Coronavirus Update:

Dear Neighbors,

The Mayor has announced that the District's mask mandate will be relaxed beginning Monday, November 22nd. We will learn the particulars once she releases the official Mayoral Order, but right now we know that mask wearing will no longer be required while indoors (businesses will maintain the discretion to require masks, however). Masks will still be required when on public transit, at certain government agencies, and while inside schools, libraries, and childcare facilities. While DC Health did not maintain a strict case metric for the decision to lift the mandate, we do know that the District's coronavirus metrics are moving in the right direction.

The current daily case rate is 11.5 cases per 100,000 people, which is down significantly from the peak of the Delta variant wave (25-30 per 100,000). And, even as we experience breakout cases and the gradual waning of immunity from the first round of doses, the data continues to point to vaccination as the chief means to preventing illness and hospitalization: 85% of all new local COVID-19 cases have been among the unvaccinated. Meanwhile, the fully vaccinated account for only 2.7% of area hospitalizations.

Looking at our schools, the outlook is even better. 72.2% of children aged 12+ are fully vaccinated. In just the first week of operations, 3,076 children aged 5-11 were vaccinated at DC Health's neighborhood-based pop-up clinics. Demand for vaccinations in this younger age group remains high and DC Health is working to expand the number of clinics in the upcoming weeks. At the moment, sites are limited to 250-300 doses each, but this number should increase as additional shipments arrive.

Upcoming Ward 3 pediatric vaccination clinics:

Please note: if you plan on having a non-guardian bring your child to one of the pop-up vaccination sites, please print and sign the Trusted Party Consent and Verification Form (one form per child).

November 19th at 3:30 pm: Janney Elementary School (4130 Albemarle St NW)
November 23rd (Time TBD): Janney Elementary School (4130 Albemarle St NW)
December 2nd (Time TBD): The Palisades Recreation Center (5200 Sherier Pl NW)

It has been incredibly heartening to see so many eager families and happy children at our Ward 3 pop-up clinics. After seeing some parents turned away at the end of the line after all the doses were accounted for, I would like to stress that families should not feel limited to only pursuing the walk-up clinics. The search engine vaccines.gov is a great resource in terms of showing available vaccine appointments for adults and children at local pharmacies, hospitals, healthcare providers, etc. If the walk-up clinics remain the best option for your family, you will find it helpful to follow the City Administrator on Twitter (@DC_OCA) where he reports available doses at local clinics in real time as well as when sites reach capacity.

Regards,

Mary

DC SEU Launches Electric Leafblower Rebate Program

Electrify this Winter - In 2018, Council passed Councilmember Cheh's "Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act" to phase-out the use and sale of gas-powered leaf blowers by January 2022. Not only are gas-powered leaf blowers noisy and disruptive, but they are also exceptionally polluting and harmful to the environment, public health, and local wildlife.

In anticipation of the upcoming deadline, the DC Sustainable Energy Utility has launched a rebate program to replace commercial and residential gas-powered leaf blowers with electric or battery-powered alternatives:

$50 rebate for residential equipment
$75 rebate for commercial equipment

Rebates will be available through December 31st, 2021.

Celebrating Iona's Sally White

Iona Senior Services - After 35 years of exemplary service, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of the District's older adults, Sally White has retired from her position as the Executive Director of Iona Senior Services.

To celebrate her incredible tenure and many contributions to the organization, Ward 3 community, and vulnerable seniors across the District, Councilmember Cheh presented Sally with a Ceremonial Resolution (pictured above) at her retirement. Sally is an exceptional talent and an exceptional person, and she will be greatly missed.

To read more about Sally's work, please see: Sally White Recognition Resolution of 2021

Ward 3 Community Corner

Help Street Sense Vendors Stay Warm this Winter

Winter Clothing Drive - Street Sense Media publishes a weekly newspaper chronicling the news, challenges, and perspectives of those experiencing homelessness in the District of Columbia. The paper's self-employed distributors/vendors have or are currently experiencing homelessness.

Street Sense vendors will continue to sell the paper through the winter months and could use our help in accessing hats, gloves, hand warmers, and socks.

To help Street Sense vendors stay warm this winter, please consider making a donation through the organization's Amazon Wish List: here.

New Traffic Safety Investigation Dashboard

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has launched an interactive Traffic Safety Investigation dashboard to enable residents to report traffic safety concerns, track open safety investigations, and follow the agency's progress in implementing traffic calming measures from start to finish. And, while there are outstanding concerns with maintaining adequate public engagement in this new streamlined process, the public dashboard is one important step in terms of transparency and accountability for the agency in its pursuit of Vision Zero.

Here are some important points to keep in mind when requesting a Traffic Safety Investigation:

Timeline - From start to finish, a Traffic Safety Investigation request is estimated to take 130 business days.

Data Collection - Traffic Safety Investigations may require extensive data collection depending on the type of intervention and roadway classification.

Changes that would require data collection include: intersection signalization, lane configuration changes, vertical traffic calming (e.g. speed tables) on non-local roads, one-way conversions, stop signs, and other traffic calming measures.

Implementation of Safety Mitigations - If a safety mitigation is deemed necessary, then DDOT develops recommendations and prepares a work order for construction. If recommendations change existing traffic control and/or on-street parking, a Notice of Intent (NOI) will be required.

The NOI includes a 30 business-day public comment period.
For most mitigations that do not require an NOI, installation typically occurs in the next calendar quarter after the TSI is completed.

Submitting a Request - Residents, ANC Commissioners, and local businesses can request a Traffic Safety Investigation online through the 311 website, by calling 311, or by using the DC311 app.

Reminder: Fall Leaf Collection is Underway

Leaf Collection - As in years past, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will be conducting two series of residential leaf collections this fall. Residents should rake their leaves into the tree box (or at the curb if there is no tree box) by the Sunday of their scheduled collection week. All of the leaves collected by DPW will be composted.

Click Here for the Full Leaf Collection Schedule

If your leaf collections are missed during your home's scheduled collection window, please alert the agency by calling 311.

Let's Hear it for our Ward 3 Clean Teams!

Keeping Commercial Corridors Beautiful - There are 36 Clean Teams deployed across the District tasked with a broad array of responsibilities to help keep our commercial corridors clean and beautiful. This includes the removal of litter and graffiti, the maintenance of street trees, and the landscaping of planters, hanging baskets, and tree boxes. Ward 3 has three Clean Teams that work along Connecticut Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, and Glover Park.

Pictured left is the Connecticut Avenue Clean Team clearing wet leaves from the sidewalk in Forest Hills. Our Clean Teams are invested in our communities –be sure to thank the crew if you see a Clean Team in action!

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Spotlight on Blue Collar Cats

In 2017, the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) created the Blue Collar Cat program to provide a new care option for those cats that are perhaps too domesticated to join a cat colony, but too feral to be adopted.

Instead, Blue Collar Cats (which are spayed/neutered and vaccinated by HRA) are paired with homes and business in order to provide natural rat and pest abatement. In return, Blue Collar Cats are provided with an outdoor shelter, fresh water, and food.

Read more about the success of this niche program by clocking on the link below:

From Washington City Paper - Blue Collar Cats Have a Job to Do: Killing Pests

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to reach us via email or phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.