Click here if this email is hard to read.
If you'd like to unsubscribe from all future emails, click here.

Friend –

I started Wednesday morning this week by joining Ward 6 neighbors in Lincoln Park for this fall's Walk & Roll to School Day. Given how heavy the world can feel, this was exactly the start to the day I think we all needed.

Turning to the more somber news on everyone's mind: A government shutdown impacts every American, but it has unique impacts (as usual) on DC residents. Certainly, for the thousands of furloughed workers now home or working without pay, the longer this stretches on, the more stressful it will become. With the first missed paychecks hitting many federal workers imminently, the strain is going to grow, and let's all look out for our neighbors. I have a list of resources to help below and will share more that come to us on social media. One consequence of the shutdown has meant that the DC Superior Court's Marriage Bureau, which is federally funded, has been shuttered. The Council stepped in to fill the gap on Tuesday by passing emergency legislation to grant the Mayor the power to issue marriage licenses during a shutdown.

What's at stake is significant for many Americans, and not just DC families. Congress and the White House are refusing to act to help people afford healthcare – plain and simple. If Obamacare supports aren't extended, health insurance costs will double for many and triple for others. All at a time when the cost of everything keeps going up. And without Statehood and voting representation for DC, our views and voices are sidelined yet again.

Anyway, I have some good updates below on what's been happening at the Council to share, so let's dive in.

QUICK LINKS: Slowing Dangerous Drivers | Public Safety | Resources for Furloughed Neighbors | Bottle Bill Update | Streetcar's Wind-Down | New Stadium, Community Calls for New Transit | Dual-Language Learners Continue | Out-of-School Time Survey | Platform for Sexual Assault Survivors | Time to Plant Trees | Volunteer to Help with Taxes | Resident Win | You're Invited to Office Hours | Community Events

Miss the last newsletter about the final stadium vote, access to vaccines, and the STEER Act in action? Read it here.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up today.

First-in-Nation Speed Governors Soon to be Deployed on Criminal Reckless Drivers

This month, the DMV is finally rolling out another part of my STEER Act to hold dangerous drivers accountable. Starting this month, DC will be the first jurisdiction in the nation to install a device on the car of someone who is convicted in court of criminal reckless driving or worse. Last month, I sent a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles reminding the agency that we funded the next phase of the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (“STEER”) Act: adding "speed governors" to limit how fast people with a record of aggravated reckless driving can go. It’s an ambitious step forward under the STEER Act to make our streets safer, and I’m encouraged to see it moving ahead.

Public Safety Update

We continue to see sharp declines in every category of violent and property crime, continuing a strong trend dating back to last year. Criminologist Jeff Asher has some levelheaded thoughts on how to tease out what's behind the decline, given the federal occupation, and even though DC was driving down crime for many months before August.

MPD and ICE Coordination: Many concerns remain about the nature of coordination between federal law enforcement, especially ICE, and MPD. The Washington Post did some dogged reporting and finally got confirmation of what people have seen circulate on social media and in police interactions: there is still some level of coordination between MPD and ICE ongoing, a violation of DC values and the common-sense District law I led the Council to pass a few years back. This is a bad idea for many reasons, including ICE's well-documented detention of American citizens and residents with legal status and clear disregard for constitutional rights, as we've seen here in DC and disturbingly now in Chicago and Portland, OR. The distrust created by their misconduct is also hurting MPD's ability to solve crimes because more and more residents are going to question if they should call the police and risk inviting ICE into a situation where they just want a police officer to respond quickly.

National Guard NoMa Metro Response: On Friday, Oct. 3, several neighbors reached out to share their concern about a heavy-handed response to an incident on the NoMa Metro platform. I don't have all of the details yet, but my understanding is that a woman went onto the tracks to retrieve a child's toy, which is not okay and very dangerous. But there was then a significant response from multiple law enforcement agencies, the National Guard, and likely federal enforcement agencies that, as reported to me, escalated the situation, separating the woman from her young children in handcuffs while a large crowd gathered. I have asked the WMATA Board to look into the incident and will also be requesting body-worn camera video for responding MPD officers to better understand what happened. 

Ward 6 Updates: 

• MPD Investigating Shooting in Southwest: MPD is investigating a shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon, Oct. 10, on the 300 block of 6th Street SW, where a 17-year-old male was shot in the arm and leg and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A vehicle and building window were also struck. Anyone with information or video can contact the Real Time Crime Center at 202-727-9099.
  
  
• MPD Makes Arrest in Navy Yard Shooting: On Monday, MPD announced an arrest in an Oct. 2 shooting in Navy Yard near Half and L Street SE. 
  
  
• MPD Makes Arrest in Moped Theft on Barracks Row: Last weekend, MPD made an arrest shortly after three young people stole a moped while armed. MPD arrested a 14-year-old later that afternoon and is searching for two others involved.

Resources for Furloughed Federal Employees

While the federal government is shut down, we can take some comfort in knowing that the District government remains fully operational: DC is open for residents and visitors. The 51st also has a breakdown of how things work during a shutdown, though the Council’s recent vote to help marriages proceed during the closure is an update. 

However, it’s no secret that DC, and especially Ward 6, has a high concentration of federal employees who call the District home. In this time of instability, I encourage everyone to be a good neighbor to one another and stick together. I also want to share some resources that may be helpful, and, as always, feel free to also reach out to my office:

• DC’s Department of Employment Services has a Federal Government Shutdown FAQ.
• All federal government employees affected by the shutdown can file an initial UI claim.
• Pepco assistance
• Washington Gas assistance
• DC Water assistance
• US Office of Personnel Management furlough guidance
• Federal Student Aid relief
• If you’re concerned about making your mortgage payment because of the shutdown, contact your loan officer.
• Similarly, for renters: Reach out to your landlord ASAP.
• Capital Area Food Bank
• The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has launched a digital tool for displaced federal workers.

Hearing on Bottle Bill Lays Out Broad Support and Operational Challenges 

Last week, the Council's Committee on Business and Economic Development held an all-day hearing on a proposed bill to create a redemption program in the District for correctly recycling plastic and glass bottles, known as the "Bottle Bill". This isn't a new concept, and depending on where you grew up, you might already be very familiar. Basically, all eligible bottles would have a small value, usually 5-10 cents, redeemable as a deposit when the bottle is returned to a collection point. This creates incentives to do a much better job of recycling these bottles and reducing trash from our streets, sidewalks, and rivers. And despite how much I love that Ward 6 regularly hosts clean-ups and turns out in big numbers for the annual Great Ward 6 Spring Clean, we need to do a better job keeping these bottles out of the environment in the first place. A bottle redemption program is a simple, proven way to do that. Unsurprisingly, states with a bottle redemption program have much higher rates of recycling. WUSA 9 joined a boat tour of the Anacostia last week and has a good summary of the issue.

There are challenges to work through, particularly in supporting our local businesses that sell bottled products. The goal here is to get the mega corporations to contribute their fair share (more than 95% of plastic bottles in the Anacostia Watershed originate from the top 10 brands in the world), not create an extra burden for local businesses. I heard loud and clear the concerns and some impracticalities we need to work through at the hearing from some of our favorite local businesses. And given DC shares a close border with Virginia and Maryland, how do we ensure this program only rewards bottles sold in DC? Hopefully, Maryland isn't too far behind in creating its own redemption program. 

Having lived through the "bag bill" fight nearly two decades ago, I can tell you this can make a huge difference, and often the concerns about the cost increases usually aren't borne out. For instance, on the day of the hearing, I compared the cost to order a 24-pack of water from multiple states with a bottle bill in place with what it would cost me to order from right in my neighborhood. It was advertised at the exact same price.

Next month, the bill will be referred to my Committee on Transportation and the Environment, and I'll keep you updated on the next steps.

H Street's Streetcar Will Wind Down Service Next Spring

Following the Mayor's elimination of the DC Streetcar in the budget, we now have a timeline for winding down the iconic, if not a little misunderstood, Streetcar. As I've said before, the elimination of the Streetcar was disappointing and a cut too big to reverse within my committee's budget purview. And once westward expansion was blocked, the Streetcar's utility was severely limited, and it realistically came with a heavy price tag. 

Effective Jan. 4, 2026, there will be revised operation hours, with increased headway to 20 minutes with 3 streetcars:

• Monday through Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday: No service

The DC Streetcar has a planned elimination date of March 31, 2026.

I included in the FY26 budget a study to force DDOT and the city to seriously consider what comes next for H Street, Benning Road, and the RFK stadium campus. Not only will we need some sort of reliable transit option to connect all three, but there's a tremendous opportunity to do so. 

Planning the Future of Transit Around the Commanders Stadium

With the deal done to bring the Washington Commanders back to the RFK stadium site, we're now focused on improving and creating transit to best serve not just games, but the entirely new community that will grow here. Work to expand Metro service should've started yesterday, so we can't delay now! We also can't just start construction without carefully understanding what's needed, which is why WMATA, the District, and the team are conducting a full analysis, leading to a decision for what will best serve the site. That $2 million planning agreement was finalized this week so that WMATA will conduct a review to scope ideas like expanding and modernizing the Stadium-Armory station, adding a new Metro station at Oklahoma and Benning Road, creating stronger connections along H Street and Benning Road, and more. We have a funding source for transit development on the site, and the land is secured. I'll continue to push to have a neighborhood built around great Metro service and an NFL stadium with the best transit access in the country. We should have more than 30,000 fans taking Metro to a game: Learn more from my conversation with Eric Flack of WUSA9.

DCPS Announces Dual-Language Curriculum Coming to Jefferson Middle School, Big Win for Ward 6 Students

Good news for some Spanish dual-language students. Working with parents and leaders at Chisholm Elementary School, I've been pushing for expanding our city's dual-language options for families within DC Public Schools. Last week, Chancellor Ferebee announced that DCPS will expand its dual-language curriculum to Jefferson Middle School. This is a particularly great outcome for students at Chisholm Elementary School, who have been advocating for continuing the dual-language program into middle school. Over the summer, District leaders worked with the Chisholm community on how best to extend access, and I'm thankful to Chancellor Ferebee and his team for identifying a solution that works and maintains a strong connection to the DCPS feeder pattern. Details on how it will be implemented will be shared directly through the school system.

This is a big win for our students growing up with two languages!

Share Your Experience with Out-of-School Time Programming

If you're a DC parent/guardian of a child or youth in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Deputy Mayor for Education wants to hear from you. There's a survey to help understand your needs, interests, and any barriers to your child's participation in afterschool and/or summer programming, for the purpose of continuous improvement. Fill it out here, and feel free to share with your network.

New Service for Sexual Assault Survivors

The DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence has relaunched ASK DC, a digital platform designed to empower and support survivors of sexual assault. The revamped, mobile-ready website now includes new search and filtering tools, customizable sexual assault resource lists, enhanced accessibility, and content in nine languages. It also now includes more than 110 services, from medical and legal to mental health and emergency services, in one location. It's confidential, safe, and free for everyone. You can access the new platform here.

Thousands of Trees Are Coming to DC

DDOT has announced the start of its 2025-2026 tree planting season, with plans to plant between 6,000 and 8,000 trees across the District. This will include replacing trees that have been removed and adding trees to expand the tree canopy. We know more trees mean a better quality of life with cleaner air and water, more beautiful streets, and cooler neighborhoods. And you can join in! You can request a new tree on your street, city park, or rec center by texting or calling 311 or using the 311 portal, and there are free trees for your own yard. Thanks to DDOT's Urban Forestry Division and DOEE's RiverSmart Homes Program, Casey Trees provides free trees; you may also be eligible for a rebate through the RiverSmart program. Learn more.

Volunteer to Help Your Neighbors with Taxes

Since 1968, AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide volunteers have helped more than 80 million elderly people, low-income individuals, and others nationwide navigate the complex federal and state income tax filing process. And you could help this next tax season by volunteering as a client facilitator, communications specialist, or tax counselor. Tax-Aide training starts this fall: Learn more and sign up with AARP.

Constituent Corner Highlight

Our Constituent Services team is helping Ward 6 residents every single day, and I'm thankful for the countless hours that Jen (NE residents), Jeanne (SW + NW), and Kimberly (SE) put in for our neighbors. I want to share one example because this one was a doozy, but we stayed with it. Kimberly helped a Southeast senior secure a new boiler from DOEE to heat her home, as she wasn't able to afford the replacement on her fixed income. The neighbor had applied for the agency's Emergency Mechanical Systems program but didn’t initially meet the qualifications. Kimberly stepped in to assist, and the resident was ultimately approved.

However, after missing an appointment, she faced waiting another year to heat her home. Thankfully, Kimberly worked with DOEE and was able to find a solution when another applicant dropped off the waitlist – getting the resident her boiler before the weather turns. This neighbor had already waited too long for heat and would’ve faced another winter without it, but Kimberly’s persistence made all the difference.

As always, you can reach my team at 202-724-8072 and submit a constituent issue here.

Office Hours Head to Hill East

My next office hours event heads to the Pretzel Bakery, and I hope to see you there! From 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, you can stop by to share any concerns you may have with me and my staff. Of course, if you just want to say hi and grab a fresh pretzel, you're welcome to do that, too! You can RSVP here, and I'll see you Oct. 17.

Upcoming Events

• Jobs Not Guns and Jobs Not Drugs Recruitment and Resource Fair: Thursday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Fields at RFK (401 Oklahoma Ave. NE)
  This event will have employment opportunities, demonstrations, healthcare information, gun and drug prevention services, and more.
  
  
• Fall Fun Day: Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to noon, at Milian Park (499 Massachusetts Ave. NW)
  A children's costume parade, a dog costume contest, a mini pumpkin patch, face painting, cider tasting, live music, and more come to Mount Vernon Triangle!
  
  
• The Big Build: Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Building Museum (401 F St. NW)
  Children and adults can learn side-by-side with roofers, plumbers, designers, artisans, and more in this free, hands-on festival celebrating the world we design and build.
  
  
• Southwest Town Center Parks Renovation: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Southwest Library (900 Wesley Place SW)
  The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of General Services host this meeting to discuss the final designs and construction logistics for the renovations at the parks along Maple Drive and 4th Street SW. Note: I funded the second phase of this project in the new fiscal year budget starting this month, so there's more to come!
  
  
• Health Day: Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Eastern Market Metro Plaza (701 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
  This event, designed to promote wellness, dignity, and connection, particularly for neighbors who are unhoused or facing housing instability, will provide free medical services, access to resources, food, entertainment, and additional support.

Have a Hockey Halloween

Thanks for reading the Ward 6 Update! If you want to spend your Halloween evening at a hockey game, now's your chance to score tickets to see the Washington Capitals take on the New York Islanders. Just respond to this email.

See you around the neighborhood,

Charles Allen