Ward 6 Update: Budget Progresses, Heat in Schools, & Constituent Wins
Plus: Happy 5th Birthday to the Southwest Library!

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If you haven't heard: DC has great libraries. While I know many of you are with me in eagerly awaiting the reopening of the modernized Southeast Library, I want to wish the Southwest Library a very happy 5th birthday (who should I send the card to?)!  I had the chance to stop by the party last week, and it makes me so happy to see how beloved and special that library has become. I still remember the conversations and the fight we took on when I was first elected to save the library and park from being sold off to development, and instead we created a new and beautiful library. What we have there today has exceeded all our expectations. 

It was wonderful to celebrate with neighbors, especially amid the busy budget season happening at the Wilson Building — which you can read all about in today's Ward 6 Update. Check out the latest coming to your corner of Ward 6 below! 

QUICK LINKS: Budget Update | Buildings Are Too Hot | Be Ready for Ranked Choice Voting | Public Safety | Early Trash Pickup | ANC Grant | Constituent Wins | Events | ANC Meetings

Miss the last newsletter? I shared updates on RFK transit news, East Potomac Park golf courses, the new Cobb Park, and, of course, a great video using pizza toppings to help break down how ranked choice voting works on your ballot! Read it here.

Budget Update for Your Corner of Ward 6 and DC

Where we are in the budget process

Last week, each of the Council's committees voted on their individual funding recommendations for their slices of the budget pie (see the budget flowchart from our Budget Town Hall above). And this week, Councilmembers spent a long day (and evening) together reviewing these recommendations and working through one of the hardest parts of governing: balancing urgent needs, limited dollars, and the kind of city we want and need DC to be.

Between now and the June 9th first vote on the full budget, the Council will be wrestling with the big-ticket items that one committee alone can't address. There are still major gaps in the budget that concern me, like the elimination of critical childcare supports. Childcare workers are essential to our economy and to families across the city. Without the city's Pay Equity Fund, which supports their salaries, DC can't attract the quality childcare providers we need; working parents have an even harder time finding a spot for their kids, and for those that do, the costs just continue to go up when they're already too high. We cannot continue to expect people to hold a system together without sustainable investment.

And candidly, that’s why the revenue conversation matters. The budget challenges we face are largely driven by the increased cost of everything (you're feeling it at home, and so is your government) and slower economic growth for DC, specifically. Both are largely the fault of the President's reckless approach to governing, ranging from DOGE cuts to tariffs to the war in Iran. 

Environment and transportation funding

Last weekend, I shared an update on my budget proposal as chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment to restore cuts to our rivers, clean our air, and lower residents' utility bills immediately and for the long-term. This past week and next, I'll be rolling out short, bite-sized videos (like this one on the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund and this one on WMATA) to cover key points if you'd rather watch an update than read one.

I had several folks write back to me asking how I had secured funding to reverse those cuts. The short answer is that we funded many items through rigorous and detailed oversight of our agencies to identify overspending or inefficient funding, and then moved that money to restore other priorities. So far, the only fee increase our committee has approved is adjusting the DC Stormwater Fee for inflation. That's a small fee on your water bill dedicated to stormwater management. The problem we're having to solve is that the Mayor has swept those dollars you're already paying, and is leaving a massive legal liability for the city behind by now being out of compliance with federal EPA requirements for stormwater management. So one way or another, that fund has to be restored.

But no matter how rigorous the oversight is (and yes, we need a whole lot more as this City Paper story exposes), it won't be enough to make up for the cost of living increases and slower growth driving our biggest budget headaches. So yes, the Council will be and should be looking at the trade-offs in asking something of our residents who are doing well to ensure we aren't simply balancing the entire budget on the backs of lower-income residents by taking away health care, housing, energy affordability, and more.

Ward 6 investments

Now, I mentioned above identifying places where we shifted funding based on oversight and could put those toward more urgent needs. That includes transferring $2 million to restore cuts to Access to Justice funding, which connects DC residents with legal representation and advice on a wide range of civil legal matters to help level the playing field in our courts.   

I’ve also been able to advance a number of important Ward 6 investments and restorations this year, including:

• Funding to get the Southeast Library open and operating with full staffing needs (coming later this summer!);
  
  
• Restoring FRESHFARM FoodPrints funding in our schools — this is the program that brings food and gardening education and meals to our students in many Ward 6 schools; 
  
  
• Continued support for businesses impacted by construction around Pennsylvania and Potomac Avenues and Barracks Row;
  
  
• Restoring eliminated funding for Shirley’s Place, a Ward 6 day center for anyone experiencing homelessness;
  
  
• Beginning a planning process to improve and upgrade Lansburgh Park in Southwest;
  
  
• Repairs and replacing aging equipment at the spray park at Watkins Rec Playground;
  
  
• Planning and activation funding connected to H Street NE, Barracks Row, and Eastern Market Metro Park for live music, entertainment, programming, and more;
  
  
• Continue making critical repairs and upgrades at historic Eastern Market;
  
  
• A new dog park in Mount Vernon Triangle;
  
  
• Funding to complete the Garfield Park Connector, the underpass connecting Garfield Park to Navy Yard (including space for teen recreational programming);
• Funding to redo the Randall Rec fields;
  
  
• Continuing free public restrooms at Eastern Market Metro Park and Cobb Park;
  
  
• Redesigning a neglected triangle park at D St, Kentucky Ave, and 14th St, SE; 
  
  
• Protected bike infrastructure along 11th Street SE to deliver safer streets for everyone; and
  
  
• New support to help condo and co-op buildings take advantage of solar installation and building energy standards compliance to lower their utility bills for hundreds of residents all at once.

I'll have more updates on where we are in the budget process throughout June, but I wanted to be sure you got an updated lay of the land. As always, please reach out and share your priorities with me and my team.

Alley Homes Can Deliver New Homes, Add Charm

Early this year, I wrote a letter to the Zoning Commission in support of relaxing the requirements to build homes within our alleys. In my mind, alleys offer great potential to build more homes while enhancing the charm and character of our neighborhoods — but several burdensome requirements effectively made them unworkable. The Zoning Commission, with a lot of advocacy from residents, agreed (fittingly, we celebrated that citywide in Ward 6). And now, we're (hopefully) starting to see the fruits of that labor as new projects are being proposed, including potentially 22 new homes off of H Street NE. As we wrestle with ways to add more housing and lower the cost for everyone, I hope we see more proposals like that make sense for everyone involved. 

Maury Elementary Students Deserve Cooler Classrooms

Two weeks ago, during our heat wave, my office received multiple calls about schools being too hot for students. Maury Elementary saw 86 degrees inside a classroom, which is unacceptable for our students, teachers, and staff. I immediately contacted leadership at the Department of General Services and the DCPS Chancellor to fix this issue. This has unfortunately become an annual problem as DGS chose a poor HVAC system at Maury that seems to malfunction each year. This summer, there is significant work being done on the school's older system (there are two), but I want to be sure we also address the recurring issues with the new one. Of course, HVAC issues aren't unique to just one school, and as our weather swings, it can be very hard on the systems. DGS does keep close to the ground to fix issues as quickly as possible, but we need longer-term solutions to keep our classrooms at a reasonable temperature to avoid disrupting the school day.

Southwest Seniors Get a Tutorial on Ranked Choice Voting

Last week, I joined the Board of Elections and senior residents at Waterside Towers in Southwest to answer questions and even practice voting using ranked choice voting. As I'm sure you've heard, DC is using ranked choice voting for the very first time this election cycle after it was approved by DC voters as a ballot initiative during the 2024 General Election. Ballot boxes are open across the city, and you can drop your mail-in ballot in any of those, or mail it in. Of course, you'll also still be able to vote in person, too. No matter which way you go about it, it will look different this year, as you can rank your options. I'm thankful the Board of Elections has been working throughout DC to help inform residents about this process.

In case you missed it, I shared a fun video to show how it works. The Board of Elections also has official videos and more, all of which you can access here.

Public Safety Update

New Juvenile Curfew Zone Declared by Mayor: Through tomorrow night, the Chief of Police has declared four juvenile curfew zones in Navy Yard, Chinatown, the U Street corridor, and Benning Park. Just to be clear, despite an ongoing media and social media debate about the Council and curfews, the Mayor has the authority she needs right now to declare new zones until the Council's permanent curfew bill becomes law later this summer. While I joined my colleagues in voting to support a more tailored version of the curfew law (and would support an emergency version) that built in providing safe alternative spaces where young people can gather together, I'd like to draw your attention to how New York City is providing young people with safe places to enjoy their city (and making it easy to find them!). We've been able to get the Mayor (via DPR) to host a few events with improved outcomes, but it's been a challenge and I think shouldn't be seen as one-off events.

MPD Makes Arrest in Southwest Armed Carjacking: MPD announced two arrests from Wednesday of this week after two occupants in a rideshare vehicle allegedly stole the vehicle in the Buzzard Point area of Southwest.

Set Your Trash & Recycle Bins Out Early

The other morning, I was taking out my recycling while I got the coffee started, and I realized I missed the collection entirely? Did they come earlier? The answer was yes! The Department of Public Works is getting ready for hotter weather, which means crews will begin collecting from cans an hour earlier than normal to try to avoid being out during the hottest hours of the day. Through September, please make sure your cans are out before their scheduled collection, beginning at 6 p.m. the night before (or plan on waking up a little earlier if you like to put them out in the morning).

As always, if your home or block has a missed collection, reach out to my constituent services team, and we can help get you sorted out. 

Recent Ward 6 Constituent Services Wins

Every day, my team helps Ward 6 residents cut through bureaucracy and get real results, whether that’s restoring utilities, cleaning up public spaces, fixing infrastructure issues, getting the trash collected, or connecting neighbors to critical benefits and services. Since most of this work happens out of the public eye, I want to share a few recent examples of how we’ve been able to help:

• Helped a Northeast resident get their electricity restored after a Pepco shutoff, reconnecting power for a medically vulnerable household while also navigating available assistance programs.
  
  
• Worked with the Department of Public Works to remove an abandoned vehicle that neighbors had reported for months with little progress.
  
  
• Ended a months-long saga to get a barrel containing potentially hazardous material removed that had been illegally dumped in Southwest. 
  
  
• Assisted a resident whose expedited SNAP benefits had been approved but delayed because of a likely technical issue, helping ensure they received the benefits they were entitled to.
  
  
• Coordinated with city agencies to clean up long-neglected yard waste and missed recycling collection in Southeast DC.
  
  
• Helped resolve ongoing lighting issues at a neighborhood park on Potomac Avenue SE, working with DGS to finally repair lights that had been broken for nearly two years.
  
  
• One particularly challenging case involved a Southeast Ward 6 property where trash, debris, and unsafe conditions had piled up for months despite repeated 311 reports and city violations. My team worked persistently with multiple agencies to untangle issues related to occupancy and enforcement, ultimately helping to move the cleanup process forward and get the property cleared. (Photo provided by resident.)
  
  
• And sometimes, the biggest difference comes from simply helping residents navigate confusing systems. One Northwest resident facing a Pepco disconnection after a hospitalization was able to enroll in a new payment assistance program after working with my office and the Office of the People’s Counsel — avoiding disconnection and securing a manageable payment plan moving forward.

If you have an issue you need help with, you can always make a 311 request and follow up with my team, so Kimberly (Southeast), Jen (Northeast), or Jeanne (Southwest and Northwest) can help.

ANC 6A Welcomes Grant Applications

ANC 6A wants to be sure civic associations, nonprofits, schools, and more know they issue grants to support community events and projects. Learn more and how to apply here.

Events

• Caribbean Flag Ceremony: Today, May 30, 1 to 3 p.m. at 899 North Capitol St. NE
  The Mayor's Office of Caribbean Cultural Affairs presents the 3rd Annual Caribbean Flag Ceremony to kick off Caribbean Heritage Month.
  
  
• LGBTQIA+ Flag Raising Ceremony: Monday, June 1, at 4 p.m., at the John A. Wilson Building
  The Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs hosts this flag-raising ceremony to mark the beginning of Pride Month, right at the seat of the DC government.
  
  
• Tunes in the Triangle: Wednesday, June 3, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Milian Park (499 Massachusetts Ave. NW)
  The Mount Vernon Triangle CID brings back weekly music this month, featuring female vocalists. Cecily performs on June 3.
  
  
• African American Music Appreciation Month Performance: Friday, June 5, 5 to 6:30 p.m., at Eastern Market Metro Park (701 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
  Barracks Row Main Street continues the weekly live music on Fridays this June. June 5 features the Love Station.
  
  
• Outdoor Vinyasa: Saturday, June 6, 10 to 11 a.m., at Eastern Market Metro Park (near the playground, 900 D St. SE)
  Barracks Row Main Street partners with District Flow for this free yoga class.
  
  
• Youth Chess Tournament: Saturday, June 5, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Eastern Market Metro Park (701 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
  Barracks Row Main Street partners with the U.S. Chess Center for this free tournament for students in second through eighth grades. Space is limited to 48 players at a time. They can register ahead of time, but arrive by 10:20 a.m. to ensure their place in the tournament. 
  
  
• Early Vote Centers Open: Monday, June 8 through Sunday, June 14, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  Vote centers open to early vote in person or drop off your ballot. See locations and details on the Board of Elections' website.
  
  
• The Council takes its first vote on the FY27 budget: 12 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)
  You'll be able to see details of the meeting, as well as a Zoom link, on the Council's calendar.
  
  
• Out to Lunch: Wednesday, June 10, noon to 1:30 p.m., Hancock Park (800 C St. SW)
  The Southwest BID invites people to have lunch outdoors to the music of Emma G.

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Upcoming ANC Meetings

• ANC 6B: Tuesday, June 9, 7 p.m., virtual and at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
• ANC 6C: Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m., virtual
• ANC 6A: Thursday, June 11, 7 p.m., virtual

Locate your Advisory Neighborhood Commission here.

See you around the neighborhood,

Charles Allen