We sent a list of questions to candidates seeking to represent areas of the neighborhood on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Tischa Cockrell is a candidate for ANC 4B09. The seat is currently vacant. The other candidate seeking to represent ANC 4B09 did not respond to the questionnaire. The general election is November 8, 2016. Early voting started at Judiciary Square on October 22. On October 28, early voting begins at Takoma Community Center (300 Van Buren Street NW).

1. Please provide a brief introduction of yourself to the community.

My name is Tischa Cockrell. I own my home on Chillum Place, NE and have been a very active member of the Lamond-Riggs community and Ward 4.  I have lived in the District for 22 years.  Currently, I am serving my second (two-year) term as the Second Vice President of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA).

I also serve as Chair of the Youth Development/Recreation Committee of LRCA, I work to distribute the neighborhood newsletter, serve as a member of the LRCA Development Task Force, and Chair the Recreation Committee for the ANC4B as well as having held office in other organizations throughout the city.

2. If elected, what will be your top priorities for your two-year term?

My top priorities for my term as ANC will be:

• Public Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Senior and Youth activities
• Health and wellness
• Upkeep and maintenance of our streets, sidewalks, buildings, and overall community.

3. There is a lot of development happening in Lamond-Riggs. Please provide specific ways in which you will involve the community in shaping the development that is occurring.

I would involve the community in shaping our upcoming development by keeping up meeting attendance and encouraging community meeting attendance such as the LRCA Development Task Force.  We should all also be available for meetings and hearings in regards to the development of  our community, communicate directly as much as possible with DC government and developers, listening for input, discussing and sharing ideas, likes/dislikes, wants and wishes, conducting surveys etc of and with the actual residents of our community.

4. In what ways do you believe that the development currently taking place is and/or is not compatible with the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue Small Area Plan?

I believe the development that is currently taking place is compatible on one hand and not on the other.  I have heard from residents who seem to be happy with having a place to shop for groceries and other necessary items right in the community as there was a need and they appreciate its presence.

However, in my opinion, it seems the development that is currently taking place may not have been so compatible as promises may have been made in regards to other retail, parking, security, etc that did not become reality.  Traffic and safety seem to have become of great concern and the use of the space given has come up for questioning as well.  Hopefully, we can fully engage the community and its leadership in future developments in enough time to look at the entire plan from all sides.

5. What specific steps would you propose taking to continue implementing the small area plan?

Specific steps that I foresee myself proposing to continue implementing the small area plan are:

• Being sure we as a community are available and stay in front of developers and the city through our involvement with the LRCA Development Task Force
• Assembling with the community at regularly scheduled Single Member District (SMD) meetings
• Consulting with District government officials to express our concerns and learn what they have planned
• Conducting surveys and market research of our community via the residents and other resources to assist us such as DDOT, outside companies that specialize in conducting analysis
• Compiling data useful to the residents and the community, etc.

6. What responsibility do you believe the ANC has in formally responding to citywide proposals, such as Metro’s proposed permanent reduction in operating hours and DC’s Office of Planning proposal to update the Comprehensive Plan?

It is listed via the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), that DC government agencies are required to consider ANC proposals and recommendations.  The ANC’s responsibility regarding formal responses to citywide proposals should be, to be willing and able to write along with the input of the other ANC’s in 4B and to create legible and intelligent recommendations and resolutions that help shape the long-term planning success of District communities.

As the current Chair of an ANC standing committee (the Recreation Committee of ANC4B), I have already written recommendations for review by the ANC that have been used to assist the Commissioners in creating resolutions that shape the decisions of District agencies.

It is also an ANC’s responsibility to research the issue, include the community and the agencies involved, and draft a recommendation based on facts and legitimate concerns of the community while being fair and reasonable.  An ANC must be mindful to be concerned for the best interest of their constituents.

7. For ANC 4B specifically, how do you propose to improve the representation provided by the commission for its residents?

As ANC for SMD 4B09, I propose to improve the representation provided by the commission by actually being present and listening to the residents.  Bringing each of their issues to the table of the Commissioners while also being professional and polite yet, assertive and knowledgeable of my SMD constituent’s needs, concerns and wishes.

I will also bring a level of understanding on exactly how the Commission works having already been involved as chair of an ANC4B standing committee.  While serving our community as the Second Vice President of Lamond-Riggs, I rarely missed meetings and have also rarely missed an ANC meeting as a standing meeting chair.

Speaking with the community and keeping constituents abreast is a must!  Standing community SMD meetings will be held to review items discussed in the ANC meetings as well as issues from the LRCA meetings, etc.

Another task I feel strongly that the ANC should be responsible for is having a report with the DC agency heads.  Reaching out to them when necessary is something I commonly do.  It is important for them to know who you are and that they have had a pleasant experience with you yet, they know you are there to represent your community as an ANC.

8. Why do you believe you are best prepared to represent the residents of ANC 4B?

I believe that I am best prepared to represent the residents of ANC4B09 because I have been already working diligently within the community.  As soon as I arrived to the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood I went to work.  I learned my neighbors, I joined the LRCA, I took office, I chaired a committee, I volunteered to disseminate the neighborhood newsletter, I joined the Development Task Force, etc.

After becoming chair for the ANC4B standing committee, I started building a report and meeting the directors and leaders of many DC agencies.  Shortly thereafter, I learned to write recommendations for resolutions.  I’ve written several recommendations for the Commission and received the attention of members of DPR.  Using those same skills, I was able to bring those DPR leaders to our Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center to address issues that had been long ignored such as the conditions of our equipment and computers.  Through these activities, I’ve had the pleasure of sitting in several different kinds of community meetings, speaking with the seniors and youth about what they’d like to see and what their interests are.

I’ve also held offices for other organizations all over the city that put me in touch with other community leaders and to hear and discuss things they are doing that could help us here in Lamond-Riggs as well.  Past and present positions held have been and currently are:

• Recording Secretary for the DC Federation of Democratic Women
• Member of the Metropolitan Women’s Democratic Club
• Financial Secretary and Membership Chair of the DC Federation of Civic Associations
• Volunteer for the Presidential Inauguration committee

Having been privy to all these tasks, organizations, responsibilities, and positions puts in me in great spot to become Commissioner of our ANC4B09.