News & Press Releases

June 16, 2014

Updated Hearings Schedule: Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 2 p.m. (Room 412): Proposed Resolution (PR) 20-784, the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings Wanda R. Tucker Confirmation Resolution of 2014, would confirm the appointment of Wanda R. Tucker as the new Chief Administrative Law Judge to serve for a term of six years.

June 19: MARKUP

Monday, June 23, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412): Bill 20-345, the Workman's Compensation Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2014, would limit the time frame where the right to recover damages from a third party is assigned to the employer. Bill  20-790, the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act of 2014, would prohibit an employer or employment agency from discriminating against an individual because of or on the basis of the individual's reproductive health decision making, including a decision to use or access a particular drug, device, or medical service, because of or on the basis of an employer's personal beliefs about such services. Bill 20-757, the Wage Transparency Amendment Act of 2014, would prohibit employers from requiring an employee refrain from inquiring, disclosing, comparing, or otherwise discussing the employee's wages or those of another employee, and from retaliation no more pests.

Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 120): PR 20-694, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights David Scruggs Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-695, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Motoko Aizawa Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-773, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Michelle McLeod Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-774, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Ali Muhammad  Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-775, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Dr. Alberto Figueroa-Garcia Confirmation Resolution of 2014; and PR 20-491, the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Dianne M. Hampton Confirmation Resolution of 2014.

July 1: MARKUP

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 500): Bill 20-293, the Metropolitan Police Department Command Staff Appointment Amendment Act of 2013, would authorize the Chief of Police to promote lieutenants to discretionary command staff positions, such as inspector, commander, and assistant chief. Bill 20-63, the Police Monitoring Enhancement Amendment Act of 2013, would give the Office of Police Complaints access to information and supporting documentation of the covered law enforcement agencies to improve the monitoring and evaluation activities of the Police Complaints Board. Bill 20-810, the Police and Fire Departments Commencement of Discipline Amendment Act of 2014, would repeal the provision that states no corrective or adverse action may be taken against a sworn or civilian member of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department or the Metropolitan Police Department more than 90 days after the agency knew, or should have known, of the act or occurrence allegedly constituting cause for the corrective or adverse action.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412): Bill 20-793, the Civil Marriage Dissolution Equality Clarification Amendment Act of 2014, would amend D.C. Code § 16-902 to clarify that the mechanism for the dissolution of marriage authorized under that section includes divorce and legal separation.  Bill 20-760, the Repeal of Prostitution-Free Zones, would repeal the authority of the Chief of Police to declare any public area a Prostitution Free Zone, and repeal accompanying provisions. Bill 20-468, the Anti-Shackling of Incarcerated Pregnant Women Act of 2013, would establish that no women or youth in DOC custody may be shackled while pregnant or during labor, transport to a medical facility for treatment related to birth, delivery, or post-partum recovery up to six weeks.

Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412): Bill 20-714, the Sex Trafficking of Minors Prevention Amendment Act of 2014, would create procedures for reporting runaways and missing children under custodial care of District agencies, and would require MPD to report critically missing children to the Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  It would also require public posting of the national human trafficking hotline.

NOTE: Due to scheduling issues, hearings previously announced on Bill 20-763, the Multi-Hazard Approach to Preparedness in Schools Amendment Act, Bill 20-803, the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014, and Bill 20-321, the Human Rights Notice Requirement Amendment Act of 2013, have been postponed until after the Council's summer recess.

 

June 10, 2014

Traffic Advisory: Eastbound M Street, SE Lane Closure On or About June 18

Traffic Advisory

Eastbound M Street, SE Lane Closure On or About June 18 

(Washington, DC)  - DC Water is performing construction activities on M Street, SE as part of the Clean Rivers Project.

Beginning Wednesday, June 18, 2014 through Wednesday, December 31, 2014, weather permitting, crews will be completing the final phase of construction on the M Street Diversion Sewer portion of the project at M Street between 7th and 11th Streets. There will be 24-hour closure of two eastbound travel lanes on M Street during this portion of work, temporarily reducing M Street to two eastbound lanes and two westbound lanes. The hours of operation will be from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Important Information:

  • Two-way traffic will be maintained on M Street while construction takes place.
  • 24-hour parking restrictions will remain in effect on M Street between 7th and 14th Streets through December 2014.
  • Some traffic stops and delays within the vicinity of the work zone are anticipated.
  • Limited night work may take place.
  • Delays within the vicinity of the project area are anticipated.

Temporary traffic signs have been set up throughout the area to alert motorists to the upcoming lane shift.  To keep everyone safe, motorists should stay alert and obey the posted speed limits when traveling through this area.

Project Details

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is implementing the DC Clean Rivers Project for the District's combined sewer system which comprises a system of tunnels and diversion sewers for the capture of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to Rock Creek and the Anacostia and Potomac rivers for treatment at DC Water's Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The entire project will reduce CSOs annually by 96 percent throughout the system and by 98 percent for the Anacostia River alone.

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About DC Water
DC Water, is an industry leading multi-jurisdictional regional utility that provides drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment to 600,000 residential, commercial and governmental customers in the District of Columbia, 17.8 million annual visitors and also collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million customers in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

DC Water's service area covers approximately 725 square miles and the company operates the world's largest advanced wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 370 million gallons per day and a peak capacity of 1.076 billion gallons per day.

 

Please visit dcwater.com/cleanrivers for more information on the Clean Rivers Project.  

 

 

 

June 9, 2014

Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety | Scheduled Hearings & Roundtables

The Committee invites the public to testify at the listed hearings. Individuals who wish to testify should contact Nicole Goines at, by 5 p.m. the day prior to the hearing, and provide their name, telephone number, email, organizational affiliation (if any); and which hearing they wish to attend.

Scheduled Hearings & Roundtables | As of June 9, 2014

Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412) (Hearing with Committee on Health): Bill 20-678, the Medical Marijuana Plant Cultivation Amendment Act, would increase the number of living plants medical marijuana cultivation centers can possess at any time. Bill 20-766, the Medical Marijuana Expansion Amendment Act of 2014, would allow physicians to determine whether a patient would benefit from medical marijuana treatment.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 2 p.m. (Room 412): Proposed Resolution (PR) 20-784, the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings Wanda R. Tucker Confirmation Resolution of 2014, would confirm the appointment of Wanda R. Tucker as the new Chief Administrative Law Judge to serve for a term of six years.

Monday, June 23, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412): Bill 20-345, the Workman's Compensation Statute of Limitations Amendment Act of 2014, would limit the time frame where the right to recover damages from a third party is assigned to the employer. Bill  20-790, the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act of 2014, would prohibit an employer or employment agency from discriminating against an individual because of or on the basis of the individual's reproductive health decision making, including a decision to use or access a particular drug, device, or medical service, because of or on the basis of an employer's personal beliefs about such services. Bill 20-757, the Wage Transparency Amendment Act of 2014, would prohibit employers from requiring an employee refrain from inquiring, disclosing, comparing, or otherwise discussing the employee's wages or those of another employee, and from retaliation.

Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 120): PR 20-694, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights David Scruggs Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-695, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Motoko Aizawa Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-773, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Michelle McLeod Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-774, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Ali Muhammad  Confirmation Resolution of 2014; PR 20-775, the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights Dr. Alberto Figueroa-Garcia Confirmation Resolution of 2014; and PR 20-491, the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board Dianne M. Hampton Confirmation Resolution of 2014.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 500): Bill 20-293, the Metropolitan Police Department Command Staff Appointment Amendment Act of 2013, would authorize the Chief of Police to promote lieutenants to discretionary command staff positions, such as inspector, commander, and assistant chief. Bill 20-63, the Police Monitoring Enhancement Amendment Act of 2013, would give the Office of Police Complaints access to information and supporting documentation of the covered law enforcement agencies to improve the monitoring and evaluation activities of the Police Complaints Board. Bill 20-810, the Police and Fire Departments Commencement of Discipline Amendment Act of 2014, would repeal the provision that states no corrective or adverse action may be taken against a sworn or civilian member of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department or the Metropolitan Police Department more than 90 days after the agency knew, or should have known, of the act or occurrence allegedly constituting cause for the corrective or adverse action.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412): Bill 20-793, the Civil Marriage Dissolution Equality Clarification Amendment Act of 2014, would amend D.C. Code § 16-902 to clarify that the mechanism for the dissolution of marriage authorized under that section includes divorce and legal separation.  Bill 20-760, the Repeal of Prostitution-Free Zones, would repeal the authority of the Chief of Police to declare any public area a Prostitution Free Zone, and repeal accompanying provisions. Bill 20-468, the Anti-Shackling of Incarcerated Pregnant Women Act of 2013, would establish that no women or youth in DOC custody may be shackled while pregnant or during labor, transport to a medical facility for treatment related to birth, delivery, or post-partum recovery up to six weeks.

Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. (Room 412): Bill 20-714, the Sex Trafficking of Minors Prevention Amendment Act of 2014, would create procedures for reporting runaways and missing children under custodial care of District agencies, and would require MPD to report critically missing children to the Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  It would also require public posting of the national human trafficking hotline.

NOTE: Due to scheduling issues, hearings previously announced on Bill 20-763, the Multi-Hazard Approach to Preparedness in Schools Amendment Act, Bill 20-803, the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014, and Bill 20-321, the Human Rights Notice Requirement Amendment Act of 2013, have been postponed until after the Council's summer recess.

June 5, 2014

Councilmember Tommy Wells Responds to Announcement of Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe's Retirement

Tommy Wells responded today to last night's announcement that Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe will be stepping down, effective July 2.

Ellerbe's announcement comes after more than a year of scrutiny over the direction of the Department. "FEMS has enormous and urgent challenges to overcome," said Wells. "We can resolve these issues with strong leadership, sound management and a new culture of excellence. That opportunity now stands before us."

Wells continued, "I will do everything I can to ensure that the urgent issues that have gone unaddressed are dealt with immediately, including concerns over staffing, hiring, and the condition and maintenance of the fleet. We cannot let a transition in leadership stall progress in making sure our first responders are fully equipped and wholly staffed."

"Now is not the time to debate the Fire Department's past," Wells said. "Now is the time to look to the future and ensure the ongoing safety of the men and women who risk their lives every day and the DC residents they serve."

Wells, who chairs the Council's Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, which has oversight of the Fire Department, will meet with interim Fire Chief Eugene Jones in the coming days.

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11th Street Bridge Park - Meet Your Designers Night June 10

From the organizers: Meet the four finalists who have been selected as part of a nationwide design competition to create the 11th Street Bridge Park - an amazing new resource that will be Washington D.C.'s first elevated civic space transforming an old freeway into a park over the Anacostia River. This FREE event will be on Tuesday, June 10 from 6:30-8:00 pm. Architects, landscape architects and structural engineers from each design team will present examples of their work and describe how they envision creating an iconic space that supports the community's environmental, economic, cultural and physical health. THEARC is located at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Free parking available. A reception follows the presentation. For more information go to: http://www.bridgepark.org/event/meet-your-design-teams

June 4, 2014

Councilmember Tommy Wells Applauds the Decision of the D.C. Court of Appeals Requiring Attorney General Election in November

Today, the D.C. Court of Appeals said in a five page order that D.C. must hold an election for Attorney General in 2014 unless it is not "practically possible for BOEE to do so under the applicable statutory and regulatory provisions."

This ruling will require the D.C. Board of Elections to hold an election in 2014--or in 2015 at the latest. In 2010, 75% of general election voters voted in support of making the Attorney General an elected position. Currently, the Attorney General is a position appointed by the Mayor.

"I applaud the D.C. Court of Appeals for standing by the will of District voters who overwhelmingly supported an Attorney General election," said Wells. "I trust that the Mayor will instruct the current Attorney General to accept the Court's decision and move forward with this election."

DC will join 43 other U.S. states that elect their Attorneys General by popular vote. This move
further enfranchises D.C. voters who have historically had a limited ability to vote for their government representatives.

"With DC's history of corruption and pay to play politics now on the forefront," Wells continued "now is the time to have an independently elected Attorney General to ensure greater checks and balances."

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