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Friend,
Happy May! It feels like spring has finally sprung in Ward 6, and
I've been lucky to make it to some great outdoor neighborhood events
in the last few weeks like rebuilding
the beds in the Hopkins Community Garden, biking
to school with Ward 6 students, celebrating
the winners of a chess tournament in Eastern Market Metro Park,
and more.
At the Council, things are getting busy. Last week, the Council
passed my emergency bill to strengthen protections from exorbitant
delivery fees that are impacting our local restaurants, drivers, and
customers, and I also introduced
a permanent bill to support the recovery of our local businesses
and help address a number of challenges they've shared with me. We
also had a thirteen-hour budget work session ahead of next week's
first vote, and that was only through Wednesday! Plenty more details
and updates below, so let's get to it.
Quick Links: Gas to Electric | Public Safety | Restaurant Help | Thank a
Teacher | Ward 6 Budget | Metro For DC | Better Bus
Proposal Released | DDOT Parking | School Boundaries | Youth
Smoking | Penn Ave SE | Bike to Work Day | Spray
Parks | Unity Walk & Music | Anacostia River Festival | Truck
Touch | Kingman Fishing
More and more DC residents want to go electric at home. Let's make
it easy and affordable to do so.
On Monday evening, I
joined residents in River Terrace and Deanwood in Ward
7 to talk about replacing old fossil
fuel burning appliances with cleaner and more efficient electric ones.
And no, we're not looking to take away anyone's gas stove out of their
kitchen. But we do want to help people make the jump to electric to
improve their health outcomes, improve indoor air quality, and
transition away from fossil fuels. The time is now.
Residents in River Terrace and Deanwood have a long history
of fighting environmental injustice, and the Washington Interfaith
Network and Sierra Club DC have been supporting them with their
organizing. The event was ahead of the public hearing for my bill,
the Healthy
Homes and Residential Electrification Amendment Act of 2023, which
will leverage both federal and local dollars to make it affordable and
realistic for households to transition to electric appliances,
including home heating, water heaters, and stoves. I’ve also
included funding for a pilot program to help River Terrace and
Deanwood neighbors make the switch in the upcoming budget, starting in
October. Check out coverage from NBC
4 and CBS
9.
The
hearing on Tuesday went all day, as we heard from more than 80
public witnesses who testified in support of the bill. Electrification
is a matter of racial, economic, environmental, and health justice.
The percent of household income spent on energy costs to run homes on
fossil fuels is nearly three times higher for low- and moderate-income
residents, compared to wealthier households. And most programs to
support household electrification come in the form of tax credits that
require first fronting the costs, then waiting a year to see the tax
benefit. This isn't something many lower-income households can afford
to do. The legislation will also reduce health
disparities in the District, as homes with gas stoves have been shown
to have higher asthma rates. Read
my tweet thread for more about why this legislation is so
important.
Public Safety Update
 On Wednesday morning, I joined nearly every leader
from across the city, as well as many of the key agency heads for our
public safety agencies for a public safety summit. It was a
wide-ranging conversation touching on all aspects of public safety and
dealing with the high-level challenges (the future of the District's
Department of Forensic Sciences) and more granular peaks into ongoing
investigations in specific neighborhoods. While we may all push and
pull on each other on what steps to take, the gathering was a good
reminder that public safety is a top priority for everyone and we are
all focused.
Last
week, MPD arrested a suspect they think is responsible for several
armed robbery and carjacking offenses throughout the District,
including two in Ward 6: one on H Street NE and another on 2nd Street
NE. This tracks with the pattern we're seeing of many offenses being
driven by just a small number of people. Similarly, on April 24, MPD
announced the arrest of two 15-year-olds for their suspected role
in a series of incidents across the city, including in Ward 6.
I want to remind anyone who owns a Hyundai or Kia from 2011-2021,
there is a flaw in the key system that is leading a national surge in
thefts of these models. MPD can give you an old-fashioned wheel-lock,
which helps deter thieves. More
here.
 Connecting with H Street Businesses:
On Thursday I walked along part of H Street NE to connect with
business owners and managers on public safety challenges along the
corridor. There's been a spate of overnight break-ins that have
frustrated everyone. A few of our local ANC representatives, MPD
officers, and H Street Main Street joined me for some productive
conversations. One easy step any business can take is using the
District's Private
Security Camera System Incentive Program. This is one of the early
programs I pushed to create in legislation that offsets a lot of the
cost of a camera while facilitating access to it with MPD in the event
of a crime. Rebates are available to both residents and businesses in
DC and have helped MPD close many cases over the years.
Increased Outreach and Presence at Eastern Market Metro
Park: Last week, there was a shooting at 6th and South
Carolina SE in the early evening hours. I've spoken with MPD leaders,
witnesses (including ensuring they were connected with MPD), and
neighbors about this unacceptable incident. I also visited the block
that afternoon. MPD has video evidence that their detectives are
using, and it’s an active investigation.
We don't fully know what led to the shooting, but given our efforts
to ensure Eastern Market Metro Park is a welcoming and safe community
hub for everyone, I want to share where I've been leading to get
better presence and engagement in the park's maintenance and
activation.
Earlier this year, I shared that I had been pushing DC's Department
of Behavioral Health to do more outreach in Eastern Market Metro Park
to engage with, and deter, any substance abuse challenges. I know we
aren't where we want to be yet in terms of creating an environment
welcoming to all and free of drug use, so I've asked for yet another
update on the outreach. The Director told me DBH teams are engaging
every Tuesday and Thursday, now wearing clearly marked vests. This is
in addition to my asks (so far denied) to make the park a Safe Passage
site during school arrival and dismissal, and successful efforts to
program the park with live music and other events. In the budget the
Council is considering right now, I've also identified funding for a
special grant starting in October for dedicated behavioral health
outreach at the park.
Improving the Office of Unified Communications' 911
Operations: I also want to share that I've been pressing
the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) to immediately improve its
operations, following several instances where Ward 6 residents' calls
to 911 went unanswered or were on hold for far too long. Earlier this
week, the Council's Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
advanced a new nominee to run the agency. Based on my experience as
the former Chair of the Committee, I have serious concerns with OUC's
911 operations. You might recall that I forced a change in leadership
for the agency and used our oversight hearings to focus on specific
improvements in management and operations they need. Those concerns
were detailed and confirmed in two different reports from the
Council's Auditor examining the agency's operations -- first
from 2022, and then updated in March
of this year.
I know the agency is trying to hire more call takers and
dispatchers to drive down its high vacancy rate and wait times, and I
like what I've heard from the incoming director about rebuilding the
agency's culture and quality assurance processes, which also means
improving morale and creating career paths for young people interested
in emergency response. I've also asked the new director to share
real-time data with the Council's Judiciary Committee to keep us
apprised of call taking and dispatch times and how they compare to
national standards. A foundational part of our emergency response
system is that when someone needs help, they can call 911 and get
assistance immediately. That's our north star here, and anything less
is unacceptable.
Ward 6 Public Safety Updates
Arrest
made in Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle at 14th and H St, NE
Arrest
made in armed carjacking on 700 7th St., SE and 1110 8th St., SE
(among other offenses)
Arrest
made in 2021 voyeurism incident at 200 5th St., SE
Supporting Our Small Businesses and Restaurants
While it certainly feels like DC has bounced back (and in many ways
we have!), our small businesses are still recovering from the
pandemic. In some cases, that's from debt they took on to keep the
doors open and their staff employed. In other cases, it's because the
post-pandemic restaurant scene is changing, and they're scrambling to
keep up.
In the past two weeks, I've introduced the legislation I mentioned
in my opening comments above. First, I introduced the Helping
Small Businesses Recover and Thrive Amendment Act of 2023 this
week to support our small businesses and restaurants. Read
more in DCist. The bill includes a number of provisions directly
from our Ward 6 restaurants to make it a little easier to do business
in DC. When you shop local and support local, you're reinvesting back
into the community you call home. We need more of our policies and
government to do the same and that's what this legislation is trying
to do.
Second, last Tuesday, the Council unanimously passed my emergency
legislation to protect restaurants that use delivery service apps like
DoorDash or Uber Eats. DCist
also covered the emergency bill. In essence, this was about
protecting our small restaurants in a monopolistic delivery market
dominated by just a few big tech companies. Why now? Because the
Council sunsetted a hard 15% cap on delivery service commission fees
late last year, and these apps quickly started pushing restaurants to
sign on to higher and higher fees. The fees come out of the
restaurant's cut, not your bill (although I'm sure you're feeling the
trickle-down effects). My emergency bill creates guardrails to ensure
restaurants paying for the apps' basic service packages still show up
in searches (the apps could hide them before unless they paid more),
don't have their delivery radiuses reduced, and get some simple
contract transparency on what these higher-fee plans even offer.
Our work isn't done yet, though - because this is an emergency
bill, it can go into effect now, but only for 90 days. The Council's
Committee on Business and Economic Development will be holding a
hearing on restaurant issues later this month and I'll work with my
colleagues to advance these and other measures forward.
Say Thank You to a Teacher!
Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week to all our dedicated
educators! Last week, I got to visit with some fourth graders at
Watkins Elementary and hear firsthand about what's on their minds (and
also field some young constituents' concerns about unpainted speed
bumps and precariously leaning trees!). The students blew me away;
they asked questions about statehood, gun violence, climate change,
police accountability, the death penalty, whether you can sue the
President, and even gas prices! As a school parent myself, I know that
my children's teachers are preparing them to take on the world's
challenges, and Ward 6 is so lucky to have such brilliant educators
and support staff. For my part, I'll keep fighting for better-funded
schools, work-life balance to help more teachers stay in the
profession, and modernized classrooms ready to meet the needs of a
21st century education. I believe this is the first National Teacher
Appreciation Week in several years where the Washington Teachers Union
is working under an active contract -- even though we need to see a
new one shortly. Thanks for everything you do, day in and day out,
educators!
Ward 6 Budget Update
As I mentioned up top, the Council is in the midst of putting the
final touches on the budget -- between this week and next, a lot of
the decisions will be made. We've completed the committee work, and
now the full Council is debating the various proposals ahead of the
first vote next Tuesday. I'll have a more comprehensive breakdown of
everything in the budget after first vote. But here's a quick rundown
of a few items I'm especially excited to see funded:
-
Fully funding the renovation of Rumsey Aquatic
Center, including another $10M to add a second floor for
dedicated space for seniors and additional space on the ground floor
to support Eastern Market vendors, DC makers, and small businesses.
All of this is in addition to a full modernization of the pool itself
-- which is so badly needed. I pushed for this extra funding because
it would be a missed opportunity to not have the facility we need
while we're already making a significant investment in the
renovation.
-
School modernizations advance: Brent, Tyler,
Amidon-Bowen, JO Wilson, and Ludlow-Taylor renovations are all funded
and advancing.
-
A full modernization of Randall Rec Center is coming.
The budget includes $17M to completely overhaul the Randall Rec Center
campus.
-
Live music and more at Eastern Market Metro Park
continues.
-
Penn and Potomac Avenue Circle Safety Re-Design is funded and
moved up. After several years of asking DDOT to put this
project in the pipeline, construction will begin next year to make
this chaotic intersection a lot safer and more welcoming.
- Plenty more to announce!
Metro for DC, Fare-Free Buses Delayed, and What Comes Next
 If you've followed my "Metro
for DC" proposal since I first introduced the bill just one week
before everything shut down in March 2020, you know it's been, well, a
ride -- and one we're still on in the quest to boldly transform the
role public transit plays in our daily lives. So let me catch you
up.
My Metro for DC proposal has always been about improving service
*and* making it either free or very affordable. We need buses and
trains that run on time, run frequently, and move faster - and with
fares that don't break the bank. I've seen plenty of arguments that
this means some sort of trade-off between better service and
affordable service. It's doesn't. We have to - and can - do both.
This debate comes, in part, because last month, the Council's
Committee on Transportation and the Environment - which I chair -
proposed using funding identified by pausing a proposed "K Street
Transitway" project downtown to cover the bulk of the costs for
fare-free buses for all DC WMATA bus trips, plus 12 overnight bus
lines. The Committee paused the K Street project because while it's a
major project we need to do - it's crucial that we do it right. K
Street downtown doesn't work well today, and it needs to get the
design right. Unfortunately, the current DDOT proposal can't be called
a transitway any longer. They're proposal is for a freeway with seven
lanes dedicated to single use vehicles. Yes, I want to see bus
priority lanes in any design that advances, and I want to see them
soon. But we also need to see greater emphasis truly on making it
multi-model and fostering a strong street life. I want to see a design
that makes sense for 2050, not 1950. We have to get this right because
we'll live the consequences of this decision for decades to come. I've
recommended maintaining the planning and design funding in the budget
so that DDOT can keep working with stakeholders to get this project to
a well designed plan for our city's future, not our past, and look
forward to getting this to the place it needs to be so we can move
forward.
In fact, there are at least 41 projects for improved streetscapes
or street safety funded in the budget right now that the Council is
moving forward because they're the right design. But this just isn't
one of them.
Back to fare free buses, WMATA has now asked the Council for a
one-year delay of the proposal to make all Metrobuses fare-free within
the District, just days after the Committee identified about 80% of
the required funding (with the rest to come from the Committee of the
Whole). Now, this was especially frustrating because it was WMATA who
came to me and Chairman Mendelson just last November and pitched
us on the idea of making buses fare-free while also expanding
to 12 overnight buses -- an idea we then incorporated into my Metro
for DC bill the Council passed in December 2022. Fare-free buses
was never in the original proposal because it seemed like a challenge
to implement, but we were assured by WMATA it was actually very
simple. But it's clear now WMATA didn't have their Maryland and
Virginia board members sold on the idea, and for the moment, we can't
advance without a willing partner in the WMATA Board -- even after the
Council held up its end of the deal. And while WMATA has now expressed
that it wants the bus lane components of a K Street project to
advance, their interest is only in the bus lanes, while the Council
has to care about the whole project and how it needs to be designed
for the downtown of tomorrow, not yesterday.
The main reason I proposed a Metro for DC proposal that included a
DC-funded, recurring SmarTrip balance for all DC residents - instead
of fare-free buses - was because that model ensures a focus on service
to earn riders' swipes while also paying for 92% of all riders'
monthly expenses -- here's
more on why the plan makes sense. That being said, I like
fare-free buses, and I was excited when WMATA came to the Council with
the alternative. It's a fast way to make a big, equitable investment
in residents who need the help the most, and it'll also improve
headways. Affordability definitely gets overlooked by transit
advocates too often, but the vast majority of riders don't receive any
kind of employer benefit.
So what now? In the medium-term, I'll continue to push Metro for DC
forward. DC and the entire region need bold vision and a healthy,
improved bus and rail network. In the short-term, I’ll focus on what
the Council can control as we wrap up the budget. I've recommended to
the Chairman (because the budget's now before him) that the Council
put the bulk of the funding my Committee identified right back into
transit and safety improvements, including improving bus service like
the Metro for DC bill proposes, adding new overnight bus lines to
connect residents, businesses, and workers with late night service,
restoring all the Mayor's cuts to the Circulator program (I was able
to restore one year of service to the Eastern Market - L'Enfant line
in Committee), and fully funding our Vision Zero street safety
legislation (funding for this was removed in the Mayor's proposed
budget to balance the overall budget bottom line), and then putting
the rest into our most pressing social safety net needs like emergency
rental assistance and "Access to Justice" funding, which supports
lawyers for those who need them in everything from eviction cases to
domestic violence cases. These two programs saw devastating cuts in
the Mayor's proposed budget, and they both prevent homelessness and
save us from facing more serious issues and costs down the road.
Big ideas take time, and I'm confident we'll see Metro for DC -
maybe including fare-free buses - become part of the District's
economic and transit future.
Related: Red
Line trains are now back to running every 6 minutes for the first
time in a long, long time. And the Yellow
Line has fully re-opened.
Get to Know WMATA's Better Bus Network Project
 Fare-free buses and politics aside, WMATA is in the
midst of a massive effort to redesign its bus route network for the
first time in 50 years across the region that I fully support. Check
out these fascinating tools designed to let residents engage --
whether you ride the bus often, a little, or never. Start here at the
project
overview, then play around in the trip
simulator to see how it would impact your daily life. And if that
all seems a little overwhelming, GGW
has a thorough and accessible write-up here.
The photo to
the right is a screenshot from the high-frequency
routes map. You can find all of the "visionary"
routes here and the 24/7
routes here. Remember, this is all in the draft stages, so it's helpful
to provide feedback. I've already heard from several residents
with questions or concerns about some of the proposed changes. I'm
working to put together a Ward 6 Town Hall with WMATA to present the
changes and get feedback. Stay tuned and we'll announced more on this
soon.
DDOT Parking Permit Update
It hasn't been the smoothest transition, but the District's
Department of Transportation (DDOT) has moved away from its old
visitor parking pass system to a newer system that aims for more
flexibility for residents while trying to minimize some of the abuse
of the old system. They've just rolled out a change that many
residents have been asking for: temporary paper passes that you can
print out and stick in the windshield for a visiting car. The entire
system, now part of ParkDC, does grant folks a lot more flexibility by
registering vehicles within your account and drawing from a sizable
bank of visitor parking hours to use throughout the year.
The Process to Redraw School Boundary Lines is Beginning
If you want to engage with the Office of the State Superintendent
for Education and be involved in the process to update school
boundaries with neighborhoods, join the upcoming virtual town halls to
learn about the process to study and determine how school access
happens. Info
here.
Community Roundtable on Youth Smoking
 The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
is holding a series of roundtable conversations on a new DC law
restricting tobacco and e-cigarette use, including among young people.
I moved the law forward two years ago as Judiciary Committee Chair to
ban flavored tobacco city-wide and limit the sale of e-smoking devices
around young people. Learn more about the issue and what resources are
available to communities who see violations of the law. The Ward 6
meeting is coming up on May 17 at 6 pm.
Penn Ave Streetscape and Parking
We're nearing the finish line for some significant upgrades to
Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (officially the Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Multimodal Corridor Project) with the installation of new bus lanes
during rush hour, including beautiful new permanent bus loading
stations and new bike lanes. The most significant change will be the
trip times for our buses, which move thousands of people daily up and
down the corridor. But they're not quite finished yet, and I've been
hearing a lot of questions (and some frustration) about what DDOT has
installed and how it does, or doesn't, impact travel lanes and
curbside parking. I want to clear up some confusion around the
project. When the bus lanes are officially open, they will be only for
buses only during specific rush hour times and directions (westbound
in the mornings from 7-9:30 am, eastbound in the evening from 4-6:30
pm). Outside of those hours, metered parking will be permitted once
the project is completed. The bike lanes, signage, and finally traffic
signal timing are still underway, but I've urged DDOT to move quickly
so all road users understand the redesign. DDOT must communicate how
this project will work and improve signage so that it's clear to
everyone. The overall project is expected to be completed sometime in
June and as we get more updates from DDOT, we'll work to share those
with you.
Bike to School Day. Bike to Work Day.
Ward 6 has a very strong claim at having the largest and best Bike
& Roll to School Day in the nation -- every year the number of
kids and parents who meet up at Lincoln Park to ride as a group gets
bigger and bigger. And as I've done have since taking office, it was
my pleasure to serve as M.C. for the event to kick off the school day.
Big, big thanks as always to Sandra Moscoso and Suzanne Wells for
organizing and bringing together kids from across the Hill.
And if you've been out of school for a few years, don't fret that
you missed your shot: 2023
Bike to Work Day is next Friday. With more infrastructure and more
bikes (and e-bikes coming online - I funded a new e-bike rebate
program in the budget coming this October!), this might be the year to
finally try your commute out on two wheels. I'll
be stopping by a few different Ward 6 spots including Eastern Market
to say hello that morning -- if you see me, please say hi!
Spray Parks Opening Early!
Exciting news! The Department of Parks and Recreation has announced
that select spray parks will open early for the summer starting on
Monday, May 15th. You can beat the heat at Ward 6's Watkins Spray Park
(420 12th St SE) every day from 12-4pm starting Monday.
See here for the full list of spray parks opening early. The
remaining parks will open on Saturday May 27th.
Related: Registration for DPR summer
programming opens on Tuesday, May 16th for swimming programs, and
Wednesday May 17th for everything else (at noon both days). More
info and the full list of DPR programs here. Reduced rates for are
available for qualifying DC residents - reduced
rates application here. Residents must be approved for reduced
rates by DPR before registering for programs.
Events Coming to a Neighborhood Near You!
Unity Walk with Guerrilla Gardeners, Saturday, May 13 from 5-7
pm
Guerrilla Gardeners of Washington DC is sponsoring a free live
music event to celebrate Mother's Day in Potomac Triangle Park
(Potomac Avenue @ 13th Street SE) on Saturday, May 13 from
5:00pm until 7:00pm. Featured performers include SHUG and
VELVET COVER BAND with DJ LOVE and VIOLINIST ZEE with special guests
NIR, SAL and DANNIE. This concert will be the destination event for
the first in a series of Unity Walks funded by a
grant from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. Residents of the
blocks surrounding GGDC's "One Beautiful Mile" (Virginia Avenue WB
from 3rd Street to 7th SE, along I Street to Potomac Avenue at 13th to
Potomac Circle) are invited to walk along this beautified promenade to
join their neighbors. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Anacostia River Festival Returns May 20!
The Anacostia River Festival is back, sponsored by Building Bridges
Across the River and the National Park Service. This is a free event,
great for families and residents of all ages who enjoy live music,
free fishing, and free canoe rides, and a whole lot more. The 11th
Street Bridge Park is one of the country's most exciting projects, and
they're doing great work to bring communities together on either side
of the Anacostia. All
the info you need for the festival is here.
Truck Touch Returns June 3
Every family's favorite returns on Saturday, June 3: DPW's
Annual Truck Touch event! This is perfect for children and adults of
all ages who want to get close to the big vehicles that handle all our
heavy duty work across the District. The event is at RFK, Parking Lot
8 from 8 am to 1 pm. More
here.
Kingman Island Family Fishing Day is June 10
Join biologists and river enthusiasts for a family fishing day at
Kingman Island on Saturday, June 10, from 1-4 pm. More
info here. Wow! So many great community events!
 Finally, I mentioned it at the top, but my team
spent a morning last week volunteering at the Hopkins Community
Garden, managed by Building
Bridges Across the River. If you get the opportunity, it's a great
place right here in Ward 6 to get your hands dirty. Thanks for having
us, Carrie and JJ!
Charles Allen
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