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Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Amendment Act of 2014 Effective Today

The District's law decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana went into effect today. While Councilmember Grosso continues to push for full legalization, with taxation and regulation, he certainly supports the important step we took today. Here is some helpful information prepared by the office of Councilmember Tommy Wells about the new law and what it means. Please contact our office with any questions.

 

Marijuana Possession Decriminalization Amendment Act of 2014

Effective July 17, 2014

Decriminalization is not legalization. The use and possession of marijuana remains illegal, but possession of 1 ounce or less will now be treated as a civil offense, not a crime. Individuals caught with 1 ounce or less of marijuana will be fined $25 and will have all visible marijuana and paraphernalia confiscated.

The MPD has created an explanation webpage (http://mpdc.dc.gov/marijuana) that includes the Act, the MPD’s Special Order for officers, and a handy FAQ palm card.

What is no longer a criminal violation?

  • Possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana.
  • Transfer of 1 ounce or less of marijuana to another person, so long as there is no payment made or any other type of exchange of goods or services.
  • ·Possession of marijuana-related drug paraphernalia (such as bongs, cigarette rolling papers, and cigar wrappers) associated with the use of 1 ounce or less of marijuana.

What happens when an individual is found with 1 ounce or less?

  • The individual will receive a $25 ticket; and
  • Any visible marijuana or paraphernalia will be seized.

What is still a criminal violation?

  • Possession of more than 1 ounce;
  • Selling any amount of marijuana to another person;
  • Smoking or consuming marijuana in public;
  • Driving or operating a vehicle or a boat while impaired;
  • Refusing to provide an officer with one’s name and address (however, there is no requirement to carry or display proof of identity).

What’s the deal with the smell of pot?

The bill states that the following factors, individually or in combination with each other, will not provide a law enforcement officer with reasonable articulable suspicion of a crime:

  • The odor of marijuana or burnt marijuana;
  • The possession of or the suspicion of possession of marijuana without evidence of quantity in excess of one ounce;
  • The possession of multiple containers of marijuana without evidence of quantity in excess of once ounce; and
  • The possession of marijuana without evidence of quantity in excess of one ounce in proximity to any amount of cash or currency.

The odor provision was included because if the possession or private use of marijuana is no longer a crime, then the smell of marijuana alone would not be evidence of a crime. However, these provisions do not apply when an officer is investigating whether a person is operating or in physical control of a vehicle or a boat while intoxicated, under the influence of, or impaired by alcohol or drugs.

What about the federal law enforcement agencies?

  • Federal law continues to prohibit the possession or use of any amount of marijuana.
  • Federal law enforcement officers may arrest anyone in D.C. for possession or use of any amount of marijuana as a violation of federal law.
  • Prosecutions for federal law violations would be done by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

Where do I get more information?

  • LIMS: http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B20-0409 and click on Bill History for the committee report, amendments, and the enrolled bill.
  • The MPD marijuana page mentioned above:  http://mpdc.dc.gov/marijuana includes a similar FAQ, as well as links to the Special Order the Department has issued to its officers and the palm card MPD is distributing to the public.

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Media coverage of Grosso's school discipline reform bill

Councilmember Grosso's proposal to prevent suspensions and expulsions of pre-k students has garnered a lot of media coverage this week. The time is ripe for more discussion of discipline in schools and how it relates to the school-to-prison pipeline, and we hope that these news stories contribute that conversation. In addition to MSNB and Fox 5 (videos below) Grosso was also interviewed on Telemundo.

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Pre-K Student Discipline Amendment Act of 2014

On July 14, 2014, Councilmember Grosso introduced the Pre-K Student Discipline Amendment Act of 2014. The bill follows on Grosso's earlier efforts to bring more transparency to discipline in D.C. Public Schools and D.C. Public Charter Schools, such as mandating the District's first report on school discipline. Grosso is committed to this work as part of addressing the school-to-prison pipeline.

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Grosso Introduces Critical Legislation to Ban Pre-K Suspensions and Expulsions

Grosso Introduces Critical Legislation to Ban Pre-K Suspensions and Expulsions

 Washington, D.C. - Today, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) introduced the “Pre-K Student Discipline Amendment Act of 2014.” This legislation prohibits the suspension or expulsion of a student of pre-kindergarten age from any publicly funded pre-kindergarten program operating in the District of Columbia. It also establishes annual reporting requirements for each local education agency on suspensions and expulsions data.

 Last month, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education released a report “Reducing Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions in the District of Columbia Public and Public Charter Schools.” The report found that during the 2012-2013 school year approximately 10,000 of the District’s 80,000 public school students were suspended at least once. One hundred and eighty one of those students were enrolled in prekindergarten programs.

“While I understand that children at times can be difficult, I have a hard time understanding what behavior of a 3 or 4-year old would constitute an out-of-school suspension or expulsion,” said Councilmember Grosso. “We are beginning the school-to-prison pipeline before some students even have the opportunity to fully begin their educational pursuits.”

The adverse effects of out-of-school suspension and expulsion on a student can be profound. Data suggest that students who are involved in the juvenile justice system are likely to have been suspended or expelled. Further, students who experience out-of-school suspension and expulsion are as much as 10 times more likely to ultimately drop out of high school than are those who do not.

The District would not be the first jurisdiction to recognize that when it comes to our youngest students zero tolerance-style school discipline policies are not always appropriate. Just last month, the Chicago Public School Board of Education voted to prohibit the suspension of Pre-K through 2nd grade students except for cases involving extreme safety concerns. In Washington State, students in grades K-4 cannot receive long-term suspensions, and no student in grades K-4 can be suspended for more than a total of 10 school days during any single semester. In 2012, New York City decided that no student in grades K-3 shall be suspended for longer than 5 days.

“The conversation regarding student discipline is ripe in the District of Columbia. Regardless of which sector our youngest public school students begin their education, it is in the public interest that the most extreme options with regard to student discipline be age and developmentally appropriate.”

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At Blind Whino, ‘Collateral Damage’ highlights redemptive responsibility

At Blind Whino, ‘Collateral Damage’ highlights redemptive responsibility

By Clinton Yates July 7, 2014, Washington Post

The last time I talked to Tony Lewis Jr., we were discussing the issue from the opposite side. It was the 25th anniversary of his father’s arrest. Today, we were looking at people Tony considers his peers. At “Collateral Damage,” the exhibit that displayed portraits of the family members of incarcerated people, the vibe was redeeming. The aerosol art-soaked Blind Whino venue that housed the photos, appropriately enough, is a former church.

There were more smiles than one might expect; both in the photos and at the gathering. Many visitors posed outside the building before entering to get a shot, a routine that I imagine populated Instagram heavily. And while Sunday was a largely social event in some regards, the fact that it existed at all was significant. Until the D.C. metro area can understand that its incarceration rate is a holistic problem that affects our entire region and not just the people behind bars, the true potential of the populace will never be realized.

This is why BreeAnna Haynes, a fourth-grade science and writing teacher at Stanton Elementary School in Southeast, brought a group of a half-dozen of her students to see the show. The situation in the classroom can’t be ignored.

“I took a poll in my class about how many people in my class had family members locked up and I promise you, out of 22, about 19 people raised their hand and said that they know someone that is locked up that’s close to them,” Haynes, 24, said. “That’s why I’m working, that’s why I brought them. The bigger picture, I don’t think they see it yet. But getting them to understand that the decisions they make now as fourth- and fifth-graders will affect them. If they start the good decision-making now, they won’t even have to be in these kind of situations.”

The “War on Drugs” has put so many people behind bars, and breaking that cycle requires recognizing that a support system needs to exist to help connect those behind bars with the people they care about. Something that D.C. Council member David Grosso, who was there Sunday, understands completely.

“I think it’s extremely powerful and just a real first step in what we have to do to begin to recognize the fact that there are a whole lot of people living in our community that have loved ones that are locked up,” Grosso said. “The fact is that what we’re doing to help people who are locked up is pretty dismal. The system is working against them every single day, and then you think about their families back here.

“In D.C. it’s really appropriate because the fact is we have our residents spread out all over the country in BOP (Federal Bureau of Prisons),” he added. “The phone call is farther away, more expensive, the visit’s impossible. Even Tony Lewis who does this show, his dad was in California. And how do you visit? How do you visit California from D.C.? It’s important to recognize that and make it possible for families to be engaged, because we know for a fact that the more you connect families to people that are in jail, the more likely they are to come out and be a positive part of society again, and give them that chance.”

But on the outside, the kids affected are still people, too. The stigma that comes with having a parent locked up creates tensions, shame and internal strife that is almost immeasurable. It’s what brought Michelle Hare to Lewis. She is a mother of two teenage boys whose father is incarcerated for what she called “a very long time.” Finding the right fit for a mentor was not easy. Her kids, Delfon, 16, and Xavier, 15,  have been working with Tony for three years.

“When he first became incarcerated, I tried to find someone to relate to them and I really couldn’t. They didn’t want to go through therapy, they got bored with the other mentors, and they felt like nobody really understood them,” said Hare, 34, who lives in Upper Marlboro, Md. “It was just a perfect match.”

On the surface, they seemed like fun-loving kids. Both were wearing jeans and polo shirts with perfectly coordinated Nike Air Force 1′s. Xavier’s outfit was pink, Delfon’s purple. They play sports at their schools and had an enjoyable time being a part of the making of the exhibit. In their photos, both are smiling. But it wasn’t always that way.

“If people aren’t personally affected by it, they really don’t pay it any attention, and these are a set of kids that really go forgotten about. They have other issues that other kids don’t have. People look at them differently, I think,” Hare said.

In a funny exchange, the family talked about the growth her sons have gone through.

“I’m open to telling people that my father’s incarcerated. It’s not really a problem. He’s taught me to just be myself and don’t be afraid of who you are,” Delfon said of Tony’s help.

“You weren’t always as open,” his mom quickly pointed out. “I remember, what was the girl’s name? You would NOT tell her that your dad was locked up,” she said with a laugh.

“I mean, she never asked,” Delfon replied.

“You never told!” she said.

“Wasn’t her dad a doctor?” Xavier chimed in.

“Right. So, [your dad] was not a topic of conversation,” Hare said. “I just say that because it shows that it’s okay and other people are going through the same thing.”

Eerily, the prospect of a feedback loop of incarceration and pain that Lewis speaks of was ever-present the whole time. Less than a half-mile away, 1st Police District cars occupy parking spaces all around. Its presence is impossible to miss.

It was something that one mom of a young kid wouldn’t let her son forget. By the picnic tables in front of the entrance, kids were throwing rocks from the driveway into a trashcan against the fence. One kid abstained, knowing his mom was watching. “What if you hit somebody’s car? You gonna pay for it?” his mother asked, in all seriousness. “Chill before I go get the police on you. They’re right down the street.”

The damage is real.

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Grosso Takes Stand for Women to Make Own Reproductive Health Decisions

Grosso Takes Stand for Women to Make Own Reproductive Health Decisions

Washington D.C.–Today, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in favor of two for-profit businesses–Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood–who challenged the Affordable Care Act claiming it violated federal law protecting religious freedom by requiring them to offer their employee’s insurance coverage for a variety of methods of contraception:

“The Supreme Court decision in the “Hobby Lobby” case is another example of how the split court has no respect for the rights of women who should be able to make reproductive health decisions free from intervention by anyone.  I strongly believe that no company, regardless of the owners’ personal religious beliefs, should be permitted to interfere with an employee’s reproductive health care decisions.  It is a woman’s personal right and she should not be discriminated against at her work place just because her employer holds a particular religious belief.  My Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, when enacted into law, will ensure that a woman is protected from discrimination by her employer when making reproductive health decisions and I urge the Council to move quickly on passing this important legislation.”

 

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Council Wants Public To Comment On Proposed Bills With Online Forum

Council Wants Public To Comment On Proposed Bills With Online Forum

Matt Cohen, DCist.com, June 24, 2014

If you've ever sat through a public hearing to comment on a bill proposed by a D.C. Councilmember, you know that it can sometimes be a maddening process. For example, a recent joint committee hearing for two proposed amendments to D.C.'s medical marijuana laws lasted nearly six hours with dozens testifying, many of whom couldn't fit in all they wanted to say in their allotted time. Now, some Councilmembers are working with The OpenGov Foundation—a D.C.-based nonprofit working to open government processes and increase transparency for the public—to make it easier for people to weigh in on proposed legislation.

Recently, OpenGov, with the support of Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large), launched the beta version of MadisonDC, an online forum that allows citizens to directly comment on, propose changes to, and debate current legislation floating within the Council.

"What we're hoping is, this will encourage more public engagement in the legislative process," Grosso told DCist during a recent phone conversation, "and we'll be able to consider all public input on proposed bills." MadisonDC launched a little under two weeks ago with three of Grosso's recent bills posted online, open for public comment: The Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014; Open Primary Elections Amendment Act of 2014; and the Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act of 2014.

It's not unlike message boards or the comments section of many websites. Once you register for a free account, you can read over the proposed legislation and add your own comments, questions, support, opposition, or thoughts to any part of the bill. All the comments will then go to the Councilmember who introduced the bill to read over, consider, and answer before it goes to public hearing.

Though it's still in its beta phase, MadisonDC has already attracted the attention of other Councilmembers, with bills introduced or co-introduced by nearly every Councilmember currently on the website for public comment. At this time, the website hosts thirteen bills and one ballot initiative open for public comment, including contentious ones like the D.C. Soccer Stadium Development Act of 2014, the Wage Transparency Amendment Act of 2014, and marijuana legalization ballot initiative that the D.C. Cannabis Coalition is currently gathering signatures for.

But for those who value the current process, MadisonDC doesn't aim to replace public hearings for proposed bills. "This won't eliminate the public hearing process," Grosso says, "but work in tandem with it, so that we'll be able to as much public input as possible."

OpenGov first launched Madison as a tool to battle the Stop Online Piracy Act. It soon grew into a platform for citizens to participate and voice their questions, comments, and concerns on documents and bills proposed in Congress.

Seamus Kraft, OpenGov's Executive Director and one of the organization's co-founders, tells DCist that he launched it in 2011 with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Ca.) as a way for citizens to more easily connect with proposed legislation. "There was no way for me to bring together all the input I was getting to implement into our process," says Kraft, who was working as the Director of Digital Strategy and the Press Secretary for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee when he launched OpenGov. Since launching Madison, Kraft says there's been a "pretty overwhelming response in Congress," as it "makes the policy making process more open for citizens."

But with all that transparency and openness in the lawmaking process—allowing nearly anyone to chime in and share their thoughts— it's easy to see how this could backfire. With no filtering process during registration, couldn't that open up MadisonDC to Internet trolls, much like the comments section of a certain D.C. news website? Grosso doesn't think so. "We have to put trust in our residents," he says.

Though Kraft says there is "no moderation or filter beyond the 'George Carlin filter'," he says that of the millions of page views and thousands of comments on Congressional bills, they've only had to remove six comments.

"The bar is very, very low to sign up and get involved," Kraft says. "We view ourselves as the platform for citizens to swiftly and easily connect with lawmakers and bills, and we have to trust they won't abuse that."

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Grosso Applauds USPTO Ruling on Washington Football Team Trademark

Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) issued the following statement after the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board issued a ruling canceling the trademark registration of the Washington Football Team name arguing that the registrations must be cancelled because they were disparaging to Native Americans at the times in which they were registered:

“This ruling from the USPTO is just another step in moving us closer to changing the name.  Changing the offensive name has been a priority of mine since I have been in office and I will continue with this movement until the name goes.  The USPTO has it right and it’s time for Mr. Snyder to step up and do what’s right for the community that has been impacted by this racist and derogatory name.”

 

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Grosso's Statement on Latest School Boundaries Proposal

For Immediate Release

June 16, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

 

Grosso's Statement on Latest School Boundaries Proposal

On Thursday, June 12, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education released an updated draft proposal on student assignment policies, DCPS school boundaries, and feeder patterns. After reviewing the proposal, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) released the following statement:

"It is clear from the school boundary proposal released last week that the Deputy Mayor's office and the Advisory Committee heard and responded to the significant amount of community input they've received over the last few months. I am supportive of the direction this proposal is headed. It maintains a core system of neighborhood schools, while also preserving the opportunity for school choice. I am also pleased that diversity in student enrollment was kept as a top principle reflected in the Advisory Committee's decision to prioritize access to early childhood programs for at-risk students, and recommending "set asides" for out-of-boundary students in zoned elementary, middle, and high schools.

While I understand the concerns of some communities impacted by changing boundary lines or feeder patterns, it is my hope that the Advisory Committee's proposed grandfathering provisions will limit any abrupt changes for students and families. Unfortunately, revisions to the DCPS school boundaries are timely and cannot wait.

Though this proposal moves the conversation forward, I am disappointed that it did not include any discussion or recommendations regarding the need for proactive planning, collaboration, and coordination between DCPS and the D.C. Public Charter School Board when it comes to opening new charter schools in the District. If our goal is to have citywide student assignment policies that are coherent and efficient, charter schools must be a part of the conversation. I will continue to push for that.

Although the D.C. Council does not have a vote on student assignment policies or the school boundary proposal, we will ultimately have to work with the Executive to implement any plan that is approved. That includes the construction and re-opening of perhaps four middle schools and to work with WMATA to provide free Metrorail services for our high school-aged students. I am committed to working with my colleagues and the Executive to find the appropriate path forward.

I look forward to hearing more community discussions and feedback on what has been released and I encourage everyone to engage in the conversation in the coming weeks. I appreciate that the Deputy Mayor's office has taken the helm for this process and appreciate all of the members of the Advisory Committee who have volunteered to do this hard work."

 

To get more information and share your feedback on these proposed changes, you are invited to:

  • Attend a community meeting
    • June 16, 6 - 8 pm, Savoy Elementary School, 2400 Shannon Place, SE
    • June 17, 6 - 8 pm, Dunbar High School, 101 N Street, NW
    • June 19, 6 - 8 pm, Takoma Education Campus, 7010 Piney Branch Road, NW
  • Provide testimony at Council of the District of Columbia public oversight roundtable on school boundaries on June 26, 2014 at 9AM.  Call 202-724-8000 or e-mail jjordan@dccouncil.us to sign up.
  • Email your concerns and questions to dme.studentassignment@dc.gov or call 202-478-5738.

 

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What a weekend in prison taught me

Opinions

What a weekend in prison taught me

By David Grosso, June 13, 2014, Washington Post

I spent a recent weekend in prison.

As a guest of a program that looks to address the violent daily reality of prison, I had the opportunity — over 20 hours at the maximum-security Patuxent Institution at Jessup, Md. — to reflect on such important issues as human rights, prison culture and conflict resolution.

Some two-thirds of the more than 2 million Americans behind bars are nonviolent offenders, most convicted of drug charges. But in an overcrowded prison system, where many people are serving mandatory minimum sentences, nonviolent prisoners are turning into violent ones.

The Alternatives to Violence Project is one valuable solution to try to stop this trend. Three inmate facilitators work with an outside facilitator to lead the weekend-long program. My group included 25 inmates, with an average age of about 22; all but two of the inmates were African Americans. They deal daily with terrible conditions in the prison. Their basic human rights are violated every day.

Over the weekend, our group took part in workshops, role-playing, policy discussions and more. We worked together to try to better understand our circumstances and learned how to respond in nonviolent ways. The AVP program is based on the “transforming power” concept, with core principles that help inmates make nonviolent choices when confronted with violent situations.

In a small-group exercise, each of us told of a time when we were able to avoid violence using nonviolent tactics. All three inmates in my group had amazing stories that were fresh in their memory; they face these scenarios daily. One spoke about his confrontation with a corrections officer who had neglected to sign him out to go to prayer service. When the inmate returned, he was given a “ticket” for leaving without permission. This turned into an intense debate, and the inmate recognized his emotions escalating into fury. Fortunately, the corrections officer’s superior came in, and the inmate was able to calm down and explain the situation.

The AVP program, which began in 1975 in New York, has been shown to dramatically reduce violence in prison and repeat offenses once inmates return home. It has expanded into high schools, community centers, colleges and refu­gee camps.

Since my visit to Jessup, I think a lot about a 19-year-old inmate who is serving 10 years after his second conviction for dealing drugs (both nonviolent offenses). This young man has lived much of his life behind bars, and our society has failed him.

Of course, those who commit a crime should serve the appropriate sentence. The bigger question, though, is where should a teenager serve that sentence, especially for a nonviolent offense? When we put nonviolent offenders in the same institution with violent offenders, what do we expect to happen?

Society expects an inmate, often with little education, to navigate extremely tough situations. Many inmates landed in prison right out of low-performing schools, and, to make matters worse, their chances of rehabilitation are slim because they do not receive quality educational opportunities or resources to better themselves while serving their sentences.

The prison I visited was old, with narrow hallways and small cells. There was constant noise — somebody screaming or a gate opening or closing. There was also an overbearing presence of authority, including regular ID checks of all the inmates. Crowding and cost-cutting are huge issues. The prison recently eliminated Friday visiting hours and reduced gym rights to four days a week. There is a basic GED program, but the government cut the college education program. Many of the men in my group were frustrated with the effects of the cost-cutting. One inmate wanted to transfer to a prison where more educational opportunities might be available.

These inmates don’t want to get into more trouble. They struggle with the concepts of nonviolence because they are confronted daily with violence — more than any of us can fathom. They mostly don’t want more trouble because prison is an awful place and each inmate wants to go home. To go home quickly, they must avoid being issued tickets and participate in programs such as AVP.

For inmates, pursuing nonviolence in prison means turning the entire system on its head. I learned that the inmate AVP facilitators were highly respected precisely because they reject the violence that surrounds them. If an inmate can master the tools of nonviolence, then he can likely reduce the length of his sentence.

I walked away from the prison with a belief that locking people up for long periods for nonviolent offenses is a danger to society. We need to concentrate on fixing the prisons, and we need to do everything possible to provide help to nonviolent offenders. Society should commit to ensuring that those who serve time in prison come out better than they went in. We must commit to ending arbitrary minimum sentencing, helping rehabilitate those in the system, providing education and job training and, most of all, providing hope for the inmates.

Participating in the AVP program will help me identify and support solutions to the school-to-prison pipeline. Education is a key to helping solve this problem. We must demand that every child be given a fair chance and that our schools (from pre-kindergarten through college) be high-quality and accessible.

I look forward to being a part of the solution and working on quality schools and quality communities. And you can be sure that the next time a bill before me on the D.C. Council includes criminal sanctions, I’ll look at it in a new light, because I have seen up close what it means to require someone to spend time in jail.

 

The writer, an independent, is an at-large member of the D.C. Council.

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Vacant Lots Could Become Urban Farms Under Bill

Vacant Lots Could Become Urban Farms Under Bill

Matt Cohen, Jun 16, 2014, DCist.com

While parts of D.C.—like the H Street corridor, parts of Petworth, the NoMa area, and others—have rapidly developed in the past few years, there are still District-owned lots throughout the city with no current plans for development.

Under a bill introduced by Councilmembers David Grosso (I-At Large) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), vacant lots and plots of land owned by the District could be turned into urban farms. The amendment to the Food Production and Urban Gardens Program Act of 1986 would "establish an urban farming land leasing initiative," as well as a tax credit for food donations and tax abatement for properties leased for the purpose of becoming small-scale urban farms.

"There's parcels of land in D.C. that, maybe aren't in the right neighborhoods or areas for development yet," Grosso tells DCist. "One of the secrets about development is that it happens when it wants to. It's very hard to create development in a place or location where it's not ready." While Grosso's bill aims to turn these properties into small urban farms, poised to produce locally-grown vegetables and fruits, he says that the vacant lots don't need to remain urban farms forever.

"There's a whole field open near 14th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NE," Grosso says. "Someday, development will happen and it will be good and will hopefully require some affordable housing. But in the meantime, we have a lot of land like that that's owned by the District that's just sitting there."

At last week's hearing on the bill, Mark Chambers, sustainability manager for the D.C. Department of General Services, said it doesn't address or take into consideration certain environmental issues like testing, cleanup, and—D.C.'s favorite problem—rats.

Grosso says that Chambers' concerns are "ill-informed" and that measures to control the rodent population, as well as testing and cleanup, will be addressed once the bill moves forward.

There's also the question of what happens when the city decides to develop the land. Removing an urban farm years in the making in a neighborhood community could create a contentious debate like the one at the farm at Walker-Jones. The proposed redevelopment of the McMillan Park Sand Filtration site, which one group wants to see become a farm, is another example.

"We just have to be conscious and not be afraid of the public debate," Grosso says. "At some point, it may be a good use permanently, or it may just be a good use temporarily, but it's doing something other than what's happening there now, which is nothing. Put a farm there for a while and see what happens."

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Grosso statement at Urban Farming and Food Security Act hearing

Thank you Chairman Mendelson and Councilmember Evans for holding this joint hearing on B20-677 the D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014 and thank you to the witnesses here to testify today.

 In the District of Columbia 1 out of 3 residents are at risk of hunger, while 1 in 3 District children are at risk of becoming overweight or obese. As obesity and diet-related chronic disease rates continue to rise, the need to create a sustainable food system that provides healthy food which meets all of the city’s current needs and maintains a healthy ecosystem is imperative.

The District, through the Healthy Schools Act and the Healthy Corner Store program is working diligently to reduce food insecurity and improve the health and wellness of District residents, particularly those in neighborhoods without adequate supermarkets and other sources of affordable healthy food; however, more can and should be done.

I introduced this legislation because all District residents, at all times, should have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Food security is built on three pillars: food availability; food access; and food use.

This legislation instructs the Mayor to first identify and then lease certain District-owned vacant lots to independent farmers and farm cooperatives to be used for successful urban farming ventures.  This bill also creates tax incentives to encourage more individuals and businesses to farm locally and donate locally farmed vegetables, fruits, and grains to D.C. food banks or shelters.

By the District leasing its unused vacant property throughout the city to independent farmers and community farm cooperatives, it allows our residents to claim direct access to healthy food by growing, harvesting and processing it themselves.

By incentivizing more individuals and businesses to proactively donate to local food banks or homeless shelters we can support organizations like Miriam’s Kitchen and the Capital Area Food Bank that manage to make wonderful meals for our most vulnerable residents, day-in and day-out.

My goal is to foster a robust conversation around food security and sustainability, which is why I have partnered with the Open Government Foundation to promote transparency.  Using the Madison platform, this bill, as well as others has been uploaded to spur community engagement and allow District residents to comment and offer input.

We have received feedback already, which I will be incorporating today and I encourage anyone watching from home to log in and join the conversation.  We will be accepting questions throughout today’s hearing and while I will not be able to ask them all, I do encourage everyone to utilize this platform and continue to stay engaged on the issues.

A truly sustainable food system encourages local food production and distribution opportunities that make nutritious food accessible and affordable to all District residents.  With this legislation we will continue to improve food availability, food access and food use and I am eager to hear from and engage with all of the witnesses in the discussion to follow.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Watch Live & Submit Your Questions to Address Urban Farming in the District

For Immediate Release

June 11, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:  Watch Live & Submit Your Questions to Address Urban Farming in the District

Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the D.C. Council will hold a legislative hearing on the D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014; a measure to transform vacant District-owned lots into food producing urban farms.  During this hearing, residents will have a unique opportunity to participate live by submitting questions, comments and other feedback directly to Councilmember Grosso via the MadisonDC collaborative platform.

This is the first time such direct citizen involvement has been captured by the city government.

“MadisonDC is an exciting platform because it promotes and encourages transparency in the legislative process,” said Grosso.  “This tool will spur community engagement and prompt robust dialogue around the issues that matter most to District residents.”

To join the conversation and learn more about the platform, visit MadisonDC.  Also, visit the Urban Farming and Food Security Act and submit your questions or comments before, during and after the gavel drops.

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Report On Suspensions And Expulsions In D.C. Reveals Disturbing Trends, Need For More Data

Sarah Anne Hughes, DCist.com on Jun 6, 2014

A report from the Office of the State Superintendent reveals that students who are black, male, in foster care, homeless, or who have mental health needs are disproportionately suspended or expelled from D.C. schools.

In the 2012-2013 school year, local education agencies reported that 5,042 students received in- and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions for violence, drugs, alcohol, and weapons. Students in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades had the highest number of discipline events, but suspensions and expulsions even impacted children as young as three-years-old. During this period, there were 181 pre-K out-of-school suspensions for a federally reported disciplinary action. That number was 201 for kindergarten, 464 for 1st grade, 523 for 2nd, and 600 for 3rd.

"The idea that we would suspend somebody who's three- or four-years-old is just completely unreasonable," said Councilmember David Grosso, who mandated the report's creation.

Eddie Ferrer, Legal and Policy director for DC Lawyers for Youth, said the report confirms that suspensions and expulsions are overused in D.C. "They disproportionately impact poor kids of color, kids who have suffered or are suffering trauma, and kids with disabilities," he said. "We are suspending and expelling the kids who most need and would most benefit from being in a supportive school environment."

Black students from all D.C. schools are almost six times more likely to be disciplined than white students for alcohol, drugs, violence and weapons. Male students are 1.68 times more likely to be suspended or expelled for these reasons than female students, and homeless students are 1.2 times more likely to be disciplined this way.

While the report shows the racial and socioeconomic disparities in these forms of discipline, Ferrer said it underreports the problem. Indeed, the report primarily uses data on the type of incidents that are required to be reported federally. With this data, it appears that the vast majority of students are disciplined for violence without injury.

But according to a 2013 report from D.C. Lawyers for Youth, "the vast majority of DCPS suspensions are for offenses involving no weapons, no drugs, and no injury to another student. Further, the majority of these suspensions are not required by law or by school regulation, but carried out under discretionary authority."

Individual schools do release data on suspensions and expulsions in an Equity Report. From this data, we know that 12 percent of all students received an out-of-school suspension for at least one day during the 2012-2013 school year. Eight schools suspended at least 50 percent of all students for at least one day, while 37 schools reported suspending at least 25 percent.

But these reports do not reveal the exact reason these students were suspended. In their report, OSSE calls for an improvement in discipline-related data collection to improve transparency.

Ferrer and Grosso both called the report a good start. While OSSE recommends that D.C. schools not suspend out-of-school or expel pre-K students, both men believe this should apply to children in 3rd grade and below. "If those things were making any difference," Grosso said, "we wouldn't see ... a spike in suspensions and expulsions in middle school. What we would see is a drop-off if it had a positive impact during the elementary years."

Ferrer called the middle school suspension rate "incredibly disturbing."

"We have a big problem with truancy at the high school age," he said. "And I think part of the reason why is, by the time they're getting to high school, a number of students have been told 'We don't want you here.' They eventually learn that lesson."

OSSE agrees: "Recognizing that suspensions and expulsions actually increase the likelihood that students will misbehave in the future, become truant, fail to graduate, develop substance abuse issues, or encounter the juvenile justice system, LEAs should take particular care in the behavioral interventions being used to discipline our youngest students."

Grosso points to the Positive Behavior Intervention System, a preventive program, which "can decrease discipline referrals, suspensions and detentions, and disruptive classroom behavior, while increasing academic performance, on-task behavior, parent, student and staff satisfaction, and staff retention."

The report calls for LEAs to "evaluate discipline policies and procedures to ensure best practice in application, record keeping, training, and data analysis." When asked why this isn't already happening, Ferrer said it's part training and part support. "Despite the fact that so many resources are going to our schools, they're needed on the academic side," he said. "And we've been less effective at resourcing the wrap-around services and the social-emotional learning side of our schools."

There's also a cultural change that needs to happen, he said. That includes ensuring that kids are in school every day, and using suspensions and expulsions as a last resort.

"All of our schools need to be implementing programs that see the students where they are, at the point they are in life and their situation, and help address those situations," he said. "We have a long way to go to fully understand what's going on in the schools."


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Grosso statement on proposed Commission on Health Disparities Establishment Act

Thank you Chairwoman Alexander and thank you to all of the witnesses here to testify today on Bill 20-572, the “Commission on Health Disparities Establishment Act of 2013.”

The District of Columbia has the seventh highest incidence rate and the highest death rate from breast cancer in the United States. And although the incidence rate for breast cancer is higher for white women in this city, African-American women from Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 are overrepresented among those dying from the disease.

Even more troubling, African American women in the District are showing up for treatment with advanced breast cancer at rates that are almost double the national average. 

In a report published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2013, it was found that D.C. residents died at a higher rate from preventable heart attacks than any other jurisdiction in the country. 

The CDC report found that, in the District, the rate of avoidable deaths from heart disease, stroke and hypertensive disease was 99.6% per 100,000 population.  The most affected demographic was African-American males ranging in age from 65-74.

These disparities are also found when we discuss behavioral health.  A few years ago there was only one child psychiatrist that was east of the River.  Additionally, 35 percent of the District’s transgender population has experienced suicidal ideation while 39 percent do not have a physician for routine health care as reported by the DC Center for the LGBT Community.

Further, 58 percent of the District’s African-American males having sex with other males are living with HIV, which is significantly higher than the national average at 29 percent. 

We cannot allow these disparities to persist in our communities.  In February, the Department of Health compiled a very comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment, the first of its kind for the District and I want to applaud the Department for this effort.

All District residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity deserve access to quality physicians, screenings and treatment.  I will continue to follow this issue very closely and I am eager to hear from and engage with the witnesses in the discussion to follow.

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Grosso Reports FY2015 Budget Victories

For Immediate Release:

May 28, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

Grosso Reports FY2015 Budget Victories   

Success with priorities in education, workforce development, transportation, homelessness, environment, and more

Washington, D.C. – Today, the D.C. Council held a legislative meeting on the first reading of the FY 2015 Budget Request Act of 2014 and the FY2015 Budget Support Act of 2014. Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) worked in committee to ensure inclusion of his top priorities in the budget. 

“The Committee of the Whole put forward a thoughtful and comprehensive budget that will benefit all District residents in the areas of education, workforce development, human services and transportation.  This budget is the result of a lot of hard work and careful considerations and I am pleased to support and vote in favor of it,” said Grosso. 

Grosso’s FY2015 Budget Victories

Tax Revision Commission

From the very beginning, Grosso supported the diligent work of the Tax Revision Commission. He advocated for the inclusion of the Commission’s recommendations in the FY15 budget, and was happy to join his colleagues in passing one of the largest tax relief packages for low & middle class individuals and families in the District’s history. In particular, Grosso advocated for the following:

  • Adding a new individual middle income bracket of $40,000 to 60,000 at 7% in FY15 and later 6.5% in FY16
  • Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to childless workers
  • Raising the standard deduction for single and married filers
  • Reducing the unincorporated and incorporated business franchise tax to 8.25%

 

Public Education

Improving public education has been a priority for Grosso since he first joined the Council. He supported the work of the Committee on Education in the FY15 budget and is especially pleased to support the following enhancements:

  • $1 million for the continuation of the Community Schools grant program, which works to integrate academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement in our public schools. Grosso strongly supports school being seen as community centers and this funding is vital to the success of the program.
  • A provision requiring D.C. Public Schools to report on its implementation of a restorative justice pilot program next school year. Grosso is committed to pushing our education sector to reexamine school discipline policies in an effort to end the school-to-prison pipeline. Restorative justice programs implemented with fidelity in schools is one way to advance those efforts.
  • Grosso also supports the Committee on Education’s decision to amend the Capital Improvement Plan to align capital funding with those schools that need it most. The additional funding for School Within A School, Logan Elementary, Marie Reed Elementary, Murch Elementary, Orr Elementary, and Watkins Elementary for modernization in FY2015 is important to the continued improvement of these education campuses.
  • Expansion of the school-based mental health program administered by the Department of Behavioral Health. Social-emotional support personnel are especially important for students. Our kids do not leave the stress of their home lives at the school house door. Even the best, highly qualified teacher struggles to teach a child who is only physically present but shut down mentally from stress and trauma.
  • $100,000 to support teen health educators who provide sexual and reproductive health education to their peers.

 

Workforce Development

It is important for the District of Columbia to not only establish a positive climate for businesses, but also for residents who work here or are seeking meaningful work. Grosso was proud to champion and support initiatives to improve workforce development and support District government employees.

  • Grosso worked diligently with the Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations, Kenyan McDuffie, to pass a proposal for 8 weeks of paid family leave for  District government employees in connection with the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child, or the care of a family member who has a serious medical condition.  This is the most expansive family leave provision in the country.
  • $5.5 million investment in District Workforce Development at the University of the District of Columbia Community College Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning program to ensure that we are supporting workforce development programs that are successful and supporting our residents so that they can secure life-long, meaningful employment that allows them to take care of themselves and their families. 
  • $175,000 for a new employee at the Workforce Investment Council and a technical assistance consultant to conduct a cross-agency study that will track how each District agency allocates their adult literacy and workforce development funding.

 

Food Security & Recreation

Grosso believes we need to bolster our recreation options and efforts toward food security in the District of Columbia and complement the strong, robust health care infrastructure we are establishing. Grosso was pleased that the following initiatives he advocated for and supported were approved:

  • $8,000,000 for the renovation and modernization of the District’s only Therapeutic Recreation Center, which services people with disabilities and is located in Ward 7.  The funding will create additional changing spaces and showers in the women’s locker room, help to replace a badly patched roof and expand the physical size of the facility, which has not been renovated since it was built in 1971.
  • $1.3 million to create a locally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enhancement. With this funding, no resident receiving SNAP benefits will receive less than $30 per month in assistance, greatly increasing food security in the District.
  • $75,000 to support the Summer Food Services program administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation for low-income children participating in summer programming; $63,000 to support school food pantries at low-income schools in the District; $500,000 in capital dollars to support the development of urban farming, new community gardens and edible landscapes at sites across the District.

 

Homelessness Services

Grosso is committed to improving how the District assists our most vulnerable residents, as well as health outcomes in the city. He advocated for and supported the following:

  • $600,000 to hire 10 family case managers for families at D.C. General to assess families, connect them with the appropriate social services, and ultimately assist them in finding permanent housing.
  • $1.3 million to fund key provisions of the End Youth Homelessness Act of 2014, including funding for 10 transitional beds and 5 emergency shelter beds for youth aged 24 and younger, and street outreach to identify and assist vulnerable youth.
  • $2 million to fund the Homeless Prevention Program Establishment Act to implement prevention efforts that have proven to be successful in other jurisdictions.
  • $2.3 million to expand the Permanent Supportive Housing Program at the Department of Human Services.
  • $3 million to the tenant-based Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP) for homeless families, and those at risk of becoming homeless.
  • New funding for coordinated entry system to connect the homeless population to housing and other wrap around services.
  • $200,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the CCNV individual homeless shelter to determine the housing and service needs of the population and facility.

 

Transportation & the Environment

Having a multi-modal transit friendly city that is the “greenest” in the country is something we should all desire and is a top priority for Grosso. Over the course of this year, he has established quarterly meetings with the District Department of the Environment to discuss his priorities, participated on panel discussions with the DC Environmental Network to address waste management in the District, and just last month joined the Anacostia Watershed Society in a river clean-up targeting 25 sites around the Anacostia watershed.  Grosso was pleased that the following initiatives he supported were including in the FY2015 budget:

  • Budget Support Act language establishing a statutory deadline of June 30, 2018 for the District Department of the Environment to adopt and publish a Record of Decision selecting the remedy for remediation of the contaminated sediment in the Anacostia River.  This commitment ensures that DDOE will work quickly and efficiently so that District residents can swim and fish in the river sooner rather than later.
  • $500,000 to conduct a Comprehensive Rail Study to examine the impact of increased population on current commuter rail, the feasibility of expanded commuter and industrial rail, and the impact of privately-owned rail crossing on current and future rail use.
  • Grosso is pleased to report that the Council will maintain the planned 6-year, $400 million investment in the streetcar project and dedicate $45-$65 million of operating funds to the project annually. The Council adjusted the proposed streetcar PayGo transfer from a fixed to a floating base year. 25% of the District’s revenues generated over the previous year, rather than a locked-in baseline of FY15, will be dedicated to support the construction of the new streetcar.  The provision will be implemented in FY2017.  These changes ensure that District residents will reap the benefits of a comprehensive streetcar system.
  •  $187 million towards the H Street bridge, a critical infrastructure project needed for the completion of the streetcar line.  Full replacement of the H Street bridge will be completed before Fiscal Year 2018.
  • $5 million for the Washington Humane Society, which provides the District’s animal control services, to secure a new location and building.

 

Transparency & Open Government

Grosso is fiercely committed to transparency and open government. To advance these ideals, he was successful in getting the following reporting requirements included in the FY2015 Budget Support Act:

  • By October 1, 2014, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer shall submit a report on recommendations for improving transparency of the agency’s budget, including a plan for implementing improvements by the submission of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget to the Council.
  • With the support of the Chair of the Committee on Health, language was also included in the BSA requiring the Department of Health to begin submitting quarterly reports on all grants administered by the agency. During the performance oversight and budget hearings, we heard testimony from many public witnesses regarding the continuous delays with DOH expending grant money. The quarterly reporting will help improve oversight and hopefully grant funding operations at the agency.
  • Grosso also worked with the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, to include language requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to submit reports to the Committee on workforce strategic hiring plan to fill 106 vacancies, the development and implementation of a comprehensive complaint in-take database system to quantify and analyze the number and type of complaints the agency receives and report on the status of a system to produce performance metrics.

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