April 2, 2026

Dear Neighbors,

The Fiscal Year 2027 budget process will officially begin when Mayor Bowser transmits her budget proposal to the Council. While the Council anticipated receiving the budget on April 1, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) did not begin its 10-day review of the budget until yesterday. The earliest the Council will receive the budget is now Tuesday, April 14. Once the budget is received, the Council will begin several weeks of hearings and deliberations to review agency budgets and identify priorities. Those hearings will likely begin the week of April 20. Any updates to the current schedule for budget oversight hearings will be published soon on the Council website and shared by my office. 

The budget process is one of the most important responsibilities of the Council. It determines how the District invests in its policy priorities such as education, public safety, housing, human services, transportation, and economic development. I discuss more about the budget process and how Ward 3 residents can engage in that process in a new video on my social media channels.

Wishing a very meaningful Passover to all those in our community observing. May this season of renewal bring peace and joy to you and your loved ones. 

Sincerely,

Matt Frumin

Ward 3 Councilmember

The Council met for a legislative meeting on Tuesday this week. Several bills that had been placed on the agenda, including a potential extension of the juvenile curfew, were postponed to the next meeting. Below are some of the bills that were before the Council.

FAAR Act Veto Override 

The Council unanimously voted to override the mayor’s veto of the Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting (FAAR) Emergency Amendment Act. This legislation provides data transparency, requiring the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to document agencies present during arrests. We ensured the bill includes flexibility for our officers: if federal partners refuse to provide names at a scene, our officers simply note that in the report to avoid any jeopardy to future prosecutions.

Accountability in City Contracting 

The Council voted to disapprove a sole-source contract for new firetrucks worth more than $30 million with a vendor with which the District has not previously worked. It is essential that the District maintains rigorous oversight of our fleet procurement to ensure our first responders have the equipment they need and that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively. I voted to disapprove the contract because of significant concerns regarding the procurement and concerns about other jurisdictions’ experience with the engines.  

Utility Rates and Payments 

Following a DC Court of Appeals ruling that vacated a multiyear rate plan for Pepco, the Council passed the Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections Temporary Amendment Act. This bill prohibits service disconnections for 90 days for customers with less than $1,000 in arrears. While this provides an interim protection, it does not forgive the amounts owed, and residents are still strongly encouraged to enter into repayment plans. I voted against this measure because I believe a more permanent and comprehensive solution is required to address the procedural failures identified by the court and to ensure long-term rate stability for all residents. I was concerned that the legislation could create a disincentive for ratepayers in arrears to enter into payment plans or otherwise resolve issues. We will all be worse off if large numbers of consumers fall deeper into a hole. Meanwhile, the vacated rate plan contributed to increased bills in recent months but was far from the sole or even major factor. We need a permanent solution to skyrocketing electric bills that is fair to all. 

As always, I remain committed to ensuring our legislative actions reflect the priorities of Ward 3. If you have questions about these bills or other matters before the Council, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. The next scheduled legislative meeting is currently scheduled for April 21. Check the Council calendar for updated meetings.

On March 24, the Committee held a markup to advance nominations to the DC Public Library Board of Trustees, the Library E-Book Pricing Fairness Amendment Act of 2025, and the Langston Slater Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2025. The Langston Slater legislation will adaptively reuse two historic, vacant school buildings in Truxton Circle to deliver 52 units of mixed-income rental and homeownership housing. As the first project awarded through an “Equity RFP,” it increases development opportunities for entities owned by socially disadvantaged populations while returning vibrancy to these long-underutilized properties. While the Committee successfully moved the bill forward, it has not yet been scheduled for a first reading before the full Council.  

Following that markup, the Council held a first reading this past Tuesday for both the Library E-Book Pricing Fairness Amendment Act and the library board nominations. My e-book legislation aims to lower the disproportionately high costs libraries pay for digital titles and remove restrictive loan limits imposed by publishers. By driving meaningful negotiations and joining a coordinated national effort, we can ensure our libraries meet the growing demand for digital materials.  

A recording of the Committee's proceedings is 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.

Spring Services, and How to Contact DPW

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

New Metrobus Changes: Share your feedback

I am pleased to share that Metro has revised its proposed fiscal year 2027 budget to include additional bus service improvements throughout the District. These updates go beyond the original proposal from December and are designed to make our bus system more frequent and reliable. If implemented, these changes will impact riders in every ward. In Ward 3, we are looking at significant enhancements to the D70 and D72 routes to better serve residents during the early morning and midday hours.

Proposed Ward 3 Improvements:

• D70 (Connecticut Ave – Chevy Chase): Currently, there is no service between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. The new proposal would add service every 20 minutes during those hours.
• D72 (Connecticut Ave – Mt. Pleasant): While most current trips end at Mt. Pleasant, the proposal would alternate midday trips between Mt. Pleasant and Van Ness-UDC. Additionally, every late-night trip would extend to Van Ness-UDC.

Before the WMATA Board finalizes these improvements this spring, they want to hear from residents. A public survey is currently open and will remain available until 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 6. You can review the full list of proposed changes and share your thoughts by visiting wmata.com/budget.

My School DC Releases Lottery Results for the 2026-27 School Year

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education and My School DC announced the results of the public school lottery for pre-K to grade 12 for the 2026-27 school year. Families received lottery results for their students on Friday, March 27, and must enroll at their matched schools by Friday, May 1, to accept their lottery match. Families still interested in additional school options may submit a post-lottery application by visiting MySchoolDC.org. 

For more information or assistance with lottery results, enrollment questions, or other support, families can contact My School DC: 

• Email: info.myschooldc@dc.gov 
• Hotline: 202-888-6336, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Language interpretation available)

Ward 3 DDOT Notices Open For Comment

DDOT has published a new Notice of Intent (NOI) 26-106-PSD: 37th St PUDO Adjustment. This NOI is to address Sidwell Friends and Hearst Elementary challenges during pick-up/drop-off (PUDO) on 37th St NW. DDOT will adjust signage on both sides of the 3900 block of 37th St NW, as well as the west side of the 4000 block. Residents can access the NOI and leave comments on DDOT's NOI portal at noi.ddot.dc.gov. Comments are due May 13, 2026. There are now currently eight Ward 3 NOIs open for comment, and all are available for review on DDOT’s NOI portal.

OCTFME Site Visit

On March 26, I visited the home of the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment. Site visits like these are an important part of my oversight work as chair of the Committee on Human Services, which includes OCTFME under its purview. My staff and I met with agency leaders and staff, toured the facilities, and saw the impact our investments are making.

UDC Cherry Blossom Tree Planting Ceremony

It was a joy to attend a ceremonial planting of six cherry trees on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) on April 1 as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. We will now see these trees blooming across the Van Ness and Lamond-Riggs campuses, from in front of the UDC Student Center to the Cleveland L. Dennard Plaza and all along Connecticut Avenue. It is a historic year as the university celebrates its 175th anniversary, and this festival partnership with UDC has created a lasting legacy that continues to grow, quite literally, every year. 

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, April 13, 7:00 p.m., Zoom 

Upcoming Community Clean-Ups

This Earth Month, District residents are invited to participate the 10th Annual Spring Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There are clean-ups and celebrations planned in all eight wards. The Ward 3 location will meet at Guy Mason Recreation Center (3700 Calvert Street NW). Neighbors are encouraged RSVP at tinyurl.com/DCSpringCleanup2026. 

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

202-724-8062