[Lincolnparkdc] Fwd: No Recall in Ward 6

[Cole Rojewski]

I believe in the value of our listserve as a neutral platform for community dialogue, not for campaign purposes. That said, the concerns raised in the recent message about the recall effort against Councilmember Charles Allen cannot go unaddressed.

DC now has one of the highest reported violent crime rates in the entire country, 812 per 100,000<https://www.areavibes.com/washington-dc/crime/> people, which highlights a significant public safety concern. This surge in crime has understandably led to a growing sense of fear and unease among residents.

Decisions made during Allen's tenure as Chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, including the expansion of the Youth Rehabilitation Act<https://www.charlesallenward6.com/council_unanimously_passes_councilmember_allen_s_youth_rehabilitation_amendment_act>, aimed at reducing sentences for young offenders, the reduction in MPD's budget by $15 million<https://dcist.com/story/20/06/24/d-c-councilmember-charles-allen-proposes-15-million-cut-to-citys-police-budget/>, and the controversial DC Criminal Code<https://apnews.com/article/politics-district-of-columbia-hijacking-muriel-bowser-2e2adb508dc9b7d8a3d6a6f66f471981> rewrite which was so radical and extreme that both Mayor Bowser and President Biden rejected it because it reduced jail time for the very crimes that were skyrocketing, have sparked debate over their impact on our community's safety.

The rise in organized retail crime and the significant reduction in police presence are alarming, directly affecting our community's businesses and sense of security and well-being.

In a city known for its divisions, Charles Allen seems to be the only person in Washington, DC, who can bring Democrats and Republicans together<https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/08/politics/senate-vote-dc-crime-bill/index.html>—although it's over a shared concern of his policies.

While we face these challenges, it's crucial to foster a constructive dialogue focused on finding effective solutions for improving public safety and addressing the root causes of crime. I have attended nearly every 'walk in the park' event that Allen has held over the last year, where I've expressed my concerns about safety.

During these walks, I've listened as community members asked questions and expressed their own concerns, only to watch as Allen deflected, avoiding taking ownership of the policies he authored and supported. While I have no doubt he is a dedicated family man, it's become clear that his policies adversely impact our community.

While I fully support Recall Charles Allen<https://www.recallcharlesallen.com/why-recall/>, let's work together, respecting diverse viewpoints, to build a safer, more unified Ward 6.

I also hope we can agree to keep our listserve free from specific campaign promotions in the future, whether they're for or against Charles Allen or any other individual.

Thank you, and I am glad to be your neighbor.


From: lincolnparkdc <lincolnparkdc-bounces at lincolnparkdc.info> on behalf of ednaboon at gmail.com <ednaboon at gmail.com>
Date: Friday, February 16, 2024 at 11:39 AM
To: Lincoln listserve <lincolnparkdc at lincolnparkdc.info>
Subject: [Lincolnparkdc] Fwd: No Recall in Ward 6


No Recall in Ward 6 is a grassroots campaign, stepping up to stop an expensive effort to recall Charles Allen as our councilmember.

Public safety is Charles Allen’s top priority, despite what propaganda you may hear. He expanded the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) police cadet pipeline, established a $25,000 signing bonus for new police officers, and led the DC Council in approving MPD budgets over $500 million per year. He also passed laws to ban “ghost guns,” increased penalties of dangerous automatic weapons, created DC “Red Flag law” to get guns off the street, and established the first Office of Gen Violence Prevention.

He's also leading efforts to save Metro, get dangerous drivers off our streets and make government more transparent and accountable. He’s secured nearly $1 billion to modernize Ward 6 schools, parks, libraries, and recreation centers.

A recall is a waste of time and money. Forcing all DC taxpayers to fund a costly recall election won’t improve the quality of life in DC. It won’t stop crime. With the expensive cost of a recall it is important to consider that Ward 6 could be without a representative on the DC council for up to four months. What impact could that have on our neighborhoods and local businesses?

There is no burning reason to push a recall ahead of his next election. If community members were so outranged, why didn’t anyone run against Charles in 2022? Ward 6 voters have overwhelmingly elected Charles Allen three times.

Rather, let’s focus on finding ways to work together to build a strong, more unified community. The recall effort will be hiring paid workers to collect signatures. If you are approached, Just Say No.

No Recall in Ward 6 is just a little more than a week old, but we need your support to help stop this needless recall. #noWard6recall  Website coming soon. Here’s where to contribute: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/noward6recall

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