Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
We kicked off the holiday season this week with our annual Ward 5 Holiday Turkey Giveaway, and it was nothing short of amazing. I am deeply grateful for our District agency partners—the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DC Housing Authority (DCHA)—as well as the generosity of our faith community partners—Union Wesley AME Zion Church, Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church, Grace Mosaic, and New Samaritan Baptist Church—and the humbling service of dozens of neighbors who volunteered to distribute more than 350 turkeys across every neighborhood in Ward 5.
I also want to give special thanks to the team at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, especially the team lead, Al, and to Giant grocery store for helping get all the turkeys to our distribution hub. Wednesday was truly a team effort and a beautiful coordination of many moving parts.
If you are still in need ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and were unable to get a turkey through our distribution, DPR is holding a Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway tomorrow in Ward 5 at the New York Ave Recreation Center from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. You can learn more in the Team Zachary section of the newsletter below.
We’re now looking ahead to the Ward 5 Holiday Party on December 19 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Dock5 in Union Market (1309 5th St NE). Mark your calendar and make plans to join us! It will be a joyful time of music, food, and holiday cheer. We’re asking neighbors to please bring an unwrapped, unopened gift to contribute to our holiday toy drive. This year’s Ward 5 Awards Ceremony will also take place at the Ward 5 Holiday Party, and the nomination form is now open! Do you know a remarkable neighbor who goes above and beyond to help build healthy communities in Ward 5? Nominate them for an award! We look forward to celebrating the winners, and the holiday season, together on Thursday, December 19. The nomination form will close on December 13.
As we near the end of 2024, many neighbors are keeping an eye on federal legislation that would give the District greater control over the old RFK Stadium site. If the bill doesn’t pass before the end of 2024, it could be years before we have another opportunity. This past week, the legislation reached an important milestone as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted it out of committee with “broad bipartisan support.” I am hopeful that the bill will come before the full Senate for a vote before the end of session. While the merits of how the site could be used will be debated for some time, having more autonomy over RFK Stadium is a clear win for all Washingtonians. If we can find a way that doesn’t leave District taxpayers footing the bill to bring the Commanders back to DC, we should absolutely explore it—along with building more affordable housing and transforming the existing metro hub.
