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Ward 3 Update:
Dear Neighbors,
Yesterday, Mayor Bowser provided a Situational Update where she declared a State of Emergency and announced several pandemic operations updates amid a surge in local coronavirus cases. Here are two significant changes most relevant to Ward 3:
First, the indoor mask mandate was reinstated and will be in place from today through at least January 31st, 2022.
Second, DC Health is launching the Test Yourself Express program to provide residents with free rapid antigen testing kits at eight libraries across the District. Sites are launching tomorrow, December 22nd, and will have 1,000 kits to distribute daily (hours below). Rapid testing kits are limited to two kits per person and will only be available to District residents, so please remember to bring proof of residency such as an ID or letter sent to your District address. These limitations will hopefully only be in place until additional rapid testing kit shipments arrive.
- Ward 3's Test Yourself Express location will be at the Cleveland Park Library
- Rapid antigen tests are also being distributed to public and charter schools for use by students, teachers, and building staff upon return from the now-extended winter break
With multiple schools responding to outbreaks, four confirmed local cases of omicron, and even a Councilmember sharing his positive diagnosis, the District has once again entered into the 'highly transmissible' category for COVID-19 spread. After weeks of experiencing around 100 new cases per day, last Friday the District set a daily case record with 844 new cases. Over the past weekend, the District saw 3,763 new cases. Today, an additional 1,155 people tested positive. Hospitalizations have almost doubled this month. We are not, however, defenseless against the latest surge or omicron risks: early modeling of the omicron variant out of the United Kingdom is showing that boosters could provide around 80-85% protection against severe illness.
Now is the time for residents to get vaccinated and boosted at any of the District's numerous pop-up clinics or even at home. Please see Get Vaccinated for daily vaccination clinic updates or call 1-855-363-0333 to schedule an at-home vaccination for your whole family.
Regards,
Mary
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Re-engineering a Safer Connecticut Avenue |
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Concept "C" Selected for Connecticut Ave NW - For years, the reversible rush hour lanes along Connecticut Ave have created exceptionally unsafe conditions for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. In fact, there were 1,500 reported crashes along the corridor in the three years prior to the pandemic –and that is just those crashes that were reported. We've experienced flipped cars, speeding, severe injury, and multiple drivers crashing into sidewalks and streetlamps. After no small amount of pressure, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) conducted the Connecticut Avenue Reversible Lane Study to identify potential lane configurations to improve safety conditions for all users (drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists) along the corridor.
The end result was a report that outlined four concepts for new road redesign. Eventually, DDOT narrowed the options down to two options (as I've noted in previous newsletters) and selected Concept C last Wednesday. Concept C eliminates the reversible lane configuration, provides protected bike lanes on both sides of the avenue, and creates a limited amount of commercial loading and parking options (including during the AM/PM rush hour). There will be an aggregate loss of parking, but this redesign is going to fundamentally change and improve road safety conditions along Connecticut Ave.
Not only was Concept C a favorite among local road safety advocates, but it was also endorsed by ANC 3C, 3F, 3/4G, and 3E. Furthermore, by the agency's projections, the protected bike lanes could see daily rider traffic of up to 4,400 cyclists in the next five years. The effect on local businesses could also be quite positive: several studies demonstrate that bicycle infrastructure provides net gains for businesses. This is not to say that everyone is going to jump on a bike for their commute downtown, many people won't. But the selection of Concept C is Vision Zero in action. It is forward-thinking multi-modal transportation planning that will provide separate spaces for cyclists, eliminate the reversible lane hazard, and uses infrastructure to slow speeding drivers.
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Introducing Jackson-Reed High School |
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The Council cast the final vote today to change the name of Ward 3's high school, the largest in the District, from Woodrow Wilson High School to Jackson-Reed High School.
This new name honors both Edna Jackson and Vincent Reed, the school's first African American teacher and principal. The renaming legislation is now headed to the Mayor for final approval.
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Councilmember Cheh Joins the Think Regionally Podcast |
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Metropolitan Washington is one of the wealthiest metropolitan areas in the nation, but about one out of ten households isn’t sure where its next meal is coming from. And that figure is higher for communities of color and families with children.
This episode of Think Regionally with Robert McCartney is all about food insecurity—what it is, why it is happening, and some ways area officials, organizations, and farmers are working to address it.
Listen to Episode 3: Feeding our region
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A Citywide Holiday Lights Scavenger Hunt |
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Explore the District's Main Streets and complete tasks in the DC Holiday Lights Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win great prizes (like gift cards, products, and free services) from local restaurants and businesses.
The more challenges you complete, the more entries you earn! Complete challenges from now through January 6th, 2022.
Click here to join the Scavenger Hunt
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The Best in DC Holiday Lights 2021 |
Celebrating Our Main Streets - Councilmember Cheh joined District Bridges, small business owners, and Main Street organizations from across the District for the 2021 Holiday Lights Awards Ceremony. You may have noticed that decorations and holiday displays along the District's commercial corridors have grown and expanded in recent years, this is in large part due to the coordination efforts and small business support of our neighborhood Main Street network.
The Woodley Park Main Street took the top prize for the Best of D.C. Holiday Lights last year, but this year's award went to the Uptown Main Street. Please continue to shop small this holiday season and support our small and local business community!
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Ward 3 Quick Read - The Rock Creek West Roadmap |
From DCist - Bower Unveils Plans For More Affordable Housing West Of Rock Creek Park
"D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday unveiled her plans to build almost 2,000 units of affordable housing in neighborhoods west of Rock Creek Park, the city’s wealthiest and whitest area — and the one with the smallest current stock of housing that’s affordable to low- and moderate-income residents.
Bowser’s new “roadmap” for what’s known as “Rock Creek West” — largely Ward 3 — is part of her broader goal released in 2019 to build 36,000 units of housing by 2025, with at least one-third being defined as affordable, as a means to tamp down on rising housing prices in the city."
Read the Full Story
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'Tis the Season to Recycle |
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Wrapping Paper Waste - There are many different types of gift wrapping paper, and many are not recyclable. Please use this guide when buying, reusing, and disposing of gift wrap and tissue paper.
Wherever possible, please avoid metallic & wax-coated paper!
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Final Weeks to Claim the Electric Leaf Blower Rebate! |
Electrify this Winter - In 2018, the Council passed Councilmember Cheh's "Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act" to phase-out the use and sale of gas-powered leaf blowers by January 2022. Not only are gas-powered leaf blowers noisy and disruptive, but they are also exceptionally polluting and harmful to the environment, public health, and local wildlife.
In anticipation of the upcoming deadline, the DC Sustainable Energy Utility has launched a rebate program to replace commercial and residential gas-powered leaf blowers with electric or battery-powered alternatives:
- $50 rebate for residential equipment
- $75 rebate for commercial equipment
Rebates will be available through December 31st, 2021.
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Ending this Update on a Happy Note:
In Case You Missed It - Tenleytown Ace Now 100% Employee-Owned
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Celebrating Local Business - This past summer, something really special happened at the Tenleytown Ace Hardware in Ward 3: they became a fully employee-owned store. This unique co-op model means higher wages for employees, new 401k benefits, and profit sharing. Pictured above center is Councilmember Cheh with store leadership in the recently expanded garden space.
For more information on this growing co-op movement, please see: A Few Cool Hardware Stores.
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Our Office is Open!
Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.
You may continue to reach us via email or phone through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services requests.
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