Working for Ward 3: Public Safety First

Public safety is about quality of life. It’s about whether families feel secure in their homes, whether seniors feel comfortable walking to the store, whether kids can play outside without worry, and whether professionals can walk from Metro to their homes. In Ward 3, and across the city, people want safe neighborhoods that are welcoming, vibrant, and cared for. That means being thoughtful, data-driven, and focused on solutions that actually make our communities stronger.

As Co-Chair of the ANC 3C Public Safety Committee, I’ve focused on one core principle: public safety requires partnership. That means building consistent, working relationships with the Metropolitan Police Department and other public safety agencies, and building that partnership  not just when there’s a crisis, but every single month. It means regular coordination, real data sharing, and follow-through when neighbors raise concerns.

That approach works. By staying engaged and relationship-driven, we’ve been able to address neighborhood-specific issues while keeping our eye on broader crime trends across the District.

This is where I believe the Council must lean in harder.

In 2023, residents across the District saw a troubling rise in crime, including spikes in carjackings and other violent offenses, that left many families feeling anxious about safety in their own neighborhoods. Public safety became a real and immediate concern in Ward 3, discussed at community meetings and among neighbors who simply wanted to feel secure at home and walking down their streets. That’s why in 2024, I authored a letter on behalf of ANC 3C supporting the SECURE DC Omnibus Act of 2024. The legislation responded to those increases in crime. Our message was clear: we need accountability, thoughtful reforms, and a balanced approach that strengthens public safety while protecting civil liberties and maintaining trust between the community and those sworn to serve it.

Oversight is one of the most powerful tools we have to enhance public safety. Programs should not exist simply because they sound good. They must produce measurable results. If a public safety initiative isn’t working, it should be fixed — and if it can’t be fixed, it should be cut. 

In 2023, I supported a letter that ANC 3C sent raising serious concerns about performance and reliability at the Office of Unified Communications. The resolution called for greater transparency, better staffing and performance data, and independent review of the District’s 911 call-taking and dispatch system. When residents call 911, response speed, accuracy, and reliability are not abstract policy goals, they are life-safety priorities that demand continuous oversight. This is an issue that has not been fully resolved, while responses have gotten better they aren’t perfect and when people call for help the response needs to be perfect.  As your Councilmember, I would push this issue hard until the problems with OUC are resolved. 

The housing voucher program is another good example of where both compassion and accountability are required. I strongly support housing vouchers that help people access stable housing. Stable housing is public safety. When people have access to safe, supportive housing, neighborhoods are safer and outcomes improve across the board.

However this program must be better managed. I supported a joint letter that was sent to Council by ANC 3C, 3F and 3/4G, in October 2024. The letter called for a Council hearing focused on housing program oversight, including voucher administration and service coordination. Unfortunately, that hearing was not held until late 2025, nearly a full year later,  despite three ANC commissions making clear that this issue required immediate attention and timely oversight. As Councilmember, I would advocate for a better management of this program, that it be properly monitored, and paired with appropriate services. Without oversight, even well-intentioned programs can fall short of their goals. We owe it to residents to ensure the program is structured, accountable, and effective.

Public safety is not a single policy or press release. It is a sustained commitment: strong policing partnerships, effective legislation, supportive social services, and relentless oversight. 

That’s the approach I bring as ANC Commissioner and Public Safety Committee Co-Chair and that’s the approach I will continue to bring to the Council. 

Ward 3 deserves nothing less.