Here’s what the D.C. Council is focusing on this fall

Helping migrants arriving in D.C., making streets safer, and increasing paid depart are all on the agenda when the D.C. Council returns to the Wilson Constructing. Their first legislative assembly after the summer time break is scheduled for tomorrow.

Why it issues: That is the final stretch of the council’s two-year legislative session and any payments nonetheless on the desk would have to be reintroduced within the subsequent cycle for consideration. By then, a number of new council members shall be seated.

Right here’s what’s taking place this fall:

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On Tuesday, Council members will vote on emergency laws to ascertain an Workplace of Migrant Companies to handle the busloads of migrants arriving in D.C. from states similar to Arizona and Texas.

• The $10 million funding would help nonprofits and teams straining to welcome and assist the migrants arriving at Union Station, the place metropolis officers hope to quickly have a 24/7 presence.

Sure, however: Some homeless advocates fear that the invoice would take away privateness protections for households and exclude migrants from providers afforded to folks experiencing homelessness.

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The council will take its first vote on a invoice that might prohibit automobiles from making proper activates purple and permit bikers to proceed by way of cease indicators. The laws is spearheaded by retiring Ward 3 council member Mary Cheh.

• The invoice comes after drivers hit and killed no less than 4 pedestrians and cyclists this summer time.

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The council will even vote Tuesday on a invoice to extend District worker parental and caregiving depart from eight weeks to 12 weeks, in addition to set up 12-week private medical depart.

• At-large council member Elissa Silverman can be pushing a invoice to increase protections for home employees in D.C., requiring employers to supply contracts to staff working greater than 5 hours a month. The invoice would additionally carve out protections for home employees within the D.C. Human Rights Act.

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In keeping with the workplace of council chair Phil Mendelson, he’s “laser-focused” on schooling.

• On Friday, he held a public listening to centered on altering how funding is allotted to public colleges.
• In the meantime, at-large council member Christina Henderson launched a invoice to streamline the D.C. Public Faculties hiring course of.

Moreover, Cheh — who chairs the transportation committee — is trying to advance a invoice that might provide $100/month for residents to make use of Metro, per DCist.

One other invoice, by Ward 6 council member Charles Allen, would streamline voter registration, organising a database of “pre-approved” voters per Bolts.