Councilmember Zachary Parker
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cmzparker5.bsky.social
Councilmember Zachary Parker
@cmzparker5.bsky.social
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Official account of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker | Building a healthier, stronger Ward 5 and a more just DC every day | Sign up for the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter: ward5.us/newsletter
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Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
ward5familybiking.bsky.social
Always a joy to bike in Ward 5! @cmzparker5.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The latest edition of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter.
Ward 5 Weekly - November 14, 2025 this week's highlight's: - Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway - November 20 - Ward 5 Family Biking Family Ride - Tomorrow - OP DC2025 Workshop - Tomorrow - Crummell Community Center Meeting - November 17 - RFK Redevelopment Scoping Meeting - November 19 - DPR Ward 5 Capital Projects Meeting - November 20 - South Dakota Ave DDOT Meetings - December 4 & 6 and more!
November 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
ward5familybiking.bsky.social
This Saturday!! Gather: Michigan Pk Community Playground (Wynton St NE) @10:30am ➡️ End: Lost Gen Brewing featuring Silver & Sons BBQ 🍗
November 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social
Today, we are testifying at the DC Council in support of the SOUL Act introduced by @cmzparker5.bsky.social.

Right now, more than half of young people in DC's foster system age out of foster care without a permanent plan, such as family reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship.
November 13, 2025 at 2:42 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
Tomorrow, six of the bills in the C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan will get a joint hearing. I'm looking forward to hearing testimony from dozens of public witnesses and from government witnesses on how we can strengthen these bills to improve youth wellbeing in the District. 🧵👇🏾
cmzparker5.bsky.social Councilmember Zachary Parker @cmzparker5.bsky.social · Oct 6
🆕 I'm introducing a 16-bill policy package called the C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan to tackle a range of issues facing young people in the District — from truancy, to financial stability, to parent engagement and more.

👉🏾 Learn more: ward5.us/careforyouth
👉🏾 Join us in our efforts: ward5.us/dcyouth
Content available at ward5.us/careforyouth Content available at ward5.us/careforyouth Content available at ward5.us/careforyouth Content available at ward5.us/careforyouth
November 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
childrenslawcenter.org
Tune in tmrw as @cmzparker5.bsky.social & @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social hold a hearing on a bill to establish SOUL, a new permanency goal for older youth in foster care. Individuals w/ experience in care will share why SOUL is needed & how they developed the bill with government agencies & partners.
"SOUL family is important to me because it provides a pathway that has been waiting to be explored. It lets young people take the wheel and be in control of their own life and their permanency, which is something I did not have." - Jamarri White "I had a lot of people determining what direction my life should go, down to my education, my health, and my housing. SOUL acts as a bridge between youth and trusted adults as partners, not as a wall or barrier between them." - Princess Simms "We have young adults who are faced with choosing services or community. The reality is that you can have all the services in the world, but if you don't have a community, you won't be able to reach your full potential." - Cierra Bailey "SOUL stands out as a transformative initiative in the child welfare system because it was led by lived experts - people like me who have had direct, personal experience with the system." - Keniya Parks
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read at ward5.us/news, listen at ward5.us/newsletter, and catch up on previous episodes of the Ward 5 Wave Podcast at ward5.us/podcast.
Ward 5 Weekly - November 7, 2025 this week's highlights: - DC Set to be 1st U.S. City with Local Child Tax Credit - Ward 5 Notices of Intent Closing for Comment - Today - Youth Mentor Info Session in Ward 5 - Tomorrow - Office of Planning DC2050 Workshop - November 15 - Crummell Community Center Meeting - November 17 - Ward 5 Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway - November 20 - DPR Ward 5 Capital Projects Meeting - November 20 and more!
November 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
DC is set to become the first city in the U.S. to implement a local child tax credit. It stands to transform lives + reduce child poverty by 25%. When we lift families out of poverty, we see outcomes across their lives improve: from education, to health, to employment, and more. 👉🏾 wapo.st/3XaOyEK
The Washington Post: D.C. Set to Become First City in the U.S. to Implement Local Child Tax Credit "The child tax credit is the single most effective anti-poverty program this country has ever seen," said Council member Zachary Parker (D - Ward 5), who has spent years trying to bring the child tax credit to fruition. "The District is flush with cash and resources, and it's time we advance real soultions for working-class folks." Ryan Vinh, a research analyst at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University, said the District could become a model for other localities. A recent report from the center estimated that cities that implemented a local child tax credit to supplement the federal version could reduce child poverty by 25 to 50 percent depending on how large the city’s investment. In D.C., one of the cities the report analyzed, researchers estimated that a child tax credit of $800 to $960 per child, depending on age, could double the impact of the federal credit and achieve the 25 percent reduction. The tax credit legislation, sponsored by Parker, offers a maximum of $1,000 per child, depending on household income — a level that Vinh says he expects would have “far-reaching effects” in reducing child poverty. “These are not abstract policies,” Council member Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) said while debating the bill on Tuesday. “They are rent payments. Grocery bills. Child care. And breathing room for parents who have been carrying too much for too long.” Erica Williams, executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, argued that with child poverty rates increasing, evictions on the rise and a projected local recession because of the mass federal layoffs, the policies would be life-changing for many. “I think this is a moment where we need to dig deep,” she said, “and really think about how we keep our families and communities resilient.”
November 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
Kept a promise to DCI students to come back for a Dragon TV interview about public service and what I love about Ward 5 and the District. It was a good time!
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
Join me in celebrating a huge victory for working-class families across the District: we secured the first-ever District Child Tax Credit and an acceleration of the Earned Income Tax Credit expansion. 🎉
November 4, 2025 at 9:47 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
I'm dogged about alleviating poverty in the District for families and children. That's why I've championed the Child Tax Credit, shown to be the single most effective anti-poverty measure in the past 60+ years. Tomorrow, I'm moving an amendment alongside 9 of my colleagues to finally secure it.
November 3, 2025 at 9:50 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The latest Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter is available now! You can read at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter. Happy Halloween! 👻 🎃 🧌
Ward 5 Weekly - October 31, 2025 this week's highlights: - SNAP, WIC, and LIHEAP - Supporting DC Families - Ward 5 Thanksgiving Giveaway Sign-ups - Now Open - Crispus Attucks Park Fall Festival - Tomorrow - Leaf Collection Starts in Section A - November 3 - DHCD Ward 5 Housing Listening Session - November 3 - Office of Planning DC2050 Workshops - November 6 & 15 - Crummell Community Center Meeting - November 17 and more!
October 31, 2025 at 10:02 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
Reminder about tonight's meeting! Hope to see Brentwood/Brookland Manor neighbors there as we discuss a number of community concerns.

⏰ October 30, 6:30 p.m.
📍 Brentwood Rec Center (2311 14th St NE)
Brentwood/Brookland Manor Community Meeting. Thursday, October 30, 2025. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ the Brentwood Rec Center (2311 14th St NE). Join Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and ANC 5C05 Commissioner Darlene Oliver for a community discussion about neighborhood concerns including public safety, trash issues, construction, and more. We will be joined by Empower DC, the Department of Public Works (DPW), and the Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE). We have also invited representatives from the OSSE Bus Terminal, and Brookland Manor. Questions? Call 202-724-8028 or email ward5contact@dccouncil.gov.
October 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
freighttraindisco.bsky.social
If you actually live in DC you should submit testimony for this initiative. BCBS has tried to do copay or testing fees for regular PrEP testing.
cmzparker5.bsky.social Councilmember Zachary Parker @cmzparker5.bsky.social · 19d
The District has made progress driving down rates of HIV and AIDS, and we need to continue our efforts. I invite you to come testify in support of a bill I introduced earlier this year, the PrEP DC Act of 2025, at the Committee on Health's hearing this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Sign up at ward5.us/prep.
October 28, 2025 at 9:14 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The District has made progress driving down rates of HIV and AIDS, and we need to continue our efforts. I invite you to come testify in support of a bill I introduced earlier this year, the PrEP DC Act of 2025, at the Committee on Health's hearing this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Sign up at ward5.us/prep.
October 28, 2025 at 9:07 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
Tomorrow! Reminder to register at ward5.us/publicsafetycall
October 28, 2025 at 6:06 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The latest editions of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter and the Ward 5 Wave Podcast are available now! You can read at ward5.us/news, listen at ward5.us/podcast, and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter.
October 24, 2025 at 8:55 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
While the District continues to see encouraging declines in crime, we know there is more work to do and that ongoing federal surge presents challenges. Join us on October 29 for the next Ward 5 Public Safety Call to get updates and ask questions. Register at ward5.us/publicsafetycall
October 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The latest edition of the Ward 5 Weekly newsletter is available now! You can read at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter. You can also catch up on episodes of the Ward 5 Wave podcast at ward5.us/podcast.
Ward 5 Weekly - October 17, 2025 this week's highlights: - Juvenile Detention, Montana Triangle, and More... - Metro Red Line Closure Impacts in Ward 5 - This Weekend - Bladensburg Bus Garage Meeting - October 21 - RFK Redevelopment Community Meeting - October 22 - Youth Sports Business Internship - Apply by October 23 - Ward 5 Public Safety Call - October 29 - Brentwood Community Meeting - October 30 and more!
October 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social
Everyone has the constitutional right to protest, gather peacefully, and make their voices heard.

Today, we are releasing guidance to make clear what is and what is not permitted under federal and local laws for protests in the nation's capital.

Know your rights, DC:
Attorney General Schwalb Issues Guidance on Your Right to Protest in the District Of Columbia
oag.dc.gov
October 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The CARE for Youth Plan includes a bill addressing absenteeism and truancy in the District. Yesterday's hearing in the Committee of the Whole on absenteeism and today's hearing in the Committee on Youth Affairs brings these issues to the fore. See coverage from @washingtonpost.com - wapo.st/4heWRJ1
Under pressure to curb crime, D.C. Council examines school absences
The D.C. Council is considering a bill to address gaps in the city’s truancy referral system.
wapo.st
October 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
childrenslawcenter.org
Last week @cmzparker5.bsky.social introduced the SOUL Amendment Act, which will help older youth in foster care leave the system with legal, caring relationships and lasting supports as they take on adult responsibilities. Thank you CM Parker for bringing this important bill to the Council!
SOUL empowers older you to build their own chosen families, given them autonomy and control when it comes to this crucial aspect of their lives. Because home is not just a place -- it's about the people. Graphic of three people putting together a house (like a puzzle).
October 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
Reminder: the deadline to sign up for the October 16 Roundtable on Overcrowding at YSC is tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. 👉🏾 lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hea...
October 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
cmzparker5.bsky.social
The latest editions of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter and Ward 5 Wave Podcast are available now! You can read at ward5.us/news, listen at ward5.us/podcast, and subscribe to get the newsletter straight to your inbox every Friday at ward5.us/newsletter.
Ward 5 Wave - Season 2, Episode 24 The Care for Youth Plan with special guests... Jenise Jo Patterson, Founder and Director, Parent Watch, Inc. Allison Bailey - Committee on Youth Affairs Legislative Assistant Thomas Franco - Committee on Youth Affairs Director October 10, 2025 ward5.us/podcast Ward 5 Weekly - October 10, 2025 This week's highlights: - The C.A.R.E. for Youth Plan - Modified government services for Indigenous Peoples' Day - October 13 - Public Roundtable on Overcrowding at YSC - October 16 - Bladensburg Bus Garage Meeting - October 21 - Ward 5 Roll Off Day - October 25 - Ward 5 Public Safety Call - October 29 - Brentwood Community Meeting - October 30 and more!
October 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Councilmember Zachary Parker
51st.news
There's been a lot of talk about youth and crime in D.C. since President Trump retook office.

But Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker (@cmzparker5.bsky.social) says he has a new plan that is actually aimed at addressing the root causes of violence.

More here, in his opinion piece:
Opinion: Locking kids up isn't working. Here's what we should do instead.
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker introduced a policy package this week that he says is aimed at addressing the root causes of violence.
51st.news
October 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM