Dear Neighbors,
This week was spring recess at the Council, but we have been focused on making our initial changes to the proposed DC budget through our Council Committees. It is a tough budget year with less funding to go around, but we are working to reverse some of the cuts to critical housing, education, and safety programs that our communities depend on — and to strengthen DC’s investments in Ward 4. Next week, I will report back on some of the progress we were able to make, so stay tuned.
Also, we have a great Ward 4 day lined up this Saturday! Starting at 9am, neighbors can sign up for DPW’s free curbside compost pilot program (spots are limited, so act quickly). Then we have community clean ups lined up across Lamond, South Manor Park, Sixteenth Street Heights, and Petworth. Then at 11am-3pm, we have our long-awaited Ward 4 Job Fair at Coolidge High School, where all DC residents are welcome to stop by for jobs and opportunities. And later in the day from 2pm-6pm, you can head over to Petworth PorchFest for a day full of music and community with your neighbors. See you out there, Ward 4!
The Ward 4 Job Fair Is Here!
Tomorrow is the big day! If you know any DC residents who need work, job training, or new career connections, please encourage them to join us at Coolidge High School (6315 5th Street NW) on Saturday, April 22 from 11am-3pm for the Ward 4 Community Job Fair. We will have local businesses, trade unions, federal agencies, DC government, and others all providing employment opportunities to our community. We will also have music, speakers, and lunch provided to attendees, so this is not the job fair to miss out on! Registration is encouraged, but it is not required to come. We know that good jobs are directly linked with safer communities, and that stable jobs can have a transformative impact on peoples’ lives. That is why I am grateful to the Jobs Not Guns Coalition, ANC 4B, ANC 3/4G, and so many others for partnering with my office to bring this job fair to Ward 4. See you there!
Sustaining Affordable Housing at The Hampshire
This week we celebrated the complete renovation of The Hampshire (5000 & 5040 New Hampshire Ave NW) in Ward 4. Tenants exercised their Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) rights and chose to work with Wesley Housing to renovate their building, improve sustainability, expand units, add new amenities like a community space, and keep the building affordable for both existing tenants and other working families in our community for generations to come. After the renovation, tenants got to return to their homes with the same rent they had before, and more than 80% of all units are already leased up. Some of the tenants who are benefitting from the renovation have lived in the building for 40 and even 50 years! This is transit-oriented housing close to Fort Totten Metro Station and multiple MetroBus routes. One great aspect of the project are 5 fully-accessible units and 3 units designed for person with hearing and visual impairments — helping make Ward 4 more inclusive for everyone. Congratulations to The Hampshire tenants, Wesley Housing, and all of the government and private sector partners that came together to make this project a reality.
Neighborhood Events
It’s On: Petworth PorchFest Returns on Saturday
On Saturday, April 22 at 2pm-6pm the incredible neighborhood festival Petworth PorchFest returns to Ward 4, with nearly 200 bands performing across more than 80 porches in Petworth, Brightwood Park, Sixteenth Street Heights, Columbia Heights, and Park View! Check out the full schedule and map of stages on the PorchFest website. We will have great music, friendly neighbors, and local businesses taking part in the festivities. Festival organizers have been keeping an eye on the weather and plan to go forward with the event, and bands have been offered earlier time slots to play in so keep an eye on the schedule for changes. If you live in the area, keep in mind that it may be harder to get around the neighborhood by car for a few hours due to streets being crowded. Let’s be neighborly to each other so we can all enjoy the day. Shoutout to all the volunteers and supporters who are making this day happen, including Eddie Suarez, Timber Pizza, DSLBD, Petworth Main Street, Sweat DC, De Colores, Rabih Chamas, Solar Solution, Dance Loft, Motif, Fed City, Tara Hoot, and Dreamy. I can’t wait!
Ward 4 Community Clean Ups This Weekend
Building up from last week, we have quite a few community clean ups lined up this weekend:
- South Manor Park: On Saturday, April 22 at 10am the South Manor Neighborhood Association will host a neighborhood clean up starting from the South Manor sign at Longfellow & New Hampshire Ave NE. Trash bags and tools will be provided.
- Lamond: On Saturday, April 22 at 9am-12pm the Lamond Community Action Group will host its annual spring clean up event starting from Milligan’s Point at Sligo Mill & Rittenhouse NE. Neighbors will pick up trash, pull weeds, plant flowers, and build community with one another. Bring your gardening tools if you have them.
- South Manor Park: On Saturday, April 22 at 10am 4B08 Commissioner and ANC 4B Chair Alison Brooks will host a clean up at 1st & Riggs NE. Supplies will be provided.
- Sixteenth Street Heights: On Saturday, April 22 from 12pm-2pm NPS and the Rock Creek Conservancy will host a litter removal event at Arkansas Triangle, where Arkansas Avenue Meets Piney Branch Parkway. Trash is the visible form of stormwater pollution, which is a major threat to water quality and park health. Sign up on the RCC website.
- Brightwood Park: On Sunday, April 23 from 10am-1pm, ANC 4D Commissioners will host two simultaneous clean ups at Larry Allen Park (Illinois & Gallatin & 9th NW) and Triangle Park (Kansas & Gallatin & 4th NW) to beautify Brightwood Park, build community, and tidy up the neighborhood after Petworth PorchFest. Some supplies will be provided, but please bring your own gloves and tools if you have them.
Cheer on Takoma Elementary Students
On Tuesday, April 25 from 8:15am-9am and Thursday, April 27 from 8:15am-9am the Takoma Elementary School PTO is organizing a ‘community hype squad‘ of volunteers to high-five, hold signs, and cheer on our Takoma ES students as they walk into school to take their PARCC tests. Singing and dancing welcomed too! Sign up to join either morning.
Universal High Tea at Takoma Community Center
On Tuesday, April 25 at 11am-2:30pm Takoma Community Center (300 Van Buren Street NW) will host Universal High Tea Time, which is slated to be “an exquisite afternoon tea where young ladies will dress up, socialize, and learn about proper etiquette.”
All of Petworth Community Clean Up Day
On Saturday, April 29 from 10am-12pm ANC 4C Commissioners, community groups, and neighbors are teaming up for an All of Petworth Clean Up Day to clean up the neighborhood, plant flowers, and build community. Clean-up supplies will be provided and each event will include a free pizza from Cafe Vino Food Truck. Sign up to join the clean up closest to you! Here are the starting locations: Webster & Georgia NW (4C01); 7-11 Parking Lot on Georgia (4C02); Spring & 11th NW (4C03); Spring & 14th NW (4C04); Webster & 7th NW (4C05); Shepherd & New Hampshire NW (4C06); Taylor & New Hampshire NW (4C07); Petworth Rec Center at 801 Taylor Street NW (Friends of Petworth Park); Illinois & Upshur NW or Petworth Library (Petworth Get Wise); Raymond Rec Center (Petworth Action Committee); Grant Circle (Petworth Blooms); and Grant Circle Playground (Petworth Peanuts). RSVP!
ANC 4B Earth Day Resource Fair at Whittier
On Saturday, April 29 from 11am-2pm ANC 4B will host an Earth Day Resource Fair at Whittier Elementary (6201 5th Street NW) with an impressive list of government agencies, non-profits, neighborhood groups, and student groups with the goal of sharing resources and opportunities for engagement around environmentalism! I’m excited to be co-sponsoring this event alongside fellow Councilmember Christina Henderson. This is a family-friendly event with lots of kids activities, including temporary tattoos, coloring pages, sidewalk chalk, and a free raffle for several cherry blossom-themed prizes from Bailiwick. Sign up on Eventbrite.
Ward 4 Mutual Aid Onboarding Event
On Saturday, April 29 from 12pm-1pm Ward 4 Mutual Aid will host an onboarding event on the lawn of Mosaic Church (4401 16th Street NW) for neighbors interested in getting involved with their important work supporting our neighbors. Come learn what mutual aid is about, meet different teams, and support their supply drive. To RSVP, email w4maonboarding@gmail.com.
Shepherd Park Library Spring Book Sale
On Saturday, April 29 from 10am-4pm and Sunday, April 30 from 1pm-4pm the Friends of the Juanita Thornton – Shepherd Park Library will host a spring book sale with all books available for $1 and children’s books up for 50 cents each. Learn more on the Friends’ website!
Artist Talks at Zenith Gallery: 45th Sapphire Anniversary
On Saturday, April 29 from 2pm-5pm Ward 4’s Zenith Gallery (1429 Iris Street NW) will host Artist Talks with artists featured in their 45th Sapphire Anniversary exhibit, including Ram Brisueno, Ronni Jolles, Mihira Karra, Craig Schaffer, Marcie Wolf-Hubbard, and Curtis Woody.
Community Resources
Free Curbside Composting Pilot Program in DC!
At 9am on Saturday, April 22 DC residents in DPW-serviced households will be able to sign up for the Curbside Composting Pilot Program that will provide free curbside food waste collection to 12,000 single-family households in DC for a full year starting Summer 2023. The pilot program will only serve 1,500 households per Ward on a first-come, first-served basis — so plan ahead to make sure you can sign up before slots are filled. Visit DPW’s webpage to learn more and sign up on Saturday! I realize that some of our Jewish neighbors observing the Sabbath cannot sign up on Saturday morning, so my team worked with DPW to ensure there is a religious accommodation. Impacted neighbors should try signing up after observing the Sabbath, and then — if all slots are filled — they should email curbsidecomposting@dc.gov to request the accommodation. Thank you to DPW for working with our office on this matter.
DCPS COVID Tests After Spring Break
DCPS is reminding families to upload students’ negative COVID tests on the DCPS website by Sunday, April 23 before returning to school next week to ensure all students return healthy.
MetroRail Disruption This Summer
This week WMATA announced travel alternatives to help riders prepare for major construction scheduled for this summer on the Orange, Silver, and Green lines. For Ward 4 specifically, there will be no Green Line Service at Fort Totten on July 22-24, and stations north of Fort Totten in Maryland will be closed from July 22-September 4. Free shuttle bus service will be available for customers during all station closures. WMATA’s announcement has the details.
Ward 4 Mutual Aid Grocery Distribution
Ward 4 Mutual Aid is providing free gift cards, diapers, food, and other items at Brightwood Park UMC (744 Jefferson St NW) to the first 100 families that arrive on the following dates: Wednesday, April 19 at 5pm; Saturday, April 22 at 12pm; Saturday, May 20 at noon; and Saturday, June 24 at noon.
Repaving Parts of Missouri Avenue NW
From April 17 through May 12, DDOT is repaving parts of Missouri Avenue, including 8th to Nicholson NW, 3rd Street to 3rd Place NW, and North Capitol to 1st NW (weather permitting). To minimize disruption on neighbors, DDOT will repave whole road segments sequentially — 2 lanes at a time, with 2 lanes open to traffic — within the four-week duration.
MySchoolDC Deadline and Enrollment Saturday
If you were matched to a school in the MySchoolDC Lottery for the 2023-24 school year, you have until May 1 to enroll your child at their matched school. If you do not enroll your child at their matched school by that date, they may lose their space at the school. Enrolling your child at their matched school will not remove them from waitlists. Also, Saturday, April 29 is Enrollment Saturday, when many of our schools will be open to provide enrollment support to new and returning families (in addition to their regular hours). Check out the full schedule.
Local News Links
Washingtonian: Petworth Porchfest to Bring 190+ Bands to the DC Neighborhood
City Paper: Delivery Drivers Face Critical Risks Despite DC’s Labor-Friendly Laws
Petworth News: Cinder BBQ celebrates 4 years on Upshur Street
Washington Post: Study finds disparity in DC contracts awarded to minority-owned businesses
Next Stop… Riggs Park: LRCA Scholarship Applications Due May 5
Pink Rocki Advocacy Foundation: Scholarship Applications Due April 30
Washington Post: New condos part of makeover of DC’s historic Walter Reed campus
DCist: DC Kicks Off Once-A-Decade Process To Redraw School Boundaries
Previous Ward 4 Dispatch: Our Libraries, Spring Events, Small Business Spotlight, and DC Emancipation Day
We woke up to tragic news today: Sergeant Jin Park from the Fourth District lost his life in a motorcycle crash on his way home after his shift yesterday. Sgt. Park had been on the force for 11 years. Please join me in remembering and praying for Sergeant Jin Park and his family, friends, and colleagues at Fourth District at this very difficult time.
Today is the Eid al-Fitr, the day when our Muslim neighbors culminate the holy month of Ramadan. May this be a day of joy and renewal for all who celebrate in Ward 4 and across DC.
On Saturday, I had a blast joining my Manor Park neighbors and ANC 4B Commissioners for our neighborhood clean up (shoutout to my Commissioner Gilligan for planning this one and Commissioner Palmer for the selfie). Our ANCs and community groups are continuing to step up all month with more clean ups, so set aside time to join the fun and help keep Ward 4 clean.
Have a great weekend, Ward 4!
Yours in Community,
—Janeese
