Click here to view this email in your browser and share it.
If you'd like to unsubscribe from all future emails, click here.

Friend –

This past week, I had the chance to join the Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter's first meeting of the year. We covered a range of issues, from needed improvements to bus service to the challenges of increased and sustained federal presence on our streets. This is a group I've spoken with many times over my time on the Council, and I always appreciate their partnership and perspective.

This Ward 6 Update is a full one, including plenty of local updates to catch up on as you hunker down for the storm. Before we dive in, I know for many residents, there's a lot of frustration and anger building as we watch federal agents abuse their authority in Minneapolis, just as they've done and are doing here. And on the heels of President Trump once again extending National Guard deployment of thousands of troops here in DC through 2026, I wanted to make sure you didn't miss this piece in Washingtonian, interviewing a member of the DC National Guard sharing their own frustration.

Miss the last newsletter about DC Water bills, traffic safety cameras, and more? Read it here.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up today.

Be Ready for Snow

While the forecast can still change (my children have told me they're betting on at least 30 inches), as of the time of sending this newsletter on Saturday morning, it's looking like DC may see a considerable amount of snow this weekend, beginning tonight and throughout Sunday. The cold will remain, meaning snow buildup and icy conditions will persist. So, let's run through some helpful reminders:

Mayor Declares State of Emergency: Mayor Bowser declared a State of Emergency for DC Friday (joining more than a half dozen other states), effective immediately, as well as a Snow Emergency, in effect from noon Saturday through at least 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. During that time, no one can park their car on snow emergency routes: See the full map here.
School Closures: DCPS has no school planned for Monday, but you can always expect an email or text to parents, as well as social media posts, if there are additional closures or delays beyond Monday. DC charter schools typically follow DCPS decisions, but each can make its own call, so you'll need to look to your normal channels of communication for your child's school.
Government Operations: The Federal government announces decisions through OPM. The DC government will often follow the feds, but the Mayor announces the official decision here.
- A note on trash pickup: With temperatures forecast to stay below freezing for most of next week, should we get a good snowfall, keep in mind that built-up snow and ice in streets and alleyways can easily disrupt DPW's operations. You can keep up to date with its status and any slide dates on social. For each day of closure, expect a similar slide schedule to a holiday, and it could be on your collection day that it happens later than normal, given DPW is playing catch-up and dealing with adverse conditions. You can use 311 to report missed collections, but please wait until the next day or late into the evening before submitting.
- Leaf collection will be paused: This same team is responsible for plowing snow.

Train & Bus: Look to WMATA for its official updates. It's safe to expect bus delays in icy conditions, and as we saw earlier this week, extreme cold can cause rail cracks. It's best to be informed before you head out, and you can always sign up for MetroAlerts, too.
Roads: With the amount of snow we're expecting, along with freezing temperatures, roadways will be dangerous. Don't risk driving on them unless you have to! City plows will be out, and you can track them here.
Sidewalks: Technically, we all have eight daylight hours after snowfall to clear the sidewalk, but don't wait. It's a good idea to clear the snow a couple of times during snowfall, that way it doesn't freeze and become too difficult to manage after. And remember, if you're healthy and able, please take a few extra minutes to help out a neighbor who could use a hand with this task. It makes a difference if we all pitch in a little in this way. And let's be honest, during a big snow event, we're not driving around - we're walking. So let's do our best to help clear those sidewalks.

Hypothermia Shelters: If you see any of our unhoused neighbors or others outside in the cold who need help, don't hesitate to use the Hypothermia Hotline at 202-399-7093. This cold will persist and cause dangerous conditions for people outside. If there's an emergency, call 911.

The District's Snow Team has updated information at snow.dc.gov.

Council Selects New Interim At-Large Councilmember

This week, the Council selected Doni Crawford to serve as an At-Large Councilmember, following the resignation of Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, until the special election for the seat is held in June. More than 40 people stepped forward for Council consideration to serve in this capacity, and I’m grateful to everyone who raised their hand. As I previously shared, I always prefer voters make this choice, but the Home Rule Act requires the Council make an interim selection. I'm confident Councilmember Crawford is ready to hit the ground running: I’ve worked with her, trust her judgment, and know she’ll prioritize strong oversight and serving DC residents well.

Have Ideas on How to Improve the DC Government? Performance Oversight Hearings Are Here.

If you have thoughts about what's working, what's not, or how District agencies are spending public dollars, now's your chance to put it on the record directly with the Council and agency leaders. The Council has started its annual agency Performance Oversight Hearings, where your testimony can help focus agencies and the Council on where we need to do better. The feedback and testimony we get here impacts the priorities and decisions we'll make around the budget in a few months.

As Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, I'll certainly spend a lot of time in the coming weeks focused on the agencies under my committee, including DDOT, WMATA, DMV, Department of Energy and Environment, DC Water, and the newly-added Public Service Commission and Office of People's Counsel.

But as your Ward 6 Councilmember, I'll also be in hearings on public schools, police and public safety, trash and recycling, small businesses, parks and recreation, and more to get updates on Ward 6 projects or areas where Ward 6 neighbors need to see improvement. I strongly encourage you to use this chance to testify in person, over Zoom, or in writing. You can find all upcoming hearings organized by committee here: https://lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings/

Related: Close followers of the Council might've noticed the addition of the Public Service Commission and the Office of the People's Counsel listed above for the Committee on Transportation and the Environment. This is another change following the resignation of Councilmember McDuffie to redistribute oversight for the agencies formerly in his committee. This has made particularly good sense for my committee, which will now include oversight of the Public Service Commission, which regulates energy and telecom providers serving DC residents, and the Office of the People's Counsel, which advocates for local consumers of utilities. Both of these relate closely to the work of other agencies already in the committee, and I look forward to having more conversations around them.

Other changes include:

Councilmember Frumin now has oversight of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, which is responsible for most of the major development deals involving city property or interests;
Councilmember Henderson now has oversight of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking;
Councilmember Felder will chair a subcommittee focused on the Department of Small and Local Business Development and the community benefits agreement aspect of the RFK Campus (Council practice is that newly elected members do not chair a full committee in their first two-year Council Period); and
Chairman Mendelson will have oversight of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, which includes the Office of Tax and Revenue.

Elementary School Gets Another Step Closer to New Name of Gardner Bishop

Members of the (currently named) Brent Elementary School community came to the Wilson Building on Jan. 13 to share why they believe their school should be renamed Gardner Bishop Elementary School as part of a hearing on legislation I introduced to change the name.

For those who don't yet know, there's a lot happening at Brent, which is currently "swinging" to Meyer Elementary while its current building undergoes a full modernization. With that, the Brent community has seized the opportunity to have its namesake be someone who more appropriately reflects the school community's values. As speakers shared at the Council's hearing, the school followed a thorough and transparent process — modeled after the Shirley Chisholm Elementary renaming effort — to gather input from both the school community and the broader neighborhood. Eventually, they agreed on Gardner Bishop, who was a barber, civil rights leader, activist, and a key proponent of the fight to equalize and desegregate the District’s public schools in the 1940s and 1950s.

In terms of next steps, residents may submit testimony on the name change until 5 p.m. Jan. 27. After the record closes, the Council Chairman will move the bill, at his discretion, to a committee vote – the final step before it moves to the full Council for two votes.

I'm happy to say this has been a transparent, good-faith, collaborative, and organic effort led by the school community to decide how it wants to define itself and carry its values into the future. As a policymaker, I’m grateful to everyone who testified and to the many families and community members whose years of advocacy brought us to this moment.

Rumsey Meeting Shows Updated Designs with More Details

DPR's community meeting on Rumsey Aquatic Center last week filled the North Hall of Eastern Market as we took a closer look at updated designs for this generational modernization project. Now, I shared an update in my last newsletter, but the presentation showed us more details, including better visuals of the plans, a clearer layout of the second floor with two community rooms, a senior center with a terrace overlooking the main plaza, an observation deck for parents and fans to watch the pool, a fitness center, and some kind of collaboration room. In the video I shared earlier this month, I also mentioned how the surrounding area – especially the alley separating the pool and Eastern Market and the C Street backside – would be improved, and in the update, we see a visual of more walking space, some landscaping, and lighting in place of stark walls and cracked pavement. I'm also happy to see the lobby shows a design to honor the legacy of the center and Dr. Rumsey.

I'm very excited about the progress made since the last community meeting, but there's still some work to be done. We need to make sure we're expanding the potential water uses and footprint, building for the community's aquatic programming needs, and listening to the Eastern Market small business community about how to actually activate the site - especially C Street. So, there's more to come. You can look at the timeline here, including the next regulatory steps for DPR and DGS. A community meeting on the final design, and possibly the start of construction, should happen this year. Take a look through the designs to get a closer look at both inside and outside the future pool, and thanks to so many neighbors for your continued advocacy.

Harris Teeter to Finally Terminate Lease at Jenkins Row

If you live near or walk by 1350 Potomac Ave SE, you know it's sat empty since Harris Teeter moved out four years ago. The reason that hasn't changed is that the grocery store has held on to the lease, preventing anyone from activating the space in any way -- a source of enormous frustration for me, Jenkins Row residents, and neighbors nearby.

But last week, Larry Janezich broke the news that Harris Teeter announced that the company has "a fully executed termination agreement" for the location. That doesn't mean the lease has been terminated yet. But at the very least, progress is finally inching forward in getting this space active again. This, combined with the good news of the Streets Market about to open soon, a couple of blocks away, makes for more activation at this important end of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania-Potomac Ave SE Intersection Construction Heads South for Next Phase

If your daily travels involve navigating around Pennsylvania and Potomac Avenues SE, you may have seen more construction activity on the southern side. DDOT has begun Phase 3A, which focuses on that area of the plan to redesign this intersection.

This part of the work will include the expansion of the sidewalk in front of Bank of America (the southwest corner), reshaping the sidewalk in front of The Roost (southeast corner), as well as associated underground electrical and traffic signal work. Weather permitting, this work should be done in the spring. The overall project is slated to have construction continue through 2026.

Kicking Off a Planning Process for H Street's Future

For my H Street neighbors, I'm happy to share that the Office of Planning has awarded a contract to conduct a land analysis and market study as part of mapping out a new plan for H Street's future. This level of investment is the direct result of the hard work that came out of the H Street Alliance, where neighbors came together with me and my office to push for improvements on the corridor to safety, public space, and better support for the fantastic businesses – and to tell a different story about H Street. I'll provide more information as the study gets underway if there are ways to get involved as residents or businesses on the corridor.

DDOT to Begin 8th Street SE Bus Priority Project

Last week, DDOT finally issued a formal notification to the community for the upcoming construction to bring the 8th Street Bus Priority Project to life. This is great news, as the planning for this project has stretched over several years. The installation of bus lanes on part of 8th Street SE will speed up both the C53, which had the highest number of daily boardings on average of any bus route in the system for the final months of 2025, and the C55, which provides a crucial connection from Union Station to Southwest via Capitol Hill.

Changes also include shifted and expanded bus stops to better serve the accordion-style buses, which move more than 12,000 riders each weekday along the route, and the inclusion of some 10-minute parking to provide space for rideshare and delivery drivers to park without gumming up all of Barracks Row. Last year, DDOT implemented a request from my office to change the parking lot under 695 from two-hour to eight-hour parking to give employees of businesses better parking options that wouldn't compete with residents. Overall, I'm thrilled this project is moving forward and grateful for the input from many residents and businesses along Barracks Row, which has helped shape it into one that works for everyone. Residents are invited to provide final comments on the project before Feb. 27, after which final adjustments to the designs may be made, and construction will begin later this spring. View the notice and share feedback here.

Garfield Park-Canal Park Connector Project to Enter Phase 2 of Construction

DDOT is continuing to the next phase of the Garfield Park-Canal Park Connector Project, which includes the space beneath the freeway connecting the two parks. I identified funding to fully redesign this area, and it's good to see work is advancing.

The Phase 2 construction begins Monday, Jan. 26, and is expected to last six to eight weeks. Phase 1 construction will continue at the same time. Residents near the Phase 2 construction area will experience the following:

Sidewalk closures along F and First Streets SE
Detours around closed sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists
Vehicle travel lane shifts along F and First Streets SE
Parking restrictions near the intersection of F and First Streets SE

You can get all the details of the project here.

DC Water Pauses Changes to Clean Rivers Fees

After hearing concerns from residents and community leaders, DC Water has confirmed it will delay any changes to how Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charges (CRIAC fees) are calculated until at least Fiscal Year 29 (which will begin Oct. 1, 2028).

This means no changes to how individual properties are measured for these fees for the next several years, giving DC Water time to reevaluate its approach, improve accuracy, and better account for affordability and community impact. Annual rate adjustments will still go through the normal budget process, but the proposed measurement changes are officially on hold.

I appreciate DC Water responding to community feedback and committing to a more transparent, thoughtful process. I’ll continue working to ensure residents are protected from unexpected cost increases and that any future changes are fair, accurate, and clearly communicated.

Help With Winter Energy Bills

With colder weather driving up energy use and utility bills, Pepco and the Salvation Army have expanded their Customer Relief Fund, adding $1.5 million to help DC and Maryland households struggling with higher energy costs.

Eligible limited- and moderate-income DC residents will be able to apply for up to $300 in bill assistance when the fund re-opens in early February. This assistance is meant to help families manage higher winter energy bills. I’m glad to see additional resources being made available for residents who need support during the coldest months of the year. But I admit I'm also frustrated that I haven't seen Pepco take a more aggressive stance on larger grid issues that are driving much of the cost increases being passed on to ratepayers (you might remember I joined a failed push for the regional grid manager, PJM, to stop prioritizing data centers and big tech over residents and businesses late last year).

DDOT Reopens E-Bike Incentive Program to Eligible DC Residents

The E-Bike Incentive Program returns! I wrote the legislation creating this program to make e-bikes more accessible, especially to lower-income riders, and to support local bike shops. So far, more than 600 residents have gotten bikes through the program. Funny enough, several of those residents have come up to me out in the community to tell me how much their e-bike has changed their day-to-day.

It's not a rebate either, but a voucher for as much as $1,500 that people can use to buy an e-bike on the front end. This application cycle, running Feb. 1-21, is only open to District residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, or the DC Healthcare Alliance. Vouchers can be used toward an e-bike, helmet, and bicycle lock at authorized retailers. Not all applicants receive a voucher; recipients will be chosen at random. Residents can apply here.

Council Legislation Paves Way to Major Office-to-Home Conversion with DC Green Bank Funds

Earlier this month, the DC Green Bank and Nuveen Green Capital announced the closing of $465 million in DC PACE financing for an office-to-residential conversion in Ward 1, at 1825-1875 Connecticut Ave. NW. This is the largest loan DC Green Bank has issued to date, made possible with emergency legislation from the Council I introduced last month.

As DC works to revitalize its downtown with a mix of uses, this project stands out as the largest office-to-residential conversion to date in the city. Thanks to the Green Bank financing, this redevelopment will build 632 new homes — including 61 affordable units — and is expected to save roughly $380,000 each year in utility costs due to the building's improved energy efficiency. That's great news for future residents!

We know housing is expensive, and that's why investments like these matter in every corner of the city. It’s also why I fight each year to ensure the DC Green Bank has the funding it needs. So more projects can access affordable, clean-energy financing that lowers costs, cuts emissions, and delivers real savings for residents across all eight wards.

Additionally, this past week, DC Green Bank and PACE Equity announced another closing of $2.97 million in PACE financing for a new, energy-efficient, seven-unit multifamily community in Ward 1. It's another loan that will support efficient and high-performing systems, this time next to the Howard University campus and the U Street neighborhood.

I always try to include these projects, even the ones outside of Ward 6, so folks understand why I fight for those dollars in the budget every year. Even with all of the uncertainty happening nationally and regionally due to the erratic federal government, the Green Bank is playing a key role in moving forward with new homes.

Share Your Thoughts About Mount Vernon Triangle

Whether you live, work, or visit Mount Vernon Triangle, your thoughts about the area can help the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District with future planning. The annual survey is the CID's most important tool for measuring real-time sentiment among people experiencing the neighborhood, and it helps compare trends over the years and guide where the CID puts its focus and energy.

Take the Survey

Come to the First Neighborhood Office Hours of 2026!

If you have some time on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 30, I hope you can join my team and me at Bar Chinois for office hours. While many of our neighborhood office hours are in the morning, I know for many folks an afternoon works best. So, if you can, swing by 455 I St. NW between 4 and 5:30 p.m., and let's chat about whatever's on your mind. I hope to see you there. RSVP.

Events

Ward 6 DPR Construction Update: Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. online
The Department of Parks and Recreation hosts this meeting for residents to engage with its team and gain insight into construction projects coming to and ongoing in Ward 6. Register.
Ride to Ice Skating: Friday, Jan. 30, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. starting from Maury Elementary's parking lot (12th Place NE)
Hill Family Biking hosts this 4-mile ride geared for t(w)eens (6th grade and up) to enjoy free ice skating and pizza at Canal Park. Parents optional; lights, water bottles, and helmets are required. The bike ride is free and open to all. Register.
DC Camp Fair: Saturday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Stuart-Hobson Middle School (410 E St. NE)
This event brings together a wide range of camps in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, from traditional camps to academic, arts, music, and special-interest programs.
DPR Lottery Training Session: Tuesday, Feb. 3, at noon, online and Thursday, Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m., in person at Rosedale Recreation Center (1701 Gales St. NE)
The Department of Parks and Recreation offers training sessions to help parents and caregivers understand how the lottery works so they can get their children enrolled in camp. If you find the process intimidating, save the info for the virtual one on Feb. 3 or the in-person option at Rosedale Rec on Feb. 5. The actual DPR Summer Camp lottery window will open on Monday, Feb. 2: Applications may be submitted at any time during the open lottery period, and placement is determined through a random selection process.
Efficient Home Training: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., online
Electrify DC is hosting a virtual group coaching session with electric coaches from Go Electric DMV. Bills are high right now with the cold, and you'd be surprised how much money you can save each month with simple efficiency changes. At this virtual event, you'll learn how to switch to cleaner, more energy-efficient appliances, helping you save money and start the year with a healthier home.

Ticket Time

Thanks for making your way through this thorough Ward 6 Update! If you'd like to see the Wizards take on the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, Feb. 19, reply to this email for a chance to get two tickets.

See you around the neighborhood,

Charles Allen

Councilmember Charles Allen · 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20004, United States
This email was sent to [email protected] · Unsubscribe