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IN THIS NEWSLETTER: 

• New Episode - Ward 5 Wave Podcast
• Tomorrow - Ward 5 Roll Off Day at North Michigan Park Rec
• July 29 - Fort Lincoln Multi-Agency Blitz
• July 31 - Ward 5 Day at The National Building Museum
• August 4 - Bloomingdale Multi-Agency Blitz
• August 6 - Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Public Safety Walk
• Now until August 14 - Submit Feedback on RFK Draft Master Plan
• Now until September 15 - Council Recess
• September 19 - Ward 5 Day!
• ...and more!

You may have heard rumblings this week that Congress is—yet again—threatening DC's autonomy and dollars. A bill introduced and passed through committee in the House of Representatives would fundamentally undermine our fiscal autonomy, mandating Congressional approval of any changes to fees or taxes in the District. This would complicate even attempts to lower taxes or issue tax abatements for positive development projects. Stunningly, DoorDash—a private company that runs a delivery app enjoying ever-increasing profit margins and benefiting off of District residents and businesses—lobbied Congress in support of this legislation. 

DoorDash says it's because of recent Council action, where we instituted a $0.20 fee per delivery in order to fund critical food access programs, especially for residents East of the River. While my team met with DoorDash to hear their concerns before the Council approved this change and I understand their disagreements, I still believe that a nominal fee to ensure that vulnerable neighbors have food access is a worthy measure. 

But the truth is, this isn't about the Council's actions or the merits of the $0.20 fee. It's about DC Home Rule and our right to self-governance. While DoorDash claims to fully support Home Rule, the truth is simple: you can't have it both ways. Either DoorDash fully supports Home Rule or they are lobbying Congress to undermine our autonomy (and they are). It can't be both. Reasonable people can disagree about policy, but we should all agree that decisions about DC should be made by DC, not Congress. 

Again, the bill introduced in the House (HR 9720) would go much further than just this $0.20 fee. It would make it so that any proposed tax changes or fees—including initiatives like the District Child Tax Credit or tax relief for historic organizations, businesses, and churches—would all be subject to Congress' whims. For 31 years, the District has passed balanced budgets and had clean audits—something the federal government has never managed to do. HR 9720 only threatens to disrupt this record. 

We have yet to see how HR 9720 will fare once it hits the House floor for a vote, and we know it will face an uphill battle if it reaches the Senate. For now, I am clear that any business that doesn't support DC Home Rule is a business that doesn't support District neighbors. And that is unacceptable. 

School Safety

This week, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) made an exciting announcement about the launch of the all-new DC School Safety Office. This office is the direct result of legislation I introduced in my first year as Councilmember, B25-234 - School Safety Enhancement Amendment Act of 2023. As a result of that bill, the DME put together a School Safety Enhancement Committee, which released a 2024 report titled Strengthening School Safety in Washington, DC. Out of the many recommendations put forth in the report, this School Safety Office will now enhance our efforts to support DC school administrators with safety resources and ensure safe learning environments for teachers and students. 

From the DME's press release:

"[The DC School Safety Office is] the District’s first centralized hub for coordinating school safety supports across DC Public Schools (DCPS), Public Charter schools, private and parochial schools. The DC SSO partners with agencies from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ) and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) to help schools prevent crises, respond more effectively when concerns arise, and connect students and families to support before issues escalate.

"More than 40 states have established a statewide school safety office. The DC SSO adapts this national best practice to DC’s unique educational landscape, where dozens of local education agencies (LEAs) and private school systems operate within a compact geographic area and often serve overlapping communities.

"Services currently available through the DC SSO include:

• School Safety Line: Schools can call 211 and ask for the School Safety Office to report non-emergency safety concerns and connect to citywide services and supports through the Department of Child and Family Services’ 211 Warmline.
• Model Standard Operating Procedures: Twenty-four standardized procedures covering topics such as lockdowns, reunification, mandatory reporting, and court-involved youth enrollment are available for schools to adopt and adapt.
• School Safety Inventories: A triennial assessment process that identifies individual school safety needs while also surfacing neighborhood-level trends across school communities. To date, 37 inventories have been completed across four communities, with a goal of assessing 75 to 100 campuses annually on a three-year cycle.
• Community-Based Communication Channels: Real-time, non-emergency coordination between school safety teams, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Safe Passage teams. These channels currently operate in Congress Heights/Bellevue/Washington Highlands and Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant/Park View and will expand to additional communities by the end of School Year 2026-2027.

"By the start of 2026-2027 School Year, the DC SSO will also launch a School Safety Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant, a 24/7 tool built on a vetted, DC-specific knowledge base to help school staff quickly access safety protocols, behavioral health resources, and school safety guidance. Every response will be traceable to a source document uploaded by the DC SSO. The tool reflects the best current use of AI in government: aggregating trusted, publicly available information from multiple sources into a single, easy-to-use platform that helps users quickly find the information they need. The tool does not collect, store, or process personal or student- or school-level data."

It is always encouraging to see legislation deliver results, and I look forward to seeing this new School Safety Office in action. Learn more about the office here.

Rat Abatement Update

In last week's newsletter, I shared data showing that rat abatement service request tickets were taking nearly 5x as long to close out in Ward 5 compared to every other ward in the city. Following conversations with DC Health Director Dr. Bennett, the agency confirmed these reports and shared the following update: 

"After evaluating our own data, we did find that Ward 5 has recently experienced higher response times. This is partially due to the fact that 4.3% of service requests remain open due to short term staffing limitations. 

"DC Health is actively working to mitigate these staffing impacts by pulling additional inspectors, including our designated 'floater' to Ward 5. Given that our data shows an increase in service requests in Ward 5, we have assigned a third inspector to Ward 5 who will begin by the end of the month. The combination of these long and short staffing solutions should return Ward 5 to our District wide average of 2.77 days for resolution. I will be sure to provide additional updates as we implement these solutions."

I want to thank Dr. Bennett and her team at DC Health for their responsiveness and I encourage neighbors to continue flagging issues for my office so that we can keep monitor these rodent abatement efforts. 

Community Meetings and Walks

Council Recess provides a great opportunity for increasing the number of community meetings and events we can host. In recent weeks, my team and I have held meetings in Carver-Langston, Truxton Circle, and Trinidad covering a range of issues like food access, development, public safety, and more. We are continuing these efforts in the coming weeks with multi-agency blitzes in Fort Lincoln and Bloomingdale and a public safety walk along the Metropolitan Branch Trail. Find all the details in the Ward 5 Updates section of the newsletter below, and as I always say: more to come!

Ward 5 Wave Podcast

In this week's episode of the Ward 5 Wave, I share a bit more about what my office will be up to during Council Recess, dig deeper into the conversation about congressional interference and DoorDash, give an update on rat abatement, and celebrate a FY27 budget win for bus routes in Ward 5. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts, or click here!

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

public safety updates including a Public Safety Walk on the Metropolitan Branch Trail on August 6; the next Ward 5 Roll Off Day in North Michigan Park tomorrow; free admission to the National Building Museum and their new PLAYGROUND exhibit for Ward 5 neighbors on July 31; a reminder to submit feedback on the draft RFK Campus Master Plan by August 14; Notices of Intent modifying traffic/parking requirements in Ward 5; ANC and civic association meeting recaps; legislative updates in Neferteria's Nook; programs to benefit from featuring open registration for the DC Senior Games; and community events including special summer evening hours at the U.S. National Arboretum on weekdays through August 28! Keep scrolling for more.

Last Sunday, I stopped by the Woodridge Neighborhood Library's "Grow Together" Community Day. Our DC Public Library locations are more than a place to find a great book—they're places to connect, create, and grow. I had a great time connecting with neighbors (including Bluey!) and seeing all the creative ways our libraries are activated to support our communities. 

Monday and Tuesday were full of meetings across my team and with District agencies, community leaders, and local organizations as we prepare for the fall legislative session. My team and I also continued to organize a series of community events to target constituent concerns like illegal dumping, parking enforcement, building codes, and public safety. 

On Wednesday, I had a number of meetings, including one with student interns from the DC State Board of Education (SBOE). They presented the Student Advisory Committee's SY25-26 Annual Report, detailing the work of the committee over the past year and their recommendations on policy to the SBOE. I also invited them to stay tuned for updates on my Committee on Youth Affairs' work forming a Youth Advisory Council to bolster our city's efforts improving the lives of our young people. 

Yesterday, was again full of meetings and my team continued to work on unpacking into our new office space in Suite 506 of the Wilson Building. We're getting close to being fully settled in and still need to get art on the walls, but our door is open and we continue to welcome visitors.

Today, my team and I hosted a meeting for residents of the Hecht Warehouse along with a walk-through in the Ivy City neighborhood to address a number of concerns with building maintenance, neighborhood safety, and agency responsiveness. This walk-through kicks off a series of visits I will be making to Ward 5 apartment buildings—more to come!

Recent Incidents

My office is tracking MPD's investigation of two shootings that occurred in Ward 5 this week:

• Early on Tuesday, July 21, a juvenile was shot near MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Thankfully, the victim survived and is receiving treatment. I am always grieved by violence in our communities, especially when our young people are involved. My team is working to reach out to the victim's family to provide support, and we will be coordinating with MPD to ensure the case is quickly closed.
  
  
• Another shooting occurred yesterday evening, July 23, in the 2600 block of 12th St NE. Two adult male victims were located with non-life-threatening injuries. This violence is unacceptable, and my team is following up with MPD about their leads in the case. 

Additionally, MPD shared they recently made an arrest in a homicide that occurred in the 1800 block of Irving St NE on July 4, 2026, and they are continuing to investigate a homicide that occurred in the 1400 block of Saratoga Ave NE on July 16, 2026. 

Public Safety Walk on Metropolitan Branch Trail

Following several recent concerns raised by residents regarding safety along the Metropolitan Branch Trail, my office will be hosting a Public Safety Walk with the Eckington Civic Association, ANC 5F commissioners, and MPD on August 6 from 6:00 - 7:15 p.m. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details soon!

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. 

DC residents are encouraged to bring their large, non-hazardous materials for disposal to the next Roll Off Day on July 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center (1333 Emerson St NE). The events are currently organized by the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS) and supported by the Department of Public Works (DPW). Roll Off Days are free to attend. While pre-registration is not required, it is appreciated so that organizers can anticipate attendance. Roll Off Days are for residents of the District of Columbia (DC) only. If you have questions about the Roll Off Days, please call the organizing team at 202-442-8150 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) is now accepting applications for new members for both the Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) and Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC). New member terms will begin in October 2026. Apply by July 29 here.

Residents of Wards 5 and 6 are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to THE PLAYGROUND at the National Building Museum on Friday, July 31, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Come climb, build, explore, and celebrate your neighborhood alongside special guests and community partners. No advanced registration is required. Learn more about THE PLAYGROUND here. See you at The National Building Museum on July 31!

Join my office with ANC 5E commissioners on August 4 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. for a multi-agency blitz, starting in the 2400 block of 1st St NW. We'll tackle issues around illegal dumping, rat abatement, and vacant and blighted buildings. More details soon!

The District recently released a draft master plan for the future RFK campus that includes new housing, parks, improved access to the Anacostia River, retail, and the proposed Commanders stadium, with at least 30% of new homes designated as affordable. The plan reflects community input gathered so far, but additional feedback is sought before the proposal is finalized this fall. Neighbors are encouraged to review the draft plan and share their thoughts during the public comment period to help shape the future of the RFK campus. Residents can submit feedback online here through August 14. The city will also host community meetings and an in-person public hearing on August 1 before finalizing the master plan. 

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 August 20: Installation of Government-Only Parking Zone along the 1500 block of Eckington Place NE - Read and comment here (NOI-26-203-TPA)
  
  
• Closes for comment on August 26: Installation of Crosswalk and Daylighting at Jefferson Street and Jamaica Street NE - Read and comment here (NOI-26-208-PSD)
  • This NOI is in conjunction with a DDOT Sidewalk Gap Project, installing a new sidewalk along Jamaica St NE. Impacted property owners were mailed notices by DDOT in March. Learn more about Sidewalk Gap Projects here. 

This week, my team attended the Bloomingdale Civic Association, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association, ANC 5E, and ANC 5F meetings. Here's a brief recap:

• Bloomingdale Civic Association (July 20 @ 7:00 p.m.):
  • Neighbors held a discussion regarding Phase II of the North Capitol Street Corridor Study. The Scholarship Committee also provided an update on the McMillan Scholarship. Additionally, Commissioner Lewis (5E02) recapped the meeting held by our office last week regarding the potential activation of the Joe Mamo Lot (1600 North Capitol St NW). My team shared updates on a number of items including upcoming events and Ward 5 Day on September 19. 
    
    
• Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association (July 14 at 7:00 p.m.):
  • My team shared information on upcoming events including the Ward 5 Roll Off Day on July 25 and free entry for Ward 5 neighbors at the National Building Museum on July 31. They also highlighted a win for Brookland in the FY27 budget process with new retail grants for 12th St NE. The majority of the meeting time was dedicated to a presentation from Kim Prothro Williams with the Historic Preservation Office about Brookland’s storied streets and homes.  
    
    
• ANC 5E (July 15 at 7:00 p.m.):
  • The commission voted to support the Historic Preservation application for 131 Florida Ave NW, and approved Stronghold Civic Association's grant application for its annual Stronghold block party, which is scheduled to take place on October 3 along Bryant St NE. Additionally, ANC 5E voted in support for the joint grant application from the Hanover Civic and Bates Area Civic Associations for a summer cookout. The commission also voted in favor of a resolution to prioritize traffic safety improvements and the selection of a Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) prioritization for the Seaton Elementary Public School swing space. Finally, the commission voted in favor of adopting a resolution in support of DPW maintaining the public trash can in front of the Dunbar High School athletic field. My team shared a number of updates including upcoming events and Ward 5 Day on September 19.
    
    
• ANC 5F (July 15 at 7:00 p.m.): 
  • The commission heard presentations regarding the future of DC Prep's facilities in Edgewood; solar installations from GRID Alternatives; and initial outreach from DGS and Pepco about construction at the Advanced Technical Center. In the last presentation, DGS disclosed that they expect that the segment of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) between R Street and Randolph Street NE will likely need to be closed for approximately 8 weeks at some point this fall. More details about that closure and plans for a detour will be shared with the community at a future date. My team shared that my office will be conducting a safety walk along the MBT on August 6. My team also shared that I preserved WMATA funding that will support the restoration of D36 bus service to Edgewood Street NE. That restoration is likely to occur sometime this winter, and we will be sure to inform the community once we have a precise date.  

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:

• 5B & 5E: Oliver Stoute, ostoute@dccouncil.gov
• 5A, 5C, & 5D: Andrianna Lovelace, alovelace@dccouncil.gov
• 5F: Anniyah Brown, abrown@dccouncil.gov

Neferteria Brown is Councilmember Parker's Legislative Director. In this section of the newsletter, she gives updates on the Council's legislative meetings, committee hearings, and information about the legislative process. Have questions? You can reach Neferteria at nbrown@dccouncil.gov.

The Council's Summer Recess began on July 15, 2026, which means no regularly scheduled meetings of the Council will be held. This period will last until September 15, 2026. The next Legislative Meeting is scheduled for September 22, 2026.

Registration for the DC Senior Games is open now! The games will take place across several venues from August to November. Participants may qualify for the next National Senior Games in July 2027 in Tulsa, OK. Learn more and register here.

Join the UDC-CARES program youth farm-to-table workshops at the Lamond-Riggs Farmers Market on Fridays. Learn more about times, topics, and how to participate on August 14 here. 

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites arts and humanities professionals, organizations, CAH grantees, and community members to review and provide feedback on its Draft 2026-30 Strategic Plan. You can give feedback at a virtual session on July 29 and through their written comment until July 31. Learn more and weigh in 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.

The High School Internship Program provides work-readiness skills, project-based learning, life skills, leadership development training, and work opportunities for District high school students (grades 9-12), ages 14—21. The goal of the program is to help prepare District youth to successfully transition from high school into postsecondary education, advanced training, unsubsidized employment, or a career in the military. 

• For the youth application for the 2026 - 2027 HSIP Program click here.
• For the host application for the 2026 - 2027 HSIP Program click here.

Learn more about the program and apply by August 1, 2026 here.

Arboretum:
Summer Evening Hours

Weekdays thru August 28 - open 'til 8:00 p.m.
@ U.S. National Arboretum
Enjoy the arboretum during longer summer days with special evening hours. On weekdays, the Arboretum will be open until 8:00 p.m. On Fridays, enjoy a variety of food trucks!

Arboretum:
The Trail Mix: Dirty South Edition

July 25 - 9:30 a.m.
@ Arboretum Community Center (2412 Rand Pl NE)
Join DPR for a 3-mile easy hike with light refreshments, tunes, and community. Learn more here. 

Brentwood:
Community Day and Backpack Giveaway

August 1 - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@ 1251 Saratoga Ave NE
Join Israel Baptist Church and Isle of Patmos Baptist Church for a back-to-school bash, complete with free school supplies and backpacks, music, games, and more. 

Anacostia:
Jazzy Sundays

July 12 - August 30 - 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
@ 1234 Morion Barry Ave SE
Join District agencies, the Anacostia BID, and DCity Smokehouse on Sundays through the summer for live jazz and good vibes. Learn more and register for free tickets here.

Deanwood:
19th Annual Community Day

August 1 - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@ Deanwood Community Center (1350 49th St NE)
Join the Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Federal City Public Service Foundation for their 19th Annual Community Day, complete with free school supplies, live performances, family activities, and more. 

• Calls to Boycott DoorDash are Growing in DC. Here's Why. (WUSA 9)
  
  
• House Committee Advances Bill Limiting DC's Ability to Raise Taxes (NOTUS)
  
  
• Road Deaths Up Sharply in the Nation's Capital, Despite Goal of Reaching Zero (WaPo - free to read with this gift link for 14 days)
  
  
• House GOP is Seeking to Restrict DC from Raising Taxes (WaPo - free to read with this gift link for 14 days)
  
  
• DC Council Approves Increased Funding for Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs (Washington Blade)
  
  
• DC Police Will Add Camera to Park Where Fireworks Shot in Crowd (MSN)
  
  
• Homicide Rates in DC Likely Dropping to Historic Lows Not Seen Since 1900, Report Says (WTOP)
  
  
• Why More of DC's Beloved Streateries are Disappearing (Axios DC)

The highlight of my week was meeting with student interns from the DC State Board of Education. Our young people tackle the District's challenges with optimism and creativity, and I'm inspired to work alongside them for a healthier education system and improved outcomes for all District students.

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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