Dear Neighbor,
All DC residents deserve to age with dignity in an environment that works best for them. It is incumbent on all of us in the local DC government to prioritize expanding healthcare access, protecting retirement funds, and providing safe and accessible homes and communities for our older residents.
I want to thank Councilmember Anita Bonds for her years of fiercely advocating for our seniors. From her legislation to reduce property taxes for seniors who are longtime DC residents, to her efforts to enhance access to nutritional food and healthcare, her dedication to uplifting our seniors has helped significantly improve the lives of our residents. As her time on the Council concludes in January, I want to reassure our seniors that I am deeply committed to continuing her important legacy of fighting for the dignity, health, and financial security of older generations here in DC. We must strengthen the safety nets seniors rely on, address rising costs that are squeezing many out, and ensure every senior can age in place with safety and respect.
I want to highlight some important wins I fought for in the budget that the Council passed this summer to support our seniors:
- Funding to support Senior Villages
- Passed enhancements to the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL)
- Funding to support a grant for a hotline attorney at the Legal Counsel for the Elderly to provide legal assistance to District seniors
- Funding for a senior workforce programs coordinator position with the Workforce Investment Council
- Funding to support foreclosure prevention for seniors
- Funding for the Ward 2 Senior Center
This summer, I was thrilled to meet with residents from all of our Ward 2 Senior Villages and Inspir Embassy Row to hear about issues impacting our seniors. We discussed key concerns including public safety, sidewalk accessibility, housing affordability, and more.
Thank you to everyone who came out and shared your experiences and solutions to help continue to uplift our older residents.
As the Council gears up for the fall legislative session, I look forward to continuing to work with our seniors, advocacy groups, and neighbors to ensure the District remains the best place for people to live, work, and play – and to grow old with dignity and security.
Yours in Service,
Brooke
Announcements
DC BOE Voting Access Summit
The DC Board of Elections is hosting an in-house Voting Accessibility and Language Access Summit on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 12:00-3:00pm.
DC Falls Prevention Awareness Week
Falls can have a serious impact on our community. DC’s second annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week event is bringing people together to raise awareness and share practical ways to help prevent falls.
