Dear Neighbor,
Today, I held a critically important public roundtable to address recent power outages that significantly impacted District residents and to provide oversight of our emergency response planning. Residents deserve reliable electricity and clear and consistent communication when the lights go out.
In recent months, DC residents have endured multiple, prolonged power outages. We've witnessed failures that left thousands without power during both our coldest and hottest weeks of the year, endangered vulnerable populations who were dependent on medical equipment, and inflicted significant economic losses on businesses and residents alike.Today, I secured commitments from Pepco to improve communication with residents and businesses, outage prevention, and transparency with claims. I will continue to follow up with Pepco and HSEMA and will explore other legislative avenues to ensure all District residents receive reliable service and sufficient communication during an outage.
Additionally, I want to provide an important update on the juvenile curfew legislationthat I am supporting as a preventative tool to keep our kids and our city safe. I am holding a public roundtable next Thursday, October 30th at 10:30am to hear from the public about their experiences with the juvenile curfew and from MPD about how this tool has been effective in enhancing public safety.
In certain areas where MPD is aware that large groups of young people are intending to engage in harmful activity, the emergency legislation authorized the Chief of Police to declare an earlier juvenile curfew zone as early as 8 pm for groups of 9 or more kids without supervision. The juvenile curfew legislation over the summer was successful in preventing these large gatherings in certain zones and was used as expected as a preventative tool — it led to no curfew violations and zero arrests. You can sign up to testify or can submit testimony by clicking here. I look forward to hearing from you all next week about this critically important tool.
Finally, this fall, my team and I are holding hearings and will be in the community at several events across the city. Check out a few of the upcoming events below where I hope you will join us!
Yours in service,
Brooke
SIGN UP HERE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER
Legislative Updates
Power Outage and Emergency Response Roundtable
On Thursday, October 23, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety held a public roundtable on recent power outages and emergency response planning. The roundtable included testimony from members of the community, Pepco, and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA). Councilmember Pinto secured commitments from Pepco to improve communication with residents and businesses, outage prevention, and transparency with claims.
In the Community
Over the last two weeks, Councilmember Pinto and Team Pinto have met with residents, advocacy groups, and local and federal partners across the District, including:
- Holding community office hours at Chocolate & Bread to hear directly from neighbors about their experiences and ideas to keep driving forward solutions that work for our community
- Joining Georgetown Canal Day Storytime as a guest reader to read to DC children
- Accepting award from DC Nightlife Council as an industry ally for Councilmember Pinto’s work to support nightlife businesses across the District
- Meeting with neighbors at St. Mary’s Court to discuss ways to support seniors and people with accessibility needs
- Celebrating the grand opening of Sixty DC, an office building converted into a new energy efficient hotel with support from the DC Green Bank with a restaurant, rooftop bar, and gym in Dupont Circle
- Celebrating the Teacher of the Year Award Recipient, Ward 2’s own Christopher Alberts, Director of Performing Arts and music teacher at School Without Walls High School in Foggy Bottom
- Meeting with neighbors at Watergate South to discuss ways to improve ourcommunity and protect Home Rule
Announcements
Streateries Update
Councilmember Pinto has been working with DDOT and DOB to clarify what businesses need to know about the new streatery regulations. She has secured several commitments from the agencies and there are updates to the program on their websites and summarized below.
Mitchell Park Fall Fun Day
Join Councilmember Pinto for community office hours at Mitchell Park Fall Fun Day on Sunday, October 26.
William Dorsey Swann Street NW Historic Marker Dedication
Join Councilmember Pinto for the William Dorsey Swann Street NW Historic Marker Dedication. Councilmember Pinto introduced the William Dorsey Swann Street Designation Act, which is named after William Dorsey Swann, who was an early pioneer in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in the late 19th century.
