Guest Post
On March 23, 2016, ANC 5A held its monthly community meeting at the Backus Campus of UDC’s Community College. The meeting included information on the following topics.
Robberies Have Increased All Over the City
MPD Officer Lucas reported on police activity in the Fourth District. He said that the number of robberies has increased all over DC. Officer Lucas reminded us to always be aware of our surroundings; for example, don’t be distracted by using your cell phone while crossing the street. In response to a question, he said most crime activity occurs on Metro property between the hours of 3pm and 10pm. A member of the audience asked if the crime statistics of the three police agencies – DC, WMATA and US Parks – could be consolidated to provide a more complete crime picture.
Mary’s Center Opens in the Fall
Dr. Tollie Elliott, Chief Medical Officer at Mary’s Center, announced that Briya Public Charter School, Bridges Public Charter School, and Mary’s Center will open the doors at Mary’s Center’s new facility — 100 Gallatin St. NE — this fall with comprehensive services for Fort Totten area families. Dr. Tollie was joined by Joan Yengo, Chief Program Officer, who said Mary’s Center has strong relationships with Howard and Providence Hospitals and supports
Women, Infant and Children (WIC) services. She mentioned that WIC availability will be posted once dates and times are set.
Dr. Elliot responded to audience queries with the following:
- For those interested in receiving service, walk-in slots are available, appointments are preferred;
- A kick-off date will be announced once scheduled, and Mary’s Center will operate Monday through Friday, with no weekend hours; and
- Mary’s Center is funded through various programs and grants, including DC Health Insurance and a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, which requires certification every three years.
Mary’s Center, “founded in 1988, is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides health care, family literacy and social services to individuals whose needs too often go unmet by the public and private systems.”
Report from DC Attorney General Karl Racine
DC Attorney General Karl Racine attended with several of his Office of the Attorney General (OAG) staff members. AG Racine gave an overview of the accomplishments of OAG since his election in December of 2014, and he asked for support from ANC5A residents in upcoming DC budget hearings.
The DC Attorney General’s mission is to use the law to serve the people of the District of Columbia. AG Racine “advises the Executive Branch and other District agencies, defends the city in court, and protects the city’s residents.” AG Racine has pledged to prioritize consumer protection, enforce affordable housing regulations, and find alternatives that can divert young people out of the juvenile justice system.
AG Racine addressed the following questions:
- The OAG is pursuing a case against Wal-Mart, and is about 4-weeks away from making a determination;
- Apartment managers can evict tenants for smoking marijuana if the lease contains such language;
- In two recent legal cases, the OAG supported the Budget Autonomy Act, and disagreed with a Judge’s ruling that invalidated the minimum wage ballot measure;
- The OAG is not listed within the Council Hearing on Proposed Agency Budgets document; and
- In response to a question, Mr. Racine wants the legal authority to investigate for-profit organizations.
Report from ANC5A Treasurer
ANC5A Treasurer Sandi Washington reported that the ANC submitted its Quarterly Financial Report and documentation to the Office of the DC Auditor (ODCA) on-time. Subsequently, ANC5A received its quarterly funding allotment from the DC Government.
(Note that pursuant to DC law, the “ODCA is responsible for providing financial oversight of ANCs, auditing their financial accounts, and maintaining a database of financial information on each ANC for historical and expenditure trend analysis”
Community Concerns
ANC5A on Twitter: The Commission said that it will include in future Monthly Community Meeting notices: (1) the ANC5A web addresses for Twitter and Facebook, and (2) contact information so that constituents can submit community concerns “in writing” in advance of a Monthly Community Meeting.
CSOSA Event on April 6: A Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) representative invited the community to attend CSOSA’s Fifth District Community Justice Advisory Network (CJAN) Meeting on Wednesday, April 6th (RSVP at https://csosa-5dcjan.eventbrite.com or call 202-220-5526). April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
CSOSA, a Federal agency, “directly affects public safety in DC’s neighborhoods.” CSOSA’s mission is “to enhance public safety, prevent crime and reduce recidivism among those supervised and to support the fair administration of justice in close collaboration with the community.”
Veteran’s Affairs: A representative from the Mayor’s Office of Veteran Affairs said that the Office is looking for volunteers for its Veterans Readiness Team, which supports veteran service initiatives and the Mayor’s veteran’s agenda. For more information, email mova@dc.gov or call OVA at (202) 724-5454.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
Great job on the minutes!