Neighbors,

Happy Juneteenth! To celebrate the June 19 holiday, which commemorates the final emancipation of enslaved persons in the United States, I joined communities across the District to honor Black culture and history. At Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Southeast, neighbors, teen poets, and the US Senate chaplain shared messages of freedom, resilience, and strength. Later, at the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce “Art of Black Business” Juneteenth Soirée, community leaders emphasized the importance of promoting equitable access to business opportunities. Time and again, the District has led the nation in advancing racial justice, adopting trailblazing policies like Baby Bonds to help close the city’s wealth gap. Significant work remains, and I will proactively address the lingering effects of segregation and oppression on our community in pursuit of an inclusive Ward 3 for all our neighbors.

Yesterday, I attended the Jackson-Reed High School graduation to celebrate the graduates’ hard work and the bright futures that lie ahead of them. I was privileged to shake 500+ hands of these inspirational future leaders as they achieved a personal and academic milestone. June 22 also marked the last day of school for all DCPS students. I am grateful to students, educators, and school communities for another successful year and will continue to work throughout the summer to ensure our public schools are ready for students to return in the fall.

This edition of my newsletter includes information about my work to establish a Friendship Heights BID, protect the rent stabilization system, and partner with city officials to keep our communities safe. My newsletter is biweekly, so follow me @CMFrumin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more frequent updates.

Best,

Matt Frumin

Councilmember for Ward 3

On June 20, the Council unanimously passed emergency legislation modeled on the “Friendship Heights Business Improvement District Amendment Act of 2023” I introduced in late February. This emergency legislation expedites the process to establish a Business Improvement District for Friendship Heights, ensuring its work to improve the economic vitality of the neighborhood is not delayed. The Council will follow up the emergency legislation with a permanent version later this year. The Friendship Heights BID, which will be the District’s 12th and the first in Ward 3, will support revitalization of Friendship Heights through economic development initiatives and promotion for local businesses.

In addition to the Mayor signing the emergency legislation, two steps remain. First, DSLBD will hold a public hearing on the formation of the BID. Then, following the determination that the BID application requirements have been fully met, the Mayor will register the new BID. To show your support for the Friendship Heights BID, testify at the upcoming public hearing on June 29. Click here for more info.

I look forward to collaborating with the Friendship Heights BID and business and community leaders to secure a strong economic recovery for Friendship Heights.

In February, I introduced the "Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2023" to remove the exemption of housing vouchers from rent stabilization laws. This measure, supported by Chairman Mendelson and seven other colleagues, would ensure the voucher program can thrive without jeopardizing the rent stabilization protections thousands of Ward 3 tenants rely on. The bill, introduced in the aftermath of damning Washington Post reporting about DCHA overpayments to landlords, will level the playing field for voucher and private tenants, preserve voucher dollars, and prevent artificially inflated rents.

On June 29 at 10 am, the Committee on Housing will hold a hearing on the legislation. The Committee, chaired by At-Large Councilmember Robert White, will convene stakeholders, experts, and neighbors to solicit community feedback. I encourage residents to sign up to testify virtually here.

Fundamentally, we must protect rent stabilization and guarantee that affordable housing in every neighborhood is accessible to voucher recipients. This legislation is one critical step toward realizing that goal and ensuring the voucher program and rent stabilization can co-exist. In the coming months, I will continue to partner with the Committee on Housing as it works to advance this legislation and reform DCHA.

We all deserve to feel safe in our communities, and public safety must be a top priority for our city government. I am committed to pursuing legislative measures to improve crime prevention and support effective, accountable law enforcement.

Mayor Bowser has proposed a series of legislative changes to address crime in the District through “The Safer Stronger Amendment Act of 2023.” The Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety will hold the first of its hearings on the proposal on June 27 at noon. Residents are invited to testify and can sign up here.

Any legislation must be evidence-based and rooted in proven techniques that prevent crime and address its drivers. I am committed to hearing from experts and neighbors alike and will work with my colleagues to set ideology aside and pursue commonsense, responsible solutions that make us safer.

Meet up with Mendo

On Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 am, Chairman Phil Mendelson will host his June Meet Up with Mendo event at Coffee Nature in Friendship Heights. Residents can stop by to share ideas, ask questions, and support a local Ward 3 business.

Metro Lift Reduced Fare Program

This week, WMATA launched its Metro Lift program, which qualifies low-income residents enrolled in SNAP benefits to receive a 50% fare discount, reducing public transit costs and improving accessibility for vulnerable residents. SNAP recipients can enroll in the Metro Lift program online here or in person on June 26 at Metro Center Station or the Metro office buildings at L’Enfant Plaza and New Carrollton. To enroll, residents must provide contact info, their SmarTrip card number, and photos of their state-issued photo ID and SNAP EBT card. The discounts will be available within 48 hours of enrollment and will continue for one year. For more information, click here.

Adjusted Outdoor Pool Operating Hours

I’m pleased that the Wilson Aquatic Center is now open following months of work by my office and agency partners to address maintenance issues at the facility. Given that the pool’s operating status remains tenuous until the HVAC system is replaced in early 2024, I pressed the Department of Parks and Recreation to extend operating hours at the Hearst Pool to ensure community members have adequate pool access. DPR agreed, and beginning June 26, Hearst Pool will open at 6 am daily. All outdoor pools will also begin operating on their individual summer schedules six days per week on that date. For more information on pool operating hours, click here.

Free Weatherization Kits

The DC Public Service Commission is providing free weatherization kits to DC residents and businesses to help them prepare for high temperatures and summer storms. In addition to these free kits, the Commission is sharing tips for making homes more energy efficient as energy costs rise. Register to pick up free weatherization and energy efficiency items at a DC Public Library while supplies last and find weatherization information here.

My office has tickets to upcoming Washington Nationals games this summer. If you are a Ward 3 resident and interested in attending, fill out this form to show your interest. We'll hold a drawing and reach out if we have tickets available to share.

Request Nationals Tickets Here

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

(202) 724-8062