Arcadia Mobile Market
Arcadia will operate a mobile food market at Providence Hospital (1150 Varnum Street NE) every Friday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, during the months of May through October.
LaSalle Food Market
Free food will be distributed at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE) on May 21, 2015, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Bring your own bags.
Brandon Todd emerged the winner of the special election for the Ward 4 council position. Unofficial results from the DC Board of Elections show Todd received 42.4% of the vote (4,310 votes), Renée Bowser 21.57% (2,192 votes), Leon Andrews, Jr. 15.02% (1,526 votes), and Dwayne Toliver 12.27% (1,247 votes).
Register to join the Student Conservation Association on April 25 in cleaning up Fort Totten Park.
Join the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association for its monthly public meeting tonight at 7:00 pm at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE). On the agenda: Councilmember Anita Bonds and DDOE’s Andrew Oetman, who will discuss the RiverSmart program.
Early voting for the Ward 4 council special election will be available April 13 – April 25 at One Judiciary Square (441 4th Street NW). Early voting hours are 8:30 am – 7:00 pm. The site will be closed on April 16 and April 19.
From JBG:
The Fort Totten Square project is 95 % complete. Completion inspections are well underway on all of the apartments. The main residential entry arrival court off of 3rd Street will be finished up in April. Streetscape and site work activity will continue for the next two or three months around the perimeter of the entire site. Punch list in the amenity areas of the building is underway as well as final installations in the courtyards. The retail at the corner of Riggs Road and Chillum Place is in the final stages and interior retail construction of these spaces will start next month. The build out of the Walmart space has started with completion expected in the Fall of 2015.
ANC 4B09 Commissioner Doug Sloan held a fire safety meeting last night. He will update the community about any requests for assistance from the family affected by Sunday’s fire. The fire department is still investigating, but they believe the fire was accidental and that there was no foul play.
The interim fire chief and other fire department officials did a wonderful job of providing very useful information on topics such as proper use of extension cords and fire extinguishers and creating a family evacuation plan.
Residents can contact 311 (either online or by phone) to request smoke alarms and fire department personnel will install them free of charge. The great thing is that the free alarms are 10-year lithium battery alarms, so people do not have to worry about changing the battery every six months. Fire officials also recommended having at least one working carbon monoxide alarm in the home.
DC’s Adult Protective Services will assist residents who have a dangerous accumulation of items in their home (known as hoarding) with house cleaning. This service is also offered free of charge. Fire department officials noted that hoarding is dangerous because it increases the number of items that can burn, increasing the severity of the fire and the danger of smoke inhalation. Accumulated items can also impede an individual’s exit out of danger and make it more difficult for rescue personnel to conduct their activities.
Fire department personnel mentioned they are really trying to get the word out about these services, particularly to seniors. Let your neighbors know.
Fourth District police will be out on Galloway Street NE today between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm to host a neighborhood clean-up as part of their enforcement effort for the month of April.
Fourth District police shared the following message:
Hello Fourth District Family,
For the month of April, the Fourth District is focusing efforts on littering to include illegal dumping. The Fourth District will be concentrating on and enforcing non-traffic littering which entails citing pedestrian violators for littering. We will also be hosting several “clean-ups” in our Fourth District Community and we are asking for your assistance, by volunteering to assist with the clean-ups, and as Lt. Ridlehoover previously stated “to raise awareness of littering, illegal dumping, and related crimes; the laws associated with them, and their social and environmental effects on our communities, economy, and the Potomac River”.
Clean-up Schedule
April 1st, 2015 3:00pm to 4:00pm
April 2nd, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
April 7th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
April 14th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
April 15th, 2015 4:00 to 6:00pm
April 22nd, 2015 4:00pm to 6:00pm
April 29th, 2015 3:00pm to 5:00pm
April 29th, 2015 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Fourth District Outreach will also revisit previous clean-up locations from our April 2014 clean-up schedule to determine if sanitation has been maintained and will notify the appropriate DC government agencies of any violations:
PSA 402 – Rock Creek Ford Rd
5900 block of Georgia Ave NW.
PSA 403 – The triangle and bus depot at 14th/Colorado/Kennedy
PSA 404 – 3700 9th & 3 blocks out
6000 Block of Kansas Street, NE
PSA 406 – Unit to 100 block Kennedy, Longfellow, Madison, Street NW, Chillum Place NE
PSA 407 – Rear of 5000 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
PSA 408 – 3100 block Mount Pleasant Street, Northwest
PSA 409 – 600 Newton St. NW.
In addition, there will be a Fourth District officer present at each clean-up to write citations to any litter law violators.
Brandon Todd emerged the runaway winner of last night’s straw poll for the Ward 4 council special election and received the endorsement of the Ward 4 Democrats. Several of the candidates boycotted the forum at which the straw poll was held, but all of the candidates were listed on the ballot. The Ward 4 Democrats tweeted the results.
Ward 4 Dems of DC (@Ward4DemsDC) tweeted at 10:05pm – 1 Apr 15:
@Ward4DemsDC Straw Poll~310 @brandonttodd 58 @Renee4Ward4 15 @toliverforward4 2 @DougSloan4Ward4 @brandonttodd wins 60% votes =endorsement (https://twitter.com/Ward4DemsDC/status/583450249383010304?s=17)
Ward 4 Dems of DC (@Ward4DemsDC) tweeted at 10:20 PM on Wed, Apr 01, 2015:
2/2 @Ward4DemsDC Straw Poll
1 Andrews ~ 1 Estelle Lloyd (write in) ~1 ballot=out (over-vote)~ @brandonttodd wins 60%=endorsement
(https://twitter.com/Ward4DemsDC/status/583453846917226496?s=03)
Sadly, over the weekend a house fire claimed the life of one of our Riggs Park neighbors in the 5800 block of Eastern Avenue NE. ANC 4B09 commissioner Doug Sloan has arranged a fire safety meeting with DC fire department officials tomorrow at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE) from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Fire officials will be handing out smoke detectors. Information will also be shared about how to make donations for the surviving family members.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B
202-291-6282 (Office)
FIRE SAFETY MEETING
Commissioner DOUG SLOAN, ANC 4B09
invites you to attend
A FIRE SAFETY MEETING For RIGGS PARK
Thursday, APRIL 2, 2015
7:00 Pm-9:00 PM
AT
Lasalle Backus Education Campus
501 Riggs Road NE
Come discuss fire safety with the DC Fire Dept. and ANC Doug Sloan in the aftermath of Sunday’s tragic fire that claimed the life of one of our Riggs Park neighbors. Free smoke detectors!
We will discuss ways to help the family.
Contact ANC 4B for details
Commissioner Doug Sloan, ANC 4B09
The Ward 4 Democrats are hosting a Ward 4 councilmember forum tonight at Lamond Recreation Center (20 Tuckerman Street NE). Doors open at 6:00 pm. The forum will begin at 6:30 pm.
A straw poll will also take place during the forum. From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, anyone registered to vote in ward 4 may cast a vote for the preferred candidate. The poll will be administered by the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC).
Misgivings about the straw poll have been reported, so we do not know how many of the candidates will actually appear at the forum. As far as we know, the forum and straw poll will still be taking place tonight.
Yesterday, Mayor Muriel Bowser gave her “State of the District” address. Below are her prepared remarks, copied from the mayor’s website.
—
Good evening, fellow Washingtonians. I’m here tonight, humble and proud to be your Mayor.
It is an honor to have the opportunity to deliver the 2015 State of the District Address.
Today, I am pleased to report, that the District is strong… and growing stronger.
We are one of the strongest economies in the country. We are the economic engine of the region accounting for one quarter of the job market, and in the last year, over two-thirds of its private sector job growth;
We are the number one tech hot spot and among the top ten cities for venture capital investment. Forbes Magazine even says we’re the coolest;
Wall Street knows our city finances are strong, and this year, increased our bond rating;
We are a Top 5 U.S. Cities for New Construction; Top 10 Most Walkable City in the U.S.; #2 Fittest City (we’ll catch you, Minneapolis/St-Paul!); #1 in U.S. for attracting entrepreneurial founders of companies; and the #2 Best paying U.S. City for Women;
We are home to the best new restaurant in America, and we are a Top 5 Best U.S. City for a Vacation;
No wonder we’re also one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Big cities – like the District of Columbia – have world-class schools, parks, and libraries. They are home to vibrant cultural institutions that highlight the arts and entertainment. We are making strides in these areas too.
But we all know that there is room to improve.
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on March 25, 2015. Below are highlights.
Education
At-large Councilmember David Grosso spoke about his work chairing the council’s education committee. A few priorities for him are providing wraparound services in schools, examining disciplinary practices, and making sure students get mental health services more quickly. He mentioned a bill that will require the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to annually gather data on suspensions and expulsions.
He also highlighted a bill to seal the record of nonviolent marijuana offenders. The benefit of having a record sealed is that it will not have to be disclosed on employment applications asking about criminal history.
In response to a question, Grosso spoke about his support to build a new all-boys public school to be located east of the Anacostia River as part of the District’s Empowering Men of Color initiative. (An aside: DC Attorney General Karl Racine reportedly weighed in recently with no legal objection to a public all-boys school).
MBT
Jim Sebastian of DDOT provided a look at the preliminary design for extenstion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) between Brookland and Takoma. The commissioners raised concerns about public safety, particularly with respect to the narrow off-road section planned next to the trash transfer station. Sebastian noted DDOT welcomes comments about all aspects of the trail, including suggestions for lighting, security cameras, and a call box. More information about the trail is available on the project website. Comments may be sent to jim.sebastian@dc.gov.
Brookland/Edgewood livability study
DDOT is undertaking a six-month livability study for Brookland and Edgewood to increase safety and improve transportation connectivity and accessibility in the area. A tiny part of ANC 5A is in the study area. Those in ANC 5A who live close to the study area, but not within the boundaries of the study area, are still able to be part of the conversation to address concerns that any recommendations for the study area may have. There will be a public meeting on April 9, 2015, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at Trinity Washington University Main Hall-O’Connor Auditorium (125 Michigan Avenue NE). For more information about the study and public meetings, visit the project website.
Totten Mews townhomes
Comstock Development and their counsel gave a brief presentation on Totten Mews, the planned townhome subdivision to be located near the Capital Area Food Bank and Emerson Park. They submitted a planned unit development (PUD) application and are in discussion with neighboring residents about community benefits. There was some back-and-forth about whether 6th Street will be opened up (as approved in the now expired PUD submitted by the previous landowner) and the perceived safety issue with having only one way in and one way out of the proposed development. Emerson Park and some nearby residents do not want the street opened because they do not want to deal with car traffic, while other nearby residents believe opening up the street will relieve traffic on other streets and allow a more direct route for people to reach their homes. The compromise included in the new PUD application is to open the street for bike and pedestrian access, but not vehicle access. For more information about the development, contact ANC 5A08 commissioner Angel Alston.
Miscellaneous items
The commissioners accepted the new grant procedures introduced by Commissioner Alston.
Councilmember McDuffie’s deputy chief of staff announced that arrests have been made for the recent robberies that took place on or near the MBT in Edgewood. He also mentioned that DC Water is hosting its annual ward town hall meetings during the month of April. The Ward 5 meeting will be April 9 at 6:30 pm at Noyes Education Campus (2725 10th Street NE).
Next Stop...Riggs Park 