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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:  

• October 5 - MBT Resurfacing Project Work Begins
• October 6 - DHCD Workshop on TOPA and RENTAL Act
• October 7 - ANC 5D Safety and Mobility Study Meeting with DDOT
• October 7 - Committee on Youth Affairs Public Hearing
• October 9 - DPR Facilities Closed for Professional Development
• October 12 - Indigenous Peoples' Day
• October 17 - Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild Fall Festival
• ...and more!

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. 

In today's edition of the Ward 5 Weekly, you'll also find: 

public safety updates; Notices of Intent modifying traffic/parking requirements in Ward 5; a DHCD workshop on TOPA and the RENTAL Act on October 6; a meeting with DDOT in Trinidad on October 7 to discuss the ANC 5D Safety & Mobility Study; recaps of recent meetings including the Brentwood Rec Center meeting with DPR, Ward 5 Capital Projects Updates meeting with DPR, and the Burroughs ES Modernization meeting with DCPS; a notice that DPR facilities will be closed on October 9; programs to benefit from featuring a Citywide Recruitment and Resource Fair on October 8; and community events including the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild's Fall Festival and DOEE's Kingman Island Friends & Family Day, both on October 17! Keep scrolling for more.

Last Saturday, rain couldn't stop the fun at the Queens Chapel Community Day! This annual celebration of Ward 5's Queens Chapel neighborhood is a memorable time of fellowship and joy, and I had a great time catching up with neighbors.

On Monday, I had a day of meetings (and the Committee of the Whole's Subcommittee on Local Business Development held a public oversight roundtable) before heading to the Greater Brookland Intergenerational Village's fall celebration. A special thanks and shoutout to Wendy Brehm who has recently stepped into leadership at GBIV with grace and vision.

On Tuesday, I joined some of my Council colleagues for a panel discussion with DC charter school leaders about the state of education in the District and what we can do to ensure every school, administrator, teacher, student, and family thrives. 

Tuesday afternoon, my team and I hosted a public safety walk starting in the 1000 block of Taylor St NE alongside community leaders and MPD to address a concerning uptick in break-ins, car thefts, and thefts from autos. Following this walk, we will continue to coordinate with MPD to ensure follow-through on their action steps. My team also discussed plans for another meet-up with neighbors soon to address traffic safety concerns that occur mostly during morning commutes at 10th St and Taylor St NE.

Wednesday was busy in the Wilson building with committee hearings and markups, including the public hearing for the RFK Campus Master Plan. I also participated in a markup in the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, where I voted in support of B26-0243, the Automatic Enrollment for Utility Affordability Programs Act of 2025. This legislation will help ensure that qualifying residents receive the lower utility rates that they are eligible to receive by using information they already provide to the District government.

Yesterday, my team attended the one-year anniversary celebration of the implementation of Eric's ID Law in Maryland. With the Council's recent unanimous vote on DC's version of the law—which I was proud to co-introduce—this bill will soon advance equity and safety for residents with nonapparent disabilities in the District, too. My team was honored to receive a Legislative Leadership Award at the celebration! Thank you to Eric and Linda Carpenter-Grantham for their relentless advocacy for this policy. 

Ahead of the National Capital Planning Commission's meeting about the RFK Campus Master Plan yesterday, I joined my colleagues—Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) and Councilmember Wendell Felder (Ward 7)—in sending a letter to raise concerns about the scale and scope of the RFK Campus parking garages. This is a priority for me and Councilmembers Allen and Felder as Wards 5, 6, and 7 all touch the RFK Campus and are directly impacted by the site's transportation planning. We are urging the Commission to consider alternatives and improvements that better serve residents. You can read the letter here. 

And yesterday morning, I attended the ribbon cutting for the new DC Infrastructure Academy at the historic Spingarn High School campus in Ward 5. It is always exciting to deliver long-awaited projects, and I am proud of the ways we are advancing career opportunities for high-demand industries right here in Ward 5. Now it's time to fill these classrooms and training facilities with students!

Federal Agents in Ward 5

Over the past few months, we have seen a disturbing increase in the number of federal agents in Ward 5, including FBI, HSI, Park Police, and National Guard members. While federal agencies do not and will not answer to Council offices about their activities, I continue to use every tool available to me—introducing and supporting local legislation, visiting Congress to voice dissent, joining neighbors at protests, and escalating issues with our local law enforcement agencies—to push back on federal overreach and unnecessary actions in our communities. 

I have heard from several neighbors with concerns about an incident near 15th and Otis St NE yesterday (Thursday, October 1, 2026) involving a large response of federal agents as well as local law enforcement. What my team and I have learned from MPD at this time is that an individual under the influence of several drugs rammed into multiple law enforcement vehicles before leading officers on a chase. When a vehicle is wielded as a weapon, additional support is needed to keep neighbors safe. I understand residents' concerns about high-speed chases occurring in residential neighborhoods during afternoon commute hours, and have expressed these concerns to MPD. I will keep neighbors updated as more information is shared with my office.

Crime Trends

You can find the latest crime statistics using MPD's Crime Cards here. Toggle the variables at the top of the page to zoom in on your own neighborhood. Public safety remains my top priority and if you ever have any concerns or questions, please reach out to my office directly at ward5contact@dccouncil.gov, 202-724-8028. 

Join the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for several workshops providing guidance and highlight changes to TOPA and the RENTAL Act. Dates, times and info below: 

• September 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Virtual
• October 6, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
  • In-person @ 1909 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
• October 20, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Virtual

Learn more here.

On October 7, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., join the Department of Transportation (DDOT) at the Trinidad Recreation Center (1320 Childress St NE) for a public meeting about the ANC 5D Safety & Mobility Study. This project falls within DDOT’s Neighborhood Safety and Mobility Studies program and will evaluate neighborhood-scale transportation needs and identify quickly implementable recommendations to rapidly improve transportation safety, connectivity, and accessibility. Learn more here. For questions about the meeting, please email: noah.hagen@dc.gov.

Please note that all DPR facilities will be closed on Friday, October 9, 2026 for DPR's Annual Professional Development Day. Regular operations will resume on Saturday, October 10, but remember that facilities will close again in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday, October 12.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is required to give written notice of their intent to modify traffic and/or parking requirements to the Council and affected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs) to allow for a public comment period on the modifications. The following Notices of Intent (NOIs) for Ward 5 are open for comment: 

• Closes for comment on October 9: Installation of Residential Permit Parking Sings in ANC 5D (1100-1199 block of Morse Street NE) - Read and comment here (NOI-26-242-TPA)
• Closes for comment on October 15: Establishing a No Parking Zone at 1933 Montana Avenue NE - Read and comment here (NOI-26-229-TPA)
  
  
• Closes for comment on October 15: Signing for Thru Truck Restrictions in Eckington (at Summit Place and Rhode Island Avenue NE) - Read and comment here (NOI-26-230-TPA)
  
  
• Closes for comment on October 19: Establishing a No Parking Zone at 57 Hanover Place NW - Read and comment here (NOI-26-234-TPA)
  
  
• Closes for comment on October 28: Installation of Residential Permit Parking Sings in ANC 5B (3500-3599 block of 20th Street NE) - Read and comment here (NOI-26-175-TPA)

This past Tuesday, September 29, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) held a Ward-by-Ward Meeting for Ward 5, where they shared the latest on capital projects at parks and recreation centers across the ward. If you weren't able to join the virtual meeting, you can watch a replay here. Here's a quick overview of the latest updates on eight capital projects in Ward 5: 

• Brentwood Recreation Center
  • What: interior renovation
  • Status: design phase
  • Estimated completion: 2027
• Carver Langston Park
  • What: new park construction
  • Status: construction phase
  • Estimated completion: Late 2026
• Crummell Community Center
  • What: new construction/redevelopment
  • Status: construction phase
  • Estimated completion: 2028
• Fort Lincoln Recreation Center
  • What: campus redevelopment
  • Status: construction phase
  • Estimated completion: Summer 2027
• Harry Thomas Recreation Center
  • What: modernization
  • Status: design phase
  • Estimated completion: TBD
• Langdon Park Recreation Center
  • What: redevelopment
  • Status: design phase
  • Estimated completion: Early 2029
• Riggs and South Dakota Park
  • What: new park construction
  • Status: construction phase
  • Estimated completion: Late 2026
• Turkey Thicket Site Improvements
  • What: splash pad resurfacing (done), playground resurfacing (done), ADA upgrades (done), roof replacement (forthcoming)
  • Status: construction phase
  • Estimated completion: Winter 2026/2027

Additionally, DPR has now launched a live capital projects tracker! You can use this link to follow along with all of DPR's capital projects as they progress. 

This week on Tuesday, September 29, DC Public Schools held a community meeting to give updates on the Burroughs Elementary School Modernization Project. Construction is progressing at the site, with recent milestones on the new addition. If you weren't able to join, you can find the presentation here, meeting recording here, and transcript here. Questions? Email the project specialist, Melissa Pegram, at melissa.pegram@k12.dc.gov.

On September 17, 2026, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Department of General Services (DGS) held a community meeting with neighbors to discuss the Brentwood Recreation Center interior renovation. You can view the full presentation here. DPR and DGS plan to hold another community meeting this winter before beginning construction, with completion of the interior renovation slated for Spring 2027.

My team did not attend any ANC or civic association meetings this week. 

Here are the ANC and civic association meetings my team will attend next week:

• Monday, October 5
  • 6:00 p.m.
    • Lamond-Riggs Citizens' Association
      
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • Bates Area Civic Association
    • Stronghold Civic Association
      
      
• Tuesday, October 6
  • 6:30 p.m. 
    • Woodridge Civic Association
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • Fort Lincoln Civic Association
      
      
• Wednesday, October 7
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • North Michigan Park Civic Association
      
      
• Thursday, October 8
  • 7:00 p.m.
    • ANC 5C

You can always view the schedule of upcoming ANC and civic association meetings that my team will attend on my website here. Not sure which ANC is yours? Use this tool to look it up. We're here to help, so email us anytime with questions - ward5contact@dccouncil.gov. Have a need, or want to share important information for ANC and civic association meetings? Get in touch with one of our Constituent Services team members:

• 5A & 5B: Kelley Cislo, kcislo@dccouncil.gov
• 5C & 5D: Andrianna Lovelace, alovelace@dccouncil.gov
• 5E & 5F: Oliver Stoute, ostoute@dccouncil.gov

Next Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Council will hold an Additional Committee of the Whole Meeting and a regularly scheduled Legislative Meeting. Find details on the COW Meeting here, and the Legislative Meeting here.

When a permanent bill is introduced by a Councilmember, a public hearing must be held. This gives the public a chance to weigh in on the bill, and the public gets to hear from government agencies who have some level of involvement with the bill. Once the hearing is held, the assigned Committee then looks at all of the testimony and can make changes to the bill as it goes through the mark-up process with that Committee.

Next week, the following hearings/meetings of note are scheduled:

• Wednesday, October 7
  • 12:00 p.m.
    • Committee on Youth Affairs
      • DYRS' Fifth Rulemaking on the Community Placement of Juvenile Offenders
      • Learn more and sign up to submit testimony here
        
        
• Thursday, October 8
  • 10:00 a.m.
    • Committee on Human Services
      • The Eligibility Determination Process at the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center
      • Learn more and sign up to submit testimony here
  • 10:30 a.m.
    • Committee of the Whole
      • Stuck on the Ground Floor: Out-of-Service Elevators in the District of Columbia's Public Schools
      • Learn more and sign up to submit testimony here
        
        
• Friday, October 9
  • 10:00 a.m.
    • Committee of the Whole
      • Technology in Schools
      • Learn more and sign up to submit testimony here
        

You can always access the full Council calendar by clicking here.

On Wednesday, October 7, the Committee will hold a Public Roundtable on the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services’ Fifth Rulemaking on Community Placements for Juveniles. This meeting offers an opportunity for the public to give comment on these recent regulatory changes that are expected to have drastic impacts on the juvenile placement process. Find more information about this roundtable and sign up to participate here.

Join the DC Development Disabilities Council for the 2026 Employment First Summit on October 7 from 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW). This event provides the opportunity to learn, celebrate successes, share ideas, and build meaningful connections that support inclusive employment and create opportunities for both employers and people with disabilities. Learn more and register here!

Join District agencies and numerous community organizations for a Citywide Recruitment and Resource Fair on October 8 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at St Luke Roman Catholc Church (4923 East Capitol St SE). Register here. 

Join Brandywine Valley SPCA for free pet vaccines including Rabies, FVRCP, and RA2PPV, plus free microchips. Events will take place on Saturday, October 10 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Anacostia Park (1900 Anacostia Dr SE) and October 24 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at King Greenleaf Park (201 N St SW). 

This September and October, Age-Friendly DC invites you to join them for Block-by-Block Walks. These walks will provide the opportunity to hear issues, record the need for repairs, and make DC's streets and sidewalks more useable and inclusive. Interested in leading or participating? Learn more and sign up here. 

DPR Communal Farms Weekly Veggie Giveaways have started back up at locations across the city. From now until November 25, 2026, stop by the below locations on select days each week to get free, locally grown fruits, veggies, and herbs. For more information, including how to volunteer, email joshua.singer@dc.gov.

• Ward 5: Edgewood Rooftop Farm (301 Franklin St NE)
  • Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Ward 7: Lederer Garden (4801 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE)
  • Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Ward 1: Powell Communal Farm (3149 16th St NW)
  • Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Brookland:

FMGG 3rd Annual Fall Festival

October 17 - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

@ 3700 16th St NE

Mark your calendar to join my team at the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild's 3rd Annual Fall Festival! This fun event features pumpkin patches, lamb mowers, a photo booth, and more!

Kingman Island:

Kingman Island Friends & Family Day

October 17 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Join the Department of Energy and Environment for their 6th Annual Kingman Island Friends & Family Day! Explore the beautiful Kingman and Heritage Islands and enjoy lots of fun activities like paddling, boat tours, nature walks, sustainable arts and crafts, a clothing swap, and more. Learn more and register here.

• Following Boycott, DoorDash Drops Support for Anti-DC Bill (City Cast)
  
  
• Amazon Will Pay $8.25 Million Over Slow Delivery in Predominantly Black DC Neighborhoods (Washington Sun)
  
  
• The DC Housing Authority Faces a Major Budget Gap (The 51st)
  
  
• New Database Tracks the Education Outcomes on DC Students (Washington Sun)
  
  
• Proposed 110-Foot Parking Garages Draw Scrutiny at RFK Planning Meeting (WTOP)
  
  
• Tenants and Landlords Offer Input to Improve Housing Conditions in DC (WUSA 9)

The highlight of my week was connecting with neighbors at the Greater Brookland Intergenerational Village's event on Monday. Smiling faces, relationships across lines of difference, and building real connection—that's what healthy communities are all about!

As always, I 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, 

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