On Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 3:00 p.m., Councilmember Parker hosted the Ward 5 Monthly Public Safety Call. There was a robust discussion across agencies about school safety, as we welcomed guests from the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice's Safe Passage Program, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT's) Safe Routes to School initiative,…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  Do you know where your food comes from? In our modern era, we have become increasingly disconnected from the farms, people, and systems that help put food on our tables. The pandemic revealed how fragile our food system is, and how important it is to have more food grown here regionally. What's more,…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  "Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities." - R. David Lankes (Director of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina)  If you've been to one of DC Public Library's neighborhood locations or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library,…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  As you may remember from a newsletter I sent back in August, the District is facing a crushing combination of pressures threatening affordable housing. These pressures are not merely "bringing construction of low-income housing to a virtual halt,"they are also jeopardizing existing affordable housing buildings, their current tenants, and the investments that the District has made…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  Ward 5 Day is Sunday! I hope to see you on September 22 at Turkey Thicket from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. to celebrate all the things that make Ward 5 great. There will be a little bit of everything for everyone: food, music, racecars for little ones, a youth entrepreneur fair, a basketball…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  September 17, 2024  Media Contact: Melissa Littlepage | mlittlepage@dccouncil.gov | 771-333-9834  WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to dissolve the Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs, chaired by Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, following federal charges against Councilmember White. Subsequently, two new sub-committees were created:…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  Ward 5 Week is just around the corner and there are lots of events scheduled where you can connect with neighbors and celebrate all the things that make Ward 5 great. Check out the full line-up below and make plans to join us! It will all start on Monday morning with the Street Designation Ceremony for William…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  At the beginning of the week, DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced a joint lawsuit against three federally licensed gun dealers for illegally selling dozens of firearms to a straw purchaser who then trafficked the weapons, mainly into the District. These firearms showed up at several DC crime scenes, including one in Ward 5. I…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  On Monday, the District will celebrate Labor Day. The holiday is a reminder of the power of workers coming together and organizing for labor rights, better working conditions, equitable pay, and more. If you plan to enjoy this long weekend, thank a union! Last year, I joined the picket line with…