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Friend –

Despite everything going on, I hope you've been enjoying this beautiful spring. There's plenty going on in the world to keep us worried, but the reason we fight so hard for our community is because it can be truly wonderful. So, I hope you can carve out time to check out the cherry blossoms, take in a spring baseball game or head to a concert, and enjoy an evening stroll to a favorite neighborhood spot. You deserve it. 

There's a lot to cover in this update – our work to reverse Congress's damaging $1.1 billion cut in local tax dollars is ongoing and will have implications on the timing for next year's budget process (you can see my update from last week here). But there's also a lot happening locally where we can keep making Ward 6 and DC an even better and more inclusive place to call home.

QUICK LINKS: Federal Update | Great Ward 6 Spring Clean | Public Safety Updates | Holding Property Managers Accountable | Budget Town Hall | WMATA Funding | Auto Vehicles | Protecting School Funding | Power of Solar Shade | DOB Walk on H | Update on Randall Modernization | Larger Tax Return for Low-Wage Parents | Out-of-School-Time Options | Small Biz Grants | Lift Up LGBTQ+ Businesses | Environmental Program for Middle-Schoolers | DPR Youth-Focused Partners | Statehood Documentary | Events | Open Streets Comes to the Hill

Miss the last newsletter? Read it all here.

#HandsOffDC: Update on Federal Interventions

Status of $1.1 Billion Budget Cut: As a reminder, the Continuing Resolution (CR) Congress recently passed may have avoided a federal government shutdown but it left a massive, unprecedented, $1.1 billion hole of local funding in the District's current year budget. Immediately after the CR passed, the Senate passed a standalone bill, by voice vote, from Senators Collins and Van Hollen to fix the House's mistake. However, now the House needs to pass that standalone bill to fix its own mistake for the local funding to be restored. This disruption and uncertainty caused by the House has rippled through our community, caused bond markets to question DC's ability to borrow for capital improvement projects, and has now delayed the Mayor's submission of next year's budget. While not scheduled yet, we're pushing the House to schedule a vote immediately, and House leaders have said they likely will call for a vote in the next two weeks. Neighbors have raised their voices, and stay tuned because we'll need to again.  

House Bill on "Sanctuary" Law: While they haven't scheduled a vote to fix their budget mistake, the House, however, has found time to mark up a bill in committee to undo many of the District's legal protections for immigrants. By all accounts, our current law has worked well in balancing legitimate public safety concerns with the District's interest in protecting residents' rights – so much so that we've never had a complaint about it. Hopefully, this bill doesn't advance further, and you can read more in the Washington Post.

Executive Order Targeting DC: On Thursday evening, the President signed an Executive Order focusing on DC. This had been threatened for some time, and I fully agree with Congresswoman Holmes Norton's statement. And while the order's rhetoric is unsurprisingly bombastic and patently incorrect, the directives in the order don't actually focus much on local DC government. Rather, it creates a "DC Safe and Beautiful" task force of federal agencies aimed to better coordinate their own work in DC on federal properties and federal responsibilities. But here's the thing: if the Administration and federal government really want to help DC, then they need to get their act together and immediately fix their mistake that could cut more than $1 billion in local funds from public safety, schools, city services, and more.

The Great Ward 6 Spring Clean Returns April 5!

It's been a lot of Hands Off DC lately, so I think it's time for some good, old-fashioned Hands On DC. Let's roll up our sleeves, get outside, and do some spring cleaning! We're just a week away from one of the best spring events in Ward 6. If you haven't yet, sign up to join hundreds of neighbors for the Great Ward 6 Spring Clean. We have 200 people signed up already! Pitch in and RSVP today.

You can RSVP to volunteer, or email Kimberly Kennedy on our staff to host a site on your block (all you need to commit to is corralling a few neighbors!). Once we finalize the sites, you'll get a form to decide where to volunteer. This helps us plan for supplies and make sure we have coverage. And if you need them, our staff will be ready with trash bags, gloves, and grabbers at Eastern Market Metro Park the day before – Friday, April 4 – from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thanks for pitching in!

Public Safety Updates

I covered a few thoughts on the President's Executive Order above, but just to underscore the point: DC's number of violent incidents continues to drop even lower than last year's numbers at this point in the year, which was already a significant reduction over the previous year. In fact, MPD has reported that violent crime is even below pre-pandemic levels in almost every category.

Before I pivot to a few specific updates, I want to highlight the recent US Supreme Court ruling on ghost guns, a big win for safety and common sense. Ghost guns are emerging as a more significant percentage of illegal firearms on the street, and I worked with the Mayor and the DC Attorney General to pass legislation in 2018 updating our laws to go after the growing scourge of ghost guns. The Supreme Court's ruling is welcome validation of those laws and the work we did.

• MPD made two arrests in a 2023 homicide: MPD has arrested two people for a fatal shooting that happened on H Street NE in 2023. On March 11, 2025, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Taskforce located, arrested, and charged them with first-degree murder.
  
  
• ABCA has closed and padlocked Street Lawyer Services illegal pot shop: Another illegal pot shop has been closed along the H Street corridor, this time at 409 H St. NE. This marks the 40th padlocked illegal shop in DC and the eighth along the corridor; see the image below for more about ABCA's enforcement of illegally operating pot shops (as of Feb. 28) on H Street since I introduced legislation a year ago to give the agency the legal tools to do so.
  
  
  • Related: Monday, March 31, is the deadline for all remaining unlicensed cannabis establishments that applied during the application period to have their retailer or internet retailer licenses issued and be in operation. Unlicensed shops that don't meet the deadline will have their approval rescinded or their license application denied by ABCA.

OAG Holds Ward 6 Property Manager Accountable for Hostile Housing Environment

This week, Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced that URD, Inc., the property manager for Waterside Towers Apartments in Southwest Ward 6, will pay $50,000 in penalties and reform its business practices to resolve claims that the company facilitated a hostile housing environment for Black women, including an incident where a tenant was convicted of a hate crime.

UDR must adopt new policies to identify and respond to complaints of tenant-on-tenant harassment, re-train all staff and employees on federal and local fair housing and anti-discrimination protections, and report any complaints alleging illegal discrimination or harassment of tenants at Waterside Towers to OAG for the next three years.

It's disgusting that this environment exists anywhere, especially where people seek a safe place to live. I applaud the AG for pursuing this.

Let's Talk About Next Year's Budget

It's perhaps fitting that while Congress is freezing up to $1.1 billion of our local tax dollars, it's also time for us to start planning our 29th consecutive balanced budget! The DC budget is roughly 75% locally funded, with about 25% coming from federal dollars. That's right in line with most states and well below others. What we do with those dollars is the debate that begins at the Wilson Building in the coming days.

So, it's time for my annual Ward 6 Budget Town Hall, this year on Monday, April 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Hill Center. I'll walk through what the Mayor has proposed across our major areas of spending, including education, public safety, human services, parks, and more. And of course, I carve out about half the time to answer your questions and comments. This will be a tougher budget, as the CFO reduced the District's anticipated revenue by more than $300 million annually for the next four years due to the federal layoffs, actions that are leading us quickly toward a local recession.

I will note that originally the budget was set to be released this coming week, but that deadline has been pushed back. Once we know more, I'll be sure to share the budget transmission date in advance of the town hall. Please plan to join me and my team there!

WMATA Regional Funding Plan Taking Shape  

For about a year, I've co-chaired a regional taskforce called DMVMoves to set WMATA on a firmer financial footing and unify the many transit systems into a more seamless rider experience. At the most recent DMVMoves Task Force meeting, we saw specifics emerge. Before determining how to fund WMATA on a recurring, predictable basis, we all must agree on what we're funding. That was the topic of this most recent meeting, and I'm linking to Monday's meeting here if you'd like to review the discussion or the slides that contain a few initial proposals.

I'm pleased that ridership is increasing on Metro and WMATA has worked to save dollars, both of which have positively impacted forecasts. However, WMATA deserves better predictability regarding what support it can count on from DC, Maryland, and Virginia. As far as DC is concerned, we'll ensure Metro is funded and continues to serve residents when and where they need it. But we're not going to do that in the form of a blank check, which is why the task force asked WMATA to come back with savings. I appreciate WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke for presenting proposed cuts to save around $19 million – more on the meeting from ABC 7 News.

Autonomous Vehicles Testing on DC Streets

This week, the company Waymo made headlines with its desire to bring its autonomous vehicle ridesharing business to the District. So, where do things stand?

Right now, autonomous ridesharing is operating in cities including Austin, San Francisco, and others. DC only allows testing at the moment (with a safety operator in the driver's seat), as both private companies and the city are learning how well it can work and how it anticipates busy DC streets. There's a working group, including government and private partners, which is developing recommendations that should be released this fall. Then, likely, the Council will need to take up the issue.

I had the chance to take a demo ride with Waymo this week. The technology is clearly impressive – dozens of cameras, LiDAR. and Radar – but also clearly some tweaks are still needed. But the upsides are clear: The car followed all the rules of the road, including speed limits, not blocking intersections, and allowing pedestrians to cross, in what is a decidedly clear break from how many people drive. But I stand by what I've said before: I think this type of technology holds some promise, but I'm also okay with letting some other cities "go first" to work out the logistics and learn from experience before it hits the streets of DC.

Bill to Protect School Budgets During Modernization

Earlier this year, I introduced a bill to freeze a DCPS school's budget as it undergoes modernization. When a school gets modernized, it moves into a temporary space for two school years – often referred to as a "swing space." If not done right, a school can lose a lot of students if the swing space is hard to get to. Because DCPS schools are primarily funded based on enrollment, a significant loss of students, for even just a year or two, can mean a loss of the teachers, staff, and educational offerings that drew families to the school in the first place. That's why I introduced the bill. And based on the experience of Ward 1's Harriet Tubman Elementary, as documented by ABC 7, it's a very real risk we should be preventing in the first place.

Hearing Monday on Using Solar Panels to Add Shade at Playgrounds and Parks

On Monday afternoon, I'll chair a Committee on Transportation and the Environment hearing on the merits of and challenges with building solar canopies over playgrounds and other outdoor, public spaces. For all my playground parents, you know as soon as the temperatures creep up, our playgrounds aren't really usable. But even on a more temperate day, getting kids out of the sun is a good thing! My Solar Shade Expansion Amendment Act of 2025 would require the District to identify 20 public sites where a solar canopy could be installed to provide additional shade and generate clean electricity. We're having a little fun with a poll on X and Bluesky asking folks where they'd throw shade. Let me know!

Bonus: Monday's hearing also includes another bill I introduced to create a youth climate council to give young people a voice in how the District should plan for and head off the worst of climate change. Tune in to hear from young people who'll help you feel better about the future. 

The deadline to sign up to testify has passed, but if you want to share your support for the bill, you can submit written testimony through Tuesday, April 15. It's really easy!

Walking H Street with DOB to Tackle Vacant Storefronts

Last week, I walked the entire H Street NE corridor with Department of Buildings Director Hanlon and a few of our ANC commissioners to identify vacant storefronts that could take advantage of DOB's fast-track Pop-Up Permits program to get a one-year Certificate of Occupancy (CoO). Regular readers of this newsletter may recall I funded an expansion of that program to bring that focus to H Street NE, specifically – this walk was to get that going. I want more property managers and entrepreneurs to know about this program, which can cut the red tape to get a temporary CoO, taking an empty storefront and getting a business back in there. The fewer empty, ugly storefronts we have, the better for everyone.

Randall Rec Redo Gets Closer to Final Design

This past Tuesday night, DPR and DGS held another community meeting to discuss the modernization of Randall Recreation Center and Pool in Southwest. The exciting $18.5 million project, which the Council approved in the budget, includes:

• Renovating the historic rec center
• Building a new pool house
• Refurbishing the pool and deck
• Renovating the plaza
• Adding outdoor seating
• Installing public art
• Repairing the playground and adding a new ground surface
• Installing native gardens and stormwater retention
• Adding a new perimeter fence
• Creating four pickleball courts

Construction should take place between the fall of 2025 and the winter of 2026. 

I'm pleased with how the designs are coming along so far, for the most part, but I've shared feedback with DPR about the need for the next – and final – designs to include way more shade throughout the site and bathroom access for all users, including players on the fields. We'll see the final design presentation in this summer's community meeting. I'll make sure to promote that on social media as soon as DPR shares it with me so all who are interested can attend. Can't wait to see this project get underway!

Are You Missing Out on Money from the DC Government as You File Taxes?

As we get closer to the tax deadline, I want to remind residents (and tax preparers) that working adults and parents earning less than $60,000 per year are likely eligible for bigger tax refunds, thanks to the DC Council. Folks working in the gig economy, lower-paying industries, and seasonally can supplement their incomes by filing for the DC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on their federal tax filings. They could then automatically receive a locally funded match that nearly doubles how much they get back on their refund! 

But many people miss out on this opportunity entirely. If you file your taxes online or with tax preparation assistance, you almost always receive the credit due to the support you receive when filing. However, for people who choose paper filing and do it themselves, only 57% receive it, even if they're eligible, likely because it can be easier to miss or incorrectly calculate if you’re doing your own taxes.

So, if you qualify, don't miss out! File your taxes to get the DC EITC today.

Find Out-of-School-Time Programs

A new online platform aims to make it easier for families to find and register for after-school and summer programs. Check out the My Out of School Time DC (MOST-DC) portal, which provides a one-stop shop for parents to explore programs for kindergarten through 12th-grade students.

Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant Has Expanded, and It's Now Open

The Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant is now open, funding small businesses in designated commercial corridors to make capital improvements and create new job opportunities for District residents.

For a business to be eligible, it must have a physical location in a Great Streets corridor. The good news is that I introduced, and the Council passed, legislation to expand those areas (see more in a video from last year). So, now, businesses in parts of Eastern Market, Barracks Row, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and Mount Vernon Triangle are included (you can verify these areas). Learn more and apply here!

Know a LGBTQ+ Owner of a DC Business?

The District is hosting World Pride this summer, and we expect about 3 million people from around the world to visit. How about we make sure they know where to go to support locally owned, LGBTQ+-owned businesses? The Office of Planning, the Mayor's Office on LGBTQ Affairs, and the Department of Small and Local Business Development are creating a map of food, fashion, art, and other retail businesses owned by the LGBTQ+ community. This map is exclusively opt-in, so any LGBTQ-identifying business owners and artists can submit their information here.

Free Summer Environmental Academy Just for Middle-Schoolers

The Anacostia Watershed Society offers a free Summer Environmental Academy for 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-graders living in the Anacostia River Watershed in DC. Through this explorative, outdoor, recreational, and educational experience, students learn about their river and local environment while developing skills in team building, critical thinking, and scientific investigation. Camp days are June 23, 24, and 25, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Learn more and apply here by May 30.

Students Earn Prize for Demanding Statehood

I have the privilege of preaching about statehood often, especially to students. One recent conversation landed in a documentary project that earned DC International School students Sukey Hayden and Joe Book second prize (High School East Division) in C-SPAN's Student Cam competition! They competed against more than 1,700 documentaries from nearly 3,500 students, so this is a big deal. Their documentary will be featured on C-SPAN around 6:50 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, but you can also view it here. Congrats, Sukey and Joe! 

Upcoming Events

• Movies in Milian: Starting Wednesday, April 2, around sundown at Milian Park, 499 Massachusetts Ave. NW
  The Mount Vernon CID is bringing back its movie series, starting with National Treasure this week. More movies will be shown on Wednesdays in April.
  
  
• Community Ca$h Conference: Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shirley Chisholm Elementary School, 1001 G St. SE
  This second annual financial literacy event will offer different sessions, including family finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship. You can also sign up for a free and confidential check-in with a certified finance professional. Register for the free event.
  
  
• Student Safety Conversation: Tuesday, April 8, 6 p.m. at Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Place SW
  I'm joining the Office of the Student Advocate, Parents Amplifying Voices in Education (PAVE), and the DC Charter School Alliance in hosting this dialogue and action planning around school and neighborhood safety in Ward 6. 
  
  
• Out to Lunch in Southwest: Wednesday, April 9, noon to 1:30 p.m. at Hancock Park, 800 C St. SW
  The Southwest BID hosts this lunch break outdoors with music by Emma G, free popsicles, DOEE demos, safety equipment giveaways, and more.
  
  
• 4th Street SW Visioning Workshop: Thursday, April 10, 12:30 p.m.
  Are you a Southwest resident, community leader, business owner, or property owner/manager interested in 4th Street SW? This is your chance to share your vision for the corridor.

Save the Date: Open Streets Comes to Capitol Hill

The District Department of Transportation has announced that Open Streets will head to Capitol Hill for the first time. These events provide communities with the unique opportunity to experience their neighborhoods by temporarily closing roadways to vehicles to allow for walking, biking, skating, playing, and other social activities. Open Streets Capitol Hill will be on Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on North Carolina Avenue SE, East Capitol Street, and Massachusetts Avenue SE, spanning more than a mile from 6th Street to 17th Street SE.

Businesses along the route can also expand into the street for outdoor dining, vending, and other activations. To apply, businesses should complete the Business Participation Form by Friday, May 30.

Calling Ward 6 Soccer Fans

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! As a reward, you can reply to this email for a chance to score tickets to the Spirit v. NJ/NY Gotham FC match on Saturday, April 26, at 1 p.m.

See you around the neighborhood,

Charles Allen