Pete Tucker reports the local headlines for WPFW on October 19, 2010
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Candlelight vigil outside DC9 for Ali Ahmed Mohammed
Now, to today’s local headlines.
Earlier today, the Chair of D.C.’s Committee on Human Services, Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, withdrew his emergency legislation which would have required families to prove District residency before being sheltered. Wells, however, does plan to move forward with similar legislation, but not on an emergency basis. Wells discussed the withdrawl of his emergency legislation before the D.C. Council’s Committee of the Whole.
Also at the D.C. Council today was Patty Mullahy Fugere, executive director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Fugere described the impact of Wells’ legislation and the importance of its withdrawl.
The Washington Post reports that the D.C. area is among the hardest hit when it comes to the income of part-time workers. “Part time workers in the Washington region suffered some of the worst pay losses in the nation during the recession, even as full-time employees held their ground… The recession has thrust millions of Americans who once held full-time jobs into the category of part-timers as they lost jobs, worked fewer hours or became self-employed when their employers trimmed costs. They are considered underemployed, and they do not show up in unemployment statistics because they are working, though not as much as they would like or need.”
The Post also reports that, “D.C. public schools have started serving an early dinner to an estimated 10,000 students, many of whom are now receiving three meals a day from the system as it expands efforts to curb childhood hunger and poor nutritition. Free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch long have been staples in most urban school systems. But the District is going a step further in 99 of its 123 schools and reaching nearly a quarter of its total enrollment. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties also offer a third meal of the day in some schools but not on the scale undertaken in [D.C.]”
Will D.C. have an elected Attorney General? While the issue has not been discussed much in the media, the charter amendment is on the ballot this November. Presently, D.C.’s Attorney General is appointed by the mayor. One of those who have been working hard to change this is Dave Mallof, a civic activist and 2nd Vice President of the Federation for Citizens Associations. Three years ago, Mallof helped get the push for an elected Attorney General in DC going with this testimony before the D.C. Council.
What will be the fate of Franklin Shelter? A little more than two years ago, the men who stayed at Franklin Shelter were evicted just a month before hypothermia season. Many felt Franklin Shelter was closed in order to transfer the public building to a developer. The shelter is located at 13th and K St, NW in downtown DC, and has sat empty for the past two years. Yesterday, D.C.’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development sent a memorandum which reads, “The District will conduct a public hearing to receive public comments on the proposed surplus of the Fanklin School Building.” The hearing for the historic Franklin School/ Shelter will take place Thursday, November 18th at Thomson Elementary School.
This evening at the Martin Luther King, Jr. library in downtown DC, is the grand opening of the public archives for WISH, Washington Innercity Self Help. WISH worked for the empowerment of low-income communities in the District from 1978-2003.
Also this evening, D.C. Council Chairman and presumptive-mayor-elect Vincent Gray continues his listening tour. Tonight’s Ward 1 Town Hall is taking place at Carlos Rosario Public Charter High School beginning at 6:30 PM. Mr. Gray’s next town hall will be Thursday evening in Ward 8 at Mathews Memorial Baptist Church.
Already taking place this evening is a candlelight vigil in honor of Ali Ahmed Mohammed. Mohammed, a 27-year-old from Silver Spring, died after being beaten some 30 feet from the U St nightclub DC9. Among those joining Mohammed’s family this evening at 9th and U St, NW is radio talk show host Abebe Belew.
Yesterday was the funeral for Mildred “Millie” Edwards, a long-time community activist in the Shaw neighborhood, who worked to rebuild the city after the 1968 riots. Dorothy Brizill, a veteran D.C. journalist and executive director of DCWatch, discussed the history of the building of Metro’s Green Line and the role that Millie Edwards played it lessening the displacement it caused to Washingtonians.
Those are some of the local headlines here on “Spectrum Today.” I’m Pete Tucker filling in for Askia Muhammad.