HIPS is doing amazing work in harm reduction, including in the T St. neighborhood where there is tremendous need. I was thrilled to join Johnny at their anniversary celebration, with thanks to Leah at Right Proper for hosting this event and her support of HIPS’ work.
WARD 1 UPDATE
Hello Neighbors:
We should be incredibly busy at the Council right now with budget oversight hearings, making adjustments to the Mayor’s proposed FY26 budget. We should also be reviewing a supplemental budget for FY25 – something we do every spring, to adjust the budget based on revenue and spending to date.
But things are strangely quiet right now because we are waiting on the U.S. House of Representatives to fix the D.C. budget mess they created in the Continuing Resolution they passed in early March. Without the fix, D.C. can’t spend according to the FY25 budget we passed almost a year ago, which was approved by the House, and which is 100 percent our money, not federal dollars.
If the House doesn’t pass the budget fix, we’re going to have to cut $1 billion from the budget more than halfway through the budget year – the damage will be draconian, impacting public safety, city services, and education.
Even without a forced cut by Congress, it was going to be a difficult spring. Revenue projections are down, meaning we could have to reduce the FY25 budget for the remaining months of the fiscal year, and settle a FY26 budget that will be our most challenging in years. There are so many important initiatives of recent years that are at risk – early childhood educator pay, rental assistance, education and more.
The Mayor, my Council colleagues, and I have been reaching out to members of Congress. I hope we can move out of limbo soon and get to work on creating the best budgets we can with the resources that are available.
An Executive Order
On March 27, the President issued an executive order to “make D.C. safe and beautiful.” As someone who moved here 23 years ago and is raising my own family in DC, I know that it’s already great. And I can tell you the constituents I serve every day, are proud to live, work and play here.
To be honest, the order calls on D.C. to do things we are already doing and requires federal agencies to do things they are already doing.
It also calls for collaboration between the federal government and D.C. government. “Collaboration” can mean a lot of things (we already collaborate extensively with the federal government on presidential protection, first amendment activity, policing and city services in the many small federal parks in D.C. far from the Mall).
I’ll be closely monitoring any attempt to pressure D.C. to take action that is not aligned with our values or laws or usurps our authority to self-govern.
Knowing our rights
I’ve received quite a few inquiries about an incident a little over a week ago during which federal immigration officials visited H.D. Cooke Elementary School during school arrival time and attempted to detain a staff member there.
Thankfully, everyone remained calm and knew their rights. They asked to see a warrant, and when agents could not produce one, the agents left. I commend the quick actions of those who worked to keep our community members safe.
The most effective thing we can do in these situations is to remain calm, stick together, and make sure that everyone knows their rights. We have collected resources on our website from trusted organizations with the necessary expertise.
I have always been a strong supporter of immigrants in our community and I thank the many people who care deeply about our neighbors and embody our DC values through their actions and their concerns.
It’s not too late for tonight’s Brianne on Your Block! I am just getting started with office hours in the neighborhood here at Los Hermanos, 1428 Park Rd NW. My staff and I will be here from 6-8 pm tonight. We can meet one-on-one to discuss whatever concerns you have or specific needs with regard to city services.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1 |
I always love spending time in conversation with D.C. teachers and was inspired at the EmpowerEd Teacher Solutions Summit. If we want our students to succeed, we have to prioritize educator wellness– listening to and collaborating with teachers is the first step.
My team joined the Mayor & the D.C. Department of Transportation for a walk-through of the 11th Street NW Corridor transportation project site to continue to get feedback on the design before construction this year, an important step in the process.
I support this project as it is an incredible opportunity to fill a bike transit gap and improve sustainability and livability in the neighborhood.
Thank you to the community for staying involved, and I look forward to the final design and construction. You can read my letter of support from January 2023.
I approve this message!
Prince Hall Masons opened the doors of the lodge for a community health and wellness fair and served several hundred people. I’m so grateful for the work they are doing to serve our community.
COMMUNITY UPDATES |
Host an Earth Day neighborhood cleanup for your little piece of earth
Host an Earth Day neighborhood cleanup in your neighborhood on Saturday, April 26, the same day the Anacostia Watershed Society is doing its cleanups to protect the Anacostia River. This year’s cleanups will have a special focus on beverage bottles and cans, as we push to pass a bottle deposit program in the District, to remove trash from our neighborhoods and rivers.
Check out my new video about the Bottle Bill I introduced, supported by 10 of my colleagues.
Any group can host a cleanup: ANCs, neighborhood organizations, even you and a few neighbors.
The Mayor’s Office of the Clean City will provide you with the tools you need and will haul away the trash you collect. But you must send in your form by this Saturday, April 12.
Go to our website to sign up and to fill out the DPW form
Pop-up food distributions twice a week
In response to the large number of our neighbors who have been impacted by recent reductions in federal jobs and funding, the Capital Area Food Area Food Bank is holding twice-weekly food distributions. Phase 1 will run through June.
These pop-up distributions will offer pantry items and fresh produce on Thursdays from 5 – 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 – 11 a.m., or while supplies last each day. The distributions can be found in the parking lots of the following D.C. locations:
- Safeway: 322 40th Street NE in Ward 7
- Giant: 1535 Alabama Ave SE in Ward 8
Your Money, Your Life – Financial Empowerment Summit
Join the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking on Wednesday, April 30, 4:30-7:30 pm at the MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, for free one-on-one financial counseling with tailored sessions for educators and adults that will help you build wealth and make empowered money moves.
Take the DC 2050 Vision Survey
DC 2050 is the District’s next comprehensive plan, which will guide the city’s growth and development across all 8 wards. Get involved by taking the DC 2050 Vision Survey. Share your vision of DC 25 years from now and your opinion on what issues the District’s long-term planning should prioritize.
Update on animal care and control services
Starting January 1, the Brandywine Valley SPCA took over all animal care and control services for the District. In the first month, BVSPCA has also launched adoptions for dogs, cats, and other critters, Express Pet Health Services for family pets, as well as volunteer and foster programs to engage the community in their work. BVSPCA is already celebrating reuniting lost pets with their worried families, adoptions of pets needing a new home, and lifesaving medical care for DC animals in need.
To report an animal in distress in the District, please call BVSPCA at (202) 888-PETS.
CALENDAR |
| Brianne on Your Block – TONIGHT! Tuesday, April 8, 6-8 pm Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D Tuesday, April 15, 7 pm | online Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A Wednesday, April 16, 7 pm | online Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E Wednesday, April 23, 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]
