Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter
May 19, 2023

On Tuesday this week, the Council took its first of two votes on the FY24 budget, bringing us one step closer to deciding how we will allocate DC's nearly $20 billion budget. Our city is in a very strong financial position. Ward 5, specifically, receives funding for an array of much needed projects in this budget—from nearly $11 million for the North Capitol deck over, to $24.7 million for a new Langdon Community Center, to public safety investments, traffic safety investments, and more. 

In the FY24 Budget Overview section below, I get into more detail about the bold investments this budget makes. Take a look! Our next and final vote is May 30. 

I do think this budget could have gone further. On Tuesday, I sought to move amendments to the budget that would have allowed us to fully fund Give SNAP a Raise, No Senior Hungry, additional funds for ERAP, the District Child Tax Credit, and more—all benefiting Ward 5 residents and Washingtonians across our city. Unfortunately, these amendments did not have the support needed to move forward. However, I remain committed to working with my colleagues to explore opportunities for advancing these and other transformative policies. Who is the District's comeback for? I believe it should be for everyday Washingtonians.

Ward 5 won big in this year's budget! Read below about the many investments we were able to secure for our community. 

Targeted Investments in Community Safety: 
As a member of the Housing and Health Committees, I'm proud to have advanced and secured two investments that will provide targeted support in our Edgewood and Trinidad communities.

• $200K in FY24 for improvements to enhance security and cameras at Edgewood Terrace in response to repeated reports of car break-ins and theft.

• $200K in FY24 for a Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Targeted Outreach Pilot targeted on the 1100-1300 blocks of Mount Olivet Road NE in Trinidad to combat rising opiod death rates. 

Progress on Traffic Safety: 
As a member of the Transportation and Environment Committee, I have worked closely with the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) to elevate Ward 5 residents' concerns. I am proud to have secured significant investments in this year's budget that will improve street safety and advance environmental justice in Ward 5. 

• $1 million in FY24 for road safety improvements to slow down dangerous drivers on South Dakota Avenue.

• Fully funded the Arboretum Bridge and Trail, which can proceed to construction in the next two years.

• Received a commitment from the DOEE to install a federally funded air quality monitor in FY24 in the Ward to provide ongoing data about dangerous particulates in our communities. 

Protected Future Capital Funding for Ward 5 Safety Projects:: 
In this budget, we fund big design projects through our capital funding, and I'm proud to have the following major investments that will help advance our community. 

• $11 million to continue developing concepts for the redesign of North Capitol Street in FY25

• $27 million to overhaul the New York Avenue corridor, including the construction of the New York Avenue trail in FYs 26 and 28

• $27 million to overhaul the Bladensburg Avenue corridor in FYs 28 and 29
   
• $50 million in FY27 and 28 to create a new metro entrance at the NoMa Metro Station to improve access to Florida Avenue NE and our Union Market community. 

Investments in Ward 5 Schools, Libraries, Recreation Centers and Programs: 
As a member of the Facilities and Family Services Committee, I work closely with the Department of General Services (DGS), and I'm well aware of the ongoing maintence and facility-upkeep issues at many Ward 5 schools, parks, and recreation centers. I am proud to have secured small capital investments in a number of Ward 5 schools while protecting funding for our community landmarks.

• $181,721 to repair or partially replace the roof of Burroughs Elementary School

• $125,000 to improve the cafeteria bathroom at Langdon Elementary School 

• $100,000 to repair or partially replace the roof of McKinley Tech 

• $50,000 to improve, refresh, or refurbish playground equipment at Burroughs Elementary School

• $50,000 to replace a control module at Noyes Elementary School 

• Funding for FoodPrints, which serves Burroughs and Langley Elementary Schools 

• $15 million in FY24 to complete the new community center at Crummell School

• $24.7 million in FY24 to complete the Langdon Community Center redevelopment 

• $24.7 million in FY 24 and 25 for a new DCPL Branch Library in Edgewood/Eckington 

• $19 million in FY 24 and 25 for the modernization of Harry Thomas Recreation Center 

• $1.9 million in one-time funds to OSSE for a grant to a not-for-profit organization that currently partners with DCPS to integrate farming, cooking, and nutrition education curriculum into core academics 
   
• $8.8 million to the OCFO to restore the funding to implement the Child Wealth Building Act of 2021 to facilitate the growth of generational wealth. This “Baby Bonds” program will provide all eligible children born in D.C. after October 1, 2021 with a government-funded investment account with an annual investment of up to $1,000 until the child is 18 years old 
   
• $57.3 million to DDOT in FY 2024 – FY2026 for capital costs associated with the Safe Streets for Students Amendment Act of 2022, which will improve street safety around DC schools
   
• $5.0 million to DDOT for a redesign of the K Street Transitway. While the Council supports a reimagined K Street, there are concerns that the current vision for the project has not fully accounted for post-pandemic travel trends and was developed in isolation from a comprehensive vision of the District’s downtown. To ensure that the design meets the needs of District residents and visitors, the Council maintained $5 million for the redesign of the project.

• "Ashan M. Benedict is appointed Interim Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Chief Benedict joined MPD as Executive Assistant Chief of Police in early 2021, responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the department. Prior to joining MPD, Chief Benedict served in several leadership roles at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), most recently serving as the Special Agent in Charge in the Washington, DC Field Division. He began his ATF career in 1998 as a special agent assigned to ATF’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force in Washington, DC. As a street agent, he investigated violent drug trafficking organizations, armed robberies of commercial businesses, armed carjackings, gang-related racketeering murders and firearms trafficking offenses. Chief Benedict was involved in ATF’s response and investigation of several notable events and incidents, including the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon; the Beltway Sniper investigation; ATF’s response and support to New Orleans, LA after Hurricane Katrina; the Washington, DC Navy Yard active shooter; the San Bernardino, CA, mass shooting terrorist attack in December 2015 and the mass mailing of pipe bombs in New York City in October 2018." 

  "Please join us in congratulating Chief Benedict as he takes on this leadership role within the Administration. We also thank outgoing Chief Contee for his decades of dedicated service to the District and proving excellence is transferrable."  

• Multimodal Improvement of Mt Olivet Rd NE - Read and comment here
  • This is an important traffic safety improvement from DDOT. The history of crashes along the corridor shows several major injuries and fatal crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and passengers. The change from a four-lane undivided roadway to a three-lane cross-section, otherwise known as a "road diet," will improve safety and reduce crashes by decreasing the number of conflicts along the road.
     
• Installation of All-Way Stop at 19th St and M St NE - Read and comment here
   
• Installation of Residential Permit Parking Signs - Read and comment here
   
• Riggs Rd NE Protected Bike Lanes - Read and comment here

On Thursday, May 25 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host a public meeting to introduce the Florida Avenue NW/NE Bus Priority Project. This meeting is being held to introduce the project to the community and “kickoff” the outreach process. This includes bringing in Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs), residents, and other stakeholder input from the combined ANCs of 1B, 2G, 5E, and 5F to solicit more cohesive feedback along the entire project corridor. This project will propose multi-modal improvements for the Florida Avenue corridor from 9th Street NW to 1st NE in order to enhance transit service and reliability and improve the overall traffic safety in the area. For more information about this project please visit here or contact the project manager Matthew Hendrickson at matthew.hendrickson@dc.gov or 202-673-6813. Meeting information and join link can be accessed here.

• Edgewood Spray Park (301 Franklin St NE)
• Turkey Thicket Spray Park (1100 Michigan Ave NE)

This week, my team attended the Fort Lincoln Civic Association Community Walk, Bloomingdale Civic Association, ANC 5E, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association, Hanover Area Civic Association, ANC 5B, ANC 5C, and Fort Lincoln Civic Association meetings. Here's a brief recap: 

• Fort Lincoln Civic Association Community Walk (May 15 at 6:00 p.m.): ANC Commissioner Anthony Dale (5C01) along with our office, MPD, and members of the Cannon Village Condos community within Fort Lincoln walked the neighborhood. Neighbors shared concerns regarding heightened security and partnership between the Homeowners Association, the Property Management Team, and Private Security. 

• Bloomingdale Civic Association (May 15 at 7:00 p.m.): We discussed the Council's budget vote which was occurring the next day, including how the money for North Capitol will be used to follow through on the feasibility study. I support the deck-over and want to hear from all communities along North Cap about what the best path forward is after we get the results of the study. There was also conversation about Bloomingdale Day, abating rats with dogs and potential dangers to the dogs, and street safety along North Cap.   

• ANC 5E (May 16 at 7:00 p.m.): I shared about the budget vote and responded to Commissioner requests to expedite a pilot for rat proof trash cans, street safety investments, and NY Ave Rec renovations (which were passed as part of the financial plan in the budget). 

• Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association (May 16 at 7:00 p.m.): We joined members of the Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association for a discussion on Public Safety along with MPD Sergeant Keith Byrd of Sector 2 which encompasses the Brookland Neighborhood. MPD gave the community a brief on recent crime events and trends taking place in the area. Our office gave our actions steps for solutions moving forward.

• Hanover Area Civic Association (May 17 at 6:30 p.m.): We reviewed the previous safety walk with MPD 3D and the Citizens Advisory Council which revealed that long-time businesses along North Cap have been successful at building trust and respect with the community and thus haven’t had as many issues with crime. There’s interest in expanding Safe Passage for Dunbar west of New Jersey Ave NW and bringing back Roving Leaders to the area. S.O.M.E. (So Others May Eat) is opening up a community resource hub on North Cap for the whole community to use, including a library, notary, computer hub, theater, and grocery.  

• ANC 5B (May 17 at 7:00 p.m.): Commissioners passed a resolution to ask the Council to not let Automated Traffic Enforcement revenue to go to the general fund. There was a community member who also wants to start an anti-racist policy working group.  

• ANC 5C (May 17 at 7:00 p.m.): DC Water shared with residents about the Lead-Free DC program and how residents can learn more about pipe work within ANC 5C. DC Plug also shared information regarding DDOT and Pepco’s initiative to move service lines underground. FEMS provided and update on the relocation process of Engine 26. The site at Queens Chapel Rd/20th St NE and Evarts St NE is no longer being considered for the relocation of Engine 26.

• Fort Lincoln Civic Association (May 18 at 6:30 p.m.): Commissioner Dale (ANC 5C01) shared concerns about inconsistent responses from DPR and DPW about the status and future of the Theodore R. Hagans Center. Neighbors have been frustrated with these issues as well. Residents also shared concerns about the upkeep of Fort Lincoln Park. 

Read below for this week's upcoming ANC and Civic Association Meetings (review this ANC Locator Map to see which meetings apply to you and email us if you'd like more information on how to attend):

• Monday, May 22—
  • 6:00 p.m.
    • SMD 5C01 Quarterly Social
    • Joint SMD 5A01/5A07 Meeting
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • Edgewood Civic Association
• Tuesday, May 23—
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • ANC 5F
• Wednesday, May 24—
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • Joint SMD 5B06/5C07 Meeting
• Thursday, May 25—
  • 6:45 p.m.
    • ANC 5A

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

• Under the Home Rule Act, contracts over $1 million must be submitted to Council for approval. The Council voted to approve 2 contracts and several purchase orders for DCPS. However, they also expressed deep concern that DCPS has 36 retroactive contacts totaling $269 million dating back to fiscal year 2021 that the Council needs to approve. Without approval of these, vendors could missed payroll and students would lose important services. Next week, the Committee on Public Works and Operations will hold a hearing on bill B25-0069, District of Columbia Public Schools Procurement Authority Amendment Act of 2023, which proposes to take away DCPS’ independent authority for procurement and entering into contracts. This means DCPS would need to go through the Office of Contracting and Procurement. You can sign up to testify at the hearing on May 25 at 10:00 a.m. here.
• The Council also approved the Sense of the Council on the Restoration of Cuban American Relations Resolution of 2023. It states that Council supports the United States ending the economic blockade of Cuba and remove it from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and urges President Bident to take action.  
• The Council also approved appointing the following District agency Directors:  
  • Timothy Spriggs for the Department of Public Works 
  • Colleen Green for the Department of Housing and Community Development 
  • Lindsey Appiah as the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice 
  • Heather McGaffin for the Office of Unified Communications 

Additional Hearings Next Week: 

• The Committee on Transportation and the Environment is holding a Roundtable on Traffic Enforcement in the District, May 23 at 10:30 a.m. The Committee recognizes that in the long-term the best and most equitable way to improve the safety of our roads is to build safer roads, but enforcement of traffic rules will always remain an important part of our Vision Zero policy. Our current enforcement regime needs improvements, and therefore, the Committee convenes this roundtable to explore how to improve traffic enforcement to reverse current road safety trends and get back on track to achieve our Vision Zero goals. Rather than conduct a hearing or roundtable on a single solution, the Committee hopes to hear a broad range of input and proposals that can inform future legislative and policy reforms. Members of the public who were not invited to testify at the hearing are encouraged to submit written statements that will be made part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be emailed to the Committee at cote@dccouncil.gov. Please indicate that you are submitting testimony for this hearing in the subject line of the e-mail. The record will close at the end of the business day on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

• The Committee on Facilities and Families Services is holding a hearing on the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor report called “Multiple Failures Found in Roosevelt High School HVAC System," May 25 at 12:00 p.m. It will also examine the role of Consolidated Maintenance Contractors in school maintenance. We’ve heard from neighbors that several DCPS schools are in disrepair, and many have closed on school days for repairs. Sign up to testify here. 

After the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in 2020, DC Council swiftly took action in June 2020 to pass emergency legislation: 

• Banning DC police from using neck restraints and chokeholds; 
• Requiring the Mayor to release body-worn camera recordings and name of officers who commit officer-involved deaths or use of serious force within 72 hours; 
• Expand Police Complaints Board to include DC residents from each Ward; 
• Grant authority to the Executive Director of the Office of Police Complaints to investigate abuse and misuse of police powers including looking into officers that fail to intervene in or report use of force they observe of another officer including excessive force and misconduct;
• Requiring MPD officers to complete continuing education on: racism and white supremacy, limiting use of force, de-escalation tactics, obtaining consent for police searches, the duty to report and how to report suspected misconduct of another law enforcement officer; 
• And more. 

This week the DC Office of the Attorney General issued an opinion stating this law became final because the 60-day congressional review period ended on April 20, 2023. That means if Congress wanted to take action to disapprove this law, they should’ve done so before that date. You can read the full text of the bill here. According to the OAG's official opinion, while the House of Representatives passed a resolution disapproving the Act on April 19, the period for passing a joint disapproval resolution lapsed without any action by the Senate. Under the Home Rule Act, any disapproval resolution that the Senate might pass at this time would have no legal effect on the validity of the Act in the District.

What is 988, and when should you use it? 
I’ve been seeing these signs around metro stations and wondering what this phone number is. 988 is a 24/7 hotline anyone can dial if they’re having, or know someone who is having, a mental health, substance abuse, or suicidal crisis. People that staff this line are trained crisis counselors and can help with both immediate needs and ongoing care. One of its goals is to divert mental health crisis calls from 911 to 988 to have a mental health specialist instead of law enforcement respond to the crisis.  

The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) also operates a 24-hour mental health hotline, 1-888-793-4357, which can be used for people feeling anxious or depressed or want to talk about their health before it reaches a mental crisis. 

PaintCare is a Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) program that establishes used paint collections through retail drop-off locations, one-day paint drop-off events, door to door pick-up services for households with at least 5 gallons of paint, and large volume pick-up services for anyone with more than 100 gallons of paint. Please visit PaintCare’s website or call (855) 724-6809 to find the nearest paint drop-off location to you or to schedule a pick-up.

Upcoming free paint drop-off event for households & businesses:

• Saturday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., RFK Festival Grounds Lot 8  - Register here

Produce Plus is a farmers market incentive program where participants can get $40 a month to spend at participating farmers markets.  Even if you participated in Produce Plus in 2022, you still need to submit an enrollment form to participate in 2023. There are three ways to enroll:

• Fill out the online form & use “codeDOL23” when enrolling 

• Call the Produce Plus hotline at (202) 888-4834, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday to speak to a representative 

• Sign up at a Produce Plus location (details to be announced) 

What happens after you complete the form? 

• After completing your application, FRESHFARM will let you know if you are in the program for June or if you are placed on a waitlist. 

• Unfortunately, there are a limited number of spots available, but FRESHFARM plans to add more participants starting in August after the initial wave of enrollment. 

• If approved for the program, you will receive your Produce Plus FRESHFARM confirmation within 3 business days via your stated communication preference: phone, email, or text. 

Important Dates 

• May 8: Enrollment opens to the public. 

• May 31: First round of public enrollment closes. 

• June 1: Produce Plus program starts at participating farmers markets across DC and will run until November 30

Questions? Please email produceplus@freshfarm.org or call (202) 888-4834 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday to speak to a representative.

• Provide access to high-quality arts and humanities experiences for all District of Columbia residents.
• Improve quality of life by supporting vibrant community projects within the arts and humanities.
• Strengthen the creative economy through investments in local individuals and organizations.

• Dunbar High School's First Scuba Class Takes Florida Keys Dive (WTOP)
• DC Council Votes for 24-Hour Bus Routes (DCist)
• A New Ballot Initiative Aims to Bring Ranked-Choice Voting to the District (Washington City Paper)
• MPD Officer Charged With Lying About Leaks to Proud Boys (WTOP)
• Bowser Names Interim Police Chief (WaPo)
• Norton Introduces Resolution Calling On Supreme Court to Adopt Ethics Code (Press Release)
• DC Killings of Children Spark Outrage in the City (WaPo)
• Downtown DC's Recovery Hinges On One Word (GGWash)

• Select Spray Parks Open May 15
• DC Region Sees Universal Increase in Homelessness
• Mayor's Public Safety Summit
• Providence Reimagined
• FreshFarm: Produce Plus Program Sign-up
• Florida Ave NW/NE Bus Priority Project Community Meeting May 25

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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