Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  Last year, the Office of Planning began work to fully rewrite the District's Comprehensive Plan for the first time in nearly 20 years. Often called the "Comp Plan," it is a high-level guide that sets a positive, long-term vision for the District through the lens of its physical growth, equity, and change.…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors, I am often reminded that there are some things you can only understand and address when you experience them first-hand. This is true in my office's advocacy for improved bus service in Ward 5, oversight of the District's youth services agencies, in my own personal experience of skyrocketing energy bills, and in response to constituent services needs.  Keep…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  Thousands of District residents are at risk as a number of potential budget cuts threaten to create a storm of crises. The Mayor has shared her intention to make significant cuts to the Child Care Subsidy, slash the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, continue rollbacks of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and we anticipate…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  After weeks of input from you through the Ward 5 Budget Forum, Ward 5 Budget Survey, and countless conversations and meetings held over several months to discuss the District's budget, I sent my FY27 Budget Letter to Mayor Bowser earlier this week. This letter details the priorities I am eyeing as…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  I know there's been a lot of back and forth about the DC tax drama, and I've heard from many of you that it is confusing to keep track of all the developments. Here's a quick timeline of the facts and an update on where things stand (the short version: you can…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  The annual Ward 5 Awards Ceremony is coming up on April 1, but before we get there, we need you to submit nominations! If you haven't yet, please take a moment to think about a remarkable community member who makes Ward 5 a better place. If you know someone who has gone out of their way to…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  The region is facing what is being called one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history with the failure of the Potomac Interceptor in Maryland. Neighbors are rightly concerned about how this will impact our environmental goals and public health. Early this week, the Council received a briefing with the opportunity to ask questions…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  What is the role of government? Some might say it's to ensure there are paved streets. Still others may add that the government's role is to enforce the law, regulate businesses, and pick up trash (more on that below!).  I believe it is those things. But I believe it also to ensure that neighbors'…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  First things first: I'm just as frustrated as you are. The city's response to both snow removal and trash collection has been unacceptable over the past several weeks. I want you to know that my team has worked around the clock for weeks escalating every address and block we know still needs trash…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  It may feel like déjà vu, but Congress is yet again interfering in our local affairs and threatening to upend our budget. On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn DC's decision to separate our local tax code from the federal tax code. The bill now heads to the Senate, where many…