Newsroom

At today’s legislative meeting of the DC Council, Councilmembers voted unanimously to pass Councilmember Charles Allen’s bill, the Private Security Camera System Incentive Program Emergency Act of 2016, to create an incentive program for residents and neighborhood establishments to purchase and install security camera systems.

Councilmember Allen said, “It is clear that security cameras deter crime and help MPD hold individuals accountable for criminal acts by adding extra eyes on the street. This program will put cameras where they’re needed most by targeting the highest crime areas in each Ward and nearly doubling the number of maximum rebates available.”

At tomorrow’s legislative meeting of the DC Council, Councilmember Charles Allen will move the Private Security Camera System Incentive Program Emergency Act of 2016.

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season with friends and family! As we ring out 2015 and welcome the New Year, I wanted to send our final Ward 6 Neighborhood Update for the year. I am very proud of the work we've accomplished together over the last year, and I thank you for the opportunity to serve and lead our community.

This evening Ward 6 DC Councilmember Charles Allen will announce the winners of the Ninth Annual Ward 6 Brickie Awards. Begun eight years ago by then-Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells as the Livable Walkable Awards, the awards became dubbed “The Brickies” by the local newspaper Hill Rag. The awards are an annual celebration of the people, places, and organizations that make the Ward 6 community great.

At today’s DC Council legislative meeting, Councilmember Charles Allen will introduce the Made in DC Program Establishment Act of 2015 to promote locally created, manufactured, and assembled products through brand certification via the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD).

Happy Thanksgiving! The cold weather has snapped our attention to the changing season, but it’s still a little hard for me to believe the holidays are already upon us! I wanted to send a warm Thanksgiving greeting to everyone and hope that you’re able to spend the holiday with friends and family. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity you’ve provided me this year. This past Saturday, I joined hundreds of volunteers with Project Giveback to fill boxes with a Thanksgiving meal for several Ward 6 families in need. Two of my staff – Laura Marks and Jamaal Jordan – brought their families along as we loaded up supplies and then delivered the food in time for a Thanksgiving meal. Overall, it was a great day to spread a little cheer and help ensure others can celebrate, too.

Thank you very much for such a great turnout at last week's public safety meeting -- over 350 neighbors packed the room. Chief Lanier outlined many of the steps taken by MPD as well as several recent key arrests. I thought the conversation was productive, but it also raised several questions and issues that need more work. As I said that evening, the meeting can't be the end of the conversation. Since last week, I've talked with the Attorney General, the US Attorney's Office, DC Court's Pre-Trial Services Division, and others about what more is needed to keep our neighborhoods safe and am working on legislative reforms at Council. 

I've talked with neighbors almost non-stop for the last several weeks about the uptick in crime that has hit the 1st District. Like you, I'm frustrated with what I've seen and these crimes are unacceptable. I appreciate everyone who has reached out and is working toward solutions. I wanted to share a quick update on recent news and actions, and invite everyone to a community public safety meeting on Tuesday evening, 7pm, at Friendship Public Charter School - Chamberlain Campus (1345 Potomac Ave SE).

Today I introduced a Sense of the Council Resolution supporting a “Build First” model for reinvestment in Greenleaf Public Housing. Greenleaf is located in Southwest DC and makes up 455 essential units of public housing, much of which is dedicated to senior and disabled residents, as well as ever diminishing multiple bedroom family housing. Greenleaf Public Housing includes Greenleaf Gardens, Greenleaf Senior, Greenleaf Extension, and Greenleaf Addition, all in Ward 6.

We've discussed public safety and crime issues in Hill East in the past, and given the recent crimes in the neighborhood, I wanted to share an update with you. I’ve also heard from several neighbors directly over the last few days and I know it's a topic of conversation throughout the community.