Dear Ward 5 neighbors,
The work of building healthy communities is multi-faceted. From public safety to public works, from revenue estimates to ribbon cuttings, I remain clear-eyed about what it takes to help Ward 5 thrive. The work accomplished this week is just a snapshot.
Both last week and again this week, my team and I conducted public safety walks alongside ANCs, neighbors, and MPD to address hotspots where we’ve seen concerning upticks in break-ins, car thefts, and thefts from autos. In and around the 1300 block of Webster St NE and the 1000 block of Taylor St NE, we are coordinating with MPD to ensure a robust response to these incidents and strategically targeting resources for neighbors’ safety. While these are small pockets of activity in the larger trend of continued crime decreases for Ward 5, even one incident is one too many.
Also this week, DDOT finally began work addressing the years-old issues with graffiti on the Rhode Island Ave pedestrian bridge between Bryant St Market and the Metro Station. My office has fielded requests from neighbors for years about the graffiti, and through budget action DDOT is now replacing the old panels with new clearvu fencing. Thank you to the DDOT crew for advancing our efforts to beautify Ward 5!
DDOT is also moving forward on another important project: resurfacing a significant portion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. My team has been working with DDOT to get the segment of trail from the Brookland Metro Station to the Fort Totten Transfer Station resurfaced throughout my first term. If you’ve ever been along that portion of the trail, you know it can be a very bumpy ride! I’m excited to share that re-surfacing work will officially begin this coming Monday, October 5 and is anticipated to last for four weeks. While we know there will be some temporary disruptions, we are thrilled that this facility is getting the love it needs.
Moving Ward 5 forward also means investing in the young people who are our future. Just yesterday I was proud to join the ribbon cutting for the new Spingarn Infrastructure Academy, featuring 62,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms and training space to equip District residents with training and career opportunities in the most in-demand industries. This new arm of the DC Infrastructure Academy means delivering on our promise to create real, transformative job opportunities for neighbors. With 95% of DC Infrastructure Academy graduates securing employment, these investments directly shape the trajectory of the District’s economy and the stability of our city’s families.
Next week, the Council will hold a Legislative Meeting on Tuesday, and I’ll continue to fight for the youth who are our future by moving emergency legislation to provide Title I elementary schools and education campuses (like Langley ES in Eckington and Langdon ES in Langdon) with more flexible service options to enhance breakfast participation rates. Recent changes to DC Public Schools’ teaching schedules have created new challenges in serving breakfast to students, unintentionally cutting into important instructional time. By passing this legislation, the Council can provide much needed flexibility that ensures both nutrition and instruction for every District child.
Finally, the latest revenue estimates from the Chief Financial Officer show good news: the District will have roughly $200M in excess revenue for Fiscal Year 2026. $150M of that will go to fill our stabilization fund. These updated estimates show the resiliency of our local economy, even though the financial projection for the entire plan reinforces the need for us to continue to diversify and grow our economy. This is how we move Ward 5 (and all of the District) forward.
P.S. Speaking of revenue, remember when DoorDash decided their own financial interests were more important than the right to self-governance for District residents? Well, it seems they’ve realized that wasn’t such a worthy wager after all. While I appreciate this long-overdue apology, I also know that rebuilding trust takes time. Let this be a lesson for any business benefiting off of District residents: our autonomy is not for sale.
