Dear Neighbors, There is so much to report on. We finalized the DC budget this week, and I have all the highlights for you! The Juneteenth holiday is shifting city services: DPW collection will slide a day later next week but outdoor pools and spray parks will be open all holiday weekend. And next week, WMATA is launching its major fare discount program, which will reduce fares by 50% for any resident enrolled in SNAP. We also have the Home Rule Music Festival taking place tomorrow at The Parks at Walter Reed, and you won’t want to miss that. In

Dear Neighbors, From wildfire smoke descending upon the DMV to a black bear roaming DC streets, it has been quite the week here! Thankfully, the air quality has improved considerably today and is expected to continue to improve over the weekend. Still, please keep an eye on the Air Quality Index for your zip code and consider taking precautions — especially at-risk groups like seniors, children, and people with heart and lung conditions. And do not forget that trash and recycling collection was paused on Thursday to safeguard the health of our DPW workers, so collection the rest of this

Ward 4 is the proud home base of DC’s vibrant Caribbean-American community. All throughout June, we are celebrating National Caribbean-American Heritage Month and reflecting on the great contributions of our Caribbean-American communities to Ward 4 and all of the District. One special way to be part of the festivities is to participate in Caribbean-American Restaurant Week on June 11-17. By visiting Ward 4’s Caribbean restaurants, we can support the businesses that preserve Caribbean cuisine and culture, provide valuable jobs and entrepreneurship, and serve as a hub for community life. Andrene’s Caribbean & Soul Food Cafe (Brightwood Park)308 Kennedy St NW |

Dear Neighbors, Happy June! This week we held our second vote on the DC budget and have one more vote on the Budget Support Act next Tuesday to complete our budget work for the year. In my next newsletter, I will share a breakdown of everything you need to know about the final DC budget, but this week I want to focus on our efforts to expand SNAP benefits, limit rent increases on rent controlled units, and update you on everything happening in Ward 4. Check it all out: Expanding SNAP Benefits and Excluded Workers While Congress slashes food assistance

Dear Neighbors, As we kick start Memorial Day Weekend, here is the latest news about outdoor pools and spray parks opening, my work on your behalf on the DC Council, our oversight roundtable on school maintenance, trash collecting ‘sliding’ next week, city services, community resources, neighborhood events, and a tribute to Linda Harllee Harper, who we tragically lost this week. Thank you to everyone who attended our presentation with DDOT on how to organize a neighborhood block party. For those who missed it, you can check out the recording. I’m looking forward to being in community with you, and stay tuned for

Our city is mourning the devastating loss of Linda Harllee Harper, the director of DC’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the Office of Gun Violence Prevention — as well as a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and our Ward 4 neighbor in Takoma. Born and raised in DC, Director Harllee Harper dedicated her life to making our city safer with more than two decades of leadership in public safety, restorative justice, and youth development.Linda was a beautiful person both inside and out. She had the most beautiful family. Linda also loved our communities deeply, and that

Dear Neighbors, It has been a very heavy week for our city. I am dedicating this newsletter to updating you on the tragic loss of a student in Ward 4 and to describing the important changes we made in the DC budget and how they impact our lives. We also have many upcoming local events: a family-friendly Petworth Arts Fest, Takoma Flea Market, our CARE Day in Chevy Chase, and more.  Responding to Tragedy in Our Community Our community is heartbroken and outraged by the senseless killing of 17-year-old Roosevelt High School student Jefferson Luna-Pérez, who was shot outside the

Our community is heartbroken and outraged by the senseless killing of a 17-year-old Roosevelt High School student, who was shot outside the school on Wednesday. MacFarland and Roosevelt entered lockdown immediately and accounted for the safety of all other students as MPD, DC FEMS, the School Resource Officer, and school security staff responded to the incident. Then, after the area was secured, the schools and law enforcement coordinated a staggered dismissal of students. MPD officers, Safe Passage workers, and violence interrupters from the Office of the Neighborhood Safety and Engagement all responded to the scene and will maintain a presence

Dear Neighbors, We’re in the final stretch of the DC budget process. On Monday, the Chairman will release a revised budget, and on Tuesday, the Council will hold its first and most impactful vote on the DC budget and any budget amendments that Councilmembers propose. Now is the most important time to contact Councilmembers about the budget needs that matter most to you — from Ward 4 investments to citywide programs that make our communities safer and stronger. Please make your voice heard, and stay tuned for major budget updates from me next week. My newsletter this week includes important

Dear Neighbors, First off, I’m excited that we are launching our Ward 4 CARE Days later in May as a way to engage our community and bring resources to every Ward 4 neighborhood. If you haven’t yet, please find your closest CARE Day event and sign up. My newsletter this week focuses on updating you about our work on the DC budget and critical legislation to replace lead pipes in DC and strengthen DC’s minimum wage law. We also have an amazing lineup of Ward 4 events this weekend, including Brightwood’s Spring Cleanup, live music on Kennedy Street, the Shepherd Park Garden Tour,