World Pride D.C. was a day for love and solidarity and joy and I felt all of it.
WARD 1 UPDATE
Hello Neighbors:
I sometimes refer to the Committee on Public Works & Operations as the “nitty gritty city committee,” a playful recognition of our attention to some of the most mundane and daily necessities of city life. In this budget process, we dove into the weeds, found inefficiencies and waste, and applied those savings to areas of need to keep our city clean and safe and support the rights, health, and wellbeing of residents.
The Committee I Chair is committed to crafting a budget that supports all D.C. residents, not just the wealthiest few. In the budget recommendations we approved on Wednesday, the Committee met that commitment by investing in the critical work done by the agencies the Committee oversees and transferring funds to other committees as necessary.
Here are some of the highlights:
Keeping our City Clean and Livable
We will improve community cleanliness by funding more than 250 new public litter and recycling cans and significantly expanding composting services in the city – expanding curbside composting services from 9,000 to 12,000 households and adding 10 additional “smart bins” throughout the city for 24-hour food waste drop-off.
We will maintain and expand the standalone public restrooms pilot program with an investment to support six existing and four new standalone Throne restrooms, thanks in part to funds from Councilmembers Zachary Parker, Charles Allen, and Brooke Pinto. The new units will be located at Ellington Plaza (near 7th & T St NW), Watkins Recreation Center, Starburst Plaza at Bladensburg and Benning, and Marvin Gaye Park. We also will support the restroom at Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan by transferring funds to the Committee on Facilities.
Enhancing Public Safety, Including Road Safety
We will provide support to people living with substance use disorders and create safe and vibrant public spaces in Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, U Street, and Lower Georgia Avenue by maintaining and enhancing the Ward 1 community navigators program through a transfer of funds to the Committee on Health.
We will prioritize the most dangerous driving behaviors for enforcement by DPW’s booting and towing teams, by implementing the already-passed vehicle infraction points system. And improve road safety by finally giving DPW the tools to identify and immediately tow and impound vehicles with counterfeit license plates and temporary tags, implementing legislation that I introduced. The owners of these vehicles have escaped accountability for too long.
Supporting the Rights, Health, and Wellbeing of Residents
The rollbacks in the budget presented to the Council by the Mayor would have turned the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program back to the draconian policies of the 1990s that were proven to be ineffective and condemned by a DHS-convened working group. The Committee’s budget undoes this significant rollback of reforms and threats to the program by transferring $1.3 million to the Committee on Health and Human Services.
We will expand access to healthcare and social services by providing funds to home visiting for expectant parents, and we will expand access to healthy food across the District through a transfer from the Committee on Health to fund implementation of the Farmers Market Support Amendment Act of 2025.
We will restore funding to the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children in collaboration with the Committee on Youth Affairs, an office that is critical to safeguarding children and families.
When we first received the Mayor’s proposed FY2026 budget, I called it a “budget of 1,000 cuts”, and I committed myself to the work of reversing the harmful reductions that would significantly impact the lives of residents in every ward across the District. Yesterday the Committee passed a budget that moves us in the direction of a path to prosperity for all, not just for our wealthiest residents. This budget restores funding to critical programs, ensures agencies have the resources to deliver the high-quality services residents deserve and expect, and supports our residents, businesses, and communities.
There is still more work to be done. Our Committee recommendations are not final. They will be incorporated into a revised Council budget that reflects the work of all the committees, which will then come before the full Council for review and a series of votes. The Budget Office has a helpful overview of the process if you’d like to learn more.
I encourage you to continue to contact me and your five other councilmembers (four at-large and the Chairman) to voice your opinion on the budget as we move to the next stage in the process.
Read my full remarks before the Committee on Public Works & Operations and find a link to the Committee’s report.
P.S. I hope you’ll join us this Saturday, June 28, for our annual Ward 1 Day at the Pool to beat the heat! See below for additional details.
COUNCIL UPDATES
One Front Door, more housing
I recently introduced legislation to advance a building code reform that removes the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings up to six stories. This is a big step toward building more units and more affordable units – both of which are desperately needed in the District – because it allows for building more units in the same amount of space. It also allows for more flexibility in the use of the square footage, so larger units can be built and access to light and ventilation improved.
The current requirements in D.C. mean that more of a building’s square footage is taken up by non-residential space, which drives up construction costs and future rents.
I initially hesitated to introduce this legislation, until I learned that the two-stairwell requirement was a holdover from early fire codes. Since then, advancements like sprinklers, fire suppression materials, and fire doors have made buildings safer in the event of a fire. Evidence shows that two staircases in new smaller buildings do not make those buildings safer. The revision would not change the requirements for elevators included in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
I spoke to Washington Business Journal (paywall) about what this policy would mean for housing in the District.
BRIANNE IN WARD 1
Congratulations to the graduates of Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School! Your commitment to your education in pursuit of your dreams in nothing short of inspiring.
Bancroft Elementary School student advisory council members asked me some very informed questions on their visit to the Wilson Building, including my top 3 priorities (government services, schools, housing) and whether there’s a bunker in case of emergency (neither confirm nor deny!).
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Ward 1 Day at the Pool
Better Bus Network set to launch
Click for a full map of the D.C. bus network
On June 29, WMATA will launch the first major overhaul to its bus network in 50 years. The new Metrobus network will feature new names, route and schedules. Use the New Bus Network Tool to find your new route or plan a trip using the new bus routes. Use the neighborhood profiles to better understand your local routes and how they have changed and view the list of eliminated bus stops.
Better Bus Network information hub
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 this month. 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.
Construction pre-apprenticeship opportunity
The Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers, Events DC, Trade Show Contractors Association, Carpenter Contractor Trust, and Capital Business Solutions are hosting a 10-week construction job readiness bootcamp to prepare individuals to work and enter the Carpenters Union 3-Year Trade Show Carpentry Apprenticeship program.
Participants will learn soft skills and customer service trainings at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Tuesday through Friday and participate in hands-on learning at the Carpenters Union Training Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Saturdays. The program begins July 26 and runs until September 27.
You must be a District resident 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED to apply. A driver’s license is preferred but not required.
To apply, please email your resume to Mike Dempsey at [email protected]. For questions, please call 771-215-0396.
Free Shakespeare in the Park event at Meridian Hill/ Malcolm X Park this Friday
CALENDAR
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E Meeting
Wednesday, June 25, 7-9 pm | online
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D Special Meeting: Raising Community Voices on Violent Crime
Wednesday, June 25, 7-9 pm | Trinity AME Zion Church, 3505 16th St NW or via Zoom
Ward 1 Day at the Pool
Saturday, June 28, 12-2 pm | Banneker Pool, 2500 Georgia Avenue NW
Council Legislative Meeting
Tuesday, July 1, 12 noon | online and in-person
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C Meeting
Wednesday, July 2, 7-9 pm | online
Council Offices Closed in Observance of Independence Day
Friday, July 4
Brianne on Your Block
Wednesday, July 9, 6-8 pm | Mount Pleasant location to be confirmed
Meet one-on-one with Councilmember Nadeau. The rat abatement team from the Department of Health will join as this month’s special guests.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B Meeting
Thursday, July 10, 6:30-9:30 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 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]
