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Yesterday, at a rally organized by D.C. Housing Authority Board member Joshua Lopez held outside of the John A. Wilson Building, an attendee called At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) a “fake Jew” and referred to Jewish people as “termites.” Councilmember Silverman sent the following letter to her colleagues earlier today:

Dear Mayor Bowser and D.C. Council colleagues:

The hateful words spoken yesterday outside the Wilson Building have absolutely no place in our city. It is unconscionable that event supporters brush off these repugnant words of prejudice simply as “wrong things” to say and speakers going “rogue.” Not at all: This was a deliberately misleading, intentionally designed attempt to stir up division and hatred, particularly for me as a Jewish, At-Large Council member, who represents the entire city including Ward 8.

It is part of a disturbing tolerance within our city for anti-Jewish hate speech, which has made these last several weeks increasingly hurtful and difficult for me and others at the Wilson Building who are Jewish, as well as for the entire D.C. Jewish community.

On Thursday, April 26, the Labor and Workforce Development Committee will hold a budget hearing on the following agencies: 

• Office of Employee Appeals
• Public Employee Relations Board

The hearing will be in Room 123 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) beginning at 10:00am. A draft agenda and witness list is available here.

D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) released the following statement on media reports that money from Councilmember Trayon White’s (D-Ward 8) constituent services fund went to a Chicago event headlined by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan:

Anti-Semitism and hate speech have no place in our city, and District leaders should not support in any way those who have a history of bigotry and prejudice. The Washington Post’s report that Councilmember Trayon White may have used his constituent services fund to support Saviours’ Day, a yearly gathering in Chicago which Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has repeatedly used as a platform to spew anti-Semitism and espouse dangerous, extremist conspiracies, is upsetting and improper. My understanding is that the Office of Campaign Finance is investigating this contribution, and I ask for the findings to be released as quickly as possible so the Council can take proper action.

D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large), who serves as chairman of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, issued the following statement in response to D.C. Auditor reports released this morning that detail inadequate compliance and enforcement of the District’s First Source Hiring Law by the D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES):

First Source was put in place to make sure that when District tax dollars fund projects, District residents benefit by getting a first shot at the new jobs created. Today’s reports from the D.C. Auditor show why many residents see cranes in their neighborhood but don’t see themselves or their neighbors getting employment out of it: Our government has never properly implemented the law since its inception in 1984. It’s amazing to think that First Source has been cited for decades as a key part of our strategy to provide job opportunities and reduce unemployment, yet until a few months ago the program lacked any formal or informal written monitoring policies or procedures.

On Friday, April 20, the Labor and Workforce Development Committee will hold a budget hearing for government witnesses on the following agencies: 

• Department of Employment Services
• Workforce Investment Council
• Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity

The hearing will be in Room 123 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) beginning at 10:00am. Public witnesses were heard on Wednesday, April 18. A draft agenda and witness list is available here.

On Wednesday, April 18, the Labor and Workforce Development Committee will hold a budget hearing for public witnesses on the following agencies: 

• Department of Employment Services
• Workforce Investment Council
• Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity

The hearing will be in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) beginning at 10:00am. Government witnesses will be heard on Friday, April 20. A draft agenda and witness list is available here.

DC Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) today introduced the Pathways to District Government Careers Act to help District residents enter into District government jobs. The bill would create public-sector apprenticeship programs for District residents and also give graduates of District high schools a first shot at entry-level government jobs. The legislation comes on the heels of a renewed conversation about better preparing District young people for life after high school, as well as providing more opportunities for District residents to gain a foothold into middle-class, public service careers.

“Our young people, especially our DC high school graduates who live in Wards 5, 7 and 8, need opportunity. They want meaningful living wage work, they want mentors, they want careers,” said Silverman. “This bill does that by leveraging jobs in our own government.”

Dear Resident,

Last night, Jaelynn Willey, one the students shot at Great Mills High School in Maryland on Tuesday, was taken off of life support. She was 16 years old.

The effect of guns infiltrating schools across the country is devastating, but youth and families are not just being affected by guns at school. The District knows this far too well. Lives are being lost to preventable gun violence in every quadrant of the city.

That’s why I’m joining District students and residents tomorrow at the Rally for DC Lives before walking to the March for Our Lives. I hope you will join us to support the city’s youth, help preserve our strong gun safety laws, and call for stronger gun control in our region and across the country.

Here’s how you can participate:

D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I-At Large) released the following statement after learning of anti-Semitic remarks made by Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8):  

“This morning I spoke with my colleague, Councilmember Trayon White, about his disturbing remarks reported in The Washington Post. He expressed to me that he did not realize that referencing the Rothschild family would be construed as anti-Semitic, and he apologized for the comments.

I told Trayon that I was troubled for two reasons. First, I was concerned that he had been exposed to anti-Semitic beliefs akin to what had been used in Nazi Germany either through materials he had read or people he trusts, and that he had not realized the hateful, dangerous message that it construed. Second, I was concerned that he subscribed to a conspiracy theory that certain people were manipulating climate conditions in cities for profit.

We both agreed that hate speech of any kind has no place at the D.C. Council or in our city. I believe that Trayon is remorseful about what he said, and I believe he is taking steps to understand why these comments were so offensive—not only to Jewish residents but to all who want an inclusive, welcoming city. I have spoken with Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, who like me is Jewish, as well as other members to talk about what further actions we can take to make sure this kind of speech is in no way tolerated.  

I have also spoken with Jewish organizations, including Jews United for Justice, about actions we can take with Councilmember White to encourage further dialogue, especially between the Black and Jewish communities. We have a great history of fighting racism and bigotry together. As said by the great civil rights champion, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: 'Let us dodge no issues. Let us yield no inch to bigotry.'"

In preparation for budget season, Councilmember Silverman sent a letter to Mayor Bowser outlining her budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2019. It includes requests for funding to:

• Increase Department of Parks and Recreation summer camp slots and extend pool hours
• Implement our newly-passed public financing program for elections
• Curb the negative impacts of policies from the Trump administration and Congress
• Ensure District families have a paid family leave program in 2020
• Expand workforce opportunities for District residents, especially youth
• Preserve and increase the city’s affordable housing stock
• Increase affordable childcare options and out-of-school time programs
• Build the Union Market metro tunnel
• Incentivize District businesses to pay a living wage and recognize industry leaders

Read Councilmember Silverman's full letter of FY19 budget priorities here.