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We're headed into the MLK Holiday weekend combined with the Inauguration and the many challenges that come from hosting such an important event every four years for Ward 6 neighbors. I have information below for anyone interested in attending (dress warm), and info for everyone who will be in town this weekend, no matter how you spend your time, there are plenty of closures and security perimeters to be aware of. 

For a little fun in the middle of these cold January days, how was your Metro Rewind from WMATA? This is the second year in a row WMATA has created an easy way to see how you used Metro during 2024 and how you stack up against other riders (I ranked a top 10% Metro rider and posted my results here)! I really enjoy this new tradition and hope you're inspired to take the train and the bus even more this year. If you're a Ward 6 neighbor, send me a screenshot of your Metro Rewind (no minimum number of rides required!) and I'll enter you into this newsletter's ticket drawing. Info at the bottom.

Earlier this week, with my Transportation Committee Chair hat on, I had the chance to walk around Bladensburg Road NE with ANC Commissioner Shawn Nelson (5C04) to discuss ways to improve infrastructure at and near New York Avenue NE. While in Ward 5, these are issues related to the committee I chair and are often similar to the intersection safety issues faced in Ward 6 and all over our city. I'm dedicated to addressing these problems while working with my Council colleagues. If you have areas where you'd like some extra support, please reach out to my team.

As mentioned above, Monday is also the observance of MLK Day. Obviously, this year's Inauguration has the potential to overshadow the day, but we should all work to make sure there are many different ways to remember Dr. King, his life and message, and his call to action that resonates just as true today. Neighbors can join activities happening all weekend and on Monday. Here's a round-up from ABC 7.

There's plenty to get into this week's newsletter, so let's get to it.

QUICK LINKS: Inauguration Day Planning | Public Safety | Snow Cleanup | Share Your Thoughts about DC Agencies | Penn-Potomac Intersection | Open Captions Coming to Theaters | New Bills Introduced | Supporting Our Teachers | Ward 6 Leaders | School Lottery | E-Bike Incentive Program | DC Green Bank Supports Affordable Housing | Sports Gambling | RFK Stadium Demolition | Winter Restaurant Week | Mount Vernon Triangle Survey | MLK Day | Free Events

Did you miss my last newsletter when I talked about the new Council period and the RFK campus? Read it here.

Getting Around This Weekend & Inauguration Day

The 60th Presidential Inauguration is Monday, Jan. 20. No doubt you knew that, of course, and the security fencing already going up around Capitol Hill and downtown are frequent reminders. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few helpful resources, particularly as some plans affect Ward 6 neighbors:

• The DC Presidential Inaugural Committee has a new X account, which you can follow for updates on weather, traffic, security, and public safety.
  
  
• You can sign up to receive real-time alerts from the District on severe weather, public safety, traffic impacts, and more: Text DCINAUG to 888-777.
  
  
• Residents and business owners should plan for widespread road closures across downtown. Most roads within the perimeter, bounded by the Potomac River to the west, K Street NW to the north, Second Street NE/SE to the east, and I-395/I-695 to the south, will be closed or restricted to residential traffic only. A comprehensive list of closures and PDF maps can be found here.
  
  
• Metrorail will operate with extended hours, 4 a.m. to midnight Monday, Jan. 20. It will run more service between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. when Red Line trains arrive every 4 minutes and all other lines have trains arriving every 8 minutes. The Yellow Line will also be extended to Greenbelt for additional service.
  
  
• Five Metrorail stations will be closed, with trains bypassing them, from 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, through 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21
  • McPherson Square (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)
  • Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)
  • Smithsonian (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)
  • Mt. Vernon Square-Convention Center (Green, Yellow lines)
  • Archives-Navy Memorial (Green, Yellow lines)
  • Additionally, Pentagon Station and Pentagon Transit Center will be closed on Jan. 20.
    
    
• Metrobus will operate on a Saturday Supplemental schedule. Detours will be in effect Saturday through Tuesday due to the security perimeter, affecting the following routes: 3F, 3Y, 7A, 10A, 11Y, 16A, 16C, 16E, 16Y, 22A, 38B, 31, 32, 33, 36, 42, 43, 52, 54, 59, 63, 64, 70, 74, 79, 80, 96, D4, D6, D8, G8, L2, N2, N4, N6, P6, S2, S9, X2, X8, and X9.

Public Safety Updates

• Three Officers Wounded, Assailant Fatally Shot in NoMa — Early Monday morning, MPD officers responded to reports of gunfire inside the lobby of the i5 Union Market apartment building in Ward 5 and near the Ward 6 border. When officers arrived, the armed suspect, a resident of the building, ran into an elevator to an unknown floor before arriving to the lobby. Officers tried to arrest him, and the man fired a gun, striking three officers. They returned fire, fatally shooting the assailant. The officers were hospitalized and thankfully are recovering. It's traumatic to have such an event happen where you live, it's horrible to lose a life, and it's devastating for our first responders to face such dangers in the line of duty. It highlights the unbelievable challenge we face in this country with the ease of access to weapons that inherently makes the work of police officers more dangerous. The Post has written two stories about the incident that shed much light on what happened that morning. 
  
  
• MPD Announces Arrest in November Shooting Near Eastern High School — Last November, a 15-year-old suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in an alley behind an apartment complex in Ward 7 (but just a few blocks from Ward 6), then ran to Eastern High School for assistance. The shooting took place right when the school day started and rightfully caused a lot of concern. I'm pleased to share on Jan. 8, following an investigation, a 17-year-old male was arrested in Prince George's County by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. This case remains under investigation. I'm thankful there has been some progress in this incident. Anyone who has knowledge of it can call the police at 202-727-9099 or text your tip to 50411.
  
  
• Arrest of Suspect in Southwest — First District officers responded to an assault at the intersection of Independence Avenue and L'Enfant Plaza Southwest, where a victim reported that a suspect forced her to the ground and began attacking her with a sharp object. The victim sustained a laceration and was transported by DC Fire and EMS to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses had intervened and the suspect fled, but officers were able to locate and arrest her, charging her with assault with a dangerous weapon.

Reflecting on the District's Snow Cleanup

At this point, it feels like quite a while ago enough snow fell on our city that we could spend some time sledding with our kids. But it wasn't that long ago at all (days ago?) that we were still slipping and skating around sidewalks, parks, roads, and bike lanes. For more than a week after that snowfall, I've been in contact with leaders at DPW and DDOT to address missed areas of Ward 6 – too many roads and sidewalks were icy and lacked treatment. There were people working tirelessly to remove snow from areas, but it's clear efforts fell short. I do want to give some grace as the snowstorm hit in the middle of several high-profile national events, including the funeral for President Jimmy Carter and preparations for the Inauguration that drew on the same group of people to administer various pieces. But too many sidewalks were impassable for those walking or in a wheelchair as the week wore on. Some of that falls to the owners of private property, both residential and commercial, who are legally required to clear sidewalks once the snow has stopped falling. But when I see sidewalks around our DPR parks or on our District bridges go untreated and unaddressed, it makes it hard for us to see everyone doing their job. I'll keep pushing the city to do its part, and please, please, please take time to clear your sidewalks and help out neighbors. We have more cold coming, and I wouldn't be surprised if we get more snow or ice. Again, I'm thankful for the many people who dedicated time to make areas passable. I also know we have room to improve before the next winter storm arrives.

Have Thoughts about DC Agencies?

The annual Performance Oversight Hearings for DC agencies are set to begin next week, so now's the perfect time to check in on how you're feeling about DC services. I'll be leading hearings on agencies that fall under transportation and the environment, and I'll attend others' as well. If you have something to share about DC services or agencies (you can share works well, what is broken, and what you'd like to see more of), please let me know with this quick form. I'll try to take your questions and comments directly into the hearings; but no matter what, my team and I will read them and they'll help inform our oversight and potential ways to improve the agencies that serve us every day.

Work on the Pennsylvania-Potomac Intersection Begins Soon

A new intersection at Pennsylvania and Potomac Avenues SE is closer to us as DDOT plans to begin the project on Monday, Jan. 27. As presented in an ANC 6B committee meeting, DDOT plans for this work to continue for nearly two years, with an end date in mind for Dec. 28, 2026. Right now, the experience of walking around is incomplete and indirect, and the closely aligned intersections of skewed geometry make visibility an issue for someone walking, rolling, or driving. With the redesign in place, we should have enhanced pedestrian safety, improved connections to the train and bus, and better traffic circulation.

The work you'll see in the first of four phases will include removing crosswalk pavement markings (maintaining outside crosswalks), relocating and constructing new bus stops, demolishing and reconstructing triangle islands (on the northeast and southwest sides), and installing utilities, traffic signals, streetlights, and concrete barriers.

During all construction stages, two lanes of Pennsylvania Avenue will remain open, and public areas and private businesses will be accessible.

I was able to accelerate this delayed project in a previous budget, and I'm excited to finally be closer to a safer, better intersection with new park space for Southeast residents!

City Paper Writes About Open Captions Coming to a Theater Near You

For years, I've been working with neighbors who are deaf or hard of hearing to make a simple change that can have a major impact to ensure sure everyone can enjoy a night out at the movies – having screens with captions. Last year, the Council passed my bill into law that requires a certain number of movie showings to provide open captions to be more accessible to anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing. This is a bill I proudly wrote and introduced a few times dating back to 2018! The Washington City Paper's arts section checks in on how the rollout is going. 

Bringing Shade to Public Space
& Creating a Youth Climate Council

This week, I introduced two bills: One to bring shade to playgrounds, parks, and public spaces using solar panels and another to establish a Youth Climate Council.

As I talked about in this week's video, each of these are commonsense solutions as we talk about DC's local climate. And just ask any parent out there – too many of our playgrounds in DC are rendered almost unusable during parts of the summer because there's simply no shade to cool off or stay out of the heat (let alone seeing some slides reach temps that are too hot to touch):

• The Solar Shade Expansion Amendment Act of 2025 would require the District government to identify 20 sites – ranging from playgrounds and parks to sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads – that could benefit from solar canopies.
  
  
• The Youth Advisory Council on Climate Change and Environmental Conservation Establishment Act of 2025 would create a new government council with wide discretion to weigh in on legislation before the Council and actions by the Executive and be part of the work of the District’s Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency.

Council Supports DCPS Teachers

Congratulations to the Washington Teachers' Union, as the Council approved a five-year contract for our DCPS educators in the Jan. 7 Legislative Meeting. Enrollment in DC schools is growing because parents trust their teachers in their children's classrooms. This is a good deal for attracting and retaining the best teachers in the region!

DC Ed Fund Honors Ward 6 Leaders in Annual Standing Ovation Awards

The DC Ed Fund has announced its most recent Standing Ovation honorees, and I couldn't be more excited to see Ward 6 leaders be recognized. Join me in congratulating these neighbors who continue to make a difference for the next generations!

• Excellence for Teachers: Norah Rabiah, teacher at Maury Elementary
• Outstanding School Leader of the Year: Jasmine Brann, principal at Shirley Chisholm Elementary
• Excellence for School Leaders: Sean Bellamy, J.O. Wilson Elementary
• School Excellence – School Improvement: J.O. Wilson Elementary, Principal Mitchell Brunson

The 2025-26 School Year Lottery Application Is Still Open

You can apply today for your student to attend public or public charter schools in the District next year. Deadlines are based on grade level:

• Grades 9-12: Apply by Feb. 3
• Pre-K 3-Grade 8: Apply by March 3

Learn if you need to submit a lottery application here. The lottery is not first come, first served, so you have until the application deadline to apply and make any edits to your application.

Ride on! Residents Can Apply for E-Bike Vouchers

I'm excited that DDOT is reopening applications for the District E-Bike Incentive Program this February.  This program was created through legislation I wrote and led the Council to pass two years ago with a simple goal: get more DC residents to enjoy the benefits of an e-bike, which can feel like a cheat code for navigating the city. We designed the program to be available to all DC residents, but to put an emphasis on ensuring lower-income riders can take advantage of it, and to be sure the entire program benefited brick-and-mortar bike shops in DC. In its first year, last year, DDOT was able to give vouchers to 293 residents, all of whom were Preferred Applicants – District residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, or the DC Healthcare Alliance. My hope is to keep growing the program, which was modeled after a very successful program in Denver, so we help more and more residents get on e-bikes. 

The application this year will be open to Preferred Applicants and Standard Applicants from Feb. 1 to 21. Any District resident can apply for a voucher toward an e-bike plus a helmet and a bicycle lock to be redeemed at select authorized bike retailers. Voucher recipients will be randomly selected once the application window closes. Not all applicants will receive a voucher, but I wish you luck in your application. Learn more and apply here.

Affordable Housing in Ward 6 Gets $3 Million from DC Green Bank for Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

I am always telling folks that I wish more people knew about DC Green Bank. And here's a great opportunity to show its work — right in NoMa. DC Green Bank and MED Developers have announced $3 million in financing to improve the energy efficiency of a new building that will create nearly 70 affordable homes in Ward 6. DC Green Bank’s loan will support the installation of an energy-efficient HVAC system, Energy Star appliances, and energy-efficient lighting, windows, and plumbing at the Congress Street Development. The building is designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus – one of the highest standards for sustainable affordable housing – and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home designation.

This is good news for affordable units, as upgrades like these mean savings for years for residents. It's also another example of why I annually work to support funding for the DC Green Bank in the Council's budget: Its work is moving the District forward in its climate goals and expanding access for residents to have sustainable housing opportunities.

DC Attorney General Settles $6.5 Million Suit with Contractor & Subcontractor for Sports Gambling

ICYMI: DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced a settlement with Intralot and its main subcontractor over claims of defrauding the District. This is the company that was awarded a sole-source contract to roll out DC's sports gambling app and beat Maryland and Virginia to the punch back in 2019. I voted against the measure when I had the chance, and this is exactly what I was concerned about and why I thought it was wrong then. It's been a mess since then, with the Council still trying to clean it up as recently as last year. Read more reporting from the Post.

Demolition to Begin at RFK Stadium Site

At long last, the demolition of RFK Stadium is scheduled by Events DC, with contractors preparing for the initial phases of structural demolition of the stadium. Events DC aims to minimize the impact of these activities on the surrounding neighborhoods, and it expects structural demolition to begin before the end of the month. One way or another, the transformation of RFK is about to begin. You know I don't support spending hundreds of millions of your tax dollars to build a new stadium that will sit dark most of the year. But I do welcome the discussion and the opportunity to start envisioning an RFK campus that could become a new neighborhood with new homes, parks, jobs, and access to the river. Stay tuned to Events DC updates here.

Get Ready for Winter Restaurant Week

This time of year is always a slow one for restaurants, which is why Winter Restaurant Week was created! It's a great opportunity to try that hot spot you've been meaning to get to, or revisit an old favorite, with three-course menus planned for all participating restaurants from Monday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Feb. 2. Find the full list here, but I see a good number in Ward 6, including:

What Do You Think of Mount Vernon Triangle?

If you work, live, or play in Mount Vernon Triangle, the Community Improvement District (CID) wants to hear from you in its annual survey. The Neighborhood Perception Survey covers all of 2024 and is the CID's most important tool for measuring the real-time sentiments of people who experience the neighborhood.

MLK Day is Monday

Monday, Jan. 20, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day many have off of work and a day we're all called to serve. See what your local organizations may have going on this weekend and Monday, or look at websites such as Sustainable DC. 

Additionally, the District of Columbia government will have adjusted services:

• The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash and recycling collection on Monday. Collections will “slide” for the remainder of the week into Saturday, Jan. 25. For example, households that normally receive trash and recycling collections on Monday, Jan. 20, will be serviced on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
  
  
• DC Public Schools will be closed.
  
  
• All DC Public Library locations will be closed. (You can still reserve books online.)
  
  
• See above for Metro schedules and adjustments.
  
  
• Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) recreation centers, community centers, and indoor aquatic centers will be closed Monday, resuming normal hours Tuesday.   
  
  
• All low-barrier shelters for people experiencing homelessness operate year-round. The following low-barrier shelters are open 24 hours and will remain open all day Monday:
  • New York Men’s Shelter
  • 801 East Men's Shelter
  • Adams Place Shelter
  • Emery Shelter
  • Pat Handy Women’s Shelter
  • Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter
  • Living Life Alternatives LGBTQ+ Shelter

• Overflow and hypothermia shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness will remain open all day on Monday.

• The DC Department of Buildings (DOB) will not allow construction on Monday without an issued after-hours permit.

Upcoming Ward 6 Events

• Cobb Park Community Meeting — Monday, Jan. 27 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. | Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 901 3rd St. NW
  Join the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss the upgrades and construction timeline for Cobb Park at 2nd and H Streets NW.
  
  
• Watkins Playground & Park Community Meeting — Thursday, Jan. 30 | 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Watkins Elementary School, 420 12th St. SE
  DPR and DGS host this meeting to discuss the upcoming upgrades to the playground and park at Watkins Recreation Center. RSVP to join the conversation.
  
  
• Household Hazardous Waste, E-cycling, & Document Shredding — Saturday, Feb. 1 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. | RFK Parking Lot 3, 2400 E. Capitol St. NE
  Safely recycle or dispose of household hazardous waste and electronics and securely shred documents at this twice-quarterly event by Zero Waste DC.

Your Metro Rewind Could Win You Caps Tickets!

As a twist on our usual ticket giveaway, I'll enter everyone who shares their Metro Rewind with me into the drawing for two tickets to see the NHL leading Washington Capitals take on the Florida Panthers at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4: Just reply to this email, and include a screenshot of your Metro Rewind (no minimum number or rides required!) for a chance to win tickets. As always, you must be a Ward 6 resident to claim the tickets.

See you around the neighborhood,

Charles Allen