Neighbors,

This Teacher Appreciation Week, I am grateful for the dedication of our DC educators who inspire students and families. Ward 3 is home to 10 public schools, several private schools, and hundreds of teachers who play a critical role in our local community.

This week and beyond, I am advocating for fair pay and improved retention efforts for our educators. In January, I voted to approve a Washington Teachers' Union contract that gave our DC Public Schools teachers the deal they have deserved for years. A just contract for DCPS teachers is the floor; our city must significantly improve teacher retention rates.

Since taking office, I have met with several teachers, principals, and education advocates to discuss how DC can better support educators. All of them expressed the need to expand retention, advancement, and enrichment opportunities. I will continue to work to develop solutions that improve educator support and morale, including innovative strategies like flexible scheduling and educator wellness grants.

May is Older Americans Month, so this newsletter includes resources that support Ward 3 seniors as they age-in-place. This newsletter also has information about airplane noise, the Wilson Aquatic Center closure, Metro service, and constituent services. My newsletter is biweekly, so follow me @CMFrumin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more frequent updates.

Best,

Matt Frumin

Councilmember for Ward 3

Ward 3 is home to one of the District’s largest senior populations and, for many, it is a great place to age-in-place. Unfortunately, too many seniors across the city struggle with loneliness, ageism, and food insecurity. To recognize our elders’ unmatched contributions to our communities, local senior organizations Forest Hills of DC and Linked Senior created the Old People Are Cool project. The project has built a supportive and inclusive environment for older adults through community-building events and story sharing. The DC Council passed my ceremonial resolution to declare May “Old People Are Cool Month” in the District of Columbia. I will present this resolution to the Forest Hills of DC community on May 17. Old People Are Cool Month coincides with Older Americans Month, a nationwide celebration of seniors.

Senior Resources

Villages

Villages are neighborhood-based nonprofits that help older neighbors age-in-place safely and actively. Villages host social events and activities, provide transportation and assistance with home repairs, and connect members to other useful services. Ward 3 is home to four villages: Palisades, Glover Park, Cleveland & Woodley Park, and Northwest Neighbors (AU Park, Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Forest Hills, Tenleytown). Get involved with a Ward 3 senior village.

Iona Senior Services

Iona Senior Services, located in Tenleytown, provides wide-ranging services for older adults and their families. The organization connects seniors to social activities and arts and wellness programming, as well as care management and support for people with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia. Iona also operates a helpline that answers aging and caregiving related questions. Call Iona’s helpline specialists on weekdays from 9 am – 5 pm or click here to learn more about Iona’s work.

Iona also operates Around Town DC, which compiles events and offers programs for people ages 60 and older. The event directory connects older adults to wellness and recreation programming in Northwest DC.

Sibley Senior Associations

Sibley Senior Associations offers events and programs for people 50 and older, including fitness and mindfulness classes. For a nominal fee, seniors can access courses, health screenings, support groups, and informational webinars. Click here more information.

The Osher Lifelong Institute at American University

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at American University serves neighbors who seek continued learning and academic experiences. The courses, which are based on peer learning and teaching, cover diverse topics including languages, literature, and social issues. Click here for information about OLLI.

Future of Aging Project

Future of Aging is a new project from the Department of Aging and Community Living aiming to improve accessibility and awareness of the department’s programming for seniors and people with disabilities. DACL seeks community members to participate in workshops, listening sessions, and other activities. Learn more and share your interest here.

Excessive aircraft noise can cause environmental stress and adverse physical and psychological health effects. Noise pollution from planes and helicopters is common in many parts of Ward 3, especially Palisades and Foxhall Village.

After years of community advocacy, federal officials are implementing rules that mitigate helicopter noise pollution by requiring alternative flight paths or flights at higher altitudes. The rules also make the pilot helicopter noise complaint system permanent. Residents can report helicopter noise here.

The federal government should be working to mitigate the chronic aircraft noise exposure that affects neighbors' quality of life. Unfortunately, out-of-state business groups are urging Congress to increase service at Washington National Airport (DCA). Supporters claim this could help reduce carbon emissions, but the reality is that more flights from DCA will exacerbate the health impacts of aircraft noise on our community. Making Congressmen's flights home more convenient at the expense of District residents is unacceptable, and I stand with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and senators from Maryland and Virginia in opposing this proposal.

On May 10, I attended Mayor Muriel Bowser’s public safety summit, which convened District government and community leaders and law enforcement professionals to discuss solutions to public safety issues across the city. Chief Robert Contee III, US Attorney Matthew Graves, Attorney General Brian Schwalb, and others spoke directly about crime data and proven strategies for addressing these incidents. Effective collaboration is a critical component of achieving safe, supportive neighborhoods, and this summit was a step towards improving that inter-agency communication.

I am a consistent advocate for resources to ensure an appropriate police presence and adequate mental and behavioral health services in our ward. In recent weeks, I have met with Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah and MPD 2D Commander John Branch to discuss these goals. I shared concerns from constituents about rising thefts at businesses like CVS and Target and the need for MPD to support their loss prevention efforts. I also raised the importance of ensuring our incentive structures are effectively helping MPD recruit qualified officers who reflect our city’s diversity. In the coming months, I will meet with MPD Assistant Chief Morgan Kane and continue to convey our community’s concerns to Chief Contee.

Metro Red Line trains are now arriving every six minutes during rush hour, the shortest wait times WMATA has offered in nearly six years. Train frequency will increase from 6-9 am and 3-7 pm on weekdays. Outside of peak periods, trains will continue to run every 8-10 minutes. Reduced wait times will make Metro a more reliable, convenient option for riders at the five Ward 3 Metrorail stations.

Frequent Metrobus service in Ward 3 is necessary for residents to reach downtown and other destinations and connect to jobs, schools, and housing. WMATA recently proposed its Better Bus initiative, the agency's plan for the future of bus transit in the DC region. The draft visionary network shows WMATA's ideal Metrobus service and infrastructure operations.

Several constituents have shared their concerns about proposed route and service changes. I’m committed to partnering with neighbors and community leaders to support a final Better Bus visionary network plan that makes Metrobus a viable option for more Ward 3 residents, improves frequency of service, and connects Ward 3 and the entire city.

WMATA's phase 2 public and stakeholder engagement will conclude on June 5. Share your input on the draft visionary network by commenting on changes to your specific route, completing the survey, or attending an upcoming community event.

Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption

The Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption exempts qualified residents from enforcement for not removing snow and ice from their sidewalks shortly after a winter storm. The exemption application will be open from June 5 to October 31. District residents who are 65 years or older or have a recognized medical disability and own and reside in their property are eligible. After the application is approved, the exemption waiver is valid for two years. Residents may apply for the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption here.

Electricity Cost Increases

Residential and small commercial consumers receiving electricity from Pepco will see an electric generation/supply price increase of up to 14% on June 1. The monthly bill for a residential customer who consumes, on average, 631 kilowatt hours per month will increase by about $12.18. To lower energy bills, residents should consider using energy-efficient appliances, setting thermostats to energy-efficient temperatures, and utilizing ceiling fans. To learn more about cost changes, click here.

Youth Smoking Prevention Community Roundtable

The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection will host a community roundtable to discuss youth tobacco and electronic smoking prevention efforts on May 24 at 6 pm at the Cleveland Park Library. The discussion will include analysis of the Flavored Tobacco Product Prohibition Amendment Act passed by the Council in 2021 to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and electronic smoking devices within one quarter mile of a middle or high school. Learn more and RSVP here.

Councilmember Matt Frumin

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Suite 408

(202) 724-8062