Dear Neighbor,
I want to wish everyone a very happy Pride Month! This year is especially meaningful as Washington, DC is home to World Pride, welcoming LGBTQ+ neighbors from around the world to celebrate, commemorate, and recommit ourselves to the continuing work towards equality and safety for everyone. Last week, I joined the mayor and Council colleagues in raising the pride flag at the John A. Wilson building to honor and celebrate our vibrant LGBTQ+ community. As we see some in this country try to spread hate and division, in DC we stand up proudly together to honor our diversity, celebrate love in all forms, and march together in unity with pride.
I was thrilled to join Councilmember Zachary Parker at his event at Union Market to celebrate Black Pride – a time to recognize the Black LGBTQ+ community and its diversity, resiliency, and love.
For more information on all the events in our city celebrating World Pride in DC click here and I hope to see you out there.
Please join me in marching in the World Pride parade this Saturday, June 7th! We will meet at 14th and T NW at 1 p.m. Please be mindful of the street closures and traffic delays in the city over the weekend. You can sign up to join us here!
Yours in Service,
Brooke
Legislative Updates
Budget Hearings
On Thursday, May 29, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety held a budget oversight hearing with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), and the Fire & EMSDepartment.
My top takeaways from the discussion include the need to:
- Improve information sharing and DNA testing in house
- Continue support for the nurse triage line, which helps 40-50 people a day and could handle more telehealth support for residents
- Support our firefighters and EMS workers’ mental health
- Ensure our agencies are accredited
In the Community
Over the last two weeks, Councilmember Pinto and Team Pinto have met with residents, advocacy groups, and District officials in Ward 2 and across the District, including:
- Holding a public safety walk in Ward 4 with Councilmember Janeese Lewis George where we heard from residents about concerns with juvenile incidents and the need for resources to empower young people and provide safe spaces for them to gather.
- Joining Councilmember Christina Henderson for the renaming of 15th Street NW between Church and Q Street as Alma Thomas Way in honor of the late iconic DC artist whose legacy is woven into the fabric of our city’s history.
- Holding a public safety walk in Ward 5 with Councilmember Zachary Parker where we heard from residents about concerns regarding access to public services, the cleanliness of our streets, sidewalks, and alleys, and ensuring we have resources to empower young people involved with the justice system to succeed.
- Raising the Pride flag at the John A. Wilson building with the mayor and Council colleagues to honor and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community.
- Celebrating Black Pride with Councilmember Zachary Parker and District residents!
- Joining the Tudor Place Garden Party in Georgetown to celebrate preserving our city’s history and legacy.
- Holding a public safety walk in Ward 3 with Councilmember Matt Frumin where we heard from residents about concerns about maintenance to apartment and condobuildings, access to mental health services and substance use, and residential safety.
In the News
WATCH ABC7: Public officials walk DC's Ward 5 with residents to share concerns and create solutions
“The people who make all the difference in bettering a community gathered Friday afternoon to walk Ward 5 in NE Washington to connect, share concerns, and create solutions from police to activists to neighbors and public officials. “This is how we build communities that you all deserve and are safe for everybody," said D.C. Councilmember Pinto. The Ward 2 councilmember, who serves as chair of the judiciary and public safety committee, talked about policies such as empowering youth through mentorship, creating more housing and employment opportunities, while hiring more first responders. “We’ve seen a lot of success in driving down violent crime, but we know, and I know many of you know that there’s a lot more work to do," added Pinto.”
LISTEN TO THE KIRBY ON SPORTS PODCAST: Washington Football moving back to The District w/ Brooke Pinto, DC Councilmember, Ward 2
Councilmember Pinto joins Josh Kirby on the Kirby on Sports Podcast to discuss the proposed deal to bring the Commanders back to DC and to transform the RFK campus into a mixed-use site with a state-of-the-art stadium, housing, retail, hotels, and green and play space.
READ CULTURE TYPE: Alma Thomas Way: Washington D.C., Street Where Famous African American Artist Lived is Now Named in Her Honor
“Henderson was joined at the event by DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto (Ward 2), who co-introduced the bill. “I’m just so inspired by Alma Thomas and so many of her contributions and talents and I think in D.C., the fact that she had been so involved in so many of our institutions, from Howard to Shaw (Junior) High School, the White House, and really setting an example for how we can be involved citizens, I think is really important,” Pinto said.”
Announcements
Join Councilmember Pinto and our team to march in the World Pride DC parade on Saturday, June 7th! We are thrilled the District is hosting this year’s World Pride celebration and can’t wait to celebrate – with pride – our LGBTQ+ neighbors together.
You can sign up to join us here.
A Night at Nationals Park
Join Councilmember Pinto and neighbors to watch the Washington Nationals face off against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, June 14th at Nats Park!
