March 19, 2026

Dear Neighbors,

The District’s budget season is approaching, and over the coming weeks the Council will begin the detailed work of reviewing the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget. The Mayor is expected to transmit the proposed budget to the Council on April 1, formally kicking off the process. From there, Council committees will hold hearings, review agency budgets, and work toward a final budget vote in June. The decisions we make during this process will shape the District’s priorities for the year ahead, from public safety and education to housing, child care, and the services residents rely on every day. You can read more about the budget timeline and what to expect below.

This newsletter also includes updates on this week's Committee of the Whole meeting, the work of the Committee on Human Services, information on my upcoming Workday in the Ward in Spring Valley on March 26, and more. As always, thank you for staying engaged with what is happening in Ward 3 and across the District.

Sincerely,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

The Fiscal Year 2027 budget process will officially begin on April 1, when Mayor Bowser transmits the Executive’s proposed budget to the Council. From that point forward, the Council will begin several weeks of hearings and deliberations to review agency budgets and identify priorities.

Key dates in the process:

• April 1: Mayor submits the proposed FY27 budget to the Council
• April 6 – April 30: Council committees hold budget hearings on agency proposals
• May 1: Committee of the Whole holds a public hearing on the full budget
• May 27: First Council vote on the budget
• June 10: Second and final Council vote

The budget process is one of the most important responsibilities of the Council. It determines how the District invests in priorities such as schools, public safety, housing, human services, transportation, and economic development.

Throughout the process, I will continue advocating for priorities that I have heard repeatedly from Ward 3 residents, including education and early childhood stability, protecting and strengthening the safety net, improving transportation safety, protecting the environment, housing production and stability, public safety and emergency response, support for seniors, and thriving public spaces and commercial corridors.

You can follow the budget schedule and upcoming hearings on the Council’s website: lims.dccouncil.gov/hearings.

The Council’s Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, March 17, and one item on the agenda was legislation I introduced to support the nonprofit organization SOME (So Others Might Eat).

SOME has served District residents for more than 50 years by providing transitional and permanent housing, emergency and social services, health care, and education and workforce training. Their work combating poverty has made them a pillar of our community. The legislation before the Council concerns SOME’s housing project at 2607 Connecticut Avenue in Woodley Park. This development expands access to deeply affordable housing in a high-opportunity neighborhood with excellent access to public transit, schools, and employment opportunities.

Due to delays in identifying eligible tenants, SOME was unable to meet the initial requirements to qualify for a Workforce Housing Exemption for the property. The FY26 Budget Support Act removed the 12-month lease-up deadline, ensuring organizations like SOME can qualify for the exemption moving forward.

The legislation provides a real property tax refund that will help ensure the financial stability of the project. Importantly, the portion of the bill dealing with the Connecticut Avenue property was already funded in the FY26 budget. Given the District’s ongoing need for affordable housing, I encouraged my colleagues to support this legislation so that SOME can continue providing housing to residents earning well below 50 percent of the Area Median Income. The bill was placed on the agenda for the next legislative meeting to be held on March 31. Details will be posted on the Council’s hearing page.

Oversight Season Concludes

The Committee on Human Services has now completed its annual performance oversight hearings, which provide an opportunity to examine the work of the agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction and hear directly from residents and service providers. Thank you to everyone who testified or submitted comments during the hearings. Hearing directly from residents helps ensure our oversight work reflects real experiences and challenges. If you missed any of the hearings, they are available to watch on my YouTube channel: @CMFrumin. The Committee will soon begin scheduling FY27 budget hearings, so please stay tuned to the Council hearing calendar for those dates.

Committee Markup on March 24

On March 24, the Committee will hold a markup meeting on several items, including nominations to the DC Public Library Board of Trustees and legislation addressing access to digital library materials.

I introduced the Library E-Book Pricing Fairness Amendment Act of 2025 to address growing concerns about the high costs libraries face when purchasing e-books and audiobooks. Across the country, libraries are often charged far more for digital titles than for physical books, and publishers frequently limit how many times a digital title can be loaned. These practices increase costs for libraries and lead to longer wait times for readers.

My bill would prevent the DC Public Library from entering into contracts that disproportionately limit the accessibility of electronic literary materials. The legislation would take effect only after a sufficient number of states adopt similar laws, ensuring the District is part of a coordinated national effort. The idea is to drive a meaningful negotiation between publishers and libraries. Eight of my Council colleagues joined as co-introducers. Access to information should not be cost-prohibitive, and libraries must be able to meet the growing demand for digital materials.

My next Workday in the Ward will be held in Spring Valley at Compass Coffee on Thursday, March 26. I will be there to meet with residents from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to discuss questions, ideas, or concerns. Members of my staff will be available throughout the day, and representatives from District agencies will also attend at scheduled times to meet directly with residents.

Schedule for March 26:

• 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. – Coffee with the Councilmember
• 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. – Ashlee Mercer (Senior Constituent Services Coordinator), Kevin DeGood (Legislative Director), Kevin Caudill (Communications Director)
• 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. – DC Prevention Center for Wards 3 & 4 
• 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Trisha Kondabala (Legislative Assistant), Shantise Wynn-Brown (Scheduler and Constituent Services Specialist)
• 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. – Metropolitan Police Department, Department of Licensing & Consumer Protection, Department of Buildings
• 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. – Nora Charles (Legislative Assistant), Santiago Mendoza (Constituent Services Coordinator)

To help accommodate attendees, residents are asked to complete this form to reserve a spot at Workday in the Ward. Reservations are not required and walk-ins will still be accepted. More info is available on the event page on my website.

OSSE Announces Child Care Subsidy Waitlist

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) announced that it will implement a waitlist for new enrollments in the DC Child Care Subsidy Program beginning May 12 due to continued growth in the program and rising costs. This is a difficult development for many families and providers. The child care subsidy program is an essential support that helps families afford early childhood education while allowing parents to work and build economic stability.

According to OSSE, families can continue to apply for the program through May 11. Eligible families who submit complete applications before that date will be able to enroll in the subsidy program and begin receiving services. Beginning May 12, eligible families in priority groups 2 through 6 will be placed on a waitlist and offered enrollment as funding allows. Families in priority group 1 will continue to be able to enroll immediately. OSSE also announced a change to attendance policy. Beginning May 12, eligibility for subsidized child care may be terminated after 19 unexcused absences in a single month, rather than the current policy of 30 consecutive absences.

I recognize that this news will create real concerns for families and providers. Early childhood education and child care are foundational investments in the District’s future, and ensuring access to affordable child care remains one of my top priorities as we enter the FY27 budget process. Families and providers who have questions can find additional information through OSSE’s Child Care Subsidy Program FAQ page. My office will continue to monitor this issue closely as we work through the upcoming budget discussions.

Potomac Interceptor Update: Flow Restored, Cleanup Underway

DC Water has reached an important milestone in the response to the January collapse of the Potomac Interceptor. After more than a month without additional overflows, flow has now been safely restored to the interceptor, and the emergency bypass system is being shut down. This marks a transition from emergency response to cleanup and long-term repair.

With flow restored to the pipe, wastewater is no longer being diverted into the C&O Canal. DC Water reports that the system is operating as expected and continues to be closely monitored. Cleanup of the C&O Canal is now underway. Crews are flushing the canal with freshwater, removing sludge and debris, and directing remaining material back into the sewer system downstream. Work is also continuing along the drainage channel and river shoreline to remove impacted soil and stabilize affected areas.

At the same time, DC Water is preparing for the next phase of work, which will involve long-term rehabilitation of more than 2,700 feet of the pipe. This will strengthen the system and help prevent future failures. Water quality monitoring is ongoing, and results continue to be influenced by weather and other environmental factors such as stormwater runoff. As a reminder, swimming in District rivers remains prohibited without a permit.

While the emergency phase is nearing completion, work will continue in the coming months to complete environmental restoration and fully rehabilitate the pipe. I will continue to monitor this work closely, particularly the cleanup of the canal and surrounding areas, and will share updates as progress continues. For more detailed updates, including daily water quality results and project information, visit DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor page.

Rising Electricity and Gas Bills

Many residents have contacted my office about significantly higher electricity and gas bills. Two primary factors are driving the increases:



• Colder-than-average winter weather, which increased heating demand.
• Higher wholesale energy prices, which make up roughly 60 percent of a typical residential electric bill and are set through regional markets outside the District’s direct control.

Regional electricity demand is growing rapidly, including from large-scale data center expansion in Virginia. Virginia currently provides a substantial sales tax exemption for data centers, a subsidy that cost approximately $1.6 billion in 2025. That growth places additional long-term pressure on the regional grid and wholesale energy markets. While the District does not regulate those markets, we are monitoring regional impacts closely.

The Office of the People’s Counsel has successfully petitioned the Public Service Commission to open a formal investigation into energy affordability. This review will examine the causes of rising costs and identify potential solutions within the District’s authority.

If you are experiencing difficulty paying your utility bills, assistance may be available through:

• The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Pepco payment plans and budget billing options
• The Office of the People’s Counsel
• Calling 311 for guidance

Spring Services, and How to Contact DPW

DPW’s Spring Services begin in April. These services include street and alley cleaning, grass cutting and mowing, graffiti removal, and more. Street sweeping began on Monday, March 2. Street & Alley Collection Division teams will complete any remaining leaf collections during the transition to spring services. Parking Enforcement began issuing tickets for street sweeping on Monday, March 16. For more details, visit: dpw.dc.gov/spring.

Do you need to contact DPW about a service issue or other matter? Residents can reach DPW’s Unified Communication Center at (202) 673-6833 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Spring Programs

Registration for DPR’s spring programs is now open at DPRprograms.com. DPR offers programs for residents of all ages, including aquatics, youth and adult sports leagues, fitness classes, senior wellness activities, and enrichment programming. I encourage residents to review the available offerings and register as early as possible.

DDOT NOI in Ward 3

DDOT has published a Notice of Intent (NOI) 26-52-TSED to install a High-intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) signal at Connecticut Ave and Legation St NW. Residents can access the NOI and leave comments on DDOT's NOI portal at noi.ddot.dc.gov. Comments are due April 17, 2026.

Fair Budget Coalition Advocacy Day – March 10

I was glad to meet with members of the Fair Budget Coalition during their visit to the Wilson Building to hear directly about their priorities for the upcoming budget. These are challenging fiscal times for the District, and conversations like these are an important part of the budget process. I appreciate the residents and advocates who took the time to share their perspectives and experiences.

Transportation Planning Board – March 18

I continue my service on the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, which met on March 18. The TPB brings together local, state, and federal partners to coordinate transportation planning across the region. This work helps guide long-term investments in safety, mobility, and land use that affect residents across the District and the broader region. Learn more about the TPB here.

TPB’s Regional Travel Survey launches this spring. Planners & local agencies rely on the data collected to understand travel demand and transportation needs across the DMV. Survey invitation postcards will be mailed in the weeks ahead. Learn more about the survey here.

Upcoming Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings 

ANC3A: Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

ANC3B: Thursday, April 9, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

ANC3C: Monday, April 20, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

ANC3D: Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 p.m., Zoom  

ANC3E: Thursday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Zoom  

ANC3F: Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m., Zoom

ANC3/4G: Monday, March 23, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

Upcoming Community Clean-Ups

Join Woodley Park Main Street for a Community Clean-Up on Saturday, March 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. along the Woodley Park commercial corridor. Volunteers will meet on the patio outside Yours Café (2619 Connecticut Ave NW), and all supplies will be provided. Space is limited and RSVP is required by emailing info@WoodleyParkMS.org. See the event page on Facebook for more info.

The Annual Friendship Park Spring Clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Work will include weeding, mulching, and other annual beautification projects. See the event calendar at turtlepark.org.

Cleveland Park Anniversary & Night Market

Cleveland Park Main Street will celebrate its sixth year with a festive gathering on Thursday, April 9, at Spices Asian Restaurant and Sushi Bar (3333 Connecticut Ave NW). More information can be found on the event page.

The next Cleveland Park Night Market will be held on April 23, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Find more details here.

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062