Vacant Lots Could Become Urban Farms Under Bill

Vacant Lots Could Become Urban Farms Under Bill

Matt Cohen, Jun 16, 2014, DCist.com

While parts of D.C.—like the H Street corridor, parts of Petworth, the NoMa area, and others—have rapidly developed in the past few years, there are still District-owned lots throughout the city with no current plans for development.

Under a bill introduced by Councilmembers David Grosso (I-At Large) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), vacant lots and plots of land owned by the District could be turned into urban farms. The amendment to the Food Production and Urban Gardens Program Act of 1986 would "establish an urban farming land leasing initiative," as well as a tax credit for food donations and tax abatement for properties leased for the purpose of becoming small-scale urban farms.

"There's parcels of land in D.C. that, maybe aren't in the right neighborhoods or areas for development yet," Grosso tells DCist. "One of the secrets about development is that it happens when it wants to. It's very hard to create development in a place or location where it's not ready." While Grosso's bill aims to turn these properties into small urban farms, poised to produce locally-grown vegetables and fruits, he says that the vacant lots don't need to remain urban farms forever.

"There's a whole field open near 14th Street and Rhode Island Avenue NE," Grosso says. "Someday, development will happen and it will be good and will hopefully require some affordable housing. But in the meantime, we have a lot of land like that that's owned by the District that's just sitting there."

At last week's hearing on the bill, Mark Chambers, sustainability manager for the D.C. Department of General Services, said it doesn't address or take into consideration certain environmental issues like testing, cleanup, and—D.C.'s favorite problem—rats.

Grosso says that Chambers' concerns are "ill-informed" and that measures to control the rodent population, as well as testing and cleanup, will be addressed once the bill moves forward.

There's also the question of what happens when the city decides to develop the land. Removing an urban farm years in the making in a neighborhood community could create a contentious debate like the one at the farm at Walker-Jones. The proposed redevelopment of the McMillan Park Sand Filtration site, which one group wants to see become a farm, is another example.

"We just have to be conscious and not be afraid of the public debate," Grosso says. "At some point, it may be a good use permanently, or it may just be a good use temporarily, but it's doing something other than what's happening there now, which is nothing. Put a farm there for a while and see what happens."

Grosso statement at Urban Farming and Food Security Act hearing

Thank you Chairman Mendelson and Councilmember Evans for holding this joint hearing on B20-677 the D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014 and thank you to the witnesses here to testify today.

 In the District of Columbia 1 out of 3 residents are at risk of hunger, while 1 in 3 District children are at risk of becoming overweight or obese. As obesity and diet-related chronic disease rates continue to rise, the need to create a sustainable food system that provides healthy food which meets all of the city’s current needs and maintains a healthy ecosystem is imperative.

The District, through the Healthy Schools Act and the Healthy Corner Store program is working diligently to reduce food insecurity and improve the health and wellness of District residents, particularly those in neighborhoods without adequate supermarkets and other sources of affordable healthy food; however, more can and should be done.

I introduced this legislation because all District residents, at all times, should have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Food security is built on three pillars: food availability; food access; and food use.

This legislation instructs the Mayor to first identify and then lease certain District-owned vacant lots to independent farmers and farm cooperatives to be used for successful urban farming ventures.  This bill also creates tax incentives to encourage more individuals and businesses to farm locally and donate locally farmed vegetables, fruits, and grains to D.C. food banks or shelters.

By the District leasing its unused vacant property throughout the city to independent farmers and community farm cooperatives, it allows our residents to claim direct access to healthy food by growing, harvesting and processing it themselves.

By incentivizing more individuals and businesses to proactively donate to local food banks or homeless shelters we can support organizations like Miriam’s Kitchen and the Capital Area Food Bank that manage to make wonderful meals for our most vulnerable residents, day-in and day-out.

My goal is to foster a robust conversation around food security and sustainability, which is why I have partnered with the Open Government Foundation to promote transparency.  Using the Madison platform, this bill, as well as others has been uploaded to spur community engagement and allow District residents to comment and offer input.

We have received feedback already, which I will be incorporating today and I encourage anyone watching from home to log in and join the conversation.  We will be accepting questions throughout today’s hearing and while I will not be able to ask them all, I do encourage everyone to utilize this platform and continue to stay engaged on the issues.

A truly sustainable food system encourages local food production and distribution opportunities that make nutritious food accessible and affordable to all District residents.  With this legislation we will continue to improve food availability, food access and food use and I am eager to hear from and engage with all of the witnesses in the discussion to follow.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Watch Live & Submit Your Questions to Address Urban Farming in the District

For Immediate Release

June 11, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:  Watch Live & Submit Your Questions to Address Urban Farming in the District

Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the D.C. Council will hold a legislative hearing on the D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014; a measure to transform vacant District-owned lots into food producing urban farms.  During this hearing, residents will have a unique opportunity to participate live by submitting questions, comments and other feedback directly to Councilmember Grosso via the MadisonDC collaborative platform.

This is the first time such direct citizen involvement has been captured by the city government.

“MadisonDC is an exciting platform because it promotes and encourages transparency in the legislative process,” said Grosso.  “This tool will spur community engagement and prompt robust dialogue around the issues that matter most to District residents.”

To join the conversation and learn more about the platform, visit MadisonDC.  Also, visit the Urban Farming and Food Security Act and submit your questions or comments before, during and after the gavel drops.

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About Madison

MadisonDC is the District of Columbia’s version of the free Madison software that reinvents government for the Internet Age.  Madison is custom-built to connect the decision-makers in our democracy to the people they serve.

About The OpenGov Foundation

OpenGov is a small non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)3 working to open government. That means making it easier for people to access and use as much government information as possible via innovative technology.

Report On Suspensions And Expulsions In D.C. Reveals Disturbing Trends, Need For More Data

Sarah Anne Hughes, DCist.com on Jun 6, 2014

A report from the Office of the State Superintendent reveals that students who are black, male, in foster care, homeless, or who have mental health needs are disproportionately suspended or expelled from D.C. schools.

In the 2012-2013 school year, local education agencies reported that 5,042 students received in- and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions for violence, drugs, alcohol, and weapons. Students in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades had the highest number of discipline events, but suspensions and expulsions even impacted children as young as three-years-old. During this period, there were 181 pre-K out-of-school suspensions for a federally reported disciplinary action. That number was 201 for kindergarten, 464 for 1st grade, 523 for 2nd, and 600 for 3rd.

"The idea that we would suspend somebody who's three- or four-years-old is just completely unreasonable," said Councilmember David Grosso, who mandated the report's creation.

Eddie Ferrer, Legal and Policy director for DC Lawyers for Youth, said the report confirms that suspensions and expulsions are overused in D.C. "They disproportionately impact poor kids of color, kids who have suffered or are suffering trauma, and kids with disabilities," he said. "We are suspending and expelling the kids who most need and would most benefit from being in a supportive school environment."

Black students from all D.C. schools are almost six times more likely to be disciplined than white students for alcohol, drugs, violence and weapons. Male students are 1.68 times more likely to be suspended or expelled for these reasons than female students, and homeless students are 1.2 times more likely to be disciplined this way.

While the report shows the racial and socioeconomic disparities in these forms of discipline, Ferrer said it underreports the problem. Indeed, the report primarily uses data on the type of incidents that are required to be reported federally. With this data, it appears that the vast majority of students are disciplined for violence without injury.

But according to a 2013 report from D.C. Lawyers for Youth, "the vast majority of DCPS suspensions are for offenses involving no weapons, no drugs, and no injury to another student. Further, the majority of these suspensions are not required by law or by school regulation, but carried out under discretionary authority."

Individual schools do release data on suspensions and expulsions in an Equity Report. From this data, we know that 12 percent of all students received an out-of-school suspension for at least one day during the 2012-2013 school year. Eight schools suspended at least 50 percent of all students for at least one day, while 37 schools reported suspending at least 25 percent.

But these reports do not reveal the exact reason these students were suspended. In their report, OSSE calls for an improvement in discipline-related data collection to improve transparency.

Ferrer and Grosso both called the report a good start. While OSSE recommends that D.C. schools not suspend out-of-school or expel pre-K students, both men believe this should apply to children in 3rd grade and below. "If those things were making any difference," Grosso said, "we wouldn't see ... a spike in suspensions and expulsions in middle school. What we would see is a drop-off if it had a positive impact during the elementary years."

Ferrer called the middle school suspension rate "incredibly disturbing."

"We have a big problem with truancy at the high school age," he said. "And I think part of the reason why is, by the time they're getting to high school, a number of students have been told 'We don't want you here.' They eventually learn that lesson."

OSSE agrees: "Recognizing that suspensions and expulsions actually increase the likelihood that students will misbehave in the future, become truant, fail to graduate, develop substance abuse issues, or encounter the juvenile justice system, LEAs should take particular care in the behavioral interventions being used to discipline our youngest students."

Grosso points to the Positive Behavior Intervention System, a preventive program, which "can decrease discipline referrals, suspensions and detentions, and disruptive classroom behavior, while increasing academic performance, on-task behavior, parent, student and staff satisfaction, and staff retention."

The report calls for LEAs to "evaluate discipline policies and procedures to ensure best practice in application, record keeping, training, and data analysis." When asked why this isn't already happening, Ferrer said it's part training and part support. "Despite the fact that so many resources are going to our schools, they're needed on the academic side," he said. "And we've been less effective at resourcing the wrap-around services and the social-emotional learning side of our schools."

There's also a cultural change that needs to happen, he said. That includes ensuring that kids are in school every day, and using suspensions and expulsions as a last resort.

"All of our schools need to be implementing programs that see the students where they are, at the point they are in life and their situation, and help address those situations," he said. "We have a long way to go to fully understand what's going on in the schools."

OSSE report and recommendations on reducing out-of-school suspensions and expulsions in the District of Col... by Team_Grosso

Grosso statement on proposed Commission on Health Disparities Establishment Act

Thank you Chairwoman Alexander and thank you to all of the witnesses here to testify today on Bill 20-572, the “Commission on Health Disparities Establishment Act of 2013.”

The District of Columbia has the seventh highest incidence rate and the highest death rate from breast cancer in the United States. And although the incidence rate for breast cancer is higher for white women in this city, African-American women from Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 are overrepresented among those dying from the disease.

Even more troubling, African American women in the District are showing up for treatment with advanced breast cancer at rates that are almost double the national average. 

In a report published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2013, it was found that D.C. residents died at a higher rate from preventable heart attacks than any other jurisdiction in the country. 

The CDC report found that, in the District, the rate of avoidable deaths from heart disease, stroke and hypertensive disease was 99.6% per 100,000 population.  The most affected demographic was African-American males ranging in age from 65-74.

These disparities are also found when we discuss behavioral health.  A few years ago there was only one child psychiatrist that was east of the River.  Additionally, 35 percent of the District’s transgender population has experienced suicidal ideation while 39 percent do not have a physician for routine health care as reported by the DC Center for the LGBT Community.

Further, 58 percent of the District’s African-American males having sex with other males are living with HIV, which is significantly higher than the national average at 29 percent. 

We cannot allow these disparities to persist in our communities.  In February, the Department of Health compiled a very comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment, the first of its kind for the District and I want to applaud the Department for this effort.

All District residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity deserve access to quality physicians, screenings and treatment.  I will continue to follow this issue very closely and I am eager to hear from and engage with the witnesses in the discussion to follow.

Grosso Reports FY2015 Budget Victories

For Immediate Release:

May 28, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

Grosso Reports FY2015 Budget Victories   

Success with priorities in education, workforce development, transportation, homelessness, environment, and more

Washington, D.C. – Today, the D.C. Council held a legislative meeting on the first reading of the FY 2015 Budget Request Act of 2014 and the FY2015 Budget Support Act of 2014. Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) worked in committee to ensure inclusion of his top priorities in the budget. 

“The Committee of the Whole put forward a thoughtful and comprehensive budget that will benefit all District residents in the areas of education, workforce development, human services and transportation.  This budget is the result of a lot of hard work and careful considerations and I am pleased to support and vote in favor of it,” said Grosso. 

Grosso’s FY2015 Budget Victories

Tax Revision Commission

From the very beginning, Grosso supported the diligent work of the Tax Revision Commission. He advocated for the inclusion of the Commission’s recommendations in the FY15 budget, and was happy to join his colleagues in passing one of the largest tax relief packages for low & middle class individuals and families in the District’s history. In particular, Grosso advocated for the following:

• Adding a new individual middle income bracket of $40,000 to 60,000 at 7% in FY15 and later 6.5% in FY16
• Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to childless workers
• Raising the standard deduction for single and married filers
• Reducing the unincorporated and incorporated business franchise tax to 8.25%

Public Education

Improving public education has been a priority for Grosso since he first joined the Council. He supported the work of the Committee on Education in the FY15 budget and is especially pleased to support the following enhancements:

• $1 million for the continuation of the Community Schools grant program, which works to integrate academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement in our public schools. Grosso strongly supports school being seen as community centers and this funding is vital to the success of the program.
• A provision requiring D.C. Public Schools to report on its implementation of a restorative justice pilot program next school year. Grosso is committed to pushing our education sector to reexamine school discipline policies in an effort to end the school-to-prison pipeline. Restorative justice programs implemented with fidelity in schools is one way to advance those efforts.
• Grosso also supports the Committee on Education’s decision to amend the Capital Improvement Plan to align capital funding with those schools that need it most. The additional funding for School Within A School, Logan Elementary, Marie Reed Elementary, Murch Elementary, Orr Elementary, and Watkins Elementary for modernization in FY2015 is important to the continued improvement of these education campuses.
• Expansion of the school-based mental health program administered by the Department of Behavioral Health. Social-emotional support personnel are especially important for students. Our kids do not leave the stress of their home lives at the school house door. Even the best, highly qualified teacher struggles to teach a child who is only physically present but shut down mentally from stress and trauma.
• $100,000 to support teen health educators who provide sexual and reproductive health education to their peers.

Workforce Development

It is important for the District of Columbia to not only establish a positive climate for businesses, but also for residents who work here or are seeking meaningful work. Grosso was proud to champion and support initiatives to improve workforce development and support District government employees.

• Grosso worked diligently with the Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations, Kenyan McDuffie, to pass a proposal for 8 weeks of paid family leave for  District government employees in connection with the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child, or the care of a family member who has a serious medical condition.  This is the most expansive family leave provision in the country.
• $5.5 million investment in District Workforce Development at the University of the District of Columbia Community College Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning program to ensure that we are supporting workforce development programs that are successful and supporting our residents so that they can secure life-long, meaningful employment that allows them to take care of themselves and their families. 
• $175,000 for a new employee at the Workforce Investment Council and a technical assistance consultant to conduct a cross-agency study that will track how each District agency allocates their adult literacy and workforce development funding.

Food Security & Recreation

Grosso believes we need to bolster our recreation options and efforts toward food security in the District of Columbia and complement the strong, robust health care infrastructure we are establishing. Grosso was pleased that the following initiatives he advocated for and supported were approved:

• $8,000,000 for the renovation and modernization of the District’s only Therapeutic Recreation Center, which services people with disabilities and is located in Ward 7.  The funding will create additional changing spaces and showers in the women’s locker room, help to replace a badly patched roof and expand the physical size of the facility, which has not been renovated since it was built in 1971.
• $1.3 million to create a locally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enhancement. With this funding, no resident receiving SNAP benefits will receive less than $30 per month in assistance, greatly increasing food security in the District.
• $75,000 to support the Summer Food Services program administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation for low-income children participating in summer programming; $63,000 to support school food pantries at low-income schools in the District; $500,000 in capital dollars to support the development of urban farming, new community gardens and edible landscapes at sites across the District.

Homelessness Services

Grosso is committed to improving how the District assists our most vulnerable residents, as well as health outcomes in the city. He advocated for and supported the following:

• $600,000 to hire 10 family case managers for families at D.C. General to assess families, connect them with the appropriate social services, and ultimately assist them in finding permanent housing.
• $1.3 million to fund key provisions of the End Youth Homelessness Act of 2014, including funding for 10 transitional beds and 5 emergency shelter beds for youth aged 24 and younger, and street outreach to identify and assist vulnerable youth.
• $2 million to fund the Homeless Prevention Program Establishment Act to implement prevention efforts that have proven to be successful in other jurisdictions.
• $2.3 million to expand the Permanent Supportive Housing Program at the Department of Human Services.
• $3 million to the tenant-based Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP) for homeless families, and those at risk of becoming homeless.
• New funding for coordinated entry system to connect the homeless population to housing and other wrap around services.
• $200,000 to conduct a feasibility study for the CCNV individual homeless shelter to determine the housing and service needs of the population and facility.

Transportation & the Environment

Having a multi-modal transit friendly city that is the “greenest” in the country is something we should all desire and is a top priority for Grosso. Over the course of this year, he has established quarterly meetings with the District Department of the Environment to discuss his priorities, participated on panel discussions with the DC Environmental Network to address waste management in the District, and just last month joined the Anacostia Watershed Society in a river clean-up targeting 25 sites around the Anacostia watershed.  Grosso was pleased that the following initiatives he supported were including in the FY2015 budget:

• Budget Support Act language establishing a statutory deadline of June 30, 2018 for the District Department of the Environment to adopt and publish a Record of Decision selecting the remedy for remediation of the contaminated sediment in the Anacostia River.  This commitment ensures that DDOE will work quickly and efficiently so that District residents can swim and fish in the river sooner rather than later.
• $500,000 to conduct a Comprehensive Rail Study to examine the impact of increased population on current commuter rail, the feasibility of expanded commuter and industrial rail, and the impact of privately-owned rail crossing on current and future rail use.
• Grosso is pleased to report that the Council will maintain the planned 6-year, $400 million investment in the streetcar project and dedicate $45-$65 million of operating funds to the project annually. The Council adjusted the proposed streetcar PayGo transfer from a fixed to a floating base year. 25% of the District’s revenues generated over the previous year, rather than a locked-in baseline of FY15, will be dedicated to support the construction of the new streetcar.  The provision will be implemented in FY2017.  These changes ensure that District residents will reap the benefits of a comprehensive streetcar system.
•  $187 million towards the H Street bridge, a critical infrastructure project needed for the completion of the streetcar line.  Full replacement of the H Street bridge will be completed before Fiscal Year 2018.
• $5 million for the Washington Humane Society, which provides the District’s animal control services, to secure a new location and building.

Transparency & Open Government

Grosso is fiercely committed to transparency and open government. To advance these ideals, he was successful in getting the following reporting requirements included in the FY2015 Budget Support Act:

• By October 1, 2014, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer shall submit a report on recommendations for improving transparency of the agency’s budget, including a plan for implementing improvements by the submission of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget to the Council.
• With the support of the Chair of the Committee on Health, language was also included in the BSA requiring the Department of Health to begin submitting quarterly reports on all grants administered by the agency. During the performance oversight and budget hearings, we heard testimony from many public witnesses regarding the continuous delays with DOH expending grant money. The quarterly reporting will help improve oversight and hopefully grant funding operations at the agency.
• Grosso also worked with the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, to include language requiring the Department of Parks and Recreation to submit reports to the Committee on workforce strategic hiring plan to fill 106 vacancies, the development and implementation of a comprehensive complaint in-take database system to quantify and analyze the number and type of complaints the agency receives and report on the status of a system to produce performance metrics.

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Two long reads for the long weekend

Here are two recent articles that I found interesting, and thought you might like to read over this long weekend:

Schooled

Cory Booker, Chris Christie, and Mark Zuckerberg had a plan to reform Newark’s schools. They got an education.

by Dale Russakoff May 19, 2014

The New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/05/19/140519fa_fact_russakoff?currentPage=all

Who Gets to Graduate?

By PAUL TOUGH MAY 15, 2014

New York Times Magazine

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/magazine/who-gets-to-graduate.html?_r=0

Video of our panel discussion on the school to prison pipeline

We had an excellent film screening and discussion on Wednesday about the school to prison pipeline. Thanks to Andy Shallal and Busboys & Poets for hosting us, to Adeleke Omitowoju and the Dream Defenders for the amazing film, and our incredible panelists and moderator, Thena Robinson Mock (The Advancement Project), Dr. Ian Roberts (The Academies at Anacostia), Eduardo Ferrer, (DC Lawyers for Youth), and Tiffany Loftin. You can watch the panel and the discussion below. Stay tuned for follow-up events.

Video streaming by Ustream

Grosso Announces New Initiative to Collaboratively Draft DC Laws Online with the Public

For Immediate Release:

May 16, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

Grosso Announces New Initiative to Collaboratively Draft DC Laws Online with the Public

MadisonDC powers historic initiative to give the public a direct voice in the creation of District legislation, starting with bills on urban agriculture, open primaries, and marijuana policy

Washington, D.C.--Today, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) and The OpenGov Foundation announced that three legislative proposals on urban farming, tax and regulation of marijuana, and open primaries are now open on the Internet to give the public a direct voice in the lawmaking process. This historic effort is made possible by the new Madison online lawmaking tool, empowering all residents to log on, be heard and ensure that their elected officials get policy right for the District.  MadisonDC connects people directly with their elected officials, turning a confusing lawmaking process into an interactive, seamless user experience where everyone can add their input. Grosso will review and consider suggestions starting today and ending June 12.

WATCH: Grosso Invites Constituents to Help Draft DC Legislation

“As we encourage more public engagement in the legislative process, I hope D.C. residents will take a moment to log onto the Madison project,” said Councilmember Grosso. “I look forward to seeing the public input on my proposed bills.”

WATCH: Learn How MadisonDC Gives You A Direct Voice in DC Government

Grosso is the first-ever local elected official to give residents—and others—a chance to participate in their municipal lawmaking process on the Internet. The three bills currently online with MadisonDC for public input are the D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014, the Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act of 2013, and the Open Primary Elections Amendment Act of 2014. MadisonDC not only opens up legislation to feedback from local residents, but also from people around the United States and other parts of the world who have experiences with similar laws and can provide their perspectives.

“We are excited to support Councilmember Grosso’s unprecedented efforts to bring residents - and their ideas--directly into the local lawmaking process.  But what really matters is that we’re going to produce better City Council bills, with fewer frustrations and unintended consequences,” said OpenGov Foundation Executive Director Seamus Kraft.

“These three bills are only a start,” Kraft continued.  “The ultimate goal of MadisonDC is transforming D.C.’s entire policymaking machine for the Internet Age, creating a completely seamless, on-demand collaboration ecosystem for both citizens and city officials.  The possibilities are limitless.”

About MadisonDC

Madison is a free online policymaking tool created by the non-partisan, non-profit OpenGov Foundation to empower you to participate in your government, efficiently access your elected officials, and hold them accountable.  Currently in beta, Madison is open source software that can be used to put any policymaking process online, increasing government transparency and connecting users like you directly to the decision-makers in our democracy.  Click here if you want Madison working to improve your local, county or state government results.

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Grosso prepares for weekend in prison

By Councilmember David Grosso

Beginning this afternoon and continuing throughout the weekend, I will experience the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) at Patuxent Institution in Jessup, Maryland.  I will join inmate facilitators and other participants engaging together in the AVP workshops inside the prison. 

The AVP program began in 1975 with a group named “Think Tank” who started an experimental program for youth at Green Haven Prison in New York.  The group was compelled to provide nonviolence training in preparation for their roles as counselors. “Think Tank” then partnered with the Quaker Project on Community Conflict and created a prison workshop that is currently provided in seven institutions.

What led me to participate in this three day workshop in Patuxent is a desire to experience first-hand whether or not the AVP method can help in stemming the senseless violence in D.C. – from neighborhood beefs, to violence within our schools. Within the first two months of this year, the murder rate has doubled in D.C and as a community we must stand together to say enough is enough.  The violence has to stop!

I will share with you my reflections on the AVP workshops. I look forward to your comments and working together to create a city that can embrace nonviolent conflict resolution as a standard practice.

Grosso’s Reproductive Rights Legislation to Protect Women and Families

For Immediate Release

May 6, 2014

Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun

(202) 724-8105

Grosso’s Reproductive Rights Legislation to Protect Women and Families  

Washington, D.C. – Today, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) introduced the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, a bill to amend the Human Rights Act of 1977 to ensure that individuals are protected from discrimination by an employer or employment agency based on an individual’s reproductive health decision making, including a decision to use a particular drug, device, or medical service based on an employer’s personal beliefs about such methods of family planning.

Nationally, there have been a number of disturbing cases of bosses retaliating against employees for their reproductive health care decisions. For example, in Wisconsin, after the state legislature passed a law requiring insurance plans to cover contraception, the Catholic diocese told employees that if they used the benefit, they would be fired. In the past 4 years alone, individuals in California, Texas, Montana, and Indiana have brought discrimination suits against their employers after being fired from their jobs for being pregnant without being married. 

Recently, a Supreme Court case brought by Hobby Lobby explored whether the federal government can require for-profit companies to provide coverage for forms of birth control that conflict with the company owners’ personal religious beliefs. The Hobby Lobby case is only one of more than 100 federal lawsuits by employers seeking to limit contraception coverage benefits that are available under the Affordable Care Act.

“An employer should not be able to tell their employee whether or not they can access certain kinds of health care,” said Grosso.  “While the District enjoys some of the strongest non-discrimination laws in the country, this specific legislation signals that we stand by the rights of women and families to make their own reproductive health decisions without involvement from their employer.”

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Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014

A BILL

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmember David Grosso introduced the following bill, which was referred to the

Committee on __________________.

An ACT to amend the Human Rights Act of 1977 to ensure that individuals are protected fromdiscrimination by an employer or employment agency based an  individual’s or dependent’s reproductive health decision making.

            BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the “Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014”.

            Sec. 2. Section 211 (D.C. Official Code § 2-1402.11) of the Human Rights Act of 1977, effective December 13, 1977 (D.C. Law 2-38; D.C. Official Code § 2-1401.01 et seq.), is amended to add a subsection (d) to read as follows:

            “ (d) An employer or employment agency shall not discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of or on the basis of the individual’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, including a decision to use or access a particular drug, device or medical service, because of or on the basis of an employer’s personal beliefs about such services.”

            (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any rights of an employee provided through any other provision of law or collective bargaining unit.

Sec. 3.  Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the

fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).

Sec. 4.  Effective date.
            This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Save the Date: May 14 film screening & discussion on school-to-prison pipeline

Break the Cycle: Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Film screening and discussion

May 14, 2014, 6pm-8pm

Busboys and Poets 2021 14th St NW

RSVP for this event -- Please note that seating at the venue is first come, first serve

Join Councilmember David Grosso, Ghost Note Agency, and the Dream Defenders for a documentary screening and panel discussion on school discipline policies and the school-to-prison pipeline.

The documentary, produced by the Dream Defenders, examines current public policy and school discipline practices that have landed a disproportionate number of students of color trapped within the school-to-prison pipeline in urban cities such as the District of Columbia, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

Following the screening, three panelists will share critical insight on the dynamics of the epidemic and trends happening nationally and locally.

Panelists:

• Thena Robinson Mock, Project Director - Ending the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track, a project of The Advancement Project
• Dr. Ian Roberts, Principal - The Academies at Anacostia
• Eduardo Ferrer, Legal and Policy Director - DC Lawyers for Youth

Why attend?

• The Impact of the School to Prison Pipeline has been made a national point of discussion by Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan
• It costs approximately $47,000 per inmate per year to keep a young (and relatively healthy) inmate locked up.  
• Minority students have less access to advanced courses, more inexperienced teachers and face tougher disciplinary consequences than their counterparts, a new trove of federal data shows, affirming long-held beliefs about disparities in the classroom.
• 40 percent of Black youths with disabilities are arrested after leaving high school compared to 27 percent of White youths with disabilities.

For more information, please contact the Office of Councilmember David Grosso at (202) 724-8105.

Dispelling confusion about DMV and REAL ID

In the past week, there have been several reports regarding deadlines for D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to comply with a federal law known as REAL ID. Unclear information caused many D.C. residents to raise concerns that they would need to rush to the DMV to obtain a new REAL ID by a May 1, 2014 deadline.  Please note that this is not the case. Below we outline some key questions and answers.

Do I need to get a new license or ID?

Only if your license or ID is due to expire. Otherwise, your license or ID will remain valid for all purposes until its expiration date.

Do I need to get a new ID before 2016 in order to board planes?

Only if your ID is due to expire. Contrary to initial reports, all IDs issued by D.C. DMV will remain valid beyond 2016 if their expiration date is after 2016. If your license is due to expire in 2018, for example, you do not need to worry, and you can continue to use it for all purposes until it expires.

Will DMV contact me about getting a new license?

DMV will be contacting D.C. residents whose IDs are set to expire to inform them of the documentation they will need to bring with them to get a new license. Due to REAL ID implementation, no one will be able to renew licenses online until they get a REAL ID compliant ID. To renew your license or ID you will need to bring: proof of identity such as birth certificate or passport, proof of social security number such as a card or W-2 form, a green card or other proof of lawful presence in the United States, and two documents proving current residence in the District of Columbia from this list.

More information can be found on DMV’s website.

Advocates Rally In Support Of Repealing Prostitution Free Zones In D.C.

By Sarah Anne Hughes on DCist, April 11, 2014

More than a dozen people rallied outside the Wilson Building today to show support for a transgender woman of color who they say was targeted by police in Arizona and a bill being considered by the Council to repeal "prostitution free zones" in D.C.

Monica Jones, a student at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work, was arrested in May 2013 by an undercover police officer for “manifesting prostitution" as part of Project ROSE, which, as Vice put it, arrests sex workers in the name of saving them. Jones' case goes to trial today.

Friday's event, organized in part by HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive), the D.C. Trans Coalition and Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, was held to raise awareness about Jones' case and the bill, said Elizabeth Saracco, direct of programs for HIPS. The bill, introduced by Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large), would repeal a nine-year-old "provision of the D.C. Code [that] permits the Metropolitan Police Department to declare a particular location as a prostitution free zone for a 20-day period." Once declared, "it is unlawful for a group of two or more persons to congregate in a public space or property in that area for the purpose of engaging in prostitution or prostitution-related offenses."

"Police officers can then ask any group of two or more people who an officer 'reasonably believes' is in the prostitution free zone for the purpose of sex work to vacate the area," Grosso wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Blade. "If the people do not leave the area then they can be arrested."

Saracco said "numerous" transgender woman of color have complained to HIPS about harassment by police in prostitution free zones — "that their lives have been made difficult." This has not been an issue for male or white sex workers, she said. A task force report prepared by the Anti-Defamation League for MPD echoed this: "The mistreatment of transgender individuals — and particularly transgender women of color — by police officers is among the most frequently cited and egregious examples of bias and misconduct."

The law has also done little to actually reduce prostitution, Saracco said.

"It's something that's been on my mind for quite awhile," Grosso said outside the Wilson Building today. "It just gave MPD an opportunity to discriminate in a way that I think is unjust."

Grosso said he's been told by MPD that they aren't actually enforcing or implementing the law: "So it's really an opportunity for us to stand up and speak for something that's right and just."

Kevin O'Connor, a Dupont Circle ANC commissioner, agrees and says he plans to write a resolution in support of Grosso's bill. His ANC previously passed a resolution opposing Councilmember Yvette Alexander's (D-Ward 7) legislation to allow police to create permanent prostitution free zones.

"The Dupont Circle community is concerned about it," O'Connor said, citing the area's LGBT history.

When asked if there's been pushback against the bill, Grosso said "not at this point."

"I think it was a bad idea to start with, so they recognize that now, that it really is an easy way to violate someone's human rights," Grosso said. "So it's time to get ride of them, get them off the books."

Grosso co-introduces bill to remove qualifying conditions for medical marijuana

Today Councilmember Grosso, along with the entirety of the D.C. Council, co-introduced a bill to remove "qualifying conditions" from the medical marijuana program. As noted by the Director of the Department of Health, the decision should be made by physicians and patients, not by politicians.

Medical Marijuana Expansion Amendment Act of 2014

Time to repeal ‘prostitution free zones’

By David Grosso

Published April 3, 2014, The Washington Blade

My commitment to human rights predates my time in office and a human rights framework is interwoven into all of the work I do here on the D.C. Council. I was disturbed when I read a report released last month on relations between the LGBT community and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A task force of experts who investigated MPD’s handling of hate crimes drafted and released the report. The report documents a number of problems and makes recommendations for how to address the way MPD interacts with the LGBT community. What I found most troubling was the task force’s finding that “the mistreatment of transgender individuals — and particularly transgender women of color — by police officers is among the most frequently cited and egregious examples of bias and misconduct.” Unfortunately, that is not news to many in the LGBT community.

The recommendations in the report from the hate crimes assessment task force are directed to MPD and should be implemented quickly. Outside of the task force, seven community-based organizations (Casa Ruby, The D.C. Center, D.C. Trans Coalition, GLAA, GLOV, HIPS and Rainbow Response) came together and issued additional recommendations for both MPD and the D.C. Council. Chief Lanier is already moving forward with the reforms, in close collaboration with the community groups and the task force. To continue this effort, the D.C. Council must also act quickly. I have decided to implement one of the coalition’s recommendations immediately by introducing a bill to repeal “prostitution free zones” in D.C.

This provision of the D.C. Code permits MPD to declare a particular location as a prostitution free zone for a 20-day period. Police officers can then ask any group of two or more people who an officer “reasonably believes” is in the prostitution free zone for the purpose of sex work to vacate the area. If the people do not leave the area then they can be arrested. According to the task force report, transgender women (African Americans and Latinas in particular) express that MPD officers regularly view and treat them as criminals. This stereotype—that all transgender women are always engaging in sex trade—is damaging and results in their human rights being violated. This happens when police stop or arrest someone based on who they are rather than what they are doing. The prostitution free zones reinforce this bias.

The task force, along with previous research, found that this bias also means that when transgender women approach police for help, they all too often face hostility and don’t receive assistance. It is important for police officers to not stereotype transgender women in this way. But it is also critical that police officers help someone who is assaulted or raped, even if they were involved in sex work. MPD is responsible for the safety of everyone, including sex workers.

Repeal of the prostitution free zones is long overdue for several reasons. First, the statute is likely unconstitutional—the Attorney General’s office testified in January 2012 that, “we have substantial concerns about [the law’s] constitutional soundness.” Second, MPD has not initiated any prostitution free zones since 2012—indeed, officials told me that they do not oppose repeal of the prostitution free zone section of law. Perhaps most importantly, the prostitution free zones, and the inevitable profiling that happens within them, violate affected residents’ human right to be free from discrimination.

Just as we are reconsidering other laws that have been found to be discriminatory, I think it is time that we open up the conversation regarding how we handle commercial sex. We need to consider changing from a framework of criminalization to a framework that emphasizes the health and human rights of those involved. Meanwhile, let’s make the easy decision to take a constitutionally suspect law off the books and repeal the prostitution free zones.

Budget expenditures by agency FY15-FY18

FY15-FY18 Proposed DC Budget from Mayor Gray

Mayor Gray proposes his budget for 2015

This morning Mayor Gray presented his his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2015 to the D.C. Council. Over the next month, Council committees will hold hearings on the budget, with opportunities for the public to testify, as well as hearing from government agencies. Here we present the presentation the Mayor made to the Council about the budget (a broad overview); the Budget Support Act (authorizing legislation that will be amended and eventually passed);  and the Supplemental Budget Plan (re-allocation of funds for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2014). Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions, including on Twitter!

Powerpoint for presentation of the FY2015 budget to the D.C. Council by Mayor Gray

Here is the Budget Support Act--it's big! It is subject to amendments and approval by the Council:

Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Support Act of 2014

Here is the Supplemental Budget Plan--it outlines how the Mayor plans to re-allocate funds from the Fiscal Year 2014 budget, to spend unspent funds and cover cost overruns.

FY14 Supplemental Budget Plan Amendments

Frequently Asked Questions: D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014, B20-677

Introduced by: Councilmembers David Grosso, Mary Cheh, and Tommy Wells

Co-sponsored by: Councilmembers Muriel Bowser, Kenyan McDuffie, and Phil Mendelson

Referred to: Committee of the Whole and Committee on Finance and Revenue

What are the major components of the D.C. Urban Farming and Food Security Act of 2014?

This legislation establishes an initiative that first identifies and then leases certain District-owned vacant lots to independent farmers and farm cooperatives to be used for successful urban farming ventures. It also creates tax incentives to encourage more individuals and businesses to farm locally and donate locally farmed vegetables, fruits, and grains to D.C. food banks or shelters.

Why should the District lease its vacant property to local farmers?

Activating vacant unimproved properties owned by the District and owned privately is important. Not only would this effort help to ensure that these properties are environmentally safe, but also that they are a welcomed, safe attraction in communities. 

What would be the process for individuals or organizations looking to lease land?

If approved and signed into law, by February 2015, the Mayor would need to identify 25 District-owned vacant lots that can potentially be used for successful urban farming ventures. The Mayor would then develop a Request for Proposal process for applications.

How long would leases last for under this initiative?

All lease agreements entered into under this initiative would be for a term of at least 3 years.

Will farmers be able to sell produce on the property?

Yes. Any lease entered into pursuant to this initiative with an independent farm or farm cooperative may permit the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables on the leased land, off the leased land, or both.

Is it true that your bill would provide property tax abatement for leasing vacant land to farmers?

Yes.  Under this legislation, if an owner of unimproved real property enters into a lease with an unrelated party for the use of its real property for the purpose of producing food commodity through small-scale urban farming, there shall be allowed a 50% deduction from the real property tax imposed on the portion of leased real property actually used for small-scale farming.

What are the eligibility requirements for the property tax abatement?

In order to be eligible for the tax abatement under this section, any lease agreement shall include, but is not limited to, all the following provisions, and the parties thereto shall be in compliance therewith:

1. An initial term of not less than three years;
2. Active use and cultivation of at least 5,000 square feet of the real property;
3. A requirement that the entire property subject to the lease shall be dedicated toward agriculture use; and
4. A prohibition against any dwelling units (as defined in § 47-813(d)(3)) on the real property.

What kind of tax incentive does the bill provide to individuals who donate to D.C. food banks or shelters?

A taxpayer may claim a nonrefundable credit against income taxes for food commodity donations made during the tax year to a District of Columbia food bank or shelter. The credit claimed shall equal 50% of the value of the contribution and shall not to exceed $2,500 per taxpayer per tax year.

What kind of tax incentive does the bill provide to businesses who donate to D.C. food banks or shelters?

A business may claim a nonrefundable credit against business taxes for food commodity donations made during the tax year to a District of Columbia food bank or shelter. The credit claimed shall equal 50% of the value of the contribution and shall not to exceed $5,000 per taxpayer per tax year.

How will these tax incentives be monitored?

Individuals and businesses claiming the tax credit or property tax abatement will need to provide documentation supporting the claim in a form and manner prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer.

Why is this legislation important?

D.C. residents at all times have access to sufficient safe nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Food security is built on three pillars: food availability; food access; and food use.  By the District leasing its unused vacant property throughout the city to independent farmers and community farm cooperatives it allows our residents to claim direct access to healthy food by growing, harvesting and processing it themselves. By incentivizing more individuals and businesses to proactively donate to local food banks or homeless shelters we can support organizations like Miriam’s Kitchen that manages to make wonderful meals for our most vulnerable residents out of very little, day-in and day-out.