June 13, 2024

Dear neighbor,

On Wednesday, the Council held its second and final vote on the numbers portion of the budget: the Local Budget Act (LBA). Within the next two weeks, we will hold the second vote on the policies that support the budget: the Budget Support Act (BSA). 

Slowing revenue growth, the loss of federal pandemic relief funding, WMATA’s acute financial needs, and inflation all came together to make this budget the most challenging in decades. As discussed in a previous edition of my newsletter, both the mayor and Council raised significant new revenue through various tax and fee increases to meet some of the city’s most critical program and service needs. Nevertheless, significant funding gaps remain. 

In this difficult financial context, we needed to play defense while also setting strategic, realistic goals. I am proud of what my colleagues and I were able to achieve. 

As examples, once the mayor finalized her school budgets, I asked our schools to identify critical resource gaps. Through an amendment I introduced, I was able to meet all those identified needs while also adding dollars for the MacArthur School modernization project. The mayor’s budget included major cuts to early childhood education, including a potentially devastating cut to the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program (PKEEP) , which supports CommuniKids, St. Alban’s Early Childhood Center, and Two Birds in Ward 3. In partnership with the Chairman, I reversed those cuts. We were also able to secure modest increases for our excellent Senior Villages and Main Street organizations. A fuller list of accomplishments is shown below. From early childhood to seniors to small businesses, the Council was able to identify and meet many critical needs. 

Still, even as I am proud of what we were able to accomplish this year, there is an acute recognition that our city’s challenges are not going away. The prospect of increased homelessness looms. Schools in parts of the city that serve children with the greatest needs continue to struggle as school truancy has reached deeply troubling levels. These are equity and public safety issues.

Work on the FY25 budget will be finished in June. Work on the FY26 budget must start in July. 

Both the mayor and Council are firmly on record that we need to look for ways to address spending. Are there programs that have outlived their usefulness? Are there ways we can achieve critical goals more efficiently and cost effectively? There should be no sacred cows. At the same time, the Tax Revision Commission should come back to the Council this fall with recommendations for how we might restructure some of our taxes.

These are challenging times, and everything must be on the table.

Best,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

Fully Fund Our Schools and Invest in District Youth

Delivering excellent educational opportunities is a compelling equity, economic development, and public safety imperative. We must ensure our kids can get to and from school safely, that once they are in school, they are fully served, and fundamentally that our educational system provides a safe, nurturing, constructive path to a brighter future. Toward that end, the budget fully funds our schools and supports educators through retention, enrichment, and advancement.

Promote Affordable, Abundant Housing Options

The District needs more affordable, accessible housing, and Ward 3 must be part of achieving our housing goals. The budget the Council received slashed funding for housing and homelessness prevention services and left thousands of families and children on the brink of losing their homes. Through the collective work of the Housing Committee and the Council as a whole, we made great strides in bridging the funding gap, but there is still much work to be done.

Expand Economic Opportunity

Our business districts and brick-and-mortar small businesses continue to struggle with changing economic conditions and need support to remain vibrant. District residents need diverse pathways to employment and advancement. The budget the Council passed balanced an emphasis on Downtown revitalization with investments in the city’s broader small business ecosystem, including lowering the tax burden on some small businesses, simplifying business licensing, reducing the threshold to receive a Clean Hands, and increasing funding for Main Street programs that support small businesses in all eight wards.

Invest in Safer Streets and Accessible Transit

The District must do more to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. This includes ensuring safe routes to school for students, expanding multimodal transit options, and promoting sustainable alternatives to driving. In addition to making investments in street safety and roadway improvements, the FY25 budget increased funding for WMATA by $200 million to prevent our regional transit system from falling off a fiscal cliff. Access to reliable, frequent public transit is an economic, environmental, and equity issue, and I will continue to work toward long-term, sustainable funding for WMATA.

Foster Safe, Healthy Neighborhoods

People must feel and be safe in their communities. While the District has made progress in reducing crime this year, we can make neighborhoods safer by prioritizing accountability, comprehensive services, and responsible policing. The FY25 budget demonstrates that public safety remains a top priority for the Council. Consistent with last year, we fully funded the Metropolitan Police Department’s hiring and retention request, as well as made capital investments to support the department’s needs. The budget also supported healthier communities by funding environmental programs that improve the quality and condition of our waterways, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and improve household energy efficiency.

Support Our Seniors

The District is a great place to age-in-place, but we can always do better. I’m proud to represent one of the District’s largest senior populations and am a staunch advocate for the city’s senior services and neighborhood organizations working directly with older adults. The FY25 budget makes investments that will improve the quality of life for our older residents.

Invest in Local Arts, Culture, and Recreation

Local arts, culture, and recreational activities create more connected communities. Our youth and young adults especially need recreational outlets that offer enrichment, provide them safe places to be, and foster intergenerational ties. The final budget maintains recreation facilities and supports healthy activities for all ages.

Last week, the Palisades community lost long-time resident Patricia Bullinger in a tragic accident. She was struck by a left-turning SUV while she was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Foxhall Road and Q Street and later passed away from her injuries.

On June 12, I attended a vigil in remembrance of Patricia, where I was joined by her friends and neighbors, MPD Captain Darren Haskis, and ANC commissioners Tricia Duncan and Chuck Elkins. A resident of the Bryn Mawr apartments, Patricia had a long career in the legal field, including working as a legal assistant for a local judge. Following her retirement, she was an active volunteer with the Palisades Community Association and a supporter of the annual Palisades parade. Her loss is felt deeply by those in the community who lived beside her for more than 30 years.

My staff had been working with MPD, DDOT, and community members to address safety concerns at this intersection. DDOT has since committed to taking steps to improve visibility, and I will be pushing them to install traffic calming measures.

Beat the heat in the lead up to summer at a Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) outdoor pool or spray park. Until Monday, June 24, pools and splash pads will operate 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays only. After that, splash pads will be open daily, while pools will operate six days a week. Enjoy one of many options in Ward 3:

Outdoor pool:

• Hearst Pool, 3701 37th Street NW

Spray parks:

• Chevy Chase Recreation Center, 5500 41st Street, NW
• Friendship Recreation Center, 4500 Van Ness Street, NW
• Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert Street, NW
• Hardy Recreation Center, 4500 Q Street, NW
• Macomb Recreation Center, 3409 Macomb Street, NW
• Palisades Community Center, 5200 Sherier Place, NW 

Registration for 2024-2025 DCPS after school programs is open! These programs engage students in academic support, provide a free meal or snack, and offer a variety of enrichment activities provided by DCPS teachers, paraprofessionals, and partner organizations. Sign up today

My monthly Workday in the Ward heads to the Glover Park Grill on Thursday, June 27. From 8 am to 2 pm, my team and I will be available to meet with constituents, answer questions, and provide connections to government and community resources. We’ll also be joined by:

9 am - 10 am: Office of the Attorney General

10 am - noon: Department of Transportation

10 am - 11 am: Metropolitan Police Department  

11 am - noon: Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services

12 pm - 1 pm: Department of Parks and Recreation

1 pm - 2 pm: Department of Buildings

1 pm - 2 pm: Department of Energy and Environment

Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings

ANC3A: Tuesday, June 18, 7 pm, at the McLean Gardens Ballroom and Zoom 

ANC3B: Thursday, June 13, 7 pm, Zoom

ANC3C: Monday, June 17, 7 pm, Zoom 

ANC3D: Wednesday, July 3, 7 pm, Zoom    

ANC3E: Tuesday, June 25, 7:30 pm, Zoom 

ANC3F: Tuesday, June 18, 7 pm, Zoom  

ANC3/4G: Monday, June 24, 6 pm, at Chevy Chase Community Center and Zoom

MPD Community Walks - June 2024

PSA 204, Thursday, June 20, 6:30 pm, starting at 3416 Wisconsin Ave, NW 

PSA 205, Saturday, June 29, 10 am, starting at 4500 Q St, NW

Welcome Our New Legislative Director

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062