CANDIDATE NAME: Jackie Reyes-Yanes

 

Candidate is running for Ward 1 DC Council seat in the June 16, 2026 primary

 

Campaign Contact Information: 

Tony Donaldson Jr., Campaign Manager

Jackie@jackieforward1.com, Tony@jackieforward1.com 

202-413-7832

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GENERAL QUESTIONS:

 

Are you using Fair Elections public financing?

Yes. I am participating in DC’s Fair Elections program because I believe in people powered campaigns and reducing the influence of big money in local government. It allows me to stay focused on listening to residents and building a campaign rooted in community support.

 

Name three changes in DC you are hoping to use a Council position to work toward. What policy, budget, or oversight changes would you support to advance these goals? (roughly 250 words)
 

Ward 1 is my home. I was raised here, I’ve raised my family here, I have the joy of watching my grandchildren grow here, and I am running to be a hands on Councilmember who gets things done.
 

First, I want to stabilize housing and stop displacement. That means real affordable housing. That means strengthening tenant protections, enforcing housing codes, holding bad actor landlords accountable, and ensuring residents can actually get help when agencies are not responding. Policy matters, but so does follow through. Constituent services is a housing stability strategy.
 

Second, I want to improve public safety by making our neighborhoods more walkable, livable, and responsive to residents. Safety starts with clean blocks, working streetlights, safer traffic patterns, reliable trash collection, and a Council office that treats everyday quality of life issues as urgent. When government responds early and consistently, we prevent bigger problems.
 

Third, I want to make universal child care a reality in DC. Families should not have to choose between working and affording quality care. I will push for expanded subsidies, fair wages for child care workers, and a system that treats early childhood education as essential infrastructure.

Across all three priorities, my approach is simple: Be a Councilmember who delivers results.

 

The REACH Act required the mayor and Council to create offices to promote racial equity. How well is it working to encourage the mayor and Council to shape proposals to promote racial equity? Is there anything you would change about how the REACH Act is being implemented?  (roughly 250 words)

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The REACH Act was an important step toward centering racial equity in DC government, but its impact has been uneven. Too often, equity reviews feel disconnected from actual budget and policy decisions, and agencies are not consistently held accountable for results.
 

As a Councilmember, I would work to strengthen implementation by requiring clearer metrics, better data transparency, and real consequences when equity goals are ignored. Equity should shape decisions before they are finalized, not after the fact. I would also push to ensure communities most affected by inequities are meaningfully engaged early in the process.
 

For me, racial equity is not abstract. It shows up in who can stay in their home, who has access to child care, and whose calls to the city get answered. The REACH Act should be a tool to close those gaps. I would work to make sure it is used consistently, seriously, and in a way that produces measurable outcomes.

 

STANDING UP TO CONGRESS/THE PRESIDENT

 

The District is facing increased federal interference and threats to home rule from the current administration and Congress. What would you do, if elected, to preserve DC autonomy and home rule?  (roughly 250 words)

DC residents deserve the right to govern ourselves without interference from elected officials who do not live here and are not accountable to us.

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As a Councilmember, I would actively defend Home Rule by opposing congressional interference, supporting legal challenges when federal actions overstep, and working with regional and national partners to protect DC autonomy. I would also support strengthening local laws that reinforce our ability to govern ourselves, particularly in areas like public safety, immigration, and public health.

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Defending Home Rule also means earning public trust at home. When residents see their local government working for them, our case for autonomy is stronger. I am committed to legislating in a way that reflects the values and priorities of DC residents and standing up for our right to make decisions for our own city.

 

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

 

Housing is a human right. The DC metro area needs more housing and at more affordable levels. In addition, ending long-term homelessness is an important first step in ending all forms of homelessness and housing injustice. DC4D is a member of the following coalitions:Reclaim Rent Control, Green New Deal for Housing, The Way Home campaign, Fair Budget Coalition

 

What steps do you support to create and/or preserve deeply affordable housing, and to stop displacement of long-term Black and brown residents? (roughly 250 words)

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Housing is a human right, and DC must treat it as such.

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I support creating, preserving, and expanding real affordable housing through stronger tenant protections, full funding for legal services, enforcement against speculative practices, and public acquisition of housing when necessary. I also support community land trusts and other models that keep housing permanently affordable.

Preventing displacement requires proactive action. That includes protecting small buildings from predatory purchases, prioritizing long term residents in housing policy, and ensuring renters have real tools to stay in their homes. In Ward 1, rapid change has made these protections especially urgent.

I also believe strong constituent services is essential to housing stability. Residents need a Council office that helps them navigate agencies, resolve violations, and get timely responses when their housing is at risk.

 

What steps do you support to address the end of homelessness in DC? (roughly 250 words)

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Ending homelessness requires a housing first approach paired with strong supportive services.

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I support expanding permanent supportive housing, increasing outreach, and improving coordination between housing, health, and behavioral health agencies. Success should be measured by how many people are stably housed, not by temporary shelter capacity.

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Our focus must be on prevention through eviction defense, rental assistance, and ensuring people exiting institutions do not fall into homelessness. Addressing homelessness requires sustained investment, accountability, and compassion.

 

In 2025, the DC Council scaled back Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) rights, such as ending TOPA for buildings with 2-4 units.  Do you support these changes, and if not, what TOPA rights would you work to restore?

As someone who has worked closely with both tenants and small property owners, I understand the challenges families face in maintaining and passing down their homes. Many owners of two to four unit buildings are longtime residents, not large investors, and often carry the same burdens as big businesses without the same resources.

The intent behind the 2–4 unit TOPA exemption was to provide relief to these family homeowners while continuing to protect tenants in larger buildings. I believe the Council has worked to strike a reasonable balance that supports responsible ownership, housing stability, and neighborhood affordability.

 

COMMUNITY SAFETY

The safest communities are ones where everyone’s needs are met. It is only by broadening our understanding of safety that we will make noticeable and sustainable progress toward a District in which fewer people experience and then perpetrate harm. This work should center on meeting the needs and following the lead of people most at risk of violence. DC4D is part of the Fair Budget Coalition. DC4D supports the policy priorities of the DC Justice Lab and the Police Reform Commission 

 

There is a highly charged debate about community safety. Some say the answer is to invest in more police. Others say we should address the root causes of violence by investing in housing, education and basic needs, as well as alternative approaches, such as violence interruption services. What policies or budget changes will you prioritize for the safety of DC residents? (roughly 250 words)

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Community safety is not an either-or choice between enforcement and prevention. True safety comes from policies that prevent harm before it happens, rather than expanding systems that have historically fueled racial inequity and trauma.

In DC, Black residents are disproportionately arrested, detained, and incarcerated, often for nonviolent issues that would be more effectively addressed through behavioral health services, housing stability, economic support, and community-based intervention. My budget priorities reflect that reality. I support increased investment in violence interruption programs, mental health crisis response teams, youth programming, and housing as core public safety strategies.

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At the same time, accountability matters. I support greater transparency in police discipline to build trust and ensure public confidence. Safety depends on residents believing systems are fair, responsive, and focused on real harm.

I oppose policies that rely on expanding pretrial detention or creating new crimes and harsher penalties. Sweeping more people into jail because they are poor or navigating mental health challenges disrupts families, employment, and housing, and increases the likelihood of future justice system involvement. Research shows that the certainty of timely, meaningful intervention is far more effective than the severity of punishment.

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I also support repassing the Revised Criminal Code Act to modernize outdated laws, clarify sentencing, reduce dangerous inconsistencies, and create a fairer and more effective justice framework. Public safety improves when our policies are rooted in prevention, accountability, and equity, and when resources are aligned with what actually keeps communities safe.

 

The Council has expanded curfews for youth as a way of addressing large gatherings of youth that sometimes get out of hand. Do you support imposing curfews on youth? Why or why not? What else would you do to address these youth behaviors? (roughly 250 words)

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I approach youth curfews the same way I approach any public safety concern. If there is a specific and immediate threat to public safety, limited and targeted tools may be appropriate. However, I do not support broad or blanket youth curfews as a standing policy. They often penalize young people without addressing the underlying causes of behavior and can strain trust between youth, families, and government.

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Instead, I support investing in solutions that prevent these situations in the first place. That includes expanding afterschool and late night programming, creating safe spaces for youth to gather, investing in youth employment and mentorship, and lowering barriers to mental health support. Young people need structure, opportunity, and trusted adults who show up consistently.

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Addressing youth behavior requires engagement, accountability, and support. The goal should be to keep young people safe, connected, and on a positive path, not to criminalize them for being young.

 

Despite the end of the Federal emergency, the Metropolitan Police Department continues to cooperate with ICE and other Federal agents. As a Councilmember, what would you do, if anything, to end this practice? (roughly 250 words)

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As the nation’s capital, Washington, DC must maintain strong working relationships with a range of public safety partners. Coordination is important, especially when it comes to protecting residents, visitors, and critical infrastructure. At the same time, DC is a sanctuary city, and people must feel safe living their daily lives without fear that interacting with local government or law enforcement will put them or their families at risk.

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I oppose MPD cooperation with ICE and federal immigration enforcement. Local policing should focus on community safety, not civil immigration matters. When residents are afraid to call 911, report crimes, or seek help, public safety is weakened for everyone.

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As a Councilmember, I would push for clear prohibitions, strong oversight, and accountability to ensure local agencies are following DC law and policy. I would also work to ensure that our public safety approach builds trust, protects civil rights, and reflects our values as a welcoming city. Safety requires cooperation, and cooperation only works when residents know their city government is on their side.

 

ENVIRONMENT

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Climate change, global warming, and an endangered environment have impacts in every system of existence. Government and corporate greed have systematically and adversely infringed on the sanctity of our planet and our neighbors in vulnerable communities. Mitigating the climate disaster with stringent advocacy is how we care for our communities. DC4D is part of the Green New Deal for Housing coalition and the  Healthy Homes Act coalition.

 

Do you support the "bottle bill" to set up a deposit/return system for beverage bottles, to reduce this major source of pollution? If so, how would you respond to those who call this bill "anti-business" because it puts a new requirement on large retailers? 

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I support the goal of a bottle bill to reduce waste, litter, and pollution, and to improve neighborhood quality of life. Cleaner streets and lower cleanup costs benefit residents and the city as a whole.

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At the same time, I believe it is important to carefully consider implementation, including impacts on small businesses, equity in access to redemption options, and how the program fits with our existing recycling system. Any bottle bill should be designed thoughtfully so it delivers real environmental benefits while remaining practical and fair for residents and businesses alike.

 

Do you support the Healthy Homes Act, which would provide financial assistance to residents with low-incomes to switch to electric appliances? The Healthy Homes Act is meant to be funded by the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund (SETF), but Mayor Bowser and the DC Council have raided this funding for years. Will you work to stop attempts to raid the SETF, and commit to restoring full funding if it is raided?

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Yes, I support the Healthy Homes Act and strongly oppose raiding the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund.

I would work to protect and restore SETF funding so low income residents can transition to electric appliances without bearing the financial burden. Healthy homes should not be a luxury.

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Do you support prohibiting future installations of fossil fuel furnaces and water heaters in DC, in new buildings and as replacements in existing buildings?

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Yes, I support prohibiting future installations of fossil fuel furnaces and water heaters, paired with financial assistance and protections for low income residents.

 

 

ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE

 

Do you support increasing taxes on households with high incomes or tremendous wealth, and on highly profitable corporations?  If so, list the tax policy changes you would support. (See the Just Recovery DC proposals for a racially equitable tax system.) (roughly 250 words)

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My priority is building a balanced DC budget that meets our needs without raising taxes on working families.

I believe we can protect essential services and make key investments by improving oversight, closing loopholes, strengthening enforcement of existing tax laws, and ensuring large profitable corporations are paying what they already owe. We should also evaluate underperforming programs and make smarter long term budget decisions.

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Too often, DC balances its budget by cutting services to vulnerable residents while leaving inefficiencies untouched. I support a more responsible approach that uses existing resources wisely so we do not shift the burden onto families already struggling with the cost of living.

 

Federal budget changes will lead thousands of DC residents to lose Medicaid or SNAP (or both), while local budget changes will eliminate the Alliance health insurance program for 25,000 people and will cut TANF cash assistance to 14,000 poor families with children.  What steps would you take to protect the health and economic security of DC’s most vulnerable residents? (roughly 250 words)

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I would fight to protect access to Medicaid, SNAP, the Alliance program, and TANF.

Budget decisions are moral decisions. I would oppose balancing the budget through cuts that harm children, seniors, and low income families, and I would work to identify responsible alternatives that protect health and economic security.

 

The minimum wage for tipped workers is just $10 an hour and the Council voted this year to cap the tipped wage at 75% of the full minimum wage, overturning the will of voters in I-82 who voted for tipped workers to receive the full minimum wage. Do you support that? If not, what would you advocate for to change it? (roughly 250 words)

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I respect the will of voters and believe tipped workers deserve stability. At the same time, we must ensure small restaurants can survive. I support honoring Initiative 82 while working closely with workers and owners on implementation, enforcement, and targeted relief for small businesses.

 

 

EDUCATION

 

Educational success shouldn’t be defined by the ward we live in. Neighborhood public schools are the foundation of a strong school system and should be protected against privatization. Learning and equity begin at birth, and we should follow student leadership when it comes to school safety and priorities. (DC4D is a member of the Under 3 DC coalition, which issued this Under 3 Coalition FY25 Budget Letter)

 

What would you do to support and expand the Childcare Pay Equity Fund, expand access to subsidized child care, and generally to make child care more affordable?

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I support expanding the Childcare Pay Equity Fund, increasing access to subsidized child care, and ensuring providers are paid fairly and on time. My goal is to move DC toward universal child care, where every family can access affordable, high quality care regardless of income or zip code.

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Universal child care is essential infrastructure for working families and for our economy. When child care is reliable and affordable, parents can work, providers can stay in the field, and children get the strong start they deserve. As a Councilmember, I will focus on expanding capacity, stabilizing the workforce, and using the budget to make universal child care a reality, not just a talking point.

 

DC’s Mayoral Control system has eroded democratic voice in our education system. Are you committed to governance changes that make our system more responsive to teachers, students and parents? What kinds of changes do you support?

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Yes. I support governance changes that strengthen accountability through clear checks and balances in our education system, including restoring meaningful authority to the State Board of Education. The mayor has an important role in ensuring strong schools, but the Council also has a responsibility to provide oversight and set policy, and the school board must have real power to represent community priorities and provide independent accountability.

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Our education system works best when it is rooted in community voice, with parents as leaders, educators supported and respected, and school administrators given the tools they need to serve students well. I believe education governance should elevate collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility so decisions are made with communities, not just for them.

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DCPS has refused to act on Council-mandated funds to support immigrant educators and their path to a green card. Will you hold DCPS accountable to fulfilling this mandate? How?

Yes. I would hold DCPS accountable through oversight hearings, reporting requirements, and budget leverage to ensure mandated funds are used as intended.

 

Youth in DC have put together a set of demands to support youth and student safety, like creating afterschool and late night spaces for youth, investing in violence interruption, investing in youth development programs for career exploration, and lowering barriers to mental health resources. What commitments are you making to support, not penalize, our students?

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I commit to investing in afterschool and late night spaces, youth development and career exploration programs, violence interruption, and accessible mental health services. Students deserve support and opportunity, not punishment or criminalization.