The District has released a draft copy of its Constitution as it will try to become a state with true representation. Before voters vote on the measure, there will be a number of community input gatherings across the city leading up to the convention. With one such meeting happening right here in our backyard. All voting DC citizens should come to the Southwest Neighborhood Library on June 1st from 6-8pm to have their opinions be made. Be sure to read the draft constitution first! The Council will introduce the draft Constitution later this month. Citizens will be able to participate in a public hearing on the relevant bill, as per usual. If you can’t make your ward meeting in person you can also submit your comments on the draft Constitution online. A vote will happen later this year.
DC will hold ward-based gatherings leading to a June 17–18 convention:
- May 26: Roundtable to discuss draft constitution (details TBD)
- May 31: Ward 3 Town Hall at Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW, from 6 to 8 p.m.
- June 1: Ward 6 Town Hall at Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Place SW, from 6 to 8 p.m.
- June 2: Ward 5 Town Hall at Bertie Backus, UDC Community College, 5171 South Dakota Ave. NE, from 6 to 8 p.m.
- June 4: Ward 7 Town Hall at DOES Community Room, 4058 Minnesota Ave. NE, from 10 a.m. to noon.
- June 4: Ward 8 Town Hall at Thurgood Marshall Academy, 2427 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, from 1 to 3 p.m.
- June 6: Ward 2 Town Hall at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, 6 to 8 p.m.
- June 7: Ward 1 Town Hall at the African American Civil War Memorial & Museum, 1925 Vermont Ave. NW, from 6 to 8 p.m.
- June 8: Ward 4 Town Hall, location TBD, from 6 to 8 p.m.
- June 9: Working-group recommendations to the New Columbia Statehood Commission from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the UDC Student Center, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW