WASHINGTON — DC Mayor Muriel Bower is now agreeing to fund increases to SNAP benefits to feed thousands of DC families. It was a refusal that nearly landed her in court. The mayor answered questions about her change of course during her first public appearance in 2024.
Mayor Bowser signed the bill, Give SNAP a Raise, into law but now said Thursday it was a mistake.
Her second thoughts on the signed law almost sent Bowser to court. The fight started to heat up when the City Council announced that they were considering taking legal action against the mayor's office. It's over the refusal to free up an additional $39 million for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Council approved the money in 2023, but a few weeks ago Mayor Bowser said it could be better used on other assistance programs.
"I shouldn't have," admitted Bowser. “It was based on if new money shows up so it wasn't something...that I should have agreed to and I won't in the future.”
The 9-month increase to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will help 140,000 residents put food on the table including Lark Yasmin and her family. But the Mayor's concession comes with reservation.
“I really haven't changed my mind; I continue to be concerned about a budget maneuver that I think is not a good idea. But the council indicated, by saying that they would sue us, that they're not interested in talking about alternatives,” said Bowser. “So if they're not interested in talking about alternatives we have to move forward with that bad idea.”
She also said that the Department of Human Services (DHS) would be moving ahead with the increase to SNAP benefits. The estimated change of $30 would only last until September of this year, Bowser said, before it would go back to normal.
Protestors confronted Mayor Bowser about her refusal on Monday, but it isn't the first time. In late December, "The Grinch Who Stole SNAP," was projected onto The John Wilson Building, addressing the mayor.
"It's Grinchy to make cuts to housing, shelter, behavioral health care, & food (SNAP), while offering $500 million to billionaire sports team owners," the Fair Budget Coalition DC stated in a X post about the projection.
Late Wednesday night, Department of Human Services Director Laura Zeilinger issued a statement saying she advised the mayor against giving SNAP a raise instead of prioritizing other programs.
“Everything goes through me, I’m the mayor,” said Bowser, “but I’m always going to back up my directors.”
WUSA9 to DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson who issued this statement:
“It’s time to move on to other pressing issues that we have. I appreciate that the mayor saw the legal arguments and has decided to move forward. We are pleased that we’re able to help families, children, and seniors with enhanced food stamp benefits. However small the increase it makes a difference, and we know the importance of food and good nutrition especially for children and their ability to learn in school.”
Councilmember At-large Robert White who ran for Mayor added:
"The mayor told the Council that she was not going to follow the law and increase SNAP. That's not a negotiation, it’s a talking point. I think it’s wrong to play messaging games when people are struggling to put food on the table. And I disagree with the mayor that helping residents afford to eat is a mistake."
If the Council had pursued legal action against Bowser, it would have been the first time in a decade since they sued a mayor for what they say is a violation of law.
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