Photo by Ana Isabel Photography
Hello Neighbors:
Too many District residents struggle with excessive housing costs and displacement. We need to meet this moment with policy that can unlock new resources and provide the flexibility needed to respond to the market and other challenges facing affordable housing today.
This week, Councilmember Robert White and I introduced a package of legislation that would replace the existing Housing Production Trust Fund with a more modern, flexible financing mechanism and add new tools to accelerate housing production and preserve existing affordable housing.
The new Housing Opportunity Fund would encompass five dedicated accounts, each with funding for a clear purpose: housing production, subsidy for deeply affordable housing, preservation of affordable housing, support for tenants purchasing their buildings, and District land acquisition to support housing development and affordability.
One-off fixes to our housing shortage are not enough. With this legislation, we are making targeted, smart investments and policy adjustments to sustain and grow affordable housing.
This just in: More winter weather is in the forecast. In preparation for expected rain and snow on Sunday into Monday morning, plows will begin treating major roadways with salt at 12 pm on Sunday. Please give crews room to work.
Although residents may experience delays in trash collection, please place your trash, recycling, and food waste bins out for collection before the precipitation begins. DPW and the Snow Team will monitor the weather forecast and adjust its response as necessary. For updates, visit snow.dc.gov.
COUNCIL UPDATES
Wastewater spill update
This week the Council received a briefing from DC Water on the Potomac River pipe collapse and wastewater spill. First and most importantly, DC Water’s drinking water system is separate from the wastewater system, and drinking water remains safe. The intake for our drinking water is upstream of the spill. Residents are advised to continue to avoid contact with the river until further notice.
DC Water reported that situation is under control, and crews are working to clean out and repair the pipe. Until then, a bypass is in place so that sewage is no longer entering the river. Residents are advised to continue to avoid contact with the river until further notice. You can read more on DC Water’s website.
My Council colleagues and I will remain engaged in our oversight responsibilities to ensure the health and safety of all D.C. residents is a top priority as the repair efforts continue, followed by the need for a cleanup and remediation of environmental damage to animals and plant life.
Performance oversight continues
My committee’s performance oversight hearings this week focused on defending human rights in D.C. and increasing contracting transparency and efficiency across District government.
When someone raises a discrimination complaint, it should be addressed in a timely manner. I’m glad to hear the Office of Human Rights implemented a pilot program to help meet this goal. The case backlog is still significant, and I am monitoring how looming budget cuts may affect this work.
Contracting and procurement is the backbone of nearly every service provided to District residents. I’m working with the Office of Contracting & Procurement to make sure the agency focuses on streamlining and upgrading its processes to meet the needs of all those that do business with D.C.
Performance oversight hearings continue next week – and you can still sign up to testify or submit written testimony. Visit our website to learn more.
Testify on street vending and public spaces in Ward 1
On Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 2 pm, the Committee on Public Works & Operations will hold a public hearing on street vending legislation and the future of public spaces in Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant. The hearing will examine the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection’s failure to implement the Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act and options to support the management of vending across the District.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Join our team!
Are you looking for an opportunity to serve the residents and businesses of Ward 1? Would you like to manage the review, analysis, and evaluation of legislation referred to the Committee on Public Works & Operations, chaired by Councilmember Nadeau? Do you have experience or interest in policy related to the District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration?
Consider joining our team! We are hiring for three positions:
Apply for the D.C. school lottery – Deadline approaching!
The lottery deadline for families seeking to enroll their student at a DCPS or participating public charter school for grades Prek3-8th is March 2.
Visit MySchoolDC.org to learn more.
Free professional mentoring for underserved D.C. adults
StreetWise Partners is a nonprofit that runs a free 13-week mentoring program for underserved, unemployed, or underemployed DC adults seeking career growth, skill development, and professional guidance. Participants must be 18 years or older and have proper work authorization.
Interested residents must attend a virtual information session to receive an application link to join the program. Recruitment for Spring 2026 closes Friday, March 20. Spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
IN THE NEWS
WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
D.C. leaders seek to replace decades-old housing finance system to spur development (paywall)
“Every ribbon-cutting I go to for affordable housing is person after person at the podium talking about how hard it was to get here, how many hoops they had to jump through, a long list of people in government they had to thank from all different agencies across the board. And it just shouldn’t be that hard.”
BISNOW
Lawmakers Pitch Overhaul Of D.C.’s Housing Finance System With New $150M Fund (free registration required)
THE 51ST
Wilson Building Bulletin: A cold dose of reality on D.C.’s budget
“Donahue and Bowser’s talk to the council came only days after Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, Ward 4’s Janeese Lewis George, Ward 6’s Charles Allen, and At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson wrote asking her not to make further cuts to social services – and in some cases, restore funding that was reduced over the last two years. ‘The safety net is at risk of being dismantled and in desperate need of corrective action,’ they wrote.”
CALENDAR
Committee on Public Works & Operations Performance Oversight Hearing: Office of Administrative Hearings, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Tuesday, February 24, 9:30 am | online and in-person
Committee on Public Works & Operations Public Hearing
Tuesday, February 24, 2 pm | online and in-person
The Committee will convene a public hearing on will convene a public hearing to consider B26-0332, The “Vending Modernization Amendment Act Of 2025”, B26 0370, The “Vending Compliance And Modernization Amendment Act Of 2025”, and “The Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant Vision Framework For Public Realm Design”.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, February 25, 7 pm | online
Committee on Public Works & Operations Performance Oversight Hearing: Office of Risk Management, Office of the Chief Technology Officer
Friday, February 27, 9:30 am | online and in-person
Council Legislative Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, 12 pm | online and in-person
Committee on Public Works & Operations Performance Oversight Hearing: Department of Public Works & Operations [Government Witnesses Only]
Wednesday, March 4, 9:30 am | online and in-person
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, March 4, 7 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B Monthly Meeting
Thursday, March 5, 7 pm | online and in-person (Josephine Butler Parks Center, 2437 15th Street NW)
CONTACT US
Brianne K. Nadeau | Councilmember | [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]
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]
Eliza-Roche Robinson | Constituent Services Specialist | [email protected]