As reported by City Administrator Kevin Donahue on Sept. 30, the District government did not renew its contracts for Life Deeds for the 2025 fiscal year. That means that the nonprofit that’s at the center of Ward 8 Democratic D.C. Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery allegations no longer has a working relationship with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services or Child and Family Services Agency.
As for the Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement, Life Deeds secured a 30-day extension on its 2024 fiscal year contract with the agency, but only to facilitate the transition to a new provider.
This Life Deeds debacle is another D.C. government disruption in the wake of White’s summer recess surprise that’s already triggered: a $400,000 purchase for an attorney, chipped at the credibility of violence interruption programs, and threw the Ward 8 D.C. Council general election into a frenzy.
However, the council member has not publicly taken accountability for the challenges his drama is causing to the ward and District.
Despite Councilmember White’s inability to apologize for the alleged misdeeds that were caught on camera, dozens upon dozens of Christian and Islamic clergy prayed over him at an event that Reverend Willie Wilson hosted at Union Temple Baptist Church. The charade continued last week at Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center where the council member declared that he wouldn’t drop out of the general election.
Of course, he already let that be known on Sept. 12 when he rejected a plea deal and entered a not-guilty plea in his federal bribery case. Such a move is true to the council member’s previous actions.
Since the council’s return from summer recess, a committee-less, quasi-staff having Councilmember White hasn’t returned to the John A. Wilson Building. Instead, he tunes into council meetings from home. He speaks every now and again on the virtual dais, but that’s if other council members, who are actually in the room and speaking louder and more confidently, aren’t in the queue to provide comments.
Suffice it to say, Ward 8 is without substantial power on the council. Not only is that situation awkward, but it’s sad and disappointing for a ward on the brink of socioeconomic change that threatens the livelihood of those White purports to love.
However, what’s even more disappointing is our inability as a community to take White to task and let him know how this is, for the most part, his doing.
Life Deeds Contract
DYRS — group homes and credible messenger services are concluding for FY 2024
ONSE — two grants for families of violence victims.. And violence interruption contract subcontract …. Having a 30-day extension into FY 2025 to transition to new provider
CFSA — two grants with life deeds to run the family success centers concluding in FY 2024; running a group home for people needing specialized services