This edition of the newsletter has details on East Potomac Park, A/C Changes, and the Council debating revenue increases. Plus: Brickies nominations are still open, and a call for volunteers!

Last Saturday was Capitol Hill's first ever Porchfest, and folks, I think we have a chart-topper on our hands. With 160 bands playing at 50 porches (including mine!), I saw thousands of residents enjoying our neighborhood. Read about it here in Hillrag, and I can't wait to make this an annual tradition.

This was a long time coming, and I appreciate everyone’s help in getting this off the ground for a successful day! In particular, a big thanks to Rachel, Jerry, Edna, Torey, and Thomas who led all the volunteer planning and preparations!

QUICK LINKS: Brickies Nominations | Public Safety Update | Folger Park Returns | Resellers Suing Over RESALE | A/C Date Changes | Elevator Improvements | Walk Bike & Roll | Audi Field Roof | East Potomac Park | RFK Energy Plans | Raising $$ | How To Vote | Comp Plan Timeline | Constituent Services | Upcoming Events | Tickets

Miss the last newsletter? I shared updates on lowering utility bills, DC Central Kitchen's expansion, micromobility (e-bikes and scooters), and the opening of Emblem Apartments! Read it here.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up today.

We Want Your Brickies Nominations!

The 20th Annual Ward 6 Brickie Awards are coming up in December. But first, we need some neighbors and Ward 6 businesses to consider for these prestigious bricks! Nominations are due by October 30. Nominate neighbors you believe deserve recognition this year. And, yes, the awards are real bricks. 

Every year, we learn about amazing new neighbors who've taken it upon themselves to make their block, neighborhood, or city a better place. In addition to telling us who you're nominating, go ahead and tell us why. And feel free to share with your neighbors! 

You can nominate someone here (and be sure to check who's already won a Brickie first).

Finally, we’re looking for volunteers for the night of the Brickies (likely December 3)! This could mean collecting food deliveries, greeting, set-up, and clean-up. Fill out the form here if you’re interested.

Public Safety Update

In the last two weeks, we’ve had two serious public safety incidents: a shooting at First and Pierce Street, NE during the evening commute which led to closing down First Street for several hours (MPD released this lookout for two suspects), and a shooting outside of a home on the 500 block of K Street, NE. There is nothing to indicate the two incidents are connected, but I’m sharing for awareness as both investigations are ongoing, and MPD is seeking the public’s help. Any act of violence in our community is unacceptable, and I’ll be working with MPD on anything they need to make an arrest in both cases. 

Fatal Scooter Crash at 8th and Penn SE: Early on Friday evening, DC lost a dedicated public servant when Talib Shakir, who led the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, died in a crash involving his scooter and another rider, who was injured. Talib was beloved for his work across many roles in DC Government and in the returning citizens' community here in DC. His death was a shock. I don't have enough details to share more about what might have led to the crash, but MPD and DDOT will treat this as a major crash investigation.

Related - MPD Focusing on E‑Bike and E‑Scooter Safety: Through the end of the year, MPD will engage directly with residents and visitors to address unsafe behaviors and promote safe riding practices for different mobility devices, protecting everyone on DC roads. DC has seen a 62% increase in traffic fatalities so far this year after a significant drop last year. We need to be using every tool we have to make our roads safer for everyone. Thank you also to all the neighbors that responded to last newsletter's information about providing feedback to DDOT about their upcoming solicitation for new bike and scooter contracts.

Changing Our Approach to Violence Interruption: The Washington Sun is out with a story on a study released over the summer showing how DC’s violence interruption programs haven’t worked well. This stands in stark contrast to how they’re approaching it up 95 in Baltimore, where violence interruption is a key part of their impressive drop in violent crime and homicides. During my time as chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, I saw the work of violence interruption complimenting the work of law enforcement, but it was always an uphill battle with our current administration.

I created the position of Gun Violence Prevention Director within the Mayor’s office to bring more cross-government coordination, and while it was occupied briefly by Linda Harllee Harper (who sadly passed away in 2023), there was real hope in administering a meaningful effort. But after her passing, I never saw a consistent strategy or commitment, and it has predictably languished and been bereft of oversight. 

By the time the violence interruption work was caught up in Councilmember Trayon White’s bribery scandal, it was a shell of what it could have been and a deeply hurtful moment for the men and women who had put themselves in harm’s way to work with the relatively small number of people in DC likely to use a gun.

The Sun article is an important read, and I'm hopeful a future administration can learn lessons on how to do it better, because there’s enormous, lifesaving work that can happen to prevent the next shooting if there's evidence, strategy, and commitment behind it.

At Long Last, Folger Park Returns!

Folger Park is finally open! Thank you to our neighbors for their patience as the National Park Service made repairs on the plaza, with new benches and plants.

I know this one took a while, and believe me when I say your calls and emails on the delays helped push this project to completion, on top of some of the issues NPS dealt with along the way. So now that it's back, be sure to enjoy this fall weather in the beautiful park.

We Capped the Resale of Live Music Tickets at 10%. Now the Platforms are Going For An Encore to Stop It.

Back in July, the Council passed the RESALE Act, which took on the secondhand ticket resale market driving up costs for music fans while making the ticket buying experience worse. While it seems like a great way to get tickets to a sold out show, in reality, scalpers are using bots and other automated tech to scoop up most of the tickets from the box office and resell them to you, creating artificial demand. 

They also sell tickets that aren’t available yet and create fake “VIP sections” the venue itself doesn’t offer. All of that ends starting January 1, 2027 when the RESALE Act takes effect, banning the practice of selling tickets not in their possession and putting a 10% price cap on how much a ticket can be resold for.

The RESALE Act is one of the strongest pieces of consumer protection legislation in the country in this area, and it’s going to limit the enormous profits these companies have been making by effectively rigging the market against the average music fan.

So, it’s no surprise the resellers are still trying to stop the law. The Washington Sun reports the "Ticket Policy Forum, alongside ticketing companies including SeatGeek and Vivid Seats" filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in D.C.” seeking to stop the law from going into effect. In their coverage, the Washington City Paper noted the lawsuit argued “...fewer than 1 percent of the resale transactions last year involved both a D.C. seller and buyer…” On the legal merits, all legislation is carefully reviewed by the Council’s Office of General Counsel when it's drafted and will be defended by DC’s Attorney General.

What jumped out to me was how clearly this scam has redirected tens of millions of dollars out of the District to digital scalpers and fans out of state who want to come into the District. If we cut out the middleman, while still ensuring you can sell your ticket if your plans change, that’s money that will be spent in the District instead. Stay tuned for updates.

It’s Getting Hot in Here, So Let’s…Change When the AC Turns on in Apartments.

Many of my neighbors who live in larger, older buildings, especially in Southwest, have told me how challenging the change in seasons is when buildings with central HVAC make the switch between heat and A/C for the season. The good news is help is on the way. 

We just passed a measure at our Legislative Meeting last week which would modify when landlords are required to provide heating (to a temperature of 68 degrees or more). 

Right now, buildings are required to have the heat on from October 1 to May 1. With climate change, that can mean it's super hot inside when the heat is required to be on but temperatures outside are summer-like (for example, several days this past week!). 

Here’s how it works: DC will shorten this required heat window to cover from October 15 to April 15. But the cooling season would also get extended, requiring mandatory air conditioning coverage to a temperature below 78 degrees from May 1 to October 1. This will extend the cooling season from its present May 15 to September 15 limits. 

So when will this go into effect? The goal is for the Spring 2027 air conditioning season. I’ll have more updates as this bill moves along in the legislative session – it will receive a second and final vote later this month. 

Taking on a Rising Issue in Housing: Out-of-Service Elevators

This week, I introduced a bill to take on an issue my team is hearing about regularly – elevators in apartment buildings that aren't in service. And look, I get it. Elevators can be notoriously difficult to repair – we see it all the time in DC buildings. But it's simply unacceptable to have a building where residents on higher levels can't safely come and go.

I see this especially in our buildings that are more affordable, where the problem is compounded when you have seniors using a wheelchair or walker for whom the stairs aren’t feasible. And my experience with a building like Museum Square in Mt. Vernon Triangle is that the Department of Buildings' current definition of what a "working elevator" is falls short – if the elevator can reach *some* floors (but not all floors, even the lobby), it's considered in working condition. Again, that's even if it doesn’t service a floor with residents. So I’ve introduced a bill to fix that definition and strengthen DOB’s ability to quickly enforce against slow repairs of an elevator – the bill is called the Elevator Reliability and Maintenance Amendment Act. 

Going for its 25th year, Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day Brought out the Whole Ward!

It was a beautiful morning at Lincoln Park: The leaves were turning, we had clear skies for a gorgeous sunrise, and kids with their parents were out for our 25th Walk Bike & Roll to School Day! This is one of my favorite events to emcee as a councilmember and participate in as a dad. 

I get to see families come year after year, and it only gets bigger. Of course, a huge thank you to our two superhosts Sandra Moscoso and Suzanne Wells, who've ensured this event happens for many years – long after their own kids were small enough to participate. Check out more images here from Instagram. 

DC United Wants a Roof over Audi Field, But Here’s What Needs to Happen First.

With the MLS season planning to move its season to winter months, DC United is asking the Council for funding for a roof over Audi Field. The argument in favor is the potential to host more events annually and boost attendance for winter games. I spoke with WTOP about where I am on the idea. 

Chairman Phil Mendelson brought this up with a $620 million bill, and we have a hearing for the proposal next week on October 23.

The District has invested a lot of money in our sports economy between RFK, Capitol One Arena, and Nationals Park. So if District taxpayers are going to make another investment, we need to address some issues in the bill as introduced, which Chairman Mendelson admits is a starting point for discussion. Here’s what needs to happen:

1. First, we need a cap on how much the city contributes to this, as it could be a liability if costs go up. Right now, the District’s commitment would be open-ended and a blank check. That won't work for me.
   
   
2. Second, there's no guarantee that the housing being promised will actually be built. Any deal must include checks that ensure the new housing is built, or else the subsidy gets clawed back.  
   
   
3. Ask Southwest neighbors or Buzzard Point ANCs, and they'll be quick to tell you that traffic and congestion need to be better dealt with if there’s an investment to bring more events to Audi Field. I know that game days right now are a huge challenge for neighbors and fans alike, and there's nothing in this proposal to make it better.
   
   
4. The investment needs to benefit the Washington Spirit, who have found a great home at Audi Field. Any investment from the city should be sure to benefit both teams for the long-term.

What Happened at East Potomac Park was Infuriating and Wrong.

430 trees. That’s how many the Trump Administration removed from East Potomac Park this past weekend before a judge stopped officials from proceeding with the pipe dream (for some) of a massive golf course. This is infuriating and wrong. East Potomac Park is a beloved and well-used community amenity. People play golf, putt putt, fish, bike, walk, picnic, and take in stunning views of the waterfront and the District. It’s just one more example of this administration’s callous disregard for the District and having the absolute wrong priorities. This is federal land and requires federal action, and I've been pleased to see Virginia Congressmember Don Beyer getting more active and speaking up. Now we need the rest of his colleagues to follow his lead before it's too late.

Council Debates Revenue Increases, Spending Cuts Outside of Budget Deadlines

Yesterday, the Council held a hearing to debate proposals to raise revenue to help close future budget gaps and also talk about ways the District can reduce spending. This hearing was intentionally held outside of the budget process to allow the public to better weigh in and give Councilmembers the opportunity to consider ideas without the intense deadlines the budget process imposes. 

It was a candid and frank conversation about a challenging balancing act. We need to be clear eyed. The hostile federal administration has cut 45,000 jobs from DC residents, tariffs and inflation are driving costs up, and interest rates topping 7% are making lending more and more difficult for businesses and investment.

How does it hit home? In the last 24 hours, I heard from one neighbor reaching out for help because they can't afford a Pepco bill of $1,200 and had the power cut off for their family. And I also heard from a local business that is struggling for help and is opening lines of credit with promotional deals just to make payroll. All those bills come due at some point - and many of our businesses and residents alike are hurting.

The decisions in front of us are challenging, but the hearing was an important step. We explored everything from proposals to increase revenue on passive income earned (think stock market investment income for wealthy residents) to reworking a commercial tax to create what some call a "business activity tax" (think an alternative minimum tax for businesses that locate in DC but don't pay much in the way of taxes).

My own take is that we will need to raise revenue in some capacity, but we also need to take hard looks at spending to identify savings as well. I've never been someone that supports a tax increase for the sake of it. Rather, I want to clearly outline why we need revenue and what our return on investment looks like - such as when I helped lead a modest income tax increase on DC's wealthiest earners to support the Pay Equity Fund to expand early childcare support. The result? Roughly 2,000 new childcare slots for parents in our city, higher wages for childcare workers, prevented tuition increases for families, and according to a Mathematica evaluation, a 21% return on investment and $16 million more in economic benefits over costs. That's good for workers, for families, and DC's bottom line.

I'll continue to dig deep on how we balance our budget and put our residents first in the decisions to come.

51st News: “The Commanders’ energy plans for RFK stadium are already raising alarms”

I’ve been doing my due diligence on oversight when it comes to the RFK Master Plan and planning process, as you can see in my previous newsletter about the massive proposed parking garages. Well, the same focus needs to be on how the District and the Commanders are planning to meet the energy demands of the new stadium and the thousands of new homes on the campus. I’ve raised concerns around how much energy will be needed and what kind of energy usage will be used at the site. During last year’s negotiations, having a stadium and campus that could also meet our climate goals was a hard-won concession. We’ve heard that the team is planning to ask for an exemption from DC's laws on new construction before the energy plan for the campus is even underway. The decisions made will impact ratepayers (all of you) for decades to come. Stay tuned.

What You Need to Know to Vote in the General Election

We're just a few weeks away from the November General Election, so I want to share some basic information about exercising your right to vote. 

Mail-In Ballots: By now, you should have received your mail-in ballot from the Board of Elections. Lots of people like to take their completed ballots and drop them off in any of DC's numerous secure dropboxes. Those are open and available for you to use now until 8 pm on Election Day. They're emptied daily by the Board of Elections. 

National Guard at Dropboxes and Polling Locations: There was a very concerning incident two weeks ago when members of the National Guard were standing around one of the Board of Elections' dropboxes. I don't know if this was intentional, but Board of Elections officials quickly reached out to the National Guard to alert them and ask that they move. My understanding is this has been communicated across all of the National Guard stationed here, but if you see concerning behavior, you can report it to the Board of Elections here and my office. 

Ranked Choice Voting is Changing At-Large Voting: The Primary Election in June was the District’s first time using ranked choice voting, and it worked really well. In the General Election, DC voters are always able to vote for two candidates in the at-large race. With ranked choice voting, however, it looks different and has created some confusion. You can rank up to five candidates, and the Board of Elections has said they will calculate the results as they do for all ranked contests, but instead of continuing until there is a single top ranking, they will calculate the top two rankings for the at-large race, ensuring two open at-large seat choices. The Washington Sun has more.

Confirm Your Voter Registration: If you've moved recently or are new to the District, it’s a good idea to check your registration here and the full calendar for the General Election here. You can use the Board of Elections' Locator Tool to find dropboxes, Early Vote Centers, and Election Day polling sites.

The Comprehensive Plan Timeline is Sliding Back

The Office of Planning has announced it will be sliding back the next release of the forthcoming DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan until early next year. This is to allow the team more time to incorporate the feedback they received during the public comment period earlier this year.

The "comp plan", as it's often referred to, is the big picture map of what we allow to be built and where. It sets the zoning boundaries and gives clear direction to the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments on individual cases and exemptions. That includes density of new housing, the mix of commercial, residential, and industrial land use, and more.

In the interim, the Office of Planning wants to keep the conversation going by hosting neighborhood walk and talks that can help connect the principles being debated on paper with what it looks like in our community right now. The first walk is in Ward 6 on Saturday, October 24, at 11 am, meeting at the Northeast Library.

Making Government Work for You, One Case at a Time

As always, I want to take a moment to share some of the different kinds of problems my constituent services team is helping Ward 6 neighbors solve every day. Please feel free to request help through our website (please include your address or quadrant when you submit so we can respond faster).

Here are a few constituent services wins from the last couple of weeks:

• Helped a senior constituent arrange for a bulk trash pickup after they had continuous issues coordinating one with 311 and DPW.
  
  
• Guided a constituent who recently moved back to DC on re-registering their vehicle with outstanding improperly assessed fines. 
  
  
• After a constituent flagged that a hanging limb was stuck in a tree canopy, we followed up via 311 and were able to make sure it was removed.
  
  
• Worked with a mother whose child was taken to and from school using Office of the State Superintendent of Education bus services where the ride was taking longer than three hours! The ride timing improved quickly after our intervention. 

Community Events Across Ward 6

• October 19 at 7 p.m.: ANC 6D Monthly Meeting (In person: 1100 4th St SW in the 2nd Floor Conference Center)
  
  
• October 24 at 11 a.m.: As mentioned above, the Office of Planning is visiting neighborhoods across the city to talk with residents about DC 2050. The first DC 2050 neighborhood walk will be at Northeast Library.
  
  
• October 27 at 7 p.m.: ANC 6/8F Monthly Meeting (Virtual link), 250 M Street SE
  
  
• October 28 at 7 p.m.: ANC 6E Monthly Meeting (Virtual)

Ticket Giveaway!

Thanks for reading to the end! It’s looking up for the Washington Wizards, with first overall pick AJ Dybantsa teaming up with Trae Young and Anthony Davis for what should be an exciting season. The best part: we’ve got tickets if you’re interested in seeing them play the Charlotte Hornets on October 30. Reply to this email if you'd like to be entered into a drawing for two tickets.