DC Ward 2 Member of the Council Choose 1
Ward 2 Member of the Council of the District of Columbia (Desplácese hacia abajo para leer en español. Clic en Leer más Read More para español)Duties: Represents citizens from Ward 2The Council’s central role is to make laws for D.C. It is also the chief policy-making body for the city. In addition, Councilmembers responsibilities include oversight of multiple agencies, commissions, boards and other entities of District government and responding to constituents’ concerns. (source: https://dccouncil.us)Term: 4 yearsSalary: $125,000 (approximately)Concejal de Distrito 2 Descripción: Miembro del Consejo del Distrito de Columbia Funciones: Representa los intereses de los ciudadanos de Distrito 2. La función principal del Consejo es elaborar leyes para el Distrito de Columbia. Además, entre las responsabilidades de los miembros del Consejo figuran la supervisión de múltiples organismos, comisiones, juntas y otras entidades del gobierno del Distrito y la respuesta a las inquietudes de los electores.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
anthony@brookepinto2024.com
Education
Cornell University (BA) in Business & Hospitality. Georgetown University Law School (JD)
Campaign Twitter Handle
@@brookepintodc
Website
https://www.brookepinto2024.com/
What are the two most important things Council should do and how will you make them happen?
The Council must focus on improving public safety. As Chairwoman of the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety, I continue to be laser-focused on efforts to improve public safety in DC. In championing & passing my Secure DC legislation, which made over 100 interventions to support prevention & ending cycles of violence, holding perpetrators of crime accountable, & improving government coordination, we are on a clearer path to driving crime down.
Second, the Council must focus on building & supplying homes for purchase and rental opportunities. The city is facing an affordable housing crisis that demands urgent action. I have supported efforts on the Comprehensive Plan to revise zoning laws to encourage the development of affordable housing & championed other legislative & budget incentives for developers to include affordable units in their projects.
How will increase housing that people can afford?
I've taken decisive steps to address the critical issues of affordable housing & homelessness during my first term. I have introduced legislation that is taking effect this year to provide requirements for affordable housing set-asides in new housing development projects in the Central Business District in exchange for a tax abatement. I have co-introduced & passed legislation to get more residents into housing by streamlining the application process for permanent supportive housing vouchers. I co-introduced legislation that proposed comprehensive reforms to the D.C. Housing Authority. I will continue to fight for more supply of housing as a key part of our strategy. All residents deserve to be able to live in a place they can call home.
DC is required by Law 24-176 to reduce harmful gases and other toxic emissions caused by DC government activities. What will you do to make sure this happens?
I am committed to advancing D.C.'s sustainability and emissions reduction, notably through the Climate Commitment Act of 2021 aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and expanding solar energy via Solar for All. I will also continue to champion the enforcement of D.C.'s Building Energy Performance Standards. I support a budget that prioritizes electric vehicles for District government use, opposing funds for non-EV equivalents. Supporting a zero-emissions fleet transition involves ensuring vehicle suitability for essential services, alongside developing necessary infrastructure, like EV charging stations, within a financially viable city budget framework.
What should the Council do to make sure everyone in the city has reliable, frequent, and safe public transportation?
Addressing Metro's immediate funding challenges is a top priority & I support joining with Maryland & Virginia to close this gap with a $218 million investment; we cannot afford to curtail our resident’s options for affordable & reliable transit. It is also imperative that we establish a stable & predictable long-term funding mechanism. This will prevent future crises & ensure the sustainability of our transit system.
Cost-saving innovations within the Metro system can & have contributed to financial stability, enhancing efficiency without compromising service quality. These strategies provide a pathway to a sustainable funding model but also opportunities for enhancing the overall efficiency & reach of D.C.'s public transportation system.
What do you see as the root causes of crime in DC? What can the Council do to fix the problems?
Causes of crime in D.C. are deeply intertwined with the grave inequities we continue to see, including poverty, systemic racism, inadequate access to quality education, employment opportunities, & mental health services. We also are grappling with the proliferation of illegal firearms into our city, a court system that was severely backlogged due to the pandemic, kids who never went back to school or experienced significant learning loss, & changes to the law over time that affected public safety. To effectively address a complicated issue with a myriad of causes, our solutions must be equally comprehensive.
A pivotal step in the right direction has been the recent passage of my Secure DC legislation, which aims to enhance public safety.