and food delivery: District residents who have been directed by a medical provider to self-quarantine, or have no other means to acquire essential items can access the COVID-19 Needs Hotline and Web Portal to request food and other essential items be delivered to your homes. Qualifying residents can also call 1-888-349-8323 or visit coronavirus.dc.gov/gethelp to request assistance.
For Students & Learners
Free meals: Families in need of meals for their students may pick up shelf-stable breakfasts and to-go lunches at any of the 20+ locations across the District. ALL students (public, charter, private) are welcome. The following links below are updated daily with new meal sites, including DC Central Kitchen mobile sites, and can be used to find meal locations closest to you.
Please note: Meal sites are operating at different times, look below each location to find out when they are open for meal pick-up.
List of DCPS, charter school, DC Central Kitchen meal sites and Metro bus lines serving these meal sites: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/mealsites
EmpowerK12’s meal site finder tool: https://empowerk12.org/student-meals-covid-19
The Mayor has announced the creation of the DC Education Equity Fund to be used to increase access to the Internet and purchase digital devices for students who need them to complete distance education. Residents can learn more about the Fund and how to give at http://dcedequity.org.
Free & reduced internet plans: Due to the modified schedules and distance education plans for all District schools, Comcast and Spectrum will be offering free internet access to low-income families whose students need remote education access. For more information:
Spectrum: https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/coronavirus-covid-19-information-spectrum-customers/
D.C. Public Library closed, but resources available online: All DC Public Libraries are currently closed. The Library will be locking all book drops so please keep borrowed items until the Library reopens. All late fees will be waived and hold expirations will be extended. DCPL invites you to explore their digital offerings by visiting goDigital. goDigital contains over 15 million free online movies, eBooks, music and more from the DC Public Library, all free with your library card. Don’t have a library card? Apply online.
Learning about coronavirus: PBS has a guide for caregivers on how to talk to your kids about coronavirus and NPR published a comic about coronavirus just for kids to learn about the ongoing pandemic.
For Families
Families seeking access to additional food resources during the public health emergency can now acquire groceries from any of the 10 weekday grocery distribution sites at District schools in partnership with Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen. Residents can pick up pre-packed grocery bags, which include fresh produce and dry goods.
Please note that groceries are being distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Distribution sites are available to all families in need of food access and are open Monday – Friday, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.:
Monday:
(Ward 5) Brookland Middle School, 150 Michigan Avenue, NE
(Ward 6) Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol Street, NE
Tuesdays:
(Ward 7) Kelly Miller Middle School, 301 49th Street, NE
(Ward 8) Stanton Elementary School, 2701 Naylor Road, SE
Wednesdays:
(Ward 4) Coolidge High School/Ida B. Wells Middle School, 6315 5th Street, NW
(Ward 7) Woodson High School, 540 55th Street, NE
Thursdays:
(Ward 8) Anacostia High School, 1601 16th Street, SE
(Ward 7) Kimball Elementary School, 3375 Minnesota Avenue, SE
Fridays:
(Ward 8) Ballou High School, 3401 4th Street, SE
(Ward 1) Columbia Heights Education Campus, 3101 16th Street, NW
For Tenants and Homeowners
Evictions and utility cut-offs prohibited: The Council has passed legislation prohibiting evictions and utility cut-offs for electric, gas, and water services during the public health emergency. Tenants, homeowners, and consumers should report violations of these new protections to the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection by:
Calling (202) 442-9828
Emailing Consumer.Protection@dc.gov
For Seniors
The Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) remains operational: They will continue to provide service, however, there may be changes to how some services are provided. If you need assistance, you may call (202) 724-5626 to learn more about DACL’s operating status, programs, and services. Click here for more info.
Local groceries reserving hours for seniors to shop: Local grocery stories have set aside operational hours for seniors and other individuals who are vulnerable to coronavirus to shop.
Giant: 6am-7am daily is for "seniors and other vulnerable folks" (starts Friday 3/20).
Safeway: 7am-9am Tuesday & Thursday.
Target: 8am-9am, daily.
Whole Foods: 7am-8am, daily, for those 60 years of age or older.
For Workers
Unemployment benefits expanded: Workers whose jobs have been affected in some way by the public health emergency may be able to claim unemployment insurance with no waiting period and no requirement to be actively searching for work. You can apply for unemployment online through the D.C. Department of Employment Services or via phone at 202-724-7000. Councilmember Silverman, who chairs the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, has put together a handy resource guide for unemployment insurance.
For excluded workers who are not eligible to receive unemployment insurance: We recognize that some workers have been excluded from the unemployment benefits eligibility, but various community organizations have come together to serve street vendors, sex workers, hospitality workers and more who cannot access funds at this time. Below is a list of organizations and their resources for those in need of support during the public health emergency, as well as ways to help communities in need.
For Domestic Workers
The National Domestic Workers Alliance has established the Coronavirus Care Fund to provide emergency assistance for home care workers, nannies and house cleaners to support them in staying safe and staying home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and to care for themselves and their families.
You can learn more about COVID-19 resources available to domestic workers here.
For Hospitality Workers
DC Virtual Tip Jar: Local community members and fellow service workers have a “virtual tip jar” to help bartenders and servers from their favorite establishments. There is a public spreadsheet with the names of workers and where they are (or were) employed. Hospitality workers who want to be added just need to fill out this simple questionnaire.
Another Round Another Rally is helping hospitality workers facing unprecedented hardship by supplying relief grants. If someone holds any type of hospitality role - chef, server, bartender, dishwasher, sommelier, manager- and has lost their job or had their hours slashed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, they are eligible to apply.
Learn more about how to participate here.
Chef Edward Lee’s Restaurant Workers Relief Program - Chef Edward Lee and his partners at Knead Hospitality have transformed their Penn Quarter restaurant Succotash on 915 F St., NW into a relief center to help restaurant workers who’ve been laid off or had their hours and pay slashed.
Every day from 5 to 8 PM, the program is offering free to-go meals, fresh produce, and other supplies such as diapers, aspirin, and canned foods. Around 250 meals will be available every evening with a limit of two per person. To participate, bring an ID and proof of recent restaurant employment (such as a paystub).
Those wanting more information can email Christina Perdomo at christina@kneadhd.com.
Hook Hall hospitality industry assistance center- The Park View Hook Hall location is providing restaurant and bar workers with free meals and emergency supply kits containing everything from toilet paper to canned soup. Together with the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, they created a coronavirus worker relief fund that will aid those efforts.
You can learn more about the fund here.
For Street Vendors
Many Languages One Voice is using donated funds and resources to support local street vendors who are most in need. The funds will be used to buy gift cards that people can use for groceries and food. You can check out their work and resources here.
For Sex Workers
Relief Fund for Sex Workers: No Justice No Pride, HIPS and other #DecrimNow organizations are collaborating on a relief fund to D.C. and DMV-based sex workers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. As has been reported, sex workers are facing unique challenges with the pandemic. Funds acquired from relief donations will be used to provide emergency microgrants to be given to transgender sex workers - for food, bill and travel assistance, for cleaning, hygiene, sanitation and other related essentials, housing, and replenishing supplies provided by DecrimNowDC Groups that are currently in high demand by community members.
You can learn more about this fund here.
For Businesses
Unemployment benefits expanded: Workers whose jobs have been affected in some way by the public health emergency may be able to claim unemployment insurance with no waiting period and no requirement to be actively searching for work. You can apply for unemployment online through the D.C. Department of Employment Services or via phone at 202-724-7000. Councilmember Silverman, who chairs the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, has put together a handy resource guide for unemployment insurance.
Local grants and loans for small businesses, nonprofits, individual contractors, and the self-employed: Pursuant to the “COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020” effective March 17, 2020 (D.C. Act 23-247), the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant Program will offer grants to small, local businesses, individual contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits to meet their short-term financial needs. The grant can cover employee wages and benefits (including fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities. Learn more and apply here.
Federal small business loans: Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has accepted the District of Columbia’s declaration for assistance in the form of economic injury disaster loans following the advent of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and DC businesses can start applying now. More info and how to apply: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/recovery
Tax payment due dates for businesses extended: The hotel property tax installment due date from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Other DCRA-licensed vendors required to file February 2020 and March 2020 returns for sales taxes must now file returns and pay in full the gross sales receipt taxes by June 30, 2020.
Restaurants can serve closed container alcohol to-go: Emergency legislation has authorized restaurants switching to carry out or delivery to serve closed-container wine, beer, and spirits along with food. Before an eligible restaurant may sell beer, wine, and spirits for carry-out and delivery, they must submit a brief online registration form. Registrants will receive an automatically generated email confirmation within minutes of their submission. Upon receiving written confirmation from ABRA, no further action is required and there is no fee to register or participate. More info from ABRA.
For Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
Low-barrier, emergency, family, and youth shelters will remain open.
Monday, March 16th through Wednesday, April 1st, low barrier shelters are extending daytime hours and serving meals.
The Virginia Williams Family Resource Center is closed for in-person interviews until April 1.
Families seeking emergency shelter should call the DC Shelter Hotline at 202.399.7093 or 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More info.
For Immigrants and Undocumented Residents
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has instituted exceptions to the public charge rule in order to encourage immigrants to get tested and treated for COVID-19 without fear of negative impacts on their visa extensions or green card processes. To help ensure that all of our residents understand their rights, the District of Columbia has released new FAQs regarding the Public Charge Rule and COVID-19.
We’ve reached out to United We Dream who indicated that any adverse financial effects because of COVID-19 would not count for a public charge determination. When applying for a green card, individuals should write a statement explaining how they were affected and include that in your adjustment of status application (this includes DACA recipients as well). If you have additional questions, Claudia Quinonez, Local Field Manager for United We Dream, has offered herself as a resource and can be reached at claudia@unitedwedream.org. Check out this helpful infographic from United We Dream.
While we understand that many undocumented individuals cannot access public benefits or health insurance, DC Health maintains a list of free, low-cost, or community health care centers located across the District of Columbia should you need medical attention. Check it out here and learn more through United We Dream's Healthcare access for Undocumented Folks in the Time of COVID19 Guide.
Ayuda is providing a wide range of immigration legal services to the immigrant populations in the DC metro area. The organization has created a fund for low-income immigrant neighbors during the COVID-19 health emergency that covers immediate needs such as food, emergency housing, medical care, and direct cash assistance.
To learn more about how to support or be supported by the fund visit their website for more information.
The Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation has created a resource guide for undocumented families who are navigating the COVID-19 public health emergency. To receive support or find additional information, you can visit their website.
For Health and Wellness
Protect everyone’s health through social distancing: To “flatten the curve” and stop the spread of the virus, public health experts advise against hosting social gatherings, mass congregations and engaging in any crowds. At this time, it is important to remain 6 feet apart from others, to limit germs being spread. You should also:
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds multiple times a day. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are not available
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
If feeling any type of symptoms, call your primary care provider and keep track of symptoms as they come. Listen to your doctor’s instructions before going to a healthcare facility and be sure to self-quarantine.
If coughing or sneezing into a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (door knobs, faucets, countertops)
Everyone who can should be staying home and only going out for essential trips for food or medicine. This is especially true for “high risk” individuals (older adults and those with preexisting/chronic medical conditions).
Protecting your mental health: Social distancing can be a difficult time for those experiencing depression and other mental health challenges. If you need someone to talk to during this time, the Department of Behavioral Health’s 24-hour hotline with telephone access to a mental health clinician and 24-hour suicide prevention lifeline (1-888- 793-4357) is always available and ready to serve. Learn more here: https://dbh.dc.gov/services. In the case of an emergency, the Community Response Team will continue to respond to adults in psychiatric crisis in the home or community for counseling and transportation to emergency treatment if needed.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also provides a 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. To access the hotline, call 1-800-273-8255 or chat online.
Accessing adequate supplies of prescription medications: Under emergency legislation, pharmacists may prescribe and dispense a one-time refill of patient prescription medications prior to the expiration of the waiting period between refills to allow residents to maintain an adequate supply of medication. CVS Pharmacy is waiving charges for home delivery of prescription medications. More info on that here.
Accessing domestic violence and sexual assault organizations: The COVID-19 public health emergency, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders can escalate an already abusive situation. For those experiencing any type of abuse at this time, advocates are working 24/7 for you.
For more information, including resources for victims looking to speak directly with an advocate, please contact the DC Victim Hotline (1-844-443-5732), access the organization’s online chat or find additional resources on the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website readily available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also ready to serve with their 24/7 hotline at (1-800-799-7233), however if survivors need a discreet form of contact, they can also access the organization’s website or text LOVEIS to 22522 for help.
For those experiencing or looking to report suspected child abuse of any kind, please contact D.C. Children and Family Services Agency's hotline at 202.671.7233 or visit Safe Shores DC at safeshores.org for access to resources and advocates.
For Medical Marijuana participants
The D.C. Department of Health and Mayor Bowser are now allowing District-registered dispensaries to provide medical marijuana to District residents registered as qualifying patients through delivery, curbside pickup, and at-the-door pickup options.
Medical marijuana dispensaries are considered essential businesses as healthcare and public health operators necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of District residents.
To qualify, dispensaries must comply with specific requirements outlined in the rulemaking found here.
For Volunteers
Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism & Partnerships – is the District of Columbia Government agency dedicated to promoting service. Visit their website for information about volunteer opportunities.
The District of Columbia (DC) Medical Reserve Corps (DC MRC) supports the DC Department of Health (DC Health) in its role as lead for public health and medical emergency preparedness, response and recovery by recruiting, training, and deploying medical and non-medical volunteers to assist with planned events and emergencies. Learn more and apply here.
Councilmember Grosso, as chairperson of the Committee on Education, has received responses from the following agencies under the committee’s purview as part of the annual performance oversight process:
State Board of Education
Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education
Office of the Student Advocate
Public Charter School Board
Deputy Mayor for Education
D.C. Public Schools
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
You can find the Committee's questions and agencies’ responses here.
This post will be updated as outstanding agencies submit their pre-hearing responses, including D.C. Public Library and D.C. State Athletic Association.
The Committee will hold performance oversight hearings from late January until early March. A full schedule and form for public witnesses to sign-up to testify can be found here.
Councilmember Grosso, as chairperson of the Committee on Education, sent to the agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction the pre-hearing questions for the annual performance oversight process, covering fiscal year 2019. You can find the questions posed to each agency at the links below:
Performance oversight hearings will be scheduled between January 29 and March 6. More detailed information on specific hearing dates, times, and locations will be published once finalized.
Today, Councilmember David Grosso sent his letter to Mayor Bowser with his priorities for her to consider as she develops Fiscal Year 2021 District of Columbia budget proposal. The letter highlights that greater investments in schools is needed to support our students' needs and our educators' missions. Highlights include:
Requests a 4% increase in per-student funding for new support staff and trauma-informed training.
Requests $3M to support the early literacy intervention grant program to get students on reading level by third grade.
Requests $1.5M to study, support, and expand student safe passage to school.
Requests $250,000 for arts and humanities education data collection and visualization.
Requests a restoration of $825M in capital funding to accelerate school modernizations and ensure additional school communities receive a safe, healthy, and modern facility sooner.
Requests inclusion of full capital funding to provide the Congress Heights community assurance that a free-standing, modern Parklands-Turner Library branch is on the way.
Read the full letter below.
20191218 FY21 Budget Letter... by Team_Grosso on Scribd
Councilmembers David Grosso and Anita Bonds sent a letter to Chairman Phil Mendelson today requesting that he hold a hearing and mark up of permanent legislation to rename the holiday observed on the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples’ Day given the overwhelming support shown by councilmembers for temporary legislation in October.
“The renaming of the holiday observed on the second Monday in October to Indigenous Peoples’ day aligns with the values of equality, diversity, and inclusion which the District of Columbia holds in high esteem,” the councilmembers wrote. “…You may disagree with a supermajority of the Council but recognize that we can have an amicable legislative process despite our differences.”
For nearly 5 years, permanent legislation has been introduced to rename Columbus Day, but Chairman Mendelson has opposed the bill and never held a hearing. In October, Councilmember Grosso moved emergency legislation to bypass the Committee of the Whole and force a vote of the full Council on the legislation. Eleven of the thirteen members of the Council voted to pass the measure and the Mayor signed it into law. The District of Columbia celebrated it’s first-ever Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 14, 2019.
“It is not unprecedented for a committee chairperson to move a bill out of committee despite personal opposition or differences,” they wrote in the letter, citing then-Councilmember Yvette Alexander’s opposition to the Death with Dignity Act of 2016 which was eventually passed into law. “In her remarks at that markup, the Councilmember noted that this was not a bill that she supported and that while she and other members may disagree, all of us are working in the best interests of the residents of the District of Columbia. I find that sentiment to be true here as well.”
You can read the full letter below.
Today, Councilmember David Grosso sent a letter to Dr. Barbara Bazron, Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, requesting answers to the ongoing water contamination emergency at St. Elizabeths Hospital.
“I appreciate the information you have shared and the efforts you have undertaken to this point. While I am frustrated that the water emergency plan and communication about it could have been better implemented, I was willing to wait to examine the issue further after the immediate emergency was abated,” wrote Grosso. “Now that the initial treatment effort failed to resolve the problem, however, I believe that more urgent action is needed.”
Grosso posed questions to the Department about patient safety, contingency, and communications plans as the emergency continues. He requested answers to those by the end of day Friday, October 25th, 2019
PRESS RELEASE | FACT SHEET | PAMPHLET | PRESENTATION
On May 3, 2019, the Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2018 became effective law. Not only did the law end the criminal and civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse, it also opened a two year window for victims to file civil claims even if they were previously time-barred under the old statute of limitations.
Now individuals have until the age of 40, or 5 years from when they knew, or reasonably should have known, of any act constituting sexual abuse, whichever is later, to file a civil action. The window closes on May 3, 2021.
Councilmember David Grosso has partnered with the Zero Abuse Project and National Crime Victim Bar Association to educate the public and raise awareness of this two year window and connect victims to resources to heal and seek justice.
Councilmember Grosso and the Zero Abuse Project hosted a town hall on Nov. 6, 2019 at 6pm in the John A. Wilson Building to discuss changes to the statute of limitations requirements for child sexual abuse in states and cities around the country.
Zero Abuse Project Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dion guided a conversation with leading child welfare advocates and sexual abuse prevention experts about a new opportunity for survivors of child sexual abuse to seek justice. In addition, the townhall included the voices of survivors and the Councilmembers who have been critical in seeing the bill into law. You can find the full presentation from the town hall here.
Resources
National Sexual Assault Hotline - No matter the stage of recovery, confidential, anonymous support is available 24/7 for survivors and loved ones.
Call: 1.800.656.HOPE
Chat: hotline.rainn.org/online
DC Victim Hotline - Represents an unprecedented collaboration of service providers in DC who are working to seamlessly connect victims of crime to free, resources and to help them navigate the physical, financial, legal, and emotional repercussions of crime.
Call or text: 1.844.4HELPDC (1.844.443.5732)
Chat: www.DCvictim.org/chat
National Crime Victim Bar Association - Certified by the American Bar Association, NCVBA offers a referral service for survivors who would like to pursue civil suits. Referrals are based on type of case and location. Each survivor will be offered three referrals.
Other Resources
For criminal assistance
The Network for Victim Recovery of DC - https://www.nvrdc.org/
Ayuda - https://www.ayuda.com/
Councilmember David Grosso, joined by Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, inquired with the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles about the department’s use of facial recognition technology and possible sharing of photographs or other biometric data with other local or federal government agencies or private parties.
“We are deeply concerned about the rapid advancement and use of facial recognition technology, which has serious implications for the civil liberties and welfare of residents of the District of Columbia,” the councilmembers wrote in a July letter to Director Gabriel Robinson.
According to a recent report from the Georgetown Center for Privacy and Technology, several states have allowed Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to run facial recognition software on the driver license or non-driver identity card photographs of individuals without regularized immigration status. Further, the Government Accountability Office published a report in June detailing the far-reaching program at the Federal Bureau of Investigations to scan photographs held by state-level agencies through facial recognition technology.
In his response, Director Robinson indicted that the DMV has not shared any photographs or biometrics with ICE and closely follow existing D.C. law which strictly limits who they can share information with. DMV has no formal agreements with any agency other than the Central Collections Unit regarding unpaid parking and moving violations.
However, they also state that they make no effort inform limited purpose license holders that they do not share info with ICE, something that is important for that community to be aware of as many may be fearful of obtaining a drivers license if they think it could threaten their status in this country.
DMV Response to CM Grosso L... by Team_Grosso on Scribd
Councilmember David Grosso, joined by six of his Council colleagues, today sent a letter to District Department of Transportation Director Jeff Marootian in support of the Washington Area Bicycle Association’s proposed 20x20 plan which calls for the creation of 20 miles of protected bike lanes to be completed by the end of 2020.
You can read the letter below:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently accepting public comments on a proposed federal rule that would roll back civil rights protections for transgender individuals, making it more difficult for them to access vital health care in the United States.
Today, Councilmember Grosso ensured that the D.C. Council submits comments opposing the proposed rule-making.
Last November, Councilmember Grosso introduced–and the Council unanimously passed–the Sense of the Council in Support of Transgender, Intersex, and Gender Non-Conforming Communities Resolution of 2018 last November.
“Transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming people exist and deserve the full and equal protection under the laws of District of Columbia and the United States, the U.S. Constitution, and international law including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” reads the resolution. ”Stigma and discrimination based on gender identity or expression are well documented, including in a national survey of nearly 28,000 transgender individuals that found that…one-third of those who saw a doctor in the previous year faced discrimination. There is no evidence that ensuring civil rights protections for these communities causes harm to anyone else, and in fact leading national experts and associations in the fields of education, health care, child health and welfare, and support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence roundly reject any such claims and support nondiscrimination protections for transgender people.”
The resolution includes a requirement that the Secretary of the Council submit the resolution as public comment on any relevant proposed rule-making, on behalf of the Council of the District of Columbia. I will be following up to ensure that this happens. Today he sent a memorandum to Secretary Nyasha Smith to ensure it is submitted.
“While the Trump administration wants to give a green light to shelters, housing programs, doctors and medical institutions to turn away transgender people, in D.C. the law will not change,” Councilmember Grosso said in May. “Our local Human Rights Act explicitly protects our transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming, and non-binary residents, workers, and visitors from discrimination. It is critical that the D.C. government double down on its commitment to protect these community members from discrimination and get the word out that anti-transgender bias has no place in the District of Columbia.”
Members of the public are encouraged to submit their own comments opposing the proposed rule before the public comment period ends on August 13, 2019. You can visit https://protecttranshealth.org/ to learn more and submit your own comments.
PR22 1128 Introduction by Team_Grosso on Scribd
On June 21, 2019 Councilmember David Grosso and Councilmember Brianne Nadeau sent a letter to chair of the Board of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority Max Brown in advance of his re-nomination.
The councilmembers stated their unequivocal opposition to the construction of a new stadium for the Washington Football Team in the District of Columbia, citing both the team’s use of an offensive mascot and racist name; and the failure of NFL stadiums to generate the promised economic growth. They requested more information regarding his views and any actions he has taken to pave the way for the team’s return to D.C.
Mr. Brown responded today, June 28, in a letter the indicated his awareness of the councilmembers’ opposition, but would not rule out that the RFK Campus could be anchored by a new stadium for the Washington Football Team. He did however acknowledge that the ultimate decision will be left up to elected officials, including the Council.
You can read both letters below.
Response to Grosso_Nadeau Letter 6-28-19 by Team_Grosso on Scribd
Today Councilmember Grosso, chairperson of the Committee on Education, and Chairman Phil Mendelson sent the below letter to D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee requesting more information on issues raised at the June 26 hearing on school budgeting, including what the scope of their projected deficit is for the current and next fiscal years. They have requested a response by Friday, July 12, 2019.
Update July 12, 2019: Chancellor Ferebee sent a response to Councilmember Grosso and Chairman Mendelson. You can read it here and below.
06272019 DCPS Letter on Bud... by on Scribd
DCPS Budget Transparency Hearing Response by Team_Grosso on Scribd
