Council Rejects Emergency Crime Bill; Passes Alternative

The WaPo has a story this evening on the DC Council debate and vote today on Mayor Fenty’s Omnibus-emergency crime bill. The bill was defeated 9-4 with Bowser (Ward 4), Catania (At Large), Evans (Ward 2) and Graham (Ward 1) voting for it. But, the Council passed an alternative put forth by Councilmember Phil Mendelson, who heads the DC Council Judiciary committee; it focuses on stiffer penalties for gun crimes.

Here is how dcist summarized the votes today in the DC Council:

For a less exalted assessment of the proceedings, try Tim Craig. The bottom line: Jack Evans lost his bid to enact so-called “civil gang injunctions,” while Phil Mendelson’s more conservative emergency crime bill, which focuses on stiffer penalties for certain gun crimes, committing crimes with stolen cars, and chronic offenders, passed, and now goes into effect for 90 days of summer. Oh yeah, and no curfew. [WaPo]