This Week’s Highlights
Dear Neighbors,
Happy first week of April! I hope you were able to enjoy the beautiful weather we’ve had over the last week, see the cherry blossoms in bloom, and spend time outdoors with loved ones. A highlight of my week was joining our Ward 4 seniors at Emery Heights Community Center yesterday for Senior Bingo, where we were able to share important DC resources and have a day of fun in community. I also want to let neighbors know about important action taken by the Council at Tuesday’s legislative session, and significant opportunities for feedback and engagement on projects impacting our community, including Rock Creek Park, the Chevy Chase Civic Core, the Northern Bus Barn, the Upshur Park Modernization, and more.
Council News/Legislative Updates
FY26 Budget Delays
This week, the Council was scheduled to receive the FY26 budget from Mayor Bowser. However, due to ongoing challenges from the federal government and delays from the Mayor, we are waiting to receive the budget plan. Once the Council receives the budget, we’ll begin hearing from community members and working to formulate changes. However, these delays do mean that budget oversight hearings will be postponed from their original dates, and I will update neighbors as soon as more information becomes available.
Given the unprecedented revenue challenges facing the District combined with ongoing cuts being made at the federal level, we know this will not be a typical path towards reaching a balanced budget. This means that community engagement is more important now than ever, and Ward 4 neighbors will need to show up and show out at budget oversight hearings to make sure our community’s voice and needs are heard. In the coming days and weeks, I’ll share more about what this process will look like and how neighbors can get involved.
Council Action on Open Meetings Act and ERAP
At Tuesday’s legislative session, the Council took several actions impacting Ward 4 and DC residents that I want to make sure neighbors are aware of. First, the majority of councilmembers voted to approve amendments to DC’s Open Meetings Act, a crucial bill which guarantees meetings between elected leaders are viewable by the public. As I made clear during Tuesday’s legislative session, both practically and given the increasingly unpredictable federal landscape, elected leaders need to be able to gather and respond quickly to urgent and dynamic situations, and narrowly tailored exceptions to the Open Meetings Act are one way to achieve this aim. However, I ultimately voted against the bill because making broad changes to any law that is a core pillar of District governance, such as the Open Meetings Act, should not be taken lightly—especially on an emergency basis without the opportunity for robust public input. While Councilmember Allen introduced an amendment that would have created more narrowly tailored exceptions to the law, the final text of the bill was too broad and exempted many more situations than necessary to give Councilmembers flexibilities to engage with each other. For instance, while I am confident the emergency bill would not be used to hold a hearing on a bill that is closed to the public, the bill as passed would allow such a situation. Openness and transparency are the cornerstones of our democracy, and we must make sure the text of any permanent legislation does not allow for Council activities to be closed when they should be open in order to serve the interests of the people. I look forward to the permanent version of this legislation coming for Council consideration as soon as possible so we can properly hear from the public and determine a common-sense path forward that protects the basic tenets of openness and transparency.
The other significant vote we took on Tuesday was amending DC’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). ERAP is a critical program designed to provide rental assistance to people who are temporarily and unexpectedly unable to pay their rent in order to keep them from being evicted. However, since the pandemic, the need for rental assistance has grown exponentially, and the program has come to support many residents facing housing instability. It is necessary for our housing first strategy to have a program that functioned as ERAP did before the pandemic, but we also urgently need to create systems of support for residents who have been depending on ERAP to afford the high cost of rent but will now be ineligible for the program. Ahead of this bill’s second reading, I’m committed to working with my colleagues to minimize harm to these residents and continue to support broader policies that address the crisis of affordable housing and protect those at risk of eviction and displacement.
Community News
Addressing Construction Concerns in Ward 4
In last week’s newsletter, I addressed some of the issues neighbors have raised about ongoing construction in Ward 4 neighborhoods and the resulting disruptions. We all have the right to calm and safety in our communities, and I share neighbors’ concerns about the impact this construction can have on our day-to-day lives. This week, I met with agencies to assess some of the significant construction projects taking place in Ward 4 in order to ensure the community is kept informed.
On Kennedy Street from 16th Street to Georgia Ave, DDOT has been working on revitalizing the corridor for residential and commercial use. The goal of this work is to improve traffic safety by fixing deteriorated areas of roadway and improving signaling at intersections, upgrade street lighting, and improve stormwater management. The project is broken down into several phases, with different timelines for each phase. You can check out the slide below or visit the project site to see exact timelines for each area, which are expected to wrap up as early as the end of April and as late as the end of this summer. During this week’s meeting, I also stressed the importance of ensuring important neighborhood events and activities can continue uninterrupted, like the FRESHFARM Farmers Market at Colorado and Longfellow. I am grateful that despite restricted parking, the Farmers Market will open on schedule this weekend. And as we get closer to other events like the annual Mubadala Citi Open in July, we will continue working with DDOT to ensure these activities can proceed smoothly and with minimal disruption to neighbors.
Another significant project taking place in Ward 4 right now is being done by DC PLUG. The goal of this work is to improve the reliability and resiliency of the District’s power grid by placing select feeders underground to reduce likelihood of outages during severe storms. This work, done in Ward 4 in partnership between the District and Pepco, is moving quickly, with about 70% of work completed so far. As the work is largely being done on sidewalks, project crews are working to keep streets open and minimize disruptions to transit.
While these are just some of the construction projects that are taking place in our Ward 4 community, I recognize the disruptive effect any construction and maintenance work can have on our neighborhoods. I am grateful to community members for raising their voices and to our agency partners for coming to the table to ensure neighbors are kept informed. It’s incumbent on all of us to make sure construction projects like these can complete their important work while respecting neighbors and minimizing disruptions to our community. I am currently working with agencies to convene a meeting for community members to ask questions and engage directly with agencies and will share more soon.
Make Your Voice Heard: Upshur Park Modernization, Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway, Northern Bus Barn, and Chevy Chase Civic Core
Over the next few weeks, there are several opportunities for feedback I want to encourage neighbors take advantage of. On Saturday, I was grateful to join Chevy Chase, Hawthorne, and Barnaby Woods neighbors to see proposals for the new Chevy Chase Civic Core. This site has the potential to become a successful mixed-use site that provides multiple direct public benefits, including affordable housing and a modernized library, community center, and green space. Whether you were able to attend or not, make sure to make your voice heard by reviewing the proposals and sharing input.
On Tuesday, DPR and DGS held a public meeting to present the community with plans for the Upshur Rec Center’s modernized playground and splash pad. These plans include several different options for the design and layout of the project, which will determine how this important community space will look for years to come. I encourage Ward 4 neighbors to view all the possible options for the modernization and email DPR and DGS with the options you prefer and other feedback.
On Wednesday evening, the National Park Service held a public meeting on its proposed changes to Rock Creek Park, which include a concerning proposal to end rush hour reversible lanes along Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway. This proposal could lead to severe congestion and gridlock, which would impact commuters in Ward 4 and citywide. NPS is currently accepting feedback from the community until May 2nd, and I encourage neighbors to review the plans and share their thoughts.
Lastly, WMATA is still accepting comments on the proposed layout of the Northern Bus Barn’s community room, so make sure to cast your vote on your preferred option!
Petworth Porchfest Map and Schedule Now Live!
One of Ward 4’s biggest events of the year, Petworth Porchfest, is just around the corner! This week, the map of locations and schedule for this year’s Porchfest was released, and neighbors can view them here. Remember, there’s still time to volunteer to support the event, host a performance, or even perform yourself! I’m looking forward to seeing our Ward 4 community out in Petworth in just a few weeks!
Community Resources
Watch Chairman Mendelson’s Tax Town Hall
With tax season in full swing, Chairman Mendelson held a Tax Town Hall over the weekend to answer questions from members of the community. In case you weren’t able to make it and have questions about property tax assessments or the appeals process, make sure to watch the recording here! (Password: g54JT$hv)
Washington Gas Rate Hearings
The DC Public Service Commission has announced a series of public hearings on Washington Gas’s request to increase rates. The hearings will provide consumers with a chance to comment on the gas company’s plan to hike the average monthly bill by about $15. This is your opportunity to make your concerns heard and let the PSC know the impact on Ward 4 households! The hearing schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, April 10th at Benning/Dorothy I. Height Library from 5:30 to 7:30pm
- Monday, April 21st at Petworth Library Meeting Room 1 from 5 to 7pm
- Tuesday, April 29th at Public Service Commission Hearing Room (1325 G St NW, Suite 800) from 6 to 8pm
Drug Free Zones in Effect
MPD has announced several drug free zones between Ward 1 and Ward 4, which are now in effect until Wednesday, April 2nd at 8am. The creation of these drug free zones was authorized by the Secure DC omnibus bill last year and allows MPD to order individuals to disperse from the zone if an officer “reasonably believes” the person is there to commit a drug offense. The boundaries of the drug free zone will be:
- Alley located between Spring Rd NW and Spring Pl NW
- 1400 block of Spring Rd NW
- 3500 -3600 14th St NW
- 1400 Otis Pl NW
- 1500 Ogden St NW
- 1500 Spring Pl, NW
Food Assistance for Neighbors Impacted by Federal Cuts
The Capital Area Food Area Food Bank is working to support the large number of our neighbors who have been impacted by recent reductions in federal jobs and funding. Beginning on Saturday, April 5th, the food bank will be holding new pop-up food distributions twice a week. These pop-up distributions will offer pantry items and fresh produce on Thursdays from 5 to 7pm and Saturdays from 9 to 11am, or while supplies last each day. You can see the list of distribution locations by clicking here.
Free Resilience Workshop for Neighbors Impacted by Federal Cuts
If you’ve lost your job, or are impacted by the cuts to federal programs, the Center for Grounded Action is offering FREE resilience workshops. The virtual sessions will take place on Monday April 7th at 1pm and on Tuesday April 8th at 9am, followed by an in-person workshop on May 4th and 5th. Learn more and register here.
Register for Writing Camp at Shepherd Park Library
Registration is open now for Day Eight’s free Writing Camp at the Shepherd Park Library! The camp will run in five week-long camp sessions this summer beginning June 23rd and running through to July 25th. A maximum of 16 campers are enrolled per week. To learn more or to submit a registration request, click here.
Volunteer with the Shepherd Park Citizens Association
The Shepherd Park Citizens Association (SPCA) is currently looking for new members and asking the community for help. Volunteering is a great opportunity to meet people, engage with neighbors, and help shape the Shepherd Park community. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Micah Salb at president@shepherdpark.org or at 202-288-2536.
Ward 4 Students: Apply for Construction Trades Hub at Phelps HS!
DCPS is currently expanding opportunities for students to take courses in the construction trades, starting with a pilot program at Phelps ACE High School in Ward 5! Rising 11th grade students from other DCPS schools who are interested in enrolling in one of the trades programs will have the opportunity to do so at Phelps with up to 10 spots in each construction pathway available. Interested students should complete the interest form by May 1st.
DC Water Updates
DC Water has shared several updates on work taking place in Ward 4 neighborhoods. Keep in mind that construction activities are highly dependent upon favorable weather conditions. Here are some of this week’s updates, particularly for Chevy Chase, Manor Park, Brightwood Park, and 16th Street Heights neighbors:
- For the duration of next week, DC Water is scheduled to perform roadway restoration activities on 8th Street NW and Quintana Pl NW.
- For the duration of next week, DC Water is scheduled to perform roadway restoration activities on the 300 and 400 blocks of Hamilton St NW.
- For the duration of next week, DC Water is scheduled to perform test pitting and new water main installation work on the 5000 and 5100 blocks of 13th St NW.
- As part of the ongoing Piney Branch Sewer Rehabilitation Project, DC Water is scheduled to perform daytime work on Longfellow St from 2nd Pl NW to 3rd Pl NW, and on Nicholson St NW and 5th St NW for the duration of next week.
- As part of the ongoing Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project in Chevy Chase, DC Water is scheduled to perform sewer cleaning activities at the following locations for the duration of next week: 3700 – 3900 blocks of Military Rd NW, 3300 block of Military Rd NW, 3900 block of McKinley Rd NW, 3900 block of Morrison Rd NW, 5500 block of 41st St NW, 5700 block of 39th St NW.
Neighborhood Events
Zenith Gallery 47th Anniversary
Zenith Gallery in Shepherd Park is celebrating its 47th anniversary with a new exhibition and artist talks on April 5th, April 12th, and April 19th. You can read more about the upcoming shows and Zenith Gallery’s history in Ward 4 on its website here, plus find details about more upcoming artist talks. Congratulations to Zenith Gallery and founder Margery Goldberg on this incredible achievement!
SSNA Spring Fling and Egg Hunt
On Saturday, April 5th at 10am, join the 16th Street Heights Neighborhood Association and neighbors for coffee and breakfast treats as kids hunt for eggs in the Piney Spring Green located between Varnum St and Webster St.
MacFarland MS Spring Art Showcase
On Wednesday, April 9th from 5:30 to 8pm, MacFarland Middle School invites you to its annual Spring Arts Showcase at the MacFarland Auditorium, 4400 Iowa Ave NW. This year’s theme, Harmony in Bloom, celebrates the power of music to bring us together. Enjoy an evening of incredible performances featuring the world-class Mustang Drumline, Concert Band, Jazz Combo, 6th Grade Singers, and many more talented student musicians. Don’t miss the special event showcasing the creativity and dedication of MacFarland’s young artists!
Arts and Crafts on Upshur
On Saturday, April 12th from 12pm to 2pm, Petworth Main Street is hosting Arts and Crafts on Upshur, a free, family-friendly event for neighbors to drop by and make beautiful arts and crafts creations! Activities for all ages include making and decorating lanterns, canvas painting, flower coloring and painting, and more. Plus, enjoy specials from local restaurants and shops while you explore the neighborhood. No RSVP needed!
For more local events, check out DPR, DC Public Library, and NPS.
Important Reminders
Office Hours in the Community
Ward 4 office hours are happening every Wednesday afternoon at Fort Stevens Rec Center from 12 to 1pm, followed by office hours at Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Community members can stop by and speak one-on-one with a member of our team about DC government services or our work in the Ward 4 community.
Support for Federal Workers
As many in our community face unprecedented challenges, I’m grateful to everyone who is stepping up to support neighbors. The Office of the Mayor has rolled out fedsupport.dc.gov, sharing resources for federal workers who have been laid off or impacted by recent cuts. I also want to remind neighbors of resources on my website for federal workers impacted by recent actions and neighbors facing the threat of immigration enforcement, compiled with the help of Councilmember Nadeau. DC government and the DC Council are also hiring for a range of positions, and I encourage community members to take a look at the open positions and share with a neighbor.
Ward 4 in the News
Petworth News: Get ready for Petworth Porchfest, the biggest outdoor music event in DC!
PoPville: Tropical Smoothie signage up in Brightwood!
Ward 4 Dispatch: Spring is Here, Ward 4 Free DC Kickoff, Late Night Hype, and Tax Town Hall
These are news articles that mention Ward 4 or pertain to events in our community. Councilmember Lewis George does not write or endorse their content but shares them for community awareness.
One of the great joys of serving as Ward 4 councilmember is spending time with our Ward 4 faith communities, and last Sunday, I was grateful to pay a visit to New Bethel Church of God in Christ for the one-year anniversary of Pastor Coles’ leadership at the church. When our faith communities are strong, our entire community is strong, and I’m immensely grateful to Pastor Coles and all of our faith leaders for serving as bastions of strength and unity amidst challenging times.
I was also grateful this week to swear in our newest Ward 4 ANC commissioner, Jeffrey Holliday, who will serve in ANC 4A05. Our ANC commissioners are dedicated public servants who step up to serve and make government more responsive to the people, and I look forward to working with Commissioner Holliday to support the priorities of our Brightwood community.
Lastly, a moment of inspiration came this week when Senator Cory Booker delivered an over 24-hour speech on the Senate floor, disrupting normal Senate business and speaking out about the harms Americans have faced as a result of recent federal actions. In doing so, he set a new record for longest speech delivered on the Senate floor, defeating the racist record set by Senator Strom Thurmond in opposing the Civil Rights Act in 1957. As we continue navigating through unprecedented challenges together, I am grateful to every individual who is speaking out in defense of our communities and our values.
Wishing you a good weekend, neighbors.
Yours in Community,
—Janeese
