Leniqua’dominique Jenkins’ – In responses to a WTOP questionnaire, Leniqua’dominique Jenkins, running for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council, laid out a platform built on equity, education, and environmental justice—spanning public safety, youth crime policy, school oversight, housing a
When voters in Washington. D.C. head to the polls in June. one at-large contest is shaping up around how the Council should deliver day-to-day results. Leniqua’dominique Jenkins, a candidate for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council. describes her campaign as built on “the three E’s: equity. education. and environmental justice. ” with detailed proposals spanning public safety. schools. housing. and how residents experience city services.
Jenkins. who is running against Dwight Davis. Oye Owolewa. Candace Tiana Nelson. Dyana Forester. Greg Jackson. Lisa Raymond. Fred Hill and Kevin Chavous. says she brings experience from multiple angles of local governance and community work. She describes having served as a former ANC Commissioner. working as an educator. serving as a Council staffer. leading as a nonprofit leader. and owning a small business. In her questionnaire answers. she says she has drafted legislation. served East of the River communities. and led efforts in education. housing. and public safety. adding that her “global work informs my local advocacy.”.
Her priorities are anchored in those three E’s, which she says would guide her first actions if elected. She defines equity as ensuring every resident—regardless of zip code. income. or background—has access to safe housing. quality healthcare. public safety. and economic opportunity. For education. she calls for investing in schools. supporting teachers. expanding youth programs. and creating pathways to careers and higher education. Environmental justice. in her view. means addressing pollution. illegal dumping. flooding. and climate inequities that she says disproportionately impact underserved communities. while building “a cleaner. healthier. more just city” across all eight wards.
Public safety is a central part of her pitch, but she frames it as inseparable from civil rights. Jenkins says she would push for what she calls a comprehensive public safety strategy that invests in violence prevention. youth opportunities. mental health services. and community-based crisis response alongside effective policing. She also points to specific program areas: expanding violence interruption programs. strengthening school and afterschool investments. supporting returning citizens. and increasing accountability and transparency within MPD.
She argues that the roots of crime must be addressed. naming poverty. housing instability. lack of opportunity. and untreated trauma—especially for young people—while saying “Arrests alone will not create lasting safety.” To judge whether changes work. Jenkins points to outcomes including reductions in violent crime and recidivism. faster emergency response times. increased trust between residents and government. improved school attendance. and greater participation in youth and workforce programs.
She takes on the debate over how to handle youth-involved crime by laying out a framework she says ties prevention. intervention. and accountability together rather than treating them as competing approaches. Jenkins says prevention means investing in young people before they enter the justice system through quality schools. mental health support. recreation programs. mentorship. job training. and safe spaces in every ward. Intervention. she says. means identifying youth at risk early and connecting them with credible messengers. violence interruption programs. family support services. and trauma-informed care. describing many young people involved in violence as “youth in crisis. not disposable.”.
At the same time, she says serious offenses need meaningful accountability, with accountability focused on rehabilitation and reducing repeat offenses while ensuring victims and communities are protected.
On the question of youth curfews. Jenkins says she supports targeted youth curfews only as one limited tool inside a broader public safety strategy. She argues curfews should be data-driven. narrowly tailored. fairly enforced. and paired with safe late-night programming. transportation options. and outreach efforts—so the city isn’t “simply criminalizing young people for being outside.”.
Her education proposal reflects the Council’s role in shaping DC public schools and charter schools through funding and oversight rather than direct day-to-day management. Jenkins says she would use that authority to prioritize smaller class sizes. mental health supports. modern facilities. teacher retention. and expanded afterschool and career-readiness programs. She also says the Council should address inequities between schools and wards by ensuring funding reaches students and communities with the greatest needs. including students with disabilities. English learners. and youth experiencing homelessness.
Oversight would be part of her approach too. She says she would push for stronger accountability measures around academic outcomes. school safety. absenteeism. and how education dollars are spent. and she wants schools to be transparent with families and communities about performance and progress. She also argues for partnerships among schools. families. nonprofits. and local employers so students are prepared for college. careers. entrepreneurship. and civic engagement.
Housing is another major theme. Jenkins says housing in DC must be affordable for working families, seniors, and longtime residents. She supports expanding affordable housing production and preserving existing affordable units, strengthening tenant protections, and increasing pathways to homeownership. She also calls for fully funding the Housing Production Trust Fund. protecting and expanding rent stabilization. supporting first-time homebuyer assistance. and building more deeply affordable housing near transit. jobs. and schools.
For homelessness, Jenkins backs housing-first strategies and wraparound services. She also emphasizes protecting residents from displacement as the city grows. saying she supports responsible. community-driven growth that includes strong tenant protections. anti-displacement measures. local hiring. and investment in neighborhood infrastructure.
She ties those principles to her broader view of city services and accountability—an issue residents often raise around response times. follow-through. and consistency. Jenkins says she would take oversight seriously as “one of my most important responsibilities to residents. ” using hearings. performance reviews. and data-driven audits to identify breakdowns in response times. service delivery. and follow-through. When agencies fall short. she says the Council must ask clear questions. demand corrective action plans. and track whether improvements actually get implemented.
In legislative terms. Jenkins says she would support measures to strengthen transparency. including better public reporting on agency performance. clearer service timelines. and accessible dashboards so residents can track requests and outcomes in real time. She also argues for interagency coordination reforms so services aren’t delayed by bureaucratic silos. She stresses that oversight should be continuous and preventative rather than reactive.
When it comes to budgeting—particularly when money is tight—Jenkins says she would focus on keeping city government reliable and responsive. She argues that residents shouldn’t have to repeatedly report the same issue or wait excessive time for basic services. She says she would use oversight tools to evaluate response times. service quality. and follow-through. requiring corrective action plans. timelines. and public reporting so progress can be tracked. She also supports transparency measures including real-time service tracking. standardized response benchmarks. and public dashboards across all wards. alongside interagency coordination so problems don’t get lost between departments.
Her views on the Council’s relationship with the mayor put collaboration and oversight side by side. Jenkins says the relationship between the Council and the Mayor should be a partnership grounded in accountability and healthy checks and balances. with early collaboration especially during the budget process and major policy development so legislation is practical. funded. and responsive to community needs. But she says the Council must maintain its independent oversight role by regularly reviewing agency performance. holding public hearings. and using data to ensure executive agencies deliver services effectively and equitably across all wards.
She uses a similar framing when addressing Congress’s authority to review and overturn District laws. Jenkins says the Council’s relationship with the Mayor should be grounded in checks and balances. and describes the Council as most effective when it collaborates early on budget and major policy development. At the same time. she says the Council must maintain independent oversight—reviewing agency performance. holding public hearings. and using data to ensure delivery and equity.
Transportation policy also appears as a priority with several concrete targets. Jenkins says improving how people get around DC requires investing in reliable transit. safer streets. and well-maintained infrastructure across all neighborhoods. She says she would prioritize stronger investment and coordination with WMATA to improve Metro and bus reliability. reduce delays. and expand frequent service. “especially in Ward 7. Ward 8. and other underserved areas.” She adds that public transit should be dependable. affordable. and accessible.
She says she would advance Vision Zero through safer streets. including protected bike lanes. better lighting. traffic calming measures. and safer pedestrian crossings near schools. transit stops. and high-crash corridors. She also calls for faster repair of basic infrastructure such as potholes. sidewalks. curb ramps. and bus stops so mobility remains safe and accessible for seniors. people with disabilities. and families. Finally. she supports better coordination between DDOT. WMATA. and public safety agencies to ensure projects are completed efficiently and disruptions are minimized.
On development, Jenkins says growth must balance the needs of people who already live in communities. She says her approach is that residents should have a real voice before decisions are finalized—not after they are already decided. She supports early. transparent community engagement. improving support for ANC input. making zoning and planning processes more accessible. and ensuring meetings and materials are easy for residents to understand and participate in.
She also says development must expand affordable housing. prevent displacement. and include community benefits such as local hiring. small business opportunities. and investments in schools. parks. and infrastructure. She argues for clear and consistent standards so developers know expectations upfront and communities know what they will receive.
Jenkins also directly addresses concerns about DC’s 911 system, including long wait times and delayed emergency response. She says the Council’s role is to provide strong oversight. ensure adequate funding. and demand measurable improvements until residents receive timely. reliable emergency response. She calls the function core public safety and says failures must be treated with urgency.
Her proposals include increased staffing and better working conditions for 911 call takers and dispatchers. such as competitive pay. mental health supports. and retention incentives to reduce burnout and turnover. She also says the city should invest in updated technology so calls are routed efficiently and responders receive accurate. real-time information. She wants performance benchmarks for response times and public reporting so residents can track whether the system improves. and she says persistent delays should trigger mandatory corrective action plans.
She also supports stronger coordination among 911, MPD, fire and EMS, along with community-based emergency response programs so calls are handled by the right responders quickly.
On ethics and accountability at the Council. Jenkins says rebuilding public trust starts with leading by example and strengthening systems that hold all Council members accountable. She says she would support stronger ethics rules, clearer disclosure requirements, and independent enforcement not influenced by politics or personalities. She also calls for transparency the public can understand through open data on lobbying. contracting. and financial disclosures. as well as timely reporting when issues arise.
When ethical standards are violated. Jenkins says there must be real consequences. including swift. transparent investigations. public findings. and penalties consistently enforced—up to and including censure or removal when warranted. She also points to a culture shift she says should prioritize integrity over convenience or relationships. along with ongoing ethics training and clearer guidance.
As an at-large member. Jenkins says she would make decisions with a citywide lens while staying closely connected to the distinct needs of neighborhoods across all eight wards. She argues that citywide issues like housing affordability. public safety. transportation. education. and economic opportunity must be handled so no community is left behind. and she says she would focus on equity in how resources are distributed so historically underserved neighborhoods get the investment and attention they deserve.
She also says at-large members have a unique responsibility to focus on system-wide challenges cutting across ward lines—agency performance. budget fairness. transportation networks. public safety strategy. and environmental justice—because those areas require coordination. oversight. and long-term planning.
In a closing question about what makes DC feel like home. Jenkins points to everyday moments of community—neighbors gathering at local schools. recreation centers. and block events—describing the connection. resilience. and pride she sees in those moments. When asked something voters would never learn from her résumé or campaign website. Jenkins said what voters may not see is how deeply personal the work is for her. saying she has “experienced the impact of systems that don’t always respond the way they should. ” and that she leads with listening first. showing up consistently in service to the community.
Leniqua’dominique Jenkins D.C. Council at-large WTOP questionnaire public safety youth curfew DC 911 system MPD WMATA Vision Zero housing affordability Housing Production Trust Fund ethics and accountability