Janeese4DC
@janeese4dc.bsky.social
1.6K followers 310 following 59 posts
DC Councilmember for #Ward4 |PJs Mom|Howard Lawyer| Working Families Advocate|DC Native| 💖💚🌹
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janeese4dc.bsky.social
“Even after the D.C. Council set aside additional funds to continue green card sponsorships, DCPS says it simply won’t spend the money.”
Reposted by Janeese4DC
localprogress.bsky.social
NEW: LP members @cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social, CM Soto-Martínez, & @andrefor40th.bsky.social have a new op-ed laying out the playbook for how progressive local leaders can respond to federal troop deployments.

While congress sits on its hand, local officials must act to defend their communities.
cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social
During a time when our norms and rights are under attack, it's up to local governments to reinforce the rights of our people and fight back with every tool we have.
 
Read my full op-ed with @cd13.lacity.gov @andrefor40th.bsky.social @localprogress.bsky.social: ⬇️

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Reposted by Janeese4DC
cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social
During a time when our norms and rights are under attack, it's up to local governments to reinforce the rights of our people and fight back with every tool we have.
 
Read my full op-ed with @cd13.lacity.gov @andrefor40th.bsky.social @localprogress.bsky.social: ⬇️

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Reposted by Janeese4DC
cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social
To all our Jewish neighbors observing #YomKippur, wishing you a meaningful fast and a peaceful holy day of reflection.
 
G'Mar Chatimah Tovah!
janeese4dc.bsky.social
I assume so or procurement wouldn’t have gone through but I don’t know for certain. My office has always had to get approval from OGC and there is usually a high level of scrutiny even for our e-newsletters.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
I think it’s a misuse of the limited resources we get as Council offices and I am shocked our OGC approved it.
Reposted by Janeese4DC
democracynow.org
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says it's "appalling" for President Trump to pitch U.S. cities as "training grounds" for the military. "This is unconscionable, it's reckless, it's dangerous," says @mayorofchicago.bsky.social.
Reposted by Janeese4DC
councilofdc.bsky.social
A new #HearingTheCouncil interview!
@janeese4dc.bsky.social discusses the critical need for quality local news outlets, their struggles, & her legislation to square this circle with voter-attributed financial support. Plus—which colleague she’d take camping or dancing
youtu.be/qi4PWSocBEE?...
janeese4dc.bsky.social
These are the horrors our community continues to witness and experience. Power to the plaintiffs and thank you @casaforall.bsky.social
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
The circumstances of Mr. Escobar's arrest are even worse than the brief summary above. He repeatedly tried to tell the immigration officials that he had papers while they were arresting him.

In response, a federal agent said "No you don't. You are illegal," and "Shut up, bitch! You're illegal."
For example, on August 21, 2025, plain-clothed and unidentified federal agents arrested Mr. Escobar Molina without a warrant while he was getting in his truck to go to work. They did not ask for his name or his identification or ask anything about his immigration status, where he lives, whom he lives with, how long he has lived here, or anything else about his ties to the community. The agents immediately handcuffed Mr. Escobar Molina, grabbed him by the arms and legs, and called him “illegal” repeatedly. When he responded that he has “papers” (in other words, immigration status), they replied, “No you don’t. You are illegal.” After the agents put Mr. Escobar Molina into a vehicle, when Mr. Escobar Molina told them again that he had “papers,” the driver of the car yelled at him, “Shut up, bitch! You’re illegal.” The agents did not make an individualized determination about Mr. Escobar Molina’s immigration status or flight risk before they arrested him. While Mr. Escobar Molina was in detention, ICE fingerprinted and interviewed [excerpt ends there].
Reposted by Janeese4DC
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
The circumstances of Mr. Escobar's arrest are even worse than the brief summary above. He repeatedly tried to tell the immigration officials that he had papers while they were arresting him.

In response, a federal agent said "No you don't. You are illegal," and "Shut up, bitch! You're illegal."
For example, on August 21, 2025, plain-clothed and unidentified federal agents arrested Mr. Escobar Molina without a warrant while he was getting in his truck to go to work. They did not ask for his name or his identification or ask anything about his immigration status, where he lives, whom he lives with, how long he has lived here, or anything else about his ties to the community. The agents immediately handcuffed Mr. Escobar Molina, grabbed him by the arms and legs, and called him “illegal” repeatedly. When he responded that he has “papers” (in other words, immigration status), they replied, “No you don’t. You are illegal.” After the agents put Mr. Escobar Molina into a vehicle, when Mr. Escobar Molina told them again that he had “papers,” the driver of the car yelled at him, “Shut up, bitch! You’re illegal.” The agents did not make an individualized determination about Mr. Escobar Molina’s immigration status or flight risk before they arrested him. While Mr. Escobar Molina was in detention, ICE fingerprinted and interviewed [excerpt ends there].
Reposted by Janeese4DC
kyledcheney.bsky.social
JUST IN: A new class action lawsuit challenges ICE's warrantless immigration arrests in Washington, D.C., which they say are occuring without probable cause and based largely on perceived ethnicity.

www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Janeese4DC
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
WOW. The lead plaintiff is a Latino man who's been here legally for 24 years. He was grabbed off the street by plainclothes federal agents who didn't even ASK about his status.

He was detained overnight and only released once a supervisor realized he had been illegally arrested.
PARTIES3. Plaintiff José Escobar Molina is a 47-year-old man who has lived in D.C. for 25 years. He has maintained valid Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for El Salvador since 2001. On August 21, 2025, Mr. Escobar Molina was walking from his apartment building in Northwest D.C.to his work truck, about to start his workday, when two cars pulled up next to him. As he was about to get into his truck, plain-clothed and unidentified federal agents exited the cars and—without conducting any inquiry—seized Mr. Escobar Molina, grabbing him by the arms and legs and immediately handcuffing him. The agents arrested him without a warrant and without asking for his name, his identification, or anything about his immigration status. The agents also did not ask him where he lives, whom he lives with, how long he has lived here, or anything else about his ties to the community prior to arresting him. After ICE detained Mr. Escobar Molina overnight at its processing center in Chantilly, Virginia, the next day an ICE supervisor finally realized that he had valid TPS, which statutorily prohibits ICE from detaining him, and released him. Due tohis Latino ethnicity, Mr. Escobar Molina fears being arrested and detained again while going about his daily life in D.C.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
The same contract delay issues happen EVERY year. I just don’t understand why they don’t do a multi year contract. Which I’ve asked multiple times when this first started becoming an issue.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
On the Hill today supporting Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson, and Attorney General Schwalb as they provide testimony to the House Oversight Committee regarding our city's interests. The DC government stands united in its commitment to safeguarding our autonomy & preventing unwarranted interference.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
Don’t trigger me on a Tuesday Martin 😂😂😂😩 the saga that is this property is never ending. I even once proposed a building razing amendment once to DOB just to get action for the roof to be taken off.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
We’ve been hoping that for years. It’s literally been a decade long saga for our community.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
To the 31 House Democrats who voted with Trump: I would never vote to disenfranchise your constituents, undermine their democratic rights, or impose harsher penalties on them against their will. Regrettably, you have done exactly that to my constituents and legislative body. Shame 😪
freedcproject.bsky.social
Today 31 Democrats chose to side with Donald Trump over DC.

We did not ask for this. It will not make us safer. And fueling this fascist president's agenda is dangerous for our entire country. (🧵)
31 Democrats who voted with Trump and against DC
Reposted by Janeese4DC
alexctaliadoros.bsky.social
Today, Congress is marking up anti-DC bills to:

— Criminalize sleeping in a car

— Prosecute 14-year-olds as adults

— Give Congress a line-item veto of the DC budget

— Force MPD to rehire officers who commit serious crimes

— Let Trump handpick the DC Attorney General with no Senate confirmation
janeese4dc.bsky.social
I truly don’t think people are grasping just how catastrophic this is.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
Today's Supreme Court ruling profoundly impacts the foundation of American democracy. The implications are severe. Our constitutional safeguards are no longer guaranteed. The enjoyment of constitutional rights and protections are now contingent upon one's race and class.
nytimes.com
Breaking News: The Supreme Court lifted restrictions on ICE agents in Los Angeles, allowing them to make indiscriminate stops based on factors like ethnicity.
Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on L.A. Immigration Stops
A federal judge had ordered agents not to make indiscriminate stops relying on factors like a person’s ethnicity or that they speak Spanish.
nyti.ms
Reposted by Janeese4DC
chmnmendelson.bsky.social
Today the Council sent a letter opposing the Congressional bills threatening our autonomy. This is a first step to push back against interference. I'm also testifying on the Hill next week and we are meeting with Congressional representatives to explain why these bills are harmful to the District.
janeese4dc.bsky.social
The continued federal occupation is causing significant delays in various city projects, as workers are fearful of working here and companies are hesitant to send workers and vehicles into the city, due to concerns about ICE and federal enforcement efforts. #FREEDC
janeese4dc.bsky.social
Yes to all of this but particularly the frustration that the mowing contract has been delayed every year leaving neighbors and park rangers to mow the lawns on NPS land until a contract is done usually late July.
Reposted by Janeese4DC
niawag.bsky.social
#FreeDC @janeese4dc.bsky.social helping launch our lobby day.