Ward 1 Update: Reliable and Effective 911
Public safety, 24/7 bus service, and other Council updates
Hello Neighbors:
Public safety remains top of mind for many of you and for me, too, as incidents of crime, including violent crime, have increased significantly over this time last year in the ward and across the District. We all deserve to live in a community where we feel safe. All Ward 1 families need to be able to enjoy our public spaces and community amenities without fear. I am raising a family here and like many of you, my family’s safety means everything to me.
Here’s what I’ve been doing in recent weeks to address this issue:
- I hosted a town hall with Police Chief Pamela Smith two weeks ago where residents were able to ask questions about her vision and strategies for reducing crime in our Ward 1 neighborhoods. More than 100 people attended and over 350 viewed it online. The Chief spoke about how she is allocating police resources – officers, mobile cameras, and other resources – throughout the District, how she’s working to get officers out of their cars and speaking with residents and business owners, and other methods of policing, how her department handles drug arrests, and how MPD works with other agencies. You can watch a recording of the event.
- Earlier this month, I introduced the Reliable and Effective 911Dispatch Amendment Act of 2023, which would ensure faster and more accurate 911 dispatch by transferring fire and emergency medical calls to dedicated triage lines staffed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. When a person calls 911 – whether that’s for a medical emergency, fire or crime -- they need to know that their call will be answered, that the dispatcher understands what’s going on, and that they will receive help quickly. Councilmembers Trayon White, Sr., Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, Robert White, and Kenyan McDuffie have signed onto my legislation. You can also read the press release and coverage in the DCist, DC News Now, Dave Statter (Twitter), Fox 5, and WTOP.
- I’ve also introduced a bill that would help police solve more homicide cases by increasing rewards for witnesses who provide information leading to homicide arrests. It would set a $50,000 minimum reward and would offer protection, relocation, and other supportive services. The current practice is to give a maximum reward of up to $25,000, usually much less.
The D.C. homicide closure rate for 2023 stands at only 45 percent, compared to a national average of 50 to 60 percent. Closing cases is critical to breaking the cycle of violence and provides closure to families and communities. Councilmembers Charles Allen, Matt Frumin, Anita Bonds, Robert White and Vince Gray co-introduced the legislation with me, and Councilmember Henderson co-sponsored the bill.
- The Council unanimously passed legislation last week that would address severe understaffing at the 911 emergency dispatch center by removing a pension penalty that discourages retired fire and EMS workers from taking positions there. I joined Councilmember Christina Henderson in co-introducing the bill. The 911 call center that residents of the District – and our first responders – rely on, is dangerously understaffed. The office reported that in October, 45% of shifts – nearly half – did not meet the staffing target. Retired first responders are exactly the experts and committed public servants we need to supplement overworked 911 call takers and dispatchers. Read more.
- The Council is taking up Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s ACTIVE Act and held a hearing on the Mayor’s ACT Now Act. And the Council will take up the permanent version of Councilmember Pinto’s Prioritizing Public Safety Act, which we passed in July, giving judges additional tools to keep some of the most violent offenders off our streets and expanding the Council’s popular camera rebate program. It also includes an amendment I co-introduced with Councilmember Allen which will require more community-focused policing, and provide additional tools to deter crime, get guns off our streets, close cases and prosecute crimes effectively.
- My team and I were already developing retail theft legislation and I appreciated seeing that the Mayor’s bill also goes after organizers of retail theft. The provisions of my bill complement hers, adding tools that would augment those in the ACT Now legislation. I plan to introduce my legislation in January.
- This week, I attended the public hearing for Councilmember Robert White’s Whole of Government Approach to Public Safety bill, co-introduced by nine Councilmembers, including me. It would unite the city’s multi-agency response to public safety. I like that it takes a comprehensive approach that would unify the city’s multi-agency response and makes the tools we already have work better and work in tandem. Read my remarks.
An important takeaway here is that there are many legislative efforts in the works to address crime in a variety of ways. No one piece of legislation is going to magically solve the increase in crime or get us out of this situation. And even passing all these measures won’t work if we don’t also fix the tools that are already in place and not working, like the failing 911 dispatch center, the unaccredited crime lab, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s low prosecution rate.
My colleagues and I, working with the Mayor, executive branch agencies, the police chief, the U.S. Attorney, the D.C. Attorney General and countless partners in the community, are collaborating to make sure those tools are operating at their maximum potential. No amount of legislation will work if the 911 call center can’t get officers to a scene, the crime lab can’t process evidence, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office doesn’t prosecute. We need to look at all of it. And that is what we are doing.
All of this cannot take the place of the work we’ve been doing for years now and must continue to do investing in prevention. Clearly it is better to prevent crime from happening than to respond to it afterward. Crimes, including violent crimes, happen for a wide variety of reasons and we need to work on all fronts. This is why I’ve made big investments in mental health and substance use disorder services in Ward 1 - these have a direct impact on crime AND officers, who will tell you they need the support from other social services professionals in addressing these situations.
P.S. Be sure to join me at Brianne on Your Block. next Monday, December 18, 6-8 pm at Tequila & Mezcal, 3475 14th St NW. Let’s meet one-on-one and share your ideas, concerns, or ask for support on a specific issue. RSVP’s are encouraged, but not required. More info.
COUNCIL UPDATE |
Sexual Harassment Investigation Integrity
The Committee on Public Works & Operations, which I chair, and the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, chaired by Councilmember Bonds, held a hearing this week on my legislation to require the District’s Inspector General to hire outside independent counsel to investigate sexual harassment complaints against mayoral appointees, including deputy mayors, agency and sub-agency heads, and individuals appointed by the Mayor to boards and commissions.
I introduced the Sexual Harassment Investigation Integrity Act in the wake of disturbing allegations by two female District government employees of sexual harassment against the Mayor’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor. What followed was an insufficient investigation of those allegations as perceived by the public and the Council. I introduced emergency legislation around the same time, which unanimously passed the Council, to require an independent review of the internal investigations by the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel to restore trust with employees and taxpayers.
More than what was in the report or not in the report, what made the investigation unsatisfactory was the lack of independence of the office conducting the investigation. Even if the investigation was perfect in every aspect, how would we know and trust that? After all, he was the Mayor’s associate and confidant.
Employees must trust that their allegations will be taken seriously, and that an investigation will not be influenced by internal or external politics, the appearance of politics or by the power wielded by the person being accused.
Next up, my committee will mark up the bill and bring it to a vote before sending it to the full Council.
Read my remarks from the December 6 hearing in the committee I chair, the Committee on Public Works & Operations.
24/7 Bus Service is Here!
It’s so great to see the 24/7 bus service ready to start this Sunday! With funding that I helped find in the budget, with an assist from Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Charles Allen, through a small fee on rideshares, WMATA will now provide overnight bus service on 14 key routes through the District, including the S2, H4, 52, 70, and 92 in Ward 1. It means big improvements for residents, especially late-night workers and late-night businesses, like hospitality. Get the details from WMATA.
Making Work Orders Work for Schools
Legislation passed by the Council last week empowers school staff members, like the principal and others, to confirm that repairs have been completed properly before the Department of General Services closes out a work order ticket. Too often school personnel come to find that a work order has been marked closed when the problem has not been solved. Schools and school children deserve better. I was proud to co-introduce this legislation from Councilmember Lewis George.
Pools
As a member of the Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, I joined Committee Chair Trayon White at a hearing last month on expanding access to indoor pools on weekends. D.C. should be maximizing recreation resources, especially for young people. I asked the Department of Parks and Recreation director about access to Cardozo pool, which had been funded and promised in 2014 and has yet to happen. She noted that Marie Reed pool is within a mile of Cardozo, but as we learn time after time, proximity alone doesn't account for density of demand in neighborhoods like those in Ward 1. DPR's own analysis agrees, with Ward 1 and surrounding areas still designated as underserved by indoor aquatics. Recreation opportunities are vital to community and individual health, and a critical piece of neighborhood safety.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1 |
This morning! Coffee Walk & Talk in Park View (ANC 1E) - Walked with residents, hitting up Meyer Elementary School, Park View Recreation Center, Park Morton Housing and lots of places in between. The event started at Doubles. At these Coffee Walks, the Councilmember and staff give updates on known issues - public safety, trash, rats, unsafe sidewalks, etc, and collect info on any new concerns, too. Watch for the next Coffee Walk, probably in January. | December 13
Councilmember and colleagues voted to confirm Police Chief Pamela Smith | November 8
Joined the monthly ANC 1A meeting to provide a Council update and hear from Commissioners and neighbors | November 8
Met with neighbors to hear their concerns at monthly Brianne on Your Block office hours | November 13
Joined the Department of For Hire Vehicles to distribute dash cameras to residents | November 14
Met with ANC chairs and ANC public safety committee chairs, to discuss public safety and listen to their concerns in advance of the Town Hall with MPD Chief Smith | November 15
Stopped by the Freedom Baptist Church Annual Wellness Event featuring SOME, UPO, and Whitman Walker Clinic | November 18
Hosted MPD Chief Pamela Smith with a public safety town hall with Ward 1 residents | November 28
IN THE NEWS |
DC NEWS NOW
DC councilwoman tackles crime with two proposed crime bills
DCIST
New Bill Would Reduce Responsibilities Of D.C.’s Embattled 911 Agency
“When a person calls 911 – whether that’s for a medical emergency, fire or crime — they need to know that their call will be answered, that the dispatcher understands what’s going on, and that they will receive help quickly,” Nadeau said.
DAVE STATTER on Twitter
@BrianneKNadeau announces a bill to solve this and many other 911 problems
FOX 5
DC leaders hold town hall meeting to discuss ongoing crime wave
WTOP
DC Council member says her plan would improve 911 response
The change would accomplish two things, Nadeau said: it would provide callers with a direct connection to fire and EMS personnel “who know how to diagnose a medical situation and how to provide that assistance” and it that would allow 911 calls for police to be answered more efficiently.
WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
Viewpoint: D.C. not abiding by its own Nonprofit Fair Compensation Act
COMMUNITY UPDATES |
Unified call center for DPW
DPW is piloting a new call center. The DPW Unified Communications Center will serve as the one central line for all DPW issues, questions, and concerns. Call 202-673-6833 to connect with DPW for assistance.
School Lottery is open
Attention DC families and students, the My School DC lottery application opens on December 11. Applications for high school are due by February 1; applications for PK3-Grade 8 are due March 1. More about the school lottery.
Holiday Drive in Columbia Heights
ANC 1A, Buddy’s, and Ward 1 Mutual Aid are conducting a holiday drive for neighbors in need until December 16. They are accepting donations of new or gently-used clothes, non-perishable food, blankets, coats, toys, books and diapers.
Free weatherization tools
The Public Service Commission is distributing free weatherization tools to residents as part of its annual Winter Ready DC campaign. Visit participating libraries Dec. 6 through January 14 to receive free weatherization items and speak with Commission staff about how they can save energy and money this winter. The Commission also provides information on utility discount programs for eligible consumers and preparing for weather-related events. Schedule and registration link.
District residents who need assistance with their utility bills should contact the Commission’s Office of Consumer Services at 202-626-5120.
The DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition is conducting a survey to identify the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the District to inform their FY25 budget and policy priorities. The survey is open until December 21st.
The Junior League of Washington is hosting its 25th Annual Youth Poetry Contest and is now taking submissions of poems on this year’s theme: GROW. The contest is open to students in grades 4 to 8.
COMING UP |
Brianne on Your Block – Meet one-on-one with the Councilmember and share your ideas, concerns, or ask for support on a specific issue. RSVP’s are encouraged, but not required | Tequila & Mezcal, 3475 14th St NW, Monday, December 18, 6-8 pm
Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development Annual Meeting honoring Martin Mellet of Jubilee Housing who is retiring | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Thursday, December 14
Columbia Heights Village weekly public safety walk with MPD | 1400 Park Road Northwest, Thursdays, December 14, 21, and January 4, 11:30 am
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D | Online, Tuesday, December 19
Offices closed | The Councilmember’s office will be closed for the holidays from December 25 to January 1, returning on January 2
Legislative Meeting | John A. Wilson Building Council Chambers and online | Tuesday, January 2, 2024, noon
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C | Online, Wednesday, January 3 (anticipated)
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B | Online, Thursday, January 4
CONTACT US |
Brianne K. Nadeau | Councilmember | bnadeau@dccouncil.gov
Ariel Ardura | Committee Director | aardura@dccouncil.gov
Abigail Boshart | Legislative Aide | aboshart@dccouncil.gov
Amanda Chulick | Legislative Analyst | achulick@dccouncil.gov
Jerry Clark | Constituent Services Specialist | jclark@dccouncil.gov
David Connerty-Marin | Communications Director | dconnertymarin@dccouncil.gov
Estelle McKinney | Constituent Services Specialist | emckinney@dccouncil.gov
David Meni | Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director | dmeni@dccouncil.gov
Maricela Nava | Deputy Chief of Staff & Scheduler | mnava@dccouncil.gov
Sabrin Qadi | Legislative Assistant | sqadi@dccouncil.gov
Niccole Rivero | Chief of Staff | nrivero@dccouncil.gov