Miguel knows that Ward 1 deserves active, present leadership. Ward 1 is a fast-moving, complex community full of smart people. Our diversity is the source of this ward’s beautiful vibrancy. Our Councilmember should recognize that and work hand-in-hand with residents to solve problems big and small.
As an individual and as an ANC Commissioner, Miguel exemplifies this style of leadership — whether it’s rolling up his sleeves to care for Malcolm X Park or working with the city to get new Capital Bikeshare stations installed. Miguel will take his block-by-block approach to progress into the DC Council by:
Prioritizing Ward 1
The District has invested massively in the Wharf, Navy Yard, and now the RFK redevelopment. Meanwhile, the commercial corridors at the heart of the city are struggling with vacant storefronts and overdue maintenance. It’s time to bring public dollars back to Ward 1. It’s time to reinvest in a prosperous future that celebrates and energizes the legacy of the historic spaces we are so lucky to call home.
For Miguel, that begins with establishing a clear vision for our neighborhoods and especially our commercial corridors. The soon-to-be-released Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant Public Life Study, an initiative of DC’s Office of Planning, is one example of a guiding document for neighborhood improvements, anchored in the way that people actually use and benefit from public spaces. Columbia Heights, Georgia Avenue, and U Street can all benefit from well-articulated revitalization plans to chart a course forward and ensure buy-in from both public and private stakeholders.
Spotlight
Columbia Heights
It has been more than 20 years since Columbia Heights has seen major investment in its public spaces and local economy, and it shows. This is one of the largest, densest, and most culturally significant neighborhoods in the District, yet it is not treated with the level of attention or investment that comparable neighborhoods receive. Columbia Heights deserves better. Miguel has supported the establishment of a dedicated, well-funded management entity that can attract new businesses, improve cleanliness and lighting, actively market the corridor, and reactivate the Civic Plaza with art, events, and year-round programming. He will champion revitalization that is community-driven, grounded in the Latino and Black history of the neighborhood, and shaped by the voices of neighbors and small businesses — with visible progress that makes people proud of where they live.
Spotlight
Georgia Avenue
Georgia Avenue is a vital spine of Ward 1, connecting Park View, Howard University, and generations of families — but it has not received the sustained investment it deserves. With the opening of Park Morton, the modernization of the Park View Recreation Center, and several new Howard University developments on the way, we have a real chance to reimagine the corridor’s future. Miguel recognizes the need to fill vacant storefronts with pop-ups and local businesses; improve lighting, safety, and upkeep; expand Main Street support; create cohesive branding and marketing; and better connect Howard University students to entrepreneurship opportunities. Miguel will work to bring about a Georgia Avenue that once again feels vibrant and full of possibility — a corridor that supports longtime residents while creating pathways for the next generation.
Spotlight
U Street
As chairman of the ANC representing U Street, Miguel has engaged deeply with the forces shaping the corridor today. In fact, one of the greatest privileges of his tenure as a Commissioner has been to find ways of sustaining U Street as an arts and entertainment destination while paying homage to its pivotal history as Black Broadway. Miguel has built partnerships with U Street’s theaters and businesses, neighboring ANCs, and the African American Civil War Memorial Museum to design initiatives to resurface and recenter the legacy of Black Broadway, both as legacy and as guiding inspiration for the future of the corridor.
Miguel has worked through his ANC to bring local residents and the business community into conversations around the launch of a new business improvement district (BID) for U Street. He visited dozens of businesses to ensure that small and independent operators have a strong voice in the process, too — not only large corporations and institutions. He has championed an approach that ensures the cohesion of U Street as a distinctive neighborhood, historic district, and special arts zone. Miguel recognizes that it is also a living, evolving space with enviable transit connectivity, job opportunities, and economic potential, where more Washingtonians should have the chance to live and work. As our next Councilmember, Miguel will ensure that redevelopment projects actually move through the District’s pipeline — such as the Reeves Center and 1617 U Street, which will bring online hundreds of new housing units, including deeply affordable housing, along with important public services and community amenities.
The continued success of U Street will depend, first and foremost, on a clear and inclusive vision for the corridor; support for the arts and entertainment industry; targeted investments and incentives to diversify and strengthen the local economy; and reliable public support.
As Ward 1 residents, we are fiercely proud of our neighborhoods. Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights — each neighborhood revolves around its “downtown,” the heart of the community. Those core spaces should reflect that pride. Unfortunately, the District government has not achieved its goals on cleanliness, walkability, and safety, despite spending lots of money on contracts. That’s a failure of implementation and oversight. Miguel will re-center attention on these fundamental necessities to ensure that residents receive a high return on their investment.
Emphasizing Constituent Services and Accountability
All too often, residents in our neighborhoods feel that small, local concerns don’t get the attention and follow-through that they deserve. These day-to-day issues — which deeply impact our quality of life — usually have to do with executive agencies not carrying out their duties thoroughly or timely. A Councilmember’s office can act as an advocate within that system, leveraging their relationships and know-how to attract attention and ensure positive outcomes.
A strong constituent-services operation is important in another way: hearing how our District agencies are functioning at the granular level informs a Councilmember’s approach to oversight hearings. These hearings are the principal tool for Councilmembers to check that agencies are spending tax dollars wisely and delivering tangible results to our residents.
Working hands-on to solve neighborhood problems has been Miguel’s bread and butter as a Commissioner — experience that is invaluable for a Councilmember. For example, when a constituent asked that the DC government look into a fatal building collapse on a construction site on V Street, Miguel used his authority as Chairman of ANC 1B to conduct meaningful oversight of District agencies’ response to the tragedy. Miguel will bring this same level of attention to your needs as a Councilmember, no matter how big or small they may be.
Case Study
Where did our streateries go?
Streateries became a part of DC’s landscape during the pandemic, when restrictions on indoor dining prompted the District to convert some public space (sidewalks, parking spaces) into places where people could gather in a way that was safe for the community as well as profitable for local businesses. Streateries were popular with diners, and with business owners too: many invested in permanent structures to comfortably accommodate customers year-round. When the temporary streatery program ended in 2025, however, the District introduced new regulations that imposed punitive fees on businesses who wanted to continue operating their streateries permanently. Predictably, almost all of the streateries we’ve known and enjoyed — especially in Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant — disappeared overnight. This was a signal failure of government agencies to develop policy collaboratively, and of the DC Council to remedy an unworkable situation in advance. Businesses feel like the DC government caught them in a bait-and-switch, and residents feel robbed of something fun that benefited the community. Miguel knows that many of the temporary streateries leftover from the pandemic were outdated and unsafe; that’s why his ANC passed a resolution calling for those older structures to be removed. But effectively killing streateries citywide was a mistake — the result of poor planning and a lack of coordination. Miguel is committed to designing a permanent streatery program that will beautify and activate our streetscapes while allowing businesses to thrive.
Being a Partner to Our Small Businesses
Ward 1 is full of beloved local businesses and entrepreneurs who help our communities thrive. However, structural obstacles often hamper residents’ ability to translate concepts into reality. Micro-entrepreneurs run up against the same brick walls that cause small, local businesses to relocate to the suburbs. One clear example is the District’s inability to create a stable operating environment for the street vendors on 14th Street in Columbia Heights. Miguel will partner with street vendors — whether they’re more comfortable working in English or Spanish — to champion reforms that enable them to work in safety and dignity.
Case Study
Street vendors
Street vendors have been part of the Columbia Heights identity and cultural fabric for decades. But the status quo is not working. Today, the permitting process is too complicated and confusing; sidewalks are overcrowded and often not ADA-compliant; there is no guidance on where vending is allowed; and there is no designated storage for equipment, which means materials are often left in public space creating safety, cleanliness, and accessibility challenges for everyone. The District’s approach has to change. Miguel will work to streamline permits, create and enforce dedicated vending spaces, establish a rotational system so that vendors can equitably access high-demand areas, and invest in cleanliness and branded infrastructure. Just as important, Miguel understands that rules must be enforced consistently and humanely. When done right, vending strengthens the Columbia Heights corridor and creates economic opportunity in Ward 1.
Activating Our Public Spaces
We live in a wonderful city of exceptional natural and architectural beauty. We have made so much progress in celebrating our heritage while placemaking for the needs of today’s residents. Miguel believes that by leaning into that spirit, and acting boldly, we can build the liveable, healthy, and dynamic city that Washingtonians deserve.
That’s why Miguel has organized neighbors to care for Malcolm X Park — not only conducting monthly cleanups, but also activating the space in new ways to remind policymakers of its potential. Along with his fellow Commissioners, Miguel brought the first-ever “Shakespeare in the Park” performance to Malcolm X in 2025, attracting hundreds of neighbors on picnic blankets on a beautiful summer night. (He’s already working on the 2026 edition!) Miguel organized and hosted the Celebration of International Service, a picnic and resource fair to recognize and support our neighbors who lost their jobs in the humanitarian/development sector due to the cruel closure of USAID and other agencies.
As a champion of Malcolm X Park, Miguel has also built relationships with a range of stakeholders — local, federal, philanthropic, nonprofit — to imagine new ways of attracting and coordinating the resources to support and sustain the park for future generations. Parks are vital spaces for events and community-building (like the historic drum circle at Malcolm X!). They are also indispensable resources for neighbors’ mental and physical health and important assets to neighborhood economies. Count on Miguel to be a champion for public spaces, no matter how small: even the District’s many traffic circles and triangles can be activated for public benefit, with a little elbow grease.