This Week’s Highlights
Dear Neighbors,
Happy spring break week! Next week is spring break for DC Public Schools students across the District, and I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing week with family and loved ones, whether you’re staying in town or going away. There’s no shortage of updates on the Council and in Ward 4 this week, including the latest on the DC budget, important oversight wins for District facility maintenance, public safety updates, and more opportunities for neighbors to share their feedback on important projects.
Council News/Legislative Updates
Updates on the DC Budget and Other Legislative News
Normally, at this time of year, the Council would have received the DC budget from the Mayor and we’d be busy diving into the details, getting input from community members at oversight hearings, and making the necessary changes to invest in our communities. But this isn’t a typical year, and because we are still waiting on Congress to pass the DC funding fix, things have been strangely quiet on the FY26 budget front. With the House gaveled out for two weeks and no fix for our budget on the horizon, the Council continues to work aggressively to get Congress to move. I’m so grateful for the advocacy of our community and I ask everyone who can to continue to push forward, including by engaging with FREE DC’s advocacy efforts.
Even without these federal roadblocks, this budget is still shaping up to be a challenging one, as the latest revenue estimates indicate DC is likely to face revenue declines due to the impact of federal layoffs and looming economic uncertainty. Nonetheless, our work continues, and this week, I met with several advocacy groups to discuss community members’ needs and efforts to protect our crucial budget investments. The Mayor, my Council colleagues, and I continue to reach out to members of Congress and will continue pushing forward to advance the needs of the people of Ward 4 and DC.
Win for Oversight and Facility Maintenance
This week, we got some important and exciting news: the Department of General Services’ work order public dashboard, which is required by legislation I wrote, is officially live! Whenever our buildings undergo maintenance and repairs — whether fixing a broken water fountain at a park or repairing a school’s faulty HVAC system — community members have a right to be kept in the loop. But after years of oversight and visiting schools, parks, MPD and fire stations, and senior centers, it was clear the current system was not working for the public. My legislation required DGS to allow residents and employees to track progress of facilities in all District buildings for the first time, with full information about the nature of the problem, when it’s expected to be fixed, and how quickly repairs are being made citywide. I am truly grateful for DGS’ work to improve their website and dashboard, and there are still several provisions of my DGS Process Improvements Act that are awaiting implementation that will also improve the experience of managing maintenance and repairs for agencies, contractors, and the public. I hope to have updates for you all soon!
Community News
Ward 4 Neighbors: Host an Earth Day Clean-Up!
Spring is a season of renewal, and every year I’m grateful to the dozens of Ward 4 neighbors who organize community clean-ups to beautify our neighborhoods and come together as a community. Anyone can hold a community clean-up, and DPW will provide you with the tools you need — including pickers, gloves, and trash bags — and they will haul away the trash you collect. All you need to do is send this short form to julius.terry@dc.gov by tomorrow, April 12th, so make sure to act fast if you’d like to organize a clean-up! Thanks to my Ward 1 Council colleague Brianne Nadeau for compiling these materials!
Reminder to Share Your Feedback: Chevy Chase Civic Core, Upshur Park Modernization, and Rock Creek Reversible Lanes
Whenever projects take place in Ward 4, it’s essential neighbors make their voices heard so plans reflect the needs and wishes of our community. Right now, there are several opportunities for neighbors to share feedback on important Ward 4 projects that are currently underway and will have a significant impact on our community:
- The National Park Service is considering a proposal to end rush hour reversible lanes along Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway. This could lead to greater congestion and gridlock for commuters in Ward 4 and citywide. Make sure to review the plan and share your feedback by May 2nd.
- After last month’s meeting, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development is accepting feedback on the proposals for the new Chevy Chase Civic Core. Neighbors can see the proposals and share their feedback by May 28th.
- Last week, DPR and DGS held a public meeting to present the community with plans for the Upshur Rec Center’s modernized playground and splash pad. Make sure to check out the proposals and vote on your preferred design!
Public Safety Updates
Over the last few weeks, I have heard from neighbors in Brightwood Park about a concerning string of car break-ins and incidents of vandalism, particularly along Kansas Ave. Although these types of crimes have been on the decline recently in the Brightwood Park area, any instances of property theft or vandalism are deeply alarming and cannot be tolerated in our community. In response, I have asked 4th District MPD to institute strategic police presence in the area and am grateful for their diligent work to investigate the cases, hold perpetrators accountable, and keep neighbors informed. If you have any footage or information related to these incidents, please share it with MPD by calling 202-727-9099 or texting 50411. These types of acts are crimes of opportunity, and serve as a reminder to neighbors to avoid leaving property visible in cars whenever possible to bring down the likelihood of break-ins. As a reminder, one of the best resources law enforcement have at their disposal to combat crime and close cases is camera footage, and DC’s private security camera rebate program reimburses residents, businesses, and churches for the cost of installing security cameras on their properties. My team and I regularly promote this program to our community, and neighbors can sign here.
Lastly, I want to make sure neighbors are aware of several drug free zones MPD has announced in Ward 4, which are now in effect until Monday, April 14th 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:
- Intersection of Shepherd St and the alley located between 956 Shepherd St and 958 Shepherd St to the intersection of Georgia Ave and Shepherd St NW;
- Georgia Ave from Shepherd St to Quincy St NW;
- Quincy St from Georgia Ave to 10th St NW;
- 10th St from Quincy St to Randolph St NW;
- Randolph St from Quincy St to the originating alley between 956 Shepherd St and 958 Shepherd St NW;
- The intersection of the alley and Randolph St to the intersection of the alley and Shepherd St NW
Community Resources
Office of Tax and Revenue Office Hours
Need support filing your taxes? Ahead of the upcoming filing deadline, the DC Office of Tax and Revenue is holding special Customer Call Center hours this Saturday, April 12th, from 8am to 12pm to support taxpayers. You can reach a representative at 202-727-4TAX (4829).
Get Fresh Produce by Enrolling in Produce Plus!
The spring Produce Plus Season is here, and this week, the program officially opened for enrollment! Produce Plus is funded by DC Health and administered by FRESHFARM and provides locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to DC residents with limited access to fresh, healthy food. Learn more about the program and sign up here!
DCPL Emancipation Day Hours
In recognition of DC Emancipation Day on Wednesday, April 16th, all Ward 4 libraries except the Petworth Neighborhood Library will be closed. The Petworth Library will be open as normal from 9am to 5pm. You can see DCPL’s full holiday schedule here.
Virtual Meet Up with Mendo
On Monday, April 14th at 5pm, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson is hosting a virtual “Meet Up with Mendo” event, which will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube. Neighbors will have the opportunity to speak with Chairman Mendelson and ask questions about DC services, legislation, and other community issues. Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing ChairmanCS@dccouncil.gov.
Housing Community Listening Session
On Thursday, April 17th from 5 to 7pm, Legal Aid DC is hosting a community listening session at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library downtown. The sessions will focus on affordable housing, eviction, rent control, utilities, and other issues to gather community members’ ideas, challenges and questions about these issues. Register here.
Register for Ward 4 Faith Leaders’ Peace Camp
Registration has opened for Peace Camp! Ward 4 Faith Leaders’ program for ages 9-13 is designed to engage young people and instill in them values to withstand violence to become leaders in our community. There will be field trips, engaging lessons, and fun games, and much more.
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:
- 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
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. The food bank is holding new pop-up food distributions twice a week, offering 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.
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 Brightwood Park, Petworth, Manor Park, Chevy Chase, and 16th Street Heights neighbors:
- As part of the Piney Branch Sewer Rehabilitation Project, DC Water is scheduled to perform daytime work at the following locations for the duration of next week: Longfellow St from 2nd Pl to 3rd Pl NW, Sherman Circle, 16th St & Upshur St NW
- For the duration of next week, DC Water is scheduled to perform roadway restoration work on 8th St NW and Quintana Pl NW.
- As part of the Chevy Chase Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project, DC Water is scheduled to perform sewer cleaning activities at the following locations for the duration of next week: 3700 – 3800 blocks of Morrison St NW, 3500 block of Legation Rd NW, 3700 – 3800 blocks of Legation Rd NW, 3400 block of Livingston St NW, 3600 – 3700 blocks of Livingston St NW, 4100 block of Military Rd NW, 5300 – 5400 blocks of Connecticut Ave NW, 5400 block of Chevy Chase Pkwy 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.
- For the duration of next week, DC Water is scheduled to perform roadway restoration work on the 300 and 400 blocks of Kennedy St NW and Hamilton 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 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!
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!
Spring Clean-Up Week
Spring Clean-Up Week starts this Saturday! There will be cleanups from April 12th through the 19th across Ward 4, hosted by neighbors, community groups, and schools, and many including a social component after the cleanup at a local business. If you’re a student looking to earn community service hours, a family looking for activities to do with the kids over spring break, or a neighbor interested in connecting with other neighbors, this event is for you. All supplies are provided, resources and information are available, and there will be lots of food and fun. Thanks to Takoma neighbor Erin Palmer for organizing!
DPR Spring Break
As DC Public Schools prepare to go on Spring Break, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hosting a week of fun, engaging activities for young residents from Saturday, April 12th through Saturday, April 19th. DPR Spring Break will feature a wide range of free events across the District, including a skate party, a lifesaving skills class, a teen brunch day party, and much more. Find a full list of events below and at dprspringbreak.splashthat.com.
Earth Day Clean-Up
On Tuesday, April 22nd from 4:30 to 6pm, help Uptown shine a little brighter by joining Uptown Main Street and Petworth Main Street’s Earth Day Clean-Up! Visit one of three meet-up locations (711 Kennedy St, 843 Upshur St OR 8th and Taylor St, or 3928 14th St) to help clean up trash and stick around for a happy hour afterwards. Cleaning materials provided! Thanks to Petworth Peanuts and the DC Office of the Clean City for co-sponsoring!
Genevieve N. Johnson Egg Hunt & Open Jam Sessions
On Tuesday, April 22nd from 10:30am to 2pm, the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Center is hosting its annual Egg Hunt and Magic Show at the senior center (4817 Blagden Ave NW). Then on Tuesday, April 29th at 1pm, they are hosting the second of two Open Jam Sessions for neighbors to enjoy an afternoon of jazz! For more information, check out Genevieve Johnson’s website.
Get Ready for Petworth Porchfest!
It’s almost that time of year! Petworth Porchfest is set for Saturday, April 26th. Local bands will be performing throughout Petworth, with residents hosting performances on their porches. Porch performances will go from 2 – 6pm, and main stage performances from 5 – 8pm. It’s not too late to sign up to volunteer, host, or even perform. Click here for all the details on this exciting event.
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
This week, I was proud to join over 200 state legislators from across the country to sign on to a letter calling on President Trump to keep the Department of Education open amidst threats to close the agency. Our students deserve more support, not less, and this type of action would undermine equity, take resources away from our schools, and hurt our communities. You can read the full letter here.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: Letter from 240 State Legislators to President Trump on Keeping the U.S. Department of Education Open
Next Stop…Riggs Park: New Cycletrack on Riggs Road NE
PoPville: Yo!! “Hazel’s Hardware + Blue’s Coffee & Tea Co. are coming to The Parks”!!
The Washington Post: 2024-25 Winter All-Met: Girls’ basketball first team, second team, third team, fourth team, honorable mention
The Washington Post: Georgia Avenue condominium adds 14 units to Petworth neighborhood
Ward 4 Dispatch: Budget Delays, Senior Bingo, and Ward 4 Construction Updates
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.
Last week’s Ward 4 Senior Bingo was a hit! I want to give a special thank you to DPR, Iona, DACL, and all our partners for bringing important resources and making this event such a success, and to all the seniors who joined us for an unforgettable day. More Bingo to come soon!
Starting this weekend, many of our Jewish neighbors in Ward 4 and DC will gather around the seder table with loved ones to celebrate Passover. To everyone in our community who is celebrating, I wish you a meaningful Passover full of hope and renewal.
Lastly, this Wednesday, April 16, 2025, marks the 163rd anniversary of Emancipation Day, when 3,100 enslaved people were freed in the District. Each year we honor Emancipation Day as the “first blow against the edifice of slavery” and the day our city was freed “from the thrall of slavery forever.” In celebrating Emancipation Day, we are reminded the strength and fortitude of the people of DC in the face of adversity and our unrelenting fight for full equality.
Happy Emancipation Day, Ward 4.
Yours in Community,
—Janeese
