The Collins Council Report: How Are the Children?

November 5, 2025

The D.C. Council approved an emergency juvenile curfew extension despite opposition from four council members who raised concerns about racial profiling of Black and brown youth by police, particularly given cooperation between local and federal law enforcement. The curfew allows the mayor to extend hours and designate enforcement zones while applying restrictions to 17-year-olds, following reports of increased youth violence and social media-promoted gatherings after the previous curfew expired. In separate action, the Council unanimously passed emergency tax legislation to decouple from federal tax changes while restoring the child tax credit and earned income tax credit using anticipated revenue from that decoupling.

Who is affected

Young people in D.C., particularly 17-year-olds and Black and brown youth
D.C. Council members Robert White, Brianne Nadeau, Janeese Lewis George, and Trayon White (who voted against the curfew)
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and Chief Pamela Smith
Federal law enforcement agents operating in D.C.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah
D.C. residents eligible for child tax credits and earned income tax credits
Low-income families and children in poverty, especially in Wards 7 and 8
Community organizations working with youth

What action is being taken

The D.C. Council is extending the emergency juvenile curfew through approved legislation
MPD and federal law enforcement are detaining young people in designated curfew zones
The mayor is declaring limited juvenile curfews and designating enforcement areas
Deputy Mayor Appiah is engaging council members in ongoing conversations about the curfew
Local and federal authorities are reporting and monitoring violent youth gatherings and social media promotion of meet-ups
The Council is decoupling from federal tax code revisions and restoring tax credits for residents

Why it matters

This matters because it represents a tension between public safety enforcement and civil rights protections for young people, with particular concern about racial profiling of Black and brown youth during a period of expanded federal law enforcement presence. The curfew debate highlights fundamental disagreements about whether enforcement-based approaches or investment in youth programs and opportunities better serve community safety. The tax legislation is significant because it affects child poverty rates (including over a third of children in Wards 7 and 8) and puts immediate financial relief into families' pockets while the District faces substantial budget pressures including an estimated $800 million in spending needs. The situation also raises procedural concerns about emergency legislation bypassing normal scrutiny processes.

What's next

In early December, the Council's Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety is scheduled to conduct a hearing on permanent juvenile curfew legislation
The Executive Office of the Mayor and Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice are expected to develop a more comprehensive plan incorporating youth programming before the permanent curfew legislation is considered
The Council will work with the executive on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which members hope will include robust youth program offerings and outreach
Mayor Bowser is expected to prepare the FY2027 budget proposal, which will need to address the $800 million in spending pressures including WMATA funding and school budget maintenance

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer