February 13, 2025

Dear neighbors,

24 days into the new federal administration, many of our residents are justifiably reeling. Federal workers are uncertain about their future. Many immigrants, regardless of their legal status, are frightened.

In my 40 plus years in Washington, DC, I have known and worked with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of federal workers and have, myself, been a federal worker and employee of a USAID contractor. I have deep admiration for the work done by our federal workers and contractors and the spirit of patriotism they bring to that work.

All four of my grandparents were immigrants. I would not be here but for the bravery and work ethic that accompanied their choice to make such a dramatic break from their past.

Every new presidential administration has the prerogative to change policies and priorities. Sometimes I agree with those changes and sometimes I strongly disagree with them. Whether I agree with them or not, every administration has the duty to uphold and comply with the rule of law.

For federal workers seeking to understand and protect their rights, this website developed by a bipartisan group of experts may be a useful resource, as well as this list of resources created by my colleague, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau.

For those in our immigrant communities fearing that their family could be wrongly caught up in an immigration action, these resources may be helpful:

·     Resources from the DC Office of the Attorney General

·     Resources from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network

·     Resources from the American Civil Liberties Union.

We are in the midst of what some in our country think of as a very exciting time, but what I see as a deeply perilous one. The re-introduction in Congress of an anti-Home Rule bill, with the BOWSER Act moniker, is just one of many threats to our autonomy. The very preliminary efforts in Congress to reduce our Medicaid reimbursement rates, rumblings of Presidential action on crime and the rhetoric around the rights of the LGBTQ+ community are all troubling. Clearly, statehood is the only answer, but given the current political landscape, it is not on the horizon, so we have no choice but to do the best we can with the hand we have been dealt. It is in that context that I will do everything I can to defend Home Rule.

As I navigate this period as a representative of the District of Columbia, I feel a powerful obligation both to adhere to my personal values but also, in close coordination with the mayor and others on the Council, to behave in a manner that best serves the interests of the residents of the District. I fully expect and welcome hearing from residents about how best to achieve those goals.

As difficult of a period as this is, I am wishing everyone a happy Valentine's weekend. How lucky I am to have shared 40 plus years with my Valentine.

If you are looking for a Valentine’s outing, even though it is technically 10 hours after Valentine’s, StepAfrika is hosting their Community Day celebration, bringing DC together to uplift the community and honor the power of dance. The event is free and open to all-ages. There will be a community workshop, live DJ, special performances, a Kid Zone with coloring stations, face painting, and more throughout the day. Plus, the event will be held at the National Building Museum, which is always great to visit. Learn more by visiting the event page.

Sincerely,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

This past weekend, as part of the District’s ongoing Black History Month celebrations, DC celebrated the birthday of one of its most influential past residents: Frederick Douglass. Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, and although he did not know his exact birthday, he believed it to be February of 1818, and celebrated it annually on Valentine’s Day. Douglass self-liberated from Baltimore in 1838, and went on to become a renowned orator, author, abolitionist, statesman, and one of the most prominent intellectuals of the late 19th century. He published three autobiographies, wrote and edited an influential abolitionist newspaper, broke barriers for African Americans in government service and statesmanship, and fought racial prejudice during Reconstruction. He lived his final 17 years at his estate, Cedar Hill, in Anacostia. Douglass died in Washington, DC, on February 20, 1895. Cedar Hill was recently renovated and is open to the public managed by the National Park Service. It is a great place to visit for the history and the view, as my talented wife captured in her painting below.

Black History Month itself began with the work of a DC resident. Carter G. Woodson, known nationally as the “Father of Black History,” was a scholar who devoted his life to learning and education, and documented and distributed information on African American history and achievements. Originally from Virginia, Woodson moved to Washington, DC, to study at the Library of Congress while he completed his doctoral degree at Harvard University.

Dr. Woodson established “Negro History Week” here in 1926, which we celebrate today as Black History Month. He lived at his home on 9th Street in Shaw from 1922 until his death in 1950. Alas, his house is temporarily closed for renovation.

For another recommended Black History Month activity right here in Ward 3, I encourage residents to visit “Windows 250” in Chevy Chase, which celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the republic by reflecting on the question: "how can Chevy Chase redeem the promise of the Declaration of Independence locally, today?" It is part of a public awareness campaign, titled “250: A Neighborhood in the Nation’s Capital,” a project of the ANC 3/4G standing Racial and Social Equity (RASE) committee, in collaboration with Historic Chevy Chase DC and Chevy Chase Main Street. Several Chevy Chase businesses are displaying exhibit posters, and a complete collection adorns the Connecticut Avenue-facing windows of CVS at the Southwest corner of Connecticut Avenue and McKinley Street. The next session for the CVS Windows 250 display is Sunday, February 23 February at 2:00 pm. The program lasts 30 minutes. This is the second of six half-hour presentations of the exhibit at CVS, one per month, focusing on each exhibit panel in turn. The session will meet outdoors in front of the display in the CVS windows.

The Council is currently conducting performance oversight hearings for District government agencies through its various committees. This week, I engaged in important oversight hearings for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Behavioral Health, and DC Health.

Among many others, I also look forward to attending these upcoming oversight hearings in the next two weeks:

• February 14 and February 19: Department of Parks and Recreation
• February 20: DC Water
• February 21 and February 28: Department of General Services
• February 25: Department of Buildings
• February 27 and February 28: DC Public Schools
• March 3: Department of Housing and Community Development
• March 3: Washington Metropolitan Transit Area Authority

For a full schedule of hearings, residents can view the Council calendar. Residents can also sign up to testify during an upcoming committee hearing, search for legislation, and watch public hearings.

The budget process officially began on February 6 when the Chief Financial Officer published the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the annual audit of the previous fiscal year. At the end of the month, the CFO will issue a revenue estimate that will serve as the “ceiling” for expenditures in the coming fiscal year. During this time, the mayor reconciles agency requests, her vision for the District, and the available revenue to propose any cuts, increases, or changes in each agency. At the start of April, the mayor will present her proposed budget to the Council. The Council committees will then initiate the second piece of the agency-by-agency review, holding hearings focusing specifically on each agency’s proposed budget. The Council will vote on the budget in late May and early June.

Last month, I hosted my third annual Budget Listening Session, a chance for constituents to share their thoughts on how the District should prioritize its spending in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Constituents can email their budget priorities to fruminoffice@dccouncil.gov, or call my office at

202-724-8062.

SOME Tax Exemption Bill

This week, I introduced the 2607 Connecticut Avenue NW Timeline Extension and Tax Forgiveness Act of 2025, which would allow the organization So Others Might Eat (SOME) to apply for a workforce housing property tax exemption. The Council created this tax exemption to encourage development of workforce housing. Workforce housing is affordable housing for households with earned income that is not enough to afford housing near the workplace. The exemption is meant to exempt rentals owned by a nonprofit that also meet certain affordability requirements from some property taxes.

SOME has provided essential services for Washingtonians facing poverty, homelessness, and similar challenges for more than 50 years and operates nearly 1,000 housing units across the city. In 2023, SOME opened its first Ward 3 housing at 2607 Connecticut Avenue NW, offering 23 units of deeply affordable housing, and began working with the Department of Human Services to identify prospective tenants. Unfortunately, the collaboration ran into unanticipated challenges, and although more than half of the units are now leased up and the rest should be soon, the incentive the Council intended to support SOME’s efforts has been frustrated.

This legislation would extend the deadline for SOME’s application for the workforce housing property tax exemption, which the Council intended for such properties, so SOME can allocate those resources towards social services and the provision of additional housing. Indeed, the degree to which SOME supports their tenants is exemplary and we want to help them keep it that way. 

Rent Stabilization Bill

I also introduced the Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2025.The bill ensures the voucher program can thrive without jeopardizing existing rent stabilization policies by ending the exemption of housing vouchers from rent stabilization laws. The legislation, crafted in consultation with the Office of the Tenant Advocate, preserves funds needed to supply more vouchers and house additional neighbors.

The DC Housing Authority calculates market rents and applies those rents in rent stabilized buildings. DCHA has changed the way they calculate market rents after HUD concluded they were overpaying. In a rent stabilized building, the DCHA rent can reflect a significant premium over the rent stabilized rent. By paying a premium, DCHA reduces the number of people they can serve and sets up a dynamic that can lead to one form of affordable housing, vouchers, cannibalizing another, rent stabilized units. A recent story in the Washington Post reporting on a suit by the Attorney General against a landlord illustrates the way in which incentives distort the intended system and leads to unwanted results. The Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2025 is one critical step in assuring DCHA appropriately marshals its resources and safeguarding rent stabilization policies.

The Committee on Human Services met today to conduct a performance oversight hearing for the Office and Commission on Latino Affairs, Office and Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, and Commission on Latino Community Development. Residents can view testimony, and watch a recording of the hearing on my YouTube page, @CMFrumin.

The committee’s schedule of upcoming performance oversight hearings is below:

February 20, 9:30 am:

• Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment
• Public Access Commission

February 28, 9:30 am:

• District of Columbia Public Library

March 5, 9:30 am:

• Department of Human Services (Public Witnesses)
• Interagency Council on Homelessness (Public Witnesses)

March 7, 9:30 am:

• Department of Human Services (Government Witnesses)
• Interagency Council on Homelessness (Government Witnesses)

The committee meets at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DC, 20004. Sign up here to testify during an upcoming committee hearing, search for legislation here, and watch committee hearings on my YouTube Channel, @CMFrumin.

More information about the committee can be found on my website at mattfruminward3.com/committee.

My office’s next Workday in the Wood is coming to Woodley Park on Thursday, February 27, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at Open City, 2331 Calvert Street NW. Constituents can meet with me from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, or with members of my staff and representatives from District government agencies throughout the day. These events bring my office to the ward for another opportunity for residents to discuss legislation, receive constituent services, and meet with issue experts. The National Capital Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking will also be in attendance to present Narcan demonstrations and other helpful information.

• 8:00 to 10:00 am: Coffee with the Councilmember
• 10:00 to 11:00 pm: Metropolitan Police Department
• 10:00 11:00 am: Office of the Attorney General
• 10:00 to 11:00 am: Department of Behavioral Health
• 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: National Capital Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, Narcan demonstrations and information
• 12:00 to 2:00 pm: Department of Buildings
• 12:00 to 2:00 pm: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
• 2:00 to 3:00 pm: District Department of Transportation

DPW Collection and District Snow Response Information

Despite the snow, DPW deployed for regular trash and recycling collections this week, and although there have been delays, crews are focusing on clearing any remaining backlog. Food waste collection is on a one-day slide through Saturday. Holiday trees can be placed at the curb for collection through the end of the month. Due to the weather, crews need a few more days to finish leaf collection in Section B. Section C and D should get ready for your second pass of leaf collection and have your leaves at the tree box or curbside by Sunday, February 16, 2025. Residents can check out DPW’s real-time leaf collection tracker.

A reminder that DPW launched the Unified Communication Center (UCC), and residents can reach out directly to DPW’s UCC for customer service needs at (202) 673-6833 (Mon – Fri); or by email: dpw@dc.gov. 

Residents with questions about the city’s snow response can visit snow.dc.gov for more information or call the District Snow team at 202-673-6833. Residents can also visit snow.dc.gov for tips to prepare for the next snow event, such as stocking up on supplies including a snow shovel, salt, pet-friendly de-icer, and kitty litter, as well as other helpful information.

Did you know there is a Volunteer Snow Team? In the aftermath of a snow event, volunteers are deployed to help elderly residents and neighbors with functional needs with snow removal. Learn more and sign up to lend a hand to a neighbor in Ward 3 at snowteam.dc.gov.

Get the Latest Information on DC Water Projects

DC Water has several extensive ongoing projects in Ward 3. On Albemarle St NW, near Soapstone, the work has taken far longer than the original timeline. According to the agency’s recent presentation to ANCs, this is due to unforeseen challenges with manhole replacement on Albemarle St to facilitate safe manhole entry for workers and equipment, and a 72” storm sewer drain conflict. “The original Soapstone project is about 93% complete and most of the park has been opened to the public. The project was granted ‘Partial’ Substantial Complete on 7/14/2024, with granting of full Substantial Completion pending lining of the last segment of the sewer line at Albemarle and 32nd Street.”

The latest timeline estimates final inspection at the end of July. DC Water has committed to attending monthly ANC 3F meetings and to providing continued updates. Residents seeking more information can contact the 24/7 Dedicated Project Hotline 202-301-8058 or the Project Email at soapstone.info@dcwater.com. Residents can email “ADD ME” to that address to receive updates directly to their inbox.

The agency is also working on a 100-year pipe replacement project across the District, and work has been going on for some months now in Chevy Chase. This is a critical infrastructure project to replace old and aging materials in order to keep the community safe and ensure continued access to clean water. Several months ago, an aging underground pipe burst in Van Ness along Connecticut Avenue near the University of the District of Columbia. Rubble and water were ejected into the air, endangering nearby pedestrians and drivers, and the leak subsequently stalled traffic. The ongoing work is critical to avoid more events like this in the future. The project manager for this work is John Ingle 202-313-1541, or john.ingle@dcwater.com.

The agency has committed to providing more information and to be available to residents for questions and updates, including hand-delivering project information sheets to all nearby property owners. Residents can also contact Joyous Willis, DC Water Senior Community Affairs Specialist, at

202-787-4065 or joyous.willis@dcwater.com to request their contact information be added to DC Water’s distribution list to receive the latest updates directly to their inbox. Residents can also contact the DC Water 24-hr Emergency/Command Center at 202-612-3400 with questions. Project information, including contact information of managers for specific projects, is posted to the DC Water website at www.dcwater.com.

Rising Utility Bills

My office has received inquiries about high utility bills.

According to Pepco, colder than average temperatures and changes in rates and the cost of electricity have led to fluctuations in recent bills.

Pepco is taking the following steps in response: 

• Providing enhanced resources for residential and commercial customers to help provide additional support, including:
• No late payment fees for January and February 2025
• Longer repayment periods of up to 24 months
• Suspending disconnections for nonpayment in February 2025
• Waiving deposits for disconnected customers who are seeking to restore service.

If you need support with bill payment options, financial assistance, or energy savings, visit pepco.com/BillSupport. Customers can also continue to reach out to their Customer Care team directly by calling 202-833-7500. To learn more about programs to fit your needs, including financial assistance, bill management, and energy efficiency and savings information, customers can visit the company’s Assistance Finder webpage. Customers can also visit pepco.com/BillSupport for tools to equip them with additional information on understanding their energy bill, rates and more. 

Washington Gas also put together a webpage as a resource for residents who have seen their bill increase. Learn more about ways to save at wgsmartsavings.com/. For additional winter preparedness information from Washington Gas, such as safety tips, assistance with paying your bill, and payment plans, visit washingtongas.com/winter.

Prepare for the Better Bus Network Beginning this Summer

The Better Bus Network, the comprehensive redesign of the bus system, is launching this summer. Residents can find information, including maps, lists of new routes and stops compared to previous ones, and other helpful resources on WMATA’s website. Residents can also sign up for the agency’s newsletter at wmata.com/BetterBus.

Happy Lunar New Year!

I had a wonderful time attending CommuniKids’ Lunar New Year celebrations on February 2. Attendees were treated to great food, performances, and family friendly activities. I enjoyed some delicious pork dumplings, while watching a traditional Chinese dragon dance. It was a great way to bring neighbors together and celebrate the community!

Delivering Food to Schools Across DC

Too many kids in DC don’t have enough to eat when school-provided food is unavailable. Last Friday , I had the pleasure of joining volunteers with the DC Food Project to help deliver more than 15,000 pounds of food to schools across the District that is distributed to students and families. For more than six years, the DC Food Project has worked with partners to raise funds and provide food and toiletries to kids who need additional support. Thanks to DC Food Project and volunteers for their efforts!

Speaking at Seabury at Friendship Terrace

As featured in the news, this morning, I toured and spoke to residents and staff at Seabury at Friendship Terrace in Tenleytown, which provides apartment living for those 62 and older. Their mission is to provide personalized, affordable services and housing options to help seniors in the greater Washington, DC area live with independence and dignity. Seabury at Friendship Terrace provides 180 units of deeply affordable housing paired with rich supportive services for residents. It is critical that older Washingtonians have access to stable housing, and Seabury is one of the valuable organizations in our community helping to meet the need.

Upcoming Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings

ANC3A: Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 pm, McLean Gardens Ballroom & Zoom 

ANC3B: Thursday, February 13, 7:00 pm, Zoom

ANC3C: Monday, February 17, 7:00 pm, Zoom 

ANC3D: Wednesday, March 5, 7:00 pm, Zoom 

ANC3E: Thursday, February 13, 7:30 pm, Zoom 

ANC3F: Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 pm, Zoom

ANC3/4G: Monday, February 24, 7:00 pm, Chevy Chase Community Center and Zoom

Vote for your favorite Valentine’s Window in Cleveland Park

Cleveland Park businesses are competing for the title of Best Valentine’s Window Display. Go to Cleveland Park Main Street’s Instagram page, @cleparkmainstdc, to view the contenders and vote for your favorite.

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062