Dear Neighbor,

After the District faced several inches of snowfall and ice and continues to face freezing temperatures, I want to provide important updates on government services:  

• Schools: Today, DC Public Schools opened on time.  

• Snow Removal: Many sidewalks remain in poor condition. The mayor has resumed DPW’s ability to issue fines for not shoveling your sidewalk as of yesterday. As a reminder, it is incumbent upon all of us to shovel our sidewalks in front of our homes and businesses. If you are a senior or have a medical need, please contact my office or Serve DC at 202-727-7925 to sign up for a volunteer “snow hero.” If you’d like to volunteer to be a snow hero, please sign up here. If you find there are streets or other public areas that still need snow and ice removal, please call 311.  

• Alleys: The city is using Bobcats (heavy machinery) to handle snow and ice removal to create pathways in alleys for residential trash and recycling pickup. We are monitoring this progress closely.

• Trash Collection: Yesterday, DPW trash collection resumed its regular schedule for frontside collection. If your trash and recycling do not get collected on your regular collection day, leave it out and it will be prioritized the next day. If it still has not been picked up two days after collection day, report it to 311. Trash and recycling will be collected together this week.  

• Water Safety: As temperatures remain below freezing, water main breaks may become more common. If you experience a water outage or notice suspicious water flow on the street or sidewalk please call DC Water’s Emergency Command Center at 202-612-3400. You can find tips from DC Water on how to protect your pipes here.  

• Pet Safety: Remember, keep your pets indoors during this cold weather. In DC, it is unlawful for owners to leave their pets outdoors during periods of extreme weather without human accompaniment or adequate shelter for more than 15 minutes. Additionally, please be mindful of the potential danger of electric shock from melted snow mixing with de-icing salt. Try to keep your dogs away from metal grates, utility covers and light poles.

I want to be very clear: The District government’s response to the snow emergency last week fell far short of what DC residents deserve. I have urged the Executive for more frequent public updates on our progress on this snow and ice removal and in the future when that kind of severe weather hits our region. The Committee on Public Works and Operations has oversight of DPW and is holding a performance oversight hearing for DPW on Thursday, February 12th. You can sign up to testify here.

As the Council is now in performance oversight and budget season, I also want to highlight several upcoming important events for Ward 2 and in the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety over the next two weeks:

• Tonight on Tuesday, February 3rd, I am holding my Ward 2 Budget Forum. You can still sign up to testify until 12pm today by clicking here. You can also submit written testimony to Isaiah Boyd at iboyd@dccouncil.gov until Thursday, February 5th.

• Tomorrow on Wednesday, February 4th, I am holding a performance oversight hearing with the Corrections Information Council and the Department of Corrections.  

• On Monday, February 9th, I am holding a performance oversight hearing with the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and the Office of Attorney General (OAG).

• On Wednesday, February 11th, I am holding a performance oversight hearing with the Department of Forensic Sciences and the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Engagement.  

You can find all upcoming performance oversight hearings on the Council’s website here.  

Finally, as February marks Black History month, I join fellow Washingtonians in honoring the immense contributions of generations of Black Americans to our history, culture, and society, while paying tribute to those who have faced and continue to face adversity. As we reflect on the impact of Black leaders in DC, I want to thank one of our fiercest champions, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, as she announced her retirement last week for her decades of service to the District of Columbia. Congresswoman Norton has been an unparalleled champion for DC on Capitol Hill fighting to protect Home Rule and advocating for DC Statehood. She secured budget autonomy for the District and helped break down financial barriers to higher education by leading the passage of a law that allows DC residents to attend any public college or university in the country at in-state tuition. We all thank Congresswoman Norton for her dedication to uplifting and representing all DC residents.  

Yours in service,

Brooke

Legislative Updates

OUC AND BEGA PERFORMANCE OVERSIGHT

On Wednesday, January 28th, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety held a performance oversight hearing with the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) and the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA).

OUC is responsible for providing fast, professional, and cost-effective response to emergency and non-emergency calls in the District. BEGA is an independent agency that administers and enforces the District of Columbia government’s (the “District”) Code of Conduct and the laws that promote an open and transparent District government.  

CHILD SUPPORT REFORMS

Councilmember Pinto introduced a critically important bill to reform our child support system. The Child Support Improvement Amendment Act of 2026 will ensure the entirety of child support payments go directly to the children and families they are intended to help. Under the current law, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) only get a portion of child support payments they are owed because the District pays itself and the federal government back for the operational costs of TANF before sending the money to families. This new proposal will change that and ensure families on TANF will receive the full amount of child support they are owed. Councilmember Pinto thanks Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Councilmember Matthew Frumin for their partnership in introducing this bill.

In the Community

Over the last two weeks, Councilmember Pinto and Team Pinto have met with residents, advocacy groups, and local and federal partners across the District, including:

• Speaking at the 7D MPD Citizens Advisory Council meeting to discuss public safety solutions for DC residents

• Celebrating the 15th Annual Groundhog Day in Dupont Circle Park with Potomac Phil who predicted six more weeks of winter for the DMV

• Speaking with Parents Amplifying Voices in Education (PAVE) about ways to uplift our students in the classroom and at home

• Helping residents sign up for DC Health Link ahead of the deadline to enroll for health insurance at Ben’s Chili Bowl

• Joining ANC 2A to speak with neighbors in West End and Foggy Bottom

• Celebrating the groundbreaking for DC’s largest ever office-to-residential conversion, The Geneva

Announcements

DC HEALTH LINK OPEN ENROLLMENT EXTENDED

Open Enrollment for DC Health Link has been extended until February 4 for individuals who were unable to enroll by the original January 31 deadline.

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