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Dear Ward 8 Residents,
This week, the Ward 8 Council Office has been hard at work staying connected with residents and engaged in the projects that matter most to our community. From celebrating with seniors at Bald Eagle Recreation Center on Valentine’s Day to staying up to date about developments at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, we are making sure our work reflects the needs and voices of Ward 8. We also continue to push for meaningful investments in public safety, workforce development, and economic opportunities that uplift our residents.
As we move forward, we remain committed to meeting you where you are—whether at community meetings, local events, or one-on-one conversations. Your input drives the progress we fight for every day, and we encourage you to stay engaged, share your concerns, and join us in shaping the future of Ward 8.
Our office is always open and ready to connect with residents. Give us a call at 202-724-8045 or schedule a time to meet with us in the community. Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you.
All the best,
The Ward 8 Council Office
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Food Waste Smart Bins Installed Throughout DC
This month, the Department of Public Works is installing food waste smart bins throughout DC, expanding DC’s Food Waste Dropoff Program! Installation is complete in wards 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Bins in wards 3 and 4 are coming soon! Learn more at https://zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.
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February 11, 2025
Ward 8 Leaders Kick Off Poplar Point Redevelopment Planning, Seek Community Input
Wanda Lockridge, Chief of Staff for the Ward 8 Council Office, participated in the Poplar Point Plan kick-off webinar alongside several Ward 8 stakeholders. The goal of the meeting was to inform the community about the planning process for the redevelopment of Poplar Point. Key objectives included: prioritizing residents in nearby neighborhoods, offering a website to collect and process information, responding to community feedback, engaging a diverse group of individuals, organizations, and perspectives, and ensuring multiple opportunities for residents to participate in all stages of the planning process.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development (DMPED) and the National Park Service are inviting public comments. Feedback can be submitted via this link. The deadline for comments is February 28th.
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February 13, 2025
Leaders Conduct Walk Though of Several Housing Complexes to Address Concerns
Councilmember Robert White and his staff coordinated a walk-through of several housing complexes. Wanda Lockridge, Chief of Staff for the Ward 8 Council Office, Constituent Services Director Monique Diop, along with staff from the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Tenant Advocacy, participated in the walk-through in Cedar Hills, Butler Gardens and Maple View Flats. They visited multiple apartments and spoke with residents, whose concerns were consistent: issues such as mold, rodents, wall holes, and plumbing problems were highlighted.
They also met with the regional manager, who acknowledged the issues and committed to providing updates on the scheduled repairs.
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February 14, 2025
Ward 8 Staffers Celebrate Love Day With Seniors at Bald Eagle Recreation Center
Yukia Hugee from the Ward 8 Council Office joined seniors at Bald Eagle Recreation Center for a lively Valentine’s Day celebration filled with fun, dancing, and great food. The event brought the community together, giving seniors a chance to enjoy music, good company, and a warm meal. Hugee spent the afternoon engaging with residents, sharing laughs, and was able to see Cure the Streets - Father Factor recieve an award from the Department of Parks and Recreation for their public safety work in the community.
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February 18, 2025
Hospital Walk Through Promises State-of-the-Art Medical Facility in Ward 8
Dr. Anthony Coleman, CEO of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center (GW Health), invited members of the Cedar Hill Community Advisory Committee (CAC), including Wanda Lockridge, Chief of Staff for the Ward 8 Council Office, to tour the hospital. The tour focused on the activation and staffing processes.
The Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, a $434.4 million project, will feature a state-of-the-art, 136-bed hospital (expandable to 184 beds). It will include maternal health and delivery services, a Level II NICU, a trauma center, an ambulatory pavilion with physician offices and clinics, a 500-car parking garage, and a helipad for emergency transports. Universal Health Services will operate and maintain the hospital for 75 years and invest $75 million in healthcare infrastructure in Wards 7 and 8.
Located at 1200 Pecan St SE, this hospital will be the first new full-service hospital in DC in over 20 years, with its official opening scheduled for April 15, 2025.
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February 18, 2025
Tea Time & Community Talks: Exciting Plans for the New Library
Ward 8 Council staff Julia Jessie and Monique Diop joined community members for a tea tasting at Parklands-Turner Library, where they discussed plans for the new Parklands-Turner/Congress Heights Library. The upcoming project will bring a larger, full-service library to Ward 8. Attendees shared their thoughts on the new space and enjoyed a warm and engaging conversation about its future.
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February 19, 2025
Ward 8 Health Council Connects History with Healthcare & Updates on Regional Hill Medical Center
The February Ward 8 Health Council meeting highlighted the importance of connecting healthcare with history by encouraging providers to visit the historic Frederick Douglass House. This initiative aims to deepen community engagement and inspire health leaders through the legacy of Douglass. The meeting also provided key updates on the Regional Hill Medical Center, including progress on services and accessibility improvements for Ward 8 residents.
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On Tuesday, February 18th the Committee of the Whole (COW) met to discuss the consideration of measures in the COW and the consideration of measures from other committees.
Those measures within COW that were on the dais included:
Bill 26-11, “DC Legendary Musicians Way Designation Act of 2025” introduced by Councilmember Nadeau, which would designate the north-south public alley within Square 441, bounded by 7th Street, N.W., T Street, N.W., Wiltberger Street, N.W. and S Street, N.W., in Ward 1, as DC Legendary Musicians Way.
Bill 26-13, “Girl Scouts’ Way Designation Act of 2025” introduced by Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau, which would symbolically designate the 3000 block of Veazey Terrace, N.W., in Ward 3, as Girl Scouts’ Way.
Bill 26-29, “Institution of Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resource Accessibility Act of 2025” introduced by Councilmember Christina Henderson, which would assist survivors of sexual misconduct by requiring institutions of higher education in the District to retain a confidential resource advisor (CRA) to provide emergency and ongoing support to reporting parties at institutions of higher education. It would require amnesty protections for reporting parties of sexual misconduct in certain cases. Institutions would be required to facilitate mandatory annual sexual misconduct trainings for all students and personnel. It would establish minimum criteria for institutions’ sexual misconduct policies. It would also, among other things, require institutions to submit to the Higher Education Licensure Commission a report containing data about sexual misconduct on campus.
Bill 26-39, “Closing of a Portion of a Public Alley and Dedication of Land for Alley Purposes in Square 756, S.O. 24-00310, Act of 2025” introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen, which would order the closing of a portion of a public alley in Square 756 abutting Lot 47, and the dedication of a portion of Lot 806 for public alley purposes in Ward 6.
Additionally, the COW considered a measure from the Committee on Health:
Bill 26-25, “Certificate of Need Improvement Amendment Act of 2025” introduced by Councilmember Christina Henderson, which would exempt from the certificate of need process digital-only telehealth platforms and providers and primary care and specialty care providers not affiliated with hospitals and medical schools. It would remove the 3-year maximum on certificate of need applications for active projects and also require the State Health Planning and Development Agency to update the capital expenditure and medical equipment, spending thresholds every two years. It also, among other things, would increase the number of beds that must be added or removed at a health care facility to trigger a certificate of need.
The Committee of the Whole is scheduled to meet again on March 4, 2025.
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For more information on Council hearings, schedule and calendar, visit: https://dccouncil.gov/.
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Monday, February 24, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.
Call-in Number: (844) 881-1314
Watch parties will be held at all Senior Centers.
RSVP: 
Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St NE
