Since becoming a Councilmember in 2001, Adrian Fenty has earned a series of substantive legislative accomplishments, including the following:

*Fenty introduced the School Modernization Financing Act of 2005. The bill would authorize the issuance of $1 billion in bonds to finance a comprehensive effort to rebuild and renovate school facilities citywide. Under the introduced version of the bill, the Board of Education would adopt a Multi-Year Facilities Plan to guide the expenditure of bond revenues, and the DC Auditor would issue an annual report to the public on progress towards meeting the objectives. The Committee on Finance and Revenue approved the bill in July 2005; at the time of this writing, the bill is before the Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation.

*Fenty’s leadership and determination were essential in winning passage of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005.  The bill rewrites and simplifies the District’s laws on services to homeless residents; defines the rights and responsibilities of homeless persons, shelter providers, and the District government; outlines procedures for hearings in the event of a grievance; and establishes the Interagency Council on Homelessness, which will coordinate District programs, including shelter space and hypothermia planning.

Click here to read a detailed description of Adrian Fenty's successful effort to pass this bill.

*Fenty successfully worked through the FY 2006 budget process to increase funding for several programs serving people in need.  Fenty used his influence as chairperson of the Committee on Human Services to fund a $10 million increase over the Mayor’s proposed budget for the Subsidized Childcare Program for low-income families, an additional $3.2 million for services to homeless residents, and a $500,000 increase in direct funding to community-based organizations serving children.  In addition, Fenty led the full Council in reserving $21 million in FY 06 revenues for use on affordable housing for low and very-low income residents, emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence, substance abuse treatment, emergency shelter for homeless families, and family support services focused on prevention of child abuse and neglect.

*Fenty introduced the Comprehensive Housing Strategy Act of 2003, which established the Comprehensive Housing Strategy Task Force, composed of developers, housing advocates, residents, and government representatives.  As Co-Chair of the Special Committee on Housing, Fenty guided through the Council the nominations of the panel’s 28 members in 2004.  The Task Force will present its recommendations for a long-term housing policy in 2005.

*Fenty successfully moved an amendment to restore full funding for the Housing Production Trust Fund in FY 2004 and beyond.  Fenty’s amendment to the Housing Act of 2002 targeted the Fund towards the creation of affordable housing for low- and very low-income households.  Along with Councilmembers Mendelson and Graham, Fenty introduced legislation closing the 95-5 loophole that allowed developers to evade tenants’ rights to purchase their buildings.  The bill moved through the Council in Spring 2005 and will become law in late July.

*The Omnibus Juvenile Justice Amendment Act of 2004, passed by the Council, contained several provisions originally proposed in the Blue Ribbon Juvenile Justice and Youth Rehabilitation Act of 2004, introduced by Fenty and based on the policy recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform.  These provisions (Titles VII, VIII, IX, and XI of the omnibus act) include the Release of Certain Children in Need of Supervision Act, the Periodic Evaluations Act, the Individualized Treatment Plan Act, and the Detention and Commitment Facilities Act (which mandates the closure of the Oak Hill Youth Center no later than 2008).

*Fenty introduced the first bill to remove the Youth Services Administration from DHS and establish it as a cabinet-level department, based on the recommendation of the Office of the Inspector General.  In 2005, Fenty guided through the Council the nomination of Vincent Schiraldi, a nationally recognized juvenile justice expert, as the Director of the new Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.  Fenty’s Committee has closely overseen the Department, which has made substantial progress in transferring children, when appropriate, from prison-like confinement to community-based settings focused on rehabilitating troubled kids.

*Fenty’s amendment to the Neighborhood Investment Act of 2004 created the Brightwood/Upper Georgia Avenue Tax Increment Financing District, the largest of the 12 TIF districts established by the law.  Fenty has moved amendments through the budget to support economic development on Georgia Avenue, including funding for a storefront improvement program and site acquisition funds for NCRC and the Georgia Avenue Gateway CDC.  In addition, Fenty shepherded through the Council a Request for Proposals for a major housing and retail development project at the Petworth Metro site.

*Fenty advocated the Takoma Central District Plan Approval Resolution of 2002, which has provided a framework for several recent and future housing and retail developments around the Takoma Metro station.

*With cointroducers Graham and Patterson, Fenty pushed for the Public Safety Crisis Emergency Act of 2003, which required MPD to evaluate its PSA system and led to a substantial revision of PSA boundaries and deployment plans.  With Councilmember Patterson, Fenty introduced the Identity Theft Amendment Act of 2003, which established identity theft as a criminal offense.

*The Continuing Care Retirement Communities Act of 2004, introduced by Fenty and approved by the Council, establishes for the first time licensing and operating standards for continuing care facilities in the District.  In addition, the Prostate Cancer Screening Insurance Coverage Requirement Act of 2002 requires health insurance companies to pay for their patients' prostate cancer screening.

*The Civil Rights Tax Fairness Act of 2002, introduced by Fenty and now law, eliminated tax penalties on court awards to victims of employment discrimination and other civil rights violations.

*Fenty led his Council colleagues in adopting the FY 2005 Contingency Funding Request Partial Disapproval Resolution of 2005, which disapproved the Mayor’s request for $3.9 million in wasteful and unjustified spending by District agencies.

*Through the budget process, Fenty has aggressively sought funding for capital projects in Ward 4 neighborhoods.  Since he took office, the renovated Fort Stevens Recreation Center opened (2001), new lighting and playground equipment were installed at the Lafayette Recreation Center (2003), the District opened the reconstructed Emery Recreation Center (2003), and the new Takoma Aquatic Center opened with an indoor Olympic-sized pool (2005).  Fenty has also secured full funding for several projects currently underway, including the full restoration of the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center, the new Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center on Kennedy Street, and the reconstruction of the Lamond Recreation Center.

*In addition, Fenty has successfully pushed legislation addressing quality of life issues of importance to Ward 4 residents:

- The Pedestrian Protection Right-of-Way at Crosswalks Amendment Act of 2004 requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

- An amendment added to the Omnibus Alcoholic Beverage Amendment Act of 2004 would establish a moratorium on the sale of single containers of beer, malt liquor and ale in a portion of Ward 4.  (A U.S. District Court judge threw out the provision on technical procedural grounds in June 2005; the decision is being appealed by the Office of the Attorney General with the assistance of the Council’s Office of the General Counsel.)

- The Motorized Bicycle Responsibility Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2004 eliminated a loophole allowing unlicensed drivers to ride uninspected mini motorcycles around the District.  The bill was incorporated into a permanent act passed by the Council.

- The Sidewalk and Curbing Assessment Amendment Act of 2002 eliminated a requirement that residents or businesspeople pay half the cost of installing new sidewalks and curbs in front of their property.