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Friend,
By now, the school year's underway, and the youngest Ward 6-ers are
back in the classroom. My own children are thrilled to be back with
their teachers and friends - and were more than a little exhausted at
the end of their first week! We're also ready to be on the other side
of this stifling heat. Hopefully by the end of this weekend,
temperatures start to feel more like September. In the meantime, stay
cool, and drink plenty of water! As usual, we've got lots of events
and news happening all over the Ward, so let's jump in. If you missed
the last newsletter - which had updates on Rumsey Pool, new
information about DC school test scores, and more - be sure to click
here to catch up.
Quick Links: Public Safety
Update | Hearing on Public Safety
Bills | Hearing on Dangerous Driving
Bills | Pool and Spray Parks Extended | DDOT Director | Back to School
Notes | Upcoming School
Modernizations | EV Charging Production Tour
| DPW Service Updates | DC Library
Survey | H Street Fest | Cap Hill Art Walk | Literary Hill Bookfest | SW Fall Festival | DC State Fair | Vaccine
Clinic for Seniors | Fall Vaccine
Guidance
Public Safety Update
Earlier this week, my team and I joined neighbors
around 13th and D Streets, NE with MPD, the Department of Behavioral
Health, CSOSA (the federal agency responsible for supervised release
of individuals in DC), as well as ANC 6A02 Commissioner Mike Velasquez
and neighbors. It was a productive conversation on steps to take to
improve safety and updates on ongoing cases.
I'm also leading a public safety walk this coming Monday evening at
7:30pm at 12th/13th and D/E Streets, SE near Watkins. We'll be joined
by MPD, the Council Chairman's office, ANC leadership, Community
Connections, and residents, and we'll walk the blocks nearby our
starting location and visit several nearby businesses. All neighbors
are welcome to join.
There are several additional updates to share specific to
Ward 6, but I first want to share the details on two hearings coming
up regarding public safety. First, the public hearing for the
confirmation of MPD's Acting Chief Pamela Smith before the Council.
I've already heard from a few of you with thoughts about the Mayor's
nomination, and I've also sat down with Acting Chief Smith to get to
know her better and hear some of her priorities. The Committee on
Judiciary and Public Safety, chaired by my colleague Councilmember
Brooke Pinto, will hold a public hearing on the Acting Chief's
nomination on Wednesday,
September 27 beginning at 11 am. A public hearing is the best
opportunity for residents to raise specific priorities or concerns
about public safety - ranging from the big picture to the every day.
Click the link above for instructions on how to participate. But if
you can't join (or don't want to) but still want me to know your
thinking on this selection or public safety more broadly, please reach
out.
Second, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety will
hold a hearing
on the District's 911 call center on October 5 at 9:30 am. You've
heard me talk before about the clear need for the call center to
urgently improve its performance and stabilize staffing. I've worked
with the DC Auditor previously as they conducted comprehensive reviews
of management and operations, with specific recommendations issued to
improve the agency. Still, I'm regularly assisting constituents who
find a call dropped, a call taker unprepared to assist, or just no
answer in a time of crisis. Bottom line: I'm very concerned. It
undermines the effectiveness of our entire public safety response and
trust in government when we can't get a dispatch out timely and
accurately. We need to see urgent improvements at our call center, and
I urge any residents who have had a bad or troubling experience
calling 911 to join me at the hearing and share your perspective
as part of the hearing record.
Below, I'm including updates on a few Ward 6 public safety
incidents where MPD has made arrests. Kudos to MPD for its good work.
Swift and certain accountability is a crucial part of deterring the
relatively small number of people who commit most of the
harm.
September Hearing on Two Public Safety
Bills
We need you to testify at the Council! Two bills I introduced this
spring will be part of a public
hearing on September 18 before the Committee on the Judiciary and
Public Safety.
First, a
bill I introduced after a series of break-ins in our commercial
corridors would support small businesses by expanding the existing Private
Security Camera Rebate Program to include rebates for interior
devices like cameras and glass break sensors.
Second, I was proud to work with the D.C.
Forensic Nurse Examiners to introduce legislation to support
survivors of sexual violence. A major issue in successful prosecutions
of sexual assault cases comes from the failure to preserve medical
evidence - also known as "rape kits" - when the survivor doesn't want
to immediately report the crime to the police. The District doesn't
have a protocol for receiving and storing these so-called "anonymous
kits", and that means that if a survivor does come forward in the
future, there may not be the evidence needed to make the case and hold
an offender accountable. If the evidence no longer exists, it also
can't be uploaded into national databases that help connect cases and
identify serial offenders. Read this good write-up in
Washington City Paper.
It's very important that we get community testimony to help move
the bills forward. For the private security camera legislation, we
especially want to hear from H Street and Penn Ave neighbors along our
commercial corridors. To testify, here's
how to register.
Public Hearing on Safe
Streets Legislation
On Wednesday, October 4, I'll be holding a joint
public hearing with my colleague Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, chair
of the Committee on Public Works and Operations, on four bills before
the Council all taking on dangerous driving. This includes my STEER
Act (Strengthening
Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility) which proposes
many new ways the District can hold dangerous drivers accountable - here's
a story about the bill from the Post, and here's the press
release from when the bill was introduced, which runs through the
major provisions. If you feel strongly about making our neighborhood
streets safer, please sign-up
to testify or submit written comments!
Beat the Heat: Select Pools
and Spray Parks Extended to Sept 21
Given the extreme, unseasonable heat that settled
in right as pools were closing for the year around Labor Day, DPR
wisely has extended hours at two public pools and 18 spray parks
across the District until Sept 21. This is going to be our new normal
as summers get hotter and longer - we'll be counting on this kind of
infrastructure not just to help us have fun on a hot day, but to keep
people cool and safe. Find out about pool
hours here and spray
parks here (including Eastern Market and Watkins).
DDOT Director Lott to Step
Down
Director Everett Lott was a collaborative partner, and he built a
strong team that leaves DDOT in good hands until a replacement is
named. I thank him for his years of service to the District. During
his time at DDOT, the agency has added bus lanes, redesigned
intersections to prioritize pedestrians, and expanded and improved
connections in our bike lane network.
As Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment,
I'll be looking for a bold leader in the next director. Not just to
continue DDOT's work to make our streets safer, but to lead with
vision and innovation. To make Vision Zero mean something, by building
safer roads to stop dangerous driving. Someone who can truly make DC a
world-class city of the future. Someone who will take on long-standing
racial inequities in our transportation system with urgency. This is a
time for bold thinking, and I hope to see that ambition in the next
nominee.
First Weeks of School in the
Books
Last week and this week marked the beginning of the school
year for all of our DCPS and DC Public Charter School students and
teachers. And so far, it seems like we're off to a good start. My team
and I have been checking in with our school and parent leadership to
help troubleshoot issues and escalate needed repairs. If there's
something we can help with in your school, let me know. A few
reflections from this week:
- First, we were thrilled to see President
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visit the students at Eliot-Hine!
While Eliot-Hine might now be just over the Ward 6 border after
redistricting, it's a middle school for many Ward 6 families and an
important part of our Ward 6 DCPS feeder pattern. I was proud to help
ensure we had a phenomenal modernization of the school, and it was
ready to shine on day one. It means everything to have the President
spend time at Eliot-Hine with our incredible students. What a
day!
-
My team and I have been keeping in close contact with our
schools through the first weeks, particularly with an eye toward
making sure our buildings are ready. And all in all, I think most
schools seemed to be in a pretty good place. We've got a list from a
few schools we're prioritizing with DGS and DCPS, including multiple
classrooms without A/C, roof repairs, and street safety
issues.
- To include a tip from my constituent services team, if you
happen to have a 311 number associated with your concern, please be
sure to share that as well. It helps us run the problem down more
quickly with our agency counterparts. You can always send any concerns
directly to me, but please add the right
staff member from my constituent services team for your quadrant
to ensure we flag it immediately.
-
My
team stopped by Tyler Elementary School on the first day of school
to join parents in calling for slower traffic on nearby streets. This
is an issue I want to see DDOT take on with far more urgency. Our
school zones cannot be raceways, and the steps needed to do so are
easy enough. Often it's our wonderful Traffic Control Officers who
are putting themselves between drivers and kids and families getting
to school -- but we need better street design, more limits on the flow
of traffic during pick-up and drop-off, and prioritizing school zones.
I've asked DDOT to make immediate improvements in the flow of traffic
around Tyler, in particular, which has been an issue for
years.
Ward 6 DCPS School Modernizations Coming
Soon
Earlier this week, I met with Chancellor Ferebee to start outlining
initial plans for a slate of school modernizations coming down the
line in Ward 6. Over the past few years, improving our school
buildings has been a major priority of mine, and many are now in the
capital budget pipeline. And I’m particularly excited about some of
the new school libraries we’re creating! Every student (and every
teacher) deserves a vibrant, safe, imaginative, and dignified space to
learn. Just walk around one of our beautiful, modernized schools in
Ward 6, and you’ll see what’s possible.
Thus far, we’ve been able to modernize all our middle schools –
Jefferson, Eliot-Hine, and Stuart-Hobson. And we’ve also rebuilt
several of our other schools – Payne, Watkins (pictured),
School-Within-School at Goding, Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan, and
Van Ness.
And now we’re working together to line up the next round of
modernizations. Beginning next school year (SY24), JO Wilson will
start its full modernization. The following year (SY25), Brent
Elementary will begin its own full rebuild. After that, each year will
see another school begin its full-scale modernization with Tyler,
Amidon-Bowen, and Ludlow-Taylor Elementary Schools in the queue.
During each modernization, the school temporarily swings onto
another campus so we don’t mix a student’s classroom with a
construction site. These temporary campuses are dedicated for this
purpose to house a school for a short time during construction and
provide everything a school needs like classrooms, fields,
playgrounds, and cafeterias. And while that makes sense both for the
magnitude of construction that takes place and the safe operations of
a day-to-day school, it comes with challenges.
In each case, DCPS provides free shuttle and bus transportation to
and from the current school and its temporary campus to reduce impacts
on families -- you'll still drop-off and pick-up at your school if you
like. It’s important to start these conversations and planning now to
work toward solutions that support the school community and can be
implemented by DCPS whenever possible. The end product of a fully
modernized school is something we'll all celebrate, but the
collaboration to bridge students and families through that
construction takes time. I look forward to working with each of our
school communities through those efforts in the years ahead, and thank
you to the parents who are already reaching out with your
priorities.
Visit to Blink EV Charging Facility in
Bowie
Last week, I visited Blink EV charging just down Route 50 in
Bowie, MD. I joined Bowie City Councilmember Jarryd Hawkins to tour a
facility where EV chargers are being manufactured and deployed. Blink
works with private buildings, cities, and even single family
residences to install different types of EV charging infrastructure.
They're also the contractor selected by OSSE to provide EV charging as
the District coverts its bus fleet to all electric. This spring, I
chaired a public hearing at the Council on legislation
I introduced to help shape how the District approaches electric
vehicle infrastructure. There's considerable federal funding currently
available and coming soon to help make that transition, and having the
conversations with DDOT, the Department of Energy and the Environment,
and the public helps us debate the best approach. The decisions we're
making now will shape our public space for years to come. More
on our visit on Instagram.
Updates on DPW Services
Passing along some helpful info from DPW on several services
available to residents, as well as a reminder on changes to key
programs, including yard waste removal and e-waste:
-
Yard Waste Collection is now
year-round. Residents must call 311 to make an appointment. Residents
can also visit 311.dc.gov to
make an appointment or download and schedule an appointment using the
311 mobile app available at the Google Play and Apple App stores. DPW
only collects yard waste in paper bags. DPW will collect up to 20
paper bags of yard waste from residences that receive DPW’s trash and
recycling collection services. Scheduled yard waste collection is an
enhancement to the yard waste program. Residents are still able to
leave their paper yard waste bags at the point of trash collection.
Residents who wish to can drop off their yard waste at the Fort Totten
Transfer Station during normal residential business
hours.
Special Waste Collection
Events (i.e., Household Hazardous Waste, electronics
recycling, and document shredding) have been relocated to RFK Lot 3,
2400 E Capitol St NE (across from the DC Armory), due to the temporary
closure of the Benning Road Transfer Station. Special Waste Collection
Events will take place on one Thursday and one Saturday each month
through March 2024. View the current schedule here.
-
DPW’s Curbside Composting Pilot Program,
which will offer free weekly collection of food waste to approximately
9,000 households, is off to a great start! Starter kits have been
delivered to participating households in Ward 7 and Ward 8. Food waste
collection started this week in Ward 8 and will start in Ward 7 next
week. More wards will follow as DPW phases the Pilot’s rollout. For
more information click here.
- DPW helps community groups that organize Saturday neighborhood
clean-up projects through the Helping Hand
Program. The program will lend tool kits that include
five rakes and brooms, two shovels, and 20 trash bags. A $20
refundable deposit is required for all tool kits loaned under the
Helping Hand Program. DPW will collect trash at the end of the
clean-up. For more information click here.
Help Shape the Future of the DC Public
Library!
From our friends at DCPL: "DC Public Library is
gathering input on how it can best serve District residents. Your
needs may have changed the last three years, and the Library would
like to know how they can help meet them. Please consider taking this
survey (only about 10 minutes of your time). Your feedback will help
shape their strategic framework plan. The survey is available in
English and Spanish. Access it here."
H Street Festival Returns in One Week!
It's hard to believe, but the H Street Festival is nearly
here...again. This is one of DC's biggest street festivals, stretching
from 2nd Street to Starburst Plaza. Live music, live performances and
art, culture, fashion, food, local makers, and more -- all set along
the entire H Street corridor with some of the best restaurants and
small businesses in the District. I hope you'll come by, walk the
entire stretch, and if you spot our team, say hello! Kicks off at noon
until 7 pm. More
info here.
Capitol Hill Art Walk this
Weekend
This weekend, don't miss the Capitol Hill Restoration Society's
Arts Walk, a collection of 50 micro-galleries display local artists'
work. Download
the map, and get all the details here. Looks incredible!
Literary Hill BookFest Returns Sept
17
For a change of pace after the H Street Festival, on Sunday,
September 17, from 11 am to 3 pm in the North Hall of Eastern Market
come by for the 12th annual Literary
Hill BookFest, a beloved annual celebration of books and authors
on Capitol Hill. More from the event organizers: "This year, the event
features more than 40 authors, poets, booksellers, publishers,
literacy groups, and more, including acclaimed national bestselling
novelist Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye, a mystery
thriller adapted into a recent hit Netflix film starring Christian
Bale. Other featured authors include debut novelist and former spy
I.S. Berry; naturalist and certified forest therapy guide Melanie
Choukas-Bradley; National Book Award finalist Carole Boston
Weatherford; Washington Post columnist and Thurber prize
finalist Alexandra Petri; award-winning educator and author Liz
Kleinrock, whose TED talk, "How to Teach Kids to Talk About Taboo
Topics," has garnered more than two million views; two-time Lambda
Literary Award finalist Cheryl Head; and many more. Visitors will meet
some of their favorite authors of fiction, history, children's
literature, mystery, poetry, memoir and more and enjoy timely panel
discussions and a full slate of family-friendly activities in our
bustling Children's Corner. The BookFest is completely free and open
to the public, with a popular poetry open mic immediately following
the main event, where established and aspiring poets will entertain an
enthusiastic crowd."
SW Fall Fest is Coming Sept 24
Hosted by the SWBID at The Lot at 4th and M SW,
look for live music, games (including a video game truck), food,
painting, and more.
DC State Fair is Today!
The DC
State Fair returns today, Saturday, September 9 at Franklin Park
in downtown. Enjoy live music, performances, giveaways, dancing, and
more from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Bring home those blue ribbons, Ward
6!
Southwest Waterfront Village Vaccination Clinic for Older
Adults
On October 11, our friends at the Southwest Waterfront Village will
host a vaccination clinic to promote COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for
local residents aged 60 and better. The event will take place at St.
Augustine's Episcopal Church from 9-11 am and is open to the public.
The Village will provide breakfast and cover the costs of shots for
those who are uninsured.
DC Health Releases Fall Vaccine Guidance
Last, but certainly not least, DC Health recently sent around
guidance on fall vaccines. There's a risk of an overlapping triple
threat of viruses -- the flu, RSV, and COVID -- so paying attention to
what's recommended is going to be very important. I'm including this
info at the end only because the guidance is quite long. From DC
Health:
"Please share the following information on vaccines which remain
our best strategy for keeping our residents safe. All specific medical
questions should be directed to a residents’ primary care
provider.
Children and Infants
- Get a flu shot in September or October.
- That can be obtained at pediatrician offices or pharmacies – it
can also be requested by community groups through the Vaccine
Exchange* or for a home visit through our Home Vaccination
Program**.
- Get the newest COVID-19 booster when released in late
September.
- It can be obtained at their primary care providers, pharmacy, or
the Home Vaccination Program**.
- Community groups can host events and request vaccine
administrations through the Vaccine Exchange*.
- For infants aged 8 months or younger, get the RSV prevention
treatment when available.
- The monoclonal antibodies are not yet available from the CDC.
Older Adults
- Get a flu shot in September or October.
- That can be obtained at primary care providers or pharmacies – it
can also be requested by community groups through the Vaccine
Exchange* or for a home visit through our Home Vaccination
Program**.
- Get the newest COVID-19 booster when released in late
September.
- It can be obtained at their primary care providers, pharmacy, or
the Home Vaccination Program**.
- Community groups can host events and request vaccine
administrations through the Vaccine Exchange*.
- For those age 60 and older, get the RSV vaccine.
- The vaccine is currently available at pharmacies. DC Health is
waiting on the CDC for other vaccination options.
General Population and Workers
- Get a flu shot in September or October.
- That can be obtained at primary care providers or pharmacies – it
can also be requested by community groups through the Vaccine
Exchange* or for a home visit through our Home Vaccination
Program**.
- Get the newest COVID-19 booster when released in late
September.
- It can be obtained at their primary care providers, pharmacy, or
the Home Vaccination Program**.
- Community groups can host events and request vaccine
administrations through the Vaccine Exchange*.
- The RSV vaccine is not currently needed for adults under
age 60.
*Vaccine Exchange – DC Health connects community groups with
vaccine providers (https://request.vaccineexchange.dc.gov/)
**Home Vaccination Program – Providers will visit homebound
individuals and can be accessed at 1-855-363-0333.
District government agencies and nonprofits can request free
COVID–19 tests, free KN95 masks and PPE supplies from the Office
of Contracting and Procurement. Residents can also purchase KN95
and COVID-19 tests at pharmacies or online. At this time, we don’t
plan to reopen any COVID centers but will leverage existing access
points, including temporary pop-up sites and home vaccinations, to
ensure equitable access to both vaccines and mitigation tools (tests
and masks).
Finally, we are monitoring vaccine coverage, healthcare system
impact (hospitals, nursing homes, and other health facilities), and
wastewater. The COVID-19 hospital admission level in the District is
currently low. If rates increase or an insufficient number of
vaccinations are administered, we will adjust our strategies
accordingly."
See you around the neighborhood, and enjoy the transition
into those first few days of fall!
Charles Allen
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