Washington Football Team’s name retirement is a win for activists

For Immediate Release
July 13, 2020

Contact
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Washington Football Team’s name retirement is a win for activists

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso released the following statement regarding the announcement by the Washington Football Team that they would end the use of its name, a dictionary-defined racial slur, and racist logo:

“I am overjoyed at the Washington Football Team’s commitment to end their use of a racial slur for the team’s name and racist imagery for its logo and mascot. No longer will Native Americans be dishonored and disrespected every Sunday, every time a news outlet reports on that name, or every time a fan dons their apparel.

“A lot of praise will be lavished on the corporate sponsors who finally began to speak up and threaten Dan Snyder’s bottom line. But, there are so many Native individuals and groups and their allies who have been fighting for this change for decades and whose hard work and dedication deserve recognition. Suzan Harjo, Amanda Blackhorse, Crystal Echo Hawk, David Glass, Ray Halbritter, the National Congress of American Indians, Kevin Gover at the National Museum of the American Indian, Rebrand Washington Football and anyone who stood up and spoke out against this nearly 90 year injustice. They made a demand and those in power have finally conceded. This is their moment.

“Over the years I have had the honor of meeting with them, protesting with them, delivering petitions with them, and doing what I could to put the pressure on the team from the Council of the District of Columbia. I thank them all for allowing me to be a part of this movement and for never taking ‘NEVER’ as an answer.”

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Chief Newsham has to go

For Immediate Release:
July 9, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Chief Newsham has to go

Statement of At-Large Councilmember David Grosso

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso regarding the letter he sent to Mayor Muriel Bowser formally requesting her to relieve Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham of his position:

“Police impunity has persisted for too long, including right here in the District of Columbia. Earlier this week, the Council took what I hope is only a first step into reforming, reimagining, and ultimately dismantling the police department as we know it today. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 is an effort to hold individual police officers more accountable for their misconduct than we have in the past. However, D.C. has needed a culture shift at the Metropolitan Police Department for years now, one that requires us to demand more accountability of the police leadership that enables this misconduct. In order for D.C. to move forward on this reform, Chief Newsham needs to go.

“Chief Newsham has regularly engaged in an adversarial, rather than collaborative, relationship with the Council, even on piecemeal reforms. If we were to judge the bill and annual budget the Council passed based on the reaction of the Chief of Police, as well as the mayor, you would think we were firing half the officers in the city. The Chief has insulted the Council, Councilmember Allen in particular, and implied that this bill will increase crime and police brutality. A less generous reading of his comments may view them as threats.

“The recent demonstrations on our streets are a direct response to policing not only in the United States, but specifically about how MPD is managed and conducts itself in the District of Columbia. As I wrote to the Mayor, Chief Newsham pushes an outdated tough on crime approach to policing that results in violence and harassment of untold numbers of people, mostly Black, across our city. Meanwhile, crime keeps increasing. He has been responsible for thousands of illegal arrests and has cost our city millions in settlements. He has shown his contempt for protestors from Pershing Park to the 2017 Inauguration to Black Lives Matter Plaza, where he continues to direct police to attack demonstrators, using tear gas and violence in direct contradiction of the law we passed just weeks ago.

“While I noted many of these problems when the Chief was first appointed, and I voted against him, I hoped I would be proven wrong. All of the evidence, including this week’s credible revelation that he has misrepresented MPD’s involvement in the June 1 police attack on protestors, shows that, unfortunately, I was not. With whatever shred of confidence I had left for him now squandered, the time has come for new leadership at MPD.”

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You can read the letter to the Mayor here and below:

Letter to Mayor Bowser Re MPD Chief by Team_Grosso on Scribd

Paid family leave benefits start July 1 in D.C.

For Immediate Release:
June 26, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Paid family leave benefits start July 1 in D.C.

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso released the following statement regarding the Chief Financial Officer’s certification of sufficient funds to begin the payout of benefits on July 1, 2020 under the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act, which Councilmember Grosso introduced along with Councilmember Elissa Silverman:

“This is monumental. Today’s certification by the CFO finally makes universal paid family leave a reality in the District of Columbia and creates an economy that works for both residents and businesses alike. No longer will working families in D.C. be forced to make the difficult choice between earning a paycheck or caring for a new family member or ailing loved one. Businesses across the District now have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining highly qualified employees with a progressive benefit that they can offer to every employee  at a fraction of the cost of providing it themselves.

“I want to thank Councilmember Elissa Silverman for her partnership in introducing this bill and her tenacious oversight of its implementation. I also greatly appreciate the hard work of Department of Employment Services Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes and the advocacy efforts of the D.C. Paid Leave Coalition, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Family Values @ Work, and others in articulating the need for paid family leave in the District of Columbia.  We would not be where we are today without all of their incredible work.”

Under the program employees who have a child through birth, adoption, foster care or other legal placement will be eligible for up to eight weeks of paid leave.  It also provides up to six weeks of paid leave to D.C. workers to care for a family member experiencing a serious health condition, and up to two weeks for a personal serious health condition. Workers will be able to receive up to 90 percent of their wages in those periods, capped at $1,000 per week.

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Councilmember Grosso files resolution to disapprove school security contract administered by MPD

For Immediate Release:
June 19, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Councilmember Grosso files resolution to disapprove school security contract administered by MPD

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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Councilmember Grosso to offer amendments to demilitarize and reduce MPD

For Immediate Release:
June 8, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Councilmember Grosso to offer amendments to demilitarize and reduce MPD

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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D.C. residents need confidence in their elections

For Immediate Release:
June 3, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.286.1987 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

D.C. residents need confidence in their elections

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso on the administration of the June 2, 2020 primary election in the District of Columbia:

“Our nation and city are in historically uncertain times. The District of Columbia should not add a mismanaged election and its ambiguous outcome to the mix. The people must have confidence that their voices were heard at the ballot box and will be in the future.

“Yesterday, there were widespread reports of missing absentee ballots, excessively long wait times at polling centers, and confusion created by the Mayor’s unnecessary and ill-advised curfew that was imposed on an Election Day. The Board of Elections owes the public and the D.C. Council an explanation of what went wrong and how these failings will not be repeated in two weeks for the Ward 2 Special Election and in the November General Election. Additionally, the Board should stand by its previous commitment to release election results on a regular basis as they are calculated.”

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D.C. should rescind curfew and demilitarize police

For Immediate Release:
June 2, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.286.1987 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

D.C. should rescind curfew and demilitarize police

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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A Letter to the Community: We must confront racism in our institutions and in ourselves

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

D.C.’s commitment to human rights is even more important during coronavirus pandemic

For Immediate Release:
April 17, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.286.1987 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

D.C.’s commitment to human rights is even more important during coronavirus pandemic

Councilmember Grosso calls for greater efforts to protect health and safety of inmates

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso on the need to center human rights of incarcerated D.C. residents during the District government’s response to the coronavirus public health emergency:

“Yesterday’s commemoration of Emancipation Day reminds all of us in the District of Columbia of our obligation to human rights, racial equity, and freedom. We must remain fully committed to those obligations in our response to the coronavirus crisis. Regardless of the issue we are tackling it is imperative that every day we lift up the voices of our residents that are most often left behind.

“I am extremely concerned with the disparate impact of the coronavirus on our vulnerable populations, particularly residents in the D.C. jail and federal Bureau of Prison facilities. A new independent inspector’s report has raised serious concerns about the conditions that inmates and staff face at the D.C. jail and on Monday a prisoner tragically became the first person at the facility to die from COVID-19.  The District of Columbia government must act urgently to prevent that number from skyrocketing. Yet the fractured control over our criminal legal system—between local and federal agencies—inhibits our ability to do so. We cannot let that challenge stop us.

“The Mayor and her executive agencies, the D.C. Council, D.C. Superior Court, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Parole Board, prosecutors, and public defenders have all taken important steps to mitigate the grave risk that COVID-19 poses to incarcerated individuals and staff working in the criminal legal system. Limiting new entries, expediting releases, and improving conditions are critical to reducing the tremendous harm of this pandemic. However, we must do more to avoid the disastrous results we are seeing in other jurisdictions, where hundreds of prisoners have tested positive for the virus.

“The Council and Mayor must identify more ways to release as many people as possible who do not present a danger to the community, whether those individuals are housed in our jails, St. Elizabeths Hospital, or in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities. However, the status of most of those individuals who remain behind bars is determined by federal agencies. The Superior Court, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Parole Board, and Bureau of Prisons must increase their efforts to expedite release of those already eligible as well as expand release eligibility. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in particular, has unnecessarily opposed the release of more people, endangering their wellbeing. No one is sentenced to death in D.C., and no one should die from this virus while incarcerated when they could have been released.  

“Some constituents worry that the orders to stay at home and for people to wear masks in many settings could lead to new people entering the criminal legal system. I am thankful for the Mayor’s clear and consistent emphasis not on confrontation, but on education. We have seen the unfortunate results from other jurisdictions when outdated mentalities of policing are applied to this situation—several officers yanking a man off of a bus for not wearing a mask, for example. We must ensure that nothing like that happens here.

“This pandemic is exacerbating already harmful problems in society, many a result of our country’s racist past and present. We must be extra vigilant in counteracting these issues with our emergency response. Combating racism and its legacy is what Emancipation Day is all about. That effort is even more important during this crisis.”

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Grosso urges Mayor to include support for independent artists in new public health emergency grant program

Today Councilmember David Grosso, along with Chairman Phil Mendelson, and Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Elissa Silverman, Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, Mary Cheh, Brandon Todd, Charles Allen, Vince Gray, and Trayon White, sent a letter to Mayor Bowser urging her to include individual musicians, artists and other independent contractors who are already suffering from lost earnings, in the new public health emergency grant program.

“The musician or deejay who would play at the shuttered nightclub needs just as much help as the employees at that same business who are able to access unemployment insurance. Please consult with residents who are self-employed in the creative economy in your development of this program. Their involvement is necessary for this effort to achieve its goals.”

You can read the letter below:

Grosso Letter to Mayor on Independent Artists by Team_Grosso on Scribd

Government Operations Committee unanimously approves Councilmember Grosso’s bill to protect reproductive health rights in the District of Columbia

For Immediate Release:
January 22, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Government Operations Committee unanimously approves Councilmember Grosso’s bill to protect reproductive health rights in the District of Columbia

Statement of Councilmember David Grosso

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso, member of the Committee on Government Operations, on today’s unanimous approval of his Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2019 by the Committee on Government Operations:

“Today we celebrate 47 years of reproductive health freedom in the United States. On this day in 1973, the Supreme Court decided the landmark case Roe v. Wade, extending Constitutional protection to an individual’s decision to have an abortion.  However, states across the country–emboldened by an anti-choice president and Republican Senate majority that has radically reshaped the federal judiciary–seek to attack and weaken one’s right to make their own reproductive health choices free from government interference. It is more important than ever to enact policies that articulate a positive right protecting safe, legal abortion.

 “Today, Committee on Government Operations set the District of Columbia on a path to join a growing movement of states that seek to positively and proactively protect the people’s right to make their own reproductive health decisions. My Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2019 will enshrine a positive right to choose into the D.C. Human Rights Act, leaving no doubt that D.C. residents have the right, in consultation with their doctor and free from government interference, to make medical decisions about contraception, abortion, or carrying a pregnancy to term.

 “I appreciate Councilmember Brandon Todd’s leadership of the Committee on Government Operations and his swiftly advancing this legislation through the legislative process. I urge Chairman Mendelson to continue that momentum through quick consideration by the Committee of the Whole and full Council.

“Everyone deserves more access to health care, not less. We need lasting protection for reproductive health access now, no matter what happens in Congress, in other states, or in the courts. This bill will help to secure a future that safeguards abortion care and respects decision-making.”

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Councilmember Grosso votes against Brian Kenner for Events DC board

For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Grosso votes against Brian Kenner for Events DC board

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso on his vote against the advancement of the mayor’s nomination of former Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner to the board of EventsDC:

“My vote against the nomination of Brian Kenner to the Events DC board was a vote against the continued culture of cronyism that we have repeatedly seen out of the mayor’s office whenever positions open up on the various boards and committees that are meant to provide the public greater input in the function of government entities. Rather than a former deputy mayor that now works for corporate giant Amazon and who carried out an agenda that has exacerbated the negative effects of gentrification in our city and left thousands behind, I believe the mayor should focus on including the voices of those most impacted by gentrification and who is dedicated to working on behalf of our city’s most vulnerable residents.”

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The criminalization of sex work has caused more harm than good. D.C. needs a new approach.

For Immediate Release:
October 17, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

The criminalization of sex work has caused more harm than good.

D.C. needs a new approach.

Statement of Councilmember David Grosso

Washington, D.C. – The following is Councilmember David Grosso’s opening statement delivered at the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety hearing on the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019, which would abandon the District of Columbia’s criminalization approach to sex work in favor of one that focuses on human rights, health, and safety:

“Thank you, Councilmember Allen, for convening this hearing today.

“This is a historic occasion as we consider how we as the government and the community should treat commercial sex and, most importantly, how we can better protect the human rights of the people involved.

“Earlier this year, along with Councilmembers Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, and Anita Bonds, I introduced the bill before us today, the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019.

“Over the past 3 years I developed this legislation in close partnership with the Sex Worker Advocates Coalition, and the bill is in line with recommendations from Amnesty International, the World Health Organization, U.N. AIDS, Human Rights Watch, and numerous other human rights, public health, and anti-trafficking organizations.

“Since coming into office, I have met with and listened to sex workers and other people who trade sexual services for money as well as survivors of human trafficking.

“I met with them because all of my work at the Council is grounded in a human rights and racial equity framework.

“That means looking out for the human rights of the most marginalized communities, including people in the sex trade, and reconsidering policies that perpetuate racism.

“In listening to those most directly affected, I heard how criminalization and stigma cause tremendous harm to people in the sex trade.

“The challenges facing these members of our community are many: I have heard far too many stories of violence, including stabbings, beatings, shootings, rapes, and murder, all because the perpetrators think they can act with impunity against those in the sex trade.

“Worse, we hear of police refusing to help, blaming people in the sex trade for the violence they have suffered. Doctors and other professionals sworn to help instead of mistreating and shaming people. Evictions by landlords and discrimination by shelters and other social service providers.

“Police seize condoms and other safer sex materials, or prosecutors use them as evidence of crime.

“Threats of arrest, of no one believing you because you are just a whore, of being reported to ICE, and more, being used by traffickers and other bad actors to exploit people in the sex trade.

“What I heard and what research has shown is that criminalization of sex for money between consenting adults does not stop these harms from happening.

“Rather, criminalization directly encourages these harms by further marginalizing people, saddling them with criminal records, making them fear the government, and labeling them as criminal and deviant and therefore acceptable targets for violence.

“People in the sex trade and those who work with them are not the only ones who know that the criminalization approach has failed.

“Ask any neighbor in an area where commercial sex happens, and they will tell you that the activity persists, despite police patrols, raids, stings, or marching sex workers across the bridge to Virginia as was done in the ‘80s.

“I often refer to an article from April 28, 2017, in the Washington Post describing the arrests of eight people on prostitution charges at Massachusetts and Twelfth NW.

“The article notes that a similar incident happened in 2014 at the same corner—police arrested 19 people that time. And in 1995, a sergeant was quoted in yet another article in the Post arguing that the latest arrests at the corner had tackled the problem.

“Arresting adults for engaging in consenting sexual acts for money does not stop it from happening and it does not address the other problems that we are concerned about, whether serious ones like violence and exploitation or more trivial but still important ones like condoms on sidewalks.

“It is overdue for D.C. to change how we address commercial sex in our city and seek a new approach that focuses on human rights, health, and safety.

“What is the best approach to achieve those goals? People who trade sex for money tell me that we need to decriminalize consensual sex for money between consenting adults.

“By removing criminal penalties for those in the sex trade, we can bring people out of the shadows, help them live safer and healthier lives, and more easily tackle the complaints we hear from communities about trash or noise.

“Perhaps most importantly, this is about giving people more options, not fewer.

“In New Zealand where this approach has been in place for over a decade, sex workers report feeling safer and better able to assert their rights.

“A report last winter from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that sex workers in criminalized contexts were three times more likely to face physical and sexual violence than those in jurisdictions with less policing.

“The internationally respected medical journal the Lancet estimates that 33 to 45 percent of HIV cases could be prevented by the removal of criminal penalties from commercial sex.

“Contrary to what you may have heard, this bill does not change any of our laws regarding coercion or exploitation, which will continue to be prohibited.

“Nor does it change how criminal penalties are used to combat the trafficking of minors.

“This has been the topic of much debate about the bill. Let me be clear, the bill maintains legal prohibitions on operating a house of prostitution, i.e. a brothel.

“And allow me to clarify another point of content—this bill does not legalize ‘pimping’.

“The use of coercion, force, or fraud by another person to compel someone to engage in commercial sex remains strictly illegal under this proposed legislation.

“To the contrary, by bringing people in the sex trade out of the shadows, we can fully engage them as partners in the fight against human trafficking, as recognized by international anti-trafficking organizations such as La Strada and Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women.

“Removing criminalization means we can work with people in the sex trade to prevent violence and tackle HIV, as groups from the United Nations to law enforcement to public health experts have all noted.

“Finally, because I believe this bill is a first step to improving community health and safety and because it is important to constantly assess the impact of our work on the Council, the bill creates a task force to study the effects of these changes.

“Particularly important to that effort will be recommendations for budget increases. We know that one of the best ways to fight human trafficking and to give people in the sex trade more options is by funding people’s basic needs.

“Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not note the incredible racial disparities in who is criminalized under our current system. Overwhelmingly, people who are African American are arrested and convicted of the offenses that this bill would decriminalize.

“Data from MPD shows that from 2014 to 2017, almost 74% of arrests for commercial sex were of African American people, with about 14% being Latina or Latino.

“Data from the D.C. Sentencing Commission shows that over the last two years, 89% of individuals convicted for prostitution-related offenses were African American. Since 2010, that percentage has been roughly the same, at 87%.

“We also know that the LGBT community, particularly transgender women, is disproportionately affected by the criminalization of commercial sex.

“This legislation is about reducing harm. I know that everyone here today shares that goal. We may have different opinions about the best approach, but let us assume the best intentions of each other.

“Keeping people safe, healthy, and with their human rights respected cuts across whether someone identifies as a sex worker, sex trafficking survivor, or is just doing what they need to do in order to pay the bills.

“We need to dramatically improve life for people in all these circumstances. The bill before us today may not be perfect, but its core tenets represent our best chance for significantly changing things for the better for the communities we all care about.

“Thank you, again, Councilmember Allen for holding this hearing.

“I know that it wasn’t easy, but you took up the challenge of furthering the discussion on this topic, and I’m grateful to you for that. Our city is better for it.

“Finally, thank you to everyone here today to testify. I look forward to the discussion.”

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Councilmember Grosso introduces bills to enhance representation in local government

For Immediate Release:
October 8, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Grosso introduces bills to enhance representation in local government

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso introduced three bills today that create a local government that is more representative, better reflects the preferences of residents, and includes those whose voices have been left out of local decisions.

“Over the past few weeks we have renewed our focus on making the District of Columbia the 51st state and finally ending the injustice that has deprived our residents of a voice in our federal government,” said Grosso. “While this fight is of paramount importance, it is equally important to examine the ways we can improve representation in our own local government.”

Accurately reflecting the will of voters

“Too often in the District of Columbia, we see victors emerge from a crowded field with far less than a majority of the vote,” Grosso said. “That may be even more likely to occur now as the Fair Elections program I introduced, and this Council passed, has successfully encouraged more residents to seek elected office.”

The Ranked Choice Voting Amendment Act of 2019 introduced by Grosso today would implement ranked choice voting, sometimes called instant runoff voting, in D.C. elections.

Ranked choice voting ensures that individuals receive a majority of the vote of the electorate by allowing voters to rank the choices on their ballots in order of preference. Tabulation of results proceeds in rounds. The first round eliminates the person with the fewest votes, then reallocates those votes to the voter’s second choice in the next round. This continues until one person receives a clear majority of the vote.

“This important legislation will increase voter turnout as voters will be free to mark their ballot for the candidate that they truly prefer without fear that their choice will help elect their least preferred candidate,” said Grosso.

Currently, Maine and 11 cities utilize ranked choice voting for their elections.

The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau, and Mary Cheh and was referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

A voice in government for permanent residents

Grosso also re-introduced the Local Residents Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2019, which allows permanent residents in the District of Columbia, who are on the path to U.S. citizenship, the right to vote in local D.C. elections for Mayor, Council, State Board of Education, Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and Attorney General.

“While our rallying cry for statehood has included the mantra ‘No taxation without representation’ the same can be said for our legal permanent residents who use our streets, send their children to our schools, and pay taxes just like any other resident—and deserve a voice in our democracy,” said Grosso.

The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Elissa Silverman, Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, Jack Evans, Brandon Todd, and Charles Allen and was referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

Greater representation in local government for all

Finally, Grosso introduced the Enhanced Representation Charter Amendment Act of 2019 which would reform the District of Columbia legislature to provide D.C. residents additional input into the local political process.

“I have often said that in a city as large as ours with a population greater than some states, 13 members can be insufficient to tackle the multitude of issues we see regularly in a meaningful way,” said Grosso.

The legislation creates a bicameral legislature for the District made up of a Senate of nine senators and an Assembly of twenty-seven Representatives. This bill also makes the elections to the legislature non-partisan, ensuring that one party primary does not serve as a de facto general election.

“With more representatives representing fewer residents, public input can be better captured at each stage of the legislative process,” said Grosso. “And additional elected officials and staff mean more time and thought dedicated to improving our legislative outcomes.”

The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Robert White and Brianne Nadeau and referred to the Committee of the Whole.

“While the residents of the District of Columbia deserve representation in the U.S. Congress, they also deserve a local government that better represents everyone who is affected by our decisions. One that truly reflects their preferences in candidates. And one that provides residents multiple avenues to affect the decisions we make every day on their behalf,” concluded Grosso.

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It’s time to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day in D.C.

For Immediate Release:
October 7, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

It’s time to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day in D.C.

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso ahead of tomorrow’s legislative meeting of the Council of the District of Columbia, where he will propose legislation to rename the holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day”:

“For at least five years now legislation supported by a majority of the Council that would honor our native populations and rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been stalled by Chairman Mendelson without any public input or hearing.

“Tomorrow, along with Councilmembers Allen, Bonds, Cheh, Nadeau, Trayon White, and Robert White, I will put forth legislation that will force a vote of the full Council to finally do the right thing by ending the celebration of the misleading narrative of Christopher Columbus on the second Monday in October.

“This move is not controversial. Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, North Carolina, Alaska, South Dakota, Oregon, and at least 130 cities and towns have now renamed the holiday, according to the New York Times.

“This is not just a movement in other areas of the country—I feel it right here in the District of Columbia every single day. I get letters from students requesting the name change; I know many schools use the holiday to honor Indigenous People instead of Christopher Columbus; and frankly, it’s an accident of history that Columbus is honored in this way.

“Columbus Day was officially designated as a federal holiday in 1937 despite the fact that Columbus did not discover North America, despite the fact that millions of people were already living in North America upon his arrival in the Americas, and despite the fact that Columbus never set foot on the shores of the current United States.

“Columbus enslaved, colonized, mutilated, and massacred thousands of Indigenous People in the Americas.

“We cannot continue to allow this history to be celebrated as a holiday in the District of Columbia. The government of the District of Columbia is clear that we are a government that values equality, diversity, and inclusion. Continuing to observe a holiday built on the celebration of oppression runs counter to those values.

“Already a majority of the Council has indicated their support to re-designate the second Monday in October through previous bills. It is my hope that we can come together tomorrow and honor Indigenous People and their rich history and cultural contributions with a “yes” vote ahead of October 14.”

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Councilmember Grosso joined by national advocates to encourage victims of sexual abuse to file civil claims under new law

For Immediate Release:
October 7, 2019
 
Contacts:
Councilmember Grosso: Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Zero Abuse Project: Melissa Green, 202.618.6961 - melissagreen@rational360.com

Grosso joined by national advocates to encourage victims of sexual abuse to file civil claims under new law

Washington, D.C. – Victims of sexual abuse in the District of Columbia may be eligible to file civil lawsuits against their abusers, even if previously barred by the statute of limitations under a law enacted by the D.C. Council last year.

The Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2018, which incorporated parts of Councilmember David Grosso’s Childhood Protection Against Sexual Abuse Amendment Act, ended the criminal statute of limitations and extended the civil statute of limitations for any case of sexual abuse–not just acts of sexual abuse that occurred while the survivor was a minor.

Additionally, the law created a two-year window for civil claims that were previously time-barred for survivors up to the age of 40 to be filed.

“The recent spate of high-profile cases involving allegations of and convictions for sexual abuse underscore the pervasiveness of sexual assault in America,” said Councilmember David Grosso at a press conference held today with advocates for survivors of sexual abuse. “The prevalence of these incidences, across every sector, from the Catholic Church to as far-reaching as the Office of the President of the United States, defies the word ‘problem.’ As policymakers, we have to ensure that every available option is afforded to those who have been harmed. This law will allow the many courageous survivors across the city to seek justice under the law.”

Previously, civil actions related to sexual abuse must have been commenced within 7 years of the date the victim attains the age of 18 or 3 years from when the victim knew, or reasonably should have known, of any act constituting the abuse, whichever is later. 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.

D.C. is leading the way along with seven states as part of a growing national movement to end statutes of limitation for sexual abuse. Grosso partnered with national organizations Zero Abuse Project and the National Crime Victims Bar Association to educate and raise awareness of the window for survivors to file civil lawsuits over the next two years.

“I want to thank Councilmember Grosso for his efforts to assist survivors and protect the children of the District of Columbia from future abuse. Because of this work, under the Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2018, survivors of child sexual abuse can now seek justice and hold predators and the institutions that covered for them accountable for decades of abuse,” said Jeffery Dion, CEO of the Zero Abuse Project. “Moving forward, the new law also removes the perverse incentives for institutions to cover abuse as they can no longer just wait out a short statute of limitations to protect their reputation. The Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2018 is in fact our most powerful tool to stop abuse and protect kids.”

The law became effective on May 3, 2019 and thus victims of sexual abuse whose claims had been previously barred due to the statute of limitations have until May 3, 2021 to file civil lawsuits against their abusers.

“As a survivor of child sexual abuse that occurred here in DC, I want to commend Councilmember Grosso for a critical first step for survivors. The two year window and extending the age to 40 from 25 is a huge victory,” said former NFL player Al Chesley, who survived sexual abuse at the hands of D.C. police officer in his youth. “It took 33 years after my abuse to be willing to admit it to myself and talk about it with others – I was 48 years old which also happens to be the national average for survivors to come forward -- so I encourage everyone working to support survivors of child sex abuse to continue to push until there is no statute of limitations for civil cases.” Chesley continued.

The National Crime Victim Bar Association 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.

“The enactment of the Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2018 represents a crucial step in helping victims of child sexual abuse seek justice so long denied to them. It also represents a much-needed readiness to hold abusers, and those who remained complicit with abuse, accountable for their crimes,” said Renee Williams, Director of the National Crime Victim Bar Association. “The National Crime Victim Bar Association stands ready to assist victims of child sexual abuse by ensuring they have access to the civil justice system. Victims seeking an attorney can request an attorney referral by accessing victimbar.org/referrals or by calling 1-844-4HELPDC.”

“I hope more jurisdictions to follow our lead,” said Grosso. “Child safety depends on legislators holding institutions, not just individual perpetrators, accountable for their actions. We cannot continue to allow individuals or institutions to maintain their depraved secrets. We must instead encourage and empower victims to come forward and know that a fair and just system is in place to help them right unspeakable wrongs.”

Grosso and the Zero Abuse Project will hold a town hall at the John A. Wilson Building on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 to educate survivors about their options and connect them to resources to seek justice and healing.

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Councilmember Grosso introduces legislation to protect D.C. abortion rights

For Immediate Release:
September 17, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Grosso introduces legislation to protect D.C. abortion rights

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso today pushed back against a tide of measures in several states that seek to limit reproductive health freedom by introducing legislation to affirm all D.C. residents’ right to access the full range of reproductive health options, including abortion.

“Across the country, reproductive health decisions—and specifically abortion rights—are under attack,” said Grosso. “President Trump continues to nominate judges that will shift the ideological makeup of the courts, while state legislatures enact unconstitutional laws that restrict access to abortion.”

Since January, 10 states have passed total or near-total bans on abortion. In some cases, laws like Alabama’s, the strictest abortion ban in the country, are crafted in such a way to force the court to revisit Roe v. Wade. In other states, restrictive laws are meant to make access to abortion so difficult that it will not matter whether Roe v. Wade stands or not.

“D.C. residents have the right, in consultation with their doctor and free from government interference, to make medical decisions about contraception, abortion, or carrying a pregnancy to term,” Grosso said. “We must enshrine that right into the D.C. Human Rights Act, leaving no doubt that the District of Columbia stands for reproductive health freedom.”

The Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2019 puts D.C. in direct opposition to this trend by amending the 1977 Human Rights Act to recognize the right to choose or refuse abortion care, prohibit the criminalization of self-managed abortion, and protect health care professionals against employer discrimination based on their participation in providing abortion care.

“We need lasting protection for reproductive health access now, no matter what happens in Congress, in the states, or in the courts,” said Grosso.

Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau, Mary Cheh, and Charles Allen joined Grosso as a co-introducer of the bill, as well Councilmember Brandon Todd, chairperson of the committee to which the legislation was referred.

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Councilmember Grosso re-introduces legislation to ban the use of “gay/trans panic” defenses in D.C.

For Immediate Release:
September 17, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Grosso re-introduces legislation to ban the use of “gay/trans panic” defenses in D.C.

Washington, D.C. – At the D.C. Council’s first legislative meeting after summer recess, Councilmember David Grosso re-introduced his legislation to counter the use of “gay/trans panic” defenses, which seek to utilize the stigma associated with the sexual orientation, gender identity, or other identity expression of victims to excuse violent crimes.

“I am a passionate supporter of the human rights of criminal defendants, a fair and swift trial, and for alternatives to incarceration,” said Grosso. “All of that is possible without resorting to a defense that is premised on bias against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.”

The Tony Hunter and Bella Evangelista Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019 would curtail the availability and effectiveness of defenses that seek to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder and assault on the grounds that the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or other inherent identity, is to blame for the defendant’s violent action. The bill also requires an anti-bias jury instruction in criminal trials if requested by the prosecutor or the defendant.

“The bill makes one thing clear: a defense that exploits bias is simply unacceptable,” said Grosso.

Councilmember Grosso originally introduced the bill in February 2017 as the Secure a Fair and Equitable (SAFE) Trial Act. Over the summer, Grosso worked closely with LGBTQ advocates ahead of re-introduction and fulfilled their request to rename the bill in honor of Tony Hunter, a gay man, and Bella Evangelista, a transgender woman.

“LGBTQ+ panic defenses have long stood as a symbol of dangerous and outdated thinking,” said D’Arcy Kemnitz, Executive Director of the National LGBT Bar Association. “The Tony Hunter and Bella Evangelista Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019 would send a clear message: Discrimination has no validity in the courtroom.”

“Victims of crime, their families, and their communities experience enough trauma without having to shoulder the blame for their murder or assault or watch their loved one’s name maligned as they seek justice,” said David Mariner, Executive Director of The D.C. Center for the LGBT Community. “I greatly appreciate Councilmember Grosso’s continued engagement with the LGBTQ+ community on this issue and for naming the bill in honor of Tony Hunter and Bella Evangelista–two victims whose cases were marred by the discriminatory statements that are used in the making of these panic defenses.”

“This bill would prohibit the misuse of a victim’s identity as an excuse for perpetrating a murder or violence. The ‘panic’ defense attempts to justify a criminal act motivated by a defendant’s racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, ableism or other bias. This Act is a necessary step to address an anachronism in our legal system that demeans and devalues the lives of vulnerable people. These defenses simply have no place in our justice system and it is time for them to go,” said Sasha Buchert, Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal.

In August, the Washington Post reported that D.C. saw the highest number of bias-motivated attacks last year and had the highest per capita hate-crime rate of any major city in the country.

“In this time of heightened rhetoric of hate and violence, it is incredibly important that we act to eliminate bias whenever we can. I appreciate the renewed grassroots support for this legislation, including the many letters and resolutions Advisory Neighborhood Commissions have recently approved, and urge the Council to move swiftly,” said Grosso.

Councilmembers Elissa Silverman, Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, Mary Cheh, Brandon Todd, and Charles Allen joined Grosso as co-introducers of the legislation.

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PARCC scores continue to demonstrate improvement

For Immediate Release:
August 19, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

PARCC scores continue to demonstrate improvement

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large), chairperson of the Committee on Education, on the release of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) scores from assessments administered in the 2018-2019 school year:

“The PARCC results released today demonstrate that public education in the District of Columbia continues to improve. I appreciate the hard work of educators across the District of Columbia whose dedication to our students’ success has produced these positive results.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that every student, regardless of race, disability, or other factor, completes their education prepared for a bright future; and while today’s results show some improvements, we still have more work to do in order to fulfill that responsibility. The data we gain from these assessments will provide us with valuable information about where our focus needs to be in order to continue our progress and put every student in the best position to succeed.”

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Councilmember Grosso introduces bills to strengthen safe passage to school and support students on extended medical leave

For Immediate Release:
July 10, 2019
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.724.8105 - mnocella@dccouncil.us

Councilmember Grosso introduces bills to strengthen safe passage to school and support students on extended medical leave

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso, chairperson of the Committee on Education, yesterday introduced two bills to support students’ academic success by improving safe passage to school and reducing barriers to academic instruction when medical conditions require them to be away from school for extended periods of time.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that our students feel safe from the moment they step out of their home until they return from school at the end of the day,” Grosso said. “Unfortunately, our city has experienced far too many shootings near our schools in just this past year which threatens our students’ sense of safety and negatively impacts their ability to learn.”

According to research conducted by Guns & America, 177 of the 286 shootings in the District of Columbia occurred within a 1,000-foot-radius of a school campus. Most of these incidents were concentrated near schools on the east end of the city.

The Safe Passage to School Expansion Act of 2019 establishes an Office of Safe Passage charged with improving the safety of students on their way to and from school through the creation of a five-year plan, enhanced agency coordination, grant making, and data collection. It also requires the Mayor to provide a shuttle bus from Metro stations to DCPS and public charter schools with the fewest transportation options.

“With continuous and sustained safe passage programming, I believe our students, schools, and communities will be safer and our students will be in a better position to succeed academically,” Grosso said.

Grosso also introduced legislation to protect the right to an education for students who are absent from school for an extended period of time due to physical or psychological reasons.

“Students in the District of Columbia have a right to an education even when they are unable to attend school for long periods of time due to medical reasons. However, it has become clear that D.C. is not always fulfilling that responsibility to our students,” Grosso said.

Research conducted by Councilmember Grosso’s office found major shortcomings across sectors in the provision of home and hospital instruction services to students.

At DCPS, many parents are unfamiliar with their home hospital instruction program. There is no transparent process for determining a child’s eligibility, no clear mechanism for appealing a decision, and no basic public data about the program.

Further, students who are admitted into the Psychiatric Institute of Washington or St. Elizabeth’s Hospital do not receive any instruction at all. It is also unclear if all public charter schools have a program in place, what the requirements are, or if they are in line with best practices.

The Students’ Right to Home or Hospital Instruction Act of 2019 requires every local education agency to adopt and implement a home or hospital instruction program that provides academic instruction and support to students who have been or will be absent from their school of enrollment for 10 or more consecutive or cumulative school days due to a physical or psychological condition. It also creates an appeal process to be administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

“This long overdue legislation sets basic expectations for local education agencies to ensure they are meeting their responsibility to educate our students,” Grosso said.

Councilmembers Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, Mary Cheh, Brandon Todd, and Trayon White joined Grosso as co-introducers of both bills.

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