Zahid Rathore - ANC 5B07

Thank you to all who attended my March 30 SMD meeting, where we heard a presentation from the owners/operators of The Rumble Room (2915 RIA NE). Based on community feedback, I have drafted a Settlement Agreement.

A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding document that establishes the rules governing a business's operations. Once approved, it becomes part of the liquor license and is enforceable. This is how our neighborhood can set clear expectations upfront rather than reacting later.

The draft addresses key concerns raised by neighbors, including:
• Hours (including Sundays)
• Noise and outdoor music limits
• No outdoor activity after 10 PM
• Alcohol staying on premises
• Security and loitering
• Trash and cleanliness
• Parking and traffic

Of course, the draft is just that, a draft, and not perfect. If you’d like to review the draft, send me a message, and I’ll share the link. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the community.

Happy sixty seventh day of school to all those at DC Public Schools!

SIX SEVEN!

I spent Monday morning touring 5B07 with Robert from District Department of Transportation Urban Forestry Division. It was a great chance to see our neighborhood through an arborist’s eyes. We identified at least four new spots where trees can go, and I learned a lot about how the city thinks about plantings and long term canopy growth.

DC has one of the highest planting rates in the country which means we are using a large portion of the places where trees can feasibly be planted. It is something to be proud of and shows our city’s real commitment to a healthy canopy.

Even with that progress, Ward 5 still needs more tree lined streets. Rhode Island Ave in particular has many gaps that we should close. That will take consistent advocacy and partnership with DDOT so we can expand shade, cool the corridor, and make our streets more inviting.

If you see an empty tree box in the neighborhood, you can help. Submit a 311 request, and the city will plant a tree there if it's feasible. Small actions like that add up and help us grow a stronger canopy for the whole community. For more information see:

DDOT Urban Forestry | ddot DDOT's Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is the primary steward of Washington DC's ~170,000 public trees and has a mission of keeping this resource healthy, safe, & growing! Trees in the city are critical to our well-being. Among many other benefits, these trees improve our air and water quality, cool o...

Many neighbors have raised concerns about ongoing drug activity and loitering at the vacant property at 3123 South Dakota Avenue NE (the former J&Z Motel site).

I’ve been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Buildings to address this issue. DOB is conducting a vacant property inspection today to assess the site’s condition and ensure it complies with District regulations.

The property is currently for sale, but being on the market does not exempt the owner from securing it or maintaining safety. I’ve written to the listing agent to demand immediate action to lock, light, and secure the premises and to prevent ongoing illegal activity.

Our community deserves safe, well-maintained spaces, not neglected properties that attract crime. I’ll continue to follow up with MPD, DOB, and the property representatives until this site is properly secured.

If you observe illegal activity at this location, please call 911 and follow up with MPD’s 5th District to ensure it’s documented. You can also copy me on messages at [email protected]
so I can track the response.

What awesome neighbors we have in 5B07! Our alley clean-up was a great success. Our kids learned an important lesson about community service and taking care of our city. Shout out to the Office of the Clean City and DC Department of Public Works for helping out with tools,, logistics and pick up. Interested in adopting your block? Check out https://adoptablock.dc.gov/ to learn more.

I'm very proud to serve the residents of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5B alongside Edward Borrego, Nandini Sen, Jingwen Sun, Ra Amin, Mónica Martínez López, and Maya Vizvary. These are talented, dedicated, and passionate Commissioners, and it's a privilege to work with people who care deeply about our community.

Through this volunteer work, I've learned a tremendous amount thanks to how thoughtful, experienced, and knowledgeable my fellow Commissioners are. I’ve gained insights I never would have encountered otherwise, which strengthens our ability to serve 5B. When we learn from one another, we lead better, and that makes our community stronger.

Thank you also to Councilmember Zachary Parker for hosting yesterday’s Ward 5 Day. It was a great celebration of the people, neighborhoods, and organizations that make this ward shine. Thank you, Councilmember, for your continued advocacy and leadership.

Thank you to the Washington Post for doing a story on the Federal Harassment from Above!

In Trump’s D.C. surge, helicopters hovered and surveilled day and night Park Police helicopters circled more often than they did in the same time period last year and at lower altitudes than other law enforcement helicopters in D.C. this August.

Very grateful to the Washington City Paper and Sloane Airey for bringing sunlight to this chronic problem!! Take a listen!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2PMB5ydX9xGJtt2RsVk9Hq?si=cYGlJLSWRbG56NGLyDEXyw

How This DC Alley Became a 40 Year Old Dump City Cast DC · Episode

Very grateful to the Washington City Paper Sloane Airey for bringing sunlight to this chronic problem!!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2PMB5ydX9xGJtt2RsVk9Hq?si=cYGlJLSWRbG56NGLyDEXyw

How This DC Alley Became a 40 Year Old Dump City Cast DC · Episode

Over the past week and a half, many of us have noticed a law enforcement helicopter hovering over our community for hours at a time, often at 3,000–4,000 feet. What makes this more troubling is that the aircraft does not appear to be emitting an ADS-B signal, which means its registration, origin, and flight path cannot be tracked.

I have formally written to MPD Chief Smith to demand clarity and accountability. Specifically, I’ve asked:

Which agency is responsible for this helicopter activity?

What is the stated purpose of these flights?

Why is the helicopter not emitting a trackable ADS-B signal?

What is the cost of these daily operations, and how are they being justified?

Our community deserves transparency about activities that affect our quality of life. This prolonged hovering feels like surveillance, brings unnecessary noise, and raises serious questions about taxpayer costs.

I will keep you updated once I receive a response. In the meantime, if you’ve been directly affected (noise disruption, property impact, etc.), please share your experiences here so we can make sure our collective voices are heard.

Send a message to learn more

Proud dad alert!! 🚨 My daughter was selected to represent John Burroughs Elementary School at today's groundbreaking ceremony. I found myself beaming with pride, not only because of her, but at how great our local school is. With all the recent news in our city related to the federal overreach, it was great to hear today that enrollment is up, test scores are up, and teacher pay and retention is up. This $75M(!!!) investment in our local school will add 10k square feet and allow for 100 more students. I'm proud of the school and the city and am honored to represent this neighborhood. Thank you to DC Public Schools DC Department of General Services and Councilmember Zachary Parker