DC residents ages 14 to 24 can now apply to participate in DC’s 2022 summer youth employment program. The application portal opened on January 28 at 12:00 pm. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2022. Apply at https://summerjobs.dc.gov.
Metro is soliciting comment on its proposed fiscal year 2023 budget, available at https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget. Complete Metro’s budget survey by February 15, 2022.
There will also be three public hearings, one each in Virgina, DC, and Maryland, February 7, 8, and 9. Metro’s budget site and hearing notice contain instructions on how to participate by video (advanced registration required) or in person. There are instructions on how to submit comments and view the public hearings, as well as a summary of the budget proposals. Some fare and service proposals are temporary changes that Metro made last fiscal year that it is now proposing to make permanent and others are entirely new changes. Metro is also proposing to close its sales office at Metro Center.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Housing Justice Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The Committee will be meeting virtually. Details about participating in the meeting are included below:
ANC 4B – Housing Justice Committee (February)
Hosted by ANC 4B
https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=me539cd4ca1c009de50038d6b39c24d74
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022 8:00 pm | 1 hour 30 minutes | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Meeting number: 2314 699 4569
Password: Y79Tnf7ckCu
Join by video system
Dial 23146994569@dcnet.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Join by phone
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
1-650-479-3208 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
Access code: 231 469 94569
Additional information is available on the Commission’s website at https://anc4b.com/committees/housing-justice-committee/.
DC Public Library recently released a call for artists for design of a “Heritage Wall” that will be a prominent, permanent feature of the new Lamond-Riggs Library. Library officials are now seeking community input on a vision for that heritage wall. Please take some time to answer a short community questionnaire by February 11 to give your input. The link to the community questionnaire is here.
Summary from the questionnaire:
DC Public Library is commissioning a large-scale artwork for the new Lamond-Riggs Library (5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, D.C.). The artwork will be a permanent installation on the “Heritage Wall,” a two-story partition that frames the main staircase and will be highly visible to customers entering the library as well as pedestrians and drivers along South Dakota Avenue.
The chosen artist will be asked to incorporate the community’s vision and values into the artwork. The Library is gathering community input to help inform the direction of the work.
Please answer the three questions below. All responses will be shared with the artist.
This questionnaire will close on Feb. 11, 2022.
From DC Public Library
Consigli Construction has been making steady progress rebuilding your library and we are targeting a late Spring opening. Below is a quick update noting progress since mid-November and what to expect in the weeks ahead.
Construction progress update with photographs below:
What to expect in the weeks ahead?
Any general questions you receive from the community can be directed to Library’s Community engagement liaison Martha Saccocio at her email: Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.
Any time-sensitive Construction Safety issues can be reported to Consigli Construction Superintendent- Michael Davis at 202.570.3375.
Photo from South Dakota Ave. showing completed (glass) curtainwall which will receive the perforated metal Panels
Photo from Jefferson St, showing support system in place to receive metal perforated panels
Photo from Kennedy St. site showing cladding (Trespa®) panels installed
Close-up of Trespa Panels under installation from the rear.
Photo from second floor of the library looking towards corner of Jefferson and South Dakota Ave.
Photo from second floor showing infrastructure progress.
From Congresswoman Norton’s Office
Jan 24, 2022 Press Release
Town Hall will be held via Zoom on Thursday, January 27 at 6:00 p.m.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, will hold a virtual town hall on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. The town hall will focus on road safety for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and scooter users.
The event will be open to the general public and media. To attend, RSVP by emailing NortonEvents@mail.house.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26.
WHO: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
WHEN: Thursday, January 27 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Via Zoom. RSVP by emailing NortonEvents@mail.house.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26.
Councilmembers for both Wards 4 and 5 now have dedicated webpages for the ANC redistricting process in their respective wards. The task forces have to recommend ANC boundaries within the ward so that each single member district (SMD) has 2,000 residents, plus or minus five percent, so between 1,900 and 2,100 residents in each SMD.
Find information on the Ward 5 ANC redistricting process at https://kenyanmcduffieward5.wpcomstaging.com/ward-5/ward5redistricting. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie put together a redistricting task force comprised of current ANC commissioners, former ANC commissioners, and other Ward 5 residents. The task force held its first meeting on January 11, 2022. A recording is available on the redistricting page. From the recording, it is clear that a few folks on the Ward 5 task force have some experience with previous redistricting exercises.
Find information on the Ward 4 ANC redistricting process at https://janeeseward4.com/redistricting. Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George put together a redistricting task force that does not have any current ANC commissioners or individuals who currently intend to run for ANC in this year’s general election. The task force held its first meeting on January 23, 2022. A recording and presentation are available on the redistricting page.
Find general redistricting information at https://www.elissasilverman.com/redistricting.
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is soliciting input on budget priorities for Ward 5. Complete the budget survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OurWard5FY2023 by February 18, 2022.
Hard copies of the survey are available at Woodridge Library (1801 Hamlin Street NE). The survey requests input on priorities in several categories such as housing, transportation, senior services, and public safety. At the end of the survey, there is space to include other items not listed elsewhere in the survey. Here, it is useful to include support for any request (e.g., cost, a study that recommends implementing the requested action, number of residents likely impacted, etc.). For example, there are many items in the neighborhood’s area development plan that still need to be implemented. It is always a good idea to consistently request implementation of these items every year given that the plan is a consensus document developed from the input of residents, District agencies, large property owners, and other stakeholders.
The survey instructions include a handy link to a bunch of resources from the DC Council Budget Office. Currently, the mayor is expected to send her proposed budget to the Council on March 16, 2022, and the Council will hold budget hearings after that. See budget hearing schedule here.
It’s worth participating in the budget process to ask for things for the neighborhood. If we don’t ask, we don’t get.
ANC 5A Monthly Public Meeting
January 26, 2022
6:45 pm
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84468779532?pwd=VGJCRGhlQUxTdldqbDU2RXVEd2ZUUT09
Meeting ID: 844 6877 9532 Passcode: 097050
Dial In: 301 715 8592
Agenda Items
ANC 4B Regular Public Meeting
Monday, January 24, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Details:
For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://bit.ly/ANC4BmeetingJan2022. Meeting ID: 838 5511 0535. Passcode: 907742.
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 838 5511 0535. Passcode: 907742.
Agenda
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Election of Officers
C. Appointment of Representative to Walter Reed CAC
D. Consideration and Approval of January Agenda
E. Approval of November 2021 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
F. Approval of 2021 Meeting Schedule (4th Monday, except September; recess in July, August & December)
G. Approval of ANC Security Fund
H. Treasurer’s Report and Quarterly Financial Report for First Quarter FY2022
3. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)
4. Community Concerns: *Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting.* This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.
5. Reports:
A. Anthony Mitchell, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
B. Tamira Benitez, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
C. Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative (3 minutes)
D. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
E. Housing Justice Committee (2 minutes)
F. Vision Zero Committee (2 minutes)
6. Presentation: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (20 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
7. Presentation: Michael Alvino & Charlie Alexander, District Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Branch Trail, Blair Road to Piney Branch Road (10 minute presentation; 10 minute discussion)
8. Presentation: Stephen Akyereko, Outreach Coordinator, DC Water, Lead Free DC (10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
9. Consent Calendar:
Letter: Oversight of the District Department of Transportation (Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Palmer & Commissioner Brooks)
Resolution 4B-22-0101: Supporting and Providing Feedback on the Walk Without Worry Amendment Act of 2021 and the Safe Routes to School Expansion Regulation Amendment Act of 2021 (Commissioner Palmer & Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-22-0102: Supporting Construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail from Fort Totten to Takoma (Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-22-0103: Requesting the District of Columbia Provide High-Quality Masks to Schools and Other Communities in Need (Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-22-0104: Reauthorizing Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Housing Justice Committee (Commissioner Palmer)
Resolution 4B-22-0105: Reauthorizing Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Vision Zero Committee (Commissioner Brooks & Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-22-0106: Reauthorizing Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Community Safety and Support Committee (Commissioner Tiffani Nichole Johnson)
Letter of Support to Rename Lamond-Riggs Library in Honor of Lillian J. Huff (Commissioner Huff)
Resolution 4B-22-0107: Supporting Rapid Tests to be Delivered to Seniors and Homebound Residents (Commissioner Huff) 10. Resolution 4B-22-0108: Supporting Renovation of 145 Kennedy Street, NW (Commissioner Brooks)
11. Adjournment
Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, February 28, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Jocelynn Johnson (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Graham Button (4B05@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B06 Tiffani Nichole Johnson (4B06@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B07 Geoff Bromaghim (4B07@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B08 Alison Brooks (4B08@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B09 LaRoya Huff (4B09@anc.dc.gov)
A neighbor told me last night that the Chick-fil-A signage was installed so I took a quick picture today from the 3rd Street side. It is a little hard to tell from the picture, but there is bit of landscaping installed behind the construction fencing.
Now that the new ward boundaries for DC are in place, it is time to turn to redistricting for Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) boundaries. (Note that the ward map signed into law keeps the northern Ward 5 boundaries intact). The DC Council Redistricting Subcommittee has released information about the ANC redistricting process, available at https://www.elissasilverman.com/redistricting. Each ward councilmember is responsible for putting together a ward level task force to recommend ANC boundaries. According to the information listed on the redistricting website, each ANC single member district (SMD) must have between 1,900 and 2,100 residents.
Expected Timeline
Task force meeting dates are already listed for Ward 5, but not Ward 4 just yet.
It is not clear who is on the Ward 5 ANC redistricting task force.
In December, Greater Greater Washington published a piece about potential Ward 5 ANC configurations. We shall see what the task force comes up with.
The DC Council has begun performance oversight hearings for District government agencies. This is a good opportunity to let the Council know both the good and the bad with respect to agencies and offer suggestions for improvement. The schedule is available at https://dccouncil.us/2021-2022-performance-oversight-fy-2023-budget-schedules. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the hearing notice to find out how to testify live or submit written testimony for each committee.
As an aside, I sometimes question the extent to which Council staffers actually read written testimony that is not accompanied by oral testimony. A couple of months ago, there was some discussion about the extent to which having virtual hearings during the pandemic increased public participation. It is nice having virtual hearing options. What would also be nice and a means to facilitating public participation is making sure the Council reads written testimony that is submitted for the record. It is probably easier to pay attention to oral testimony, especially when it comes from repeat players and questions can be asked. But I also think well done written testimony can be really valuable if people pay attention to it. And also, while it does take time to write, one can do so without having to take leave from work, unlike with live testimony.
In any case, go ahead and check out the performance oversight schedule and comment to your heart’s delight.
From ANC 4B
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Vision Zero Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Committee will be meeting virtually. Details about participating in the meeting are included below:
ANC 4B – Vision Zero Committee (January) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82130002786?pwd=SzV4cW9Cc0ZKRmJLSFZSL3ZmRWxWdz09.
Meeting ID: 821 3000 2786. Passcode: 054243.
One tap mobile +19292056099,,82130002786#,,,,*054243# US (New York) +13017158592,,82130002786#,,,,*054243# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 821 3000 2786 Passcode: 054243 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyz2FU9uY.
Additional information is available on the Commission’s website: https://anc4b.com/committees/vision-zero-committee/.
From DC Public Library
DC Public Library is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to engage individual artists, designers, and art/design teams for the design of a permanent work of public art for the new Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE, Washington, DC.
The Artists shall respond with professional qualifications in addition to proposals for the artwork, which will be a permanent installation on the “Heritage Wall,” a two-story partition that frames the main staircase and will be highly visible to customers entering the library as well as pedestrians and drivers along South Dakota Avenue.
The new Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library will open in Spring 2022. The new building is being designed and built by the team of Hammel, Green & Abrahamson, Inc. (HGA) & Consigli Construction.
RFQ Submission Deadline: February 7, 2022, by 2 p.m. EST
Award Amount: $7,500
There has been a bit of turnover with the mayor’s office community liaisons (MOCRs) for Ward 5. Christopher Ingram has replaced Kyla Woods. Nokomis Hunter remains with the office. The MOCRs are there to assist residents with issues with District agencies. They are often a helpful, pleasant group of people to work with. Contact information for both Ward 5 MOCRs below.
Nokomis Hunter
Email: nokomis.hunter@dc.gov
Cell phone: (202) 251-5049
Christopher Ingram
Email: christopher.ingram@dc.gov
Cell phone: (202) 394-4399
Next Stop...Riggs Park 