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Hello Christian,


DC is stronger when we have safe, stable, and affordable housing for all residents. I know housing affordability is a pressing concern for many Ward 3 residents. The status quo of high and still rising housing costs is unsustainable. On March 20, I introduced the Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2023 to strengthening rent stabilization and ensure it can co-exist, not compete, with housing voucher programs. With innovative solutions, we can lower housing costs for all residents, ensure voucher programs properly serve new and existing neighbors, and create a more diverse and dynamic Ward 3


On Wednesday, March 22, Mayor Muriel Bowser presented her proposed FY24 budget to the Council for review. The first week of spring marks the second phase of the Council’s budget season: budget oversight. During budget oversight, the Council will hold hearings on each DC agency’s funding needs in the coming fiscal year. This will inform the improvements the Council makes to Mayor Bowser's proposed budget to ensure a fair recovery for all DC residents.

 

This edition of my newsletter includes information about my recent legislation, the Mayor’s budget proposal, the Wilson Aquatic Center closure, and upcoming events.


My newsletter is biweekly, so follow me @CMFrumin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more frequent updates.

Best,

Matt Frumin

Councilmember for Ward 3

Protecting Rent Stabilization

I introduced the Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2023 on March 20 because we cannot sacrifice one form of affordable housing in favor of another. The bill applies rent stabilization protections like controls on rent increases to units rented to housing voucher recipients, ending the current exemption. The bill, which I crafted in consultation with the Office of the Tenant Advocate, is one critical step in addressing DCHA landlord overpayments and creating a voucher system that serves all residents without jeopardizing existing rent-stabilized housing.

What is Rent Stabilization?

Rent stabilization is a tool that prevents unreasonable rent increases by placing controls on housing pricing. It is part of a system more commonly known as ‘rent control’ and applies to all non-exempt rental units. Rent stabilization is one tool to ensure existing housing remains affordable.

The DC Housing Authority often pays landlords the maximum allowable rent instead of negotiating a reasonable fair market price, leading to wasted voucher funds, fewer individuals served, and a dangerous upward pressure on the housing market. These issues are exacerbated in rent-stabilized buildings because voucher recipients lease their unit at the market rate, not the rent-stabilized rate. As a result, landlords can earn 50 percent more by renting to voucher recipients. For instance, according to the Washington Post, DCHA pays $2,648 for one-bedroom apartments in a building on Connecticut Avenue in Ward 3, while the building has recently advertised similar units for $1,700. These backwards incentives encourage landlords to allow building conditions to deteriorate, pushing long-time rent-stabilized renters out so more profitable voucher tenants can move in. This unfair competition jeopardizes the rent stabilization protections that many Ward 3 families, working people, and seniors rely on.

 

To address these disparities, my bill levels the playing field for voucher recipients and private tenants.

Read More: A recent DCist article The Next Hottest Rental Strategy? Market to Housing Choice Voucher Holders discussed the significance of ensuring the housing voucher program and rent stabilization can work in tandem and improve access to affordable housing. Also, this Washington Post investigation is a helpful crash course to learn more about the issues facing DCHA.

 

What Would the Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act Do?


1.    Level the playing field for voucher recipients and private tenants.

The legislation ensures that one form of affordable housing does not sacrifice another, strengthening rent stabilization so it can co-exist with housing vouchers.


2.    Preserve housing voucher dollars.

The bill addresses routine payment of above-market rent for rent-stabilized units. This prevents continued waste of taxpayer dollars, allowing us to fund more vouchers and house additional neighbors.



3.    Avoid artificially inflated rents.

DCHA routinely agrees to pay more than a reasonable rent, causing landlords to charge rents beyond fair market rates. This incentivizes a dangerous upward pressure on the housing market, raising costs for all renters.

In addition to introducing the Rent Stabilization Amendment Act, I serve on the Committee on Housing which is working to reform DCHA and develop a voucher program that works fairly for all. This includes improved transparency and accountability and additional wraparound mental and behavioral health services to support voucher recipients.

 

I recently participated in a crime walk on Connecticut Avenue and met a police officer who shared her story about how housing vouchers supported her family during a difficult time. Because of the voucher program, she was raised in a stable home with the support she needed to serve our community in law enforcement. If implemented properly, the voucher program has the potential to change the lives of our neighbors. The Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act is one step toward realizing that goal.

Related: I sat down with DCist to talk about the impact of the Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act and how it can protect multiple forms of affordable housing in Ward 3 and across the District. Read the article.

FY24 Budget Proposal Overview

My Fiscal Year 2024 budget priorities emphasized the need for intentional investment in making Ward 3 and the District as a whole more vibrant and equitable for all. I remain convinced that the budget process can expand opportunity for all residents, even in this sober economic year.

 

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed FY24 budget aims to balance current economic pressures and shrinking federal funding streams with the District’s pressing service needs. The Mayor made significant cuts with limited new investments to make up for a $1.7 billion budget shortfall.

 

We’ve had just 48 hours to review the mayor’s budget proposal, but I am heartened by:

  • School-level budgets that begin to reverse the destructive cuts in the initial budgets, though we must still do more to fully fund our schools.
  • A 7.9 million increase in DGS funds to aid in addressing the backlog of school-related work orders and ongoing maintenance issues.
  • Expanded access to the Child Care Subsidy Program that will increase the number of families who can afford childcare, the costs of which are often a crushing burden. 
  • Continued investment in the Arizona Avenue Pedestrian Bridge and its connector trails that will create new options for recreation and sustainable multimodal transportation in Ward 3.


These investments in the Ward 3 community are welcome, but the Council must improve the mayor’s proposal by strengthening the social safety net and ensuring a fair recovery for all Washingtonians.

 

The budget is now in the Council’s hands. Over the next 54 days, we will have some difficult choices to make, and I am committed to making choices that will fund future-focused solutions to the District’s most pressing challenges. 

 

This is a more difficult budget year than we have seen in a long time, and we won’t be able to fund every desired program, but I will continue advocating for fully funded schools, economic opportunity across the city, and a government that serves all our neighbors.


Today, the Mayor will brief the Council’s Committee of the Whole about her budget proposal. As we begin budget oversight, during which each agency head will testify.

 

The budget is too important to fit in one newsletter, so I will send a special edition next week to dive into the details of the mayor’s proposal and my plans to advocate for critical programs throughout the process.

Participate in Budget Oversight: Beginning Friday, March 24, the Council will hold a hearing on each agency to discuss their funding needs in the coming fiscal year. Resident feedback is a critical part of the budget oversight process. I encourage residents to sign up to testify at an upcoming hearing and share their thoughts about where the budget needs improvements. Next week's hearings include the Department of Buildings, DDOT, DMV, DPW, and MPD. View the budget oversight schedule and sign up.

Wilson Aquatic Center Update

The Departments of General Services and Parks and Recreation are clearly struggling to implement the short-term repairs needed to reopen the Wilson Aquatic Center. I spoke with leaders of both departments, and I urged them to fix expeditiously the issue at-hand and plan for lasting long-term solutions to address ongoing problems.

 

The agencies provided the following updates about the Wilson Aquatic Center closure.

The ongoing issues primarily involve the center’s ventilation. When DC Health held its first inspection, the humidity exceeded safe levels. The Department of General Services attempted to install portable HVAC units, but DC Health had concerns that the units posed additional safety risks. The Department of Buildings concurred, finding that the units were located too close to the swimming pool, and issued a stop work order. To resolve this frustrating saga, the Department of General Services plans to relocate the portable units pending permit approval by the Department of Buildings. As further updates are available, my office will share them.

 

Interagency collaboration and transparency need to improve to prevent further delays and restore access to residents as soon as possible. I will continue pressing the agencies to reopen access to the Wilson Aquatic Center as soon as possible. I use the facility frequently and share the frustrations of many Ward 3 neighbors. DC’s most popular pool has remained closed for too long.

Background: The Wilson Aquatic Center has been closed since mid-February due to infrastructure and health issues. To learn more about the ongoing issues at the Wilson Aquatic Center, read this WUSA9 article.

Lights Out Hour

DC’s Comprehensive Plan identifies light pollution as an environmental hazard, and excessive nighttime lighting has harmful health effects, worsens obesity and anxiety disorders, and disrupts natural animal patterns. To raise awareness of the importance of protecting the night sky, I will join Lights-Out Hour DC and numerous local environmental organizations in turning off all non-essential lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 25.

 

This action coincides with the international Earth Hour when iconic global landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower will go dark for Lights-Out Hour. Consider joining them by turning off your home lights to draw attention to this critical environmental issue. For more information about Lights-Out Hour DC, click here.

Matt on the Move

I joined Mayor Bowser at the ribbon cutting for the next generation of Capital Bikeshare e-bikes. They are equipped with a longer battery life and ride smoother than the previous model. As a daily e-bike user, I know improved access to e-bikes will help residents move around the city more conveniently and sustainably.

I recently toured Regency House, a public housing option for seniors in Chevy Chase operated by DCHA. We must support our seniors as they age in place, and Regency House is one model for ensuring seniors can do so with the services and community they need.

Government Events

Have an event to add to our events calendar?


Email cdamiana@dccouncil.gov with the relevant information.

Need Help?

 

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or requests. Our Constituent Services team is here to help.

Contact our Constituent Services Team
 

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

(202) 724-8062

 
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