Monday night, CM Charles Allen led a public safety walk with 60 plus attendees through the neighborhood around Watkins School. He encouraged residents who attended to engage him and MPD officials on their specific concerns about crime in the neighborhood.
Council Chair Phil Mendelson was in attendance and pointed out that he lived half a block away from the starting point outside the Peter Bug Shoe Academy, adding “Your concerns are mine as well.”
Commander Colin Hall, MPD First District since August 3, said he was encouraged by seeing the turnout –and that it is “people who make the difference. We want to hear your thoughts and concerns – things that affect people personally.”
L-R – ANC6B Commissioner Vince Mareino, MOCR Jake Stolzenburg, (unidentified), ANC6B Chair Edward Ryder, Ward 6 CM Charles Allen, Peter Bug Mathews (seated with friends), Council Chair Phil Mendelson, First District Commander Colin Hall.
Union Kitchen Still on Track for Barracks Row: A source tells CHC Union Kitchen’s plan to open on Barracks Row in the space formerly occupied by Subway at 8th and E, SE, “hit some snags,” but that Union Kitchen still has the property and is looking forward to opening at 430 8th Street. Reportedly, it will be a small store about the same size as the one on 3rd Street, NE, near Union Station. As of yet, there’s no time line.
New Commissioner joins ANC6C. David Wethington sworn in as Commissioner for ANC6C05 on September 12. by Ward 6 CM Charles Allen. Wethington was the only candidate for the seat vacated by Commissioner Laura Gentile, who resigned after a work promotion brought her new responsibilities and less time for community service. As such, Wethington was declared the new commissioner by the DC Board of Elections. In his day job, Wethington works as a liaison between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Congress.
Controversy over DDOT 8th Street Bus Priority Plan. The plan – intended to more efficiently move some 3,000 people a day up and down 8th Street, SE, has a couple of elements which are causing some grumbling by businesses and residents. Barracks Row merchants don’t want to lose some 60 parking spots which the plan anticipates and some of the businesses on D Street south of Pennsylvania Avenue are unhappy about the proposal to reverse traffic on the street and make it west bound. Similarly, the residents on D Street on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue oppose reversing the flow of traffic there to make it east bound. A previous ANC was successful in defeating such a plan in 2017. ANC6B voted unanimously to send a letter to DDOT which states regarding D Street south of PA Ave, that the ANC “recommends DDOT incorporate recommendation from Barracks Row Main Street on this project”….and for D Street north of PA Ave, the ANC requested “alternative options to be presented with an assessment of their potential safety impacts including and not limited to potential closure of either section or adjacent road.” For the full text of the letter, go here: https://bit.ly/3ZsBT0f (Photo DDOT)
ANC6C Wants Public Safety Answers from Mayor Bowser: At the ANC6C September meeting last Wednesday night, on the issue of public safety, Commissioner Joel Kelty called up two letters for the Commission’s consideration. The first had been sent to Mayor Bowser 11 months ago which she never responded to and which Kelty suggested the Committee resend. The second was to the Attorney General for DC urging the AG to prosecute two cases involving the distribution of drugs stemming from two MPD arrests on H Street, NE. The ANC agreed to send both letters. The debate sparked a discussion on the idea of creating a new public safety committee. There appeared to be considerable enthusiasm for the move. Committee Chair Eckenweiler, who had recused himself from the discussion on the public safety letters, rejoined the Committee and said there were “lots of ways a public safety committee could be unproductive and he preferred a longer conversation.”
The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from Last Week
By Larry Janezich
Posted September 17, 2023
Monday, September 18
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee 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 agenda:
- Florida Ave NE Streetscape Project Update. The Florida Ave NE Streetscape Project outreach team will provide project updates and address community safety concerns with related contractor work.
- Honorary Renaming of the 1300 through 1600 Blocks of A Street NE, to recognize the Eastern High School Blue & White Marching Machine. ANC 7D has requested the support of ANC 6A for their recent resolution requesting the honorary street renaming.
- Public Space Construction Permit Application at 1101 H Street, NE.
- Other outstanding public space permit applications, as necessary.
- TPS Committee contribution to the ANC 6A Annual Report.
Tuesday, September 19
Meet the editors of The Hill Rag, 11:00am – 2:00pm, Lobby of National Capitol Bank
Readers of The Hill Rag will have a chance to meet editors Andrew Lightman and Liz O’Gorek in the lobby of National Capitol Bank, 316 PA Avenue, SE. They will take questions, hear concerns and suggestions.
Wednesday, September 20
ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee 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:
- Resolution of previously heard BZA/HPRB cases (Brad Greenfield)
- Annual Report of Activities: Discuss requirement to submit a summary of our economic development and zoning activities for the year. Designate a writer to draft the Committee contributions.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 