The DC City Council voted on Dec 20, 2022 to remove every independent and elected commissioner from the DC Board of Commissioners. City Councilmember Trayon White Sr. did propose an amendment to retain the elected Commissioners on the Board. Trayon White's amendment was not passed. Four members of the DC City Council did vote yes on T. White's amendment - Christina Henderson, Charles Allen, Elissa Silverman and Trayon White Sr. Instead on 12-20-2022, the DC City Council have legislated an emergency Board that will consist of only Mayor appointed voting Board Members - that have their position at the pleasure of the Mayor and who can be removed by the Mayor at her wish. All decisions on who will sit on this new "emergency reform board" and have a meaningful vote, will be controlled by the Mayor who decides who to appoint. There will be no open and free elections in which the people of DC and the residents of DCHA housing can elect a person of their choice. The final legislation that was passed was different from the initial proposed bill by the Mayor. The amendment by DC City Councilmember Trayon White Sr., which would have retained the currently elected Commissioners for the duration of their current term of office, was not passed.
https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/51826/Bill_Amendment/B24-1144-Bill_Amendment_4.pdf
This emergency bill will remain in effect for 90 days as a permanent bill works it's way through the legislature. The final version of the proposal did include a 10th non-voting board member - the President of DCHA's citywide resident advisory board. This position is not a voting position and thus will not directly vote on any resolution or decision in front of the DCHA board. The final bill also asks for only 4 listening sessions with the public. This limits the staff's exposure to public interaction. Previously there had been listening opportunities because of the option for residents and the public to speak after every scheduled open public Board hearing.
The City Council voted 9 - 4 to approve this emergency bill - barely reaching the threshold of the supermajority required for emergency bills. Councilmembers Lewis George, Pinto, Trayon White and Silverman all voted NO. This new "stabilization and reform board" will be in place for 2 years.
The next open public meeting of the DCHA Board will be January 25, 2023 at 1 PM and will be held virtually. You can schedule to speak by calling 202-535-1000 and signing up 24 hours before the meeting. Residents have up to 5 minutes to speak and members of the public get 3 minutes to speak. The agenda will be posted 48 hours before the meeting.
Photo above is DC City ' Trayon White Sr. who represents Ward 8. Councilmember Trayon White Sr. is a native Washingtonian who was born and raised in Southeast DC. Trayon White founded and served as Executive Director of the youth orientated non-profit organization Helping Inner City Kids Succeed. In 2010 Trayon White was awarded the President Barack Obama Volunteer Service Award. Councilmember Trayon White has served as a DC City Councilmember since January 2, 2017.