by Marlene Berlin Let’s start with some good news: After 15 years of study and advocacy, Chesapeake Street at Connecticut Avenue finally has a fully operational traffic light. Installation started in December, and the signal was activated on March 10th, but its origins go all the way back to 2010, when Connecticut Avenue Pedestrian Action, […]
Two visions for the former Intelsat/Whittle campus: As an education and civic center, or tearing it down and rebuilding with housing
Ward 3 Council member Matt Frumin has had his eye on the expansive Intelsat campus for some time. The 660,000 square foot complex sits on 13 acres. Its most visible entrance is at 4200 Connecticut Avenue. And it has been largely vacant since Whittle School & Studios closed in 2022. In 2023, Frumin wrote in […]
Are your water lines leaded or unleaded? As DC Water works on lead pipe replacement, it’s not always easy to find out
by Marlene Berlin The day before the snowcrete fell, DC Water came to my block to post “No Parking” signs. It was another sign that the utility’s lead service line replacement project would soon arrive on my street. On some streets west of Connecticut Avenue, DC Water is also digging up and replacing the water […]
In appreciation: Erica Carlsson, formerly of DPR and DOEE, for her environmental stewardship and community-supporting work
We like to periodically express our appreciation for DC and federal government workers who have done so much to make our lives easier and better. They include the Ward 3 mayor’s office liaisons, a former MPD commmander, and the National Park Service crew who quickly clears fallen and unsafe trees from roads and trails. Now, […]
Candidates for office are gearing up to ask for your vote. But first, they’d really like your signature.
by Marlene Berlin In the middle of winter, another season is heating up: the election season. Several candidates have launched mayoral races, or are running to be the next DC delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. And last Friday, the DC Board of Elections opened ballot access to candidates for the June 16th, 2026 […]
Creator of ‘Housing First’ model for homeless says DC’s version misses the mark
by Marlene Berlin The “Housing First” policy adopted by Mayor Bowser’s administration is missing a key element, according to the clinical and community psychologist who developed the model for housing the chronically homeless. Although the unhoused person’s need for intensive case management is an eligibility requirement, DC officials have stated that people who qualify for […]
A roundup of recent and ongoing DC work in the neighborhood
by Marlene Berlin At times in recent days, it has seemed like there’s a DC government project on every street in the neighborhood. Here’s a list of the work we’ve spotted over the past two weeks, and you’re welcome to add your own sightings in the comments section below. Early last week, the DDOT started […]
Tune in for the Oct. 1 hearing on Canna Art’s medical marijuana retail license
On October 1, ABCA’s Alcohol and Cannabis Board will hold a hearing on Canna Art’s application for a medical cannabis retail license. The storefront is at 5008 Connecticut Avenue, across the street from Politics and Prose. The hearing will be streamed live on Youtube. According to the agenda, Canna Art and other cases will come […]
Opinion: Angry and discouraged about… everything? A walk might help.
by Marlene Berlin Like many of you, I feel anger at President Trump’s takeover in DC. Some anger, also, is directed at DC elected officials – the mayor and Council – whom I believe have ignored or downplayed evidence of growing crime in apartment buildings and other pressing issues. To ward off anger and despair, […]
Opinion: DC’s environmental agency faces “destructive” budget cuts
by Marlene Berlin In 2014, the DC Department of Energy and the Environment, armed with federal funds, completed the daylighting of the long-buried Broad Branch stream, and the restoration of the Linnean stream. That our neighborhood got two very pleasant walking trails out of these two ambitious projects was only a side benefit. The streams […]