Category Archives: ANC 4B

January 27: ANC 4B Monthly Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, January 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

MPD 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Agenda

1.        Call to Order & Roll Call 

2.        Administrative Items:A. Election of Officers
B. Appointment of Representative to Walter Reed CAC
C. Approval of 2020 Meeting Schedule (4th Monday, except May [26th]; recess in July, August, December)
D. Approval of ANC Security Fund
E. Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Quarterly Financial Report for the First Quarter 2020
F. Approval of Rules of Procedure
G. Approval of November Regular Public Meeting Minutes
H. Consideration and Approval of January Agenda
I. Commissioner Updates (if applicable)

3.        Reports: 

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)

B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)

C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)

D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)

4.        Community Concerns: 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.

5.        Presentation: Just Pay Coalition, “Pay Stub” Clinic (Commissioner Redd – 3 minute presentation; 4 minute discussion)

6.        Presentation: Rocketship Public Charter School Expansion (Commissioners Yeats & Huff – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion) [invited]

7.        Consent Calendar:

Resolution 4B-20-0101: Supporting Increased Funding and Expansion of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Motor Carrier Unit (Commissioner Yeats)

Resolution 4B-20-0102: Resolution Supporting Accessory Garage Structure at 6223 8th Street, NW (BZA 20202) (Commissioner Knickerbocker) 

8.        Letter of Support: Renaissance Healthcare Services to Establish Pediatric Home Care Service Agency in Ward 4 (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

9.        Letter of Support: Proposed Friends of Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center (Commissioner Huff – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)  

10.     Presentation: Sassan Gharai, SGA Companies, and Resolution 4B-20-0103: Providing Initial Community Input and Requesting Extended Review Period for Proposed Development at 300-308 Carroll Street, NW & 325 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

11.     Resolution 4B-20-0104: Providing Feedback on Proposed Changes to the Comprehensive Plan (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

12.     Adjournment 

Please Note: Anyone in the audience may speak on any subject during “Community Concerns.” You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. Discussion on other agenda items will generally be limited to Commissioners. Finally, the meeting may not last beyond 9:00 p.m. unless extended by a two/thirds vote of the Commission.

Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, February 24, 2019, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats(4B01@anc.dc.gov);ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov);ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (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)Erin Palmer, Secretary, ANC 4BANC 4B02 Commissioner

December 7: ANC 4B Comprehensive Plan Working Session

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

From ANC 4B:

Please join Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B for a Comprehensive Plan Working Session on Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Police Department’s 4th District Headquarters, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW.

The Comprehensive Plan is a lengthy, high-level document that sets a long-term vision for the District’s future growth and development. The DC Office of Planning has launched an effort to amend the Comprehensive Plan to ensure that it remains responsive to the needs of the community. (More here: https://planning.dc.gov/page/comprehensive-plan and here: https://plandc.dc.gov/page/overview-and-how-guide).

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B will be discussing proposed changes to the Rock Creek East Area Element (available here: https://plandc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/page_content/attachments/Chapter%2022_Public_Review_Draft_RCE_Oct2019.pdf), which encompasses areas within the Commission’s boundaries, as well as the Citywide Elements (available here: https://plandc.dc.gov/page/draft-comprehensive-plan-update), which impact housing, transportation, and historic preservation, among other issues.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions have until January 31, 2020 to submit community feedback to the DC Office of Planning regarding the proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan.

The December 7th meeting agenda is below.

Comprehensive Plan Working Session
Saturday, December 7, 2019, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Avenue NW

Agenda

  1. Welcome & Comprehensive Plan Overview (Commissioner Parks & Commissioner Palmer)
    2:00 – 2:05 p.m.
  2. Breakout Session I – Rock Creek East Area Element
    2:05 – 2:30 p.m.
  3. Report Back from Breakout Session I
    2:30 – 2:50 p.m.
  4. Breakout Session II – Context & Citywide Elements
    2:50 – 3:15 p.m. 
  5. Report Back from Breakout Session II
    3:15 – 3:35 p.m. 
  6. Future Land Use Map Discussion
    3:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. 
  7. Next Steps (Commissioner Parks)
    3:55 – 4:00 p.m.

    Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, January 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

November 25: ANC 4B Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B 

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, November 25, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Agenda

1. Call to Order & Roll Call

2.        Old Business (if applicable)

3.        Consideration and Approval of Agenda

4.        Approval of October Regular Public Meeting Minutes

5.        Approval of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B Annual Report

6.        Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Reimbursement of Expenses to ANC 4A

7.        Reports:

A. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)

B. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)C. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
D. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)
8.        Community Concerns: 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.

9.        Presentation: Tischa Cockrell, 1st Vice President, Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association & Terry Goings, Ward 4 Education Alliance, Rocketship PCS Riggs Campus (Commissioner Parks – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

10.     Presentation: Sassan Gharai, SGA Companies, Proposed Development at 300-308 Carroll Street, NW & 325 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

11.     Presentation: Kevin A. Brown, Montage Development Group, Proposed Development at 225 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)

12.     Consent Calendar:

Resolution 4B-19-1101: Supporting Necessary Funding for Lighting and Pathway at Takoma Community Center (Commissioner Knickerbocker)

13.     Resolution 4B-19-1102: Supporting Application for Alcoholic Beverage License for Walmart, 310 Riggs Road, NE (ABRA-109874) (Commissioner Huff – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

14.     Resolution 4B-19-1103: Protesting Application for Alcoholic Beverage License for Boulevard Lounge, 6233 Georgia Ave, NW (ABRA-115385) (Commissioner Knickerbocker – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

15.     Resolution 4B-19-1104: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for S&S Wine & Spirits, 6925 4th Street, NW (ABRA-114978) (Commissioner Palmer – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

16.     Resolution 4B-19-1105: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for Takoma Station Tavern, 6914 4th Street, NW (ABRA-079370) (Commissioner Palmer – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

17.     Resolution 4B-19-1106: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for The V.I.P. Room, 6201 3rd Street, NW (ABRA-105823) (Commissioner Parks- 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

18.     Resolution 4B-19-1107: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for Jackie Lee’s, 116 Kennedy Street, NW (ABRA-105767) (Commissioner Brooks – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

19.     Resolution 4B-19-1008: Resolution on Trinity Episcopal Church (BZA 20111) (Commissioner Yeats – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)

20.     Adjournment

Please Note: Anyone in the audience may speak on any subject during “Community Concerns.” You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. Discussion on other agenda items will generally be limited to Commissioners. Finally, the meeting may not last beyond 9:00 p.m. unless extended by a two/thirds vote of the Commission.

Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, January 27, 2019, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (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)

Erin Palmer, Secretary, ANC 4B

ANC 4B02 Commissioner

Housing Affordability Goals & Comprehensive Plan Updates

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A, Neighborhood Development

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY GOALS

On October 15, 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser released her administration’s Housing Equity Report with housing affordability goals by planning area. The District’s eight planning areas are contained in the District’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). Just as this neighborhood sits in two wards, this neighborhood also sits in two planning areas–Upper Northeast and Rock Creek East. Most of the news focused on the mayor’s desire to add more affordable housing west of Rock Creek Park, but this neighborhood’s planning areas fall in the top four areas for housing production goals, 1,500 units for Rock Creek East and 1,350 units for Upper Northeast. Based on what is in the pipeline already though, the number of new housing units that our planning areas must produce–340 for Rock Creek East and 190 for Upper Northeast–is fairly low compared to what other areas must produce in order to meet the administration’s goals. The report explains the methodology used to get to the goals for each planning area on page 10. The report is a fairly high level report just to start the conversation. For updates, visit housing.dc.gov.

PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATES

On October 15, the mayor and the Office of Planning (OP) also released proposed amendments to the Comp Plan. The DC Council recently approved the Framework element of the Comp Plan, which took over two years to get through the public process. OP has produced a number of helpful summaries of each element of the Comp Plan and a review tip guide. I strongly encourage people to at least look at the updates for our neighborhood’s planning areas, again those are Upper Northeast and Rock Creek East. The summary for Upper Northeast is here and the summary for Rock Creek East is here. It is not clear when the Council will hold a hearing on the rest of the proposed amendments to the plan.

OP is holding public meetings on the proposed updates. Ward 4’s is on November 19 at 6:00 pm at Roosevelt High School (4400 Iowa Avenue NW) and Ward 5’s is on November 23 at 10:00 am at Luke C. Moore High School (1001 Monroe Street NE). OP recommends that residents work with their ANC commissioners so that the ANC can incorporate feedback into an ANC resolution. OP will respond to feeback received from ANC resolutions. Send your comments to your ANC by December 20. Some residents are already asking OP to extend the comment period (including some at the last ANC 5A meeting), but so far there is no indication that the comment period will be extended.

OP’s suggestions for ANC review:

  • Review Area Elements and sections of the Generalized Policy Map (GPM) and Future Land Use Map (FLUM) that correspond with the ANC’s Planning Area
  • Review Citywide Element Summaries
  • Consider dividing up review across ANC or with ANC’s land use or zoning committee
  • Attend Ward meeting to hear feedback from your constituents.
  • OP will share with ANCs a summary of feedback received during the Ward meetings
  • Upload ANC Resolutions by January 31 onto the ANC portal at resolutions.anc.dc.gov

Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue Area Development Plan Implementation

One nice thing about the proposed updates to each of our planning areas is the very clear priority on implementing elements of the Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue Area Development Plan, our neighborhood’s area development plan (sometimes referred to as our small area plan). This is important. The plan was approved by the DC Council in 2009. The most recent implementation report is from 2016. You can see there is still lots to be done, which makes sense given the amount of development we anticipate in the next two to three years. One big achievement we did get is the startup of a Main Street for the corridor. That has already yielded big dividends in the less than one year that it has officially been operating. There are other pieces of the area development plan independent of development that could use some attention though, especially regarding the neighborhood’s open spaces.

The disadvantage in this neighborhood’s stratification between two planning area is evident in the updates to the Comp Plan. It seems as if OP cannot figure out what to call this area neighborhood (understandable). That aside, the update to the Upper Northeast Element (pages 36-38) mentions the area development plan in addressing what it calls the Fort Totten metro station area, but the actual policy recommendations in the area development plan are included only in the Rock Creek East Element update (pages 40-42). I suppose this was done to avoid duplication, but I am not sure it makes sense. It is not clear why only some of the policy recommendations from the area development plan made it into the Comp Plan update, so I would recommend that all of them be incorporated. The Upper Northeast Element update also adds “high-density” housing, office, and retail uses for the Fort Totten station metro area (p. 37), which is not consistent at all with the area development plan or the proposed future land use map or generalized policy map. In addition, I would also recommend highlighting the recommendations in the moveDC plan for our neighborhood, which were developed in 2014 after the area development plan was created, and which I wrote about in this post.

I do recommend that residents become familiar with the area development plan. You can read the executive summary here and the recommendations here. When I served as president of Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) from summer 2017 to summer 2019, I always referenced the plan whenever we submitted comments regarding any development project in the neighborhood. When budget season rolled around, we would use that plan to advocate for targeted dollars for this neighborhood. Each year, we should be advocating for our elected officials (ANCs, Council, and mayor) to support funding to implement elements of the plan. This is one area where I think the Main Street can be especially useful. Elected officials come and go, but having a consistent entity dedicated to improving the corridor naturally lends itself to making sure the area development plan stays at the top of everyone’s agenda.

Implementation of the area development plan is one clear item that we can have our ANCs address in a resolution, highlighting particular areas of the plan that still need to be addressed.

Ward 5 Works Industrial Land Transformation Study

OP also recommends priority in implementing recommendations of the Ward 5 Works Industrial Land Transformation Study. I wrote about that study in this post. As noted in that post, our neighborhood is more of a footnote in the report, but all areas of the city will be well-served by District officials actually taking steps to really address municipal planning, particularly for especially burdensome municipal functions. And certain recommendations for other areas of city could be useful for the land abutting the tracks in our neck of the woods from Fort Totten to Takoma. Given the focus on gaining statehood, it is really critical that District officials figure out how to house and carry out municipal functions in the District.

PROPOSED MAP AMENDMENTS

The Comp Plan has two maps, a Generalized Policy Map (GPM) and a Future Land Use Designation Map (FLUM). You can see the proposed GPM here. It is missing the Main Street for the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road Corridor. (maybe there needs to be an official designation, not sure). You can see the proposed FLUM here. The FLUM is not a zoning map; it provides an understanding of how development decisions should be made. The FLUM has been the subject of much debate particularly in the litigation that has challenged a number of development projects across the District. For this neighborhood, the proposed FLUM is pretty much consistent with what is contained in the area development plan. A few amendments to highlight below.

McDonald’s & Faith United Church of Christ

The Office of Planning is recommending approval of change in the FLUM for the McDonald’s property on South Dakota Avenue and Delafield Street NE (Square 3786, Lots 1 and 801) from low density commercial to moderate density commercial (see p. 78 responding to submission 2081). This change was requested by Holland & Knight, which represents the owner of the McDonald’s. The owner has been a frequent visitor to ANC 5A about this change, which is the only reason I am mentioning this here. Just down the street from the McDonald’s, Faith United Church had requested a change in the zoning designation for its property from low density residential/commercial to medium density residential/commercial. OP is not recommending approval of that change (see p. 62 responding to submission 1066). Faith United has tried more than once to build affordable housing, particularly for seniors, on their three-acre parcel of land. These efforts have been rebuffed by North Michigan Park residents over traffic and parking concerns. I have heard several long-time North Michigan Park residents laud the fact that there are no apartment buildings in that neighborhood. It is an interesting thing to be proud of (as opposed to being fine with having a new drive-thru in that area), particularly as there is this discussion about affordable housing. Anyways, perhaps OP’s rejection of the change to the FLUM for the church’s parcel will stop the church from trying to add multifamily housing to its property for a long time. We will see.

1st Place NE & Riggs Road NE

Moving north, OP is recommending change in the FLUM for the western side of 1st Place NE at Riggs Road from Parks, Recreation, and Open Space to Medium Density Commercial/Medium Density Residential (see p. 114, submission 9946).

Recommendations

I am still looking at the specifics of our neighborhood’s planning area updates as well as the updates for the major policy areas (transportation, housing, infrastructure, etc.). So far, here are my recommendations just for our planning area updates:

  1. Highlight the importance of implementing the neighborhood’s area development plan (with particular focus areas)
  2. Incorporate all of the policy recommendations from the area development plan
  3. Highlight important of Ward 5 Works Plan & to extent certain recommendations for other areas would be beneficial in our neighborhood (such as buffers and creative uses of industrial space), highlight those
  4. Highlight importance of moveDC plan with recommendations for our neighborhood
  5. Highlight importance of implementing the 2007 South Dakota Avenue Streetscape Study (Given that no District agency can find this study and that its status on the area development plan implementation report in 2016 is listed as future status, I am not sure this study has been implemented
  6. The General Policy Map needs to reflect the Main Street for the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road corridor
  7. Be clear that the area around Fort Totten metro station is designated for either medium or moderate density, not high density, noting importance of mitigating impacts to specifically the Riggs Park neighborhood.

This is just my take. What do people think of the major policy themes of the elements for this neighborhood–Upper Northeast and Rock Creek East. What feedback do you have for our ANC commissioners for them to incorporate into an ANC resolution?

October 28: ANC 4B Public Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Editor Note: I have been asked to publish the ANC 4B agenda each month. Please find the agenda copied & pasted from ANC 4B Commissioner & Secretary Erin Palmer (4B02) below.


Please see the embedded and attached agenda for the next public meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B on Monday, October 28, 2019, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Emery Recreation Center, 5801 Georgia Ave., NW. *Please note the change in meeting time and location to accommodate the Metropolitan Police Department as they prepare for their Halloween Party at MPD’s 4th District Headquarters.*

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B 

Regular Public Meeting

Monday, October 28, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

Emery Recreation Center, 5801 Georgia Ave., NW

Agenda

  1. Call to Order & Roll Call
  2. Old Business (if applicable)
  3. Consideration and Approval of Agenda
  4. Approval of September Regular Public Meeting Minutes
  5. Treasurer’s Report, Approval of Quarterly Financial Report for the Fourth Quarter 2019, & Approval of Budget for Fiscal Year 2020
  6. Reports:
    1. Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 minutes)
    2. Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon T. Todd (3 minutes)
    3. Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (3 minutes)
    4. Ward 4 State Board of Education Representative Frazier O’Leary (3 minutes)
  7. Community Concerns: 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.
  8. Presentation: Representative, DC Department of Transportation, Urban Forestry Division (Commissioner Palmer – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
  9. Presentation: Jaime Yarussi, Deputy Inspector General for Business Management, DC Office of the Inspector General (Commissioner Parks – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
  10. Presentation on Proposed Development at 225 Vine Street, NW (Commissioner Bromaghim – 5 minute presentation; 5 minute discussion)
  11. Consent Calendar: 

    Resolution 4B-19-1001: Supporting the Concept Design of the Arts Plaza, Dog Park & Building 82 and 90 Improvements at The Parks at Walter Reed (Commissioner Bromaghim)

    Resolution 4B-19-1002: Calling for Accelerated Modernization of Whittier Education Campus (Commissioner Palmer)

    Resolution 4B-19-1003: Supporting Two-Story Rear Addition and Deck at 6903 5th Street, NW, H.P.A. No. 19-600 (Commissioner Palmer)

    Resolution 4B-19-1004: Calling on DC Housing Authority to Preserve Public Housing and Protect Public Housing Residents (Commissioner Palmer)Resolution 4B-19-1005: Supporting Proposed Extension and Calling for Expansion and Improvement of Rent Control (Commissioner Palmer)Resolution 4B-19-1006: Calling for Action on Hate Crimes in the District of Columbia (Commissioner Yeats)Resolution 4B-19-1007: Request for Traffic Calming Measures Within Single Member District 4B06 (Commissioner Johnson)
  12. ​Resolution 4B-19-1008: Supporting Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage License for Haydee’s, 6303 Georgia A​ve, NW (ABRA-060187) (Commissioner Knickerbocker – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
  13. Re​solution 4B-19-1009: Resolution on Trinity Episcopal Church (BZA 20111) (Commissioner Yeats – 3 minute presentation; 3 minute discussion)
  14. Adjournment

Please Note: Anyone in the audience may speak on any subject during “Community Concerns.” You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings. Discussion on other agenda items will generally be limited to Commissioners. Finally, the meeting may not last beyond 9:00 p.m. unless extended by a two/thirds vote of the Commission.

Next Regular Public Meeting:  Monday, November 25, 2019, 7:00 p.m., MPD, 4th District Station, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW

Contact your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner: ANC 4B01 Evan Yeats (4B01@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B02 Erin Palmer (4B02@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B03 Scot Knickerbocker (4B03@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B04 Brenda Parks (4B04@anc.dc.gov); ANC 4B05 Perry Redd (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)

Erin Palmer, Secretary, ANC 4B

ANC 4B02 Commissioner

Riggs Park Elections By the Numbers

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A, Ward 4, Ward 5

Guest post by David Kosub

If you are a data junkie like me and find yourself boring your friends and family over Thanksgiving dinner by talking about numbers, then I hope you will find the below information exciting too.

Perhaps because I have too much time on my hands, I pulled the November 2018 general election results data from the District of Columbia Board of Elections. It was recently certified, so this means we can get our hands dirty with data. Here is what Riggs Park looked like by the numbers (percentage numbers are rounded).

Looks like we had a decent turn-out amongst registered voters in Precincts 66 (a.k.a. Wild Ward High-5) and Precinct 65 (a.k.a. Wizards of Ward 4-bearers). We at least did better than the city writ large.

Precinct 66 (Ward 5) Precinct 65 (Ward 4) City-Wide
Registered Voters 5537 3321 500,511
Votes Cast 2949 1710 231,700
Percentage 53.3 51.5 46.3

Spoiler alert. You can stop holding your breath. The Democrats ran the table in city-wide elections. That went for our Precincts of Power too. Arguably, the race for At-Large Member of the Council was probably the one with the most eyes on it. Though Anita Bonds got the most votes in both of our power precincts, we appeared to be split between Elissa Silverman and Dionne Reeder. This could make for some electric chatter at the next LRCA meeting. For reference, (D) is for Democrat, (R) is for Republican, (I) is for Independent, (L) is for Libertarian, and (STG) is for Statehood Green. Also, both undervote and overvote tallies for each race are excluded from these tables for simplicity.

Precinct 66
(Ward5)		 Precinct 65
(Ward 4)
Candidate Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
DELEGATE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Eleanor Holmes Norton (D)) 2697 92.6 1569 92.6
John Cheeks (I) 75 2.6 39 2.3
Natale Stracuzzi (STG) 63 2.2 47 2.8
Nelson Rimensnyder ® 38 1.3 17 1.0
Bruce Majors  (L)® 29 1.0 16 0.9
Write-In 12 0.4 6 0.4
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) 2298 80.0 1378 82.2
Ann Wilcox (STG) 208 7.2 118 7.0
Dustin Canter (I) 201 7.0 99 5.9
Martin Moulton (L) 55 1.9 25 1.5
Write-In 110 3.8 56 3.3
DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) 2633 91.8 1535 92.2
Ethan Bishop-Henchman (L) 192 6.7 107 6.4
Write-In 44 1.5 22 1.3
At-Large Member, DC Council

 

 Anita Bonds (D) 2322 53.0 1385 56.0
Elissa Silverman (I) 806 18.4 389 15.7
Dionne Reeder (I) 737 16.8 435 17.6
David Schwartzmann (STG) 253 5.8 151 6.1
Rustin Lewis (I) 159 3.6 25 1.0
Ralph Chittams  (R)® 76 1.7 71 2.9
Write-In 32 0.7 17 0.7
Attorney General for DC Karl Racine (D) 2739 95.5 1573 95.7
Joe Henchman (L) 123 4.3 66 4.0
Write-In 7 0.2 5 0.3
U.S. Senator Michael Brown (D) 2451 86.9 1467 88.9
Eleanor Ory (STG) 345 12.2 174 10.5
Write-In 25 0.9 10 0.6
U.S. Representative Franklin Garcia (D) 2648 98.5 1522 98.1
Write-In 40 1.5 29 1.9

Now, let’s focus our attention on the Ward 5 specific elections – what up Precinct 66! Kenyan McDuffie won the Ward 5 seat. The Ward 5 member for the State Board of Education was likely the more interesting competition across the Ward. Zachary Parker came out on top. And, for you Ward 4 wizards, don’t forget to vote in your State Board of Education election on December 4, 2018.

Votes Percentage
Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D) 2449 84.7
Kathy Henderson (I) 197 6.8
Joyce (Chestnut) Robinson-Paul (STG) 136 4.7
Amone Banks (I) 84 2.9
Write-In 24 0.8
Ward 5 Member of the State Board of Education Zachary Parker 1425 51.8
Adrian Jordan 1026 37.3
William “Bill” Lewis 279 10.1
Write-In 23 0.8

The ANC Single Member District races were notable as well. A couple of the races had some more unpredictable outcomes. Some familiar faces will return, while some new faces are ready to serve. These folks are some of your best guides when figuring out how to navigate through the maze of D.C. city government agencies. So, take the time and get to know them too. They are here to serve all of us in the community after all.

Votes Percentage
ANC – 5A01 Frank Wilds 632 67.7
Diamond Barbour 282 30.2
Write-In 19 2.0
ANC – 5A08 Gordon Fletcher 934 95.0
Write-In 49 5.0
ANC – 4B08 Alison Brooks 466 77.0
James Thomas 121 20.0
Write-In 18 3.0
ANC – 4B09 LaRoya Huff 515 50.6
Tischa Cockrell 497 48.8
Write-In 6 0.6

 

Vote Tischa Cockrell for ANC 4B09

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Republishing the blog post originally published on October 10, 2018, on Commissioner Tischa Cockrell’s reelection campaign. Happy pre-election Monday.

Here is a little personal background on Tischa as the current ANC4B09 Commissioner in her words:

Public safety is currently the most important issue facing my Single Member District (SMD) as the Commissioner of ANC4B09. I have conducted several SMD meetings to hear the concerns and suggestions of our residents. I have met with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD’s) 4th District Commander, lieutenants, seargents, etc., and I recently became the treasurer of the 4th District MPD Citizen’s Advisory Council (CAC) in order to address our community’s issues directly as a concerned leader of our community.

I have partnered with District agencies such as Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE), and DC Prevention in an effort to find out what are ways we can teach our youth and curtail crime. I currently walk in the community with the ONSE group engaging residents especially young people. We’ve also sat down with DC Prevention on several occasions to research some of the patterns and behaviors of those involved in certain activities that lead to problems.

I am also fully engaged with residents, businesses, and neighboring ANCs by attending Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) community association meetings, many LRCA committee meetings, our own ANC4B meetings, other ANC SMD meetings, other community meetings, as well as conducting my own monthly SMD meetings and block meetings. I am also sure to invite District agencies, businesses, and developers to those meetings and send out many emails and notices to ensure transparency and distribution of knowledge to our residents. I also helped to plan Riggs Park Day earlier this year in May alongisde DPR, LRCA, and ANC Commissioner Barbara Rogers (4B08).

While being busy doing these things, I have also worked with fellow neighbors to follow up on requests regarding: sidewalk repair, tree pruning, lighting, parking, and crosswalk issues, negotiating with businesses such as Wal-Mart, Riggs Liquors, Culture Coffee, etc. As former Second Vice President of LRCA; Former Chair of the LRCA Youth Development/Recreation committee; current member of the LRCA Public Safety; Newsletter Distribution committee; and Development Taskforce committee, I am dedicated to doing the work of the community to continue our efforts in building a safe and close knit community. I would appreciate your vote on Tuesday, November 6th!

 

Meet & Greet to Reelect ANC 4B09 Commissioner Tischa Cockrell

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Please see below for a message from Tischa Cockrell, current ANC Commissioner (4B09) who is running for reelection. Tischa has done a great job representing her SMD for the past two years. Please join her for a meet and greet on October 14 at Hellbender.

Meet and Greet to Reelect ANC Commissioner Tischa Cockrell (4B09)
Date: Sunday, October 14th
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: Hellbender Brewing Company, 5788 2nd Street NE, WDC 20011

Here is a little personal background on Tischa as the current ANC4B09 Commissioner in her words:

Public safety is currently the most important issue facing my Single Member District (SMD) as the Commissioner of ANC4B09. I have conducted several SMD meetings to hear the concerns and suggestions of our residents. I have met with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD’s) 4th District Commander, lieutenants, seargents, etc., and I recently became the treasurer of the 4th District MPD Citizen’s Advisory Council (CAC) in order to address our community’s issues directly as a concerned leader of our community.

I have partnered with District agencies such as Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE), and DC Prevention in an effort to find out what are ways we can teach our youth and curtail crime. I currently walk in the community with the ONSE group engaging residents especially young people. We’ve also sat down with DC Prevention on several occasions to research some of the patterns and behaviors of those involved in certain activities that lead to problems.

I am also fully engaged with residents, businesses, and neighboring ANCs by attending Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) community association meetings, many LRCA committee meetings, our own ANC4B meetings, other ANC SMD meetings, other community meetings, as well as conducting my own monthly SMD meetings and block meetings. I am also sure to invite District agencies, businesses, and developers to those meetings and send out many emails and notices to ensure transparency and distribution of knowledge to our residents. I also helped to plan Riggs Park Day earlier this year in May alongisde DPR, LRCA, and ANC Commissioner Barbara Rogers (4B08).

While being busy doing these things, I have also worked with fellow neighbors to follow up on requests regarding: sidewalk repair, tree pruning, lighting, parking, and crosswalk issues, negotiating with businesses such as Wal-Mart, Riggs Liquors, Culture Coffee, etc. As former Second Vice President of LRCA; Former Chair of the LRCA Youth Development/Recreation committee; current member of the LRCA Public Safety; Newsletter Distribution committee; and Development Taskforce committee, I am dedicated to doing the work of the community to continue our efforts in building a safe and close knit community. I would appreciate your vote on Tuesday, November 6th!

Riggs Liquor is Open

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Neighborhood Development

Riggs Liquor at the corner of Riggs Rd. & Chillum Pl. NE

[Disclosure: This article discusses actions taken in my capacity as president of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) regarding the reopening of Riggs Liquor on the corner of Riggs Road and Chillum Place NE (official address 5881 South Dakota Avenue NE) and deliberations around Walmart’s application to sell beer and wine at the store located at 310 Riggs Road NE, across the street from Riggs Liquor.]

Riggs Liquor had a soft reopening yesterday. Owner John Yoo said there will probably be an official grand reopening in two weeks. The store had been closed for almost 1.5 years for renovations after a fire. The interior looks so much better than it did previously.

Interior of newly renovated Riggs Liquor

Bullet resistant glass is still in place, but Mr. Yoo stated he will not be putting stickers and other items on the glass as was done in the past. It will be clean. He said his goal was to go a “little more upscale.” According to what previous customers have said, the store had always had a decent selection of wines, so he plans to continue to carry a variety of wines at different price points. He already has in stock an assortment of craft beers, including by DC breweries. He said he will sell less of the really cheap beer products that tended to draw customers who would drink and hang out outside the store. He plans to paint the sign and is looking at how to make the exterior a little nicer to match the much better looking interior. In addition, he plans to do some landscaping around the property. In April of this year, one side of the building was painted with a mural by muralist Jay Hudson as part of the Riggs Park Art Crawl. Mr. Yoo plans to put a mural on the other side of the building, remove the overhang on the side of the building, and remove an old storage shed from behind the building.

Perhaps most importantly, he has promised to do a better job of getting loiterers to move on and not drink in front of his property. When I visited the store yesterday, people stopped in to greet Mr. Yoo and congratulate him on the reopening. More than one told him that he needs to make sure that he does not let folks hang around the outside of the store, so he is very much aware that this was a big problem previously, and people are looking to make sure it is not a problem going forward. In just a year or two, a new mixed-use townhome community will be constructed adjacent to the property so that area will look very different, and there will be even more people looking to make sure the liquor store is a good neighbor.

Walmart Wants to Sell Beer & Wine

The reopening comes just as the Walmart across the street at 310 Riggs Road NE seeks a license to sell beer and wine. There was previously a moratorium on alcoholic beverage licenses for grocery stores in Ward 4. The DC Council lifted that moratorium in December 2017. Walmart has applied to sell beer & wine from 7:00 am to midnight. Store hours are 6:00 am to midnight. ANC Commissioner Tischa Cockrell (4B09) held a public SMD meeting on June 6, 2018. DC’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) Community Resource Officer Sarah Fashbaugh, Mr. Yoo, and several Walmart officials attended, including Paul Hill, the manager for Walmart’s Riggs Road location. Ms. Fashbaugh said ABRA is still reviewing Walmart’s application for legal sufficiency. One issue hanging up the store is a legal requirement that the store show at least $500,000 in renovations over the previous 12-month period. The purpose of that requirement is unclear. Julia Payne, a Walmart representative, suggested that Walmart will fall under some exemption to that requirement because the store has only been open for approximately three years, but Ms. Fashbaugh did not have any information about that.

Mr. Yoo attended to ask people not to support Walmart’s application mainly because of expected competition to his store, which he has operated in the neighborhood since 2002. Mr. Hill said Walmart’s stance is that it will not be in direct competition with Mr. Yoo’s store because Walmart cannot sell spirits and because Walmart plans to sell basic beer and wine, not craft beers or specialty wines (though the store will have certain imported beers). He also stated that Walmart will focus on selling larger packs of beer (12 count and higher), but when specifically asked if the store will sell any 6-packs, he hedged a bit because those kinds of decisions ultimately have to be approved by Walmart’s headquarters. Mr. Hill said Walmart just wants to be more of a one-stop shop for customers who have asked why the store does not sell beer and wine. He said the store is not applying for a tasting license. He provided a handout on Walmart’s alcohol beverage sales policy. That can be viewed here: Walmart Adult Beverage Sales Policy Handout (pdf).

Both Mr. Yoo and Walmart officials spoke about the community support they have provided. Mr. Yoo, as president of the Korean American Grocers Association, annually awards $10,000 in scholarship money to Ward 4 youth. Walmart discussed its contributions to the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association and brought a few groups from outside of the community to talk about the support Walmart has provided to those organizations. [Disclosure: As Walmart noted at the meeting, Walmart gave a monetary donation to LRCA to support the recent Riggs Park Day celebration, LRCA’s scholarship program, and for other educational expenses for neighborhood youth. The store has also donated food items for LRCA’s holiday meetings since the store opened in October 2015.]

Several residents at the meeting voiced support for Mr. Yoo and generally seemed unfavorable to Walmart’s request. A few residents talked about how Mr. Yoo’s store had been an eyesore for so long and said he was not really responsive to those concerns.

ANC 4B will take up the issue at its next public meeting on June 25, 2018. There are a few standards for determining whether a license from DC’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is appropriate:

  • The effect of the establishment on real property values;
  • The effect of the establishment on peace, order, and quiet, including the noise and litter provisions set forth in §§ 25-725 and 25-726;
  • The effect of the establishment upon residential parking needs and vehicular and pedestrian safety

For applications for a new license, the Board also considers:

  • The proximity of the establishment to schools, recreation centers, day care centers, public libraries, or other similar facilities;
  • The effect of the establishment on the operation and clientele of schools, recreation centers, day care centers, public libraries, or other similar facilities; and
  • Whether school-age children using facilities in proximity to the establishment will be unduly attracted to the establishment while present at, or going to or from, teh school, recreation center, day care center, public library, or similar facility at issue.
  • Whether issuance of the license would create or contribute to an overconcentration of licensed establishments which is likely to affect adversely, the locality, section, or portion in which the establishment is located.

[D.C. Code Title 25 and regulations at D.C.M.R. Title 23].

Commissioner Cockrell said from her count, the community seems evenly split between those who support Walmart’s application to sell beer and wine and those who oppose. If ANC 4B were to decide not to support the application, the commission would need to make the case for that position based on the factors described above. Residents have cited all of the appropriateness standards as concerns, particularly peace, order, and quiet, parking, proximity to LaSalle-Backus Education Center and the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center, and potential overconcentration of licensed establishments. The ANC is also considering a settlement agreement should the commission decide to support the application. [Disclosure: In my capacity as LRCA president, I worked with Commissioner Cockrell on a draft agreement should ANC 4B decide to support Walmart’s application. LRCA has not taken an official position on the application and instead is relying on the ANC.]

If you have any input you would like to provide to Commissioner Cockrell, you may email her at 4b09@anc.dc.gov.

June 6: Walmart Beer/Wine Sales Application Meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Fort Totten Square

Walmart, located at 310 Riggs Road NE, wants to sell beer and wine. The store has filed an application for a class B license for full-service grocery stores to sell beer and wine from 7:00 am to midnight. Store hours are 6:00 am to midnight. ABRA is still reviewing the application for legal sufficiency.

In the meantime, ANC Commissioner Tischa Cockrell (4B09) is holding an SMD meeting about this topic on June 6, 6:30 pm at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center, located at 501 Riggs Road NE. An ABRA representative will be there to explain the ABRA process and answer questions. The meeting is open to the public so if you have thoughts or questions, come on out. You can also email Commissioner Cockrell at 4b09@anc.dc.gov.

ICYMI: Riggs Park Day 2018

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

Riggs Park Day on May 19, 2018 was a big hit! We had face painting, capoeira, children’s music, live music from the Crossfire Band, coloring, pizza, sandwiches, giveaways, and more. The event was hosted by the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, ANC Commissioners Barbara Rogers (4B08) & Tischa Cockrell (4B09), and the District’s Department of Parks & Recreation. View the gallery here.

 

 

 

May 19: Riggs Park Day

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Lamond Riggs Citizens Association

Riggs Park Day
May 19, 2018
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center
501 Riggs Road NE

Join your neighbors for a fun-filled community day with activities for all ages!

*Face Painting
*Games
*Nationals Tickets Raffle & Hat Giveaway

12:00 pm – Free food (1st come, 1st served)

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Capoeira Demo by Capoeira Malês DC

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Uncle Devin Show
Children’s Music Show & Percussion Petting Zoo

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Storytelling: Adventures with Luna
Coloring Book Giveaway

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Live Music

~
Hosted by ANC 4B08 & 4B09; Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association; and DC Department of Parks & Recreation
~
Sponsors/Contributors: Blue Skye Construction; Ledo Pizza; The Nationals; Takoma Park Liquors; Wal-Mart; Explore! Children’s Museum of Washington, DC; Capoeira Malês DC; DC Department of Employment Services (DOES); Job Corps; Wards 3 & 4 DC Prevention Center; DC Fire and EMS; Air National Guard; Metropolitan Police Department (MPD); DC Department of Public Works (DPW); DC Department of Transportation (DDOT)

 

Tonight: ANC 4B monthly public meeting

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

ANC 4B Monthly Meeting
January 22, 2018
7:00 pm
MPD 4th District Headquarters
6001 Georgia Avenue NW

At tonight’s ANC 4B meeting, commissioners will vote on a resolution pertaining to the extension of the MBT from Fort Totten metro station to Takoma. To view the recommendations from ANC 4B’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, click here.

 

October 21: Neighborhood clean-up

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

From ANC Commissioner Tischa Cockerel (4B09)

—

Please Join Us for the

Riggs-LaSalle Helping Hands Neighborhood Clean Up
  • When: Saturday, October 21, 2017
  • Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Where: Meet in front of the Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center 501 Riggs Rd. NE
Hello Neighbors!  
Come out and help us clean and beautify our community.  We will have rakes, shovels, brooms, and trash bags provided to us by DC Department of Public Works (DPW).
Hope to see you there!
Commissioner Tischa Cockrell, ANC4B09

 

Met Branch Trail Petition

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, Transportation

The Ward 4 MBT Coalition has created a petition to show support for completion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail beyond Riggs Road NE into Takoma (Ward 4 route). DC’s Department of Transportation released a design-construction request for proposals for the Brookland to Fort Totten extension. DDOT has not selected a contractor for that portion just yet, but a selection could be made soon. The extension beyond Riggs Road though has been the subject of lots of meetings and compromise. ANC 4B’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee held a public meeting on the proposed Ward 4 route on September 5, 2017. Details of that meeting are available here and here.

We wrote about the proposed Ward 4 route in this post. It will essentially be an enlarged sidewalk along Riggs Road, sharrows along 1st Street NE and contraflow bike lane on McDonald Place NE (compromise design), and then an enlarged sidewalk on Blair Road NW into Takoma. There is some disagreement about which street to branch off Blair into Takoma, but that is the gist of the route. ANC 4B Commissioner Tanya Topolewski (4B02) raised the possibility of having the route run along 3rd Street NW to provide access to the Takoma Recreation Center, but it is not clear at this point how many people support that option.

The National Park Service has shown new willingness to have the route run parallel to the metro tracks past Riggs Road. Therefore, some commissioners want to be sure that any resolution in support of the Ward 4 extension will have an assurance from DDOT that the agency will diligently pursue the option of having an off-road trail parallel to the tracks, since that is the option that mostly everyone believes is best. It is not clear when ANC 4B will take up a resolution on the extension, but if you are interested in showing support for the MBT’s completion before then, here’s a petition.

Congratulations to our newly elected ANCs

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B, ANC 5A

ANC 5A

Congratulations to Gordon-Andrew Fletcher, who was elected to represent ANC 5A08.  ANC 5A will welcome three new commissioners, and maybe four if the seat for ANC 5A04 (representing Catholic University) is eventually filled. So potentially half of the commission will be new commissioners. We think this will be a good opportunity to improve the work of ANC 5A.

ANC 4B

Congratulations to Tischa Cockrell, who was elected to represent ANC 4B09. ANC 4B07 incumbent commissioner Judi Jones emerged victorious against her challenger. Incumbent commissioner Barbara Rogers (ANC 4B08) did not have a challenger and will continue to represent her SMD.

We applaud all those who threw their hat into the ring to represent their community in an official capacity and we thank the outgoing commissioners for their time.

Meet Tischa Cockrell: Candidate for ANC 4B09

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

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.

  1. 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.
  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.
  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

GGW endorses James Gaston III for ANC 4B07

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

The blog Greater Greater Washington endorsed James Gaston III to represent single member district (SMD) 4B07 on Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 4B. ANC 4B07 generally covers the Lamond area. Mr. Gaston is challenging incumbent commissioner Judi Jones for the two year position in the upcoming election.

GGW sent each ANC candidate a questionnaire regarding development, housing, and transit. Both candidates responded to GGW’s questionnaire. It is not entirely clear on what basis GGW made its decision. It simply says,”Gaston’s opponent, current commissioner Judi Jones, also responded to our survey but didn’t reveal much in her short answers. In the end, we have a better idea of what Gaston’s ANC term would look like and are willing to give him our support.” You can read both candidates’ responses to the questionnaire here (Gaston p. 29; Jones p. 59)

ANC 4B meeting 7:00pm tonight

Posted by nextstoprp in ANC 4B

Agenda reprinted below:

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