Chairman Phil Mendelson

Today I got a preview of the new Fort Dupont Ice rink. Although it was supposed to open this past summer, we’re looking forward to the community getting to use this new facility soon. The ribbon cutting will take place next Saturday at 11am.

May gratitude find you wherever you are. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I’m shocked at this terrible attack. Violence of any kind is totally unacceptable. National Guard should not be targets. My prayers go to the families of these service members.

ICYMI -- My monthly Meet Up with Mendo will be in Ward 6 TOMORROW!

Come out to Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe in Penn Quarter to chat with me about any and everything happening in the District.

📅 SATURDAY
🕙 10am-12pm
📍555 Pennsylvania Ave NW (Penn Quarter)

Despite the narrative being presented by Republican sponsors, these bills will actually set back public safety in the Nation’s Capital. These bills are one more argument against Congressional interference – because scoring national, partisan points should not take precedence over what is best for the District’s public safety.

WASHINGTON, DC – DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson issued the following statement opposing bills to amend DC laws: “Despite the narrative being presented by Republican sponsors, these bills will actually set back public safety in the Nation’s Capital,” Mendelson said. “The so-called ‘cash bail reform’ creates an emphasis on the ability to afford bail instead of protecting the community from dangerous criminals. Data proves that our current system is safer for the community. This bill would also require incarceration for certain crimes without bail and without any due process. This is not what we want to see in our justice system. “Repealing our Police Accountability law may please the Fraternal Order of Police, but it also will not make our communities safer. Bad cops destroy community trust. We do not want to go back to a time when police discipline was a secret and the FOP could negotiate their disciplinary process. The same process that the DC Auditor found, in a 2022 report, required the Police Chief to re-hire individuals who had been fired for child abuse, domestic violence, prostitution, sexual assault, and drunk driving. “These bills are one more argument against Congressional interference – because scoring national, partisan points should not take precedence over what is best for the District’s public safety.”

These bills are one more argument against Congressional interference – because scoring national, partisan points should not take precedence over what is best for the District’s public safety.

Free DC! [Read my full statement]

My monthly Meet Up with Mendo is coming to Ward 6 this upcoming weekend!

Come out to Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe in Penn Quarter to chat with me about any and everything happening in the District.

📅 Sat. November 22nd
🕙 10am-12pm
☕️ 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

This morning I stopped by WHUR for the 47th Annual Food2Feed Radiothon to encourage everyone to give to this amazing cause. Now more than ever are there people in the District and the region in need of help. Visit WHUR.com to donate

And if you need a warm place to stay, DC has low-barrier shelters for adults, young adults, and families — as well as hypothermia sites and day centers during cold weather emergencies.

🗺️ Find shelter: cold.dc.gov
📞 Shelter Hotline for rides: 202-399-7093 or 311

Temperatures in DC are expected to dip below freezing tonight for the first time this year! ❄️

Landlords are required to keep heating equipment working and able to maintain at least 68°F.

If your heat is not working, please make a maintenance request and call OAG: 202-442-9828

TOMORROW -- Come out to my monthly Meet Up with Mendo in Ward 3!!!

Join me at the Den at @PoliticsProse to chat with me about any and everything happening in the District.

📅 SATURDAY October 25th
🕙10am-12pm
📍5015 Connecticut Ave. NW (lower level)

This weekend I had the chance to attended the grand opening of a new pop-up art exhibit celebrating 30 Years of Hung Tao Choy Mei at Dupont Underground. It's a really interesting and colorful exhibit -- and FREE! The exhibit is open daily with performances Fridays and Saturdays until 10 PM!

My monthly Meet Up with Mendo is coming to Ward 3 this upcoming weekend!

Come out to the Den at @PoliticsandProse to chat with me about any and everything happening in the District.

📅 Sat. October 25th
🕙 10am-12pm
📍 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW (lower level)

Had a chance to hang out today at one of my favorite Fall events — the Adam’s Morgan apple pie contest! Great submissions from all the contestants!

Last night I joined the DC Theater Alliance for their Inaugural Sneaker Soirée. We enjoyed captivating mini-plays and got an exclusive sneak peek of Theater Alliance’s new home in Southwest. The arts improve the richness and diversity we celebrate in our city.

“The shutdown and subsequent threats to employees’ livelihoods by the federal government is disappointing, unfortunately unsurprising, and ultimately avoidable,” Mendelson said. “The Republicans hold control of both Houses of the Legislature as well as the Presidency. This is a problem of their own doing. “But make no mistake, the District government will continue to function. The District is well-managed and we have funds in our coffers, so we will continue operations. The federal government could learn by the example set by the District of Columbia government.”

While the shutdown will undoubtedly impact some District residents employed by the federal government, local services will not be affected. We may also see some cutback in federal services and that will also affect District residents.

My statement below

After 35 years, Washington Post titan Colby King is retiring. Last night we recognized his longtime contributions to District politics and journalism. I will miss his integrity, his challenges and most importantly his honesty. Best of luck with this next chapter Colby!

DON'T FORGET -- I'll be in Ward 4 TOMORROW for my monthly Meet Up with Mendo!

Come out to Rue Cafe on 14th street to chat with me about any and everything happening in the District.

📅 THIS Saturday!
🕙 10am - 12pm
📍Rue Cafe - 3906 14th Street NW

Today I’m joining the Mayor and the Attorney General to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee.

Read my oral and submitted testimony at ChairmanMendelson.com

Watch Live:
oversight.house.gov/hearing/over...

DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson issued the following statement about today’s House vote on H.R.4922 and H.R.5140: “The bills being voted on today in the House, make the District less safe,” Mendelson said. “In the past two years, the Council has clarified laws and imposed new penalties for violating the law, including shoplifting, carjacking, strangulation, and felony endangerment with a firearm. More recently, we worked with the Mayor to establish curfews to prevent the types of large gatherings that had contributed to violence and other crimes in the past. These House bills are a completely unnecessary intrusion on the District’s ability to make and enforce our laws. “These bills will increase criminal behavior. Data shows juveniles tried as adults are more likely to re-offend than those tried in the juvenile justice system – a system built on the principles of rehabilitation through education and counseling, not punishment. Fourteen-year-olds should not be put in adult prison. “We now turn our sights on the Senate, and we will continue to meet with lawmakers on the Hill on both sides of the aisle in an effort to shut down these harmful bills that severely damage the District’s public safety.”

The bills being voted on today in the House, make the District less safe. These House bills are a completely unnecessary intrusion on the District’s ability to make and enforce our laws.

Due to technical difficulties, today’s media briefing will only be broadcast on the Council website or on the Office of Cable Television’s website. Apologies for any inconvenience.

▶️Council website: dc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer....

▶️Office of Cable TV site: entertainment.dc.gov/service/dc-c...

WARD 4 -- I'll be in your neighborhood this weekend for my monthly Meet Up with Mendo!

Come out to Rue Cafe on 14th street to chat with me about any and everything happening in the District.

📅 Saturday September 20
🕙 10am - 12pm
📍Rue Cafe - 3906 14th Street NW

Today is a day to remember and reflect on the tragedy that occurred 24 years ago on 9/11. We are thankful for our first responders in the District of Columbia and the sacrifice they made that day and every day.

“Today’s House Committee markup will hurt public safety and is a direct affront to the District’s autonomy,” Mendelson said. “Lawmakers who have not been elected by District residents and have slim knowledge of District laws have no place trying to legislate for our residents. “Some of these bills are duplicative of laws already on the books here, some would grind government functions in the District to a halt, and some will increase criminal recidivism. These bills would hurt our police department, hurt our District of Columbia Public Schools, and hurt the ability of Attorney General to protect DC residents. “This is an unprecedented assault on our city. We will continue to lean on our ‘warrior on the Hill,’ Eleanor Holmes Norton, and our local allies, as we fight against this undemocratic attempt to control the District government and District residents. “Because of today’s markup, the Council will redouble our efforts to educate members of Congress so that these bills die. We all want a safe city, a beautiful city that residents and visitors – and even federal officials – can enjoy.”

Because of today’s markup, the Council will redouble our efforts to educate members of Congress so that these bills die. We all want a safe city, a beautiful city, that residents and visitors – and even federal officials – can enjoy.

Repealing our laws is not "liberation." Republicans in Congress can’t be trusted -- they took $1B from us, are moving more than a dozen bills rolling back Home Rule, are trying to take away our elected independent Attorney General and micromanaging our legislative process.

Today's House Oversight Committee markup will hurt public safety and is a direct affront to the District's autonomy. Lawmakers who have not been elected by District residents and have slim knowledge of DC laws have no place trying to legislate for us.

Here's look at why these bills are WRONG for DC

Today the Council sent a letter opposing the Congressional bills threatening our autonomy. This is a first step to push back against interference. I'm also testifying on the Hill next week and we are meeting with Congressional representatives to explain why these bills are harmful to the District.

Thank you to all the Ward 7 community leaders who came out last night at the 7B ANC meeting. We talked about the city’s tight budget, the affects of the so-called crime emergency, the RFK deal, environmental issues and CBA agreements. Stay involved, informed and support grassroots advocacy.

“This is a manufactured intrusion on local authority. Violent crime in the District is at the lowest rates we’ve seen in 30 years. Federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department is unwarranted because there is no Federal emergency. Further, the National Guard has no public safety training or knowledge of local laws. The Guard’s role does not include investigating or solving crimes in the District. Calling out the National Guard is an unnecessary deployment with no real mission.”

This is a manufactured intrusion on local authority. Violent crime in the District is at the lowest rates we’ve seen in 30 years. Federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department is unwarranted because there is no Federal emergency. Further, the National Guard has no public safety training or knowledge of local laws. The Guard’s role does not include investigating or solving crimes in the District. Calling out the National Guard is an unnecessary deployment with no real mission. Public safety is built on trust, consistent enforcement, and community-based strategies. We must ensure that in our pursuit of safety, we do not create an atmosphere of surveillance, intimidation or unequal treatment under the law. Our local police department is the best in the country, and it is our police officers who should be leading the efforts to keep our communities safe–not the National Guard. The President was unable to cite any evidence that our MPD is not able to do the job. Let’s stay focused. Our local government regularly partners with the federal government. The federal government plays a role through the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuting violent crime, the Senate confirming judges to serve on our courts, the federal supervision agencies to follow up with people who are released on parole, and Congress passing a budget fix so that DC residents can spend their own tax dollars to pay our police and firefighters the wages they deserve. Taking over our police department and deploying hundreds of National Guard members is not the hard work of public safety – it is a show of force without impact.It is our job to regularly look at our laws and ensure they are serving our residents’ interests. That’s what we did in 2024 when the Council came together to pass Secure DC, an omnibus with over 100 interventions to drive down crime. We did it again when the Council in June 2025 passed Peace DC legislation that puts the city on a path to more sustainable safety.

This is a manufactured intrusion on local authority. Violent crime in the District is at the lowest rates we’ve seen in 30 years. Federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department is unwarranted because there is no Federal emergency.

Full Council statement below:

“After many weeks of negotiations and work, I’m pleased that we were able to approve this legislation on first reading. This is a pivotal step toward developing the land at the RFK campus quickly and completely. At the same time, I’m pleased that we were able to vastly improve the legislation from what was introduced – so that District residents will see more benefits.”

Increased revenues going to the District over 30 years: o $260M parking revenues from non-stadium- event days o $112M parking taxes (18% rate) o $ 54M Sales taxes on merchandise (10.25%) o $248M Sales taxes on food and beverages (10%) $50 million Community Benefits Agreement, including a commitment linking youth sports with education. The Commanders will be responsible for all costs overruns for the Stadium and parking projects. The team will also be responsible for all stadium maintenance costs. Specific deadlines for completion of the development of different phases (e.g., affordable housing, retail) - with the acceleration of out-year rent payments as a penalty. Requirements that construction use methods and materials consistent with the goal of obtaining LEED Platinum certification. Redirects $600 million from the "Sports Facility Fee" (formerly Ballpark Fee) to a Transportation Improvement Fund for Metro improvements. The project will create approximately 6,000 housing units, 1,800 being affordable. Tax revenue over 30 years ~$26.6 billion from redevelopment of the entire RFK campus.

After many weeks of negotiations and work, I’m pleased that we were able to approve this legislation on first reading. My full statement below:

Today the Committee of the Whole is holding a public hearing on the RFK Campus Development. There are over 500 witnesses signed-up to testify. You can follow the list or view submitted testimony here: lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/927

Stream the hearing live here: chairmanmendelson.com/live/