June 19, 2025

Dear neighbors,

It’s a busy and exciting time in the District as we head into summer. In this edition of my newsletter, you’ll find updates on the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget process, the rollout of the Better Bus Network, upcoming events, and much more.

Last week, I had the honor of attending graduation ceremonies at both of Ward 3’s public high schools: MacArthur and Jackson-Reed. At MacArthur, two remarkable students became the school’s first graduates, and more than 100 students were recognized for academic and community achievements. At Jackson-Reed, 488 students crossed the stage. Despite the large class size, you could feel the personal connection each student had with the educators and staff. I happened to be seated next to Chancellor Ferebee, and I was struck by how he engaged with students as they worked their way down the receiving line to get their diplomas. I was pleased to hear him ask each student about what was coming next for them, given that his job is to marshal District resources precisely to prepare them for that next chapter. Both ceremonies were moving reminders of the strength and promise of our public schools and the bright future ahead for our graduates.

Today, we mark an especially meaningful holiday. On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were finally free. That day became known as Juneteenth. While the legal end of slavery had already been set in motion, Juneteenth marks the day when freedom was finally enforced in one of the last corners of the former Confederacy.

Juneteenth stands as a powerful second Independence Day when our country took a significant step closer to living up to its founding ideals. The present moment clearly is not one where we are making such progress. It is helpful to be reminded that in very difficult times we have gotten on the right track. Here is hoping that soon we can be in one of those periods again. I am mindful of this as I consider the FY 26 budget.

This morning, beginning at 10:00 am, I’ll be at Fort Reno for the National Park Service’s Juneteenth event, Remembering Reno City. I encourage you to join me and fellow residents as we reflect on the legacy of freedom and community in this historic place. (More details are in the calendar section below).

Wishing you all a meaningful and reflective holiday.

Sincerely,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

This week, Council committees, including the Committee on Human Services that I chair, are wrapping up budget oversight hearings on the Mayor’s proposed budget for the agencies under their purview. Those hearings inform the committee’s budget report, which includes recommendations for funding and personnel levels for each agency, policy proposals, and any changes to appropriation language. The reports also identify additional budget needs, legislation required to implement the committee’s recommendations, and other budget-related analysis. Each chair presents their report to the full committee for markup and approval. The Committee on Human Services will hold its budget markup session next week on Wednesday, June 24.

After all committees approve their reports, the Council’s Office of the Budget Director, under the Chairman’s direction, incorporates the committees’ recommendations and additional Council-wide recommendations into a single unified budget. As required by the District’s Home Rule Act, the final product must be a balanced budget. The whole Council then reviews and approves the budget and corresponding report.

The full budget schedule is available on the Council website. More information about the committee can be found on my website at mattfruminward3.com/committee.

Constituent services are at the heart of my job as a Councilmember. I am grateful to have a wonderful Constituent Services team working to address the day-to-day needs of Ward 3 residents. Navigating the city government to get things done can be a challenge. In parallel with the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS), my team does all it can to try to support our residents and communities when they hit snags. As we reach the halfway point of 2025, I want to share some highlights of the work my office is doing to support communities across the ward.

So far in 2025, we have:



• Closed successfully 665 constituent services cases
• Attended nearly 50 ANC meetings across Ward 3
• Participated in five MPD community safety walks
• Hosted four Workdays in the Ward, making my entire staff available at locations in Ward 3
• Started "In the Ward with Constituent Services" events to bring the Constituent Services team to residents at events and public spaces around the ward

At our schools, my team and I worked with DCPS and DGS to address long-overdue repairs at Deal, Jackson-Reed, and Hearst, including fixing both the Deal and Jackson-Reed auditoriums just in time for their spring performances. To be sure, there remain issues in some of our schools, and I continue to pursue resolutions of those and will do so with urgency over the summer in advance of the new school year. Last year’s openings, while not perfect, were the smoothest I have seen over decades of activism. We will work to ensure next school year’s opening is better still. 

As with schools, there is more work to do at our parks, but I was pleased after years of advocacy to have succeeded in replacing broken nets at Chevy Chase Park and repairing the splash pad at Hardy Park, ensuring safe and fun spaces for our families. Repairs are in the queue for the protective nets at Guy Mason. 

There had been a lot of concern about the continuity of operations for the Boys & Girls Club while the Jelleff Recreation Center undergoes a major renovation. My office joined other offices in advocating in the search for swing space; ultimately, the programs will relocate to the nearby Filmore Building during the renovation.

It seems like erratic weather incidents have led to increasing disruptions in city services. My office has worked tirelessly to address issues of missed or delayed trash, recycling, and leaf pick-ups, as well as the over-salting of roads in preparation for snowstorms. Unfortunately, over the last six months, my team was called upon all too often to respond to downed trees and powerlines after storms and pressed to secure swift repairs and cleanup.

On housing, I have met regularly with tenant associations and worked to address issues raised by residents, including engaging with the DOB and OAG to secure apartment inspections and press for meaningful enforcement.

We also stood up for residents dealing with agency challenges:

• Advocated for quicker water billing hearings
• Corrected DDOT signage
• Pushed the DMV to fix billing errors and issue refunds

The listing above is not intended to be exhaustive, as we have had hundreds of requests for support in the first six months of the year. Every day, my office gets calls from residents in need of assistance with District government services. The Constituent Services team helps connect people to the correct agencies, points of contact, and programs. From snow shoveling assistance for seniors to finding health insurance coverage, we are here to assist with District services, answer questions, and advocate on your behalf. If you are facing a challenge in getting the District government, landlord, or utility to respond, do not hesitate to reach out. Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who reached out and partnered with us to get things done, we’ve made real progress in 2025, even if there remains more to do.

For the first time in 50 years, Metro has redesigned the entire Metrobus system to provide more frequent, consistent bus service. The new Better Bus Network will launch on June 29, 2025. To help customers prepare, Metro’s Trip Planner can now show users what trips will look like with the new bus network. Residents can sign up for the Better Bus Dispatch to receive email newsletters with bus system information and updates. Residents can also view previous issues of the Better Bus Dispatch for more information.

The Chevy Chase Community Association (CCCA) and the Friends of Bus Transit (FoBus) are hosting the "WMATA's New Bus Plan Explained" community meeting to help inform residents about the new bus network. The event will be held in person on Tuesday, June 24, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada St, in the Parish Center. While the hosts will focus on areas west of Rock Creek Park, this event is free and open to anyone. The event will include a presentation from WMATA's outreach team on the new system, which will include tools, both current and new, to help riders get around. It will also include a Q&A session, when attendees can ask about all aspects of the new system, including how to get from point to point. For more information, go to the CCCA website at cccadc.org. RSVPs are encouraged but not required, and attendees can RSVP to Fobus-input@groups.io.

This undertaking began more than a year ago, with WMATA conducting a robust feedback process. My office was highly engaged and collected comments from constituents regarding proposed stops, routes, frequency, and more. I also hosted the Ward 3 Better Bus Form in July 2024, bringing together WMATA staff and more than 130 Ward 3 residents. A recording is available on YouTube. In total, more than 350 individuals and groups from Ward 3 submitted their input directly to my office.

I submitted a letter to WMATA last July that consolidated and summarized the issues that stakeholders flagged and that letter is here on my website. Although not a complete list of the issues raised, the letter also urged WMATA to review closely comments submitted by Ward 3 ANCs, as well as community groups, building and tenant associations, and residents, and to continue engaging stakeholders. Residents have been thankful WMATA has been responsive to changes requested.

As we approach the implementation date, WMATA is no longer accepting formal public comments, but my team and I will continue to listen for residents’ experiences over the coming weeks and months.

Metro is also seeking participants for its “Better Bus Partner” program, a new outreach initiative in support of upcoming Metrobus service changes. Metro is enlisting local organizations, businesses, schools, government agencies, senior centers, recreation centers, and more to become Better Bus Partners. Better Bus Partners will help prepare their communities for launch day, distribute materials about the new bus network (route maps, schedules), and monitor and report missing or outdated bus stop signage. If your organization has a publicly accessible space, you're eligible to sign up. Complete the Better Bus Partner Registration Form or email BetterBus@wmata.com with any questions. For full program details, visit wmata.com/BetterBusPartner.

Last week, many residents in Ward 3 were impacted by a boil water advisory issued by DC Water. The advisory stemmed from a pressure drop in the water system caused by a valve malfunction near Fort Reno. This pressure loss triggered a precautionary advisory, affecting thousands of residents and several neighborhoods. While no contamination was ultimately detected in the water supply, DC Water issued the advisory out of an abundance of caution until testing could confirm the water was safe to drink.

From the moment we learned about the incident, my team and I were in constant communication with DC Water, pressing for timely updates and accurate information. We relayed these updates to constituents as quickly as possible, including through social media and our newsletter channels. I stayed in touch with agency officials to advocate for our community and ensure residents had access to clear guidance and resources.

These types of advisories can be disruptive and concerning, and I know this one caused significant inconvenience for many households, businesses, and institutions. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first such incident recently. Given that concern, my office will continue to follow up with DC Water leadership to better understand the systemic causes and to push for greater infrastructure resilience, communication improvements, and accountability.

Thank you for your patience during the advisory. Please know that I will advocate for the investments and transparency needed to ensure that our water infrastructure is reliable and residents are protected.

My office’s next Workday in the Ward will be held in Cleveland Park at Dolan Uyghur Restaurant, located at 3518 Connecticut Ave NW, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Thursday, June 26.

Meet with me from 8:00 to 10:00 am, or with my staff and representatives from District government agencies throughout the day. These events bring my office to the ward for another opportunity for constituents to discuss legislation, receive services, and meet with issue experts. See the full schedule for the day below:



• 8:00 to 10:00 am: Coffee with the Councilmember
• 9:00 to 11:00 am: Ward 3 DC Prevention Center
• 10:00 to 11:00 am: Metropolitan Police Department
• 10:00 to 11:00 am: Office of the Tenant Advocate
• 11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Pepco
• 11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Department of General Services
• 11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Public Service Commission
• 12:00 to 1:00 pm: Department of Buildings
• 12:00 to 1:00 pm: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
• 3:00 to 4:00 pm: Department of Transportation

For more info, visit: http://mattfruminward3.com/event/workday-in-the-ward-in-cleveland-park.

Senior Wellness Center Town Halls

The Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) is inviting community members to participate in a Feasibility Study to explore potential locations for new Senior Wellness Centers in Ward 2 and Ward 3. These centers will support aging residents with programs that promote wellness, connection, and independence. See below for details:

In-Person Town Hall

Tuesday, June 24 - 4:30 to 6:30 PM

Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW

RSVP to: DACL.Communications@dc.gov

Virtual Town Hall

Wednesday, June 25 - 1:00 to 3:00 PM

RSVP to: Ward 2 and Ward 3 Town Hall Registration

Health Insurance Event for Impacted Federal Workers

DC Health Link will host a pop-up enrollment assistance event on Wednesday, June 25, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW. DC residents losing employer health coverage qualify for a DC Health Link private insurance plan. DC Health Link will be supporting federal workers through the special enrollment period to assist them in enrolling in quality, affordable health insurance. This special enrollment period allows for employees directly impacted by the layoffs to enroll in health insurance outside of the regular open enrollment period. To learn more, visit DCHealthLink.com/lost-coverage.

They will also host a virtual town hall to inform DC residents who have lost their jobs recently about options for health coverage on June 26 at 2:00 pm, and residents can register to attend here.

Fix-It DC Repair Event

The District’s Department of Energy & Environment is hosting a free community repair event at the Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, on Wednesday, June 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Fix-It DC offers free community repair events to all District residents. Learn how to repair your broken items like small household appliances, electronics and clothing with a coach. Register to attend the event. 

Constituent Services Event and OAG Community Forum

On Wednesday July 9, my office will hold its next In The Ward with Constituent Services event at the Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Residents are welcome to come by and meet the team during that time. If you need assistance with a DC government service, our problem-solvers will be available in-person and eager to provide help.

The event will coincide with the Office of the Attorney General’s community forum, which will begin at 6:00 pm at the library, to update residents on their work, as well as to hear from residents about how the OAG’s office can best serve the community. For the OAG event, please register in advance at oag.dc.gov/forums if you plan to attend. If you have any questions or requests, email their Community Engagement team at OAGCommunity@dc.gov.

Health Alert: Measles Exposure in the Region

This past week, DC Health confirmed a case of measles in an international traveler who spent time in our region, including in Ward 3. DC Health is working quickly to notify individuals who may have been exposed, and I want to ensure that Ward 3 residents are informed and prepared. I know news like this can be concerning, but with awareness, prevention, and swift action, we can keep ourselves and our community safe.

According to DC Health, the traveler visited multiple public locations on June 8 and June 12, including:



• Metro’s Red Line and Silver Line trains, as well as L8 and H4 Metrobuses
• Dulles International Airport
• The Russian School of Mathematics in Chevy Chase, MD
• MedStar Health Pediatrics at 4200 Wisconsin Ave NW in Tenleytown

If you or a family member were at any of these places during the specified dates and times, please take a moment to review the guidance from DC Health, particularly if you are unsure of your measles vaccination status.

Measles is highly contagious, but it is preventable with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Most people who are fully vaccinated (two doses) or were born before 1957 are protected. However, if you are unvaccinated, only partially vaccinated, or immunocompromised, it’s important to monitor for symptoms and consult your healthcare provider.

Common symptoms of measles include:

• A high fever (over 101°F)
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Cough
• Followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads

If you believe you were exposed and start to develop symptoms, stay home, isolate immediately, and contact your healthcare provider before visiting any clinic or hospital.

More information can be found at DC Health’s webpage. For questions or concerns, or to check your vaccination status, contact your provider or DC Health at 844-493-2652.

DC Water SPLASH Program Online Portal

DC Water has launched a new online portal for its SPLASH Program, which provides water bill assistance to customers in need. The SPLASH (Serving People, Lending A Supporting Hand) Program is intended to help income eligible customers maintain access to clean water and sewer services by providing up to $350 in support per household. The program is funded entirely by charitable contributions, and all SPLASH donations go directly to helping neighbors in need. The redesigned portal seeks to make it easier for residents to donate or apply for help. For more information on how to donate or to apply for SPLASH assistance, visit dcwater.com/splash.

DPW Collection Holiday Slide

A reminder that, in observance of Juneteenth, DPW will "slide" household trash and recycling collections to the next day. Learn more about holiday collection schedules here.  

Pride Parade

My team and I marched in the WorldPride 2025 Parade on June 8 through the streets of DC. It was a wonderful celebration of the history and evolution of the LGBTQ+ community in Washington, DC. Thanks to the organizers who made the parade and WorldPride such a joyous event.

Green Advocacy Day

On Monday, I joined community members to support a budget that prioritizes sustainability. The District is a leader on climate action, green infrastructure and sustainability, and much of the credit for that goes to my predecessor, Councilmember Mary Cheh, who was a leader on environmental policy. In addition to sharing that passion and agreeing on the issues, I feel a responsibility to further that effort. I believe we must work together push for a budget that restores cuts to critical programs like the Green Bank, which funds sustainable construction, stormwater runoff projects that help keep our creeks and rivers clean, and more.

Upcoming Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings

ANC3A: Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 pm, McLean Gardens Ballroom & Zoom 

ANC3B: Thursday, July 10, 7:00 pm, Zoom

ANC3C: Monday, July 21, 7:00 pm, Zoom 

ANC3D: Wednesday, July 2, 7:00 pm, Zoom 

ANC3E: Thursday, July 10, 7:30 pm, Zoom 

ANC3F: Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 pm, Zoom

ANC3/4G: Monday, July 14, 6:30 pm, Zoom

Remembering Reno City

Today from 10:00 am to noon, the National Park Service will host “Remembering Reno City,” as part of its commemoration of Juneteenth. Reno City was one of the first Black neighborhoods in Washington, DC, as formerly enslaved men and women and veterans of the United States Colored Troops were among its first residents. Many generations lived in Reno, but like so many other Black neighborhoods in the United States, the community was dismantled through redlining, forced displacement, intentional gentrification, and segregation, the legacy of which we still face today. The event will celebrate Juneteenth and remember and honor the vibrant and thriving community of Reno. See the event page for more details.

Palisades Fourth of July Parade and Picnic

The Palisades Community Association will host the 59th annual Fourth of July Parade and Picnic. The parade starts at the intersection of Whitehaven Pkwy and MacArthur Blvd at 11:00 am. The parade turns right onto MacArthur, continues past Dana Place, then takes a left on Edmunds, a left on Sherier, and ends at the Palisades Rec Center. Visit the event page for more information. Residents are welcome to join my team and walk in the parade. If you are interested, RSVP to my office here.

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062