At my visit to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Child Development Center, a Head Start program site, staff told me how important the Pay Equity Fund has been to recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. We will continue to fight for the resources we need to make sure we can have the deep bench of early childhood educators we need and to retain the excellent teachers we have so our children come to school ready to learn and grow.
WARD 1 UPDATE
Hello Neighbors:
Over the past several weeks, I’ve questioned DPW about illegal dumping, D.C.’s Chief Technology Officer about data privacy, and the Office of Human Rights about equitable access to translation services.
These questions are all part of performance oversight. Think of it as the agency’s progress report, where we dig in on where the agency is making the grade, and where they are falling short.
And as you’ve heard me say, it’s also a time when members of the public can make their voice heard. Residents had a lot to say at our hearing on DPW, on everything from trash pickup and rodent issues to areas where snow removal is not happening the way that it should, to grass mowing and more. Workers and residents raised concerns about DPW buildings in disrepair and employees resorting to fixing issues the Department of General Services should fix and doesn’t, as well as noise and trash pileup that detracts from the neighborhood.
Their input informed my questions to the DPW team. We made sure to cover the topic on everyone’s mind – inadequate snow response. We spent time troubleshooting what went wrong: cold enough temperatures that rock salt lost effectiveness, plus a full schedule of events in the city that caused road closures and contingencies. DPW came prepared to answer to critiques I raised and shared administrative improvements in the works. These behind-the-scenes updates don’t always grab our attention, but they matter. Holding agencies accountable is an important part of oversight but providing them with the support they need to build on successes is just as important.
Aside from my work as chair of the Committee on Public Works & Operations, I also attend hearings in other committees when key issues are on the agenda. At an oversight hearing of the Committee of the Whole on D.C. Public Schools, I asked Chancellor Ferebee for an update on implementation of flexible scheduling in schools that have received funding. Flexible scheduling can improve educator wellness and increase retention rates, which in turn can help us achieve the stable, secure, and productive school environment all D.C. students deserve. Separately, we discussed various options for moving forward with a Bancroft annex.
At an oversight hearing for the Department of General Services, I asked for updates on a number of important projects, including Amigos Park and the public restroom at Walter Pierce Park, which is tentatively set to open in mid-April. We discussed HVAC repairs at Bruce Monroe and Cleveland elementary schools, where work remains ongoing, and completion dates are pending purchase and delivery of new units. Finally, we talked about trash collection at parks, and I look forward to leading an interagency discussion with DPW, DPR, and DGS to make sure this is happening efficiently. I believe my bottle bill, which I introduced alongside 11 of my colleagues, will cut recycling costs by reducing the need to haul beverage containers.
We recently learned the Department of Health Care Finance will not submit the State Plan Amendment for Medicaid reimbursement of home visiting programs as required in my Home Visiting Reimbursement Act, which Council passed in 2024 and funded in the FY25 budget after significant work from my office and the Health Committee.
This exasperating and irresponsible decision will exclude new parents from home visitation services such as postpartum care for new mothers, nutrition education, alcohol and substance abuse screening shown to be critical to their health and the health and development of their children. At an oversight hearing of the Health Committee, of which I have been a member for the past 10 years, I questioned the DHCF director on the decision, and I am exploring avenues to require the executive to implement the law.
Performance oversight isn’t all bad news. At a hearing of the Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety, we were encouraged to hear about the hiring of new trainees to help fill the significant understaffing at the 911 call center. I remain concern about transparency at the center, but this is a step in the right direction to making sure residents can trust that when they call for help, help will arrive. 911 center front line workers do amazing work in difficult conditions, and I’d be remiss if I did not express my appreciation for them. We need the Office of Unified Communications to do everything it can to support them, including addressing understaffing issues.
Interested in learning more as this process unfolds? Join us on BlueSky for daily updates from the Wilson Building.
COUNCIL UPDATES |
Public safety update
Last month D.C.’s crime lab regained accreditation for its fingerprinting unit, the third of its five units to be reaccredited since all of them lost theirs more than three years ago. Without accreditation, it was harder to get evidence processed, as the District had to send evidence out to private labs, making it harder to prosecute all the cases that should be prosecuted.
Simply put, the lack of accreditation at a time when crime was surging made it harder to convince would-be criminals they would actually be held accountable.
I’ve been pushing on this issue for well over a year now – it should not have taken this long for the lab, run by the Department of Forensic Services, to get back its accreditation. Being able to process fingerprints is obviously a critical piece of the crime lab’s work and essential to backing up the work of police who are working to solve crimes.
I am continuing to push on supporting prevention, policing, and prosecution, and the crime lab is one piece of that. I’m also pressing the Office of Unified Communications, which runs the 911 dispatch center, to staff up, improve training, and fix disturbing delays and dangerous mistakes.
I’ve also reintroduced two pieces of legislation from last Council Period – one to assist recruiting for the police department (my CADET bill) and one to make it easier to close homicide cases via stronger witness support (my Case Closure and Witness Support Amendment Act).
Taking dangerous drivers off the road
It was great to see D.C. Attorney General Schwalb file the first suits against dangerous drivers under the STEER Act, legislation introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen that I co-introduced. We are implementing tools to hold the most egregious drivers accountable, and soon we’ll have two more tools, both passed by the Council in December. My fake tags bill allows for immediate towing of cars with fraudulent license plates. My carriers-for-hire bill increases enforcement of food delivery vehicles that double park, drive dangerously, and interrupt traffic. The city has tools at its disposal and we are taking strides in using them more effectively to make our roads safer.
Standing for our D.C. community
The District of Columbia is not only our nation’s capital but also home to 700,000 residents. Our hard-won autonomy was granted through an act of Congress 50 years ago and has been continuously under attack ever since. Each of those times our government has worked with allies in Congress to minimize those attacks. We need those allies more than ever now, and we will fight for the rights of our residents – including the right to health care – whenever they are threatened.
Government shouldn’t endanger health care coverage or make it more expensive to put food on the table or make it harder to go to college. We have an obligation to take care of our neighbors, to make things better. To serve people and meet their needs. The people of D.C. are strong and resilient. We’ll continue to do the most important work we can right now – advocacy and service to those affected, and the daily work of creating, supporting, and improving our community.
My team has put together a list of resources for those facing unemployment in addition to our main resource page. My team is on standby to help residents navigate the system to get the benefits they deserve.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1 |
Thank you to the vendors and to the representatives from Pepco and Beloved Community Incubator for joining us for our second Utility Drop-In event. For more support on utility bills and account questions, head to our resources page and stay tuned for future events.
COMMUNITY UPDATES |
Smart composting bins are here!
DPW is expanding access to food waste diversion opportunities for all District residents and recently installed 30 smart bins for composting across the District. I was proud to fund these bins during last year’s budget process. I’m excited to see this valuable contribution to our waste diversion efforts in action. To find a bin near you, visit the Zero Waste DC website.
In Ward 1, bins can be found at:
- Park Rd NW & Pine Rd NW (3211 Sacred Heart Way NW)
- Marie Reed Recreation Center (18th St NW & Wyoming Ave NW) – near the playground
- Adams Morgan (17th St NW & Kalorama St NW)
- 14th St NW & U Street NW
Meet with me, on your block
I’ll be at Here’s The Scoop on Tuesday, March 18 from 6-8 pm to meet one-on-one with residents. Come with your questions, concerns, or ideas. I look forward to seeing you there. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Monday application deadline for Pre-K 3 – Grade 8 lottery
The Pre-K 3 – Grade 8 lottery application deadline is March 3. Learn if you need to apply and review FAQs.
The application is available in English and Spanish.
IN THE NEWS |
DC NEWS NOW
‘It’s frustrating and we think it’s also wrong’: DC Mayor, leaders defend self-governance as Trump pushes for federal control
CALENDAR |
Performance Oversight Hearing: Committee on Housing
Monday, March 3 | online and in-person
The following agencies will testify: D.C. Housing Finance Agency, Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing Production Trust Fund, Rental Housing Commission
Council Legislative Meeting
Tuesday, March 4, 12 pm | online and in-person
Performance Oversight Hearing: Committee of the Whole
Wednesday, March 5, 9:30 am | online and in-person
The Committee of the Whole will hold a Performance Oversight Hearing.
The following agencies will testify: State Board of Education, Office of the Student Advocate, Ombudsman for Education, District of Columbia State Athletic Association, University of District of Columbia, Deputy Mayor for Education, District of Columbia Public Charter School Board
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C
Wednesday, March 5, 7 pm | online
Performance Oversight Hearing: Committee on Housing
Thursday, March 6, 9:30 am | online and in-person
The following agencies will testify: D.C. Housing Authority
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 pm | online
Performance Oversight Hearing: Committee of the Whole
Friday, March 7, 9:30 am | online and in-person
The following agencies will testify (Government Witnesses Only): Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
Brianne on Your Block
Tuesday, March 18, 6-8 pm | Here’s The Scoop: 2824 Georgia Avenue NW LL
Meet with Councilmember Nadeau one-on-one and share your ideas, concerns or ask for support on a specific issue. RSVPs encouraged but not required
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D
Thursday, March 18, 7 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A
Wednesday, March 19, 7 pm | online and in-person at the Latin American Youth Center, located at 1419 Columbia Road NW
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E
Wednesday, March 26, 7 pm | online
CONTACT US |
Brianne K. Nadeau | Councilmember | [email protected]
Ariel Ardura | Committee Director | [email protected]
Abigail Boshart | Legislative Aide | [email protected]
Amanda Chulick | Legislative Analyst | [email protected]
David Connerty-Marin | Communications Director | [email protected]
Kara Dunford | Communications Specialist | [email protected]
Estelle McKinney | Constituent Services Specialist | [email protected]
David Meni | Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director | [email protected]
Maricela Nava | Deputy Chief of Staff & Scheduler | [email protected]
