Ward 3 residents have concerns about e-scooters and resources for the homeless

Residents in upper northwest don’t have contested Ward 3 elections on their ballots, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have concerns they want addressed at the ANC, ward, and D.C.-wide levels.

Among their concerns are the rise of homelessness in the area and the lack of regulations for e-bikes and scooters.

Ward 3’s Councilmember Matthew Frumin is up for reelection but is running unopposed in the general election. In addition, many of ANC 3E’s commissioners up for reelection, with none of facing a contested race.

Lisa Madden, a Tenleytown resident since 1993, hasn’t seen much change in the neighborhood over the years. She is involved in local efforts to help the homeless population and said, “the homeless population tends to ebb and flow.”

Madden was mostly concerned about D.C.’s voting system and how results can be predicted ahead of time.

“Voters don’t have as much impact as if it were a swing state,” Madden said regarding the district’s voting system.

Madden would like to see some change in the system so the “elections aren’t always the same.”

Sandy Safran, a resident of the neighborhood since 1985, said she wanted the district to enact regulations for electric scooters and electric bikes in Tenleytown and throughout D.C. Having previously been hit by and injured by a bike in D.C., Safran said she is concerned about Washingtonians’ safety.

“D.C. needs laws for e-scooters and e-bikes,” said Safran. “We can’t have bikes going 35 miles next to pedestrians,” Safran said regarding riders using sidewalks and endangering pedestrians.

Safran also said she was concerned with children riding e-scooters and with the rise in injuries from e-scooters due to riders not being familiar with the scooters or able to control them or even running red lights.

Earlier this month, 50-year-old Talib Shakir, director of the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, died in a crash involving two electric scooters, leaving locals concerned whether e-scooter companies should be held responsible for allowing reckless driving throughout the district.

In addition, Safran said she wanted better support services for the homeless population in Tenleytown, and she would like to keep ICE agents out of Tenleytown and D.C.

Gina Taylor, another Tenleytown resident, said she has seen the homeless population grow since she moved to the neighborhood four years ago.

Taylor was concerned about the safety of the homeless population and whether there were enough resources for them.

The office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a press statement in May 2026 stating homelessness in D.C. has gone up 4.4% since 2025 but has decreased 16% overall since 2020.