My team and I enjoyed delivering turkeys to add joy to our neighbors’ Thanksgivings – and to ours!
Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving!
WARD 1 UPDATE
Hello Neighbors:
One of the few positive legacies of the pandemic in the District was the advent of streateries –curbside spaces where residents dine outdoors, businesses get extra seating, and neighborhoods come alive with activity – creating a vibrant community feel and joyous activation of public space.
That legacy is in danger. The D.C. Department of Transportation finalized permanent regulations this month that make streateries all but impossible for restaurants to entertain. The rent the city plans to charge is high and restrictions – such as prohibiting weatherization – make them even less practical and cost-effective to restaurants, and less appealing to residents. Some restaurants have already removed their streateries based on the new regulations.
I am working with Councilmember Charles Allen and other councilmembers on emergency legislation that would remove these hurdles to retaining streateries for businesses that want them and make them more welcoming to patrons who use them.
In Adams Morgan, we have a unique situation: DDOT encouraged restaurants on 18th Street to give up their original streateries last fall and offered free, modern, uniform structures in their place. Now they are planning to remove them all – as early as next week, leaving the restaurants that want streateries to rebuild at their own cost, again, on top of having to pay the new higher rent and permit fees.
But this is about more than just whether restaurants can serve food curbside. My goal is to ensure that the overall design of 18th Street, public space, and curb uses in Adams Morgan meets comprehensive community needs. If/where restaurants don’t want to use the space, they could make for wider sidewalks, pocket parks, or be used in other ways that the community determines create the best use of that public space.
DDOT’s plan to simply remove the streateries and revert to the street design of 2019 would be a real lost opportunity. Giving up the space now will make it extremely hard to get it back. A few months ago, DDOT proposed a much better plan – one that would retain a 10-foot space for streateries along with more parking and loading zones. I am advocating with DDOT to adopt this plan.
I have long been a champion of pedestrianizing 18th Street and regularly hear from residents who support that. We’ve made progress, including occasional street closures for events like Porchfest and the addition of streateries. Removing streatery space on 18th now would be a significant backslide, undoing much of the community vibrancy that has developed organically over the last half-decade.
COUNCIL UPDATES
DHS should answer for failed ERAP rollout
For months there have been clues that last week’s re-opening of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) would go badly. But no amount of Council oversight could have prepared us for this debacle, during which residents waited for hours in line outside and phone hotlines failed.
Providing dignified service to residents with housing instability should not be so difficult or unachievable. The Department of Human Services should answer to how this very predictable outcome was not foreseen and how they will make sure this doesn’t happen again.
National Guard deployment in D.C. ruled illegal
The Court ruled last Thursday what we have known all along: the federal occupation of the District is unlawful, unwelcome, and unjust. This is a victory for democracy, and a victory for DC and our 700,000 residents who have stood united for our right to self-govern.
I thank Attorney General Schwalb for his leadership and dedication to using the tools of our legal system to fight for D.C. residents.
DHCD dysfunction can’t continue
We need to ensure that the District is taking full advantage of every option at our disposal to build housing and wealth for our residents, and right now, that is not happening at the Department of Housing and Community Development. Millions of dollars for affordable housing and first-time home buyers are being left on the table by the agency.
And there’s less clarity now after a Council hearing with the Director than before. We cannot let this dysfunction continue if we are to ensure a path to safe and affordable housing for every District resident.
Coming soon: Ranked Choice Voting
I was encouraged to hear from District of Columbia Board of Elections this week about their plan for Ranked Choice Voting outreach and education, and the progress they’ve made on implementation. Councilmember Christina Henderson and I found the funding in this year’s budget to ensure full launch of RCV in the 2026 elections.
House action undermines democracy
U.S. House of Representatives votes last week to repeal D.C. policing legislation and bring back cash bail are an affront to democracy, undermine the voice and vote of 700,000 U.S. citizens and legal residents, and threaten public safety in the District with counterproductive measures.
The bills passed by the House would make D.C. less safe, not more. They’ll cause confusion in policing and in pre-trial detention protocol, undoing years of public safety advances in the District. They’ll allow dangerous people who can afford bail out on the streets and keep less dangerous people who are poor in jail, even while presumed innocent.
Hopefully these bills won’t come up for a vote in the Senate – or won’t pass, if they do come up. These House votes make clear that D.C. must be given the full rights of statehood and self-determination. Hands Off D.C.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1
We had a great time volunteering with Food and Friends to help prep the Thanksgiving dinners they will deliver this week to over 4,700 neighbors. Thank you, Food & Friends, for the incredible work you do to serve our community in Ward 1, D.C., and beyond!
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Leaf collection updates: Section C, you’re up!
Thank you to the DPW collection teams who have been hard at work these past two weeks keeping our city clean and beautiful as the leaves continue to fall!
The first pass for leaf collection in Section C will begin on Monday, December 1. Residents in Section C, please have your leaves raked to the tree box or curbside no later than this Sunday.
As a reminder, you can find your collection section and use the real time leaf tracker on the dedicated DPW website.
If your street has not been serviced after DPW announces that crews have moved on to the next section, please call 311 (202-737-4404) or visit 311.dc.gov to open a “Leaf Collection Missed” service request.
Provide feedback on Columbia Heights traffic safety
DDOT welcomes public feedback on improvements proposed as part of the Columbia Heights Crosstown Bus Priority Project. The project seeks to improve safety and bus transit operations on multiple roadway segments in Ward 1. Planned changes are detailed on DDOT’s website.
Submit your feedback by December 5.
The days are getting shorter, the smell of pumpkin is in the air, and the leaves are falling! DPW teams will be fanning out across the city for leaf collection on every street from now until December 27. The second pass will take place after the first is complete and as weather permits.
Leaf collection will begin on Monday, November 3, for DPW-serviced households in Section A. Find your collection section and use the real time leaf tracker on the dedicated DPW website.
If your street has not been serviced after DPW announces that crews have moved on to the next section, please call 311 (202-737-4404) or visit 311.dc.gov to open a “Leaf Collection Missed” service request.
Help shape the future of DC’s bicycle network
Give your input on the future of DC’s bikeways and trails network at the Strategic Bikeway Plan Public Workshop for Ward 1 on Tuesday, December 2 at 6 pm at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church (1525 Newton Street NW). DDOT’s Strategic Bikeways Plan will define the District’s priorities for future transportation projects that enhance safety and serve bicyclists of all ages and abilities.
Learn about unemployment resources for federal workers
The Department of Employment Services will host a series of webinars on DOES programs and unemployment insurance for former federal employees impacted by recent reductions in force. The next webinar will take place on December 5.
CALENDAR
Council offices closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 27
Office of Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau closed
Friday, November 28
Council Legislative Meeting
Tuesday, December 2, 12 noon | online and in-person
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C
Wednesday, December 3, 7 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E
Wednesday, December 3, 7 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B
Thursday, December 4, 6:30 pm | online
Council Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Public Hearing
Thursday, December 4, 9 am | online and in-person
The Committee will hear testimony on Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau’s bill, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act of 2025. The Committee also invites members of the public to testify on “Public Safety in D.C.” – an opportunity to speak to District government cooperation with federal agencies on immigration and other issues.
Council Committee on Health Public Hearing
Wednesday, December 10, 9:30 am | online and in-person
The Committee will hear testimony on Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau’s bill, the Place-Based Substance Use Disorder Outreach Amendment Act of 2025.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D
Tuesday, December 16, 7 pm | Mt Pleasant Library (3160 16th Street NW) and online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A
Wednesday, December 17, 7 pm | online
IN THE NEWS
WASHINGTON INFORMER
Black Youth, Environmentalists, Entrepreneurs Express Support for ‘Bottle Bill’
NBC4
DC residents seeking emergency rental help wait in line for hours
“D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau blasted DHS.
‘DHS should never have forced residents to stand in line for hours in the cold and should have been prepared for the crush of phone calls. DHS should apologize to D.C. residents and explain how this very predictable outcome was not foreseen and how they will make sure this doesn’t happen again,” she said in a statement.”
WAMU
D.C. once again sees technical glitches, surging demand for rent relief program
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]