Brooke's Briefing: Judiciary Committee Passes its FY25 Budget

Dear Neighbor,

This week, the Council Committees, including the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, approved their Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budgets, the next phase of our budget season. I am going to share with you some of the critical investments we made through the Judiciary Committee, as well as highlight some of the other priorities I’m fighting for on behalf of Ward 2 and the District that don’t always receive the attention and focus they deserve.

Judiciary Budget Updates

On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved its FY25 budget. The budget reflects the Committee’s continued commitment to make sustainable improvements to public safety across the District and to balance its top priorities:

1. Improving safety for our communities and supporting our first responders;
2. Enhancing accessibility, fairness, and oversight of our justice system; and
3. Bolstering foundational needs to provide for safe and thriving communities.

I am encouraged that as of today, more than four months into 2024, violent crime has decreased by 25 percent and property crime has decreased by 14 percent when compared to the same period last year. While these trends are promising and suggest that the legislative interventions and budget investments from the last year – including my Prioritizing Public Safety emergency bill the Council passed in summer 2023 and my Secure DC Omnibus bill the Council passed this winter – have already made positive impacts on safety in our communities, the District must stay collectively focused on a broad array of interventions, initiatives, investments, and responses to keep all District residents safe.

Fundamental safety for all residents undergirds all other goals we are working to accomplish in the District. As a Committee, it is our obligation to continue striving to support efforts that keep all District residents safe, and I am very proud of the balance we were able to strike in this year’s budget to prioritize safety, justice, and community investments, particularly in a budget year challenged by declining property tax revenues and the expiration of federal pandemic-related supports.

In addition to these environmental budgetary restraints, I will note that the budget process this year with the Judiciary Committee was extremely difficult. In the eleventh hour, significant sources of recurring funds were decertified, which effectively cut the Committee's available funds to less than one-third of our expected plan for funds – funds I had anticipated putting towards Access to Justice grants, Victim Services grants, literacy coaches for teachers, and additional priorities of mine and my fellow Committee members.

While the budget we put forward today still honors our commitment to bolstering these investments, I am committed to working with all of my colleagues over the next few weeks to identify additional funding sources for these essential needs:

• Access to Justice Grants: These grants form the bedrock of legal aide available to low-resource residents to ensure they have access to legal support, services, and protection to prevent acute situations, including for eviction and unemployment.
  • Next steps: While the Committee was able to restore some of this critical funding that was cut in the Mayor’s proposed budget, I am committed to working with colleagues to secure additional funding for this critical program.

• Victim Services Grants: These grants ensure survivors of crime can access needed resources and supports through a continuum of care provided by community organizations. Our entire community suffers when these critical programs do not have sufficient funding.
  • Next Steps: Again, while the Committee was able to restore some of this critical funding that was cut in the Mayor’s proposed budget, I am committed to working with colleagues to secure additional funding for this critical program.

• Literacy Training: The Committee was able to provide funding for literacy to provide structured literacy training for kindergarten teachers and begin addressing the exceedingly low rates of literacy proficiency for our DC students. We know that a safe and thriving city depends on the next generation having opportunities, which requires our kids to know how to read.
  • Next Steps: Sufficiently funding the necessary literacy interventions requires an additional $2.3 million to expand this training for other grade levels. I will be fighting hard to find more funding sources to make sure that we address this concern with appropriate urgency.

Status of Additional Budget Priorities

As you may remember, I sent my budget letter on behalf of Ward 2 to the Mayor in February. Shaped by neighbor outreach and engagement, I highlighted my top three priorities for the Mayor to:

1. Fund the totality of my Secure DC legislation to improve public safety across the District,
2. Invest in the short-term stabilization and long-term vibrancy of our Downtown, and
3. Fund all of the District’s $200 million contribution to WMATA to ensure a reliable, affordable, and safe transit system.

I was very pleased that the Mayor’s proposed budget honored these three priorities – each of which are critical to supporting our communities across the District. Here are just some of the additional investments I’m prioritizing throughout this budget season that you may not know about:

Supporting Small Business and Downtown Vibrancy

• BEST Act: My bill, the BEST Act, which the Council passed in 2022, transforms our business licensing process in DC by paring down over 100 licensing categories to less than 15, lowering cost barriers, and streamlining the renewals and application process for businesses. Thank you to Mayor Bowser and Councilmember Nadeau for significantly funding this critical legislation that makes clear that the District is open for business.
• RECOVERY Act: I appreciate that the Committee on Business and Economic Development maintains the $2.5 million investment in Recovery Retail Grants, a key part of my RECOVERY Act. The expansion of these grants will help new and growing businesses to develop, as well as activate previously vacant retail and commercial spaces to promote the vibrancy and economic wellbeing of the District and Downtown.
• Foggy Bottom/West End Main Street: In FY24, I funded a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a new Main Street in the Foggy Bottom/West End neighborhood. I am very pleased that the results supported a new Main Street and that the Committee on Business and Economic Development included funding to establish one to support our small and local businesses.
• Downtown Activation Program: I am thrilled that the program – an innovative approach that provides temporary property tax freezes to participating properties to incentivize office conversions to other uses, such as retail, hospitality, and entertainment – has been expanded to apply to the entire District. This program will catalyze new long-term economic opportunities.

Supporting Thriving Communities

• World Pride 2025: The District has the honor of hosting World Pride 2025, which will celebrate the history of the LGBTQQIA+ community in the District and bring millions of visitors and hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue. The $5 million investment in grants for planning, programming, and government services will help to ensure the success of this global event.
• Public Restrooms Pilot: I appreciate the the Committee on Public Works and Operations' investment to ensure the continuation of the Public Restroom Pilot in FY25, including for two Ward 2 locations in Downtown and Dupont Circle. Easy access to public restrooms is important for both our residents and our visitors, but especially for our unhoused neighbors.
• Early Childcare Pay Equity Fund: I was extremely disappointed to see the cut to the Pay Equity Fund in the Mayor’s proposed budget. I am working with my colleagues to find creative solutions in order to restore this critical funding.

Supporting Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Transit

• Safe Passage: Safety throughout the journey to and from school is one of the top concerns I hear from our students. I am proud that the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety included needed funding to help ensure our kids can get to school safely with the support of trusted adults.
• DC School Connect: I’m disappointed about the proposed $2 million cut to DC School Connect without reinvesting those funds in other student transportation programs. One of the top concerns I hear from young people and their families is the need for safe, reliable transportation to get to and from school and out-of-school-time activities.

Supporting Affordable Housing

• Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP): The Committee on Housing invested an additional $6.9 million in the emergency rental assistance program for a total of $26.9 million. I hope we can continue to work with our colleagues to find additional funding for this important program.
• Housing Outreach: The Committee on Housing added $2 million for street outreach, work that is vitally important to moving unhoused residents into permanent and stable housing.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): While we know that investments in these critical vouchers fall short of the tremendous need our community faces, the Committee on Housing’s $1.2 million investment in new PSH vouchers for individuals and $2.6 million for families are critically important.

While this summary is far from exhaustive, I hope it provides insight into the expansive work my Council colleagues and I are doing to ensure District residents can build safe, thriving communities.

The Council will hold its first vote on the full budget on May 29th, and I encourage you to reach out to my colleagues to advocate for what you’d like to see reflected in this year’s budget.

I will continue to keep you updated as I continue to work with my colleagues to ensure critical District programs and legislation can be implemented by DC agencies.

Lastly, I want to wish all of our wonderful mothers, care-givers, grandmothers, mother-figures, and expectant caregivers a wonderful Mother’s Day with loved ones. Our mothers form the foundation of our families and communities. A special Happy Mother’s Day to my own incredible mother, Dale. Her commitment, wit, intelligence, and selflessness inspire me every day.

Yours in Service,

Brooke  

In the last few weeks, Councilmember Pinto and Team Pinto have been out and about in Ward 2 and across the city, including to:

• Host a Ward 2 Earth Day Cleanup in Logan Circle in partnership with District Cleanups, Logan Circle Community Association, and Logan Circle Main Street to host an Earth Day cleanup and come together as a community to reflect on the importance of safe and clean neighborhoods.

• Join MPD’s 2nd District roll call to acknowledge and thank officers that keep the District safe and bring initiatives like Secure DC to life.

• Hold budget oversight hearings with the Office of Unified Communications and the Office of Victim Service and Justice Grants; and with the Criminal Code Reform Commission, Office of Neighborhood Safety ad Engagement, and the Office of the Attorney General;

• Commemorate late Ward 2 resident and ANC Commissioner Rebecca Coder with Foggy Bottom and West End residents by designating a section of Francis Park in her name and recognizing her meaningful contributions to the community.

• Team Pinto attended the Gallery Place/Chinatown Task Force community meeting at MLK Library to hear directly from neighbors about their vision and hope for the future of the neighborhood.

• Spoke at the Citizens Association of Georgetown’s Annual Meeting at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and received an award for her service to the community.

• Join Food Rescue DC to deliver surplus healthy food from Ward 2 businesses to residents in need and learn about sustainable ways to support our community and diminish food waste.

• Visit Foggy Bottom and West End neighbors to discuss neighborhood-specific initiatives, updates, and goals to bring back to the Council.

• Meet with students from Ron Brown High School and leaders from The Village Network about youth perspectives and recommendations for public safety, including feedback on Secure DC.

• Meet with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan D.C. chapter to discuss needed supports for low-resource residents in this year’s budget, including through the Early Childcare Pay Equity Fund and entrepreneurship opportunities.

• Meet with Peace for DC Executive Director Marcus Ellis to discuss innovative violence interruption strategies and community-led efforts to drive down violence.

• Attend the Ward 2 Education Council’s monthly meeting to discuss budget priorities to create a strong and accessible public education system, including through literacy investments and teacher supports.

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• The Washington Post: Opinion written by Councilmember Pinto | Secure D.C. is just a start. Here’s how to make D.C. safe and vibrant. “I heard the same message in living rooms, at houses of worship, on sidewalks and inside community centers. Everyone demanded safety and action. Collectively, we all wanted to send a clear message that we cannot, and will not, tolerate the gun violence or crime trends that have been devastating our communities. And we knew we needed a dynamic and multifaceted response to address all the factors that make residents feel unsafe.”

• NBC 4: After-action report details lapses inside DC emergency dispatch center in District Dogs flood. “I firmly believe that increased transparency of the District’s emergency response is critical for improving accuracy, reliability and public trust, which is why I shared the draft after-action report from the executive with the public,” Pinto told the I-Team.

• Washington Blade: D.C. Council member proposes LGBTQ senior housing in Ward 2. “In a Feb. 27 letter to Bowser proposing specific amounts of city funding on a wide range of issues, including the Council’s recently passed crime bill, Pinto told Bowser the need for affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors is pressing. ‘Having faced decades of workplace and healthcare discrimination and been barred for most of their lives from marrying or having children, our LGBTQQIA+ seniors are more likely to face financial and health challenges and need housing and social supports as they age,’ Pinto states in her letter.”

• WATCH: WJLA: DC Council unanimously approves $515M deal to fund Capital One Arena improvements. “The District's rapid movement to introduce today's financing proposal signifies and demonstrates D.C.'s commitment to revitalizing and supporting Capital One arena and our downtown,’ Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto said moments before the vote. ‘The agreement will breathe energy and opportunity into our downtown through these renovations to the arena, additional opportunities for our entertainment spaces and festivals."

• Attend the Black Mamas Wellness Community Day on Saturday, May 11th at 12-2pm at Sycamore and Oak (1110 Oak Drive SE). This free event is open to people at every stage of parenthood, where folks can be connected with workshops, information, and vouchers to support their families. You can RSVP here.

• Join the next class of the Building Futures Construction Pre-Apprenticeship class, a program designed to help low-income DC residents expand their skills for construction and trade jobs in the region. The next program begins on May 22nd. Call 202-974-8222 for more information and a phone screening.

• Reminder! Seniors 65 and older can receive a free Senior SmarTrip Card in an effort to expand access and affordability to public transit on WMATA. Learn more about this program here.  

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