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What is being done about public safety?

I am clear-eyed about the crisis of violence facing the District. You are exhausted by the incessant crime impacting our city, as am I. This update is meant to highlight what is being done and what more needs to be done to curb the violence in our communities.

Season of Gratitude + Monday’s Turkey Giveaway

Dear Ward 5 neighbors, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time to practice conscious gratitude for the many blessings that life brings. Although the year to date has had plenty of trying moments, I am grateful for the small acts of kindness and grace that I witness throughout Ward 5 every…

Holiday Turkey Giveaway and Veterans Day

As the holidays approach, I want to make sure you know about my office’s upcoming Holiday Turkey Giveaway on November 20. I know that these are tough times for many families across the District. We all deserve to have a hearty meal as we celebrate the holidays with loved ones. I invite Ward 5 neighbors…

Disrupting Environmental Racism

Generations of Washingtonians have been the victims of environmental racism. This map from the CDC is an index of cumulative environmental harms including: air pollution, toxic and hazardous sites, health disparities, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and more. My fight for healthy communities is a fight to disrupt the environmental harms perpetrated against neighbors, namely in Wards 5,…

The Power of Our Community

Dear Ward 5 neighbors, This week has been a poignant reminder to me of why I ran for office in Ward 5: to improve the material conditions of neighbors. Regardless of zip code or background, residents deserve a healthy and vibrant shared quality of life. My vision is clear and my commitments have remained steadfast:…

What can we do about DC schools?

Dear Ward 5 neighbors, At the start of this week, I was proud to introduce legislation alongside Chairman Mendelson that will elevate school support as an urgent priority for DC – the School Improvement Amendment Act of 2023. As I shared with the Washington Informer, this legislation is a game-changer for our schools—disrupting inequities that…

Crises at Home and Abroad

This newsletter comes amidst ongoing unrest around the world, and violence in our own city. I continue to keep our Ward 5 Israeli and Palestinian neighbors in my thoughts as I cannot imagine what it is like to watch the unspeakable violence unfold back home or where there are loved ones. I join the international…

911, Traffic Safety, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day

This week, the Council held important hearings on legislation to address traffic safety and public safety. These are two of my top priorities for the District, and I was grateful for the opportunity to hear public testimony and ask questions to foster accountability and transparency in these critical areas. In this newsletter, you can find…

New Fiscal Year, New Opportunities

This Sunday, October 1, marks the beginning of the District’s new fiscal year (2024). What that means for residents is funds become available for new initiatives, new laws go into effect, and programs impacted by a lack of funds can re-open. One such significant program is the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The application portal…

Tomorrow’s Storm, and Supporting Families

Dear Ward 5 neighbors, First, I want to ensure you are prepared for this weekend’s inclement weather. Meteorologists are warning of hazardous conditions as Tropical Storm Ophelia moves up the East Coast, with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour in the DC area tomorrow. Here are a few steps you…