January 8, 2026

Dear neighbors,

A happy new year to you and your loved ones. Last year proved to be very challenging given the impact of federal actions on our residents and finances. The coming year will bring an extension of those challenges. That will only heighten the urgency to use the performance oversight and budget process to protect what matters most. My focus for Ward 3 and the District continues to be: fully funding and improving Ward 3 schools, expanding affordable housing options, strengthening public safety, supporting vulnerable residents including seniors, sustaining small and local businesses and commercial corridors, and making District programs and services more reliable and effective. We live in a great city, filled with dedicated and talented people. In the coming year, even as we engage in debate during an election year, it is important that we ultimately stay together and stay strong to protect our autonomy and shared values. 

This newsletter includes updates from the Council’s recent legislative meeting and a closer look at the upcoming performance oversight and budget process. As we enter this critical phase of the year, my goal in this process is careful oversight of District agencies and responsible budget decisions that protect core services and the safety net, while preparing the District for the challenges ahead.

I will continue to keep you informed as this work moves forward. It is especially important in these times to stay informed, and to seek out reliable and trusted resources. In addition to this newsletter, residents have asked about other options for locally based news sources. A Ward 3 resident recently shared a community-created compilation on a Ward 3 listserv, and I wanted to pass it along. I appreciate the resident who took the time to put that list together and make it available to neighbors.

Sincerely,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

The Council met for its first legislative meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, January 6. To see the full recording, agenda, votes, and legislation from the meeting, visit the Council’s hearing page. During the meeting, the Council considered a bill I introduced through the Committee on Human Services, the Public Benefits Security Amendment Act of 2025, and that update is included in the Committee section below.

Charter School Board Appointments

The Council considered confirmation resolutions for four appointments to the Public Charter School Board. While we continue to grapple with crowding in Ward 3 schools, overall, both traditional public schools and charter schools currently have significant excess capacity. Meanwhile, DC’s population trends show declining birth rates. The Charter Board has seven members, and four were being confirmed at our meeting. Given the big picture dynamics – excess capacity, declining birth rates, tight budgets, and a majority of the board up for confirmation – I felt it was important to use the moment to raise awareness of the issues. I am concerned about unnecessary expansion and believe the board must approach its work cooperatively, rather than as an advocate for one sector. During the meeting, I underscored the need for a sober, realistic approach to openings and closures in a more constrained fiscal environment. The resolutions ultimately passed unanimously. I was pleased that in the process my comments drew significant attention and succeeded in bringing attention to an important issue. 

Home Purchase Assistance for Transit Workers

The Council passed on first reading legislation expanding eligibility for the District’s Employer-Assisted Housing Program (EHAP) to include Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) employees. Transit workers play a critical role in keeping the District and the region moving and helping them afford to live in DC can support both workforce stability and service reliability. I voted in favor of the bill. 

Extreme Heat Eviction Protection

The Council also considered legislation that aligns eviction protections during extreme heat with existing District protocols for other potentially dangerous weather like freezing temperatures or precipitation. It prevents evictions on days when the temperature is forecast to exceed 95 degrees, similar to current restrictions during extreme cold and precipitation. The bill was approved unanimously on first reading.

LIHTC Rent Stabilization Exemption Clarification

The Council also approved on first reading legislation clarifying how rent stabilization applies to certain affordable housing developments built using the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. LIHTC is one of the primary federal tools for financing affordable housing. In exchange for tax credits, developers agree to keep rents affordable under long-term agreements that set rent limits and tenant protections. The District also has a rent stabilization law that limits annual rent increases in many buildings, and this legislation clarifies that LIHTC properties continue to follow the rent rules in their original affordability agreements. This avoids conflicting requirements while providing certainty for tenants and supporting the long-term viability of affordable housing.

The Committee of the Whole will meet next on January 20, and the next legislative meeting will be held on February 3. Visit the DC Council’s hearing calendar for more information.

The Council is preparing for annual performance oversight review and the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 27) budget process. Performance oversight hearings will begin in late January and run through early March. The exact hearing dates will be finalized and made public soon, so stay tuned. During performance oversight, committees request detailed information from agencies under their purview about operations, staffing, services, and spending in advance of hearings so Councilmembers can ask informed questions and identify areas for improvement. Additional materials are also submitted to support budget analysis. This is also an opportunity to hear from residents about where the agencies are succeeding, and where there is need for change and improvement. With the exception of hearings for government witnesses only, public witnesses are able to testify at the hearings. Residents will be able to sign up by going to the individual hearing pages once they are posted on the Council's hearing calendar. 

Going forward, the budget process formally begins in February, when the Chief Financial Officer issues the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the annual audit of the previous fiscal year. At the end of February, the CFO issues 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 budget. At the start of April, the mayor is scheduled to 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 is then scheduled to vote on the budget in late May and early June.

Amendment to Public Benefits Security Act

At the January 6 legislative meeting, I proposed an amendment to a bill I introduced through the Committee on Human Services, the Public Benefits Security Amendment Act of 2025. The bill requires DHS to use more secure, microchipped EBT cards and reimburse residents when benefits are stolen through skimming or similar fraud. No one should lose food or cash assistance because of weak technology. The Committee received technical feedback from DHS and advocates, which was incorporated into the amendment to make the law easier to administer while preserving its core purpose. The amendment establishes a single, clear deadline for reporting benefits theft within six months of the theft, clarifies that DHS is responsible only for restoring benefits from programs it administers, and gives DHS rulemaking authority to support implementation and federal compliance. The Council voted unanimously to pass the bill as amended, and it now goes to the mayor for her signature.

Performance Oversight

As Chair of the Committee on Human Services, my goal during oversight season is to ensure agencies are effectively meeting residents’ needs and to identify opportunities for improvement. That includes evaluating how current programs are working and exploring new strategies that could better address the District’s challenges.

The tentative Committee on Human Services Oversight hearing schedule is below. These dates are not yet final and subject to change.

• January 29, 2:00 p.m.: DC Public Library
• February 5, 9:30 a.m.: Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment
• February 26, 9:30 a.m.: Department of Human Services (public witnesses)
• March 6, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m: Department of Human Services (government witnesses)

The committee meets at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, DC, 20004. Once the dates are final, residents can sign up here to testify during an upcoming committee hearing. Residents can 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.

In December, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) elected its leadership for 2026, with Gaithersburg Councilmember Neil Harris serving as chair. I was elected to serve as Second Vice Chair after serving as Third Vice Chair in 2025, a position in which Alexandria Councilmember Canek Aguirre will now serve. The TPB is part of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). The TPB brings together local, state, and federal partners to coordinate long-term transportation planning across the region, including work on safety, air quality, and multimodal travel. COG and the Metro board also recently endorsed the DMVMoves Task Force plan which recommends $460 million in new annual capital funding for Metro beginning in fiscal year 2028, along with steps to better align bus, rail, and fare systems across the region. This work underscores the importance of regional cooperation to maintain and modernize transit that District residents rely on every day.

The next Workday in the Ward will be held in Chevy Chase on Thursday, January 22, at Bread & Chocolate. These monthly events are an opportunity to connect Ward 3 residents with my office. The schedule for the day is below, and more info can be found on the event page on my website.

Ward 3 Staff Schedule:

• 8:00–10:00 a.m.: Coffee with the Councilmember
• 8:00–11:00 a.m.: Ashlee Mercer (Constituent Services), Kevin Caudill (Communications), Kevin DeGood (Legislative)
• 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.: Shantise Wynn-Brown (Constituent Services), Trisha Kondabala (Legislative)
• 2:00–5:00 p.m.: Nora Charles (Legislative), Santiago Mendoza (Constituent Services)

Agency Schedule:

• 9–10 a.m.: Office of the People’s Counsel; Public Service Commission
• 10–11 a.m.: Metropolitan Police Department
• 12–1 p.m.: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection; Department of Buildings
• 1–2 p.m.: District Department of Transportation

Progress on Long-Planned Broad Branch Road Improvements

The National Park Service (NPS) this week approved a key step toward long-planned safety and access improvements along Broad Branch Road NW. The agency signed off on an environmental assessment prepared by DDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to rebuild the 1.5-mile stretch between Linnean Avenue NW and Beach Drive NW. The project would repair aging pavement and stormwater infrastructure, improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, and strengthen walking and biking connections to Rock Creek Park trails. The work will require a small, permanent transfer of NPS land to DDOT, and the agency concluded the project would not result in significant environmental impacts. A construction timeline has not yet been set, as DDOT still must secure funding for final design and construction.

DC 2050 Self-Guided Virtual Workshop

The District is seeking public input as part of DC 2050, the long-range comprehensive planning effort guiding how the city will grow over the next two decades. A self-guided virtual workshop is now available online and includes materials and feedback prompts from recent in-person sessions, making it easier for residents to participate on their own schedule. The workshop is open through January 19, 2026, and can be accessed through the “Get Involved” section of the DC 2050 website.

My School DC Lottery Is Open

The My School DC lottery for the 2026–27 school year is now open. My School DC is the common application and common lottery for the District's public school options. The lottery helps ensure a fair and transparent process for school placement across the District. Families are encouraged to create or update their My School DC account early to explore options, attend school events, and meet deadlines. To learn more and get started, visit the My School DC website. The deadline for High School (Grades 9-12) is February 2, 2026, and the deadline for PK3-Grade 8 is March 2, 2026.

Retail & Small Business Grants Open

The FY 2026 Robust Retail Citywide Grant is now open. This program supports existing DC-based, brick-and-mortar retail businesses and offers up to $10,000 per business through a reimbursement grant awarded by lottery. Applications are due January 20, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Details and application materials are available at https://dslbd.dc.gov/robustretailgrant.

Holiday Tree and Greenery Collection

DPW’s holiday tree and greenery collection runs through February 28. Trees should be placed curbside or in tree boxes with all decorations removed. Collected materials will be turned into mulch as part of the District’s Zero Waste initiative. Drop-off locations are also available at Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert Street NW, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information on Holiday Reduce & Reuse Tips, please visit zerowaste.dc.gov/Holiday. 

Fall Leaf Collection Continues

DPW’s fall leaf collection continues. The second pass of leaf collection in Section A started this past Monday, January 5. Rake your leaves into the tree box or curb in front of your home. Paper bags are welcome, but please don’t use plastic bags, as they can’t be composted. Check your collection section and sign up for updates to stay informed. Schedules and guidelines are available at dpw.dc.gov or by calling 311

Events DC's FY2026 Cycle 2 Community Grant Program

Events DC is accepting applications for FY 2026 Cycle 2 Community Grants, which support nonprofit organizations providing youth sports, performing arts, and cultural programming in the District. Applications are due February 2, 2026. To learn more about the grant program, find informational sessions , or apply, please visit Events DC's Community Grant page.

New Site Helping DC Residents in Their Careers

The District's website, TalentCapital.ai, is a regional initiative to connect residents, especially recently displaced workers, with career opportunities here in DC. Through the platform, residents can access free personalized coaching and training programs in fast-growing fields like project management, data science, and artificial intelligence. Local partners, including University of the District of Columbia, Trinity Washington University, and George Washington University, are offering no-cost or discounted courses to help workers learn news skills, adapt, and grow. If you’re looking for your next career move, visit TalentCapital.ai and explore the opportunities.

JCRC Lox for Legislators

On December 18, I participated in the JCRC DC Lox and Legislators event. It was an opportunity to delve into some of the pressing issues facing the District with other community members. I joined a panel for a discussion on housing, food security, federal relations, and importantly, sources of hope for residents and DC.

Fresh Start 5K

On January 1, I attended the Fresh Start 5K at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, a New Year’s Day tradition. It was an impressive turnout despite the cold, and the energy from residents starting off the new year on a healthy note was palpable.

A Chance Meeting on the Red Line

I was happy to run into WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke on the Metro platform while waiting for my train on Tuesday evening. Under his leadership, 2025 was one of the most successful years on record for Metro. Thanks to General Manager Clarke and to all the hard-working staff at WMATA for keeping the District and our region moving. In case you missed it, Metro Rewind is now available for 2025. How many trips did you take? How many miles did you ride? See how your rides rank here.

Upcoming Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings 

ANC3A: Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 p.m., Zoom (virtual only for January 2026)*

ANC3B: Thursday, January 8, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

ANC3C: Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

ANC3D: Wednesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m., Zoom   

ANC3E: Thursday, January 8, 7:30 p.m., Zoom  

ANC3F: Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 p.m., Zoom

ANC3/4G: Monday, January 12, 6:30 p.m., Zoom  

Healthy Homes Fair

Save the date for the Healthy Homes Fair. This is a free, fun, family-friendly event that helps residents and businesses increase the health and energy affordability of the homes of the DC region. It is the largest consumer-facing home decarbonization event in the country. 

The fair will take place on Saturday March 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Catholic University of America. It includes an Expo of 100 exhibitors and an Academy with sessions for professionals, homeowners, and renters. See a recap of last year here. New this year, there will be a companion event Power Shift: A DER Showcase which will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Find more information on the Health Homes Fair event page.

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062