Bullet Points from Mayor Bowser’s Briefing on Tuesday – Phase III/Breitbart/The Nats

Mayor Bowser at today’s briefing.

Bullet Points from Mayor Bowser’s Briefing on Tuesday – Phase III/Breitbart/The Nats

by Larry Janezich

June 30, 2020

Mayor Bowser and members of her administration held a situational briefing today.  Here is a quick summary of key points made during the Q&A with reporters.

• There will not be a swift transition to Phase III.
• There is no need to impose travel restrictions to DC because the opening under Phase II does not attract visitors.
• Hospitals are not seeing an increase in the hospitalization of younger victims of COV-19.
• Mayor Bowser is not in favor of reducing funding for the MPD – a broader discussion is necessary on how long it will take for MPD to respond to calls.
• The city administration is working with the BID and the business community to making final plans on how to preserve Black Lives Matter Plaza in a permanent way.
• The Mayor thinks the name of Woodrow Wilson High Scholl should be changed but it needs a larger discussion and it needs to be done in an appropriate way.
• Homeless encampments should be removed – there is no suspension during the pandemic. The city has shelters for the homeless.
• The Mayor said she was perplexed by the Breitbart event where Second District MPD tweeted “Today in the Second District, members from @BreitbartNews & 2D residents stopped by to deliver lunch to our officers and show appreciation for their great work.” The tweet was quickly deleted.  Bowser said that someone in MPD Public Information a very bad mistake in attaching that post to Breitbart News. It is being investigated internally.
• The city has signed a letter of agreement in principle with NAACP on how to move to the organization from Baltimore to DC. She anticipates an RFP on the razing of the Reeves Building at 14th and U to make way for a new building for NAACP.
• The Nationals have been granted a waiver for training and games, but with no fans.
• The city is trying to resolve the ban on sale of fireworks. Currently, only Costco is being permitted to sell them.