DC City Council Ward 1 Race: Nadeau​ Responds To Czapary's Assertions

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of its coverage of the June 21 Democratic Primary in Washington, D.C., Patch asked each of the candidates running in select races to fill out a questionnaire, sharing facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent their party in November.

In the race for the Ward 1 seat on the D.C. City Council, Patch received completed questionnaires from incumbent Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau and her two challengers, Salah Czapary and Sabel Harris.

On Friday, Nadeau contacted Patch, claiming that many of the assertions Czapary makes about her in his profile were false.

Since our policy is not to alter any candidate's questionnaire, we have given Nadeau the opportunity below to respond to Czapary's assertions:

Czapary Assertion: AFFORDABLE HOUSING - There has been no meaningful increase in affordable units that has led to a reduction in average housing costs for Ward 1 residents. Costs are still rapidly rising. And the majority of income restricted units that have been created received no funding from Brianne and exist because of DC's inclusionary zoning regulations (passed by effective progressive council members before Brianne's tenure).

Facts

Brianne has never relied on Inclusionary Zoning to meet the affordable housing needs of Ward 1, but has strengthened the law to ensure that those units are actually built according to the original intent.

Since Brianne became Councilmember, she helped pass a law requiring at least 30% of units must be affordable for low and very low income families on any development on public land. She then went on to adjust the planning map so that more housing could be built on 3 public sites in Ward 1.

In Ward 1, her efforts have established new permanent supportive housing for 15 senior women, created 96 affordable units at Portner Flats, 64 affordable units at the Maycroft, 126 affordable units at the Wren, with hundreds more in the pipeline, including 300 units at Park Morton.

She also funded short term housing for families at the Terrell for 35 families

She is the author of the Homes and Hearts Amendment, which funded 2,400 units of housing for those experiencing homelessness, citywide, on top of hundreds of units she has funded prior in her role as Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services.

This work has directly reduced the housing costs for those currently residing in these units, now and in the future.

Czapary Assertion: Brianne was removed from the Housing Committee for not taking an active interest and role.

Facts

This is categorically false. The Chairman's stated reason was a need to shuffle Councilmembers around different committees and housing advocates suspect it was retribution for Brianne championing rent control. Read the truth from DCist here, in which Brianne’s role on the committee is described as “vital.”

Czapary Assertion: HOMELESSNESS - The number of unaccompanied individuals living on the streets and public spaces is rising fast. We all see it with tent encampments popping up all over Ward 1 and the city. We have to find more meaningful ways to engage these residents by providing housing and employment opportunities for them in the neighborhoods where they want to live. Providing them options that are too far away is unfair and our residents experiencing homelessness will just go back to living on the streets where their social ties exist.

Facts

The Washington Post recently reported that homelessness has hit a 17-year low in the District of Columbia, citing efforts that coincide with Brianne’s time in office and as chairperson of the Committee on Human Services. Brianne established the Street Outreach Team, has funded thousands of units of housing for homeless individuals and families, championed the construction of shelters for families in each ward, and has overseen the modernization of the homeless shelter system for unaccompanied minors. In addition to that, she has funded housing and services for homeless youth each year, working hand-in-hand with non-profit providers. You don't have to take Brianne's word for it, take word of Miriam's Kitchen, who gave Brianne their "Change Honoree" award in 2022. Brianne has made more investments in ending homelessness than any other Councilmember before her.

Czapary Assertion: Brianne's leadership as chair of the Committee on Human Services Committee will lead to 913 households becoming homeless by September this year alone because they've fallen out of her flagship Rapid Re-housing Program that provides financial assistance for low-income households to pay rent. Advocates have pleaded with her to exercise better oversight and move legislation to fix the program, but she’s done neither of those things.

Advocates have pleaded with Brianne for years to address the poor quality case management and simplify the overly burdensome process for struggling families. Yet she has done nothing to make the program more effective. Even more families eligible for subsidies will become homeless if nothing is done even though DC has already committed the funds to support them.

Facts: Brianne has been critical of the Rapid Re-housing program, and worked with advocates and the Bowser administration to improve it during her tenure. She funded housing for families exiting Rapid Re-housing each year in her committee budgets, and in the FY23 budget supported significant investments in Targeted Affordable Housing intended for these families.

Czapary Assertion: ROAD SAFETY - DC Council's lead initiative to reduce traffic fatalities called Vision Zero pass had no impact. Fatalities are on the rise and the $100+ million they committed last year alone has either gone unspent or led to cheap plastic "flex-post" bollards at intersections that we regularly see getting knocked over by aggressive drivers & ATVs. DC needs to get more serious about transforming our streets and intersections to slow traffic to speeds safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. This is especially critical in Ward 1 for most people do not own a car and most vehicular traffic is just crossing through our neighborhoods Ward 1 is one of the most walkable communities in the nation and we should be a model that other cities replicate across the country. We should be on par with the success of cities like Amsterdam, Paris, and Milan and not just settling for some green and red paint.

Facts

Vision Zero was a program developed by Mayor Bowser, which had no teeth or prospects for implementation until the Council passed it into law and funded it in FY22. It is now being implemented. Brianne has led the way on bike infrastructure, bus priority and pedestrian safety through numerous laws and initiatives.

Her Walk Without Worry legislation is expected to become law later this year, and will standardized raised and continuous crosswalks.

She has introduced 2 other bills, the SMART signage amendment act, and the Prioritizing People in Planning Act, as well as co-introducing the Safe Routes to School legislation, all of which are expected to pass into law this year.

For her efforts regarding safe streets, she received the enthusiastic endorsement of Greater Greater Washington earlier this year, saying “Councilmember Nadeau’s bold vision and extensive track record on housing and transportation demonstrate her ability to meet the moment.”

Ward 1 - Candidate Profiles

• Candidate Profile: Salah Czapary For DC City Council In Ward 1
• Candidate Profile: Sabel Harris For DC City Council In Ward 1
• Candidate Profile: Brianne K. Nadeau For City Council In Ward 1