WARD 1 UPDATE
Hello Neighbors:
At Monday’s Council vote on the First Reading of the FY 2026 budget, we restored funds to critical programs, approved funding for ranked choice voting, and postponed action on the ill-conceived repeal of I-82, the tipped minimum wage.
I’m going to highlight a few of the topline wins here – and some things I still hope to fix before the final vote on July 28. And I encourage you to read my longer post about the budget to dive deeper.
One of the biggest pieces of news: with an 8-4 vote, the Council supported a proposal I introduced along with my colleague At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson to fund implementation of Ranked Choice Voting, something voters approved overwhelmingly (and in all eight wards) last November. I’m committed to looking for funding for the full implementation of I-83, to include open primaries.
In addition, the budget approved Monday:
- Restores some funding for Emergency Rental Assistance and Permanent Supportive Housing for families.
- Restores funding for substance use disorder and behavioral health services targeted outreach, including a highly successful program I launched in Ward 1 that has since been expanded to other parts of the District.
- Funds Medicaid coverage for home visiting for expectant parents.
- Invests in road safety, funding the STEER Act and fraudulent tags legislation, which allow for more readily booting and towing vehicles with dangerous drivers and vehicles with fake license plates.
- Takes care of workers: includes funds for early childhood educator pay equity, teacher wellness, and, with the postponement of action on the proposed I-82 repeal, also protects restaurant workers, thanks to an amendment I co-introduced with Councilmembers Janeese Lewis George and Matt Frumin.
- Preserves programs that reduce waste and improve the environment: more composting, more money for Anacostia River cleanup—setting the stage, I hope, for the next major piece of environmental legislation – a beverage container deposit program to remove millions of bottles and cans from the Anacostia River, our streets, and neighborhoods.
- Made a breakthrough on public restrooms – increasing the number of incredibly popular Throne self-standing moveable restrooms from six to 10, paving the way for a long-overdue permanent public restrooms program in the District.
- Makes investments in both housing preservation and production.
- Partially restores funding to the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, an office that is critical to safeguarding children and families.
Ward 1 investments
We’ve managed to protect and expand investments in Ward 1, including funding to support:
- A much-needed annex for Bancroft Elementary School.
- Rosemount Early Childhood Center to secure its location for the future.
- Mt. Pleasant Senior Village and Vida Senior Center in Adams Morgan.
- Maintenance of the Walter Pierce Park restroom.
- Support for parks and plazas around the ward, including Amigos Park, the triangle at 625 T St., NW.
- Improvements and maintenance at GALA, Lincoln, and Howard theatres.
- Adding a water source for Wangari Gardens.
We’re not done yet!
There is more to be done before we finalize the budget on July 28. While the Health Committee did a lot to restore cuts to Alliance, there is still inadequate funding to retain people’s benefits.
Right now, the budget does not include adequate resources for people living outside. I’m glad to see Permanent Supportive Housing for families, but we need to address Permanent Supportive Housing for individuals.
There is not enough funding for community violence prevention. The budget restores funding for six Cure the Streets violence interruption sites but does not include funding to continue the site that includes neighborhoods in Ward 1 and Ward 4.
And we need to restore the child tax credit and ERAP fully.
I’ll also be working with colleagues on how we can finally get the research and recommendations for real reforms to taxes and other revenues. For years, we have known that we need to stabilize revenue so that it doesn’t fluctuate in good times and bad.
That’s a lot, but there’s even more, which you can read in my full report out from the Council meeting.
COUNCIL UPDATES
Giving tenants a seat at the table
Critical changes are still needed to the RENTAL Act, and colleagues at our Council legislative meeting yesterday agreed to postpone consideration of the bill so further changes can be raised. I’ll be working together with my colleagues to ensure that this body upholds a tenant’s right to a seat at the table during the sale of their home.
Fighting for workers
The number of times and ways that employers cheat workers of their deserved wages is outrageous. Thank you, Attorney General Brian Schwalb, for pursuing this and other wage cases to keep our workers whole.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1
I’m so excited Mount Pleasant Library is open again following renovations! I enjoyed checking out (pun intended) the refresh and checking out a graphic novel for Zoe, plus spending time with neighbors and friends at the welcome back event hosted by Friends of Mount Pleasant Library.
Wonder is bringing something truly unique to 14th St – chef-driven meals from around the country in one place. Congrats to Wonder which is opening the doors to innovation, jobs and culinary creativity.
What a joy to spend time with our seniors at VIDA Calvert! I’m working every day to make sure seniors can continue to thrive in the District. Our seniors are protectors of our history and provide community wisdom – and they have a thing or two to teach me about dancing as well!
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Help for building condition issues
If you are a renter and your AC is broken, or your water is being disconnected, the Office of the Attorney General Mediation Program is here to help. Call 202-442-9828 for assistance with building conditions issues, and your call will be returned the same business day. Calls can be left in any language – OAG Mediation uses a Language Line service to return calls so they can communicate in the caller’s preferred language.
Testify on the RFK Campus Redevelopment
The Council Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing on the RFK campus redevelopment to help determine the future of the RFK stadium land now under District control. You can sign up to testify. As many of you know, I am opposed to the use of any taxpayer funds to assist billionaires in financing a football stadium that will benefit them, not us.
New E-Bike Food Delivery Pilot
Your next food delivery may come via e-bike. Our office collaborated with DDOT and Adams Morgan BID to bring a new pilot project to the neighborhood to test the feasibility of using e-bikes for app-based food delivery in D.C. To encourage food delivery workers to participate in the pilot, a battery charging cabinet will be installed at the Festival Center for quick and easy swapping, and the e-bikes will be highly subsidized with the option to own the e-bike at the end of the pilot. A second pilot group will run at the Southwest Waterfront.
DPR Junior Lifeguard Academy
DC teens looking for a fun, free activity this summer are invited to sign up for the Junior Lifeguard Academy, brought to you by the team at the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Participants will learn life-saving skills such as CPR/First Aid and water safety and get prepared to take the full DPR lifeguard training.
The training will take place at Banneker Pool in Ward 1 on Mondays and Wednesdays.
DC Youth Meals Program
This summer, youth 18 and younger have access to no-cost meals at over 100 sites across the city. No application or ID required.
Information on locations and hours in Ward 1 (sites are updated weekly)
CALENDAR
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A
Wednesday, July 16, 7 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E
Wednesday, July 23, 7 pm | online
Council Legislative Meeting: Second Budget Vote
Monday, July 28, 12 pm | online and in-person
Council Committee of the Whole Hearing
Tuesday, July 29, 10 am | online and in-person
The Committee will hear public testimony on B26-0288 – Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025.
Council Committee of the Whole Hearing
Tuesday, July 29, 10 am | online and in-person
The Committee will hear testimony from the Executive and representatives of the Washington Commanders football team on B26-0288 – Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025.
IN THE NEWS
WTOP
Budget debate from DC Council on ranked choice voting, RFK stadium site, tipped wages
THE WASHINGTON POST
D.C. Council tightens youth curfew, extends pretrial detention policy
AXIOS
D.C. stalls popular public bathroom program amid funding cuts
“The D.C. Council is helping fund 10 Thrones in the new fiscal year, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau tells Axios. Nadeau, who championed the program as chair of the Committee on Public Works, says it’s still unclear why the contract lapsed.”
THE 51ST
In crappy move, Congressional interference forced D.C. to close its public bathrooms
WASHINGTON CITY PAPER
Adams Morgan Renters Organized to Buy Their Building Under the Law Mayor Bowser Wants to Gut
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]
Eliza-Roche Robinson | Constituent Services Specialist | [email protected]
