March 13, 2025

Dear neighbors,

As I write this message, we are in the midst of a dramatic challenge to the District. The House Republicans passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown that would treat the District as just another “federal agency.” It sounds innocuous, but the impact would be to limit our spending of both federal and local dollars to Fiscal Year 2024 levels. Our federal dollars were already pegged to FY24 levels, but the cap on local dollars would require a cut of $1 billion to our local budget over the next six months. 

Such a draconian cut would be devastating – if implemented resulting in furloughs of teachers, firefighters, police, and sanitation workers, among others. It would also be pointless. Our local budget is pegged to our projected tax revenue, so the result would be that on the order of $1 billion in local tax revenue would go into a reserve fund while we would also be required by the federal government to furlough essential workers. Meanwhile, the approach would not save the federal government a nickel and, indeed, almost certainly would impose increased costs on it. 

The CR is now in front of the Senate, and Senate Democrats have indicated they will not acquiesce in the House proposal and will rally around a 30-day CR that protects the District. That is good news, but it is not over until it is over. We all want to avert a shutdown, but any eventual CR cannot punish the District. 

DC government has reacted in unison to this assault on the District. Word of the consequences of the House proposal spread Sunday night and Monday morning leading to many meetings to try to create a strong united front. By Monday afternoon, I was proud to join Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Chairman Phil Mendelson, my Council colleagues, and other DC officials on Capitol Hill to speak to the potential damaging and pointless impacts of the proposed CR on the District. Much of the week for me and others in the District government has been consumed with reaching out to Members of Congress and Senators to make our case.

There has also been a very strong and inspiring grassroots response. Groups like FreeDC, the Fair Budget Coalition, the Washington Teachers Union, the DC Charter School Alliance, PTA's across the city, the Firefighters union, DC Action and EmpowerEd, among others, activated their networks to undertake firm, respectful and impactful lobbying campaigns.

The initial outreach often drew blank stares as busy staffers, members of Congress and Senators were not aware of the consequences to the District from an arcane change proposed by the House Republicans. But through relentless advocacy by city government officials and grassroots advocates, the message has gotten through and now instead of us telling them about the issue, they are speaking to it themselves amongst each other. 

We are not there yet, but DC elected officials and grassroots activists have at least ensured that our interests are being considered as Congress moves forward. We will continue to press until the dust settles on this chapter. 

When this chapter closes, we all know other chapters await us. While we cannot celebrate until we get a clean CR, there could be a silver lining to the cloud that brought us this crisis. I am proud of the way the city government pulled together, creating a template for the next chapter. And, I am very impressed by the role of grassroots activists. We need to stay together in our effort to protect the District, building our coalition to include faith-based, professional, business, and even athletic organizations, so we can activate thousands in a moment’s notice if need be. Our model should be the nonviolent American Civil Rights movement. We must always strategic and always cognizant of what will persuade and what might alienate.  The impressive activation during this chapter, so far, shows that when we act together and act strategically, we can make a difference.  

Sincerely,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

While the proposed CR presents challenges for us in Fiscal Year 2025, we have a separate set of challenges in our Fiscal Year 2026 budget process. The Chief Financial Officer’s February Revenue Estimate, which serves as the “ceiling” for expenditures in the coming fiscal year, projects a $1 billion shortfall over the next three years ($350 million a year), largely due to cuts in government and contracting jobs, which make up a substantial portion of DC’s workforce. Those cuts impose a heavy personal toll on many and could work to cripple our federal government’s ability to serve our residents, but cumulatively, they also create an enormous headwind for our local government budget. The District faces a period of significant uncertainty with difficult budget choices ahead. As such, my budget priorities emphasize targeted investments to preserve and strengthen key programs on which our residents rely and focus on six areas:

1. Fully funding our schools and education ecosystem
2. Supporting our seniors
3. Investing in small businesses and commercial corridors
4. Continuing our commitments to public safety
5. Parks, recreation, and libraries as community supports
6. Protecting supportive services in tandem with affordable housing

These priorities are shaped by input I received at my annual Ward 3 budget listening session and meetings with community members, issue experts, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC), and government agencies. I recently shared my specific budget requests in a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser, which you can read at mattfruminward3.com/fy26budgetpriorities.

The current fiscal environment will make crafting the FY26 budget challenging, but we can leverage modest investments to significantly protect and improve our residents’ quality of life. I look forward to working with the mayor and my colleagues to achieve that goal. To learn more about the budget process, residents can find this helpful guide on the Council website.

On March 4, I introduced legislation that would designate the Connecticut Avenue Bridge over the Klingle Valley as the Judith E. Heumann Memorial Bridge. Councilmembers Anita Bonds (At-Large), Robert C. White, Jr. (At-Large), Brianne K. Nadeau (Ward 1), and Charles Allen (Ward 6) co-introduced the bill.

Judy Heumann was a pioneer of the disability rights movement, who passed away on March 4, 2023. A polio survivor from the age of two, Heumann lost the ability to walk and subsequently used a chair for mobility. Among her many achievements, Heumann led the historic 1977 504 Sit-in in San Francisco; helped develop the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; served in the Clinton and Obama presidential administrations; and founded multiple non-profits, including the seminal World Institute on Disability. She also served as the World Bank’s first Adviser on Disability and Development from 2002 to 2006, and in 2007, became the first director for the DC Department on Disability Services.

She lived for three decades with her husband in the Kennedy-Warren apartment building in Cleveland Park, using the Connecticut Avenue Bridge over the Klingle Valley almost daily to connect with her many friends, patronize the shops and restaurants in her community, attend her house of worship, and access public transportation. The community, including residents of the Kennedy-Warren, initiated the call to rename the bridge the “Judith E. Heumann Bridge”, and Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C passed a resolution in support of the renaming.

On the anniversary of her passing, I attended a special event honoring Heumann’s life at the UDC Ballroom hosted by the DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC). DDC is an independent, community-based advisory committee appointed by the mayor. DDC’s communications push, The Judith Campaign, is an effort to build awareness and acceptance of the diversity and contributions of DC’s community of people with disabilities and their families, care partners, and supporters. For more on the campaign, check out this video.

I believe Judy Heumann, who helped shape how people with disabilities connect with their communities in profound ways, is an apt namesake for the bridge that helped connect her to her community in Cleveland Park.

Read the text of the legislation at mattfruminward3.com/heumannbridgeintroduction.

My office’s next Workday in the Ward will be in Spring Valley on Thursday, March 27, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at Compass Coffee, 4850 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016. Come meet with me from 8:00 am 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
• 8:00 to 10:00 am: National Capital Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, Narcan demonstrations and information
• 9:00 am to 12:00 pm: Department of Public Works Parking Enforcement
• 10:00 to 11:00 am: Metropolitan Police Department
• 10:00 to 11:00 am: Office of the Attorney General
• 11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Department of Buildings
• 11:00 am to 12:00 pm: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
• 2:00 to 3:00 pm: District Department of Transportation

Last week, I chaired performance oversight hearings for the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH). Residents can watch the hearings at youtube.com/@cmfrumin/streams.

Over the course of the past month, the Committee held nearly 30 hours of hearings on the performance of the agencies under its purview. During these tough, unpredictable times, I emphasized the need for our agencies to get the most out of every District dollar, and I dug in deep on ways we could improve the efficiency of agency programming to better and more quickly deliver services to some of our most vulnerable neighbors. I also focused on how we can better deliver social services to make our communities safer for everyone, both for people exiting homelessness who may struggle with mental illness or substance abuse, and for long-time residents.  

Next, the Committee on Human Services will host a roundtable meeting tomorrow, Friday March 14, at 1:00 p.m. to consider nominees to the DC Board of Library Trustees. You can find the witness list and testimony in the Hearing Management System. Watch the hearing on my YouTube page, youtube.com/@cmfrumin/streams. 

Later this month, the Committee will consider legislation related to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and other issues to support residents. Stay tuned for more committee legislative updates in upcoming newsletters.

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

Resources for Recently Unemployed Residents

New Public Service Career Hub Site

The DC government recently launched a new website, Fedsupport.dc.gov, which includes information on unemployment insurance and how to apply, resources for job seekers federal employment guidance, and DC government opportunities.

March 14 Hiring Event

The Department of Employment Services, in partnership with the Executive Office of the Mayor and the DC Department of Human Resources, is hosting a hiring event on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Gallaudet University – Kellogg Conference Center, 800 Florida Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002. This event is dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by recent federal layoffs by providing them with career advancement tools, networking opportunities, and direct hiring connections.

This event will bring together employers, career coaches, and workforce professionals to offer guidance on unemployment resources, provide career coaching, and facilitate direct hiring opportunities.

Unemployment Insurance and Career Support

The District’s Unemployment Insurance program provides temporary financial assistance to qualified individuals who meet the eligibility requirements of the District of Columbia. 

To receive unemployment insurance, you must meet the following criteria: 

1. Be unemployed through no fault of your own 
2. Be able, available, and actively looking for work  
3. Have earned enough wages to file a claim 

• Apply for unemployment benefits from the Office of Unemployment Compensation 
• Ten things you should know about the Unemployment Insurance System 

If you have any questions or need further assistance applying for unemployment insurance, contact DOES by phone at 202-724-7000.

These career support programs, offered by the Department of Employment Services and non-profit partners, provide job seekers support on their career journey. 

• Wider Circle Career Support 
• DC Infrastructure Academy 
• Apprenticeship DC 



Apply For Health Insurance

If you are a DC resident and lost your federal job and health care coverage, you can enroll in a DC Health Link health insurance plan. Residents seeking more information about health insurance options can visit DC Health Link for more information. 

Help for Homeowners

DC homeowners can access free foreclosure prevention counseling to get help if you are worried about paying your mortgage, are behind on your mortgage payments, or are in the process of foreclosure. Learn more at housingetc.org, or call 202-442-7765, or email DISB.mediation@dc.gov.

Resources for Students

All students in kindergarten through twelfth grade are guaranteed a spot in your neighborhood DCPS school. Enroll at enrolldcps.dc.gov. Washington, DC has free pre-K3 and 4. While pre-K is universal, and there are seats for every pre-K student, enrollment is managed via lottery application. Families that want to enter the lottery for a pre-K seat or an out-of-boundary/citywide K-12 seat for either the current or next school year should submit a post-lottery application at myschooldc.org.

Families can access free and low-cost spring and summer programming for kids. Parents can learn more about summer and out-of-school time programming available to DC youth ages 5-21 by visiting learn24.dc.gov.

DCTAG is a federally funded program that pays the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at schools attended by District students. Students are eligible to receive up to $10,000 toward tuition annually at public colleges nationwide and up to $2,500 toward tuition at private colleges in DC and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Interested students can apply for the DC Tuition Assistance Grant

through the DC OneApp at dconeapp.dc.gov.

If you cannot make your student loan payments, the Student Loan Ombudsman can help you explore forbearance and deferment options. Make an appointment to talk to someone about forbearances and deferments, call 202-727-8000 or email DCLoanHelp@dc.gov.

Survey

The District Government is conducting a survey to gather insights from

businesses on job openings and workforce needs across DC to help better understand employment trends, support local businesses, and connect job seekers with opportunities. Find the survey at fedsupport.dc.gov.

DMPED Public Disposition Hearing on Chevy Chase Civic Site

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) will conduct a public disposition hearing regarding the Chevy Chase Civic Site to get community input on the proposed use of the site. The hearing will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Chevy Chase Community Center Auditorium, 5601 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20015. The public hearing will be held in-person, or residents can attend online for those who wish to attend virtually. Presentations will be recorded. The recording will be posted to the project website .

The purpose of the disposition hearing is for DMPED to receive public comment. Residents will be able to engage directly during the open house and can ask questions. Attendees will then be able to offer comment during the public forum which follows the open house portion. In addition, residents can offer written comment during the time the record is open for sixty days after the hearing until May 28. Comments can be emailed to daniel.lyons@dc.gov, or mailed to

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 317

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: Daniel Lyons

Stay tuned for a final schedule of the event. Tentatively, doors will open at 8:30 am, and the event will start at 9:00 with an introduction and welcome. Then presentations will happen, followed by an open house in the afternoon, and later around 3:00 pm, a public forum. Note that times may move given hearing circumstances.

• 8:30 am: Doors open
• 9:00 am: Event Start
• 9:25: Presentations
• 2:00 pm: Open House
• 3:00 pm Public Forum

Please note times may move slightly as the run of show is made final or due to circumstances at the hearing.

Contact Daniel Lyons at (202) 445-9765 or daniel.lyons@dc.gov if you have questions.

DPW Services Update

Crews are wrapping up leaf collection throughout the city. For any remaining locations that need leaf collection, please submit a Street Sweeping 311 Service Request, and include in the notes that it is for Missed Leaf Collection. Street sweeping & ground maintenance has begun. Parking Enforcement will begin issuing tickets for Street Sweeping on Monday, March 17. If your open container delivery service request was approved before February 14, it will be delivered this week in Ward 3. All approved service requests from February 15 to March 7 are expected to be delivered the week of March 17. Containers will be delivered for the next eight weeks. For residents awaiting container repairs, please place your damaged containers at your designated collection point on your scheduled collection day.

New Contact for Animal Control

Starting January 1, 2025, the Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) took over all animal care and control services for Washington, DC. In the first month, BVSPCA has also launched adoptions for dogs, cats, and other animals, Express Pet Health Services for family pets, and volunteer and foster programs. You can learn more about Brandywine Valley SPCA and its services at bvspca.org/dc. To report an animal in distress in the District, please call BVSPCA at (202) 888-PETS. 

Prepare for the Better Bus Network Beginning this Summer

The Better Bus Network, the comprehensive redesign of the bus system, launches 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. Sign up for the Better Bus Dispatch on WMATA’s website to stay up to date on the implementation of the new bus system.

Register for DPR Spring Programming

Registration for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) spring programming opened this week. Set up an account and check out the program list, which includes everything from learn-to-swim and aquatic fitness classes, to team sports such as soccer, baseball, flag football, and gymnastics. View programs and find more information at: DPRprograms.com.

LGBTQ+ Small Business Survey

In May and June of 2025, the District will be hosting World Pride, with an estimated three million regional, national, and international guests. Given the District's commitment to our small businesses, we want to make sure that World Pride attendees know how and where to support locally-owned, LGBTQ-owned businesses. The Food Policy team at the Office of Planning, the Mayor's Office on LGBTQ Affairs, and the Department of Small and Local Business Development are creating a map of food, fashion, art, and other retail businesses owned by the LGBTQ+ community. This map is exclusively opt in, so any LGBTQ-identifying business owners and artists can reply to this survey. The deadline is March 31.

Hear the Crunch DC

On March 5, I participated in Hear the DC Crunch in honor of National School Breakfast Week to help raise awareness of the important role school breakfast plays in ensuring children at DC public schools have access to healthy food. Learn more at http://dchunger.org.

Celebrating GW Scholarship Award Winners from Jackson-Reed

On March 7, I had the joy of helping present George Washington University’s prestigious Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship to two Jackson-Reed seniors. The scholarship covers tuition, room, board, books and fees throughout four years at GW for incoming first-year students from DC. GW selects students from all parts of DC based on high school academic performance, strength of curriculum, recommendations, leadership qualities, community service, extracurricular activities and achievements. Congratulations to Jackson-Reed High School seniors Clara Durante and Ema Blanco, who were two of 10 students to receive the award in DC, and to all the awardees! 

HerStory 5K

On International Women’s Day on March 8, I joined more than 6,000 people at The FITDC HerStory 5K. The annual event brings together DC locals and visitors at Freedom Plaza to honor women’s achievements. A post-race festival at Freedom Plaza featured live music, wellness activities, giveaways, and vendors from local women-owned businesses. It was great to see such a large turnout for a wonderful event!

Upcoming Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANC3/4G: Monday, March 24, 7:00 pm, Zoom

Summer in the City 2025

Learn24’s Summer in the City 2025 will be on Saturday March 29, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at MLK Jr. Memorial Library (901 G ST NW). Explore all of the summer and out-of-school time programming available to DC youth ages 5-21. Families can connect with OST programs, learning experiences, jobs, internships, and more. Visit sitc2025.eventbrite.com for more information.

Free Tax Filing Webinars

The DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) is hosting a series of free, virtual webinars to ensure District residents have the information they need to file their taxes accurately and on time. The sessions will cover common tax filing mistakes, available tax credits, payment options, and more. Registration is required to attend the webinars.

Hosted via Microsoft Teams, the webinars will provide taxpayers with the opportunity to receive expert guidance directly from OTR representatives.

Webinar Schedule and Topics

Tuesday, March 25 | 12:00 pm (Afternoon Session) & & 6:00 pm (Evening Session):

• Common Tax Filing Issues in the District
• Choosing a Tax Preparer

Thursday, March 27 | 12:00 pm (Afternoon Session) & 6:00 pm (Evening Session):

• DC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) & Schedule H
• How to Make a Real Property Payment in MyTax

To sign up, visit https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/2025-tax-filing-season-webinars

Tour Del Taco

Hosted by District Bridges and Main Streets program, spend the month of March bouncing all over DC trying taco restaurants, earning points along the way, and voting for your favorites. There are several participants in Ward 3 so far, including in Cleveland Park. Learn more at the event page.

I am excited to introduce Trisha Kondabala, who joins us as a legislative assistant for the Ward 3 office. Prior to joining my team, Trisha led a pro bono legal clinic for low-income DC seniors at Legal Counsel for the Elderly. Originally from Bradenton, Florida, she holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Florida and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. During law school, she worked with asylees in the DMV area as a student-attorney at the GW Law Immigration Clinic and externed at the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. She is excited to continue advocating to improve access to resources and quality of life for DC residents. You can reach Trisha with legislative questions at tkondabala@dccouncil.gov.

I am also excited to welcome Emelie Shany, who joins the Committee on Human Services as a legislative assistant. Emelie has lived in DC for a decade, and is a proud graduate of American University and George Washington University Law School, where she received her J.D. in 2023. Since graduating, Emelie has worked in both the litigation and transactional sides of law. She is passionate about policy and public service and thrilled to begin working on behalf of the constituents of DC with the Committee of Human Services. You can reach Emelie with any legislative questions regarding the committee at eshany@dccouncil.com. 

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062