A plan to overhaul Washington, D.C.'s violence prevention initiatives has been delayed due to significant reservations expressed by municipal officials and residents alike.
DC Council member Brooke Pinto, who leads the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, postponed a planned hearing on Tuesday. This hearing was set to discuss a contentious suggestion to merge various programs aimed at preventing violence.
The initiative, designed to simplify processes within the Office of the Attorney General, faced opposition from Mayor Muriel Bowser, Attorney General Brian Frosh, and various community organizations.
All this input from the community regarding their preferences for the budget has been quite enlightening," Pinto stated. "It keeps influencing our approach significantly.
The previously halted proposal aimed to discontinue the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and integrate its initiatives—such as the Pathways project—with "Cure the Streets," a violence prevention effort located within the Office of the Attorney General. According to statements from Pinto’s office, this shift was designed to enhance effectiveness during a difficult budget period.
Nevertheless, Schwalb's office expressed strong opposition to the proposal, emphasizing that the plan did not merely involve a straightforward merger and highlighted potential operational drawbacks.
"According to Schwalb's statement, OAG lacks both the necessary resources and capability to manage all the violence prevention initiatives throughout the District," highlighting that these programs serve separate purposes. The committee's plan reinstates financial support for Cure the Streets locations in six particular areas historically affected by retaliatory firearm violence—locations slated for elimination under the mayor's budget proposal. This move doesn’t consolidate every current violence intervention program, such as those operated by the ONSE office; rather, it specifically revives funding for certain designated regions. “OAG isn't equipped to oversee all types of violence interrupting efforts citywide. We're very pleased with the seven-year track record of success from CTS and look forward to collaborating with the Council to maintain our commitment towards preventing gunfire incidents district-wide,” adds their statement.
Bowser voiced similar worries, stating that the consolidation plan could weaken essential local services.
“We acknowledge the councilmember’s efforts to identify cost-saving measures, but we do not back the plan to abolish the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement,” stated Bowser. “Dividing these responsibilities among different departments without adequate resources won’t suffice as a replacement for the dedicated staff focused on reducing violence. It also wouldn’t compensate for losing an essential component in Ward 7. Therefore, we encourage the Committee to postpone this proposition so that additional deliberation with input from residents, local partners, and specialists can take place.”
Pinto recognized the worries and mentioned she is collaborating with her peers and officials from the mayor’s office to amend the proposal.
"I plan to spend the next few hours trying to obtain further commitments from the mayor and ensure that the ONSE office becomes more efficient in achieving these outcomes," she stated.
Pinto mentioned her intention to present an updated version of the proposal for markup and voting by 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
In response to community concerns, Pinto also stated clearly that the Pathways Program—a workforce development program currently overseen by ONSE—would be maintained and moved to the Department of Employment Services.
As the city grapples with the need to reduce its expenditures, it must also sustain essential public safety measures. Programs aimed at intervening in violent situations have garnered significant recognition for their role in calming tensions within dangerous areas and continue to be a top concern for both citizens and leaders.