Ed. note: The piece has been edited to remove unsupported statements about the recipients of the pantry’s services. by Marlene Berlin For more than a year now, mutual aid volunteers have stepped up to fill a very real need in Ward 3 for a food pantry. However, the Feed the Family Pantry is about to […]
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Opinion: New DC streetlight tech can let neighborhoods dim the lights – for the health and safety of all
by Julia Kampelman Stevenson DC’s new street and alleyway lighting replacement project will give neighborhoods the potential to control their own light levels. In addition to reducing carbon emissions and costs, this automated system provides an opportunity to develop area-specific light plans that focus light where needed and not elsewhere. It is consequential, though, that […]
Opinion: The DC housing vouchers system is broken. It’s on the mayor to fix it.
by Marlene Berlin Tawana Holland of DC’s Department of Human Services told a December 16th meeting on the subject of increased emergency calls to Van Ness-area apartment buildings that many residents, upon receiving a rental subsidy, choose this neighborhood because “there have been other places in the city where they have been traumatized for many, […]
Letters to the Editor: Fix DC housing policies to repair past harms; Landlords have a public safety responsibility, too
The two letters below were written after the February 1st virtual meeting of the MPD Second District Community Advisory Committee. The CAC gathered police and DC behavioral health officials to discuss “an uptick of complaints” from and about apartment buildings. (We reported on a portion of the conversation, which went over who to call in […]
Opinion: Take the lawn and garden ‘Hippocratic Oath’ and give leaf blowers the boot
by Kathy Sykes Some good news – the DC ban on gas-powered leaf blowers goes into effect on January 1st, 2022. Until September 30th, 2022, DC is offering rebates for electric leaf blowers purchased: $75 for commercial-sized blowers and $50 for residential ones. However, my hope is that after reading this article you will choose […]
Opinion: Let’s call for a DC ban on chemicals in lawns and landscaping
by Kathy Sykes “Mommy, what does this sign say?” asked a 3-year-old child who was sitting on our lawn, taking a break from gardening with me in the treebox on Appleton Street. Her mother immediately picked her up, whisking her away from the hazardous grass as she read the sign: “Caution, pesticide application. Keep off.” […]
Opinion: UDC will need help from community partners to meet its ambitious goals for its next decade
by Marlene Berlin ANC 3F has an opportunity in the coming weeks to craft a more robust partnership with the University of the District of Columbia, one that will benefit both the university and the surrounding community in the decade to come – and beyond. Every ten years, universities in the District must submit a […]
Opinion: UDC must reinstate public access to the public tennis courts
by John Young On November 17th, ANC 3F will have an opportunity to support a resolution to restore public access to the five tennis courts located at UDC. Over 15 years ago, UDC unilaterally and abruptly terminated public access to these five courts. The resolution is a positive and necessary step in returning a public […]
School updates: Reopening concerns; Teacher attrition, Submit ideas for Wilson High’s new name
Ruth Wattenberg represents Ward 3 on the DC State Board of Education. This is adapted from her October 16th newsletter. Subscribe by contacting her at ruth4schools@yahoo.com. Contents Calendar events SBOE monthly meeting Council hearing on school staff attrition Renaming Wilson News Reopening plans and problems Pressure on principals Getting data on teacher attrition Calendar Events […]
Opinion: Other states provide income tax relief for retired civil servants and other retirees. Why doesn’t the District?
by Barbara B. Cline My husband Robert and I are both financial professionals. I am a licensed certified public accountant and former nonprofit executive. Robert is a former banking and insurance regulator with 40 years of federal service. In 2015, while preparing our DC tax return, Robert noticed a change. The DC Council had revised […]