Let’s Go Commanders!

With this past Monday’s snow, my team and I were able to get out and help with shoveling for some of our senior residents. These weather events are an important reminder of the need to come together and care for one another as a community. With more snow forecasted for this weekend, please be careful getting around. If you can, take some time to help a neighbor with their sidewalk or portion of the alley (as DPW does not plow alleyways). And, if you haven’t yet, you can be a snow hero by joining the DC Volunteer Snow Team! If you need assistance with snow removal, you can request it from the DC Volunteer Snow Team here.

My office has been hard at work this week escalating many snow removal needs in public spaces across Ward 5 with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). I know these agencies have been working hard to get roads, trails, and pathways clear. Still, we coordinated throughout the week with DDOT and DPW on areas like Mundo Verde PCS and the pedestrian ramp at the Rhode Island Ave Metro where conditions remained dangerous for several days. We know there are other areas that continue to need attention and we are still escalating these with the responsible agencies.

Please note that the recent winter weather made it unsafe for DPW staff and vehicles to maneuver parts of the city, thus delaying trash and recycling pick-ups. DPW suspended recycling pick-ups for the week, and trash pick-ups have been delayed and are sliding into the weekend. Please continue to hold your recycling until next week. For updates, you can continue to check DPW’s website and social media for updates.

This edition of the Ward 5 Weekly newsletter also includes public safety updates including the next Ward 5 Public Safety Call with guest MPD Chief Smith on January 29, legislative updates from this past Tuesday’s Legislative Meeting on the Council, an info session with HumanitiesDC about their Community Grants on January 13, information about important community meetings including one for the Burroughs Modernization project on January 16, another for the community surrounding Washington Yu Ying’s new Early Years Campus on January 16, and a Meet the Ombudsman event on January 28, details about the Taylor Street Bikeway Open House which has been postponed to February 1, Notices of Intent modifying traffic/parking requirements in Ward 5, a reminder that the My School DC lottery registration is open, news the DC’s Attorney General is suing the federal government for polluting the Anacostia River for 150+ years, programs to benefit from including Open Enrollment with DC HealthLink which continues until January 31, and community events including a Buy Nothing stall at the Trinidad Farmers Market on Sunday!