Dear Neighbor,
This Black History Month, I join fellow Washingtonians in celebrating the successes and achievements of generations of Black Americans, as well as paying tribute to those who have faced and continue to face challenges and adversity. Black history is American history and is a big part of DCs’ story. From the stories and events of the civil rights demonstrations at the March on Washington, to the cultural contributions from prominent Black artists like the godfather of Go-Go music Chuck Brown, we are proud to be home to strong Black leaders who enrich our city.
There are many ways to celebrate Black History month throughout DC by visiting our many historic sites including these in Ward 2 among others:
- National Museum of African American History and Culture: 1400 Constitution Ave NW
- Duke Ellington Residence: 1805 13th Street NW
- Mary McLeod Bethune Council National Historic Site: 1318 Vermont Ave NW
- Mt. Zion Female Union Band Historic Memorial Park: 2501 Mill Road NW
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library: 901 G Street NW
Plane Crash: Like so many people across the country and around the world, I was horrified and heartbroken by the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River last month when 67 people lost their lives. My prayers are with the families and loved ones of those killed. I want to sincerely thank our brave first responders for their swift response and recovery efforts in difficult conditions and freezing temperatures as well as our Office of Chief Medical Examiner who managed the process of connecting families with their loved ones. I am grateful for the robust unified response involving local and state first responders from around the region as well as federal agencies.
We are devastated by the tragic loss of life. Our focus now must be to ensure a heartbreaking tragedy like this does not happen again. Passengers should be assured they are able to fly safely in our skies and we know we need reliable regulations and personnel in furtherance of that mission.
RFK Land Transfer: I was thrilled to join my Council colleagues in voting unanimously last week to approve the RFK land transfer to the District. I fully support developing this site for productive use for housing, retail, transit, recreation space, and as a potential home for the Commanders and space for other sports and entertainment uses. The conversations are ongoing to ensure that the community is engaged so that RFK can be a world class destination for residents and visitors.
Courtesy: @SeagravesNBC4
Cell phone-free schools bill: In my last newsletter, I shared with you my new bill to remove cell phones and other wireless communication devices from the classroom to improve student outcomes for our students. The “Heads Up! Distraction-Free Learning Amendment Act of 2025” requires all elementary, middle, and high schools to implement a policy that prohibits students from using wireless communication devices during the school day including cell phones, gaming devices, and smart watches among others. Since our introduction, we have been grateful for the widespread support and input we have heard from parents, educators, students, and District officials. I am looking forward to this proposal moving through the legislative process and look forward to working with the community to hear your ideas on this proposal.
Yours in Service,
Brooke
Performance Oversight
The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety has been holding performance oversight hearings for District agencies under its purview. The Committee conducts oversight of agencies that affect criminal law and procedure, juvenile justice, police protection, correctional institutions, fire prevention, emergency medical services, homeland security, criminal justice, and public safety.
On January 29th, the Committee heard from the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG). In Fiscal Year 2024, OVSJG distributed millions of dollars in grants to community-based organizations to support returning citizens, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and victims of other violent crimes, as well as to support K-12 student attendance.
During the oversight hearing, the Committee discussed several priorities Councilmember Pinto has for OVSJG including:
- Assistance with housing issues including eviction defenses and emergency housing
- Support and long-term solutions for domestic violence survivors
- Funding for returning citizens programs
- Support for Access to Justice Grants
- Strengthen intra-agency coordination to improve outcomes
- Improved utilization of the victim hotline is underway which helps provide streamlined resources
On February 3rd, the Committee heard from two agencies under its purview. First up was the DC Sentencing Commission, which produces voluntary sentencing guidelines for judges in the District in order to ensure greater consistency and fairness in sentencing.
The Committee heard about some of the priorities for the Sentencing Commission including:
- Streamline case management information-sharing and data access
- Continue strong community engagement: Commission conducted 187 public events last year
- Consider determinations for offense classifications and eligibility of split sentences in the District
Second, the Committee heard from the Criminal Code Reform Commission (CCRC), which provides recommendations to the Council on comprehensively revising our criminal code.
A few of Councilmember Pinto’s priorities we heard about with CCRC:
- Comprehensive report published on criminal codes for all 50 states and DC
- Consideration of a statute criminalizing the non-consensual distribution of false sexual imagery
On February 5th, the Committee heard from the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA) and the Office of Unified Communications (OUC).
BEGA is an independent agency that administers and enforces the DC Government’s Code of Conduct and the laws that promote an open and transparent District government. The Committee heard about some of the priorities for BEGA including:
- Improving public transparency with government operations
- Enforcing penalties for outside employment violations and preventing violations
- Standardizing code of conduct for DC government officials
OUC is responsible for providing fast, professional, and cost-effective response to emergency and non-emergency calls in the District. It operates our 911 system. The Committee heard about some of the priorities for OUC including:
- 911 call response times improving: 95% of calls answered in 15 seconds or less in January, up from 78% a year ago
- Focusing on improving transparency regarding after action reports for emergency incidents
- Enhancing training and retention/recruitment efforts
The Committee’s next performance oversight hearing is on Tuesday, February 25, which will include the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG), the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE), and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA). You can sign up to testify or submit testimony here. Please reach out to my team at judiciary@dccouncil.gov if you have any questions or concerns you would like to share.
Witnesses who anticipate needing language interpretation, or requiring sign language interpretation, are asked to inform the Committee of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before a hearing during registration or by contacting Aukima Benjamin, Committee Manager to the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, at (202) 724-8058 or via e-mail at judiciary@dccouncil.gov.
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:
- Diplomatic Community Reception with our global Ambassadors, many of whom call Ward 2 home!
- Groundhog Day in Dupont Circle Park hosted by Dupont Festival.
- Washington DC Economic Partnership with Council colleagues to discuss the economic revitalization of Downtown, real estate and housing trends in DC, and efforts to attract new businesses to the District.
- Attended ANC meetings for ANCs 2E and 2F to report to neighborhoods about what we are working on and hear from the community.
E-Bike Vouchers
DDOT has reopened applications for the District E-Bike incentive Program. District residents can apply for a voucher for an e-bike, helmet, and bicycle lock to be redeemed at select authorized bike retailers from February 1-21. Voucher recipients will be randomly selected and not all applicants will receive a voucher.
Snow Removal
Councilmember Pinto and our team have been working to respond to constituent concerns about snow removal by remaining in regular communication with DPW and the Executive about areas that need snow removal and ice mitigation. The freezing temperatures have made ice and snow removal difficult.
Homeowners who are 65 or older/or residents with disabilities, access, and functional needs may get help with shoveling snow from Serve DC’s DC Volunteer Snow Team. Call Serve DC at 202-727-7925 to sign-up for the DC Volunteer Snow Removal Program.
For snow shoveling safety tips visit the District’s Snow Team website here.
WATCH WUSA: “DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto proposes cellphone ban to remove 'digital distractions' from classrooms”
“We know that the proliferation of cell phones has been extremely detrimental not only to student engagement and learning in the physical classroom, but also to kids’ ability to play and engagement with one another,” said Councilmember Pinto... “We only have a third of our students reading at grade level right now. We have less than a fourth of our students proficient in math at their grade level.”
WATCH DC NEWS NOW: “Bill introduced to prohibit cell phones in DC schools”
“Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto introduced a bill Monday that would prohibit cell phones and other wireless devices during the school day from D.C. high school classrooms... “The non-academic use of devices during the school day “interrupts concentration which is necessary for focused learning and information retention,” Pinto stated. “This type of non-academic use has been linked to decreases in student learning,” she continued.”
READ WASHINGTON POST: “D.C. bill would restrict students’ cellphone use in schools”
“I am very hopeful that by limiting and prohibiting the use of these devices during the school day, we will be able to see much-improved outcomes for our students at the academic level, and also … at the social, developmental level,” Pinto said in an interview.”
READ AXIOS: "D.C. would ban phones in public schools under new bill"
“The phone-free proposal is also meant to help students socialize more between classes, instead of scrolling on screens, "which is an equally important part of human development at a young age," Council member Brooke Pinto, who introduced the legislation, tells Axios.”
WATCH WJLA: “RFK Stadium demolition to begin late January, officials say”
“Councilmember Brooke Pinto provided the following statement: I am thrilled DC has been given back control of the RFK stadium campus. I fully support developing this site for productive use for housing, retail, transit, recreation space, and as a potential home for the Commanders and space for other sports and entertainment uses. The conversations are ongoing to ensure that the community is engaged so that RFK can be a world class destination for residents and visitors.”
Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Ward 2
• Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
• Committee on Business and Economic Development
• Committee on Housing
• Committee on Youth Affairs
Address: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 106 | Washington, DC 20004
Call: (202) 724-8058 | Contact Us: www.brookepintodc.com/help