1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW - Room 106, Washington, DC 20004
 202.724.8058 main - 202.724.8023 fax - jackevans@dccouncil.us
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Councilmember Evans

The outrageous theft of public funds at the Office of Tax and Revenue has dominated all the headlines.  I thought I had been here long enough to have seen it all.  But just when we thought that the worst was behind us, we are shocked by something that shakes our confidence.  I thought when the District’s finances collapsed in the 1990s and the Control Board took over we had seen our darkest days.  Perhaps it is because we have come so far that this scandal wounds us even more deeply. 

Yes, the District finances have improved and there is a system of checks and balances. And yes, new technologies have been implemented to propel us into the 21st century.  But, when a few devious employees can scam the system, steal enormous sums of money and undermine the progress we’ve made, we are collectively outraged. At this point, we must carefully question the systems, technological improvements and smart people who promised us a more accountable government.

I have worked closely with Natwar Gandhi for the past 10 years.  He has instilled a degree of professionalism, planning and accountability to what had once been a financial morass so bad, that DC had become the butt of late night jokes.  But now we find out that some of the very systems we counted on to protect us from scandal and theft simply didn’t exist.  What outrages me even more is at the very moment we had come close to securing a vote for the District in Congress, elected a new Mayor who conveys a new hands-on style of leadership and have an engaged and energetic Council, the very confidence we have tried to build upon has been undermined.  It’s a sad time here in the District of Columbia. 

While the external investigation has been underway for several months, on November 15, the Council held its first, of what will likely be many hearings on this matter. On November 20, we authorized the formation of a special investigative committee to not only investigate the wrongdoing, but to also make concrete policy recommendations not only on how to change the business processes at the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) specifically, but also how to get our hands around the issue of financial and programmatic controls in many areas of our government. 

I don’t think OTR is the only department that has potential corruption problems. Recently, we’ve read about shocking and disheartening corruption issues, large and small, from school activity funds to other agencies as well.  We need a systematic review of the entire government, agency by agency, on these processes and controls. 

Nearly a decade ago we had tax returns in boxes on the floor, the District had a junk bond status, we had a city audit that came in weeks late, and red ink as far as the eye could see. The city has made a big turn around in so many vital ways, but it’s things like this that remind me of just how much we have left to do.  It’s time to roll up our sleeves once again and get to work.

DC CAMPAIGN TO
PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY
1112 Eleventh Street, NW, Suite 100
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202.789.4666
Fax: 202.789.4661

www.teenpregnancydc.org

This is a special announcement from DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

According to a report just released by DC Campaign entitled, "Are we there yet:A fourteen year analysis of teen pregnancy data in Washington DC: 1992 to 2005," city rates are moving closer to national rates than they have been in decades.

Fewer teens pregnancies means fewer young people having to face challenging circumstances and more young people staying on track with their education and becoming productive, healthy adults.

The national birth rate was 51.3 while the local birth rate was 91.0 when DC Campaign got started. We based our work on 1997 data that showed a national teen pregnancy rate of 92.7, and a local rate of 152.1 per 1,000 girls 15 to 19. DC Campaign set out to cut the local rate in half by 2005, and according to the most recent data available we have done just that!

The 2005 teen pregnancy rate is 64.4 per 1,000 girls 15 to 19, representing a stunning 57.7 percent reduction. With a 42.1 teen birth rate, Washington, DC is only slightly higher than the national rate of 40.4 per 1,000 girls 15 to
19
years old for the first time in many years.

Visit DCCampaign.org to read the study and click-through to yesterday's article on the front page of The Washington Post!

If you think preventing teen pregnancy is important community work that you want to see done, support DC Campaign and make a donation at www.DCCampaign.org.

DC Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in April 1999 as a result of the work of the Mayor's Committee on Teen Pregnancy. The Committee had determined that solving the problem of teen pregnancy required a highly visible, well-coordinated mechanism to enable a dynamic, collaborative strategy that would be deeply rooted in families and neighborhoods, reinforced by public and private resources. DC Campaign is this mechanism.

The mission of DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is to improve the lives and well being of adolescents in Washington, DC. In October 2005 the Board of Directors set two new goals: Cut the teen pregnancy rate in half by 2015 and become a strong and effective advocate for teens.

To reach these goals, DC Campaign works in five specific areas that form the foundation of social change: building relationships, data, advocacy, media and organizing at the level closest to the issue.

DC Campaign models and advocates the use of research-based programs, best practices and youth development principles to improve the lives and well being of DC teens.

Our work is based on research from the National Research Council that shows that teen pregnancy is less likely when boys and girls, regardless of income or race:

  • Connect to their families, schools and neighborhoods in positive and meaningful ways;
  • Have safe places to spend time with adult supervision and interesting things to do;
  • Get comprehensive, teen-friendly health care;
  • Make a clear plan that does not include pregnancy during their teen years;
  • Experience school success from an early age; and
  • Have a sense of belonging.

For more information on the work and governance of DC Campaign, please read our latest annual report.

DC Campaign Publications

2005 Annual Report

Keeping Track of the Facts

DC Minors' Rights to Health Care

Facts at Your Fingertips I
© Copyright 2007 CEWARSGCLSMMMRW