A slate of anti-crime initiatives won support yet again Wednesday from the D.C. Council, ensuring the laws will remain on the books at least for the next 90 days.
Two bills required emergency council action to stay enforceable, as both were set to expire this week after a brief three months in the D.C. Code.
One, Mayor Anthony Williams’ emergency measure authorizing neighborhood crime cameras, earlier youth curfews and millions of dollars for police overtime, was adopted in July in response to a spike in crime. It expires tonight, and the council has yet to adopt legislation to keep its provisions in place permanently.
A revised emergency measure provides $1.7 million for the continued operation of the existing 48 cameras and $1.7 million for additional cameras. It also sets aside $4.2 million for police overtime and $5 million for youth violence prevention.
The earlier curfews were repealed, disappointing one legislator.
“I can report a successful experience in Ward 1 with the curfew,” said Ward 1 Council Member Jim Graham, who voted for the measure nevertheless. “It really has worked in terms of having youths go home. People have been pleased with that.”
The council also took action to re-up the emergency version of an omnibus crime bill, a massive act incorporating dozens of public safety initiatives — stiffening penalties for carrying armor-piercing bullets and criminalizing gang initiations among them.
The omnibus bill was adopted in July as an emergency while the city awaited congressional approval on the permanent legislation.
But Congress is out of session and has yet to bless the act. The 90-day emergency bill, meanwhile, expired Tuesday at midnight.
The emergency was re-enacted Wednesday, some 12 hours after it expired.
