The Ward 5 Wave

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage catch up on budget markup s, concerns with remaining gaps in the FY27 budget proposal, and look ahead to the June 9 vote on the budget. Conversations center around juvenile justice, Credible Messengers program, funding for housing vouchers , childcare, and SNAP benefits , securing retail grants for 12th St NE and...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage welcome At-Large Councilmember Robert White, Jr. to the show to talk about housing concerns in the Mayor's proposed FY27 budget , reflections on last week's youth rountable on "teen takeovers," and CM White's legislation on behalf of residents impacted by the Talbert Street homes saga. Melis...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage catch up on the coversations buzzing in the Wilson building about "teen takeovers" and juvenile curfews , with proposals on how to respond and the announcement of Councilmember Parker's youth-centered roundtable on April 30 . They also talk about the SOUL Act and its impact on youth within DC's...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage sit down with SPACEs in Action Policy Strategist Maneesh Horshin to talk about DC's child care subsidy, Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, the child tax credit, and how all these programs work together to stabilize our workforce and grow the economy. UPO Director of Legislative Advocacy, Ed Lazere , talks...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker sits down with Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen , chair of the Council's Committee on Transportation and the Environment . Councilmember Allen shares updates about the Potomac Interceptor Collapse , what he learned when he visited the site, and what neighbors can expect as work continues to repair the interceptor and begin remediation of the District&#3...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker is joined by several community members and advocates from REACH (the Roundtable on Education in Adult Charter Schools) , including Faith Gibson Hubbard . Guests share the importance and wide-ranging impacts of adult education opportunities and the ways adult charter schools help entire communities thrive. Communications Director Melissa Littlepage and Council...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker interviews the Council's new interim At-Large Councilmember, Doni Crawford. They talk Council priorities , books, music, Black History Month , the ongoing congessional interference in local policy, and more. Communications Director Melissa Littlepage shares the latest highlights from the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter . Read at ward5.us/news , subscribe at ward...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage talk about the Council's process for appointing a new, interim At-Large Councilmember following former CM McDuffie's resignation in December 2025. They also look ahead to upcoming performance oversight and mark-ups. Councilmember Parker discusses the unacceptable actions of ICE in DC and across the countr...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage reflect on a busy fall legislative season, celebrating the big win for the District Child Tax Credit . They also discuss recent hearings on bills including environmental justice in Ivy City and improving access to PrEP . They also reflect on recent Committee on Youth Affairs hearings and the CARE for Youth Plan ....

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker , Communications Director Melissa Littlepage , and Legislative Director Neferteria Brown chat about the Council's recent votes on the RENTAL Act making changes to TOPA . They also discuss the impending changes to SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown and passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" in Congress. Melissa and Councilmembe...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker shares details of his recently introduced C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan - a 16-bill policy package designed to foster youth wellbeing in the District. Jenise "Mama Jo" Patterson , Founder and Director of Parent Watch, Inc. , joins to share her perspective on how some of the legislation will help justice system-involved youth and their families. Committee...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage reflect on a vibrant and joyful time with neighbors at Ward 5 Day . Councilmember Parker also discusses the Council's recent votes on the RFK Redevelopment Deal and the RENTAL Act . He also offers a preview of a forthcoming policy package to foster youth wellbeing in the District. Melissa shares a few highlig...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage catch up on the latest news about federal overreach in the District, sharing lots of resources including ward5.us/toolkit , ward5.us/report , ward5.us/resist , and ward5.us/onthehill . Councilmember Parker also shares information about what to expect at the Council's next Legislative Meeting on September 17 ,...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage talk about the federal government's latest threats against DC's autonomy , as well as a c ivil lawsuit against the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) . Councilmember Parker also reflects on the Council's second vote on the FY26 budget and the vote on the RFK Redevelopment deal . There...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Busboys and Poets Founder and CEO Andy Shallal talk about the Council's first vote on the FY26 Budget , including discussions around Initiative 82 and the tipped minimum wage. Andy shares his insights as the owner of Busboys and Poets, which has 8 locations in the DMV (5 in the District). They also reflect on the state of the RFK Redevelopment deal . Coun...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage discuss recent news about the RFK Stadium site redevelopment and reflect on a week full of budget oversight hearings. Phelps ACE High School (in Ward 5!) Principal, Cara Fuller, joins the episode to discuss new policies banning cell phones in DC Public Schools. The episode wraps up with reflections on last weeken...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage catch up on a busy week including a vote on emergency legislation about I-82 (Tipped Minimum Wage) on the Council, a letter to the Washington Commanders about labor agreements for the RFK stadium site redevelopment, the June 7th WorldPride Parade, and highlights in the midst of budget oversight season. Melissa al...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember  Zachary Parker  discusses the Mayor's proposed FY26 budget with advocates and shares his alternative view: a budget for all of us. Joined by  Kimberly Perry , Executive Director of DC Action, and  Erica Williams , Executive Director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, the conversation explores the Mayor's proposed cuts to countless social services and what this mean...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage reflect on a busy week involving oversight in the Committee on Youth Affairs, a community meeting on the future of the RFK Stadium site, and the opening of the new Trader Joe's in Brookland. They also look ahead to the release of the budget coming soon and the priorities guiding the Ward 5 Council Office as the C...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker sits down with Chairman Phil Mendelson to discuss current hot topics on the Council: RFK, I-82, World Pride, and more. Communications Director Melissa Littlepage shares highlights from the latest edition of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter. Read at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/news letter. Get in touch with Councilmember Parker’s office anytime through...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage catch up on some of the District's biggest news this week, including plans for the future of the RFK Stadium site , conversations about restaurants and I-82 , upcoming events, and reflections about the movie Sinners , in theaters now. You can register for Councilmember Parker's Future of RFK: Community Li...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Communications Director Melissa Littlepage share updates on the status of DC’s budget fix on the Hill , upcoming Ward 5 events including the Healthy Communities Spring Cleaning day on April 26, and the next Ward 5 Public Safety Call on April 30. Next week (April 14-18) is Spring Break for DC Public Schools and Council Recess . Melissa also shares highligh...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker talks with Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin about the Council’s recent votes on ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) reform, and on emergency legislation to amend the Open Meetings Act. Both topics have been marked by controversy in public discussion. The Councilmembers distill the various viewpoints and explain their votes. Communications Director Meli...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker shares the latest news about the Providence Redevelopment following a new deal secured this week by the Office of the Attorney General (learn more here ). To talk more about what this redevelopment means for Michigan Park, Ward 5, and the District, two guests share their perspectives: ANC 5A Chair, Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio, and Evan Goldman, Executive...

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker invites Jhonna Turner, Chief Strategy Officer of CARE Washington, DC, to share about her experience helping organize students and families to rally at the Capitol and defend DC’s budget last week. They also discuss what’s the come as a standalone measure to protect DC’s local budget heads back to the House. Councilmember Parker wraps up the episode by reflect...