The controversial, youth-violence-fighting Peaceoholics is here to say, the group’s co-founders said during an interview on TBD.
Peaceoholics’ loudest voice, Ron Moten, became a key member of Mayor Adrian Fenty’s re-election campaign last summer. Moten was described as a chief strategist who also often played the role of spokesman. Although he left his position as the Peaceoholics’ chief executive to campaign for Fenty, he remained on the group’s board.
Peaceaholics has received millions of dollars in funding from the District.
On Tuesday, Moten said the city needs the group to keep the peace on the streets of the nation’s capital.
Funding has been drying up for the group over the last year, and in the past four months they’ve laid off 50 people, Moten said.
Crime has “skyrocketed” since, he claimed.
Peaceoholics current CEO, Jauhar Abraham said, “I think we will be able to get funded,” in a Vince Gray administration.
“We’ll take the campaign to the community,” Abraham said. Adding, “we’re not going anywhere.”
Gray, however, may have a different opinion. In August he told The Washington Examiner:
“Peaceoholics has politicized the organization in ways that are detrimental to the kids and detrimental to the organization,” Gray said then. “I think, frankly, having spent a lot of my life in the nonprofit sector, it’s pretty ill advised.
“Eventually, whoever you’re supporting is gone and then what do you do about those who come behind that person who may be offended?”
Gray will be sworn in as mayor on Jan. 2.
