Author Archives: Erica Butler

The stark reality that Washington, D.C. still ranks highly among cities in the number of HIV/AIDS cases cannot overlook the progress the city has made to address heath epidemics. A new report by the mayor’s office and the Department of Health (DOH) suggested that efforts to slow new cases of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis and sexually […]

Female firefighters in Washington, D.C. are fighting to change a D.C. Fire and EMS policy that, they say, limits their options during pregnancy. Limited-duty job days were reduced last year, which has caused pregnant firefighters to use their sick leave, go on unpaid leave or simply work up until delivery. The D.C. Fire Fighters Association […]

The D.C. Council ethics bill proposed by Chairman Kwame Brown (D-At-Large) and Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) was criticized by D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan and other witnesses at a hearing June 13. Nathan called {The Comprehensive Ethics Reform Act of 2011} a “first step,” but said if the legislation was enacted as drafted, the bill […]

As scandals plague the same D.C. elected officials that push for the city’s autonomy, some residents think the city’s messy politics may hinder the home rule fight. Local groups recently signed and sent a letter to the House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee to tell the government to stay out of local issues. But […]

During the most anticipated D.C. Council hearing on executive hiring practices so far, former mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown—who sported dark sunglasses he refused to remove —claimed that Mayor Vincent Gray witnessed and ordered staff members to illegally pay him to help his campaign. “The mayor is a crook,” Brown said in his opening remarks. After […]

Scandal is quickly becoming the byword of Washington, D.C.’s new leadership. There was Council Chairman Kwame Brown’s pricey Lincoln Navigator and Mayor Vincent Gray’s hiring missteps and alleged quid pro quo arrangement. Now, the Attorney General’s Office is filing a $1 million lawsuit against Councilmember Harry L. Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) for allegedly using grant […]

While the job sector remains sluggish as the economy recovers from a recession, universities in the Washington area are employment hubs, pumping $11.3 billion into the region annually, according to a report by George Mason University. The study, which was commissioned by the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, revealed that universities have […]

Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.  stepped down as chair of the Committee on Economic Development after the attorney general on June 6 filed a $1 million lawsuit against the Ward 5 Democrat.   Thomas, who is accused of using earmarked grants and donations to purchase a luxury vehicle along with golf vacations, denied all allegations made […]

Sulaimon Brown and Cherita Whiting are the sole witnesses in a June 6 hearing, the next phase of the hiring practices investigation led by D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh. The pair was among a handful of employees who were fired or who resigned after newspaper reports raised flags about the new administration’s hiring practices, including improper […]

The search is underway for a replacement for Gerri Mason Hall, Mayor Vincent Gray’s former chief of staff who resigned earlier this year after admitted hiring missteps in the fledgling administration. Doxie McCoy, Gray’s spokeswoman, said the mayor is looking for someone with proven managerial skills, who fully supports his four-pronged goals. “Mayor Gray will […]

The public belief that youth are engaged in more crime during the summer is a myth, according to a report released May 26 by DC Lawyers for Youth. Using data from the Metropolitan Police Department, the report, “Debunking Urban Legends: Summer Heat, Vacation Don’t Lead to More Youth Arrests,” showed fewer youth arrested are made […]

Mayor Vincent Gray said he will sign the $5.8 billion budget passed by the D.C. Council last week despite the absence of a tax hike included in his budget plan. Chairman Kwame Brown’s (D) budget swapped out Gray’s proposal to increase taxes by 8.9 percent on residents who earned above $200,000 for an out-of-state municipal […]