For Immediate Release: July 11, 2019
Contact: Rita D. Lewis, Communications Director: (202) 256-7154;   rlewis@dccouncil.us

At-Large Councilmember Robert White's Statement on
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Oversight

Washington, DC  In this week's legislative session, the DC Council voted to reorganize the Committee on Finance and Revenue and to place the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) under the Committee on Facilities and Procurement, which I chair. With this reorganization, my committee will have an opportunity to continue performing strong oversight and maintaining our focus on safety, accountability, transparency, efficiency, and equity for District residents.

As Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board, which was instrumental in setting up the Metrorail Safety Commission, a 30-year rider of the WMATA system, and a former legislative staffer leading hearings on Capitol Hill on WMATA, I have a broad understanding of the system and its challenges. I look forward to working with regional leaders and with WMATA commuters to collectively improve our system.

I have been very vocal to the WMATA Board about my concerns with how the Metropolitan Transit Police Department are policing African-American children. I recently sent two letters to the Board reiterating my request for a public roundtable on this matter. I look forward to working with my Council colleagues on this critical issue now that my committee has oversight.
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