January 12, 2022

Legislative Updates At a Glance

The Council adopted emergency legislation from Councilmember Cheh that extends the applicability of a number of protections approved by the Council through the public health emergency.

• Among the provisions, the legislation enables ANCs to continue to meet virtually, allows the Department of public Works to provide virtual compost trainings, makes several clarifications to utility customer protections, and extends the ceiling on fees that delivery apps charge local restaurants.
• To read more on the ongoing effort to protect local restaurants from exorbitant delivery app fees, please see The Washington City Paper.

Additionally, due to legislation passed by Councilmember Cheh, residents' hard copy 2020 visitor parking passes are now valid through April 15th, 2022. The extension was passed in order to provide the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) with more time to fix the many issues identified with ParkDC as well as address the new process problems identified by residents and Council offices.

The District's new Ward-level boundaries formally went into effect on January 1st (no changes to Ward 3), as did a number of laws and policies introduced by Councilmember Cheh, including:

• The ban on the use of highly disruptive and polluting gas-powered leaf blowers (more on this effort in The Atlantic)
• The Insulin Affordability Amendment Act, which protects residents from skyrocketing costs of life-saving insulin by capping the amount of out of pocket expenses a patient will pay to $30 for a 30 day supply of insulin and $100 for a 30 day supply of all medically necessary diabetes devices
• The requirement that all new construction, commercial building improvements, and multi-unit housing buildings that provide 3 or more parking spaces must install electric vehicle charging station infrastructure
• Producer battery recycling, source separation training, and source-separated glass recycling by waste collectors
• Energy management plans will also be created this year for each District-owned building, essentially providing a roadmap to retrofitting the District's existing building portfolio with sustainable infrastructure

And finally, Councilmember Bonds has set a hearing date of February 14th at 10:00 am for the "No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act". Previously detailed in the December 10th Ward 3 Update, this legislation, introduced by Councilmembers Cheh and Bonds, seeks to address senior hunger and food insecurity in the District. Residents may sign up to testify: here.

Join the Rock Creek Conservancy's MLK Weekend of Service

In the News - Roundup of New Laws in the Washington Region

From The Washington Post -

"...An environmental regulation passed by the D.C. Council in 2020 — the Zero Waste Omnibus Amendment Act — has several provisions that take effect Saturday. Most affect the government and trash collection companies, but residents might notice one: Restaurants will be barred by law from simply giving out plasticware with every meal.

Instead, they must only hand out plastic forks and spoons to people who ask for them — an idea meant to keep unwanted plastic from ending up in landfills. The law also requires food-delivery apps to offer an option on their order forms asking D.C. users whether they want forks with their fries.

The Department of Energy and Environment will scroll through those apps in the new year to make sure they’re following the law, said D.C. Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), who first introduced the zero-waste bill in 2019."

Read the Full Story

Photos Wanted for the DC to Maine Postcard Campaign!

Support Our Ward 3 Neighbors this Winter

Compost Your Holiday Tree with DPW

Tree Collections - The Department of Public Works (DPW) will collect holiday trees and greenery for composting from now through February 28th. Residents can also drop-off holiday trees and greenery at the following locations:

• Benning Road Transfer Station (3200 Benning Road NE)
• Fort Totten Transfer Station (4900 John F. McCormack Drive NE)
• Bryant Street Sweep Shop (201 Bryant Street NW)
• South Capitol Street Graffiti Shop (2700 South Capitol Street SE)

The above sites will be open for drop off from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays.

Funding Available for Local Innovators & Environmentalists!

Winter Storm Resources to Keep on Hand

Sidewalk Shoveling Reminder: All residential and commercial property owners must remove snow/ice from the sidewalks around their property within the first eight hours of daylight after the storm ends. Residential property owners may be exempt from sidewalk shoveling enforcement if you live in your own home and are over the age of 65 and/or a person with a disability.

• Are you a senior or neighbor in need of assistance in clearing your sidewalk and front walkway this winter? Call Serve DC at (202) 727-7925 to request shoveling assistance from the Volunteer Snow Team.

City Services:

• New Plow Truck Tracker - Residents may follow the progress of the District's plows online with the new Snow Plow Tracker and should check Snow.DC.Gov for updates on city services.
• DC Public Schools (DCPS): Any closure or delay announcements will be posted on the DCPS homepage, Twitter, Facebook, AM/FM Radio, on channels 4, 5, 7, and 9 and on cable channels 8, 16, and 28.
• Trash & Recycling Collection: Daily trash and recycling pickup operations can be altered based upon road conditions during inclement weather. If your collections are more than two days behind after a snow storm, please report it to 311.
• Fallen Trees and Branches: Report fallen trees and branches to the Urban Forestry Division by calling 311.
• Alert DC: Sign up to receive emergency alerts, notifications, and updates sent directly to your phone: Here.

Utilities:

• DC Water: Water main breaks and other emergencies may be reported to DC Water by calling (202) 612-3400.
• Pepco: To report outages, view current outages, and receive restoration notifications, call 1-877-737-2662 or go online: Here.
• Washington Gas: To report gas leakage or outage emergency, call 703-750-1400 or 800-752-7520.
• METRO: WMATA announces service suspensions and delays online via their service website and Twitter account.

Resources for those Experiencing Homelessness: Free transportation to an emergency shelter or warming site is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in the District 24/7 during a Cold Weather Emergency and/or Hypothermia Alert. Blanket and cold weather clothing delivery is also available through the Department of Human Services.

• Shelter Hotline: To request a wellness check on a neighbor in need or to help coordinate transportation to shelter or a warming center, please call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093.

Pets Left Outdoors: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pet. District law prohibits animals left outside for longer than 15 minutes in temperatures below freezing and requires that certain shelter and standards of care be met for pets kept outside.

• Humane Rescue Alliance: Call (202) 576-6664 for animal-related emergencies and to report neglect or abuse, including animals left out in extreme weather.

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Spotlight on the Women Behind Bistro Aracosia in the Palisades

From The Washington Post - As their homeland fell to the Taliban, these Afghan women rose to lead a D.C. restaurant empire

"The hugging started happening after Kabul fell.

They are three of the four Afghan American women, including Taliha and Iman’s mother, Sofia, now in charge of this local restaurant empire — holding positions of power that the Taliban’s takeover has essentially denied to most women who’ve remained in their ancestral homeland. All but Sofia, who fled with her family from the Russian invasion of Afghanistan as a child in 1981, were born in the United States and raised in the Washington area. And they’ve ascended to running the family’s business only in the past four months, as a deliberate statement of defiance to what’s happened to the country and culture they love."

Read the Full Story

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.

FOLLOW MARY