Great to celebrate Bike to Work Day this week and see so many bikes on our morning commute! Thank you to Adams Morgan BID for hosting a fun morning pit stop and to our community member Daniel Hayes and WABA for welcoming the afternoon rush on Columbia Heights Civic Plaza.
WARD 1 UPDATE
Hello Neighbors:
After weeks of delay and uncertainty, the Mayor has finally submitted her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal to the District’s Chief Financial Officer. We now expect the proposal to come to the Council the week of May 26 for us to begin our budget oversight process and analysis.
This delay is not only frustrating: it has significant implications for our work and for our District. Normally, the Council would have received the budget six weeks ago, and we would finish our work in late May or early June, turning after to hearings on other measures of importance, such as public safety, housing, and transportation, to name just a few. We would then use the recess period to prepare these measures for final action in the fall.
In the current scenario, we will be considering the budget well into what would have been the recess period, meaning we won’t have time to do our other pressing work. Legislation that could have made it through the entire process and become law this year will likely be pushed further out into 2026. Legislation that could help our neighbors live better lives, that could make our city safer, that could put safe and affordable housing within reach of more people – all of it, delayed. The Mayor’s malpractice has consequences not only for the Council but is a problem for everyone in the District.
We are staring down what by all accounts will be a challenging budget, with billions of dollars of cuts on the table. But as I told WUSA9, those are conversations we can’t even have until we have the Mayor’s budget proposal in front of us for consideration.
Stay tuned for further updates, including how you can get involved in the budget process by testifying at a hearing.
COUNCIL UPDATES
Health and safety on tap
At a recent meeting of the Committee on Facilities I learned that while DGS has been testing lead levels in the water fountains inside the Park View Recreation Center, they had *not* tested the outdoor water fountain for lead since 2016. At my insistence, testing is now underway and I’ll continue to follow up with DGS regarding common-sense lead testing at all our facilities.
This is what we mean by our oversight responsibility on the Council. Some good news from the meeting: the lead in the poured-in-place surface has been remediated and retested.
United with restaurant workers
I wish I were surprised that the Mayor proposed to repeal tipped min wage. Or that she plans to do it in the budget. Or that she did it less than a week after proposing a $1 billion stadium handout to a billionaire without even speaking to labor or making any guarantees of union jobs. We cannot continue to fuel the economy of our city on the backs of workers. Restaurant workers fought twice, and voters approved a fair minimum wage twice. I hope once we block this repeal, the issue will be settled once and for all.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1
Congratulations to newly sworn in ANC 1C Commissioner Monte Achenbach! It was an honor to swear you in, and I very much look forward to working with you as we serve our community and strive to make Ward 1 a great place to live and work!
It was great to visit the new HIPS office on 7th Street. They are implementing a grant I funded for FY25, and now have this beautiful space to serve the community through their important work to help reduce drug use, keep the community safe, and save lives.
Adams Morgan farmers market kicked off the season early this year. Yummy produce from Esther and Mike’s farm, and beautiful plants from Remy’s farm, plus baked goods from RavenHook Bakery.
Thank you to Alpha Kappa Alpha Xi Omega chapter & the Salvation Army for hosting a beautiful Mother’s Day brunch! I was glad to spend time with some of my favorite Ward 1 mamas.
It was incredible honor to celebrate the opening of The Faircliff – a beautiful new chapter for the Columbia Heights community, and a shining example of what thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable development can achieve.
The Faircliff represents 125 new affordable and dignified homes built through a partnership between Somerset Development, Jonathan Rose Companies, the DC Green Bank, and Housing Up. This project shows what is possible when mission-driven developers and local government work hand-in-hand with residents to build for the future.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Brianne on Your Block
Meet with me, in your neighborhood. My team and I will be at Right Proper Brewing on T Street NW to meet one-on-one with residents. We’ll be joined by representatives from Pepco, who will answer questions about utility accounts and provide support. RSVPs are encouraged but not required.
Permanent Regulations for Streateries
Great news! With advocacy by business owners and groups, like AdMoBID, DDOT has finally proposed permanent streateries regulations. Even more than what’s in the regulations, businesses really needed clarity to make plans for summer and fall.
DC 2050: Public Workshops on May 31 and June 4
The DC Office of Planning invites you to participate in upcoming workshops for DC 2050, the District’s next comprehensive plan. DC 2050 will guide where and how we build new housing, grow job opportunities, connect neighborhoods, preserve our history, and invest in services.
- Saturday, May 31 from 11 am – 1 pm at Ron Brown High School (4800 Meade St. NE)
- Wednesday, June 4 from 6 – 8 pm at Stuart-Hobson Middle School (410 E St. NE)
RSVP for either event at DC2050.com.
13th Street Block Party
13th Street Block Party aims to create a joyful, welcoming space for neighbors to connect and celebrate the power of community on Saturday, May 17 from 1 pm – 10 pm. The event honors D.C.’s vibrant culture by showcasing local talents and providing a free, safe place for self-expression. Rooted in the spirit of mutual aid, 13th Street Block Party offers not only music, arts, and activities—but also opportunities to share resources, uplift local voices, and build networks of care amidst unprecedented threats to our collective safety.
Navigating the housing court process
This webinar on May 20 from Housing Counseling Services, Inc is designed to help tenants understand the logistics of the court process, how to prepare, and how to seek help. No legal advice will be offered during this event.
Pepco rate increase
You may have seen news reports about rate increases coming to Pepco, and I wanted to let you know more details. You should expect an increase of approximately $20 per month beginning in June. That’s because of increased costs with the regional grid serving D.C. and over a dozen other areas with electricity. Last August, the company that operates the grid ramped up prices after increased demand and delayed starts on new sources of energy generation. Pepco and the Public Service Commission estimate that this will lead to an increase of $21 per month for the average household.
With costs and temperatures rising, this certainly is not welcome news. In the short term, there’s very little the District can do about this increase. However, there are some resources available.
- Apply for the Utility Bill Discount Program with the D.C. Department of Energy & Environment. Here’s the full list of financial assistance, discounts, and energy efficiency programs from DOEE.
- Community solar programs are another way to reduce your bill with renewable energy. Here are the options.
IN THE NEWS
WUSA 9
Bowser to deliver pending budget proposal to DC Council in 10 days, Mendelson says
DISTRICT LINKS
“My job is going to be to get into the details, to get into the nitty gritty of this deal to ensure that it is a good one for the district, and right now it’s just not.”
WASHINGTON INFORMER
The Collins Council Report: All About the Money
CALENDAR
Brianne on Your Block
Wednesday, May 21, 6-8 pm | Right Proper Brewing: 624 T Street NW
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D Meeting
Tuesday, May 20, 7-9 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A Meeting
Wednesday, May 21, 7-9:30 pm | online
Council offices closed in observance of Memorial Day
Monday, May 26
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E Meeting
Wednesday, May 28, 7 pm | online
Council Legislative Meeting
Tuesday, June 3, 12 pm | online and in-person
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C Meeting
Wednesday, June 4, 7-9 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B Meeting
Thursday, June 5, 6:30-9:30 pm | online
Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 11 am | online and in-person
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 Manager | [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]
Sabrin Qadi | Senior Legislative Aide | [email protected]
Niccole Rivero | Chief of Staff | [email protected]
