Hi neighbors,

It finally feels like spring in DC—it’s exciting to see so many people outside and in the community again! I hope you’ll join me for upcoming events, including my annual public safety town hall with special guest Attorney General Karl Racine, and my monthly Brianne on Your Block meeting.

Today is also the 160th commemoration of Emancipation Day, the day slavery was abolished here in the District. As we honor this day we also recognize that many still struggle for freedom from present day oppression. Zoe and I will be marching in the parade at 2pm on Pennsylvania Ave, which will be followed by fireworks and a concert. I hope you can join us! Event details here. 

Throughout the pandemic it’s been difficult to get together safely, but we are still making every effort. I resumed my in-person monthly office hours, Brianne on Your Block, last year. My next office hours will be Monday, April 25—look for an announcement with hours and a location soon, in this newsletter and on social media.

As the weather warms up we’ll return to our pop-up office hours outside Metro stations and in other accessible public spaces, and of course I continue to join community meetings and residential meetings in person and over Zoom! You can also always reach me by email at [email protected] or call our office at 202-724-8181.

I was thrilled to join the Columbia Heights Village community this week for two special events for youth. Are you hosting an event or meeting on your block or in your building? Please let me know. I’d be glad to join. 

Annual Public Safety Town Hall

It has been a challenging time in the District when it comes to public safety—everyone deserves to feel safe in their own neighborhood and I hear concerns about crime almost every day. As a mother raising two little ones here in Ward 1, I know how important it is to end violent crime in communities across the District. And as your Councilmember, it's my goal to accomplish that for us all.

Please join Attorney General Karl Racine and me on Thursday, April 21 from 6:30-8:30pm for a public safety town hall. We'll be discussing our public safety efforts across the ward and our ongoing plan for addressing violent crime and public safety in Ward 1. The meeting is in person at the Columbia Heights Recreation Center and available on Facebook and via Zoom.

BUDGET OVERSIGHT HEARINGS

Committee on Human Services

This committee has concluded its budget oversight hearings, which included the Office of Disability Rights, the Department of Disability Services, the Child and Family Services Agency, the Department of Human Services and the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. I'm grateful to all the public witnesses who came out to testify about how to improve our human services agencies.

I took time to raise questions about these areas in particular:

- Services for our residents with disabilities

- Wages for our home-based providers of disability services

- Expanding benefits to those in need

- CFSA’s use of local and federal funds to prevent abuse and neglect

- The internal child fatality review process

- How we are serving families and individuals experiencing homelessness

- What resources our government watchdog agency needs to hold government leaders, contractors and lobbyists to the highest ethical standards

It is clear through public testimony that there are still unfunded priorities in the Human Services Budget, from additional support for home visiting and subsidies to caregivers, to emergency rental assistance and housing resources for families facing a benefits cliff. I will work to pull in additional funds for these needs throughout this year's budget process. But I will also need help from other committees and the Chairman.

Budget season is our time to identify and support our greatest needs and most vulnerable populations, and I'm going to work to get everything we need to support District children and families.

Budget season can also bring back old fights, though.

Last year, I introduced legislation to create the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, an independent agency that investigates systemic issues and CFSA concerns, supports families throughout the system, and acts as a liaison between other agencies, ultimately improving oversight and child welfare across the District. There was nothing inessential or controversial about it—my bill passed the Council unanimously—but the Mayor disagreed, vetoing the bill.

With the help of my colleagues on the Council, we overrode the Mayor's veto 12-1 and passed legislation to create the office, fully funding the agency with an annual budget of $935,000. It seemed settled—we'd created a landmark new office to serve children and families! But it wasn't.

This year the Mayor has sidestepped the law to defund the Office through the end of 2022 and all of 2023, and I promise to fight back and restore every dollar the mayor took from this office.

Undeterred, Chairman Mendelson and I have continued with a nationally renowned public sector search firm to serve as the first Ombudsman for Children, no matter where the Mayor stands.

Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA)

In this budget oversight hearing, I had the opportunity to hear from a public witness and BEGA leadership about the agency's priorities and budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Upholding ethical standards in the District means transparency and rigorous oversight, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee on Human Services as well as BEGA to hold our government to a high ethical standard.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Adams Morgan

It was a pleasure to meet with the Adams Morgan Business Improvement District (BID) in March to celebrate two members of the Adams Morgan Clean Team and thank them for ten years of service in our community. People like Johnny and Aaron keep our neighborhoods clean and safe, and they've worked especially hard through the pandemic to keep our neighborhoods vibrant.

I’m also glad to have worked with the Adams Morgan BID to address community safety issues and support businesses by extending the Streatery program. And we're continuing to push forward on the Pedestrian Zone for 18th Street. The BID has secured a grant to install retractable bollards that can close the street without a need for idling DPW trucks, which will make pedestrian events like Adams Morgan Day easier to organize.

In collaboration with District Bridges, the BID is applying for funding I dedicated towards programming in Unity Park and other small parks and plazas across our ward. And the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is now finalizing a design-build contract for repairs and improvements to public spaces on both sides of Adams Morgan – at Ann Hughes Hargrove Park and at Unity.

I also had the opportunity to serve as the guest speaker for ANC1C last week to bring an update from the Council. I visit our ANCs periodically to provide updates and answer questions from Commissioners and attendees.

Secured Funding for Amigos Park

For years, the Mount Pleasant community and the Esquineros have worked to recognize and formalize Amigos Park as a gathering space. Last fall, I introduced the Sense of the Council Supporting the Establishment of Amigos Park Resolution of 2021 to advance the project, which passed—and now, our park is funded!

Ward 1 has secured $500,000 in the Mayor's 2023 budget to support Amigos Park. As we noted in the last newsletter, we're working with space owners on a lease structure, but with the money there, it's going to get done.

I'm so grateful to the Esquineros, community members and organizers like Arturo Griffiths and the DC Trabajadores Unidos, ANC1D, Mount Pleasant Village, and everyone else who helped see this through.

On a recent weekend, we joined community members to spruce up Amigos Park and get it ready for spring.

Survey: Equitable Development for Lower Georgia Avenue

Weigh in! District Bridges is conducting a survey about lower Georgia Avenue (the segment in our ward) as they work on an equitable development plan for the corridor. It's for anyone who lives there, works there, or visits.

Engine 9/District 3D Redevelopment

The redevelopment plan for 1617 U Street NW was highlighted in "March Madness," the annual presentation by the Deputy Mayor's Office for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). A link to the full presentation is here.

This project will bring more much-needed deeply affordable housing to our ward—I worked hard to increase density at this site to accommodate it and I'm grateful to the local community for supporting this, because public land like this represents a massive opportunity to close housing gaps here. We also passed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan to allow a new public library to the site! This would close a service gap between DuPont Circle and Adams Morgan and create new community space.

I’m working on ensuring that a DC Public Library facility, and maximizing deeply affordable housing units, are both included in this fall’s RFP.

Paving and Sidewalk Repair Plan

The Department of Transportation has released the 2022 paving and sidewalk repair plan. Track their progress towards the Mayor's goal of eliminating poor quality roads by 2024 with this interactive tool, which breaks out progress by road, sidewalk, alley, and road striping.

We're Hiring

My office is hiring a Constituent Services Specialist to help me reach out and resolve issues for our Ward 1 neighbors. Our team resolved over 2000 cases last year — it's great work that helps our communities every day. Applicants don't need specialized professional or educational experience. It's ideal for someone who loves rolling up their sleeves to solve problems and build relationships across Ward 1. We especially encourage people who are returning to the workforce, or have gaps in their resume for any reason, to apply. Just email [email protected] with resume, cover letter and references to apply.

Spring Cleaning for Streets

Warmer weather is just about here — and that means the Department of Public Works (DPW) is gearing up for spring cleaning. DPW began residential street sweeping on Tuesday, March 1, which means the street sweeping parking signs are relevant again.

Since March 14, violators have been subject to $45 fines. Parking is generally prohibited for two hours (9:30 am to 11:30 am or 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm) while sweeping is underway. Alternate side parking is required to facilitate street sweeping.

Street and Alley Cleaning: DPW resumed cleaning residential alleys on April 1. Litter placed in bags and trash receptacles reduces the amount of debris potentially left behind during collection. File a 311 request for an alley cleaning if the alley poses a hazard to public safety or has become inaccessible to emergency vehicles.

Yard Waste: Please submit a 311 request when you're ready for a yard waste pickup, and note that DPW now only accepts yard waste in paper bags — a change from prior years when plastic bags were acceptable. DPW will collect up to 20 paper bags of yard waste per trip. Residents must already receive trash and recycling collection from DPW. Place all yard waste for pickup where trash and recycling is normally picked up.

Graffiti Removal: DPW will begin cleaning graffiti from public and private property using paint or non-toxic cleaners that are applied and removed with a high-pressure water spray (power wash). DPW's power washers are not suitable for all walls, including walls with loose or crumbling masonry. Graffiti removal requests for public and private property are filed through 311. Property owners will be asked to sign a waiver of liability before DPW begins work on private property.

Helping Hands Neighbor Clean Up: Resources are available for community groups that organize Saturday neighborhood cleanup projects through the Helping Hand Program. This DPW program will lend tool kits to participating groups that includes five rakes and brooms, two shovels, and 20 trash bags. A $20 refundable deposit is required for all tool kits loaned under the Helping Hand Program. File a 311 request and DPW will help you acquire a tool kit for a Saturday of your choice. Free compost will be delivered as well for use in neighborhood beautification projects. Find more on the program here. If you’re scheduling a cleanup here in Ward 1 please let me know so I can stop by and lend a hand!

Application for Assistive Tech Funding

For 24 years, The Eric Fund has offered awards for assistive tech for people with disabilities in Washington DC. Awards of up to $20,000 for technology and/or non-medical equipment are available for people who can demonstrate a need for assistive equipment to lead an independent life. To date, the organization has funded more than $240,000 in grants.

2022 applications are due April 22, 2022. Click here to begin an application.

The ERIC Fund (formally known as The Eric C. Savader Memorial Disabilities Fund) was founded in 1998 in memory of Eric Savader, a disability rights proponent who worked with leading national disability and political organizations as an advocate in Washington, DC. Eric believed that individuals with disabilities could and should lead independent lives in the community regardless of ability. The ERIC Fund was founded to help provide assistive technology, devices and equipment for individuals with disabilities to help them live, work, go to school and participate in their communities.

EVENTS

Salsa on the Plaza

Every Tuesday from 7:15-8:15pm, local salsa dance teacher Luis Arduz takes over the Columbia Heights plaza for a free public dance lesson. Through June 28, cancelled if that day's weather does not cooperate. Click here for more.

Constituent Services

As I’m sure most of you know, our office works incredibly hard to ensure we are helping Ward 1 residents. The pandemic has also increased the demand for assistance, and we’re still handling upward of 100 cases per month.

Many of these cases are calls for assistance when city services are not working like they should. We're happy to help with cases like these! If you have a few minutes, please file a 311 report with your request and pass along the service number for your report when you contact us. This is extremely useful for accountability and creates a reference point for the issue that the agency understands.

It only takes a few minutes to file a report by calling 311 or using the 311 app.