The D.C. Council on Dec. 2 extended the juvenile curfew implemented in November until April 2026 in an effort to reduce crime.

However, Navy Yard residents question whether this is a fair public safety measure or will further criminalize Washington, D.C.’s predominately Black and Brown youth—without addressing root causes.

After a large, chaotic fight on Halloween night, the D.C. Council implemented a juvenile curfew in that prohibited large groups of teens under 17 from gathering on the streets after 11:00pm.Ěý Just one month into the curfew, and amid further disturbances, council members voted 10-3 to extend the juvenile curfew until spring 2026.

While some residents praise the measure as a step towards increased public safety, others raise concerns about what this may mean for D.C. youth.

Michael Lewis, a Ward 6 resident and father of a 16-year-old daughter, said that just as deploying the National Guard was not about fighting crime, he’s wary of the curfew.

Brittney Gates, 38-year-old former federal employee who lives in the Navy Yard said, while some residents feel safter, she feels more unsafe by the growing police presence around the kids.

Federal employee Vonni K., who withheld her last name for privacy concerns, has a 17-year-old college son in D.C. She said she’s not as worried about him because he is less inclined to be out late.Ěý She said the curfew also deters the kids who are not out causing trouble since they don’t want the hassle of being stopped by police.

Mixed reactions from residents.

Lewis said he believes the extended curfew is a ploy by the administration to keep residents distracted from the real issues.Ěý He said they want everyone to talk about this issue and advance the narrative about crime in D.C., but he said the curfew alone won’t change it.

Gates concedes she is “genuinely torn” on the curfew issue. As a Navy Yard resident, she said people pay high prices to live in this neighborhood with an expectation of safety.

Gates said she doesn’t fear for her personal safety, but she has seen large groups of kids congregating around the neighborhood. Around the fourth of July she witnessed teens dangerously igniting fireworks near buildings.

She said it’s quieter since the curfew, but the city should focus on programs, jobs and spaces to keep kids productively occupied. If the city doesn’t address the root issues, Gate said, the curfew will be a temporary fix.

Vonni K. said three years ago, in the quiet of the pandemic, she may have had a different, perhaps more self-righteous opinion about the curfew. However, after seeing her son’s experience with crime in the city, she said she supports an extended curfew—and whatever it takes to combat crime.

She recounted how her college-age son and friends—all honor students—had to hide behind cars to avoid drive-by gunfire after a high school football game. Because of such incidents, school officials moved all sports events to the daytime to reduce late-night alterations.

“The gut check is that suddenly, when it’s your kid who comes home telling you about having to dive behind a car, it becomes much realer. What are we willing to do here to make this not happen again?”

As a federal worker, Vonni K. said she’s lived overseas in some dangerous places and has been evacuated three times because of civil unrest.Ěý She said her son was taken to school in armored vehicles, yet it wasn’t until he returned to the nation’s capital that he personally witnessed regular violence.

She recalled when he witnessed a fight at school in which a kid was pummeled to the ground and stabbed. She said considering the situations they experienced living overseas, she couldn’t imagine she would need to prepare him for the violence in Washington, D.C.

Vonni K. lamented the perceived absence of parental curfews and said that if parents had set curfews and boundaries in the home, the city wouldn’t have to.

“I am positive that the word ‘curfew’ does not exist in some houses, and it is the city that has introduced this word,” Vonni said that the curfew may represent the first real restriction some kids have faced.

Profiling is baked in.

According to the Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, the Metropolitan Police chief can declare juvenile curfew areas where large youth gathering pose public safety risks.

Some residents said they were concerned about how the curfew would be declared and enforced and the potential for police to unfairly profile Black and Brown youth.

Taking a pragmatic approach, Vonni K. said, “They would have to profile, right? There is a profile baked in, and the profile is someone who appears to be under the age of 18, so there has to be some degree of profiling for police to apply it.”

Lewis, more wary of profiling, said the curfew is merely a means to target teens.

“I think it really sends a message to young people that they’re not wanted here—it’s a way to corral them and be able to profile them,” Lewis said. He said public trust has been eroded due to the deployment of National Guard and every measure to reduce crime should be met with elevated scrutiny.

Questioning the racial lines of enforcement between predominantly White institutions and historically Black universities, Vonni K. asked

“Would the young people from Georgetown and American University be treated the same as those from Howard University—I don’t know, I would sure hope so,” she said.

Gates, understanding that curfew implementation will lead to profiling, said, “I recognize that this disproportionately affects the Black community and our Black youth to be able to congregate in spaces.” Gates said the curfew would create a false sense of security in the community and disenfranchise the youth.

Vonni K., recounted an incident two years ago when an off-duty law enforcement officer shot a and killed a 13-year-old boy who tried to carjack him.Ěý She said the juvenile had been arrested several times prior, “These are the dire scenarios the city is up against.”

A safer D.C.

Residents remain united in need of a safer D.C.; they debate whether the curfew will reduce crime or criminalize youth.

Gates said kids are not outside as much in the winter, so she is cautious of statistics indicating incidents have decreased since the extended curfew was implemented.

Vonni K. said she’d like to see the data to understand how the curfew is affecting crime.Ěý She said if there is a better way to contain crime—she’s open, but for now, she supports the curfew to bring crime down.

“For folks who are, like, adamantly opposed— which I am in principle, but not in practice. What would you suggest?… Because what we’re doing so far is not working,” she said.

“But I think sometimes, you know, we forget that we were once kids too,” Gates said.

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Fiesta DC and the Mexican Cultural Institute assisted organizers but left planning for possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to The Wharf, despite concerns over mass arrests of participants by organizers of other festivals nationwide.

Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 to honor deceased loved ones through altar and cemetery gatherings. Officials across the United States feared that those celebrating the holiday would be intentionally targeted by immigration enforcement.

As a result, some cities decided to cancel their Dia de los Muertos festivals, finding that the expansion of immigration enforcement could trigger mass arrests at the large gatherings.

Increased arrests recently in Long Beach, California, Decatur, Georgia and Santa Barbara, California caused officials to call off their Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Celebrations in the California cities of Senoma and Half Moon Bay were limited.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pleaded in an October letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to pause immigration enforcement operations during Halloween weekend.

Noem, responding to Pritzker’s letter, declined.

“No, we’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe,” Noem said during a press conference.

Noem said operations would continue to bring “criminals” to justice, ensuring the safety of children during the holiday season.

The Wharf hosted the Dia de los Muertos celebration in partnership with Modelo, Fiesta DC, Giant, and the Mexican Cultural Institute. FundaciĂłn Elena and De Colores, nonprofits that work to improve the quality of life in Latino communities, also collaborated with The Wharf in organizing.

Services provided by the Mexican Cultural Institute included face painting, sugar skull decorating, and live music. Latin Celtic band La Unica, Sol y Rumba, DJ Danny, and singer Roberto Aparicio performed as residents enjoyed Mexican festivities.

Concerns over ICE attending the Saturday celebration had stemmed from extensive immigration enforcement operations in businesses, restaurants and bars across the D.C. metro area. Community churches and organizations have also had an uptick in their members or employees detained by ICE.

Organizations’ concern

In D.C., Daniela Madrid, event logistics member at the Mexican Cultural Institute, said that she did not hear any concerns about possible ICE arrests before planning the Saturday celebration.

She told 91ÇŃ×Ó the institution’s responsibilities included supplying traditional references from other Mexican festivals, highlighting that they were not the main planners for event specifics, such as security.

Madrid said that event planning was left up to The Wharf.

Wharf organizers did not respond to requests for comment.

Fiesta DC president Maria Patricia Corrales said that the structure of the event was directed by The Wharf, while her organization contributed altars and the locations of musicians. The organization also provided catrinas, the skeletal figures that have become a symbol of DĂ­a de Muertos celebrations.

Corrales told 91ÇŃ×Ó that despite public fears, the celebration was a success.

“The public might have expressed concerns,” Corrales said. “We did not come out with any issues.”

Corrales said that organizations cannot always wage the continuation of celebrations due to the presence of law enforcement.

“You can never expect something unexpected,” Corrales said. “We announce and hope people come. People want to come out and enjoy themselves.”

Participant safety

Waterfront resident Andrew Braner said that he felt safe attending the celebration as a regular. He said that he did think about the possibility of immigration enforcement coming to the event while attending.

“I live here and I feel safe all the time,” Braner said. “I was actually wondering if ICE would show up.”

Braner, who has celebrated past Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, said that though the D.C. celebration was “small beans” compared to those in the Latin country, it is still essential to curate in a diverse space.

“The world is [in D.C.] and there’s a lot of cultures here,” Braner said. “So, when you can celebrate Dia de los Muertos as a tradition, it just encourages the community to come together.”

Alex McKenna, an attendee at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, said it’s important to continue cultural celebrations around the U.S. to avoid negative stereotyping.

He told 91ÇŃ×Ó this was his first time attending a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

“I think it shares with people something that’s important to them,” McKenna said. “And it’s important that we see other people for what’s important to them and understand that about others before we say something negative about it ourselves.”

McKenna said though he could not comment on the concerns of ICE conducting arrests at Dia de los Muertos celebrations, he felt safe when attending Saturday. He said he felt safe because of the celebration’s security presence.

“It’s amazing,” McKenna said. “I mean, the night is alive, and they’ve done such a great job, I think, of bringing everyone together and showing their culture.”

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Once threatened by development, the club’s recent historic designation now offers it protection and potential partnerships as the 11th Street Bridge Park and the reimagined Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium development transforms the Anacostia waterfront.Ěý

In a prime, almost hidden corner of Boathouse Row, Seafarers was founded by mariner and educator Lewis Thomas Green in 1945 with the support of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. ĚýAt a time when boat clubs were exclusively “white-only,” Seafarers stood as a haven for Black boaters and a symbol of resilience. Ěý

“It’s not about nostalgia. It’s about protecting what still serves the people,” said Roger Legerwood, Seafarers Yacht Club historian and 30-year member.

Historical designation offers legal protectionsĚý

Seafarers gained its historic designation in 2022, sponsored by the D.C. Office of Planning—shepherding in new protections against emerging developments.Ěý

“We’re not scared, we’re historic. We’re in partnership with the D.C. government,” said Seafarers Yacht Club Commodore Tony Ford. Ěý

Seafarers falls within Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal projects to assess and mitigate adverse effects on historic properties. Ěý Ěý

“If the review identifies potential adverse effects, the parties will coordinate to resolve them,” the D.C. Office of Planning said.Ěý

Legerwood began documenting the history of the club about 25 years ago, almost by accident. ĚýHe said he found the history fascinating, and his chronicled account eventually became the basis for filing historic preservation.Ěý

“They just can’t run through here without checking,” Legerwood said. “When we see or hear of threats, we look at it as an opportunity to engage.” Ěý

The designation opens new doors for grant funding and restoration support. Seafarers partnered with the 11th Street Bridge Park team—the project to transform the abandoned 11th Street Bridge piers into a state-of-the-art park—to ensure the club’s legacy is cemented in the future of the waterfront. ĚýĚý

“Connecting to the river has always been one of our key goals,” said Scott Kratz, director of the Bridge Park project.Ěý “Seafarers started the Anacostia River Cleanup in 1985.Ěý They’ve been critical to restoring and healing the river.”Ěý

Kratz’s team secured a U.S. Coast Guard permit to maintain the navigational envelope—increasing visibility for organizations like Seafarers. ĚýThe new park will include an environmental education center, which could feature Seafarers’ history and community programming. ĚýĚý

Ford, who has led the club for seven years, said he views the Bridge Park partnership as a model for respectful collaboration. Ěý

“We’re already partners,” Ford said. “We offer free boat rides during cherry blossom week and talk about the history. ĚýIt’s not adversarial; it’s community.”Ěý

Ford is less certain about the RFK Stadium development, a $3-billion project expected to generate thousands of jobs and billions in tax revenue. Ěý

“We haven’t had a mutually respectful conversation with those developers,” Ford said. The club’s relationship is only through the mayor’s office, he said.Ěý

Over the years, Ford said developers have used intimidation tactics. In one case, Ford said a developer sent an email alluding that Seafarer would sell its property before even having a conversation. Ford said he is used to the tactics—and some have already begun.

“Forming, storming, norming and performing, that’s how we figure out where we fit in,” Ford said. He added this is a teambuilding process that goes through different stages to understand their relationship and roles in the development projects.Ěý

Despite concerns, Ford said he remains optimistic.ĚýĚý

“We are the oldest African American boat club in the country—not DC—in the country,” Ford said. Ěý

Seafarers started the Anacostia River clean up, and we will continue to do what serves the community, Ford said.Ěý

It’s about the communityĚý

For longtime D.C. resident and recreational fisherman Derick Jones, this is personal.Ěý Fishing on the Anacostia River for over 20 years, Jones acknowledged that the RFK development is good for the city.ĚýĚýĚý

“I hope they don’t mess it up—a lot of young brothers come here to fish instead of getting in trouble,” Jones said.Ěý

Jones urged developers to protect community spaces.ĚýĚý

“This is my fishing spot,” Jones said while laughing. “This is my peace of mind.” Ěý

Seafarers Business Manager Captain Anthony Hood echoed the sentiment.Ěý

“We are a working club. Members bring their skills—woodwork, law, electrical—to keep things going.” ĚýĚý

Hood joined the club in 2020 after his wife passed. He said she always had encouraged him to buy a boat. ĚýĚý

“It has occupied my time and helped me heal—now I’m part of something bigger,” Hood said.Ěý

As the business manager for Seafarers, Hood focuses on infrastructure and restoration efforts. ĚýPartnered with Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Council of Governments, Seafarer received a grant to remove abandoned boats as part of an initiative for cleaner waterways, Hood said.Ěý

With work-in-progress projects all around the club, Hood said the infrastructure needs attention. ĚýMembers are replacing old dock woods themselves, but with development funds, Hood said. Ěý

“We could rebuild the docks, the rail system and even the clubhouse,” Hood said.Ěý

Legerwood said the club wants to amplify Seafarers’ legacy and make boating more affordable and inclusive. Ěý

“Inclusivity was our original mission,” Legerwood said. “Mr. Green built boats by hand but couldn’t find a place to dock because of his race—that’s why this place exist.”Ěý

The D.C. Preservation League, which maintains the city’s historic inventory, said it added Seafarers to its public database after the designation and is now part of the public record. Ěý

D.C. Preservation League said, “That visibility matters.” Ěý

“We’re not just a boating club.” said Legerwood. “We’re a living archive of Black maritime history.”Ěý

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If you didn’t, you are not alone. It’s been 50 years since the first ANC elections, but D.C. residents are unaware that these neighborhood commissions administer community grants.ĚýĚýĚý

While a lot of confusion remains about the role and power of ANCs in the District, the community grant program can have visible impact, if you’re lucky enough to live in a neighborhood that offers them.ĚýĚý

ĚýAccording to the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions FY 2025 , the role of the ANCs is “to advise the District government on matters of public policy,” which range from planning and social service programs to health, safety, and sanitation.ĚýĚý

The ANCs provide advice and recommendations to the D.C. Council, the mayor, and various agencies, boards, and commissions of government. Some ANCs also award grants to help their communities.Ěý

“ANCs do a tremendous amount of work,” says Executive Director, Kent Boese. “We are in a much better city because of them.”Ěý

The OANC oversees each of the District’s individual neighborhood commissions. When it comes to grants, both the OANC and the ANC receive the applications.ĚýĚý

The OANC reviews the grant for fiscal compliance and makes a recommendation on if they feel it would be an appropriate expense. The ANC can then decide if it still wants to support it, Boese said. Ěý

For community members who want to apply for a grant, there are rules, of course. Grants can be as much as $3,000 and are available to organizations, not individuals, based on D.C.ĚýĚý

Organizations can’t receive more than one grant in a year.Ěý

Can’t duplicate a city service.Ěý

Also, for a group to receive a grant, it can’t be for a program that duplicates a city service. Boese said that line is clear, but there is nuance.ĚýĚý

“For example, the city has a program where you can ask for free tools during the fall for community clean-up. However, the city doesn’t operate a program for that during the winter,” he said. A grant for a winter program would be allowed, but the ANC would need to retain ownership of the tools, he said.Ěý

Additionally, grants can’t be used for things such as food, must benefit the community (not a person or organization), and must be for a future event, Boese said. Ěý

Ward 1 resident Wendy Singleton, a board member and logistics coordinator for , has helped her organization get an ANC grant for the past five years. The organization, founded by Ransom Miller III, has used the money to support their annual Thanksgiving food distribution. This event, celebrating its 30th year, helps Project Giveback support over 5,000 families with bulk food distribution throughout the city.

“It’s not a hard process,” she said. “You have to get in early. The ANCs want to make sure their constituents are being served.”Ěý

ĚýNot all commissioners offer grants.Ěý

Since the ANC’s have final say if an organization or event gets funded, single member district representatives can sponsor a proposal for an organization that is based outside of their ANC. This is important because not all ANCs offer grants.ĚýĚý

For example, Anna Krebs, commissioner and treasurer of ANC 6B06, represents one of those districts.ĚýĚý

“6B does not currently have grants available, but it is something that we are actively working on,” she said. Ěý

She said her neighborhood commission is working with the OANC to see what kinds of grants have been approved for other neighborhoods.ĚýĚý

Before becoming an ANC commissioner, Krebs said she hadn’t heard of the grants either. However, she added that she does see the value of them.

Ěý“Part of why we want to bring back grants is so we can put money back into the community,” she said.ĚýĚý

So who decides if an ANC will offer grants or not? According to Boese, that’s up to the ANCs as well.Ěý

Ěý“It is important when reading the Code to pay attention to the words ‘may’ and ‘shall.’ ‘May’ means that a Commission is allowed, but not required, to do something. ‘Shall’ means that a Commission must so something,” Boese said.Ěý

Boese is referring to section 1–309.13(l)(1) of the D.C. Code, which says “Expenditures may be in the form of grants by the Commission for public purposes within the Commission.”Ěý

Some commissions have elected to start creating programs themselves, rather than issue reimbursements to organizations, Boese said.Ěý

According to the OANC Annual Report for FY24, ANCs receive an approved allotment in the D.C. budget by the mayor. For the last two years, that amount was $915,688, which comes to $1.327 per District resident based on the 2020 census.ĚýĚý

The OANC can also recommend that the Office of the Chief Financial Officer withhold a portion of an ANC’s allocation if that commission has spent money for something that is not allowed (e.g. a committee luncheon) or is not in accordance with the procedures for spending money (e.g. the expenditure is not recorded in the minutes, or the check does not have two signatures). It is the OCFO that makes the quarterly allotments to the ANCs.Ěý

ANC budgets are restricted to two main uses: administration and community support. Admin can be office supplies, business cards, signs, advertising, or rent for office space or community meetings. The commissioners themselves are not paid, however.Ěý

A common theme is a lack of awareness. “Even if people don’t get involved, they should know we exist,” Krebs said.ĚýĚý

Singleton said she found out about the grants from a member of her church.ĚýĚý

“They don’t publicize,” she said. “You need to be active in the ANC, and you need to go to meetings.”ĚýĚý

Boese said his office is working to fix the lack of awareness of the grant program. In addition to improving individual websites, his office is working on an initiative in conjunction with local libraries to bring more attention to the commissions, and the work they do, before next year’s election.ĚýĚý

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Initially deployed to combat crime, the National Guard is now turning to advisory neighborhood commissions seeking a community to-do list; not everyone is on board.

Picking up trash is not the reason they came to D.C., but it’s now part of the Guard’s new mission.

With crime in D.C. at a 30-year low, President Trump in August declared a crime emergency invoking the Home Rule Act to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department and activate the National Guard from D.C. and six Republican-led states.Ěý Just weeks into the deployment, the National Guard is seeking beautification projects across the city—a move that has sparked mixed reactions from caution to collaboration.Ěý Leaders and residents are divided on whether to collaborate or stand firm on the Guard’s departure.

“If you want people to do beautification projects, why not rehire the people that were just fired from the National Park Service,” Adams said.

A shift in direction happened Sept. 8 when D.C. National Guard Director Marcus Hunt sent a District-wide letter to advisory neighborhood commissioners “requesting help identifying projects on neighborhood beautification efforts.”

Hunt, a native Washingtonian and Ward 8 resident, appealed to commissioners with a sense of partnership and urged leaders to work “alongside” the National Guards as a community.

The response has been mixed. Earlier this month, 93 different ANCs penned a published in The 51^st opposing the deployment of National Guard troops in D.C. “It is a direct attack on the freedom and independence every community deserves,” the commissioners wrote.

Commissioners in Ward 8 were among the first to reject Hunt’s request to help, voting unanimously to refuse the offer. “We don’t need the National Guard in the community to help with beautification” they said.

Ward 1 ANC leaders also declined to respond, calling the offer “uncomfortable and concerning.”

However, Ward 7 Commissioner John Adams said, “We invite and embrace” the help.

ANC 6B, which represents Capitol Hill and Hill East is still pondering the decision.

David Sobelsohn, ANC 6B secretary, said that ANC Commissioner Edward Ryder considered holding an emergency meeting on the request but ultimately decided to wait until the full body meeting on Oct. 15 when the public can weigh in.

The troops will be here until December, so we have time to make a “measured decision,” Sobelsohn said.

Sobelsohn said some constituents would like to see the ANCs work more collaboratively with the National Guard. ĚýHe said his commission conferred with the Home Rule Caucus, an informal group of roughly 75 ANCs that advocates for D.C. self-governance.

Sobelsohn said the alternative responses falls into three camps: reject the offer outright, find collaborative ways to work with the troops or ignore the offer and don’t respond. “One and three are essentially the same,” he added.

While all ANCs agree in principle that the troops should go home, Sobelsohn said there is a school of thought that says, “if they are going to wander the streets aimlessly, we should let them do something.”

Former federal contractor Ryan Donaldson, who said he has witnessed crime first-hand, deemed the National Guard as a necessary deterrent and supports its presence for both safety and beautification efforts.

Donaldson, a Capitol Hill resident, said as a federal city, D.C. represents the pride of the nation and “we need to put our best foot forward.”

Donaldson said he has had his bike stolen a few times, witnessed a resident assaulted by a homeless person and even found a discarded handgun at a D.C. Metro station.Ěý “So yes, I support more police and National Guard presence—not just for me but for everyone who lives and works here,” he said.

However, Adams said she sees the beautification efforts as a political move.

“If this was really about crime, we’d see the National Guard in high-crime areas—not picking up trash near $800,000 homes and monuments,” she said. “This feels more like a test of presidential power than a public safety mission.”

Adams, a remote tech employee, added, “We don’t need troops to beautify D.C.—this money could be going toward schools and school programs, instead it’s being spent on a military presence we didn’t ask for.”

Pentagon civilian employee Mark T., who declined to provide his last name due to privacy concerns, has lived on Capitol Hill for 20 years; he offered what he described as a pragmatic approach. “If the situation has been imposed on us, let’s make the best of it,” he said.

If handled correctly and the contributions are meaningful, Mark T. said it won’t legitimize federal overreach but rather help the community. “If not, we run the risk of sounding like hyper-liberal complainers,” he added.

Home Rule Caucus Chairman Miguel Trindade Deramo coordinates advocacy across the commissions and urged the National Guard to remain focused on its mission of “readiness to respond to security threats.”

On Sept. 18, the Home Rule Caucus published a to Hunt thanking him for his offer but expressing “collective disapproval.” The letter cited a misuse of federal resources and warned of a troubling precedent.

Trindade Deramo told 91ÇŃ×Ó there is a lot of work to be done around the city, noting the inappropriate use of the Guards.

“They are trained soldiers; we don’t need them picking up trash and laying mulch, Trindade Deramo said.” The federal government needed to properly fund the National Park Services and the other agencies trained for these matters, he said.

Trindade Deramo said he didn’t fault wards who accepted the National Guard’s offer but stressed the principle of local autonomy outweighs the short-term service they provide.

Adams admits her children are amused and curious about the Guards posted in the neighborhood, but she cautioned this political environment is a slippery slope.

“Leaders should be standing up and pushing back and not playing along to make the troops look more useful,” she said.

D.C. leaders are navigating a delicate dance asserting local authority while responding to federal pressure and oversight.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Council Chair Phil Mendelson spent five hours testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Sept. 18.Ěý While Bowser did not push back on the National Guard, she emphasized public safety must be managed locally.

“Let us do our job,” she told committee members.

Even with differing opinions on beautification projects, there is consensus that the Guards must be treated respectfully. Adams said, “They didn’t ask for this mission, but they are here to serve.”Ěý Mark T. added “Let’s treat them with the pride and decorum the uniform deserves.”

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, an initiative of the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities, partners with D.C. public schools and artists to create lively street murals at crosswalks aimed at reducing accidents.

Samantha Hamilton, an artist with Chalk Riot, a mural company specializing in vibrant pavement art, works with two third grade classes from Maury Elementary School, a neighborhood school located in the heart of Capitol Hill.

Through a STEM program that focuses on elements of the environment, Maury  students create images as a class and merge the images into one idea, Hamilton said. “It’s a community process and the kids lead.”

As an artist, Hamilton gets to take liberties to bring the images to life on the streets of Capitol Hill.

A graduate of American University, Hamilton’s art is prominently displayed on the streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The Color Your Curb program works alongside the city’s Vision Zero, a Mayor Muriel Bowser-backed DDOT’s program aimed at producing zero fatalities and serious injuries on D.C. streets.

Greg Billings, DDOT’s bike pathway branch manager, said he works to implement curb extensions on city streets where pedestrian safety is a concern, adding that the program is data driven. 

Artists like Hamilton, in collaboration with neighborhood schools, then bring art murals to curb extensions.

Without the artwork, the curb extensions are not as visible, said Hamilton.

Hamilton said the science shows that “extending the area where pedestrians walk reduces accidents.”

For 2025, participating schools include Maury as well as Columbia Heights Education Campus and Mary Reed Elementary.

Street art, political flashpoint.

As artists and officials collaborate for safer streets, art remains a political flashpoint. 

In March 2025 Bowser admittedly succumbed to “political pressure” by removing the Black Lives Matter mural from 16^th Street.  The mural stood as reminder of the city’s racial reckoning after the 2020 death of George Floyd and Bowser’s defiance at the time against President Donald Trump.

Reflecting on the mural’s removal, Hamilton said, “The removal of the Black Lives Matter mural was terrifying.”  While it didn’t directly target Hamilton’s work, she said, “It jeopardized the work of all artists” and sent shockwaves through the art community as to what could be next.  

More recently, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a directive urging states across the country to remove street art and murals, citing defacement and driver distraction. 

Erik Salmi, Councilmember Charles Allen’s deputy chief of staff, said, “If the federal approach gains traction, it could roll back safety measures in the name of aesthetics.” 

Salmi pushed back on the federal framing of street art as a distraction, saying, “Whenever a street changes, especially in a way people don’t expect, it causes people to slow down—it’s a safety benefit.”

Salmi said he doesn’t have any concern that street murals pose a safety risk.

“DDOT has rolled it out, they are doing it with safety in mind. It’s not willy nilly, they follow strict guidelines and data,” Salmi said.

Amid growing concerns of directed art removal, Hamilton and leaders from Chalk Riot met with Rep Maxwell Frost (D-Fla) last week.  Frost, who has introduced legislation to support emerging artists, is taking up the issue directly with local artists in what may be strategic step for further federal directives.

Hamilton said, “It’s a huge concern that there’s going to be legislation coming down the pipeline to make it illegal and cover all of them without warning.” 

Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, a Republican, under the direction of the new Road Safety initiative, removed a painted rainbow crosswalk that served as a memorial for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida. DeSantis and his team removed the painting overnight without notification or consultation, sparking concerns within the art community that it could happen anywhere.  

According to Hamilton, Frost briefed the Chalk Riot team on the developments in Florida and explained there is ‘no law or pending legislation’ mandating the removal of street murals.

Despite the federal initiative, D.C. officials are doubling down on data driven public safety measures.   Salmi said in D.C., “traffic deaths and major crashes are down considerably.”  

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DDOT initiated the to repair and improve bridges across I-695, as well as providing better lighting, signs, and drainage alongside the freeway. The most important aspect, however, involves the repairs made to the bridges’ infrastructure.

The New Jersey Avenue Bridge, in particular, suffers from steel corrosion and concrete deterioration of its pilings. The deterioration is notable, but not so severe that the bridge must be shut down.

According to the DDOT Freeway Rehabilitation project overview, the damage comes from the natural wear and tear of age and exposure to the elements. The bridges were originally built in the early 1960s and were last updated in 1991.

Construction on the Southeast/Southwest Freeway Bridges is still a few years to come, according to the District Department of Transportation.

DDOT Public Information Officer German Vigil said that the project is still in its design phase, but that the department expects to see construction begin in three years, if all goes well.

“We are currently at that 65% design development milestone,” Vigil said. “Construction is projected to start in 2026 depending on funding availability.”

Vigil emphasized that work can only begin when the project’s funding is secured.

“The project is estimated to last two to three years from its start date,” Vigil said. “This is all dependent on funding and procurements. Once that is confirmed, we can provide a construction schedule with more details, which will all be posted on our website.”

Since the project is still in its earliest stages, many residents of neighborhoods surrounding the freeway bridges are unaware of the potential construction.

“I haven’t heard anything,” said Navy Yard resident Justin Purvis. “Not at all.”

According to the project overview, DDOT expects to see an increase in traffic and a decrease in parking availability as construction begins.

Vigil said that, as of now, residents should not expect any immediate road closures due to construction on the project, but that DDOT will continue to update surrounding communities with information about how they will be impacted.

“DDOT is conducting robust traffic analysis and will conduct extensive public engagement with ANCs and members of these communities, which will inform residents of the traffic management plan,” Vigil said. “Residents are encouraged to visit and sign up for project updates.”

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Matt LaFortune, who is the chair of ANC 6B’s Transportation Committee, said that the ANC was in communication with DDOT to plan for any future road closures.

“We are expecting them,” LaFortune said. “We asked [DDOT] a number of questions at our meeting where they presented this project about their plan for road closures. They’re expected to keep at least one lane both ways going throughout, but we ask that they communicate with us if there’s going to be any impact on traffic in the neighborhood.”

LaFortune also said that DDOT had spoken to ANC 6B about the necessity of securing funding for the project, while also assuring them that any minor delays they encountered would not represent a danger to the bridges.

“It didn’t seem from DDOT that if [construction] got pushed back six months or even a year, that that would be critical,” he said. “But we were hearing from them that they did want to move, move on this. The sooner the better, I guess.”

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The intersection that has been informally long referred to as “Dave Thomas Circle” by the locals will now be known as Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza, following a community-driven initiative in naming the public space.

“I love the new name,” expressed Natalie Meyer, a Black NoMa resident, with enthusiasm. “It’s a homage to my culture, and (Mamie Johnson) has been an inspiring female figure for Black women in sports.”

Mamie “Peanut” Johnson was the first woman to pitch in the Negro League. A longtime resident of Northeast D.C., she graduated from Long Branch High School and was a dedicated advocate for youth sports.Ěý

The renaming of this iconic intersection was not a swift decision. The NoMa Business Improvement District (NoMa BID) received a staggering 1,200 name suggestions from the community throughout the summer following the reconstruction project announcement in April.

“We’re excited about the name,” said NoMa BID President Maura Brophy. “We’re also really excited about the overwhelming response that we got from the community when we invited them to submit names and then to cast the final vote.”

With no official name before this initiative, the intersection had long carried the theme of confusion, mirroring the complexities of the space. Brophy said it was also consistent with the lack of clarity around the space’s identity.Ěý

The renaming process aimed to eliminate this ambiguity and formally identify the space. In collaboration with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the NoMa BID of the NoMa community in April, to propose a name for the evolving intersection, set to include protected bicycle lanes and create three new public park spaces.

These public spaces will be situated at the circle where a famous Wendy’s restaurant was before it shut down in 2021, often having residents refer to the intersection as “Wendy’s Circle” as well.

Following the suggestions from the community, a diverse panel of community stakeholders, encompassing residents and local business owners from NoMa, carefully reviewed all submissions and narrowed the selection down to five choices.Ěý

After DDOT’s approval, these name options were put up for voting in , allowing the public to vote on their favorite name until late August.

Out of more than 4,300 votes cast, 40% of respondents chose to honor Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, making it the winning name.

The other names up for voting included “Douglass Crossing,” referring to social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass; “Three Stars Plaza,” denoting the three stars in the DC flag and reflecting the three green public spaces in the project; “Tiber Gateway” representing Tiber Creek that ran near First Street NE and was important to the early development of D.C.; and “People’s Plaza.”

“We’ve undergone several community gaming processes in the past,” Brophy said, referring to Alethia Tanner Park and other parks in NoMa. “And one thing that we’ve learned from them is that people really do see these as an opportunity to tell stories to reflect history.”

With the community vote determined, the next step is to introduce formal legislation before the DC Council to officially recognize the name for the new trio of public spaces.

Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed her excitement and gratitude for the community’s involvement in the renaming process in a statement last week.

“Our community is ready to start a new chapter at this intersection, and we are off to a strong start by naming it after such an iconic woman,” she said. “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson was a pioneer. Now, it is fitting that her name will represent these new spaces where residents and visitors can rest and play.”

The intersection, notorious for its complexity and confusion, has posed challenges for both drivers and pedestrians over the years. The new $41 million infrastructure project launched by Mayor Bowser in July aims to enhance safety for all road users. It involves realigning and adding two-way traffic to First Street NE and restoring two-way traffic on Florida Avenue NE.

“One thing about this particular intersection is it really does serve as a point of connection between neighborhoods, a point of connection to D.C., it is very heavily traversed,” Brophy said. “So a lot of people interact with it and experience it. And because of its former configuration, despite the fact that it sat at the crossroads of neighborhoods, it could and it did serve as somewhat of a barrier between them.”

Having lived in NoMa for over a year, William Baker said the intersection has always frightened local and visiting drivers alike.

“It’s exhausting when you’re in a rush,” he said. “Usually, I would drive the opposite way to avoid the intersection.”

However, the new design and the changing traffic pattern have given him “new hopes”, he said, adding that he voted for the new name of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza.

Another NoMa resident, Jonathan Spiers said while he initially voted for Douglas Crossing, the winning name was his second choice and he is excited to explore the park spaces.

“We expected that we would get a lot of attention and a lot of responses from the community, given the high-profile nature of this space, and that definitely proved to be true,” Brophy said, describing the naming process. “We really had fun with this.”

The construction phase for the infrastructure project began in July. The estimated completion of the project is set to be in December 2024. According to NoMA BID, the signage indicating the new name is expected to be installed close to the delivery of the project. It will be designed by an award-winning landscape architecture firm, SWA Balsley.

The post D.C.’s Dave Thomas Circle Renamed Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza: A Community Tribute first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

But a new home for Don and Mera Rubell’s contemporary art collection centers the culture and energy of artists and the city in a repurposed space.Ěý

The Rubells have been collecting contemporary art pieces since 1965, according to Rubell Museum DC director Caitlin Berry, and they already have an existing museum in Miami.Ěý

But in October, the D.C. location opened at Randall Junior High School. Previously known as Cardozo Elementary School, it was a historically Black public school that opened in 1906 and closed in 1982, spending decades as a homeless shelter at the heart of the Southwest community.Ěý

In 2010, the Rubells purchased the building, which was then used as an artists’ studio, to preserve the historic building and house their art collection in partnership with Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Development.Ěý

Berry said the Rubells had loved the city since it became the center of the Civil Rights Movement.Ěý

According to Berry, Mera Rubell, one of the founders of the museum and art collection, took a “Freedom Riders” bus with famous singer Harry Belafonte to the March on Washington in 1963 to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak.Ěý

“I think it became very evident then,” Berry said, “that there were these dialogues taking place here in the nexus of political power that was not necessarily happening in this way anywhere else in the country.”Ěý

She said that the Rubells were inspired by the epicenter of cultural changes and the rich history of the community in D.C., which is front and center in their inaugural exhibit “What’s Going On?”Ěý

The exhibit is named after the 1971 hit song from Motown singer and D.C. native Marvin Gaye, who graduated from Randall Junior High in 1954.Ěý

Fifty artists worldwide contributed to the exhibit, but the spotlight belongs to Keith Haring’s 20 pieces titled “Against All Odds.”Ěý

Berry said the paintings in the Haring collection were made in memory of Steve Rubell, Don Rubell’s brother and co-owner of the famous New York City nightclub Studio 54, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1989, the same year that Haring created his works.

ĚýHaring died a year later, in 1990, of the same illness.Ěý

When walking into the exhibit, Gaye’s song “What’s Going On” plays in the background. Haring’s notes about his art as he made it are on display, which comment on various social issues artists and creatives were fighting for at the time, as well as the song’s inspiration on his piece.Ěý

On October 3, 1989, Haring wrote, “Sometimes music is a ‘background’ for drawing, but sometimes it becomes an essential part of the creation of the work.”Ěý

“He’s contemplating the future of our planet, and he said the dismal task of trying to save it against all odds,” Berry said. “He’s thinking about climate change and racial justice and all of these critical topical issues that we’re still grappling with today. And so that work really serves as the fulcrum around which the rest of the exhibition moves.”

For Berry, her favorite part of the new museum is their second exhibit by local artist and Howard University alumna Sylvia Snowden.Ěý

Snowden’s art is well known for themes of motherhood and the lives of her Northwest DC neighbors in Shaw.Ěý

In 2000, her collection of works about the murder of her son in 1993 was displayed in the Corcoran Gallery of Art at George Washington University.Ěý

However, the current Sylvia Snowden exhibit shows a different side of motherhood by depicting Snowden’s relationship with her daughter.Ěý

Berry said she could relate to the themes of these works since she is currently pregnant with her first child.Ěý

It defies logic, the sort of emotional connections one can form with art,” she said. “And I think that that was really the entire goal behind the opening of this museum: Every kind of person is represented in D.C. To give those folks an opportunity to form emotional connections with contemporary art is everything to the Rubells and to me.”Ěý

While the Rubell Museum has some fierce competition from other existing museums, Berry said they are the only ones currently focused solely on contemporary art.Ěý

Rob Berger, 58, is a self-proclaimed “museum addict.” He said he moved to D.C. for the abundance of museums and appreciated the use of the old school as a “canvas” for the art.Ěý

“The museums here are world-class,” he said. “I’m from the Midwest, and we have great museums there but not as many unbelievable masterpieces lined up.”Ěý

Berry said the Southwest community, including some former Randall alumni, has come to visit the new space.Ěý

Adriana Diaz, 22, grew up in D.C. but recently moved to Harrisburg, Penn., with her boyfriend, Mark Ray.Ěý

They said they’ve gone to many museums together but instantly became “big fans” of the Rubell because of the diversity represented in the art.Ěý

“I think it’s cool because it seems that there’s a lot of Black artists and you don’t see that in a lot of museums, so that’s one of the coolest things that I’ve noticed,” said Ray.Ěý

Diaz said her favorite part of the Rubell is the unique array of pieces and the inclusion of different mediums.Ěý

“I think the art here is very abstract compared to a ‘normal museum,'” she said. “I think it fits a lot of sculpture and paintings and photographs, not just so much focused on a specific theme.”Ěý

Installation pieces, sculpture and canvas are all represented in the Rubell DC.Ěý

The Rubell family is known for investing in new artists, which they have done since the small beginnings of their art collection.Ěý

Berry said she hoped the museum could showcase new talent in the space for years to come.Ěý

“What’s Going On?” and “Sylvia Snowden” will be available for viewing long term into the new year.

The post A celebration of DC life and culture at the new Rubell Museum first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

The non-profit organization signed a lease agreement with Hoffman and Developers for 25,000 square feet on the third floor of the building located at 610 Water St. SW after a temporary stay at America’s Square.

“We are excited that 610 Water Street and the vibrant Wharf community will be the future home of the Freedom Forum,” Jan Neuharth, The Freedom Forum’s CEO and the chair said in a statement.

“The dynamic combination of flexible work and community spaces offer a variety of opportunities, both virtual and in-person, to further our First Amendment mission,” Jan Neuharth said.

The 610 Water Street property was designed by New York City-based architect firm Morris Adjmi as part of The Wharf’s development.

The building itself was designed to look like a jewel box and contains a 10,000-square-foot outdoor terrace.

While the building has yet to be completed, the Freedom Forum’s snagged lease marks the final available lease.

A new home for the organizationĚý

The non-profit’s lease comes almost two years after its high-profile sale of the Newseum in 2019 to Johns Hopkins University for more than $300 million.

The Newseum was the organization’s home from 2008 to 2019 until it sold it to the university after years of financial issues.

Jonathan Thompson, the organization’s chief outreach officer, said the relocation to the Wharf will provide it with access to flexible office spaces with educational and conference center areas that will help further its mission.

“The new offices at 610 Water Street will also offer public gathering spaces and digital capabilities that can foster dynamic in-person conversations while continuing to offer the accessible reach and inclusivity of virtual events,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the spaces will be outfitted with the latest in digital media production technology, including video and audio studios.

Despite the organization having to shut down and sell its former home, Thompson said comparing the costs of owning a building and leasing an office is tricky.

“The costs to operate the property on Pennsylvania Avenue became unsustainable, but overall the new space will be considerably less expensive,” Thompson said.

He said the Wharf is an incredible development and expects the organization to take advantage of it post-COVID to host in-person events and programs that foster First Amendment freedoms.

The first event the organization has planned is its , which will take place spring 2022 at The Anthem.

Not the only new tenantĚý

It was announced in that The Atlantic’s tenure at The Watergate would be coming to an end after signing a lease agreement to occupy about 35,000 square feet on the top two floors of the Water street property.

Anna Bross, senior vice president of communications for The Atlantic, said the media company settled on the Water Street property due to its location, amenities and cost.

“610 Water offers an updated space in an excellent location, and we hope that the space is a draw for our staff and that it enhances the way that we work,” Bross said.

She said the new location will consist of two interconnected floors at the top of the five-story office building, with access to a large terrace off the top floor, with stunning views of the Potomac River.

“The building offers improved amenities for our employees, as well as increased accessibility options and has allowed us to anticipate some growth within the building,” Bross said.

Bross said the company hopes the new location will provide a long-term home for it, adding it is unclear when operations will officially begin at the location.

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