D.C. Council Approves Emergency Legislation to Lower Rent Increases

After May 30 Debacle, Lewis George, Parker, Nadeau and Pinto Reach Compromise

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

A months-long journey to counter a precedent-setting rent increase reached a significant milestone on Tuesday when the D.C. Council unanimously approved legislation intended to protect tenants living in the District’s rent-controlled units.

The finalized legislation, titled the Rent Stabilized Housing Inflation Protection Emergency Amendment Act, included a unanimously approved “amendment in the nature of a substitute” (ANS) that capped the annual rent adjustment at 6% for rent-controlled units from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2025.

The ANS also set a two-year cumulative cap of 10% for rent that was adjusted, starting this past May and up until June 30, 2025. In the case of elderly rent-controlled tenants and those with disabilities, the ANS capped the increase for this year at 4% and the two-year cumulative increase at 8%.

Overall, the legislation, initially introduced by D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-At large) and adjusted with the help of a few council colleagues, prevented what had been anticipated to be a cumulative rental increase of 18% over two years.

When White initially introduced his legislation on May 30, he set the rent increase to 6.9%, instead of the 8.9% rate that had gone into effect at the beginning of that month.

The road to a finalized bill was paved with many bumps, including D.C. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau’s unsuccessful attempt to introduce an amendment capping the two-year cumulative in- crease at 10% for most rent-controlled tenants.

In her comments on the dais on June 6, Lewis George expressed gratitude to housing advocates, along with her staff and colleagues for ensuring that tenants would be protected, even if for the time being. However, she remained disappointed that the events of last week’s council meeting didn’t serve any benefit to working-class Washingtonians.

“Process is weaponized to block protections for working families,” Lewis George told the Informer earlier on Tuesday morning.

“That’s what happened earlier this year and last week when our amendment was blocked,” she continued. “I won’t let anyone silence me and silence the thousands of Black and brown residents who I represent. The only way around this is for some of my colleagues to start putting themselves in the shoes of everyday working people.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com

Alaunte Scott’s Family Joins National Effort to Strengthen Police Accountability Measures

Three Months Later, U.S. Marshals Say No Body Cam Footage Exists

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

On the evening of Feb. 28, just one week before TaiJoh'e Scott’s birthday, officers from the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed Alaunte Scott while executing a warrant. A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) spokesperson would later say that Alaunte Scott wielded a weapon during the chase, which compelled a U.S. Marshal to shoot him in the back seven times.

The identity of the federal law enforcement official who shot and killed Scott has yet to be revealed. By the time Scott’s family arrived on

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5 (L-R) TaiJoh’e Scott, Marion Gray-Hopkins and Alanta Scott stood in front of the U.S. Department of Justice in demand of U.S. Marshals Service’s bodyworn camera footage from the police-involved shooting of Alaunte Scott (Sam P.K. Collins/The Washington Informer)

HBCU Students ‘Discover the Unexpected,’ Receive $18K

By WI Bridge Staff

Picture this: 10 super-talented students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. are about to dive into an epic summer internship. They’re gearing up for a 10-week deep dive into the world of marketing and communications with Chevrolet in Detroit.

This immersive gig isn’t just about coffee runs and photocopying. These fellows will create content and get up close and personal with the tech powering the auto industry. Plus, they’ll team up with National Newspaper Publication Association (NNPA) journalists and Chevy marketing peeps, testing out the all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax on a fantastic group road trip.

They’ll also document their journey on social media because what’s an adventure without some Instagram love, right? Chevy and the NNPA are hosting this hands-on experience for the seventh year, calling it Discover the Unexpected (DTU).

HBCU grads will mentor the students, sharing their pro tips and cheering them on every step of the way. Big names like the TV host, actor Terrence Jenkins, and STEM advocate Justin Shaifer are returning for their third year as DTU ambassadors. ESPN sports journalist and HBCU alum

Tiffany Greene will also join the mentorship crew.

Terrence J perfectly summed up the vibe: “Having support and opportunities during your college years is invaluable and will set you on a path of lifelong success. As a proud HBCU graduate, I am thrilled to collaborate with Chevrolet and the NNPA again to uplift the next generation of talented journalists, marketers, and content creators.”