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Original Photo Double Reflection by Emma K Alexandra
Dear Neighbors,
The dig out continues! I would be lying to suggest that DC government’s response to the recent snowstorm has been adequate. We did not have the right equipment to promptly respond as the sleet crept in and rendered roads, sidewalks, and alleyways blocks of ice. Clear communication from the Mayor’s office was scarce and the deployment of resources in commercial corridors versus residential neighborhoods was uneven. Unfortunately, I still do not have many answers about things like when trash service will be restored. My Council colleagues and I will keep pressing and will certainly share when we have more details.
I have been amazed by number of residents stepping up to help one another through this – whether it’s shoveling out crosswalks, checking in on seniors, and offering help where needed. Thank you! If you or anyone you know is a senior or individual with mobility issues, and you need assistance clearing your steps or walkway, please contact DC 311. And if you would like to join the DC Volunteer Snow Team, you can sign-up here.
Amid all of this, performance oversight hearings are in full swing. This week, the Committee on Health covered the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and the Department of Healthcare Finance. More information about this hearing and how to sign-up for future ones is included in the newsletter. Last week, we also had an oversight hearing on the challenges at St. Elizabeths Hospital, the District’s only public psychiatric hospital. More on that hearing below.
As if DC did not already have enough going on, this week we learned that next week the House and Senate will vote on SJ Res. 102 and HJ Res. 142, which would disapprove of the DC Income and Franchise Tax Conformity Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025. This local bill decoupled provisions of DC’s tax code from the federal tax code. TOP LINE: If approved, this would blow a $820 million hole through DC’s 4-year financial plan.
Here’s the quick background: Like many states and local governments, parts of DC’s tax code is/was linked to the federal tax code. Thus, tax policy changes included in the HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would have resulted in HUGE local revenue losses, including $224 million this fiscal year. So, last November, we acted to separate parts or “decouple.” DC is not unique in this. Many states like Rhode Isalnd, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Delaware and others have already done this. But because DC is not a state, a Senator from Florida and Congressman from Texas can push this without caring about the very real impact to our government operations. A reminder from last year – the three largest areas of the DC budget: public safety, public education, and health & human services.
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee is scheduled to mark this up next Wednesday. These resolutions DO NOT require 60 votes in the Senate. The House Rules Committee will consider this Monday at 4pm. If this is passed, yet again, Congress will be forcing DC to make large budget cuts in the middle of the fiscal year. We need your voice!
In Service,
Christina Henderson
Councilmember, At-Large
ChristinaHendersonDC.com
Councilmember Henderson and neighbors join together to clear out snow and ice from their neighborhood.
On Thursday, January 22, the Committee on Health held a public roundtable to examine current conditions at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, the District’s only public psychiatric facility. Staff from the hospital, nurses, advocates, and community stakeholders shared firsthand accounts of safety and staffing challenges, including increased physical assaults, staffing shortages, infrastructure issues, and gaps in basic operational supports, and discussed what must be done to ensure a safe, effective, and compassionate environment for patients and employees alike. The roundtable underscored the need for enhanced oversight, robust workforce supports, and clear plans to address systemic concerns, building on ongoing efforts to strengthen psychiatric care and protect both patients and staff. Here is a link to The Washington Post’s coverage of that hearing.
On Friday, January 23, the Committee on Health held a public roundtablenominating Kayla Smith and Rachel Gabauer to the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition. Their nominations were later confirmed by the Committee on Health on Monday, January 26.
Kayla Smith has over ten years of experience in nutrition services across clinical care, dialysis settings and long-term care, quality improvement and patient education, and regulatory compliance. She currently serves as Strategic Manager of Nutrition Services at Fresenius Medical Care overseeing over twenty dialysis facilities across DC and Maryland. Rachel Gabauer has extensive experience in in-patient and outpatient nutrition, specializing in evidence-based care for eating disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, and chronic disease management. She currently serves as Clinical Director at Monte Nido and leads a team providing partial hospitalization treatment, overseeing treatment planning, and clinical operations and staffing development, while serving as a private practice dietitian.
On Tuesday, January 27, the Committee on Health held the first part of the performance oversight hearing for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) and the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), with 53 public witnesses signing up to testify.
Witnesses testifying about DMHHS raised concerns about encampment clearings conducted without clear housing plans for affected individuals. They also called for strengthening the long-term care system, including implementation of the Council-funded Long-Term Care Strategic Coordinator role. Witnesses testifying on DHCF’s performance expressed concern about recent changes to the Alliance and Medicaid programs, citing reduced access to brand-name pharmaceuticals, vision, and dental services. Additional concerns included potential system-wide impacts, such as increased emergency room use, longer wait times for primary care, and broader implications for the District’s medical and social safety net. Witnesses also highlighted the success of some of DHCF’s grant programs, including the home visiting program for first-time parents and the Produce Prescription program.
On Thursday, January 29, the Committee on Health held the second part of the performance oversight hearing for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. Government witnesses included Wayne Turnage in his dual roles as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) and Director of the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), along with agency staff.
The Deputy Mayor and his team discussed the increase in encampment clearings in FY 2025 and the new policy reducing notice from 14 days to 7 days. The Deputy Mayor also outlined policy changes implemented ahead of the recent snowstorm to ensure shelter access, provided updates on operations at Cedar Hill and St. Elizabeths Hospital, and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to a long-term care strategy for the District.
The government witnesses for DHCF discussed the challenges in operationalizing major eligibility changes in the Medicaid and Alliance program. The DHCF team also discussed issues of provider network adequacy and appointment wait times, including what enforcement levers are available to DHCF and managed care organizations. Following public testimony earlier in the week, Councilmember Henderson asked DHCF to explain how DC Health’s clinical boards notify DHCF and MCOs when a provider loses a license, an issue identified for follow-up. Although the hearing focused on the prior fiscal year, the Director also highlighted upcoming initiatives, including implementing federally required work requirements and the cross-agency coordination needed to do so.
You can view the performance oversight calendar for the DC Council, here. Witnesses can sign up to testify at dccouncil.gov/hearings.
On Tuesday, January 20, Councilmember Henderson sent a letter to Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll inquiring about the department’s use of Flock Safety (“Flock”) technology. Flock currently operates one of the largest surveillance camera networks in the United States and primarily contracts with local law enforcement, commercial, and private partners. You can read the full letter, here.
On Tuesday, January 27, the Committee of the Whole held a public hearing on the Climatizing Our Overheated Living Spaces (COOLS) Act of 2025, introduced by Councilmember Henderson. The bill is a reintroduction of Climatizing Our Overheated Living Spaces (COOLS) Act of 2023, which aimed to make key changes to the District’s housing code in an effort to provide relief to tenants and flexibility to landlords in recognition of weather pattern changes caused by climate change. The reintroduction includes changes based on recommendations from the Department of Buildings.
On Wednesday, January 28, Councilmember Henderson introduced the Smoke-Free Residential Environments Amendment Act of 2026. The legislation aims to advance the District’s commitment to protecting public health by addressing a gap in existing smoking restrictions by establishing a standard for multifamily housing. The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers Charles Allen, Janeese Lewis George, Zachary Parker, Brooke Pinto, and Brianne K. Nadeau.
Community Conversations
On Friday, January 16, Ona Balkus, Committee Director for the Committee on Health, served as a guest lecturer at a Community Conversation for George Washington University’s Urban Health Fellows Program for their Public Health department. She shared insights on policymaking in the District and her career in the health policy field.
Hearing From PAVE Parents
On Wednesday, January 28, Councilmember Henderson met with PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) to learn about parent priorities ahead of performance oversight and budget season. Councilmember Henderson engaged in dynamic discussion with PAVE parents regarding math and literacy task forces, professional development for teachers, high impact tutoring for students with individualized education plan, out-of-school time, and safe passage to school.
DC, The Story of Chocolate
The National Museum of the American Indian (14th Street & Independence Avenue, SW) offers a family friendly Valentine’s Day event that includes a day of chocolate history, culture, and food. Visitors can watch as Executive Chef Alex Strong of the museum's own Mitsitam Cafe shows how she makes some tasty chocolate treats, enjoy performances by dance group Danza Tecuanis, and follow the path from blossom to beverage with an interactive presentation, and make and take a bookmark to remember the day! The event is free and open to all
Event Schedule for February 14:
Level 3, imagiNATIONS Activity Center
Level 1, Potomac Atrium
Level 1, Potomac Atrium
Freedom and Resistance Exhibition
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, the MLK Library is presenting Freedom and Resistance: An Exhibition Inspired by The 1619 Project until March 15. The exhibit kicked off with a mainstage talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times, in conversation with artists from The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience.
Ice Skating Across the District
If you’re looking to get outside, ice skating is back at various locations across the District.
Volunteer Snow Removal
Are you a DC resident who is a senior or has access and functional needs, who needs assistance clearing your sidewalks and front walkways this winter? The DC Volunteer Snow Program, brought to you by Mayor Bowser and Serve DC, matches volunteers with residents who need snow removal services in the aftermath of a winter event.
To sign up, please contact DC 311, 202-727-7925, or email your request toDCVSP@dc.gov. Information needed to complete the request includes your name, contact number, address and ward.
Please note: You only need to make one request per snow season.
Enroll at the Bowl
DC Health Link is partnering with Ben’s Chili Bowl to host “Enroll at the Bowl,” an onsite 24hr+ Enrollment Marathon event beginning Friday, January 30th at 6:00amthrough Saturday, January 31st midnight where residents will have the opportunity to enroll in coverage during lunch, after-work, or evening hours until 11:59pm each day at Ben’s Chili Bowl (1208 U Street, NW). While enjoying Ben’s famous chili and more, residents can take advantage of FREE expert enrollment support with specialists who will answer their questions, help residents complete the enrollment process and share information about plan options such as Essential Plans and the Healthy DC Plan.
24 hrs. Plus Enrollment Live Broadcast Schedule for Enroll at the Bowl
Friday, January 30, 2026
6:00am – 10:00am WPGC: (Good Morning Show)
10:00am – 2:00pm WPGC: (Poet)
10:00am – 2:00pm EL ZOL: 10a-2p (DJ Xplosive)
4:00pm – 7:00pm WHUR: 96.3 (EZ Street)
7:00pm – 9:00pm Urban One: Majic
9:00pm – 12:00am Urban One: WKYS
Saturday, January 31, 2026
12:00pm – 3:00pm WPGC: Craig Blac
1:00pm – 4:00pm WHUR (EZ Street)
3:00pm – 6:00pm WLZL (EL ZOL) 107.9 FM Chepe from the EL Meneo6:00pm – 8:00pm Urban One: Praise 92.7/95.9 FM
8:00pm – 10:00pm Urban One: Latino 104.1 /87.7 FM
10:00pm –12:00am Urban One: Majic 102.3 FM
Share Feedback on Metro’s Financial Plans
Metro is seeking community feedback on their proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget and service plan. The community is encouraged to weigh in on the budget by taking an online survey and is also invited to in-person and online public hearings.
How to provide feedback:
ONLINE
You can access the online survey, here. Feedback must be submitted by 5:00pm on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
IN PERSON
The in-person hearing takes places on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, with an open house starting at 5:30pm and the hearing at 6:00pm.
Bozman Government Center, Arlington County Board Room
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Ste. #307
(Arlington, VA 22201)
To register to speak, call 202-962-2511, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm or email speak@wmata.com by 12:00pm on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.On-site registration will also be available.
VIRTUAL
The first virtual hearing takes place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 12:00pmView on YouTube at MetroForward, here.
To testify by phone, individuals should call 206-899-2028 during the hearing and enter Meeting Code: 906 459 640#. There is no advance registration to provide phone testimony. To testify via videoconference at this hearing, individuals must submit their name and organizational affiliation (if any) in writing to speak@wmata.com by 5:00pm on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
The second virtual hearing takes place on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 6:00pmView on YouTube at MetroForward, here.
To testify by phone, individuals should call 206-899-2028 during the hearing and enter Meeting Code: 855 875 175#. There is no advance registration to provide phone testimony. To testify via videoconference at this hearing, individuals must submit their name and organizational affiliation (if any) in writing tospeak@wmata.com by 5:00pm on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
The DC Rockstar Fund
As a Rock Star, participants will:
Criteria for eligibility:
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:00am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.