At my office, we work every day to ensure that District residents are protected. We do this by standing up for vulnerable residents, enforcing the laws of the District, defending and providing legal advice to the District’s government agencies, and protecting the interests of our city’s residents.

During the pandemic, our work has extended to making sure residents are safe and getting the support they need. We have supported and advocated for a ban on evictions during the pandemic that is now in place, worked to expand utility assistance programs, and more. It would be an understatement to say that the past year has been challenging, but we have not allowed the pandemic to slow us down.

But now I ask you, District residents, to do your part by protecting yourself and your community.

Staying safe and healthy is critical, and I strongly encourage you to lend a hand in keeping yourself—and those around you—safe by getting the COVID-19 vaccine.  

The District of Columbia has made the vaccination process simple. With multiple no-appointment- needed walk-up vaccination sites throughout the District, you can find a location near you. And at certain walk-up sites, from June 19, 2021, until July 31, 2021, you may be eligible to enter into a giveaway that includes several different exciting prizes.

In addition to walk-up sites, pharmacies, clinics, and health-care providers throughout the District are also administering the vaccine. These sites have their own scheduling systems.

If you are unable to leave your house, call 1-855-363-0333, and the vaccine will be brought to you.

When it comes to this pandemic, we must remember that we are in this together.

Thank you.

Karl A. Racine
Attorney General 

Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month

Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month! This month, we celebrate the legacy and influence of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants who have contributed to the strength of American society.

As a proud Haitian American, I am excited to honor our heritage and help spread the rich history of my fellow Caribbean Americans. Through our shared experiences, we have brought vibrant cultures, languages, traditions, and values that strengthen not only DC, but also the entire United States.

And earlier today, I had a virtual conversation with Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, in which we discussed the contributions of Caribbean Americans and immigrants in the U.S., the importance of scholarships and other programs that help give opportunities to Caribbean American students, and the future of historically Black colleges and universities. View it here.

Consumer Alert: More DC Residents Now Eligible for Discounts on Utility Bills

During the pandemic, those staying at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus relied on essential utility services—including water, gas, and electric—to keep them safe. And though DC residents are protected from utility shut-offs during the declared public health emergency, many fell behind on paying their bills and will need help even after the emergency ends.

To give residents a chance to get back on their feet—and to help prevent utility shut-offs after the end of the official public health emergency—our office advocated for the expansion of utility assistance programs to more District residents.

We supported a petition by the Office of the People’s Counsel asking the Public Service Commission (PSC) to help ratepayers. When the PSC issued an order expanding utility discount programs to more middle-income households, we worked with the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and asked the PSC to make those programs available to an even larger number of District residents.

On May 27, 2020, the PSC granted our motion to make more DC households eligible for discounts on their utility bills and for utility bill debt forgiveness. Now, about 50,000 additional households will be eligible for discounts of:

• An average of about to $475 per year on electric bills.
• About 50% off gas bills during the winter season.
• Significant discounts (up to about $400 annually) on water and sewer bills.

These households will also qualify for Pepco’s Arrearage Management Program, which allows those with electricity bill debt to reduce or eliminate their outstanding balances simply by paying their current (discounted) electricity bills. Washington Gas will be rolling out a similar program in the coming weeks for its customers who are in arrears to catch up on their gas bills.

For more information and to apply for these utility assistance programs, see DOEE’s website.

Update: Lawsuit Moves Forward Against Gun Manufacturer Polymer80 for Illegally Advertising and Selling Untraceable Firearms to District Consumers

We received some great news this week. A judge ruled that our lawsuit can move forward against Polymer80, a gun manufacturer that sells untraceable ghost guns, for advertising and selling illegal guns to District consumers. The firearms Polymer80 sells online are commonly called “ghost guns” because they lack identifying information, such as serial numbers, and are untraceable by law enforcement. Unfortunately, the use of ghost guns to commit crimes in the District has been on the rise, and Polymer80 is responsible for making most of the ghost guns that are recovered in the District.

Uber Eats to Provide New In-App Transparency Disclosures on its Prices

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and I announced that we successfully collaborated with online food delivery platform Uber Eats to secure better disclosures about the price discrepancy between in-app purchases and orders placed directly with restaurants. Food delivery apps provide convenience, safety, and ease for so many consumers–especially during the pandemic. As more and more consumers use apps like Uber Eats, it’s critical that these companies are transparent about their pricing and the fact that getting food directly from a restaurant is often cheaper. We appreciate Uber Eats immediately addressing our concerns. Going forward, Uber Eats’ delivery app will make clear that its prices may be more expensive than those charged by the restaurants themselves. We strongly encourage other delivery apps to follow in Uber Eats’ footsteps. Those that do not risk investigation and scrutiny by our offices. Consumers deserve clear information so they can make informed decisions that work best for them.

Celebrating Win in Affordable Care Act Case Before the Supreme Court

Last week, in a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which remains the law of the land and will continue to provide affordable health coverage for millions of Americans. The decision was a huge victory for the millions of Americans—including tens of thousands of District residents—who depend on it for life-saving, affordable health coverage. Especially during an uncertain pandemic, the ACA has given certainty to so many that they can get quality, affordable health coverage when they most need it. Affordable health coverage shouldn’t be a partisan issue. The Court’s decision makes clear that the law is here to stay, and we’re proud to have helped defend it. It’s time to stop the legal challenges and protect and expand access to health care for children.

Announcing Settlement of Investigation into Allegations That Car Dealership Financially Exploited 86-Year-Old

Older Americans should be able to live their golden years with dignity, yet too many suffer in silence because of elder abuse and financial exploitation. On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we announced the positive resolution of an investigation—stemming from a report by a community member—into allegations that a Maryland car dealership financially exploited an 86-year-old District resident. As a result of our investigation, the dealership is providing full restitution to the 86-year-old. In the District, it is illegal to use deception, intimidation, or undue influence to cause a vulnerable adult or elderly person to assume a legal obligation for the benefit of someone else.

Please, watch out for your senior loved ones, friends, and neighbors—and reach out to the authorities if you’re worried about their safety or their physical or financial wellbeing.

If you are or know a District senior or vulnerable adult experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation, immediately get help by:

• Filing a report with Adult Protective Services (APS) by calling the 24-hour hotline at (202) 541-3950.
• Filing a police report with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) by calling the police at (202) 265-9100.
• Contacting OAG’s Elder Justice Section at (202) 727-3807 or elderjustice@dc.gov.

Co-Leading Supreme Court Brief Supporting CDC Eviction Ban to Protect Public Health During Pandemic

At our office, we have been working to support struggling individuals and families during the pandemic and have supported extending the federal ban on evictions. Just recently, I led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that prohibits evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic to help stop the spread of the disease. We are urging the Supreme Court to leave the moratorium on evictions in place to help protect our communities from a vicious disease that doesn’t respect state borders—even though in the District we passed our own strong protections against evictions. We have made so much progress to overcome this pandemic. Let’s not go backwards. And this week, the CDC announced it is extending the federal eviction moratorium by 30 days through July 31, 2021.