D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb Meets With Us March 15
Also A Proposed Meeting With U.S. Attorney Nominee Ed Martin, Who Vows "To Make D.C. Safe Again"
Update: Our meeting with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has been scheduled for Saturday, March 15. Please come! His office has reserved a large room at the Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Place SW, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. We will kick off the meeting with Schwalb, and he will be with us for about an hour. If you have questions you want asked, please write them here.
Second Update: I have been in touch with the U.S. Attorney’s office to coordinate a meeting with Ed Martin, who is interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. and Trump’s nominee for the position permanently. Martin has no experience as a prosecutor; he has a career as a Republican operative and anti-abortion activist, and more recently he was a Stop the Steal organizer and represented several January 6 rioters. He has announced that he plans to “Make D.C. Safe Again.” His office has asked who will be attending the meeting. Please sign a letter here; I am hoping for a long list of residents who want to find out more about him, his approach to pursuing D.C. gun cases in federal court, and the initial indications that he will use the office to pursue and punish political enemies.
There is so much to be worried about—Ukraine, tariffs, DOGE—but Martin’s appointment is of both local and national concern. A quick reminder: The D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office is the largest in the country and unique in that it represents the United States in civil litigation as well as serves as a federal and local D.C. prosecutor of crimes such assault and murder. Martin needs Senate confirmation, and I think that he should come before D.C. residents to explain how he plans to lead the office.
If you are concerned about a federal takeover of the city, you should pay attention to Ed Martin. I searched Project 2025 for prescriptive proposals to eliminate D.C. Home Rule, implement emergency powers to control D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, or somehow impose another financial control board on the city. I didn’t find any of those things. I think this indicates a wholesale administrative takeover of D.C. is not a top priority, but Trump and Martin will use the U.S. Attorney’s Office to throw gasoline on simmering issues over crime, public safety (including homelessness) and racial equity in Democratic cities like ours. Martin was a collaborator with Project 2025 architect Russell Vought.
Project 2025 is all about going to war on the people of D.C. We are ground zero and the main target of the dismantlement. Yes, four-out-of-five federal workers live outside of the D.C. area, but the District is disproportionately and intentionally impacted due to the concentration of federal workers in this city and region, especially “elite” upper-level management:
190,000 federal employees work in the District, about one-out-of-four jobs
72,000 D.C. residents are federal workers, 19 percent of the city’s working adults
Which is why D.C.’s CFO released a revenue forecast last Friday that projected a decline of about a billion tax dollars over the next four years. This is another big way in which Trump and the Republicans will inflict pain on our city—by illegally firing tens of thousands of civil servants, creating economic trauma for those workers and their families, and injuring the city by reducing income, sales, and possibly property taxes.
It is designed to be cruel and punishing to D.C.
Our response, as a city, is a real test for us, too. I know we are all overwhelmed and are focused on the big picture, but that big picture has a real impact on the no-so-little picture of the nation’s capital. Will we work together to help each other this next budget and smartly and strategically invest in the key things that do make a great city—high quality public schools, safe streets, living wage jobs and affordable housing—or will we do the usual — have the high-priced-lobbyists and paid advocates fight over marginal stuff while we don’t address the real issues. That was my frustration as a Councilmember and remains my concern. D.C.’s budget has nearly doubled in the last decade, but has that sharp, upward spending curve sent our overall quality of life in the same direction?
We have some of the smartest, most committed people to equity and justice in the world here—and I hope this is the moment we come together to tackle our toughest challenges, not just talk about whether we cut social programs or raise taxes and blame Trump.
We also need to take Trump seriously on policing and homelessness in our city. When Trump said that D.C.’s police department hasn’t been utilized properly, well, our D.C. Auditor has produced several reports that say that too. We can deploy our force more strategically and make the city safer.
And on homelessness: Our city has said it is a priority to move people off the street and into housing. And we spend millions on housing vouchers that go unused every year. This is not Trump’s problem, it is our problem that we need to put as much political capital into fixing as building a football stadium.
Now for the action part of the email….
Actions for You to Help Our Country
Call Congress
Phone calling is effective, because it is hard to ignore. If you want more explanation, 5 calls spells it out and provides phone numbers for you.
Attend an Event
Today, March 4:
There are multiple events related to Trump’s address to Congress tonight. Here are two.
https://www.mobilize.us/moveon/event/759136/?source=mo-homepage
Wednesday, March 5
Friday, March 7: Stand Up for Science (https://standupforscience2025.org)
Actions for You to Protect D.C. Home Rule and Make Us Stronger
Sign on to the Statement of D.C. Values
Join Our Meeting with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb on Saturday, March 15 at Southwest Library.
Sign On to the Letter Requesting a Meeting With Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin
Get Involved in the D.C. Budget Process. I know this sounds trite, but the way to combat misinformation is to give people good information. I am convinced if the people of York, PA, had information on how tariffs would impact their city, their jobs, and their pocketbook, we would have had a big blue circle there. Likewise, I think we need to figure out better ways to get you the information you need on how your tax dollars are spent. For those who follow local affairs, I think the substack and @dccrimefacts Twitter is a model. (@dccrimefacts anonymous writer, I’d love to talk)
Actions to Help Your Neighbors, Friends, Family, and You
Call/Text/Email Your Friends Who Are Federal Workers and Contractors
Losing a job is traumatic, especially when the circumstances are grossly unfair and unjust. Check in on those in your sphere who might be really upset and anxious about the future. It really makes a difference when you reach out.DC, as well as Maryland and Virginia, have resource websites for fired federal workers
DC’s page is bare bones—I hope it will become more robust with additional help on health insurance, housing assistance, etc. I think Maryland does a stronger job, especially in basic empathy and in recruiting feds to work for local government!
We Should Take Advantage of Our Physical Proximity to the White House and Congress. Is There Interest In A Button or Yard Sign Campaign to Show Support?
Love idea of yard sign!
Great stuff. You remain a DC treasure. I'll be there!