Dear Neighbors,
As we gather to spend Thanksgiving with family, friends, and loved ones, I am writing to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and share some helpful reminders ahead of the holiday.
I am deeply grateful for our Ward 4 community. During the holiday season, I see first-hand how our community mobilizes to care for our neighbors in need. From turkey giveaways and clothing drives to hosting free Thanksgiving meals, so many Ward 4 residents are giving back to our community this time of year. Thank you to every neighbor finding ways to serve others during the holiday season. I also want to thank all of the government workers who keep our city running through the holidays, especially our first responders, transit employees, health care workers in our clinics and hospitals, and DPW’s hard-working staff. Across our community, we are profoundly grateful for your service and sacrifice.
Here are some brief updates that may be helpful to know for this holiday week:
Ward 4 Neighborhood Events
On Wednesday, November 22 (today) Safeway is hosting its annual Feast of Sharing holiday celebration at the Convention Center to provide a free Thanksgiving meal, live entertainment, free health screenings, community resources, free clothing, and prizes to all who need them. Senior citizens can be admitted at 10am-11am, general admission is 11am-1pm, and meal seating begins at 11am. On Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day) the Crestwood Citizens Association is holding its 8th Annual Crestwood Turkey Trot starting from the Point (18th & Shepherd NW) and featuring a 5k fun run and a 1-mile family walk/run with strollers and wagons welcome. Also on Thanksgiving Day, CEASE FIRE… Don’t Smoke the Brothers & Sisters will host its 14th Annual Free Sit-Down Thanksgiving Day Dinner at 4708 14th St NW in conjunction with Universal Madness and Chef Moe of Highlands Café & Grill. We also have a couple of neighborhood cleanups taking place: 4B02 Commissioner Erin Palmer and 4B04 Commissioner Evan Yeats are hosting a Takoma community cleanup starting at Takoma Elementary on Thursday, November 23 at 9am and the Rock Creek Conservancy is hosting an invasive plant removal event at the Carter Barron mini-oasis on Friday, November 24 from 1pm-3pm.
Modified DC Services
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, DPW trash and recycling collection normally scheduled for Thursday and Fridays will ‘slide’ one day later this week. Curbside composting collection will also slide one day: if your pickup is usually Thursday, it will happen on Friday — and if your pickup is on Friday, it will happen on Saturday this week. DPW is also planning to start leaf collection in Section 4C next week. So if you live in Riggs Park, Lamond, South Manor Park, Manor Park (east of 8th Street NW), or Takoma (east of 8th Street NW), please plan to rake your leaves into your tree box, curb, or easement by Sunday, November 26 for DPW crews to collect. DPW is also doing some targeted leaf collection in Section 4B this week to address any remaining leaves that need to be collected during this first pass. And please keep in mind that all DC DMV and DC Public Library locations will be closed on both Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, and DCPL is closing its locations by 4:30pm today (Wednesday). Speaking of libraries, you can now pick up free rapid COVID tests at your local library when locations are open. And lastly, my office will be closed through Monday, November 27 for Thanksgiving.
Community Safety Updates
I am coordinating closely with public safety agencies on improving safety in Ward 4 at a time of increased crime in our city. In response to recent crime trends in robberies, carjackings, and car break-ins, MPD has been increasing deployments in neighborhoods being impacted by these offenses through its Robbery Suppression Initiative, more late-night coverage, and a new 24-hour patrol unit dedicated to crime deterrence. This week arrests were made in two cases involving carjackings and multiple robberies in Ward 4. A very effective deterrent to crime is the certainty of being caught, so arrests like these are important in thwarting future incidents. The age of the suspects in both of these cases also highlights the urgency of making positive interventions in the lives of our young people to prevent the dangerous decisions that put their lives and others’ lives at risk. Given the crime tends we typically see during the holidays, MPD is encouraging neighbors to report suspicious activity, take advantage of DC’s security camera incentive program, ensure shopping bags and valuables are not left in their cars, and warn guests so they can take precautions against vehicle break-ins.
Upcoming Council Action
I promised to keep you updated on the work we are doing on the Council to make our communities stronger and safer — and there are now several key hearings coming up. On Tuesday, November 28 the Committee on Housing will hold a follow-up hearing on the Green New Deal for Social Housing Act with nationwide housing experts to determine the best way to establish a successful, permanent social housing program in the District (community members can send in written comments for the record). The same day, I will be marking up the Work Order Integrity Act in our Facilities Committee, which will provide long overdue accountability when it comes to ensuring that repairs in our schools are actually made. The Mayor’s proposed Addressing Crime Trends Now Act that aims to address retail theft, establish ‘drug-free zones’, and make changes to police accountability and transparency measures, has a hearing lined up on Wednesday, November 29. And the Whole Government Response to Crime Act that I co-introduced with Councilmember Robert White will have its hearing on Monday, December 11. The bill focuses on making our entire public safety system work better, including recertifying DC’s troubled crime lab, improving our 911 call center’s performance, tracking performance metrics for violence prevention programs, and increasing coordination across agencies. And lastly, my bill to require teaching conflict resolution education in all public schools in DC will have a hearing on Thursday, January 11.
The season of gratitude is also the season of giving! This past weekend I was so grateful to team up with Lamond Riggs Citizens Association to distribute more than 370 turkeys to Ward 4 families in need at Riggs LaSalle Rec Center. I also got to continue my favorite annual tradition of delivering a warm Thanksgiving meal to our seniors and veterans at The Parks at Walter Reed in partnership with Triden, Hines, Urban Atlantic, Help USA, Jaydot, SOME, and 4A03 Commissioner Christian Hara. Every year it’s an opportunity to break bread together and show gratitude for our seniors and veterans who have done so much for our city and our country. I also want to thank the Destiny Church for All Nations for hosting an additional Thanksgiving Turkey giveaway this past Sunday for our neighbors.
On Small Business Saturday, make sure you shop small and shop local! Ward 4 has five Main Street to support this weekend in Petworth, Uptown, Upper Georgia Avenue, Takoma, and Riggs Park and Manor Park. And on Giving Tuesday, let us keep supporting the incredible organizations that make a difference day in and day out in our communities.
I also want to give a big shoutout to our Coolidge Colts for winning the 2023 Gravy Bowl last weekend with a resounding victory. The Colts will be competing again this Saturday, November 25 at 4pm for the DCSAA Football Championship against Maret High School. Congratulations as well as to our Ida B Wells, Paul PCS, DC International, and Washington Latin middle school soccer teams for making it to the DC SCORES Capital Cup Finals at Audi Field!
Whether you’re packing your bags to travel or staying put here in Ward 4, I wish each of you a joyful and meaningful Thanksgiving.
Yours in Gratitude,
—Janeese
