Responses of Councilmember Smith to
GLAA 1998 Questionnaire for Council Candidates
- If elected, what will you do to encourage the Council to exercise its powers more responsibly and thereby facilitate a speedy return of home rule powers to the District?
- The Council has seldom aggressively exercised its oversight powers over the District government. Instead, too often it has been passive and reactive in addressing the mismanagement problems that routinely plague the District government’s administration. What will you do to improve the Council’s performance of its oversight responsibilities?
- Do you support and full funding for the new civilian complaint review system to be established by Bill 12-521, the "Office of Citizen Complaint Review Establishment Act of 1998"?
- Do you support Bill 12-612, the "Opened Alcoholic Beverage Containers Amendment Act of 1998" (a.k.a. the "Chardonnay Lady Bill"), that would allow people to drink alcoholic beverages on their own porches without fear of arrest?
- In an apparent effort to bolster his standing with some segments of the District community, the recently-ousted chief of the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs, David Watts, instituted a zoning regulation earlier this year barring video stores from deriving more than 15% of their revenue from sexually-oriented videos. Do you agree that this attack on the rights of adult consumers is utterly unwarranted and that there should be no limits on the proportion of video store revenues derived from adult videos?
- Will you support legislation to authorize and regulate the issuance of liquor licenses to establishments (in designated nonresidential commercial districts) that want to offer nude dancing as entertainment?
- Do you support Initiative 59 (or similar legislation) to legalize the use of medical marijuana when a patient’s doctor recommends it as a means to combat some of the effects of AIDS, cancer, and other diseases?
- The New York State Legislature recently passed legislation saying that: (1) doctors must report the names of people who test positive for HIV to public health officials; and that (2) health workers must attempt to have infected patients identify their sex or drug-use partners and then must notify those partners of possible exposure. Such measures are invariably counter-productive and discourage those most at risk from being tested and treated for HIV. Will oppose any such legislation in the District?
- Do you support an increase in District government funding to combat AIDS in line with the continuing increase in the caseload?
- Do you support continued District government funding for the needle exchange program to combat the spread of AIDS?
Answer: As a current Councilmember, I am the Chair of the Finance and Revenue Committee. This committee, which works directly with Chief Financial Officer and the Control Board, has been the main catalyst to bring the city’s existing budget to a surplus. If re-elected I would continue to work with other Councilmembers, the Chief Financial Officer, the Control Board, individual agencies, and citizens of the District of Columbia to maintain the budget and increase effective services for the city.
Answer: As Chair of the Finance and Revenue, I have shown strong leadership and great understanding of my committee. I think that most Councilmembers have put in the extra effort in their committees to show the citizens of Washington that we can oversee our government and that we should have control again. The kind of oversight that I, as the chair of an important Council committee, have and will continue to exercise is a three-part process. Part One: Understanding the operation of the agencies over which the committee has oversight responsibility. Part Two: Working with the Council to maintain the appropriate budgetary level for the agencies so that they can operate effectively. Part Three: Listening to the citizens’ experiences with the agencies in order to correct performance problems and make the services more efficient and effective for those citizens who rely upon them.
Answer: Yes. I think that unfortunately we do need an objective party to help resolve citizens’ disputes of the Police and Fire Department. The Civilian Complaint Review Board is an effective way to have citizens air their disagreements. While serving on the Judiciary Committee, I fought for sensitivity training within the Police and Fire Departments, and marched against acts of violence in our communities.
Answer: No. Because of the difficulties we’ve had in Ward One with the distribution of licenses to convenience stores, with public alcohol abuse, and with noise levels of outdoor cafes in residential/business areas, I cannot condone another way of drinking in public, even on private property.
Answer: Yes. My office has received numerous calls on this issue. I agree that the 15% rule is incorrect.
Answer: I support the existing establishments, which have cabaret licenses, allowing for nude dancing.
Answer: Yes. I support any medically-prescribed treatment, which makes it easier for a patient to deal with pain.
Answer: Yes, I will oppose such legislation because of confidentiality concerns.
Answer: Yes. I consider AIDS prevention and treatment in the top ten priorities of the city. I will continue to work with the community to create any necessary legislation, fundraising, and lobbying efforts to stop this epidemic. I support several pieces of legislation to expedite the procurement process of city funding for HIV treatment and HIV prevention programs. I have supported the Whitman Walker Clinic and the Max Robinson Center. I will continue to work with the Council, the Control Board, and the Department of Human Services to improve funding for HIV and AIDS.
Answer: Yes. I have supported the Needle Exchange Act as well as education programs that raise people’s consciousness about HIV prevention and substance abuse. In 1986, I led the fight to pass the Free Clinic Assistance Program Act to help the Coalition Free Clinics, Washington Free Clinic, Whitman Walker Clinic, and Clinica del Pueblo maintain medical malpractice insurance. Without such insurance, the clinics would have been forced to close. Throughout my years on the Council, I have acted in support of the service providers.
- Do you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?
- Do you support the current District policy, sanctioned by a court ruling, of allowing adoptions by unmarried couples?
- Do you support both an increased budget for the Office of Human rights (OHR) so that its heavy case backlog can be eliminated, and the reestablishment of OHR as an independent, Cabinet-level agency whose Director has direct access to the Mayor?
- Will you support legislation codifying OHR’s current practice of granting top priority to discrimination complaints from those afflicted with AIDS or other life-shortening conditions?
Answer: Yes. From the start, I was a strong supporter of the Domestic Partnership Act for unmarried couples. I even lobbied Baptist Ministers to support this act, showing them how it can benefit everyone.
Answer: Yes. I believe the only criteria for adoptions are that couples or single adults should be able to provide a loving, nurturing environment for kids to grow up in, and be financially able to provide a stable home for their children. Marriage is not the main concern.
Answer: Yes. I believe it is important to improve the mechanisms for redressing Human Rights violations. I have always been an advocate for civil rights for all. I oppose all discrimination because of sex, sexual preference, race, or age. Job discrimination is especially appalling to me.
Answer: Yes. I believe that individuals who are not only fighting for their lives, but also fighting a discrimination complaint face another injustice when government does not show the necessary sensitivity. They deserve priority.
15. Proposals for establishing a system of vouchers for private schools, whether here or elsewhere around the country, would funnel taxpayer dollars to religious schools controlled by denominations that frequently are aggressively homophobic. Will you oppose any legislation authorizing vouchers for religious schools?
Answer: Yes. I am a strong supporter of public education. Our public schools must be strong and I will work make them stronger. My first elected office was on the D.C. School Board and recently I created legislation that will further strengthen our public schools through increased funding and better management practices.