Monthly Archives: March 2023

ANC6B Special Committee on Public Safety held its initial meeting last night to discuss how to address Capitol Hill crime issues.

ANC6B Launches Effort to Address Crime on Capitol Hill 

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 7, 2023

The new ANC6B Public Safety Committee chaired by resident member Lisa Matsumoto held its first meeting on Monday night and elected Jody Kent Levy as Vice Chair.  Both Matsumoto and Lavy have extensive experience in working within the criminal justice system and both are resident members appointed to the Committee by ANC6B Commissioner Chander Jayraman.  Resident member Dilip Ramchandani was elected secretary.  Some 28 participants joined the virtual meeting.  

The primary purpose was to craft a statement of purpose and committee members wrestled with the prospective mission of the Committee for more than an hour.  They discussed a wide range of goals but came to no final resolution and members were asked to flesh out their ideas and bring them in writing for consideration at the next meeting which will be at 8:00pm on Monday, March 20.  

Matsumoto, an attorney who has spent her entire career working in the criminal justice system, opened the discussion by laying down a proposal that the purpose was to raise public safety issues to ANC6B through meetings and interactions with the community. 

Some of the ideas about how to do that included:

• Serve as a forum to hear community concerns, decide what can be done, and make recommendations to the ANC.
• Strengthen ANC communications with MPD and received periodic reports from them.
• Examine any future rewrite of the criminal code and make recommendations to the ANC to forward to the City Council.
• Engage with agencies such the Office of the Attorney General, and the US Attorney General’s Office to understand how they work.
• Examine the disconnect happening in the Office of Unified Communications to understand how the 911 call system functions (and at times seems to not function) and assess anomalies in response times.
• Find ways to increase agency transparency when the ANC deals with federal agency law enforcement such as the US Capitol Police.
• Take a proactive look at crime data and talk to experts to try to come up with recommendations on the most pressing issues, rather than focus on rapid responses to incidents or potentially distracting liaison efforts.
• Hear panels or individual presentations to explain definitions of crime and the penalties for committing them, the work of violence interrupters, and Safe Passage Program representatives.
• Request allocation of MPD resources for areas that need it.
• Create an ANC6B email address for residents to communicate public safety concerns to the Public Safety Committee.
• Assess the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act of 2016 – which uses a community-based public health approach to violence prevention and intervention – to see how effectively its provisions have been implemented – especially behavioral health teams – and seeing if there are recommendations the ANC can support. 
• Identify ways to support and amplify organizations in the community already working on public safety issues.
• Create an ANC email address for community members to express their concerns to the Public Safety Committee.

It seemed that the consensus was that the committee should be more than an anecdotal forum for residents to engage in a community dialogue about their public safety concerns and more than a vehicle to promote a better relationship between the community and the MPD. 

Early on in the meeting, committee member Chuck Burger suggested that steps be taken to develop a base of knowledge regarding an understanding of crime – what’s being committed and the penalty for it.  He said his observation is that interpretations of crime and punishment issues haven’t shown a lot of knowledge regarding what we’re hearing from the police and the press and that there is a lot of misunderstanding about what’s going on.  He added that that kind of understanding is critical before the committee starts interpreting things. 

At its next meeting in two weeks, the committee will work on continue drafting its Statement of Purpose and will attempt to schedule its first presentation on one of the major topics of discussion facing the committee, such as the mental health crisis, the work of violence interrupters, and the homeless issue. 

HIPS – Harm reduction services for sex workers and drug abusers.   Monday night, the ANC6A Community Outreach Committee, chaired by resident member Adina Wadsworth, heard a presentation on behalf of HIPS from Chibundo Egwuatu, Coordinator for the Sex Workers Advocates Coalition (SWAC). HIPS stands for “Honoring Individual Power and Strength” – an organization that provides non-judgmental harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement for sex workers and drug abusers. 

The center of the organization is a Drop -In Center at 906 H Street, NE.  Go to their website for more information on their operation and a list of services the organization provides for sex workers or drug abusers:  https://www.hips.org/

Covid Centers Closing.  ICYMI, on Friday, Mar 3, the Department of Health announced that the city’s Covid Centers – including the one on Barracks Row – will close on Friday, March 31.  The Centers were established in 2022 to provide free access to Covid vaccinations, testing, and masks.   

CM Charles Allen’s Bills subsidizing purchase of electric bikes and promote Electric Vehicle Infrastructure.  Thursday, the ANC6B Transportation and Public Space Committee chaired by Commissioner Matt LaFortune, held a Special Call Meeting on Electric Vehicle Policy. Charles Allen – now Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment – discussed two bills, the first would promote EV infrastructure and the second would subsidize the purchase of electric bicycles. 

The Comprehensive Electric Vehicle Infrastructure …Act has as its goal establishing 7,500 public charging stations by 2027 while setting a requirement to equally distribute stations across the entire District: http://bit.ly/3ZBu33e  Allen says a hearing will be held later this spring.

The Electric Bicycle Rebate Program Amendment Act would provide rebates for bikes, locks, fittings, and batteries for residents to subsidize the costs of an e-bike (either a regular frame or cargo bike model).  http://bit.ly/3JlXrp7 A hearing on the bill is scheduled for March 16. 

New residential units coming to Barracks Row – 733 8^th Street, SE.  Demolition has started on the the two story building at the former location of Howl to the Chief at 733 8th Street on Barracks Row.  The owner plans on addition two new stories – three floors of residential units while keeping the first floor for retail.  Howl to the Chief moved a few doors down to 719 8th Street. 

Here are before and after images from the Architect’s Powerpoint presentation to ANC6B in June of 2021. 

Orchids galore.  The 27^th annual orchid exhibit at the US Botanic Garden continues this month and runs through April 30.  Hundreds of orchids festoon the Tropics House where visitors will find two 9 foot tall tree sculptures covered with epiphytic orchids. 

The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 5, 2023

Monday, March 6

ANC6B Public Safety Committee  will hold a virtual meeting at 8:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  http://bit.ly/3L2v7ZU

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Procedural matters
  • Elect Vice-Chair.
  • Request volunteer to serve as Secretary of the Committee.
  • Future meeting schedule.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Identify agenda items for next meeting.
• Identify possible speakers/experts for future meetings.

Tuesday, March 7

ANC6B Planning and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:  TBA.

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Election of Vice-Chair.
• Presentation from Mark-Anthony Tynes – Department of Buildings.
• 218 D Street, SE; Capitol Hill Day School. Zoning Adjustment Application.  Special Exception to expand a private school use to the second story of an existing, attached, three-story commercial building.
• 718 North Carolina Ave SE. BZA Application.  To construct a two-story rear deck addition, to an existing, attached, three-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit.
• 718 North Carolina Avenue, SE. Historic Preservation Application. Two-story rear screened porch addition. 

Wednesday, March 8

ANC6B Transportation and Public Space Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting go here:  TBA.

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Presentation from DC Water on Ongoing Projects Causing Roadwork.
• Presentation from DPW on Parking Enforcement.
• Presentation from DDOT on Additional Speeding Cameras.
• Presentation by Mark Sussman on Kidical Mass Chapter for Capitol Hill. (Kidical Mass DC is the Washington, DC chapter of Kidical Mass, the national movement to encourage parents and children to bike together.)  http://kidicalmassdc.blogspot.com/
• Report of the March 2, 2023 Special Call Transportation Meeting.

Thursday, March 9

ANC6A will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting go here:  https://anc6a.org/community-calendar/

Among items on the draft agenda: 

Community Presentations:

• Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen.
• DPR Update – Christopher Dyer, Community Engagement Manager, Department of Parks and Recreation.

Consent Agenda

• Letter to Councilmember Charles Allen requesting the DC Council offer a resolution honoring the late Mr. William Outlaw honoring his long-time service to the Capitol Hill community.
• Letter of support to HSEMA for the 2023 Capitol Hill Classic Races.
• Letter of support to DDOT Public Space Committee to enclose a second floor balcony at 207 14th Place, NE.
• Letter to DDOT regarding sidewalk repairs, sidewalk gaps, and pedestrian infrastructure.
• Letter of support to the DC Council for the Automated Traffic Enforcement Effectiveness Amendment Act of 2022
• Letters of support to BZA for a request for area variance relief to HPRB for historic review of a project to construct a second story accessory dwelling unit addition to an existing detached, accessory garage in the rear of an existing, attached, three-story principal dwelling unit at 915 Maryland Avenue NE.  Both letters will state that support is on the condition that the plans be updated so that the access to the upper unit is only available from the rear yard and not the alley.

Letter of support for Special Exception relief to construct a new, detached, five-story with cellar and penthouse, 80-unit apartment addition, to existing mixed-use buildings at 1000–1016 H Street, NE, on condition that the residential units on the ground floor be designated as artist space/studios, and this would be written into the condominium bylaws, and that the developer make best efforts not to include natural gas in the building, and that if these conditions are not met, ANC 6A should oppose the request.

Motion to approve Mark Sussman (6A04) and Paul Angelone (6A05) to and remove Hassan Christian from the membership of the TPS Committee.

ANC6B Alcohol Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

For info on how to join the meeting go here:  http://bit.ly/3kP8Q7k

Among items on the draft agenda:

• Application for an Entertainment Endorsement for Hill East Burgers.
• Discussion on Notice to Cure for Harvest Tide.
• Status update of working group on protocol for ABC cases.

ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

For info on how to join the meeting, go here:

Among items on the draft agenda:

Presentations:

• Yohannes Bennehoff, DDOT, on proposed improvements to the 8th Street, NE, bus lines (Bus Priority Project).
• ANC6C Commissioner Adelstein and resident Bob Dardano on the “triangles” that are formed at the intersections of various DC streets and avenues in ANC 6C. Specifically, who has jurisdiction over them, how/can they be improved, and finally what type of improvements would be welcomed by the community.

DDOT Construction Permit. 125 E Street NE:  Paving: ADA Curb Ramp.  Paving: Alley(s). Paving: Curb & Gutter(s).  Paving: Driveway(s).  Close Existing, Paving: Driveway(s) Repair or Replace, Paving: Mill and Overlay, Paving:  Sidewalk(s), Fixture: Bike Rack(s): DDOT Standard, Fixture: Curbside Signage, Fixture:  Mutlispace Meter, Landscaping: New Tree Space(s), Landscaping: Stormwater Mgmt  (serve public), Landscaping: Tree Planting, Landscaping: Tree Space (Stormwater Mgmt),  Over Head Work: Streetlight(s) Installation.

Eastern Market stakeholders and community members met last night to plan the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Eastern Market. Here, Eastern Market Main Street Chair Mary Quillian Helms (center with back to camera) addresses the group. Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee representative and chair of the Planning Group is Brian Pate (center in red coat.)

CM Charles Allen said, “It’s going to take all of us…I envision this group growing as we think about who to bring in…this will be exciting…a celebration and creation of a vision coming out of civic pride…a great way to bring people back together again after what we’ve been through over the past two years.”

Plans Advance for Months of Celebrating Eastern Market Anniversary

by Larry Janezich

Posted March 1, 2023

Tuesday night, a group of stakeholders convened to plan the eight month celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of Eastern Market.  The meeting was chaired by EMCAC Board Member Brian Pate.  Some 20 community members turned out, including Councilmember Charles Allen. 

Allen provided an overview of the goal which, he said, was an opportunity to determine how to celebrate, promote, and advance Eastern Market… not just a celebration but a determination of “what we are and what we want to be.” 

Pate called it a celebration of Eastern Market but also of the community and the arts.  He announced that Eastern Market Main Street had applied for a $400,000 grant for funding a series of events which will begin on March 20 and stretch through the actual birthday of the Market on November 12. 

Allen was optimistic about receiving assistance from EventsDC, saying decision makers appeared to be excited by the prospect of participating in funding, designing, and marketing the anniversary. 

Mary Quillian Helms, Chair of the Eastern Market Main Street Board of Directors, and Barry Margeson, Co-chair, discussed some of the items on the preliminary calendar of events.  Additional details were provided by Eastern Market Main Street Executive Director Ann Blackwell

Among those items: 

• March 20: 150^th Market Banner Installation.
• March – 20 April 9:  The Cherry Blossom Experience – which will include filling the North Hall with cherry blossoms.
• March 26:  Capitol Hill Arts Workshop celebrates Eastern Market with events throughout the day.
• March 30:  Capitol Hill Restoration Society presents an Eastern Market History Lecture by Capitol Hill author Robert Pohl.
• April 1-2: Capitol Art Book Fair in North Hall.
• May 6:  The History of Eastern Market Book Launch in association with The Literary Hill Event.
• May 19:  Market Day – A 150 table community picnic set up on 7^th Street.  Family activities all day.
• November 12:  An Anniversary Celebration with all day family activities and cerebration in the North Hall that night.

Allen said that the events calendar – currently heavily weighted in favor of April events – would continue to be built out by the efforts of the group as they focus on the summer and fall. 

A brainstorming session which followed produced a number of ideas, including a kick-off media event featuring Mayor Bowser, a food shopping tour, the sale of an anniversary beer, additional programming related to the history of the Market, soliciting community restaurants to provide cooking demonstrations with Eastern Market products, and creation and sale of an Eastern Market jigsaw puzzle. 

The first event is 20 days away, and the group will meet again before then, though a date has not yet been set.