Washington
DC’s new attorney general talks juvenile crime, zoning decisions and Washington Commanders investigations
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) – The brand new D.C. Lawyer Common Brian Schwalb was sworn in on Monday, and FOX 5 received an opportunity to sit down down one-on-one with him to study extra about his plans to handle juvenile crime within the District and shield Washingtonian’s wallets.
Former AG Karl Racine made historical past as the primary elected lawyer basic within the District. He molded the workplace into what it’s at the moment, together with making the daring option to cease defending the town’s zoning choices.
Some have argued this has led to gentrification, kicking minorities out and fewer inexpensive housing. The choice additionally carved a divide with the mayor’s workplace.
READ MORE: DC lawyer basic places an finish to 1 housing developer’s discriminatory ways
Schwalb says he is unsure but if the coverage will proceed.
“I wish to be sure that the those who have lived on this metropolis for generations, individuals who constructed our metropolis, in the event that they wish to, can afford to remain in our metropolis,” he says. “I’ve heard from so many individuals that they’ve lived by the poverty of our metropolis, they usually’re entitled to remain for the prosperity. I feel that is proper.”
Racine and Mayor Muriel Bowser had been at occasions publicly vital of one another, notably when it got here to prosecuting juveniles and surges in carjackings. Schwalb says the connection between the AG and mayor naturally has some stress.
“I feel an unbiased lawyer basic can be one thing the voters voted for understanding that it is good authorities having checks and balances of an unbiased lawyer basic that’s responsive to not the mayor however to the votes. And that creates stress inevitably,” he says.
In terms of tackling juvenile crime, Schwalb says he needs to get on the root of the issue.
“That is what the workplace of lawyer basic goes to be dedicated to doing, each addressing crime after it happens and attempting to get to the basis causes that forestall cycles of crime from beginning within the first place,” he says. “We all know that among the root causes for crime equivalent to housing instability financial inequities, discrimination, are issues the workplace of lawyer basic in our civil jurisdiction’s main concentrate on.”
READ MORE: Does DC’s lawyer basic have authority to research Commanders?
Schwalb says he’s reviewing all ongoing instances introduced by Racine together with the 2 civil lawsuits in opposition to the Washington Commanders. One lawsuit addresses potential monetary misconduct in ticket gross sales and the opposite offers with deceptive the general public concerning the tradition of sexual harassment inside the group.
Schwalb says he’ll resolve whether or not to proceed these fits however mentioned he has the utmost confidence within the former AG’s determination to convey instances.