Guest Post

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On November 29, 2017, ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting.

Commissioners present: Grace Lewis (5A02); Isaiah Burroughs (5A04); Ronnie Edwards (5A05); A. Jamaal Lampkin (5A06); Sandi Washington (5A07); Gordon-Andrew Fletcher (5A08). Commissioner Wilds (5A01) is recuperating from surgery and is doing well.

The commissioners unanimously approved the October 2017 minutes.

Police Report

PSA 405 Sergeant Scott Dowling stated that Lieutenant Ashley Rosenthal has been replaced by Lt. Todd Perkins who currently works the midnight shift. Sgt. Dowling’s crime report covered the last 60-days of activity:

Sgt. Dowling mentioned that PSA 405’s crime statistics skew upward due to the local hospitals, which are crime hotspots. He also mentioned that the higher prevalence of crime in Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights disproportionately affects the statistics for the Fourth District.

Catholic University of America (CUA) Expansion

Catholic University Architect Margaret Carney and Catholic University General Counsel Lawrence Morris spoke next about CUA’s field expansion. Mrs. Carney explained that CUA wants to develop a playing field on its property adjacent to Bates Street NE and opposite the Fort Totten Transfer Station. The new field would incorporate a storm water management system and feature synthetic turf. Also, 130 parking spaces, additional lighting and restroom facilities are included. Lastly, the DDOT-installed gate on Bates Street NE would be moved to allow CUA traffic to access the field from Fort Totten Drive NE. However, the gate would remain to deter other traffic from accessing John McCormack Drive NE via Bates Street NE. Mr. Morris asked for an ANC 5A letter of support, which ANC 5A voted unanimously to provide.

DC Department of Public Works (DPW)

DPW Inspector Darlett Sally addressed sanitation infractions for a variety of offenses such as (1) using trashcans without lids, placing excess litter on top of trashcans, or leaving trashcans in the alley well before or after trash pickup; (2) using plastic bags (especially black) for leaf disposal; or (3) failing to notify bulk trash in advance of bulk item disposal.

In response to questions, Inspector Sally explained the Helping Hands and Sustainability DC programs. Helping Hands is a community cleanup program in which DPW provides tools and supplies – rakes, brooms, bags, gloves – for use.  The inspector provided Mr. David Williams at (202) 615-7190 and Mr. Earl Simpson at (202) 576-9004 as contacts. However, the compost delivery plan promised as part of Sustainable DC is not available yet.

DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)

Mr. Travis Dread-Hughes cited that the DBH provides mental health and drug addiction support city-wide. According to the DBH website “The Department of Behavioral Health provides prevention, intervention and treatment services and supports for children, youth and adults with mental and/or substance use disorders including emergency psychiatric care and community-based outpatient and residential services.”

Mr. Dread-Hughes informed the audience that DBH has a network of 60 inpatient and outpatient drug and mental health treatment centers throughout the city. All can be accessed by calling a single number, (888) 793-4357, to access a 24-hour helpline. Mr. Dread-Hughes provided the contact information to each audience member. He closed by saying that we need to rise above our stigma against those who truly need help.

Mayor’s Office Report

Ward 5 MOCR Lionell Gaines covered the Mayor’s latest initiatives which follow:

• December 9, 2017 – Explore the city’s school options (Pk3 – 12) by attending Edfest 2017 from 11:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the D.C. Armory, 2001 East Capitol Street SE.
• December 15, 2017 – Attend the two-year anniversary celebration of the Commission on Fathers, Men and Boys from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Smith Public Trust, 3514 12^th Street NE.
• January 31, 2018 is the last day to enroll in the DC HealthLink insurance program.

Ward 5 Councilmember’s Office Report

Ms. Chanell Autrey gave the following information from Ward 5 Councilmember McDuffie’s office:

• December 13, 2017 – Ward 5 Holiday Party at the Docks in Union Market, 1309 5^th Street NE, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• December 30, 2017 – Legislative meeting on the disposition of Keene School (emergency legislation for DC Bilingual PCS) at Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 120 at 11:00 a.m.
• TBD – Meeting with Riggs Plaza Tenants before end-of-year

ANC 5A website

Commissioner Fletcher (5A08) said the final website updates, including commissioner biographies, will be done by the end of the year.

Grant Request: Ward 5 Warriors

Mr. Andrew-Fletcher introduced the plight of the Ward 5 Warriors, a Pop Warner football team, to the audience. The Warriors earned a berth to playoff rounds held in Florida, but $30,000 is needed for lodging and travel. So far, the Warriors have only raised $2,500. More importantly, this sum must be raised in a few days.

To do so, the ANC commissioners unanimously agreed to waive the 14-day advance notice requirement to make the grant available. Next and after some discussion, the commissioners agreed to support a $5,000 grant if the team coaches:

• Complete the grant application, and provide supporting documentation that lists the team members living in ward five; and if
• Gottlieb Simon, Director of DC Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, approves this expenditure.

Community Concerns

• Lamond-Riggs Library Friends (LRLF)

Mr. Oliver, President LRLF, discussed the following:

• Lamond-Riggs Librarian, Liane Rosenblatt, will retire during December 2017. She led adult programming and won the prestigious Cafritz Outstanding DC Government Employee Award in 2016.
• A vendor will drill core samples on library property during December to assess the soil conditions.
• DCPL has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to interested architectural firms. Three finalists will be selected next year to be evaluated by a board composed of DCPL and community members.

• Community Activists

Activists presented two proposals for ANC 5A consideration:

• A draft resolution to divest from Bank of America. The activist noted that four ANCs have already approved it, including that covering Cleveland Park.
• A second resolution in support of the NEAR Act was provided for ANC review and approval.

Chairman Edwards (5A05) collected the resolutions for further review and comment by the commission.

From Riggs Park resident David:

—

Good day neighbors,

The leaves are changing colors and beginning to fall. The temps are (hopefully) cooling off. Sweaters are coming back into fashion. But with all this change, the monthly Lamond-Riggs neighborhood gathering remains the same! … and you’re invited!

What: Thirsty Third Thursday Neighborhood Gathering

When: Thursday, October 19, 2017 starting around 6pm

Where: Hellbender Brewery – 5788 2^nd St NE

Who: All the cool people in the Lamond-Riggs and surrounding neighborhoods

Why: because our neighborhood ties get stronger with each pint

Never come out to one of these before? Well, we hope you can join us this time! Tell a friend. Tell a neighbor. Tell your family. All are welcome.

Have any questions? Just ask!

Free outdoor showing of the movie Moana

July 8, 2017
8:00 pm
Field at Riggs-LaSalle Rec Center (501 Riggs Rd. NE)

Free popcorn, candy, & water

Bring family, lawn chairs, & blankets

DC’s Department of Energy and Environment’s Green Zone Environmental Program and the Marion Barry Youth Employment have teamed up to offer free landscaping services for eligible seniors in the neighborhood this summer. Window cleaning, raking, mulching, mowing, weed removal, and other services are available. To schedule an appointment, call (202) 669-1906 or apply online. Please let your elderly neighbors who may benefit from this program know.

GZEP 2017 Flyer (pdf)

A couple of residents have organized a happy hour tonight June 15 at Hellbender.

What: Thirsty Third Thursday Happy Hour

Where: Hellbender Brewery (5788 2nd St NE)

Who: Our neighbors in Lamond-Riggs, Brookland, Petworth, Takoma, Michigan Park, etc.

When: Thursday, June 15, 2017 @ 6pm

Why: because it’s fun to get to know folks at the local watering hole

DC’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants now offers a voucher program for the private security camera program. Eligible recipients of public assistance will be able to apply for installation of a security camera. Applicants who are tenants will need permission from the property owner. Seniors are eligible for a voucher for a security camera through the Safe at Home program. For details and to apply, visit the program website.

A neighbor read our mind and asked us to report on budget news. On May 30, 2017, the DC Council cast its first vote for a FY 2018 budget. It includes a few items of interest specific to the neighborhood.

New neighborhood library

Funding for modernizing the Lamond-Riggs Library has been moved up to fiscal years 2018 and 2019. There were discussions about including a new library in the Art Place at Fort Totten development. It appears now that question has been answered and it will be renovated at its current location.

Coolidge modernization

Funding for modernization of Coolidge High School and new middle school components is included in the FY 2018 & 2019 budget. Recall LaSalle-Backus Education Campus, currently preK-8, will become preK-5 and students will attend middle school on the Coolidge campus.

Pedestrian Safety

The budget includes money for pedestrian safety improvements including rapid flashing beacon lights at Michigan Avenue and Perry Street NE near Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie issued a press release highlighting a bevy of other items, including funding for more DCRA inspectors; funding for legislation to provide legal assistance for low-income residents in landlord tenant matters, ban the box in housing, and assess the need for larger family units in rental housing; an increase in money for vouchers for low-income and extremely low-income residents; and an increase in funding for transportation for seniors and disabled residents. To view the complete list of highlights from Councilmember McDuffie, click here. For the complete Council markup of the proposed FY 2018 budget, click here.

On  June 1, 2017, at 6:30 pm DC’s Department of Parks & Recreation, ANC 4B Commissioners Tischa Cockrell and Barbara Rogers, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations are hosting a meeting to discuss programming at Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center. If you have ideas about programming, things you would like to see at the rec center, then this meeting is for you. The meeting will take place at Riggs-LaSalle Rec (501 Riggs Road NE).

A neighbor Susanna Murley has organized a cleanup of the area around Hellbender Brewery

Saturday, April 29, 2017
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hellbender (5788 2nd Strett NE)

From the event page:

Please join us as we pick up the trash that has accumulated on Hellbender Hill over the winter. We will meet at Hellbender and clean from there to the corner of New Hampshire and Oglethorpe St. NE.

Bonus: Hellbender will give a free pint to the first 15 people who register!

The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) is offering scholarships to eligible graduating high school seniors who live in the Lamond-Riggs community. The application deadline is April 11, 2017. For information and to apply, visit http://lrcadc.org/scholarships.

Art Place – Construction Notification Weeks of March 20 2017 thru the week of March 27 2017 FINAL (pdf)

Mar 22: Employment Readiness Workshop
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Riggs LaSalle Rec Center (501 Riggs Rd. NE)

From the Mayor’s Office:
In the last few months the Mayor’s Office and ANC commissioners have heard many concerns from the community with the #1 concern being lack of employment. After working on implementing hiring events and job fair events we realized that more emphasis needs to be spent on preparing for employment. This is the reason we are partnering with DCHR, OSSE, UDC and other agencies on March 22nd in hopes to prepare individuals for an upcoming DCHR hiring event next month.

Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to create or update a resume, learn best practice interviewing skills, dress for success and much more!

I have attached a flyer for the event in hopes you will help spread the word to as many neighbors, friends, relatives and young people you may know or come in contact with. Let’s work together to make this happen! Spring and Summer is around the corner and we want to make sure to get as many individuals prepared for employment in hopes they will obtain a permanent job which in turn makes a safer community.

DC Bilingual extends an invitation to the community to participate in Garden Volunteer Day. Children welcome with accompanying adults.

Saturday, March 25, 2017
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
33 Riggs Road NE at the garden
RSVP to broe@dcbilingual.org

Rain Date: April 8, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

ANC 5A March 2017 Notice

art-place-construction-notification-weeks-of-feb-20-2017-thru-the-week-of-feb-27-2017-final

DDOT making progress on MBT extension from Brookland to Fort Totten

https://ddot.dc.gov/release/ddot-seeks-design-build-teams-metropolitan-branch-trail-fort-totten-extension

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 6, 2017   Media Contacts Terry Owens — (202) 763-8635, terry.owens@dc.gov Michelle Phipps-Evans — (202) 497-0124, michelle.phipps-evans@dc.gov DDOT Seeks Design-Build Teams for Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten Extension New trail section will connect Brookland to Fort Totten (Washington, DC) –Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a Request For Proposals (RFP) for the design-build construction of the next phase of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The Fort Totten section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail will connect from where it currently ends on John McCormack Drive in Brookland, to the Fort Totten Metro Station. “This is the next major milestone in the District’s commitment to completing the construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail,” said Leif Dormsjo, DDOT Director. “A design-build approach will help us engage the creativity of the construction community to bring their ideas to the final design and construction.” The Metropolitan Branch Trail is an 8-mile multi-use trail that connects Union Station in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring Maryland. The new trail will provide a direct off-street route for bicyclists and pedestrians through the Fort Totten area. The trail will include LED lighting, security cameras, and wayfinding signage. The design-build process will allow for a streamlined final design and construction process. The extension is expected to be complete within 18 months of awarding the contract. Design for this section required support from DDOT’s partners at the National Park Service and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Administration. This initiative complements other investments DDOT is making for the Met Branch Trail. In 2016, DDOT completed 30% design for the Fort Totten to Takoma section of the trail and will soon initiate final design on the final segment of the trail connecting Fort Totten to Takoma and the Maryland border. In 2017, DDOT will replace lighting on the Met Branch Trail between Florida Ave and Franklin Street with new hard-wired LED lights. The NoMa Business Improvement District, in partnership with DDOT, recently added signage on the trail bridge over Florida Avenue to raise awareness of the trail. There are also several exciting real estate development projects on the southern portion of the trail that will improve connections from surrounding communities as they build out. The Met Branch Trail is part of DDOT’s efforts to expand and improve trails within the District of Columbia and connect to the regional trail network, including the recent completion of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail – Kenilworth Section.  ### The mission of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people, goods, and information move efficiently and safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment. Follow us on Twitter for transportation-related updates and more; like us on Facebook and visit the website at www.ddot.dc.gov. Visit goDCgo.com for more information on transportation options in the District.

DC Bilingual Public Charter School has extended an invitation to community residents to take advantage of their new community compost cooperative.

From DC Bilingual Operations Manager/Wellness Coordinator Lola Bloom:

I wanted to reach out to the ANC5A neighborhood about the garden and Community Compost at DC Bilingual Public Charter School, located at 33 Riggs Rd NE. We partnered with the Department of Parks and Recreation this past fall to construct a 3-bin compost system right outside of our school garden. Our students add to the compost from school meals and snacks as well as the garden refuse. We are opening up the compost to local community members who are interested. The requirement is to attend a short (1 hour) training and support the turning of the compost at least 3 times over the season.

For more information and to participate in the cooperative, contact Lola Bloom at lbloom@dcbilingual.org or (202) 870-8158.