By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
The D.C. Council, returning from its summer recess, tackled several key bills at its Sept. 17 legislative meeting, covering topics such as the future of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Stadium and the youth curfew.
The bills could have a lasting impact on renters, landlords, youth and public safety in Washington, D.C.
RFK Stadium
The council took its second and final vote on the $3.7 billion RFK stadium deal, passing it 11-2.
The deal between the District and the Washington Commanders will use $1.1 billion to help bring the team back to Washington, D.C. The Commanders last played at RFK Stadium from 1961 to 1996 and have called FedEx Field in Landover, Md., home since 1997. The team will remain there until the new stadium is built.
The bill included several amendments. One, by Councilmember Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), directs funds to a community reinvestment fund and creates a benefits agreement oversight committee with residents from Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8. D.C. Health Matters reports that around 87 percent of residents in Wards 7 and 8 are Black. In Ward 5, 45.8 percent are Black, and in Ward 6, 28.8 percent are African-American.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said the project will be the largest economic development effort in D.C. history.
“This will be the largest economic development project in D.C. history, it will supercharge our growth agenda, and we’re ready to deliver for our city,” said Bowser. “We’re on a path to opening day in 2030, and we’re ready to get D.C. residents and businesses to work right now, building housing, retail, hotels, parks, an NFL stadium, a Sportsplex, and more in the best city in the world.”
RENTAL Act
The RENTAL (Rental Equity and Nonpayment Timely Accountability and Landlord-Tenant) Act was created amid a regional housing and investment crisis, passing on a 10-3 vote.
“Apartment building permits plummeted more than 80 percent between 2022 and 2024 from 7,234 to 1,239,” said Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. (D-At-Large). “In 2023, D.C. issued only 1,500 of the region’s 9,600 apartment permits, our smallest share in a decade. This housing shortage drives up rent for Washingtonians who already can barely afford to hang on in D.C.”
White and Councilmember Christina Henderson (Ind.-At-Large) said the housing market is failing.
“We want to protect affordability, but also deal with the realities of needing investors to find us attractive again,” Henderson said. “We want to make sure these properties don’t stay in foreclosure forever.”
The final RENTAL Act includes an amendment by Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) requiring tenants to pay rent into a court-managed account during eviction cases.
Another amendment by Mendelson, Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) and Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) restore the Qualified Purchaser Program. Many other amendments were considered.
Police funding
As of Oct. 1, the Metropolitan Police Department will see a 13 percent pay increase under a collective bargaining agreement with the D.C. police union.
Two bills passed unanimously on Sept.17, making way for a 4.8 percent fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding increase for hiring and retention and providing 4.5 percent cost-of-living raises for FY 2024 and 4.25 percent for FY 2025 and FY 2026. The bargaining agreement will cost around $300 million.
Youth curfew
The council considered a youth curfew amid concerns about late-night gatherings linked to violence. A temporary modified summer curfew for children 16 and under is set to end Oct. 5. To replace it, the council is planning to extend it through temporary and emergency legislation.
“This legislation turned out to be very effective,” said Mendelson. “It was a tool that was used in seven locations on each weekend that it was in place for. The MPD (Metropolitan Police Department) has experienced zero curfew violations during the extended curfew hours.”
At the Sept. 17 meeting, the council advanced the temporary bill, the Juvenile Curfew Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act, from first reading by an 8-5 vote. The temporary law would extend the curfew 225 days and allow police to continue juvenile curfew zones, starting at 8 p.m., now limited to four days instead of 15.
The council postponed voting on the Juvenile Curfew Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution, the emergency bill that formally supports the need for these curfew laws, for the council’s Oct. 7 meeting.