Ben for Ward 3

i’m ben bergmann, an attorney, former elementary school teacher, and the current chair of advisory neighborhood commission 3d. i am also a parent of two young kids, a kindergartener at our local dcps school and a two-year old girl in daycare. after two incredibly difficult years, the district faces real and significant challenges. downtown is at a pivot point and needs to re-imagine itself. kids, schools, and parents are all navigating new challenges. housing just gets more expensive. so does childcare. the gaps in our transit system are more obvious than ever. and with rising crime and traffic fatalities trending upward rather than towards zero, washingtonians are increasingly concerned about safety. i am running for dc council because i believe that, despite the challenges we face, there is plenty for washingtonians to be optimistic about. we can build a better dc—a city where everyone can gain a foothold, raise a family, and age in place. but to realize the full scope