May 16, 2024

Dear neighbor,

After months of hearings, committee mark-up meetings, and an intensive Budget Work Session yesterday, the District’s FY25 budget is now taking shape.

Working through this effort has been a complex and challenging process given our current tough financial constraints. The mayor has spoken of shared sacrifices. Those must be equitably distributed at the same time we actively pursue investments in prosperity, accountability, and opportunity for all District residents. I have engaged in thorough analysis and extensive discussions with my colleagues, striving to make the best decisions for residents in Ward 3 and across the city. I am thankful to my own team who has helped me dive into financial details, propose innovative solutions, and advocate for priorities that reflect our community’s needs.

I am also profoundly grateful to each committee staff member who has dedicated countless hours to this budget, and to my colleagues who have collaborated closely with me to refine and improve it.

As I consider the full budget package, I will aim to ensure programs that provide accessible pathways to the middle class and grow the District’s economy are sufficiently funded, including investments in housing, education, youth and senior services, and the environment.

Next, the chairman will present his comprehensive budget, after which the Council will hold its first vote on Wednesday, May 29. The second vote is scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, before the budget is sent to the mayor’s desk for approval.

Best,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

Covenants Bills Pass in Council

Years ago, I discovered a racial covenant on my home, a chilling testament to our past. Addressing these covenants isn't just about correcting historical wrongs; it's about shaping our future. That's why last fall I introduced a legislative package to strike outdated exclusionary covenants and promote affordable, diverse housing. In the May 7 Legislative Meeting, the Council unanimously approved related bills, signaling a significant step forward in our journey toward a more inclusive city. First, this legislation establishes a process to allow homeowners and homeowner associations to remove unlawful restrictive covenants from their land records, something I look forward to pursuing for my family’s home. Second, it voids pre-1938 covenants that prohibit multifamily housing where it would otherwise be permitted under current zoning. Exclusionary decisions made by individuals nearly 100 years ago should not impede our current vision for our community. The focus on these harmful covenants was a reminder of the enduring legacy of housing discrimination in our city. We must continue to confront our past and actively work toward a more equitable future.

Workday in the Ward

My monthly Workday in the Ward heads to the Den coffee shop in Politics and Prose on Thursday, May 23. From 8 am to noon, 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:

Metropolitan Police Department
DC District Department of Transportation
Department of Buildings
Washington Gas
Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services

Note: The Den is located on the lower level of Politics and Prose on Connecticut Avenue NW. Before the bookstore opens at 9 am, you can enter the coffee shop from the backside of the building, where the parking lot is, at 5016 Connecticut Odds Alley NW

Submit Your Feedback on the 2025 Better Bus Network

WMATA has released its proposed 2025 Better Bus Network, the first redesign of our bus system in more than 50 years. Explore the Better Bus site to look at the proposed plan, which includes some different routes and a different naming system for bus lines. There is also a trip planner using the proposed plan. Submit your feedback by July 15.

Does the proposed network serve you and your neighbors?

MPD Community Walk

MPD Second District will hold a community walk in Ward 3 on Thursday, May 30, starting at 3 pm at 5608 Broad Branch Road NW. This is an opportunity to walk with police officers, meet your neighbors, and ask questions along the way.

Talk with My Team at Senior Fest on the Yard

My constituent services team will join Senior Fest at UDC on Wednesday, May 29, from 10 am to 3 pm. DPR is hosting this senior event of the year with line dancing, live entertainment, food, health resources, and more.

Bike to Work Day

Make sure to pump up your tires before Bike to Work Day tomorrow, May 17! There’s still time to register for the pitstop most convenient for you. Or do what some of my team members plan to do: Make a route to say hi to volunteers at several locations and enjoy our city on two wheels. There are multiple stops (some registered through Bike to Work Day, some operating on their own), and there’s a convoy down Connecticut Avenue starting at 7:30 am at the Chevy Chase Safeway.

Wheels Down

Smart Food Waste Bins Are Coming Soon

District residents can drop off food waste for composting at designated sites, which are open on weekends in all eight wards. Ward 3 has three locations, and you can see the complete list.

Additionally, the Department of Public Works will install 30 smart food waste bins this year, giving residents the ability to drop off food scraps in lockable bins 24/7. To best serve residents, DPW has an interest form to help determine where these bins should go. To stay informed on this engagement process, fill out this form.

Matt on the Move

Bike to Work Day may be tomorrow but first up, I joined some rides for Bike and Roll to School Day in Ward 3. This was the 13th annual event nationwide, encouraging bike safety, Safe Routes to School, and actions for a better environment.

This week, my team and I joined community members, the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Transportation, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, and Van Ness Main Street to talk about Forest Hills Park. This site visit was a result of my office hearing concerns about the use of the playground, tennis courts, basketball court, and green space. Thanks to the opportunity for us all to gather, we can come up with proactive solutions to keep this community asset a place of enjoyment for all residents.

Last week I shared a video with EmpowerEd to help celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. I have been an advocate for educators for decades, and I believe every day is one in which we should lift up the great work our teachers do for future generations.

Have a Ward 3 Service Request?

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or requests you may have. My Constituent Services team is here to help.

Submit a Constituent Services Request

Government & Community Calendar

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, May 20, 7 pm, Zoom
ANC3D: Wednesday, June 5, 7 pm, Zoom
ANC3E: Thursday, June 13, 7:30 pm, Zoom
ANC3F: Tuesday, May 21, 7 pm, Zoom
ANC3/4G: Mondays, June 10 and 24, 6 pm, at Chevy Chase Community Center and Zoom

Find Your ANC Here

The Mayor’s Office of the Clean City hosts Roll-Off Days for residents to responsibly dispose of bulk trash, debris, and electronics to E-Cycle. The closest location for Ward 3 in the upcoming schedule is near the Emery Heights Community Center at 955 Longfellow St. NW. Drop off items between 10 am and 2 pm this Saturday, May 18.

At-Large Councilmember Robert White will hold community office hours for Ward 3 from 1 to 3 pm on Thursday, May 30, at Cleveland Park Library.

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062