Willie J. Hardy Way Designation Act of 2026

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSLYVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 406
WASHINGTON, DC 20004
202.724.8068

WENDELL FELDER Chairperson
Ward 7 Councilmember Sub-Committee on Local Business
Development

July 6, 2026

Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Secretary Howard,

Today, I am introducing the “Willie J. Hardy Way Designation Act of 2026.” Please find
enclosed a signed copy of the legislation.

This legislation would designate the 5000 block of Benning Road SE, between H Street SE and
Southern Avenue SE, in Ward 7 as “Willie J. Hardy Way.” This designation is in honor of Willie
J. Hardy, a longtime Ward 7 resident, community advocate, and public servant.

Willie J. Hardy dedicated her career to advancing opportunity and dignity for District residents,
including service as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Community Aid Council, where she
worked to provide emergency assistance, employment support, and anti-poverty services to
families in need. She also served as the first ever Councilmember from Ward 7 on the Council of
the District of Columbia for six years, including two years as the Chair pro tempore.

With the support of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7E, the designation of Benning
Road SE as “Willie J. Hardy Way” would honor the memory of Willie J. Hardy, and her
dedication and legacy in the Ward 7 community.

Please feel free to reach out to me or my Legislative Director, Ben Raab, with any questions. He
can be reached at braab@dccouncil.gov or by phone at 202-741-0912.

Sincerely,

Wendell Felder
Ward 7 Councilmember

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Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Wendell Felder 4
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. 10
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Councilmember Christina Henderson 16
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A BILL 18
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 23
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To symbolically designate Benning Road SE, between H Street SE and Southern Avenue SE in 28
Ward 7, as “Willie J. Hardy Way.” 29
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 31
act may be cited as the “Willie J. Hardy Way Designation Act of 2026”. 32
Sec. 2. Pursuant to sections 401, 403a, and 423 of the Street and Alley Closing and 33
Acquisitions Procedures Act of 1982, effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official 34
Code §§ 9-204.01, 9-204.03a, and 9-204.23), the Council symbolically designates Benning Road 35
SE, between H Street SE and Southern Avenue SE, in Ward 7, as “Willie J. Hardy Way”. 36
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 37

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 38
impact statement required by 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 39
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 40
Sec. 4. Effective date. 41
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 42
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 43
as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 44
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 45