Prioritizing Public Safety and Hopeful Kids

Dear Fellow Washingtonians,  

Everyone in the District, no matter where they live, deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, whether they are walking the dog, going to school, pumping gas, or shopping for groceries. As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, communities across the country—urban, suburban and rural—are facing public safety challenges, including an epidemic of gun violence.   

We must work collaboratively, across government agencies and community organizations, to ensure we protect people from the trauma and instability that crime and violence perpetuates. This includes both holding people who commit crime accountable and doing all we can to prevent crime from happening in the first place.   

On Saturday, I joined a panel (pictured above) with local leaders and DC youth in Anacostia. We discussed how accountability and public safety go hand in hand with love and support for our community. When we listen to kids across the District and give them the resources they need, we will all reap the benefits of a system that nurtures hopeful, healthy kids and keeps everyone safer—across the District. 

Read all about the Office of Attorney General's role in public safety in DC and how raising hopeful kids is central to our goal of keeping our community safe, in my new Medium post.  

Brian Schwalb 

Attorney General

Standing Up for Fair Pay for Frontline Workers

This week, the Office of Attorney General (OAG) reached a settlement in our lawsuit against Azure Health Services, which operated six assisted-living facilities across the District. Azure will pay $1.5 million for failing to pay overtime wages to hardworking frontline workers at the height of the pandemic. OAG confirmed worker complaints that Azure required them to work 24-hour shifts for 14 consecutive days while paying them for only 18 hours per day, illegally depriving workers of 6 hours of pay each day. Thanks to the tireless work of OAG lawyers and investigators, more than $1.3 million will go directly back to these deserving employees through this lawsuit and settlement. Read more from WTOP. 

If you suspect workers’ rights violations, please report them to our office by calling (202) 442-9828 or emailing workers@dc.gov. OAG is committed to standing up for workers’ rights and fair pay.  

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s Memory Around DC

MLK event photos

Last weekend I was honored to participate in events across DC in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including the 2023 MLK Holiday DC Annual Peace Walk and Parade. It was heartening to see so many neighbors show up and affirm their commitment to peace, justice, democracy, and community. 

As I reflected on Dr. King’s fight for justice, I recalled his powerful reminder that “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Let’s all take that message to heart as we work together to make our community safer and more equitable.  

Have Questions About Abortion Rights or Free Expression in DC? We Have Answers.

abortion q & a

At OAG, we stand up for people’s rights, including their rights to access health care and to protest peacefully. The District has strong laws protecting people’s right to access abortion care. And, of course, the First Amendment and District Law protect the right to express beliefs. Ahead of the March for Life in DC this week, we released a Q&A on the rights of DC residents and visitors: 

  • Did the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case change DC’s abortion laws? No. The District’s laws protecting access to abortion are strong and remain in effect. They have not changed as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case. 
  • What should I do if protestors block access to a clinic or threaten staff or patients? In an emergency, call 911. Once the issue is safely resolved, you may also report incidents to OAGCivilRights@dc.gov. 

Please read and share our full Q&A on abortion care access and the right to protest in the District here. 

OAG’s Leadership Team

One of my key promises as a candidate for attorney general was to keep up OAG's excellent work, and to continue building up and investing in OAG's great team of lawyers and professionals. As we hit the ground running, I am grateful to the many talented leaders already in the leadership of the office who are staying on and will keep bringing their wisdom and experience in service of District residents every day. This team includes Lauren Haggerty, Christian Barrera, Emily Gunston, Kate Vlach, Marta Paravano, Emma Simson, and Ashita Greenwood. 

I also couldn’t be happier that Seth Rosenthal, Dipa Mehta, Tracy Ballard, Aaron Jenkins, Ryan Jones, and Tiffany Osborne have joined the leadership team and have already begun to bring their valuable insights to OAG. If you would like to contact a member of my team, please email OAGcommunity@dc.gov. We welcome community ideas and input!  

AG Schwalb in the News

If you would like to hear more about my priorities for the Office of Attorney General, read and watch some recent interviews with local news outlets. Here are some highlights: