Today, as Chair of the Committee on Facilities and Procurement, I released the Committee’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget report and recommendations. After several months of dissecting budget proposals and recommendations, and working with my Council colleagues, I identified funding for returning citizens, housing, education, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, and seniors citizens.
My bill, the Economic Development Return on Investment Accountability Amendment Act, passed. It creates long-awaited transparency and accountability for the money DC spends on economic development projects. This bill gives residents a public report on new affordable housing units, jobs, and new revenue to the city for every project that gets public funds.
the Committee of the Whole held a hearing on my Micro-Business Start-Up Fee Relief Amendment Act. This bill will reduce the cost of a basic business license, and all required taxes and fees for businesses that have taxable income of less than $100,000. This means that aspiring business owners won’t be stifled by the hundreds of dollars it currently costs to start a small business.
Along with my colleague, Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, we successfully passed a major amendment to the sports wagering bill to give minority-owned, women-owned, and local businesses significant opportunities to participate in the new sports wagering industry. While I am disappointed that my previous amendment failed on December 4th, I was happy to work with my colleague to draft and pass a new amendment.
Today, Councilmember Robert White introduced an amendment to the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 (Sports Wagering Bill) that would have given minority-, women-, and locally-owned businesses robust opportunities to compete in the emerging sports betting market in the District. The amendment failed with seven Councilmembers voting against it, five voting in favor, and one absent.
My Performing Arts Promotion Amendment Act, My Economic Development Return on Investment Accountability Amendment Act, The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Omnibus Amendment Act, The LGBTQ Health Data Collection Amendment Act
Tomorrow, The Council of the District of Columbia will vote to legalize the multi-million dollar sports betting industry in DC. I have an amendment to make sure we create minority and women millionaires in the process. This is how we can change the color of wealth.
In the District of Columbia, for example, the ACLU found that in 2010 a black D.C. resident was eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white resident, although the rate of usage among the two races was about the same. Now, local lawmakers have joined a nationwide effort to make…
On Tuesday, At-Large Councilmember Robert White proposed a bill meant to improve housing conditions, especially among older buildings where code violations are common. White says the measure would “make it cheaper and easier to be a good housing provider, while making sure slumlords don’t profit off our residents.” He adds that renters face seemingly intractable issues.
