Monthly Archives: February 2021

Reminder February 4: DPR Ward 4 Parks & Rec Center Meeting; Complete the Citywide Survey

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

DPR Ready2Play Ward 4 Virtual Meeting
Thursday, February 4, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm RSVP

This Thursday, February 4, is your opportunity to discuss the particular parks and rec centers in Ward 4 that you would like to see prioritized for future capital improvements and to share your ideas on the types of recreational programming, park design, and priorities you would like to see addressed in the Ready2Play plan. The District Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) will share findings from its recent Ready2Play Citywide Survey and senior staff from DPR will be on hand to hear suggestions. So if you want to see more improvements at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center, now’s your chance to share with DPR.

ALSO, DPR is reopening the citywide survey in order to get more input from more residents. So, if you missed filling it out the first time around, now is your chance to tell DC officials your ideas for parks and recreation centers in the District. Go ahead and let DC officials know you’d like to see a trail and other context-respectful amenities at Fort Circle Park. Let them know that you’d like to see the green space in front of Food & Friends programmed for community space such as an art park or history park or any number of things. Remind them that these requests are outlined in the neighborhood’s area development plan. Complete the survey at https://ready2playdc.com/citywide-survey by March 1, 2021.

Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Exemption

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

Theoretically, the District Department of Public Works (DPW) enforces a law that requires residents to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their property within a certain of amount of time following a winter storm. Residents ages 65 years and older as well as residents with a disability may apply for a sidewalk shoveling exemption. The exemption lasts for two consecutive snow seasons. The current exemption runs from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. The deadline to apply for this two year period is February 28, 2021.

I have no idea if DPW is actually enforcing this law during the public health emergency or if it has ever really enforced this law. In any case, let your eligible neighbor know, or better yet shovel off your eligible neighbor’s walk if you can. Residents can also sign up for assistance removing snow through the snow removal waitlist.

January 27, 2021 ANC 5A Meeting Recap: Ward 5 Budget; Verizon 5G; Library; Ward 5 Mutual Aid

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on January 27, 2021, to kick off its new term. Commissioners present: Damion McDuffie (5A01); Charles Lockett (5A02); Emily Singer Lucio (5A03); Ronnie Edwards (5A05); Derrick Holloway (5A06); Sandi Washington (5A07); Gordon Fletcher (5A08). The seat for ANC 5A04, which covers Catholic University, remains vacant.

ANC Business

The ANC voted by acclamation to retain the ANC officers from the previous term:

  • Chair – Commissioner Ronnie Edwards
  • Vice Chair – Commissioner Gordon Fletcher
  • Secretary – Commissioner Emily Singer Lucio
  • Treasurer – Commissioner Sandi Washington

All were sworn in by Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.

The ANC is still working on its required 2019-2020 annual reports. Commissioner Edwards expects to complete the review in a week or two and post to the ANC’s website at https://www.anc5a.org.

Commissioner Lucio has reached out to Ward 5 businesses to get bids to update and maintain the ANC’s website.

The ANC approved getting upgraded phones for commissioners.

The ANC has keys to its new office space at the Modern at Art Place. At its executive meeting in February, the ANC will discuss furnishing the space and use of the space.

Public Safety Report

There continues to be a lot of cases of stolen vehicles and carjackings all over the city, so MPD is sharing tips on prevention in meetings and various media (see MPD’s stolen auto prevention page and carjackings page). Do not leave your car running unattended. Lock your car doors.

There has been a spike in shootings in Riggs Park and North Michigan Park. MPD 4D Lieutenant Patrick Schaut outlined when gunfire discharges are classified as “incidents” (when there are reports of gunfire but no evidence of discharge, such as shell casings, injuries, or property damage), “unlawful discharge” (evidence of gunfire), or “assault with a deadly weapon”. This is my understanding of what he said, but it might be slightly off. The upshot is that even though residents will clearly hear gunshots and call 911, if those reports end up being a mere incident report because there is no evidence of discharge, then they will not show up on DC’s Crime Cards website. Or if someone is clearly shooting at someone, but the person who is the target does not report any injury or state that they are a victim, then that shooting will not be classified as an assault with a deadly weapon because there is “no victim.” So, we know we will continue to hear incredulous statements that violent crime is down when we hear gunshots several nights in a row.

The ANC spent a lot of minutes discussing tentatively scheduling an ANC 5A public safety meeting for February 17, 2021, so stayed tuned for notice of when that will actually take place. The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association will discuss the recent Riggs Park shootings at its public meeting on February 1, 2021, at 7:00 pm. Lots of discussing going on.

Ward 5 Report

Silas Grant, Senior Advisor to Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie, noted the many issues with the coronavirus vaccine distribution. Councilmember McDuffie’s office observed operations at vaccination sites and made recommendations for improvements.

The Ward 5 budget survey is out. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/McDuffie to provide input on Ward 5 budget requests.

Councilmember McDuffie facilitated an agreement with Providence to provide 50 parking spaces for EYA’s construction team during construction hours for the Josephite townhome development project (The Townhomes at Michigan Park) that is going up across the street from Providence. Commissioner Lucio will hold a single member district meeting on February 4 in part to discuss construction issues related to that project.

There is a new office to review all things equity with respect to District government, legislation and budget. The Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE), a product of the REACH Act authored by Councilmember McDuffie, is led by former McDuffie staffer Brian McClure.

Mayor’s Office Ward 5 Report

For information related to registering for the coronavirus vaccination, visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccinatedc. Residents in priority zip codes will be able to register for appointments a day earlier than everyone else. Hospitals/health systems receive vaccination dosages apart from the DC Department of Health, so they are now reaching out to their patient populations to schedule vaccination appointments.

Verizon 5G Installation

Verizon states it is deploying 5G technology (small cell technology) throughout DC to increase capacity and speed. A handful will be deployed in ANC 5A. The District Department of Transportation must approve applications to install this technology in public space.

Verizon plans to install 5G technology in the vicinity of 12th and Emerson Street NE. There was a protracted discussion about whether Verizon provided proper notice to residents. Verizon used certified mail, so residents who were not home when the notice was delivered did not receive it. A resident stated Verizon should have used priority mail, and that Verizon should not be able to proceed because it still needs to provide notice to those residents who missed the certified delivery. Some residents would like Verizon to install the technology elsewhere rather than in this residential area because they are unsure of the health effects of the technology. The ANC will schedule a special meeting about this issue. Residents can reach out to Candace Austin at candace.austin@verizon.com and visit https:www.improveyourwireless.com/DC for more information.

(Aside: Verizon has previously discussed its 5G rollout at ANC meetings. Verizon installed 5G small cell technology on Riggs Road NE. )

New Lamond-Riggs Library

View DC Public Library’s presentation to the ANC here.

Demolition of the old Lamond-Riggs Library and removal of debris continues. Permitted work hours are 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Saturday, but actual work hours during demolition are 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday. No work is being done in the alley behind the library. For any emergency or site safety issues, contact (202) 570-3375.

Martha Saccocio is the library’s community liaison for the project. Questions about the project can be directed to her at martha.saccocio@dc.gov or (202) 604-8241.

The project website is https://www.dclibrary.org/newlamondriggs.

UDC CAUSES

Patricia Bon is the new master gardener coordinator and extension agent at the Bertie Backus Food Hub. Her contact information is patricia.bon@udc.edu or (202) 941-7923.

Ward 5 Mutual Aid Needs Space for Supplies

Ward 5 Mutual Aid organizers are looking for space to store supplies. They will need space as of February 15. They can be reached at ward5mutualaid@gmail.com or (202) 643-7030.

Miscellaneous

I might have forgotten some things or mixed some things up. This meeting was very, very long. In-person meetings at UDC Backus had to end at 9:00 pm. Since meetings went virtual, they have ended well past 9:00. The meetings are now being recorded, but I do not know where residents can view them.

The next meeting will be February 24, 2021.