This week, the Council continues to have hearings and meetings on various important nominations, including a Judiciary Committee meeting on the nomination of Pamela A. Smith (Tuesday October 23)to be the new Metropolitan Police Department chief and a Facilities and Family Services Committee meeting on the nomination of Delano Hunter as the Director of the Department of General Services (Monday October 22). Other nomination hearings for Boards and Commissions include the District Board of Optometry and the Health Exchange Board, the Students in the Care Of D.C. Coordinating Committee, the Commission on Out of School Grants, the Alcoholic Beverage Board, the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission, and the Washington Convention and Sports Authority Board of Directors.
The Committee on Health is holding a Thursday, October 26th public roundtable on the opioid and fentanyl crisis and we encourage residents to sign up and testify. The Council’s Calendar and instructions on how to sign up for each hearings can be found here.
Also of note: the Mayor announced a new public safety bill on Monday October 23th, the Addressing Crime Trends Now Act. This measure includes changes to police reforms, the use of chokeholds by police officers, police pursuits, and other significant changes. The Council is currently reviewing more than ten proposals relating to public safety, and it is expected that public safety measures will be passed this Fall going into the Winter.
We are in receipt of questions and complaints regarding the operation of Alternate Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and dirt bikes in the District. In the District, these vehicles are disallowed on public streets by law. However, District law restricts MPD from engaging in vehicular pursuits unless extraordinary circumstances are present. The penalty for operating an all-terrain vehicle or dirt bike in the District includes forfeiture of the vehicle, revocation of driving privileges, fines, and incarceration for up to 30 days.
|
|
