This Week’s Highlights
Dear Neighbors,
This week, I was proud to share a report prepared by the Georgia Ave Revitalization Advisory Group—capping off months of feedback from neighbors, convening community leaders, and crafting recommendations to reimagine the future of the Georgia Ave corridor. Now, I’m excited to take the next step as we start implementing recommendations and turning our shared vision into action.
As we head into MLK weekend, I’m sharing some amazing opportunities for neighbors to volunteer and give back in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Lastly, read on for news on Pepco rate changes, constituent services updates, agency oversight hearings, updates on DPR capital projects, and more important Ward 4 news!
Community News
Reimagining Georgia Ave: The Work Ahead
One year ago, we launched Reimagining Georgia Ave—a community-driven effort to revitalize the Georgia Avenue corridor, support local businesses, and honor our shared history. Through months of listening, collaboration, and leadership from neighbors and community leaders, we built a bold, shared vision for Georgia Avenue’s future.
This week, I was proud to share the Georgia Ave Revitalization Advisory Group’s final report, capping off months of compiling resident feedback into concrete recommendations. This report would not have been possible without the input and contributions of every neighbor who filled out our survey, sent an email, and made their voices heard. I’m especially thankful to the ANC commissioners, business leaders, and neighbors who made up our Advisory Group. Here are some of the final recommendations for making Georgia Ave as strong and vibrant as it can be:
- Local Business Support: Business vouchers and support navigating DC bureaucracy
- Neighborhood Beautification: Installing benches, corridor lighting, expanded green canopy
- Blighted Property Enforcement: Aggressive enforcement against vacant properties
- Public Safety Coordination: Enhanced partnership with 4D MPD and Dept of Public Works
- Public Art Expansion: Launch community-engaged mural projects
- Major Events Program: Formalize Taste of Georgia Ave, Open Streets, Walking Tours
I encourage you to give the full report a read and see the complete set of findings and recommendations. As we approach the upcoming budget and oversight season, I’m looking forward to turning this shared vision into a reality!
Supporting Residents Facing Pepco Rate Increases
Over the last few weeks, many residents have reported rising costs for Pepco and other utility bills. While there are many reasons for these increases, Pepco bills have especially worsened since last summer, when PJM Interconnection, the company managing DC’s regional grid, significantly raised prices due to growing electricity demand. These increases come at a difficult time for DC residents, as many are facing layoffs and rising costs of food and housing. This is a basic affordability issue, and one that is making it harder for longtime residents to stay in DC. We must do more as a city to make sure resources are in place to help residents manage these rising costs.
For Ward 4 residents struggling to pay their utility bills, there are several resources you have access to. First, the Department of Energy and Environment operates a utility discount program that helps residents improve their homes to reduce their energy consumption. You can find the full list of services here. Community solar programs offered by the District are also a great way for neighbors to reduce energy bills by tapping into renewable energy. Lastly, DC’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is currently accepting applications from eligible residents. As we enter budget season, I will fight to make sure these programs are fully funded so DC residents facing the greatest financial strain have the support they need.
FEMS Responds to Fire on Upshur Street
Last Friday, DC Fire and EMS responded to a building fire on the 800 block of Upshur St NW. Thankfully, FEMS quickly arrived on the scene and was able to safely evacuate all the occupants from the building. One resident received treatment for injuries and is expected to be released. Thank you to our firefighters and EMS team for keeping our community safe!
DMPED Selects Proposal for Chevy Chase Civic Core
On Thursday night, I was informed by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) about the selection of a redevelopment proposal for the Chevy Chase Civic Core project. Next week, I’m looking forward to meeting with DMPED to understand all the details of this plan which will impact neighbors in Chevy Chase, Hawthorne, and Barnaby Woods. In the meantime, you can see details released by the Mayor’s on DMPED’s website.
Two New Businesses Open in Ward 4!
It’s always great to welcome new businesses into our community, and in the last week, we’ve had two amazing new businesses open in Ward 4! On Friday, Three Whistles coffeehouse held their soft opening at their new location on 5832 Georgia Ave, just across the street from Emery Heights. Make sure to visit and see their beautiful new space in the heart of Georgia Ave! And over the weekend, The Greeks Den celebrated its grand opening on 203 Upshur Street NW, as Ward 4’s newest hub for Divine 9 Greek apparel and accessories. Please join me in welcoming both businesses to our community!
Council News/Legislative Updates
Make Ward 4’s Voice Heard in Performance Oversight Hearings
With performance oversight hearings just around the corner, it’s not too late to share your feedback on areas you want to see improvement from DC agencies. Before hearings begin, please fill out this brief survey and share with a neighbor to make sure agencies hear our community’s concerns and needs.
Performance oversight hearings are an important forum for neighbors to speak face-to-face with agency leaders about the issues they care about. The more Ward 4 residents who testify, the more our voices will be heard by agency leadership. In the next few days, hearing pages will be uploaded on the DC Council website before oversight hearings begin at the end of the month. In the meantime, you can see the tentative schedule for oversight hearings below, highlighting a handful of agencies whose work most impacts Ward 4. To register to testify at a hearing, all you need to do is visit the DC Council’s hearing page and sign up to testify in person or virtually. I hope to see you at a hearing soon!
Community Resources
DC Resources to Help Neighbors Prepare for Cold Weather
With below-freezing weather expected this weekend, cold.dc.gov has shelter information and other resources for neighbors who may need support. Additionally, the DC Attorney General’s Mediation Program is an important resource for neighbors who are having heating issues. If you are a District renter and your landlord is being unresponsive, OAG’s Mediation Program will prioritize these complaints and contact the responsible party the same day. Complaints can be submitted through the OAG Consumer Complaint Portal.
MLK Weekend Service Updates
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day this coming weekend, DC government services will be modified on Monday, January 19th. Metrorail and Metrobus services will run on a holiday schedule, and trash collection will slide forward one day. That means if your trash is normally collected on Mondays, it will be collected on Tuesday, and so on.
9th and Illinois Triangle Park Project Meeting
On Wednesday, January 21st from 6 to 7:30pm, join the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the DC Department of General Services (DGS) for a community meeting to discuss upcoming renovations to the triangle park at 9th Street NW, Illinois Avenue NW and Ingraham Street NW. The meeting will take place at Emery Heights Community Center (5701 Georgia Ave NW). For more information on the project and to RSVP, visit DPR’s website.
Lamond Rec Center Playground Improvements Meeting
On Wednesday, January 28th at 6pm, DPR and DGS are hosting a community meeting via Zoom to discuss upcoming improvements to the Lamond Rec Center playground. To RSVP to attend, visit DPR’s website.
DPR Lottery Training Sessions
This month, get your DPR account and necessary paperwork in order to be ready for the DPR summer camp lottery! Join on January 22nd at Emery Heights or on January 15th or February 3rd virtually to learn all you need to know about your DPR account, reduced rates, residency validation, and the camp lottery process. See event details and more info on DPR’s website.
Plymouth Congregational & New Hope Baptist Food Pantry
On Saturday, January 24th from 10am to noon, Plymouth Congregational and New Hope Baptist United Church of Christ are joining to host a food pantry at 5301 North Capitol Street NE. Please share with a neighbor!
Join the Ward 4 Volunteer Corps!
If you’re looking for more ways to get involved in serving our community, I’m inviting neighbors to join our Ward 4 Volunteer Corps! As we continue through the snowy season, one of the biggest needs is helping our seniors make sure their sidewalks are shoveled. If you’re interested in lending a hand, email ward4volunteercorps+subscribe@groups.io!
Holiday Tree and Greenery Collection
Right now, DPW is collecting live holiday trees until February 28th. Don’t forget to remove decorations and place your holiday trees at the curb! Please use the curbside tree boxes and the holiday tree drop-off options below to compost all holiday trees and greenery. For more information, visit DPW’s website. DC Residents can also drop off holiday trees and greenery Monday through Friday at the following locations:
- DPW Salt Storage Facility 2700 South Capitol Street SE (Roll off box) 8 AM – 2:30 PM
- Bryant Street Sweep Shop 201 Bryant Street NW (Roll off box) 8 AM – 3 PM
- Guy Mason Recreation Center 3600 Calvert Street NW 8 AM – 4 PM
Second Round of Leaf Collection Begins in Section 4B
Next week, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will kick off its second round of leaf collection in Section 4B, which includes parts of Sixteenth Street Heights, Crestwood, Brightwood, and Petworth west of Georgia Ave. As this process continues, I want to make sure neighbors are aware of a few important highlights:
- To report a missed collection, call 202-737-4404 or submit a 311 request.
- To ensure proper collection, make sure to have your leaves raked to your curbside or tree box at least 24 hours before collection is scheduled to begin in your section.
- Locate your section and keep up to date on DPW’s progress via the leaf collection tracker at dpw.dc.gov/leaf.
Neighborhood Events
Shepherd Park Weed Warriors Day of Service
On Saturday, January 17th from 2 to 4pm, the Shepherd Park Weed Warriors are hosting an MLK weekend day of service at Shepherd Field (behind Shepherd Elementary, 1500 Kalmia Rd NW). Join to work on invasive plant removal and clean-up and make sure to wear weather-appropriate gear. To RSVP, email shepherdparkweedwarriors@gmail.com.
Rock Creek Conservancy Clean-Ups
in the spirit of Dr. King, the Rock Creek Conservancy is organizing several volunteer-led clean-ups throughout the weekend. For more information on how to volunteer, visit the Conservancy’s website.
MLK Day of Service at BVSPCA
On Monday, January 19th, Brandywine Valley SPCA is hosting a community service day to mark MLK Day. Sign up to spend the day improving the lives of the animals in BVSPCA’s care. Training is provided onside, and all children under 13 must be accompanies by a parent or guardian. Come out and support animals in need of a home!
Gifts from the HeART & Black History Month at Zenith Gallery
This is the last weekend to see Gifts from the HeART, the latest exhibit open at Zenith Gallery in Shepherd Park, featuring art from more than three dozen amazing artists. The closing reception will take place on Saturday, January 17th from 2 to 6pm at 1429 Iris Street NW. Then, starting January 23rd until February 28th, Zenith Gallery is hosting a Black History Month exhibit, with Meet the Artist receptions on January 23rd from 4 to 8pm and January 24th from 2 to 6pm.
Petworth Peanuts Book Exchange and Winter Carnival
On Sunday, January 25th from 2 to 6pm, Petworth Peanuts is hosting a Book Exchange and Winter Carnival at Hook Hall! This fun event will include over a thousand donated kids’ books available for free, plus, tons of free kids’ entertainment, giveaways, and more. Check out the full map of porch locations where book donations can be dropped off, and the event page for more details for attendees.
Bingo at Brightwood Family Success Center
On Wednesday, January 28th from 1 to 3pm, join the Brightwood Family Success Center at 6203 12th St NW for an afternoon of excitement, camaraderie, and the thrill of winning at Bingo Games! There will be prizes, snacks, and opportunities to learn about BFSC’s amazing work supporting families across Ward 4. RSVP is required to attend.
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.
Share Reports of Federal Law Enforcement Incidents
In August, my office launched an online reporting form for neighbors to report and document any concerning incidents involving federal agents. This information will be critical as we build our case, ensure organizations working on the ground are informed, and continue to hold this administration accountable. Please share the image with your social networks and neighbors to let others in the community know about this resource.
As our DC government works to keep our community safe, supported, and informed during this time, I also encourage neighbors to fill out my survey seeking input from residents to help shape how our office communicates around new federal developments.
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
PoPville: Three Whistles, coffeehouse and more, soft opening Friday morning!
Next Stop…Riggs Park: “Know Your Rights” Resources from ACLU-DC
Next Stop…Riggs Park: Reminder: DDOT South Dakota Avenue Corridor Project – Proposed Spot Treatment Location Survey Closes 1/26/2026
Chevy Chase News & Notes: January 2026 Issue
The 51st: Your weekly roundup of ways to get involved in D.C.
Petworth News: A remembrance of Chelsey Sokoloff
Ward 4 Dispatch: Fighting for Community Voice on Rock Creek Tennis Center
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.
On Sunday night, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Matthew McCollough, the Director of DC’s Office of Disability Rights. Director McCollough was a fierce advocate and recognized champion of people with disabilities who believed legal compliance is the minimum—not maximum— standard for accessibility. We all must join together to honor his legacy by continuing his work of ensuring access and protecting the rights of all people with disabilities throughout the District.
In the spirit of MLK Jr. Day this coming weekend, last Friday, I was honored to serve as a civic partner at Mikva Challenge’s Project Soapbox Showcase. During the event, students from schools across DC shared moving speeches about some of the biggest issues facing their communities. I was inspired witnessing the next generation of DC changemakers leading with courage, vision, and solutions.
As we head into MLK weekend, I’m reminded of Dr. King’s words that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Amidst a federal occupation and unprecedented threats against our neighbors, we do not have to look far to see injustice in our community – but we are resolved to climb to the Mountaintop together.
Have a joyful and meaningful MLK weekend, neighbors.
Yours in Community,
—Janeese
