I am writing to reflect on the exciting week we have had as we welcomed President Jospeh R. Biden to the White House and watched as Vice President Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, first Black American, and first Asian American to hold her position. I am also writing to provide some updates from the Council over the last two weeks.

I know residents are eager to make an appointment to receive a vaccine. Many of you received an update from DC Health regarding the availability of vaccination appointments on Friday. On Friday, January 22, at 9:00 a.m., 740 additional appointments will become available to any DC resident who is 65 and older or any individual who works in a health care setting in DC.

During this exciting time, I am honored to serve as your Councilmember. I will be proudly watching from home during this significant moment in history as the President and Vice President, the first woman and the first Black and Indian American to hold this position, take the Oath of Office. I ask that you join me in watching the Inauguration virtually and avoid the downtown area due to the ongoing public health emergency and security concerns.

On this #MLKDay, we celebrate a hero who taught us that love and respect have no bounds, and we honor his example and sacrifice with our actions. Today, let's recommit ourselves to achieving his greatest dream of freedom, justice, and equality for all.

I know residents are eager to make an appointment to receive a vaccine. Many of you received an update from DC Health regarding the availability of vaccination appointments on Friday. Additional appointments were made available on Saturday for seniors in Wards 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. I understand the frustration that Ward 2 residents were not included for these additional appointments. DC Health did not initially provide an explanation and I have relayed these concerns about communications going forward.

The 59th Presidential Inauguration will take place this Wednesday, January 20, 2021. As your Councilmember, I am honored to serve you during this significant moment in our nation’s history. On Wednesday, I will be proudly watching from home as President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and the first Black and Indian American to hold this position, take the Oath of Office. I ask that you join me in watching the Inauguration virtually and avoid the downtown area due to the ongoing public health emergency and security concerns.

In a recent article, the Editorial Board at the Washington Post highlighted Councilmember Pinto’s recent legislation to honor slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi by symbolically naming a road in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy in his honor and discussed the need for government policy and actions to be “consistent with American and global values of respect for the dignity of human life and human rights.” To read the full article, click here.

Today, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto will introduce legislation to symbolically designate three roads in the District of Columbia in the memory of the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the honorable Congressman John Lewis, and the honorable Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "In light of the recent deadly riot on Capitol Hill, which included assaults on journalists, and the President’s lack of regard for justice, equality, and our free and fair election process, it is fitting that today we take this symbolic, but important action to acknowledge and honor three individuals who gave so much to fight for our democracy and whose examples continue to inspire the kind of action this moment requires,” stated Councilmember Pinto."

Following the insurrection on Capitol Hill, Councilmember Pinto spoke to the Georgetowner Newspaper about the need for the District of Columbia to achieve statehood and why this is imperative to local security. Councilmember Pinto also discussed her Council priorities for the next four years.

Pinto completed the term of former Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans – the longest-serving lawmaker in D.C. history – who resigned amid an ethics scandal five months prior. As she stepped into office, the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice protests were sweeping through D.C.