Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter
July 14, 2023

• My office is still conducting a survey (Public Safety Poll) to get a sense of Ward 5 neighbors' sentiments around public safety right now. It's very brief, and will help me in my work representing your priorities well on the Council. Click here to share your thoughts!
• MPD announced the arrest of a suspect connected to a string of robberies, including multiple robberies at the corner market at 1st and U St NW in Bloomingdale.
• MPD also announced the arrest of the suspect in the tragic murder that occurred on Catholic University's campus last Wednesday morning (July 5). My team is looking into how this suspect fell through the cracks of our justice system due to his previous convictions.
• Detectives from MPD's Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in the 1700 block of North Capitol Street NE. They're currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099 or send an anonymous tip by sending a text message to 50411.
• The Council passed multiple emergency bills on public safety on Tuesday, including one on MPD's vehicular chase policies, one regarding the Office of Unified Communications and transparency on their performance with 911 calls, and a bill targeting responses to the recent rise in violent crimes across the District. More information on these bills is available in Kendra's Corner.
   

• Browne Education Campus
• Wheatley Education Campus
• Noyes Elementary School
• Brookland Middle School
• Langdon Elementary School
• Phelps ACE High School
• McKinley Tech (Middle and High School)
• Dunbar High School
   

• Loose batteries (a separate battery recycling program is expected to launch in 2023)
• Appliances, such as electric kettles or toasters
• Light bulbs
• Computer cords or wires that are not connected to a computer
• CDs or VCR tapes
• Loose ink and toner cartridges

Reverse Logistics Group is excited to announce they are hosting several free e-waste collection events throughout the District in 2023. The events are open to District residents, small businesses, and small non-profits to drop off unwanted electronics for recycling at their collection vehicle. In Ward 5, the event will be held on July 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, at Catholic University in the O'Boyle Hall parking lot (Harewood Rd NE and Fort Slemmer Dr). Accepted items include: televisions, computers, printers, cable boxes, and more. For a full list of events and accepted items, visit here. Check out their website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Join them in cleaning out and recycling unwanted electronics.
 

• In-person: Woodridge Neighborhood Library (1801 Hamlin St NE)
• Virtual: A join link will be sent after you register

• Expert safety advisor
• Focused on preventing traffic fatalities & major injuries
• Responsible for execution of the Vision Zero initiative

In 2013, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Office of Planning released Sustainable DC, the District's plan to become the healthiest, greenest, most livable city for all residents. The original plan was updated to Sustainable DC 2.0 in 2019. It is now due for its next update. Since 2019, there has been a renewed reckoning with racial injustice as well as an increase in resources on how to assess impact on racial equity. The DOEE's goal is to produce an updated version of Sustainable DC that will better advance racial equity, economic justice, and climate justice. This summer, the DOEE is seeking feedback through an online survey, available in English and Spanish, designed to help them understand which priority areas they should carry forward in the updated plan. Complete the survey here.
 

• Closes for comment on July 26: Close 3rd St NW between Shepherd St NW & Rock Creek Church Rd NW - Read and comment here
   
• Closes for comment on August 3: New York Ave and Bladensburg Rd NE Safety Project - Read and comment here
   
• Closes for comment on August 19: Installation of all-way stop control at 18th St and Bryant St NE - Read and comment here
   

This week, my team attended the Eckington Civic Association and ANC 5C meetings. Here's a brief recap: 

• Eckington Civic Association (July 10 at 7:00 p.m.): 
  • Residents shared concerns about traffic safety and litter in the neighborhood. My team shared that our office has engaged DDOT and DPW on these issues and continues to work with these agencies to implement permanent solutions. My team also shared a preview of the July 11 Legislative meeting (which Kendra, my office's Legislative Director, gives a full recap of below).
• ANC 5C (July 12 at 6:30 p.m.): 
  • My team shared updates on the upcoming Fort Lincoln Campus Community Meeting. Neighbors and ANC Commissioners continued to share frustration regarding the status of the project. We also heard from DDOT regarding the Bladensburg Road Multimodal Safety and Access Study.

• 5A & 5C: Carlos McKnight, cmcknight@dccouncil.gov
• 5B & 5D: Oliver Stoute, ostoute@dccouncil.gov
• 5E & 5F: Sam Bonar, sbonar@dccouncil.gov

On Tuesday, July 11 at the Committee of the Whole Meeting, the Council voted to approve:  

• The Electric Bicycle Rebate Program Act that Councilmember Parker co-introduced. It provides rebates and vouchers between $75 - $2,000 for DC residents to buy electric bikes, electric cargo bikes, e-bike accessories such as bike locks, batteries, and accessories to support a disability, and e-bike annual maintenance. Half of the rebates and vouchers are for residents enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or the Healthcare Alliance, and get double the allowable amounts. (Referred to as “Preferred” in chart below.)
  • Residents that purchase through an authorized retailer can reduce the up-front purchase price, and the District will pay the rebate directly to the retailer.  
  • The bill also authorizes the Mayor to issues grants to hire and train new workers to sell and repair bikes in shops in Wards 7 and 8.  

• The Fairness in Renting Clarification Act that Councilmember Parker co-introduced clarifies the costs and fees associated with securing housing. It prevents housing providers from charging prospective tenants both application fees and separate processing fees. They can charge either an application fee or a processing fee, but not both. Processing fees are also limited to $50 and adjusted yearly for inflation.
  • The bill will also require housing providers to give 60 days' notice instead of 30 days’ notice for potential rent increases to create predictability in rental payments, and to give tenants more time to search for new housing if the rent is no longer affordable. Also, the amount of time a tenant has to decide to accept the rent increase or vacate the unit increases from 15 to 30 days to provide notice to the housing provider. 

• The Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency Act introduced by Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chair Pinto. Councilmembers Janeese Lewis-George, Charles Allen, and Robert White introduced amendments. Allen and R. White's amendments were adopted, and the Council voted 12-1 to approve the emergency bill. See the email Councilmember Parker sent regarding the bill and his views. 

• The Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Clarification Emergency Act, which was passed by the Council unanimously. It clarifies that MPD can indeed pursue people, within limits, suspected of committing a crime where it poses an imminent threat to public safety, and pursuit is necessary to mitigate the risk of injury to innocent people. 

• The Sexual Harassment Investigation Review Emergency Act, which was also passed unanimously, creating an independent review of the complaints of sexual harassment and violations of former Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Chief of Staff to the Mayor John Falcicchio. It directs the Inspector General for the District of Columbia to hire and direct independent counsel to investigate those complaints along with hiring and promotion practices, workplace culture, and allegations of retaliation against complainants. Additionally, there’s directives to: 
  • Review and make recommendations on the District Government’s sexual harassment complaint and investigation procedures; 
  • Provide the findings and recommendations to the Mayor and Council within 90 days; and 
  • Additional formal or informal complaints related to Falcicchio's harassment shall be investigated by independent counsel. 

• The Middle School Career Exploration Pilot, which Councilmember Parker co-introduced, requiring the Department of Employment Services (DOES) to create a summer career exploration pilot program for middle school youth 9-13 years old. They’d work on occupational skills, academic enrichment, life skills, career exploration, work readiness etc. Students would get an incentive to participate. 

Here's a recap of other hearings this week: 

• At the Committee on Health's hearing on Thursday, most witnesses testified in favor of the Pathways to Behavioral Health Degrees Act, which would increase the number of behavioral health professionals in the District by establishing a Master’s of Social Work degree pathway and scholarship for DC residents pursuing these degrees at the University of District of Columbia.  Financial assistance would include tuition at UDC, books and supplies, and a monthly stipend to be used toward living expenses and transportation for participants pursuing this master’s degrees at UDC. 

• Also on Thursday, at the Committee of the Whole's hearing on several street designation bills, including 7 that Councilmember Parker introduced in February at the end of Black History Month, we heard from several Ward 5 neighbors, community leaders, and family members of the individuals honored in the designations in support of the bills. Thank you to all of those that testified! Read some of the highlights of testimonies shared here. You can still submit written testimony here before the record closes at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday July 27.

• Thursday ended with the Committee on Facilities and Family Services' public roundtable on the nomination of the Department of General Services Acting Director Delano Hunter. Witnesses and Councilmembers expressed concerns about the state of schools, the work order system, pests and rodents, slow to no compliance with the Building Energy Performance Standards, and overall accountability. 

Metro is open for business and looking to expand its regional opportunities and partnerships. With more than 18,000 purchase orders awarded annually, qualified vendors support a wide range of departments, including information technology, construction, facility maintenance, real estate, and inventory for day-to-day operations. Companies interested in doing business with Metro are invited to register now to attend Metro’s Procurement Fair, Tuesday, August 15. The event will give business leaders an opportunity to meet with Metro’s procurement team, network with other vendors and government contractors, and attend workshops geared toward business growth and expansion.
 

• Receiving a free home weatherization item to save energy
• Using the Summer Ready DC checklists to prepare their home for storm-related emergencies
• Signing up for utility assistance programs to reduce their utility bills
• Fighting climate change with clean energy and energy efficiency programs
• Being safe during extreme heat

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) hosts three weekly free veggie giveaways of local, fresh organic produce including kale, collards, lettuce, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, herbs, flowers, and MORE! They occur May 9 through November 30 (weather permitting). In Ward 5, the weekly giveaway is at the Edgewood Rooftop Farm (at the Edgewood Recreation Center - 301 Franklin St NE) every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• July 12 - Rhode Island Ave, Woodridge
• July 19 - Upper Bladensburg Rd
• July 26 - Rhode Island Ave, Woodridge
• August 2 - Upper Bladensburg Rd
• August 9 - Rhode Island Ave, Bryant St

• Series of DC Council Bills Aims to Get Dangerous Drivers Off the Road Faster (DCist)
• What's Inside DC's Emergency Public Safety Bill (Axios DC)
• Metro Leaders Weigh Costly Expansion, Pointing to Region's Growth (WaPo)
• REI's New Effort to Close The 'Nature Gap' Launches in Anacostia Park (DCist)
• DC Council Orders Outside Investigation into Bowser's Ex-Aide (WaPo)
• Two Adults Rushed to Hospital After Nearly Drowning at NE DC Pool (WUSA9)
• House Republicans Advance Bills Targeting DC Traffic Cameras, Abortion, Elections, and Gun Laws (DCist)
• DCPS Schools Gear Up for Curriculum Redesign (Washington Informer)
• Metrorail Leaders Want the System to Grow. What's on the Table? (GGWash)
• DCHA Taps Consultant Dorian Jenkins as New Interim Director (DCist)
• Your Guide to MLS All-Star Game Watch Parties and Events Around DC (Washingtonian)
• Experience New Blooms at DC's Lotus and Water Lily Festival (Axios DC)

• Free Meals for Youth and Children 18 & Under All Summer Long
• Ward 5 Public Safety Poll
• Fort Lincoln Campus Improvement Project Meeting - July 18
• DPR Movie Nights
• DPR Late Night Hype/Late Night Drip

As always, we invite you to use this form to provide feedback on how we're doing. We'd love to hear from you anytime. 

Yours in service and community, 

Zachary

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