Dear Ward 5 neighbors, When I write to you at this time next week, it is likely we will know who the next President of the United States will be. In this critically important national election, along with the many local races and ballot measures, I hope you will make your voice heard. Remember, you can…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  Before we dive into this week's newsletter, I want to share that we've heard from several neighbors and businesses about major power outages in Ward 5 this evening. My team is in touch with Pepco, and we've heard there are two primary outages - one in the Eckington area affecting appoximately 175 customers, and another…

Dear Ward 5 neighbors,  This week has been full of opportunities to remember that we are stronger when we tackle challenges together. From public safety, to food insecurity, to the work of the new Subcommittee on Libraries and Youth Affairs, we are coming together to build the healthy communities we deserve.  In August, neighbors in Woodridge…

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:…