In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, At-Large Councilmember Robert White discusses three youth crime prevention bills he recently introduced: his Vocational Education for a New Generation Act, his Youth Mentorship through Community Engagement Act, and his Truancy Reduction for Student Success Act. Through analysis of vocational education needs and impacts, monthly truancy trends, and the pairing of youth experiencing adverse childhood experiences with DC government employees who provide mentorship during one weekly hour of paid community service leave, the thought is some future youth violence could be cut off at the pass before it ever occurs. Plus, which traits he’d borrow from past and present colleagues to craft a perfect Councilmember.

In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker discusses three bills he introduced. His “Water is Life” bill would prevent residential water service shutoffs for nonpayment and facilitate access by tenants to programs meant to help avoiding such shutoffs. His Pay Our Youth a Fair Wage bill would increase wages for participants in the Summer Youth Employment Program. And his Environmental Justice Act would look at the cumulative impacts of environmentally detrimental projects in a single community. Plus we discuss how to formulate the perfect councilmember out of the best traits of his colleagues.

In his latest Hearing the Council video interview, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses three critical environmental measures his committee has recently tackled: Healthy Homes, e-bike incentives, and electric vehicles. In each case, he discusses how he brought an equity lens to broaden voluntary environmental incentives (not requirements!) that otherwise might have excluded lower-income individuals. Plus, for the “fun round,” he suggests how he’d craft a perfect councilmember out of successful traits of past and present colleagues.

In her latest Hearing the Council video interview, At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson talked about three policy areas close to her heart. First, we discussed her "Sense of the Council" bill encouraging the Mayor to declare the opioid crisis in the District (and its resultant 400 deaths a year) a public health emergency. Second, we talked about her bill from last year giving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients a boost in their monthly food allotment. And third, we discussed her proposed bill to provide all District public school students with free school lunch. Plus, we closed out discussing Halloween, and her advice on how to build a "Good Frankenstein Councilmember" and a " Bad Frankenstein Councilmember" by combining the best and worst traits of her Council colleagues. Don't miss it!

In his sophomore Hearing the Council interview, Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin discusses his signature "Ward 3 for All" initiative. Ward Three has a reputation as a land of plenty, but Councilmember Frumin discusses how he plans to make it more welcoming to all the District's residents. From affordable housing and neighborhood schools to accessible transit and recreation opportunities, he talks about recent budget successes and plans for the future. But what is Ward 3's place in the District's broader social services network? We discuss that too. Plus, in the fun round, Councilmember Frumin talks IKEA furniture, driving cross-country, and fighting off barbarians.

In her latest "Hearing the Council" interview, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds discusses the essential role the return-to-office movement plays in reinvigorating the District's downtown and to keeping our local budget balanced. In advance of a committee hearing on the topic, we discuss the stark economic realities that underlie the need for an accelerated return to the office, and the complex balance of these facts with the profound quality of life impacts that reduced work-from-home entails. And in the "fun round" at the end of the interview, Councilmember Bonds makes her personal picks for which of her colleagues she would match with which hypothetical tasks, such as camping, sharing their Rolodex/contacts, and writing poetry worth reading.

In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen discusses two complementary topics: the rich canvas of mobility options available to District residents, and the fight to avoid fatalities among the participants in this system (Vision Zero). From walking to the bus, and scooters to rental cargo bikes, District residents face an embarrassment of riches when deciding which flavor of transportation best suits each task or journey. We chat about our personal takes on this essentially urban decisionmaking experience. We also discuss the fight for Vision Zero...including why such a necessary effort needs to be a fight at all. We talk examples and motivations for the sadly uphill political battle to save lives. Plus, for the "fun round," Councilmember Allen picks which of his past or present colleagues he'd choose for which odd task, including why he'd be interested in Camping with Catania.

In his latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker talks about the return of Ward 5 Day, plus the status and prognosis of four bills he introduced: the District Child Tax Credit Act, Financial Support for Families with Children Act, School Safety Enhancement Act, and the Establishment of Reasonable Controls for the Firearm Industry Act. Plus, which of his Council colleagues he would pick to drive cross-country with, or to help fight off barbarians.

In her latest Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau tackles two topics that are fresh from recent headlines: the investigation of sexual harassment in the executive branch, and public safety in the District. She discusses Council legislation to ensure not just that prominent recent sexual harassment claims are investigated independently and thoroughly, but also that all future investigations meet a Council-established higher bar as well. She also addresses the topic that is front-of-mind for so many District residents these days: public safety. She discusses the recent Council emergency legislation on the topic, finding the proper balance between effective and excessive enforcement, and her theory on why crime rates are dropping in most US cities but not in the District.

In the latest Hearing the Council video interview (from April 21), Chairman Phil Mendelson takes a deep dive into the current year's budget. From the "Incomplete" grade possibly earned by some parts of the Mayor's budget submission this year to the complicated triangular relationship between the Council, the Mayor, and the Chief Financial Officer, it's a good look into some "I've always wondered" questions about the budget. We talk budget strategy, which way things are heading, the status of free buses...plus what the Chairman's walk-in music should be, and why his colleagues hate his poetry. Don't miss it.

In her record tenth Hearing the Council interview, Ward One Councilmember Brianne Nadeau talks about the priorities and expansive jurisdiction of her new Committee on Public Works and Operations (which includes contracting, human rights, half of the prior Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, and more). We delve into parking enforcement (given the recent focus on dangerous drivers with thousands of dollars of unpaid tickets), and also discuss next steps for her long-planned vending reform bill. Plus, she tackles the latest round of "which colleague/which task" fun questions, and discloses she once wrote "angsty poetry."