Latest news with #Ward8Council
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trayon White hints at re-election campaign for DC Council Ward 8 seat
The Brief Trayon White aiming to reclaim his Ward 8 Council seat after being expelled less than two months ago. Ethics violations and bribery charges loom, but White remains eligible to run, with his trial set for 2026. Residency requirements met, as White maintains his primary home in Ward 8 despite links to a Ward 6 apartment. WASHINGTON - Former Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, who was expelled from the D.C. Council less than two months ago, confirmed on social media his bid to reclaim his seat in the upcoming special election. White revealed his re-election campaign in a Sunday Instagram post celebrating the end of Ramadan, also stating, "ReElection campaign starts tomorrow." READ MORE: Trial date set for DC councilmember Trayon White in federal bribery case What we know At least 20 names are already listed as official candidates for the Ward 8 July 15 special election. Trayon White's name is not on the list yet but is still eligible to run since, among other requirements, he has not been convicted of any crime. Last summer, White was arrested on federal bribery charges, accused of accepting over $150,000 in exchange for steering violence interruption contracts to benefit an associate. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled for 2026. READ MORE: DC Council votes unanimously to expel Trayon White He was expelled from the council in February following an independent investigation that found substantial evidence of council ethics violations. The federal investigation is separate from the council ethics probe. While an independent council report linked White to an apartment in Ward 6, the council investigation also did not find Trayon White violated residency requirements, as his primary home is still in Ward 8. (White has until April 17th to submit at least 500 signatures from Ward 8 residents.) READ MORE: Report finds Trayon White violated DC Council's Code of Conduct The Source FOX 5 DC
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump expected to sign executive order cracking down on homelessness, public safety in DC
WASHINGTON () — In the District, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order cracking down on public safety and beautification. The order was on by The Washington Post and could include directives to clear homeless encampments, clean graffiti and for prosecutors to pursue harsher penalties for violent crimes. 'We need our elected officials to stop kicking people when they're down,' said Jesse Rabinowitz, who is the campaign and communications director for the National Homelessness Law Center. Rabinowitz said he and other advocates are greatly concerned about the looming order. DC to hold special election for Trayon White's Ward 8 Council seat 'We know during the campaign [Trump] talked about rounding up homeless people and forcing them into detention camps and we're worried this is the first step in that plan,' he said. He also disagreed with the notion of clearing encampments as a way to address homelessness. 'These encampment clearings are dangerous. They're violent and they cost a lot of money and they make it harder to solve homelessness,' said Rabinowitz. 'When people are displaced from their communities, their belongings are thrown away, they lose their prescription, their medicine, the things they need to go to work. And all they do is push people away from services.' Earlier this week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she had been in discussion with the Trump administration, but that she did not have any specific details on what the executive order could include. 'I know the President is very focused on beautification issues,' said Bowser. In terms of addressing homelessness, the mayor noted that D.C. has its own policies and procedures for clearing camps and connecting those experiencing homelessness with services. WATCH: NTSB shares latest findings into deadly American Airlines, Black Hawk collision 'We are a city that has shelter for people who are on the streets and we want them inside, absolutely,' she said. 'We try to work with our residents to get them to a place where they want to be inside. We have also always worked with the federal government. Sometimes their policies have differed from ours.' In terms of addressing crime, Bowser pointed to a 31% decrease in violent crime year to date. 'We can't take our foot off the gas and we want to continue to drive down crime,' she said. Bowser said is supportive of an effort that focuses on prosecuting gun crime. 'Any time I talk to anyone in the federal government I ask them to focus on gun crimes, gun offenders, people who use guns, felons in possession of guns and make sure there is consistent prosecution of gun crimes in the District. I think that makes a huge difference,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
