From CM Evans' Office:

Hearing Date Set for Neighborhood and Victims Rights Amendment Act of 2010 (view/download bill):

Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans is pleased to announce that a hearing date has been set for Bill 18-595, the Neighborhood and Victims Rights Amendment Act of 2010. The hearing before the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary will take place on Monday, April 19th at 11:00 am in Room 123 of the John A. Wilson building (1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW).

“Given the Council’s legislative process, we must move swiftly to provide these crime fighting tools to the members of the Metropolitan Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to use before summer, when crime typically increases,” Evans said.

The bill, introduced by Evans and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham and supported by the Executive, includes provisions to create a new public nuisance statute; authorize the ABC Board to conduct criminal background checks on applicants for new retail or wholesale licenses; establish a ten year mandatory minimum for gang members who use guns to commit murder, robbery, kidnapping, and assault with intent to rob or kidnap; and moves to encourage the establishment of a specialized Gun Court with a separate gun court case calendar in an effort to move gun-related cases through the criminal justice system.

“Many residents, particularly in Ward 2, but also throughout the District, are anxious to see any and all additional measures that can help keep our neighborhoods and residents safer put into law. This hearing, while I am pleased it has been scheduled, is long overdue,” said Evans.

Those who wish to testify should contact Ms. Heidi Tseu, Committee Clerk or Deborah Kelly, Legislative Clerk for Councilmember Mendelson at 202-724-7808, by fax at 202-724-6664, or via email at dkelly@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business on Thursday, April 15. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.