By Guest Contributor, on September 9th, 2015 Cross-Posted from the Washington Informer Written by William J. Ford
Kwasi Seitu called the policing efforts of D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier bogus and racist.
Lezora Arter said families need to learn to monitor themselves, but also establish a positive relationship with police officers.
Both gave passionate pleas during a town hall meeting Tuesday night at Allen Chapel AME Church in Southeast on ways to improve policing, which at times grew contentious as the city grapples with a surge in violent crime.
At the forum, which drew nearly 100 people, some residents expressed frustration about Mayor Muriel Bowser’s plan to spend $15 million in response to a recent spate of homicides, particularly her goal to hire more police.
“We think this is completely the wrong thing to do. We want to see a surge of community, not police,” said local activist Eugene Puryear. “People need jobs. They need housing. They need mental health care. They need those things right now.”
The situation is a conundrum for the mayor as she deals with opposition from residents clamoring for her to stem the violence and those decrying the increasing police presence, all while the city homicide rate rises. As of Tuesday, there have been 109 homicides in 2015 — up from 74 at this time last year.
From Monday night through early Tuesday morning alone, eight people were shot in three separate incidents in the District, including Jarrell Hall, 28, who died from gunshot wounds inside a residence on Forrester Street SW.
Bowser posted a note Tuesday morning on Twitter that the police department has seized more than 1,100 illegal guns so far this year.
At Tuesday night’s forum, Mena Young-Harris of Temple Hills, Maryland, who attends Allen Chapel and has three grandchildren living in Southeast, agreed that more social services are needed, but not necessarily at the expense of police resources.
“Not all police are bad,” said Young-Harris, whose husband retired from the District’s police force. “My grandchildren will walk up to a police officer and say ‘hi.’ That’s what we are teaching them, to not be afraid of a police officer.”
But Seema Sadanandan, criminal justice director for the city’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter and one of the forum’s hosts, said the District’s disproportionate arrest rate is cause for concern.
“Despite dramatic changes in the African-American population here in D.C., more than 92 percent of [the city’s jail population] is African-American,” she said. “We have not moved … any major police reform in the District.”
Sadanandan cited a 2013 ACLU study of marijuana-related arrests in D.C., which the organization says highlights the racial disparity in the city.
According to the report, blacks were eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. In neighboring Prince George’s County, blacks were twice as likely arrested for the same offense.
Although slightly more than half of the city’s residents are black, 91 percent of all marijuana-related arrests were of blacks.
In terms of money, the District spent nearly $18 million to enforce marijuana possession laws, more than $6 million in judicial and legal costs and $2 million to incarcerate people convicted of marijuana-related violations — money that could otherwise be used for public health and safety, drug treatment programs and police-community relations, the report stated.
But at-large Councilwoman Elissa Silverman said the city can and should spend money on both policing and resources for residents.
“We should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. I don’t think it is an either/or proposition. We should have our uniformed officers on the street,” she said after the forum. “We do spend a fair amount of money on things like workforce development. I think the resources are there.”
Three more discussions on policing will take place this month in the District: “Black Women and Girls” from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Florida Avenue Baptist, 623 Florida Ave. NW; “South Asian Arab and Muslim Forum” at Impact Hub, 419 7th St. NW, at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15; and a town hall forum at First Baptist Church, 712 Randolph St. NW, at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.
Monica Hopkins-Maxwell, executive director of ACLU’s D.C. chapter, said more forums will be scheduled later this year.
“Our goal is to be present in all eight wards,” she said.
By Guest Contributor, on August 29th, 2015 
Posted on behalf of Black Lives Matter DMV
These next 3 weeks are going to be very busy for the Movement for Black Lives here in DC. We get a lot of asks about how to get involved in the movement and the short answer is show up! At almost every event there is an announcement of the next one. Show up, meet people, move up when people call for support, bring your friends to the next one. The movement for Black Lives is beautifully diverse and fundamentally a call for ending all forms of oppression because Black people are affected by them all. It is a call for collective liberation so there is a place and a role for everyone. There are also places set aside just for Black people. If you are not Black, don’t be offended if you see *this is a Black Only Space* and respect the intentions for the space. Know that there are plenty other spaces that could use your talents and energy. We need thousands of collaborators to build the next stage of the movement. #GetInWhereYouFitIn
0. Read the Guiding principles: http://wellexaminedlife.com/…/movement-for-black-lives-gui…/
1. Come to Trans Liberation Tuesday 8/25/15 Support #BlackTransWomen. Stop the violence and the silence https://www.facebook.com/events/895465170508465/
2. Come to the Black Lives Matter Spokescouncil Wednesday 26th This is great place for join the movement, meet people and see what you or your organization can contribute. https://www.facebook.com/events/121364371543545/
3. Come to the “Week” of Action. September 1st-11th. The BLM Spokescouncil will be hosting nearly two weeks of action throughout the beginning of September. Keep your eyes open.
4. Follow Black Lives Matter DMV https://www.facebook.com/BLACKLIVESMATTERDMV And sign up to their list here: http://www.blacklivesmatterdmv.org/join-the-movement/
5. Follow Stop Police Terror Project DC https://www.facebook.com/stoppoliceterrorprojectdc?fref=ts SPTP [DC]’s shut down’s and rallies are great places to learn more about the movement and meet people who are involved.
6. Join or Support Black Youth Project [BYP] 100. http://byp100.org/ BYP 100 is a national organization with chapters in cities across the country. BYP is on the front lines of the movement for Black Lives, working to end state sanctioned violence against Black people through a Black Queer Feminist Lens.
7. Join a solidarity group. Visit the Washington Peace Center’s solidarity page for links and contacts for various BLM Solidarity Groups in DC. http://www.washingtonpeacecenter.org/node/15405
8. Radical Structural Change, like Radical Cultural Change, takes time and masses of people. The #struggleisreal as is spiritual and emotional trauma. Take care of yourself, take care of your friends, take care of your community and keep coming out! #StayWoke
— with Helga Herz and 4 others.
By Liane Scott, on August 27th, 2015 
In a big win to Power DC and it’s coalition of grassroots energy activists, DC’s Public Service Commission rejects the merger between Exelon and Pepco. More than 3,000 residents, small businesses and non-profits submitted testimony on both sides. There were four community hearings and comments from 26 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, several smart-energy groups, and at least six members of the D.C. Council. In the end, the D.C. Public Service Commission denied Chicago-based Exelon’s proposed $6.4 billion takeover of Pepco Holdings.
The three-member commission unanimously rejected the utilities’ application, saying it was not in the best interests of the ratepayers and that there was no evidence the combination would improve the reliability of service. But according to the Washington Post article D.C. Regulator Rejects Proposed Exelon-Pepco Merger, proponents may still hold out hope of making a deal in the future. On the hand, the article DC Regulators Reject Exelon-Pepco Merger in Utility Dive, points out a few reasons why this may be unlikely.
For the record, the press release from DC’s Public Service Commission reads as follows:
Commission Denies Pepco/Exelon Merger Application
(Washington, D.C.) Today, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (“Commission”) voted to deny an application for acquisition of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) by Exelon Corporation as not being in the public interest. In determining whether the Proposed Merger is in the public interest pursuant to D.C. Code §§ 34-504 and 34-1001, the Commission first considered the effect of the Proposed Merger transaction on each of the seven public interest factors. This included the effects of the transaction on ratepayers and shareholders, on competition in the local retail and wholesale markets and on conservation of natural resources and preservation of environmental quality. In doing so, the Commission identified how the effects of the Proposed Merger on each of the seven public interest factors would benefit or harm the public (including Pepco, District ratepayers, and the District community). The Commission then used its findings to assess the transaction as a whole. The Commission concluded that, taken as a whole, the transaction as proposed by Exelon and Pepco is not in the public interest. In a separate opinion, Commissioner Phillips concurred in part and dissented in part.
Exelon announced its purchase of PHI, the parent company of the Potomac Electric Power Company (“Pepco”), on April 30, 2014, and the application seeking a change of control was filed on June 18, 2014. Parties to the proceeding included the Office of the People’s Counsel, the District of Columbia Government, the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Solar United Neighborhood, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, the General Services Administration, GRID2.0 Working Group, and others. Over 3,000 residents, non-profits and small businesses submitted written testimony on the merger, both in support and in opposition. In addition, the Commission held four community hearings in which 178 participants submitted testimony. Further, the Commission received comments from 26 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and several members of the D.C. Council.
Chairman Kane stated, “The public policy of the District is that the local electric company should focus solely on providing safe, reliable and affordable distribution service to District residences, businesses and institutions. The evidence in the record is that sale and change in control proposed in the merger would move us in the opposite direction.”
Commissioner Fort agreed, stating that “The Proposed Merger would diminish Pepco’s ability to directly raise issues that address the needs of District ratepayers while posing regulatory challenges for the Commission and the interested parties who participate in Commission proceedings.”
Commissioner Phillips stated, “I agree with my colleagues that the merger application as filed is a bad deal for the District. However, I am disappointed in the loss of the many opportunities that could have achieved benefits for our local communities and across the region.”
In other jurisdictions, the application for the merger of PHI and Exelon has been approved, including Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The only jurisdiction to deny the application is the District of Columbia. Pepco and Exelon have 30 days to ask the Commission to reconsider its decision.
The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is an independent agency established by Congress in 1913 to regulate electric, natural gas, and telecommunications companies in the District of Columbia.
By Guest Contributor, on August 24th, 2015 
Cross-Posted from The Education Town Hall Written By Virginia Spatz
Nearly half of all children in the United States have experienced trauma, according to recent research. Children in underserved communities face trauma at a higher rate and are more likely to experience repeated trauma or more than one type.
Gun violence persistently affects students and families in many neighborhoods in cities like Washington, DC, with an uptick in incidents and related stress this summer, for example. Families in St. Louis, MO, were gassed last night as part of police response to protests, and students around the country have experienced similar stresses. In some areas, children experience trauma relating to natural disasters or fires. Episodic or chronic financial trouble, homelessness, domestic violence, and other factors also traumatize many children.
Results include attendance, behavioral, and academic problems. But research indicates that trauma-sensitive school environments can help students recover and thrive. Collaborations across the fields of education, psychology, law, and neurobiology have helped create policy and practice addressing this serious and common problem.
National Response and Resources
Several jurisdictions have taken steps to mandate and support trauma-sensitive or trauma-informed schools. In addition, a suit arguing that schools must address trauma like any other special need is moving through the federal courts
TraumaPictureLast August, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts enacted a “Safe and Supportive Schools” boosting the trauma-informed schools movement. Trauma-sensitive practices are also at work in Washington state and in San Francisco. In addition, the District of Columbia’s City Council held a roundtable on the topic in June.
At the time of the hearing, DC Children’s Law Center released a report Addressing Childhood Trauma in DC Schools. (CLC — Addressing Childhood Trauma in DC Schools–June 2015.) National organizations, including the Trauma and Learning Policy Institute and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, offer extensive research and resources for educators and policymakers. (See Washington Post “Trauma is hidden cause of academic struggles for many in DC, report finds.”)
Today, in Los Angeles, a federal judge is scheduled to consider several motions in the landmark case known as “Peter P., et al. v. Compton Unified School District, et al.” The suit was filed earlier this year by five student-plaintiffs who have experienced severe trauma and argue that Compton Unified School District (CUSD) failed to address their needs. Three teachers joined the suit, saying that CUSD has not given them the tools and support they need to appropriately assist children experiencing severe trauma. Here is the case timeline, with links to more details.
Here is NCTSN’s Child Trauma Tool Kit for Educators and more at “Readiness, Response, and Recovery” resources. The Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative offers many free resources (although they do request a donation from those who can): Visit their site for free downloads of Helping Traumatize Children Learn and Creating and Advocating for Trauma-Sensitive Schools and much more.
Need for Street Response Units
Stuart Anderson, founder and director of Family and Friends of Incarcerated People, joined the Education Town Hall on August 20 to discuss the need for on-site trauma response units to help children cope with violent incidents. He argues for such units on the streets of DC and other cities. Listen to Track below —
Chicago Public School Layoffs and Dyett High School Disinvestment on Education Town Hall 8-13-15 by Education_Town_Hall on Mixcloud
By Guest Contributor, on August 18th, 2015 
Cross-Posted from the DC Independent Media Center Written by Luke
On the 15th of August, Blackout DC staged what was announced as a march from the White House to the Capitol to protest police murder of Black and Brown people.
Cops expected a direct march but got a surprise! The march diverted from Pennsylvania Ave, north up 7th Street to Chinatown, then proceeded east to block the I-395 tunnels before finally going to the US Capitol. At the Capitol, offerings for those murdered by police were placed in a cardboard coffin. This was intended to take place on the Capitol steps, but US Capitol police blockaded the top exits from the Capitol West Lawn against protesters—and only protesters. As a result, the offering ceremony took place on the spot where people were blocked.
The march began for many at Lafayette Park, but was joined by a second march to the White House from the Department of Justice. Once merged, the march headed back out and initially down Pennsylvania Avenue, the route most marches take when going from the White House to US Capitol. At 7th Street, marchers pulled a surprise left turn. It appeared the target would now be the 7th and H Street intersection at Chinatown, but protesters didn’t stay there long. Soon the march headed east on H Street. From there the march went down the ramp to I-395 and blocked both sides of the road. It took quite a while for the police to reach the march. At least one police car went the wrong way back up the freeway. As police started building up, marchers withdrew, heading towards the Capitol after all.
At the Capitol, a coffin was brought up as the march crossed the Capitol West Lawn, only to encounter a police barricade at top of the paved walkway on the south side of the Capitol lawn. Tourists walked freely behind the police lines, having entered by another route. The coffin, with a teddy bear in it for a 7-year-old murdered by police, was brought right up to the front line but police simply would not allow a remembrance for the fallen to take place on the Capitol steps. At that point marchers drew back a few feet and conducted the ceremony at the top South corner of the Capitol lawn.
Tributes given included a teddy bear for 7 year old Aiyana Jones, cigarettes and a turn signal for Sandra Bland, Skittles for Trayvon Martin, a cross for those murdered in Charleston, and so many others. Near the end of the program one speaker warned “Get ready for war.”
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