Author Archives: nextstoprp

MoveDC 2021 Transportation Plan Survey

Posted by nextstoprp in Transportation

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is updating its moveDC long-range transportation plan. You might have taken a survey for the 2021 update at the end of 2020 as highlighted in this post. DDOT is out with another survey for the 2021 update (also referred to as the second phase). This one is super short. Take advantage of the opportunity to leave comments by clicking on the comment icon in the survey. Complete the survey here by March 31, 2021.

The project website for the moveDC 2021 update is wemovedc.org. The first phase of the moveDC plan was rolled out in 2014. You can view implementation progress of the 2014 plan here. If you missed the February townhalls, you can view the presentations at wemovedc.org.

Reminder: Complete Budget Surveys

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Seems like it is survey season. Please take a moment to complete Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Ward 5 budget survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/McDuffie. Complete this survey by noon on February 19.

Also, please take a moment to complete Mayor Muriel Bowser’s budget survey at budget.dc.gov.

This is the time to request that specific neighborhood items and other items you believe are a priority be funded.

February 24: ANC 5A Monthly Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC 5A Public Meeting
February 24, 2021
6:45 pm

(Note: The “DDOT Refresher” referred to in item 2 on the agenda is a presentation from DDOT. The agency requested time to present to the new commissioners on how the agency works. The bikeshare station referred to in item 3 on the agenda is for a proposed location near South Dakota Avenue and Decatur Street NE.)

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84404462291?pwd=MkpjeWRTT1ZHQkk0NFcrTGk5SEdIZz09

Meeting ID: 844 0446 2291    
Passcode: 641962
Dial In: 301 715 8592

Agenda Items

  1. Catholic University of America Construction Update
  2. DDOT Refresher
  3. Bike Share
  4. DC Bilingual PCS

February 22: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting (Virtual)

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Public Meeting
February 22, 2021
7:00 pm

Virtual Meeting Details:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://streetjustice-news.zoom.us/j/84214249196?pwd=c3E0bzJmMFpoQ1JwVWFtNmhsVkduUT09. Meeting ID: 842 1424 9196. Password: 964318.

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 842 1424 9196. Password: 964318.
To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/vT_b-N09_E0.

Agenda

1. Call to Order & Roll Call

2. Administrative Items:
A. Instructions re Participation in Virtual Meeting
B. Consideration and Approval of February Agenda
C. Approval of January Regular Public Meeting Minutes
D. Treasurer’s Report

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. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 minutes)
B. Anthony Mitchell, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (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)

6. Presentation: Susan Davis, East Rock Creek Village, Assistance for Individuals 65+ with COVID-19 (coronavirus) Vaccination Appointments (10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

7. Presentation: Gerard Brown, Program Manager, District Department of Health, Rodent Control (10 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

8. Presentation: Sayra Molina, Program Analyst – Community Engagement, District Department of Transportation, Overview of Programs (5 minute presentation; 1 minute discussion)

9. Consent Calendar:

  • Resolution 4B-21-0201: Calling for Improved Mechanisms to Address Abandoned Cars (Commissioner Palmer)
  • Resolution 4B-21-0202: Requesting Installation of Speed Humps on the 300 Block of Longfellow Street, NW (Commissioner Johnson)
  • Resolution 4B-21-0203: Requesting Traffic Calming Within Single Member District 4B04 (Commissioner Parks)

10. Resolution 4B-21-0104: Providing Feedback On and Expressing Opposition to WMATA Proposed Budget and Service Cuts in Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B (Commissioner Yeats – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

11. Resolution 4B-21-0105: Establishing Recreation and Community Spaces Committee (Commissioner Huff – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)

12. Resolution 4B-21-0106: Providing Feedback on 65% Design of Metropolitan Branch Trail from Fort Totten to Takoma (Commissioner Bromaghim – 2 minute presentation; 2 minute discussion)

13. Adjournment

Next Regular Public Meeting: Monday, March 22, 2021, 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 (vacant); 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)

February 18: ANC 5A01 SMD Meeting with ANC Commissioner Damion McDuffie

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

ANC Commissioner Damion McDuffie, Sr. (5A01) will hold his first single member district meeting (SMD) this Thursday, February 18, at 6:30 pm. The meeting will address the increase in gun related crimes in the SMD. Send any questions to Commissioner McDuffie at 5A01@anc.dc.gov.

Agenda below

—

ANC 5A01 Community Meeting 

Thursday Feb 18, 2021 6:30-7:30PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82566072676?pwd=UUxmbDlZbGVkcGNoUUNNNWdGMVVQZz09

Meeting ID: 825 6607 2676 

Passcode: 401487 

Dial by your location    1 301 715 8592 

Meeting ID: 825 6607 2676 

Passcode: 401487 

AGENDA  

  1. Welcome & Opening Remarks 
  2. Councilmember McDuffie’s Office 
  3. Fourth District Metropolitan Police Department 
  4. The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement  
  5. Community Q & A 
  6. Closing Remarks/Next Steps 

     

    *Please make sure you are on the call in plenty of time for your presentation. 

    *To stay within an hour, please try to limit your questions so everyone can be heard. Any unanswered concerns can be forwarded to 5A01@anc.dc.gov 

Riggs-LaSalle Rec Playground Progress

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

A neighbor passed along photos of installation of the new playground at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (501 Riggs Road NE). The playground will be located on the Nicholson Street side of the rec. Looks like the playground equipment is on site. Benches, drinking fountain, surface, and plantings are still to come. This will be a nice treat for families to enjoy when the weather turns this spring.

Photo credit: Gavin Baker
Photo credit: Gavin Baker

Daycare Construction

Posted by nextstoprp in Cafritz Art Place at Fort Totten

As noted in this post, Love & Care Child Development Center expects to open soon at The Modern at Art Place on Galloway Street NE. The daycare applied for a certificate of occupancy on January 12, 2021. Residents might have seen construction taking place outside the building this week. I have been told that is being done to install a wheelchair access ramp for the daycare center.

Installation of wheelchair ramp at 402 Galloway Street NE

Lamond Recreation Center will be Coronavirus Vaccination Site

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

Today, District officials announced that the District will begin using Lamond Recreation Center for coronavirus vaccine administration for individuals booking appointments through the city’s portal at vaccinate.dc.gov. Expect to see increased activity around that area next week.

—

From the press release:

DC Health Announces that Approximately 2,500 Vaccination Appointments Will Become Available to Residents in Priority Zip Codes on Thursday, February 11

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

(Washington, DC) – Today, DC Health announced that on Thursday, February 11 at 9:00 am, approximately 2,500 vaccination appointments will be made available to DC residents who live in priority zip codes and are 65 years old or older and/or work in a health care setting.

The priority zip codes are focused in Wards 5, 7, and 8 and include: 20422, 20011, 20017, 20018, 20002, 20001, 20019, 20020, 20032, 20593. Priority zip codes include areas of the city where residents are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including number of cases and mortality rate. Wards 5, 7, and 8 are being prioritized because they have the lowest percentages of residents who are 65 and older who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

On Friday, February 12 at 9 am, DC Health will make approximately 2,500 additional appointments available for all District residents who are 65 years of age and older and/or health care workers in DC.

To date, more than 1 in 3 DC seniors have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Additionally, due to increased vaccination operations and a need for more space, beginning Monday, February 15, the District will begin using the Lamond Recreation Center instead of the Hattie Holmes Wellness Center. Beginning with this Thursday’s appointment release, appointments beginning on Tuesday, February 16 will be booked at the Lamond Recreation Center. DC Health will work with Safeway to notify all individuals currently scheduled for second doses at Hattie Holmes of the change, and signage and personnel will also be on site at Hattie Holmes to assist with the transition.

The following populations are now receiving the vaccine in Washington, DC: individuals who work in health care settings; members of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department; residents of long-term and intermediate care facilities and residents of community residential facilities/group homes; DC residents who are 65 years old and older; individuals experiencing homelessness; members of the Metropolitan Police Department; Continuity of District Government personnel; Department of Corrections employees and residents; teachers and staff who are, or will be, working in person at a traditional or public charter school; and child care workers and teachers and staff at independent schools in DC.

Updates to the vaccinate.dc.gov Portal and Coronavirus Call Center

DC Health and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer continue working together, using feedback from the community, to improve the process of booking a vaccination appointment through vaccinate.dc.gov and the Coronavirus Call Center.

Improvements going into effect tomorrow include:

  • The Call Center will have access to a dedicated supply of appointments to ensure that more residents who are only able to book an appointment by phone are successfully able to do so.
  • Regardless of whether they booked their appointment online or over the phone, residents will now be able to call the Call Center to confirm their appointments or have their confirmation resent to their email.
  • A new “Book Appointment” button will decrease confusion when users are selecting a vaccination site; previously, users would need to click on the site name, but that was not clear in the instructions. This new button is screen reader accessible and clarifies any confusion on how to select a site to book an appointment.
  • The instructions for booking an appointment are now within a highly visible “border box” that highlights their visibility.
  • The portal now clarifies that the user must consider their time zone when selecting an appointment; this will help users who do not live in DC, but are helping book an appointment for a family member who is a DC resident. The confirmation email will show the appointment in Eastern Standard Time.

On Thursday morning, more than 230 call takers will be available to help residents make appointments over the phone. It is still recommended that residents with internet access use the vaccinate.dc.gov portal to make an appointment.

Neighborhood Shootings

Posted by nextstoprp in Public Safety

There was yet another shooting in the neighborhood. This time around 10:30 am today near Hamilton Street NE and Ingraham Street NE. Last week, there were shootings literally four days in a row near Jefferson Street NE. They took a break for the snowstorm and started again after the snowstorm. Meetings are happening, but neither MPD nor DC officials are going to say publicly exactly what they are doing to address this very real public health and safety threat. Nor do they have a clear public answer for why there is this recent spike in shootings, providing answers such as individuals being released from prison who are being targeted by violence or individuals who have committed offenses such as robberies who are now being targeted in retaliation, but they are not going to give details on investigations in any public setting.

What they will say publicly is that they strongly encourage residents to take advantage of the city’s private security rebate program to receive reimbursement for the purchase and installation of security cameras on homes. Residents receiving public assistance may receive a voucher for purchase and installation of cameras. In addition, eligible seniors and persons with disabilities may receive private security cameras at no charge through the DC Department of Aging and Community Living.

Residents can text tips to MPD at 50411.

And residents should feel free to express their concerns and suggestions for addressing this issue to DC officials:

Mayor Bowser Chief of Staff John Falcicchio – john.falcicchio@dc.gov
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie – kenyan.mcduffie@dccouncil.us
Acting Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice Christopher Geldhart – christopher.geldart@dc.gov with a copy to community outreach specialist Jasmin Benab at jasmin.benab@dc.gov
Interim MPD Chief Robert Contee – robert.contee@dc.gov

Hopefully we as a neighborhood can get a handle on these now daily shootings being perpetrated by known individuals to the community.

Reminder February 8: DPR Ward 5 Parks & Rec Meeting; Complete the Citywide Survey

Posted by nextstoprp in Recreation

DPR Ready2Play Ward 5 Virtual Meeting
Monday, February 8, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm RSVP

Monday, February 8, is your opportunity to discuss the particular parks and rec centers in Ward 5 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. This is our chance to let DPR know that we would like to see collaboration with National Park Service to get a trail at Fort Circle Park at South Dakota Avenue and Galloway Street NE. This is also our chance to let DPR know that we would like to see the green space in front of Food & Friends on the southwest corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE preserved for community recreation space. We have the ability to work with stakeholders and developers to develop a vision for both spaces.

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. Want to see more amenities in Riggs Park, such as tennis courts, or a pool, or a skate park? Let DPR know. Complete the survey at https://ready2playdc.com/citywide-survey by March 1, 2021.

Neighborhood Eats

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

Neighborhood breweries continue to provide food options in this neighborhood with very few.

Hellbender Weekend Hours

Hellbender Brewing Company (5788 2nd Street NE) currently has a regular lineup featuring Grassfed Griddle on Thursdays, Timber Pizza on Fridays and Saturdays, and We Rise Bread Company on Sundays. You can stay warm at one of the outdoor tables with firepits and newly installed patio heaters nearby. Or stop by and order your food to go.

In Lamond, 3 Stars Brewing Company (6400 Chillum Place NW) has teamed up with Rose’s Luxury for pickup options. In addition, you can find a rotating cast of popup options.

And as always, our neighborhood coffee shop Culture Coffee Too (300 Riggs Road NE) is open Tuesday through Saturday for coffee, tea, and sandwiches.

DC Smart Street Lighting: Solving the Digital Divide

Posted by nextstoprp in Uncategorized

By Robert Oliver (Contributor)

Did you know that the District of Columbia government has been working on dramatically increasing access to free W-Fi since January 2017? This work is being done through the DC Smart Street Lighting program to replace approximately 75,000 streetlights bulbs with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). This project also includes “installing wireless access points across the District, improving the DC-NET Wi-Fi program.” More detailed information on the Smart Street Program can be found here.

On January 24, 2017, the District of Columbia government hosted an industry forum to discuss the concept of the Smart Street Lighting program. The information flyer is available here. Today, the program is still ongoing. However, the capacity of DC-Net has been increased with the installation of new wireless access hubs throughout the city.  DC-Net now offers an online map of its free Wi-Fi network.  By just entering your address, you can see the Wi-Fi access hubs nearest you. 

While the digital divide still exists, DC-Net has made free Wi-Fi more accessible through the DC Smart Street Lighting program.

DC Net Public Wifi Map

Mayor Office Budget Engagement Forums

Posted by nextstoprp in Ward 4, Ward 5

Mayor Muriel Bowser is holding four budget engagement forums this month, including one specifically for seniors. For more information, visit budget.dc.gov.

I attended one of these exercises several years ago. I think it was informative insofar as providing a snapshot of how resources are allocated in the budget and how budget decisions get made. The pandemic presents a huge challenge, so it will be interesting to see what the mayor’s budget ends up looking like.

In addition, remember to fill out Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Ward 5 budget survey by February 19 to provide input on his budget requests to the mayor.

Upcoming Council Oversight Hearings

Posted by nextstoprp in Council

Have thoughts about how DDOT is doing? Want to give praise to DCPL? DC Council agency performance oversight hearings are coming up. Instructions on how to participate or submit testimony are at the end of the public hearing notice.

In addition, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George is asking residents for input regarding the oversight hearings. Councilmember Lewis George sits on the Committee on Human Services; Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs; Committee on Labor and Workforce Development; and the Committee on Transportation and the Environment. Share your input via this google form and be as detailed as possible.

February 8: ANC 4B Housing Justice Committee

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

From ANC 4B

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B’s Housing Justice Committee will meet on Monday, February 8, 2021, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Committee will be meeting virtually. Details about participating/watching the meeting are included below:

For video participation via Zoom on a computer or mobile device, click this link: https://streetjustice-news.zoom.us/j/81882674590?pwd=V3h0RUw0bmJHV1RrNnhiMVVpamthdz09. Meeting ID: 818 8267 4590. Password: 488799. 

For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592. Meeting ID: 818 8267 4590. Password: 488799. 
To watch (but not participate) via YouTube: https://youtu.be/1dCp0ZxC8rQ. 

Additional information is available on the Commission’s website at https://anc4b.com/committees/housing-justice-committee/.

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.

Next Stop Neighbors: ANC 5A01 Commissioner Damion McDuffie, Sr.

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 5A

By David Kosub (Contributor)

After many months away, Next Stop Neighbors has returned….well, virtually at least. Please join me in welcoming the new commissioner for ANC 5A01 for this next podcast conversation. Damion McDuffie, Sr. is excited to get going in this role and has some ideas he would like to share with the community, from addressing recent public safety concerns, brainstorming with neighbors at Single Member District meetings, skull jewelry, and more.  Click here to listen (running time: 12 minutes)*

*P.S.: You can reach Mr. McDuffie at 5A01@anc.dc.gov or at (202) 948-9777

ANC Commissioner Damion McDuffie, Sr. (5A01)

Background on Next Stop Neighbors:

Welcome to Next Stop Neighbors where we get an opportunity to hear the voices behind the faces and places in Lamond-Riggs and the surrounding communities. Through this podcast series, you will meet some friendly neighbors and hear their perspectives on the community through civil, casual conversations. From the small business owner who just opened up, to the non-profit organization trying to make a difference, to the community leader describing their vision for the neighborhood, and the resident around the corner who has lived here for 50 years, we all have a story to tell. We welcome recommendations and, better yet, your own 10-minute interviews too!

Can’t get enough Next Stop Neighbors? Check out these past conversations for more:

Supporting Our Small Businesses during the Pandemic  (March 2020)
Dr. Kenny Gibbs (January 2020)
Jamal Gray with Meow Wolf (November 2019)
Robert “The Library Guy” Oliver (October 2019)
Soon-to-Be Moms and Soon-to-Be Dads (September 2019)
Explore! Children’s Museum (August 2019)
Troka Insurance (July 2019)
Ms. V and Culture Coffee Too (July 2019)
Bertie Backus Urban Food Hub (June 2019)
LRCA Forward Team (April 2019)
Ramdass Pharmacy (March 2019