This Fourth of July, I am celebrating our founding ideals while remaining clear-eyed about the hard work that remains ahead of us to more perfectly embody them. Leaning on the wisdom of Frederick Douglass and James Baldwin, read my full reflections here: app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

The latest Ward 5 Weekly newsletter is available now! You can read it at ward5.us/news and subscribe to get it straight to your inbox every week at ward5.us/newsletter.

🧵 I am writing to provide a formal update following the horrific incident that occurred last night in Eckington’s Alethia Tanner Park.

Another sidewalk gap in Ward 5 closed! This one is on Brentwood Parkway near KIPP DC in the Union Market area. Thanks to @ddotdc.bsky.social for the new model they launched this year to guide where gaps still exist and need to be closed. Check out the dashboard: sidewalkgap.ddot.dc.gov

I am sending my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mason Clark and honor his remarkable legacy in youth development as a co-founder of the Woodridge Warriors.

Tomorrow! Make sure you're registered: ward5.us/publicsafety...

It is rare for elected officials to acknowledge when they previously landed in the wrong spot, but that’s what I’m doing. While I originally had reservations about semi-open primaries, I now plan to support today’s amendment, joining the push to make DC more democratic. See my full statement 👇🏾

Happy Juneteenth! 161 years ago on this day, news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, TX—two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. May our observance of today's holiday deepen our commitment to true liberty and justice for all.

The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read it at ward5.us/news and subscribe to get it straight to your inbox every week at ward5.us/newsletter.

Next week: join my office for our next Ward 5 Public Safety Call. We will be joined by commanders from MPD's Third, Fourth, and Fifth Districts to discuss crime trends, recent incidents, and provide neighbors a chance to ask questions. Register at ward5.us/publicsafetycall

🗳️ ELECTION DAY! Get out and vote, DC! From now until 8:00 p.m., visit any vote center across the city to cast your ballot. For a full list of vote centers, visit the Board of Election's website here: dcboe.org/voters/find-...

The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is out now! You can read it at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter. Missed the most recent Ward 5 Wave Podcast? Tune in at ward5.us/podcast.

Our children and teachers deserve safe, healthy learning environments. I joined teachers and parents at Noyes Elementary today as they demand DGS and DCPS fully resolve the raccoon infestation before summer school starts.

The latest editions of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter and the Ward 5 Wave Podcast are available now! You can read at ward5.us/news, listen at ward5.us/podcast, and subscribe to get the newsletter straight to your inbox every Friday evening at ward5.us/newsletter.

Tonight! Get DPR's latest updates on their capital projects across Ward 5. Register at dc-gov.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Happy Pride Month, DC! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Every year, we raise this flag outside the Wilson building as a symbol and a charge—DC is for everyone and love always wins. 💖

We are outside! Healthy Communities Spring Cleaning, Riggs Park Day, and plenty of sunshine ☀️

The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read it at ward5.us/news, and subscribe to get it straight to your inbox every Friday evening at ward5.us/newsletter.

Neighbors, come out this Saturday!!

Our annual Healthy Communities Spring Cleaning is just around the corner! Sign up to join one of the many clean-up sites across Ward 5 at ward5.us/springclean

The Council meets informally today for our budget work session. Each committee presents their proposal, members ask questions, and we tackle some of the bigger issues facing the FY27 budget. Neighbors can tune here: dccouncil-us.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Memorial Day has its origins in our country’s bitter Civil War—first celebrated by freedmen who honored the memory of Union soldiers who had died in a Confederate prison camp. As we mark another Memorial Day for our country’s fallen, may we honor their memory by truly committing ourselves to peace.

👏🏿👏🏻👏🏽 Thank you @cmzparker5.bsky.social for securing funding for the SOUL Act in the FY27 budget! As you said today – this is a huge win. We look forward to young people having this new permanency option available to them.

The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! Read at ward5.us/news and subscribe to get the newsletter straight to your inbox every Friday evening at ward5.us/newsletter

🧵The Committee on Youth Affairs just voted unanimously in favor of our FY27 Budget Report and Recommendations, focusing on three areas:

🚶🏾‍➡️ This Thursday! Join my constituent services team for office hours and a chance to get out and move as the weather cools down. (Stay tuned for a rain plan if necessary) 📍 Taft/Dwight Mosley (1800 Perry St NE) ⏰️ 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (stop by anytime)

The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read it at ward5.us/news and subscribe to get it to your inbox every Friday evening at ward5.us/newsletter. We're using a new and improved sending platform, so you may notice some changes this week.

Today's the last day to sign up to host a clean-up site for our Healthy Communities Spring Cleaning event on May 30! Visit ward5.us/springclean to sign up. Just want to join a location near you? Stay tuned: we'll share all the sites in this week's Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter (ward5.us/newsletter).

The latest editions of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter and Ward 5 Wave Podcast are available now! You can read at ward5.us/news, listen at ward5.us/podcast, and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter

Thanks to @robertwhitedc.bksy.social for joining this week's Ward 5 Wave podcast to talk about housing considerations in the budget, last week's youth roundtable, and a win for Talbert Street residents. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or visit ward5.us/podcast

The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter. And if you missed today’s Politics Hour, you can listen back at wamu.org/story/26/05/...

Speaking on "The Politics Hour," @cmzparker5.bsky.social is asked about the teen curfew zones, which are expected to come up again next Tuesday in the D.C. Council. "I'm clear that the curfew isn't working and it's not the solution to what we have seen play out," he says.

I'll be on @wamu.org Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi (and @trsdc.bsky.social) this afternoon talking about youth curfews, autonomous vehicles, upcoming elections, and more. Tune in at 88.5 FM or online at wamu.org!

Related to below: Today @cmzparker5.bsky.social is holding a hearing on ways to address the teen takeover phenomenon, other than a earlier teen curfew zones D.C. has been using since last summer. More than 100 people slated to testify, including lots of teens and advocates.

Interesting: @cmzparker5.bsky.social has sent a letter to his colleagues and @mayorbowser.dc.gov pushing a "comprehensive youth agenda" to address the teen takeovers happening in D.C. "We must advance more durable solutions to target the root causes for the behaviors that we’ve seen," he writes.

This morning's budget meeting is a chance to flag the concerns each committee has about the current FY27 budget proposal and ask questions to clarify priorities. You can tune in via Zoom here: dccouncil-us.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

I'm sending my deepest condolences to the Thomas family and reflecting with gratitude on the remarkable legacy Romaine Thomas leaves to inspire us all. 🙏🏾

I'm standing shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbors who are asking DPR to pause and change course on their current proposal for the Langdon Rec Center modernization: www.instagram.com/p/DXpVnEjEW_E/ Submit written testimony until the record closes on May 11 -- lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hea...

A busy day in the Wilson building! Budget oversight continues with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Transportation (DDOT), and more. Lots of ways to tune in; find all hearings streaming here: dc.granicus.com/player/camer...

The latest editions of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter and Ward 5 Wave Podcast are available now! You can read at ward5.us/news, listen at ward5.us/podcast, and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter

The sign-up link is now live! Please help spread the word: lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hea...

Shortly after becoming chair of the Committee on Youth Affairs, I met with foster youth to hear their stories and the need for new permanency pathways. A few months later, I introduced the SOUL Act. Thanks to Meagan Flynn for centering their voices here: www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

Meagan Flynn of @washingtonpost.com followed these young people on their journey. Thank you @cmzparker5.bsky.social, @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social and their committees for moving this legislation forward. Next up: the DC Council will vote on SOUL in early May! childrenslawcenter.org/news/the-was...

📢 As I shared yesterday, I'm hosting a youth-centered roundtable on alternatives to teen takeovers. We've changed the date/time to better accommodate youth and ensure this conversation happens before the Council's next curfew vote. Sign up will be available soon; mark your calendar!

The DC Council is voting on a permanent version of the juvenile curfew today, and I'm voting against it. Let me tell you why. 🧵

My team and I met with Director Cozart and members of her team at @opindc.bsky.social today to discuss the draft FLUM and continue our efforts to shift away from heavy industrial land use in Ward 5. Be sure to weigh in on the FLUM by May 17! dc2050.dc.gov/pages/get-in...

The latest edition of the Ward 5 Weekly newsletter is available now! You can read it at ward5.us/news and subscribe to get it straight to your inbox every week at ward5.us/newsletter

For centuries before the DC Compensated Emancipation Act was signed by President Lincoln on this day in 1862, enslaved people in the District and surrounding areas secured their own liberation by means of escape to maroonages or purchasing their freedom and helping others to do the same. (1/3)

It looks like we're going to have to change the name of the Ward 5 Wave Podcast to "The Award-Winning Ward 5 Wave Podcast." 🏆️ Excited to share that the podcast has been recognized with a Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Award from the National Association of Government Communicators! 🎉

Happy Easter to neighbors in Ward 5 and beyond celebrating new life and resurrection hope! Today is a reminder that even our darkest moments don't have the final say over our future.