The sign announcing the pending arrival of Butterworth’s being installed on Tuesday morning.
Images of what’s going on inside are not available yet. Here’s a photo featuring a detail of the interior design by Studio Lo https://www.studiolo-design.com/ Renovation was completed by Tower 7 Construction.
Butterworth’s – A French Style Restaurant/Café/Bar to Open on PA Ave SE
by Larry Janezich
Posted Tuesday, September 3
Butterworth’s, modeled after the casual French restaurant/café where one hangs out and returns to regularly will open at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE in October.
The group behind Butterworth’s took over the building formerly occupied by Coastline Oyster Company in February. Before that it was home to ZOCA Mexican Restaurant, Stanton + Greene, Pour House, and Politicki.
According to a knowledgeable source, the new venture will be a casual hangout, open all day starting at 8am with a coffee program and progressing through the lunch hour and ending with dinner. The new venture is being billed as a place where quirkiness and creativity are celebrated. The menu is still being worked out but will have broad appeal, leaning heavily on French cuisine but including grilled cheese and tomato soup.
The owners think Butterworth’s can set the standard for what a business is capable of compared with other hospitality providers on PA Avenue, and for a similar price point. Butterworth’s will initially open on the first floor and eventually expand to the second floor and basement. The hope and expectation is that Butterworth’s will become an institution with a lasting relationship to Capitol Hill and DC. The name comes from the last name of the company’s main investor.
The restaurant is trying not to give away too much in the press prior to opening. The current marketing plan is to not explain the concept in advance but rather to create an aura of intrigue to preserve what the owners think is special.
Butterworth’s is waiting for certificate of occupancy and hopes to open in October.
The pace of renovation has picked up at the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shop next to Peregrine on 7th Street, SE. Workers say the shop should be open in October.
Update on renovation of SE Library. The ground and foundation below the Library have been removed and the building is now completely supported by steel supports and cross bracing. Photo courtesy of DCPL.
Here’s the view from under the building looking Southwest. Photo courtesy of DCPL. Next, excavation of another level below this one. Meanwhile, in other Library news, the ANC6B SE Library Taskforce, chaired by Commissioner David Sobelsohn, continues to push for restoration of library services at the Arthur Capper Tech Express. DC Public Library has scaled back that operation owing to air conditioning issues. The Taskforce is seeking a meeting with CM Charles Allen to help resolve the issue.
The former Capitol Valet at 801 East Capitol Street is now the GW Club. The sign – with the George Washington University logo – says, “A private club: Invitation only for members and guests.” Not clear how it will be used – perhaps an alumni benefit? Since the building was already zoned commercial, it does not fall under the regulations restricting commercial use of residential properties.
Here’s something new at the Eastern Market Flea Market. Dartpoker came into being as an idea from Jeremiah Ford’s father, and Jeremiah (above), seeing its potential, got a patent and developed a marketing plan for playing card games on a dart board. The skill (and luck) of the throw replaces the luck of the draw. Currently, each board is handmade, but the Ford’s are looking for a sponsor to underwrite production and promotion. For more, go here: https://www.facebook.com/dartpokerbydreams2fruitionllchttps://x.com/DartpokerD2F
Here’s Triple Candies’ September installation in the front space of the former Li’l Pub at 655 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Triple Candie is a research-oriented curatorial agency run by art historian co-founders Shelly Bancroft and Peter Nesbett. Their purpose is to create alternative exhibition methods making that the object of critical focus rather than what is displayed (which for the most part does not include original artworks).
The Week Ahead…
Highlights:
Tavern License for Mott’s Market – Tuesday
High Demand, 511 11th Street, SE; New Medical Cannabis Retailer – Tuesday
Discussion of a Moratorium on any additional Cannabis Retailers licenses being issued within ANC 6B – Tuesday
Community Crime Meeting – Tuesday
DDOT Presentation on 8th Street Bus Priority Project Loading Zone – Wednesday
EV Charging Locations – Wednesday
Discussion on Use RF-1/RF-3 Zoned Residential Properties for Unlicensed Commercial Activities – Thursday
Tuesday, September 3
6B Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm
Mott’s Market, 233 12th Street, SE, new Retailer Class “B” Beer & Wine Store license.
Mott’s Market, 233 12th Street, SE, new Retailer Class “C” Tavern license.
Saint-Georges, 301 7th Street SE, (new Retailer Class “C” Restaurant license.
Bud Love, 1221 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, New Medical Cannabis Retailer.
High Demand, 511 11th Street, SE; New Medical Cannabis Retailer.
Radici Market, Substantial Change application to change the location of the liquor license to 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (for on-line sales); Request for approval of a stipulated license [6B02].
Discussion of modifying the alcoholic beverage license process to apply to Cannabis applications.
Discussion of a Moratorium on any additional Cannabis Retailers licenses being issued within ANC 6B.
622 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Application of Dilan Investment for concept approval for new two-story accessory building, enlarged existing rear stoop, and new wood fence with a pedestrian gate.
627 A Street, NE. Application of Kaely Michels-Gualtieri for a special exception from the lot occupancy requirements, a special exception, from the building area requirements, a special exception from the maximum principal dwelling unit requirements, and a special exception from the accessory building use requirements to construct a two-story addition to an accessory building, and to convert the accessory building into a principal dwelling unit, on the same lot as an existing semi-detached two-story flat.
700 A Street NE. Discussion of proposed letter to HPO re “storm window” exception to permit requirement.
Thursday, September 5
ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
530 5th Street SE Project. Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a two-story plus cellar rear addition, to an existing, attached two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1/CAP zone.
530 5th Street SE Project: Historic Preservation Application to construct a two-story plus cellar rear addition, to an existing, attached two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1/CAP zone.
6B05 Zoning Application – TBD.
Discussion on Use RF-1/RF-3 Zoned Residential Properties for Unlicensed Commercial Activities.
Motion to approve a grant to Guerilla Gardeners of Washington DC in the amount of $1,000.00 to plant tulips bulbs at Sasha Bruce House at 1022 Maryland Avenue, NE.
Motion to approve a grant to Atlas Performing Arts Center in the amount of $1,500.00 to host a free lobby event on November 2, 2024.
Plenary session:
Preliminary discussion on a proposed letter to the DC Council and appropriate agencies to improve application process, oversight and enforcement of violations for establishments selling Cannabis and/or Alcohol.
Motion to send a letter of support to the BZA for Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application for a Special Exception from the height requirements at 1351 C Street, NE.
Motion that ANC6B protest the alcohol beverage license application of Aldi #15 at 801 H Street, NE, unless a Settlement Agreement is reached between the ANC and the license applicant prior to the protest deadline.
ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8
ART WALK: Over 80 local artists and artisans will display their work in their own micro-galleries, in Capitol Hill home studios, on porches or in yards.
Presented by the Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) and cosponsored by the Hill Rag, and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS).
World-famous scarves, award-winning paintings of all styles, metal arts, and even a new Capitol Hill Bingo game will be able to be purchased during the art walk. Many of the artists are clustered along the sidewalks and alleys, making the art walk easy to access within a few blocks and close to several Metro stops (Capitol South, Eastern Market, or Union Station). Rest facilities are available at the Old Navy Hospital, Hill Center.
Sunday, September 8.
Hill Center Event: AMERICAN ROOTS CONCERTS RESUME: Jourdan Thibodeau with Cedric Watson & Joel Savoy. 4:30pm-6:30pm. Free & Outdoors at the Hill Center. Go here for free tickets: https://bit.ly/3Xq89BE
Sunday, September 8
Opening: Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment. National Gallery of Art – West Building, Main Floor
Community Group Urges City to Upgrade Eastern Market Security Measures
by Larry Janezich
Posted Tuesday, August 28
Concerns about the security at Eastern Market have steadily increased over the past four years. Those concerns continue to preoccupy the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) and have grown increasingly urgent with the yet-another-delay announced in July regarding the installation of security bollards intended to prevent vehicular attacks on the Market and the adjacent weekend-crowded streets.
During the last year the EMCAC established an ad Hoc Subcommittee on Public Safety to review a wide range of issues including building code compliance, fire prevention, utility infrastructure, general operations, vendor stalls, ADA compliance, lighting, signage, general security and management support.
EMCAC (Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee) recommends that the D.C. Department of General Services (DGS), in cooperation with the D.C. Department of Homeland Security, with support from an experienced risk and security advisory consultant, take steps to (in order of priority):
Conduct a threat assessment of Eastern Market to assess the likelihood and impact of dangers including, but not limited to, natural disasters, terrorism and other security risks, and the general public safety.
Conduct research on how large public markets in other cities have prepared similar public spaces from similar threats.
Review and revise the existing Eastern Market Emergency Response Plans and related procedures to ensure that they are aligned to the current risks and threats facing the market.
Do an assessment of electrical distribution, water, and gas infrastructure that both addresses the needs of merchants and vendors and ensures public safety.
Provide expanded MPD and DGS on-site security as crime deterrents.
Create a list of current emergency response resources (and personnel trained to use them) available at Eastern Market and surrounding facilities such as the Rumsey Aquatic Center and MedStar Urgent Care. Distribute this list to all EM merchants, vendors and staff and provide training with mandatory attendance.
Create and make available easily accessible and understandable materials regarding public threats, emergency response, crime deterrents and prevention, health code regulations and violations, etc. Making this information available could include signage, posters, QR codes, posts on the EM web-site, etc.
EMCAC has tasked itself with developing a timetable for starting and completing these recommendations, providing oversight of the progress on the recommendations, reporting on progress at its monthly meetings, initiating updates with relevant agencies, inviting officials for walkthroughs of the Market, and increasing engagement with relevant stakeholders on public safety and risk reduction.
EMCAC is the District’s legislatively-established body entrusted with advisory and oversight responsibilities for the operations, management, and renovation of Eastern Market.
Name change for the former Tyler Elementary. A new sign announced the change just in time for the start of school on Monday. On January 9th, 2024, the DC council approved changing the name of John Tyler Elementary to Shirley Chisholm Elementary School. She was the first Black Congresswoman and the first Black woman to seek a major party’s nomination for president and a strong advocate for early education.
Over on Barracks Row, the in-coming medical marijuana shop at 727 8th Street – Miel Wellness – drew attention this week for the crown of artificial blossoms over their doorway. The building was formerly the home Soul to Summit sports clothing outlet. For more on Miel Wellness, go here: https://mielwellness.com/menu/
ICYMI Also on Barracks Row, Trattoria Alberto is sporting a new coat of hard-to-miss paint. The restaurant was a favorite of former Speaker of the House John Boehner.
Another new sign at 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, confirms the coming of Dos Toros Taqueria to the space formerly occupied by Firehook Bakery. Dos Toros has outlets in Chinatown and Duport Circle, and multiple locations in NYC. For more on their menu, go here: https://www.dostoros.com/menu
New Pasha Café Sweet Shop’s arrival on PA Ave SE appears to be in doubt. Here’s a photo from last week of the store front at 615 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, sans the Pasha Café Coming Soon and the Now Hiring signs. Pasha Café, whose coming was announced by a window sign last May, was (is?) to be a sister restaurant to Pasha Castle on M Street in Georgetown, billed itself as a Mediterranean Dessert Shop.
Last Wednesday, the Italian Air Force flying team Frecce Tricolori did a flyby over DC, starting on the east side of the city with a single east to west pass just south of the National Mall. Frecce Tricolori are on a tour of North America, the first time since 1992 that their signature red, white and green smoke has been seen over the United States. The team will perform flyovers of iconic U.S. landmarks in a series of major U.S. cities. Separately, a local pigeon pictured above the smoke trails did its own flyover.
The Week Ahead….
Monday, August 26
ANC6B Southeast Library Taskforce will hold a virtual and in person meeting at 6:30pm at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, second floor, entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s.
For info on how to join the virtual meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the agenda:
Discussion of the renovation and the status of the interim library service at the Arthur Capper Recreation Center.
Tuesday, August 27
ANC 6B Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Please join the Friends of Lincoln Park for a kid-friendly magic show starting at 10:00am on Sunday,
August 25th! Abracadabra Alex will perform his magic show that inspires amazement and laughter in kids of all ages. Following the 40-minute show, there will be a magic-themed arts and crafts activity for kids. We hope you can join us and fellow neighbors for an entertaining and magical morning and support our efforts to improve our park!
Location: Lincoln Park, near the Mary McLeod Bethune Statue and between the playgrounds.
Suggested donation: $5 (Venmo or Paypal – donations are tax-deductible)
Hungry after the show? Our friends at Della Barba Pizza will be generously donating 20% of all orders Sunday to the Friends of Lincoln Park when you mention us when placing your order. If placing an online order, please write “Friends of Lincoln Park” in the “Special instructions” text box.
Comments Off on CHAL Reception Saturday and Magic at Lincoln Park on Sunday
Barracks Row 7-11 closes suddenly. Late last week, the Barracks Row 7-11 closed its doors permanently. A 7-11 employee told Capitol Hill Corner that the reason for closure was because of shoplifting.
Update # 2: Cease and Desist Order for Safe House Weed Outlet on H Street, NE. Safe House, at 335 H Street, SE, is just to the left of PhoViet USA in the photo. On August 8, the DC Board of Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) issued a follow up order affirming its earlier cease and desist order against Safe House, which had been operating as a weed gifting outlet.
On July 31, ABCA held a meeting to hear an appeal of the cease and desist order of July 3, 2024, by the owners and operators of Safe House. The Board found Safe House to be in violation of cannabis regulations prior to filing for two conditional medical marijuana licenses (retail and on-line), which were subsequently granted.
However, because they operated as a weed gifting shop before (and apparently after) getting the licenses and because of their inability to explain the nature of transactions involving cannabis, and given the likelihood in the Board’s view that they will continue to operate as a gift shop rather than a medical marijuana dispensary, the Board continued the cease and desist order, holding out the possibility of fines for the business.
Collecting Memories at the LOC. A new exhibit at the LOC showcases a collection of intimate records of important moments in individual lives as well as entire societies. Here a capture of the entrance to the exhibit.
Among the exhibits is one dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln and contains one of the most signification collections of ephemera the Library’s possession.
This arresting and poignant exhibit displays the contents of the pockets of President Abraham Lincoln the night he was shot – April 14, 1865.
Top row: chamois lens cleaner, white linen handkerchief embroidered with “A. Lincoln” in red thread, silk lined wallet which contained 9 newspaper clippings.
Middle row: case for glasses and a five dollar Confederate bill – possibly a souvenir of a recent trip to Richmond.
Bottom row: Eye glasses mended with string, gold quartz watch fob, sleeve button with a gold initial “L” on dark blue enamel, ivory and silver multi-blade pocket knife.
Also in the exhibit is Lincoln’s handwritten Gettysburg Address, delivered November 19, 1863. The remarks were written on Executive Mansion stationery in Washington. Lincoln may have altered the end once in Gettysburg, thus explaining his use of different paper and a pencil on the second page.
Motion: That ANC6A protest the license application of Luxury Soil , 775 H Street NE, unless a Settlement Agreement is reached between the ANC and the license applicant prior to the protest deadline.
Motion: That ANC6A protest the license application of Aldi #15, 801 H Street NE, unless a Settlement Agreement is reached between the ANC and the license applicant prior to the protest deadline.
ANC 6B will hold a virtual special call meeting at 7:00pm for Cannabis License Application.
Organizers of the effort to recall CM Charles Allen acknowledged on Monday that they had failed to get the minimum number of 6425 signatures on the recall petition. They came up some 900 votes short. In reality, they needed at least another 1,000 on top of that to be safe from challenges to ineligible or illegible signatures. And Allen had a team of volunteers ready to check.
The recall organizers listed a number of reasons for the failure, including citing the unavailability of a mobile application which they claimed the Board of Elections was supposed to provide them to help get signatures. It would have allowed signees to sign an iPad instead of a piece of paper – but BOE had discontinued the app after 2022. They also cited aggressive challenges by the pro-Allen organization Neighbors United for Ward 6, headed by former Ward 6 council member Tommy Wells. Wells filed campaign finance complaints with BOE related to the organizers’ fundraising methods, citing illegal coordination between the campaign and independent expenditure committees and irregularities in employment information provided by campaign contributors. Also cited was advertising in support of the recall by the DC Police Union without filing as a campaign contributor.
There were good reasons that the recall effort failed. Initially, the effort – while it was centered on Capitol Hill – seemed to have considerable momentum. Once the low hanging fruit of petition signers had been picked, the effort seemed to fade. There seemed to be little effort in other parts of Ward 6 such as The Wharf or near Northwest.
Some Ward 6 residents were put off by the involvement of Republicans in the effort amid news reports of national GOP politicians pointing to the recall as evidence that DC was a liberal city which could not govern itself. A considerable number of large donations came from Republicans and – according to a source familiar with the recall campaign – the DC Republican Party sent petitions and return envelopes to 6000 Republicans in Ward Six.
And then there’s this: Allen is popular in Ward 6 and most residents feel they are well represented. They were not willing to single him out as being responsible for the increase in violent crime that plagued the city in 2023 – the genesis of the recall movement. Three months after the launch of the recall, crime was trending downward in 2024 even before the City Council passed the Secure DC Crime Bill in March. In the first half of this year, DC has seen one of the steepest drops in violent crime among major U.S. cities. Organizers of the recall built the movement on the crime wave – but offered no solutions of their own, defaulting to a position of supporting more arrests, more convictions, and more incarcerations.
Return to the Folger Library… is an occasional feather focusing on some of the most popular exhibits in the new Exhibition Hall. The much-anticipated Great Hall’s Quill and Crumb café will not open until sometime in September. The Folger will offer grab-and-go breakfast options, coffee, tea, soups and sandwiches, snacks to eat in the garden, and drinks and light dinner fare in the evenings.
Artist Mya Golsling is the creator of Good Tickle Brain, a stickfigure webcomic. She created a whimsical map in keeping with the Folger’s new emphasis that Shakespeare is for everyone: A Fantastical World of William Shakespeare is a world populated by Shakespeare’s characters in plays grouped according to themes in common.
A Fantastical World of William Shakespeare.
Key to the Map.
Justice for All? Legal dramas and political prisoners: Henry VI, Part 1, King John, Measure for Measure, The Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Nobel Kinsmen, The Winter’s Tale.
Cupid’s Estate: Love is a many splendored (and sometimes disasterous thing): All’s Well That Ends Well, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, TheTaming of the Shrew; and, Family Therapy: A group for characters with Problematic Fathers: Hamlet, Henry IV, Part 1, King Lear.
Strange Powers. Wizards, witches and other magical sorts: Julius Caesar, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest.
Isle of Tyrants; Murderous self-obsessesive, scheming anti-heroes: Macbeth, Richard III, The Winter’s Tale.
Ancient Heroes. Shakespeare’s many classical pasts: Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Titus Andronicus, Troilus and Cressida, the Two Noble Kinsmen.
There was other news this past week.
ICYMI. East City Bookshop suffered major water damage from a leak in the space above last month. They reopened with limited hours this weekend and owner Laurie Gillman says: “I’m happy to announce that we’ll be open for limited hours this week, (August 13th – 16th ) from noon to 5 pm. … we’ll be closed Monday, August 12th, for a post-construction deep cleaning.
We’ll get back to our regular hours on Saturday, August 17th at 10am. To celebrate re-opening, we’re having a sale! Get 20% off all books in stock, for in-store purchases only–the discount won’t apply to special orders.”
The Palestinian House of Freedom opened up an office in the Penn Medical Building at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, on July 25th, next door to District Taco.
ANC6C Commissioner Jay Adelstein and his dog Sylvie thank NPS Facilities crew for installing new water fountain in Stanton Park. Photo: Jay Adelstein.
The week ahead is quiet, with no meetings scheduled for ANC 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D or 7D. Likewise, many community civic meeting and other events are in a midi-August hiatus before gearing up for the fall season starting next month. .
However, Tuesday, August 12, is the date the campaign to recall CM Charles Allen has to turn in signatures to get a recall measure on a special election recall ballot.
Comments Off on The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from the Past Week
A new weekend busker at Eastern Market – Roman Velychko, violinist. His story is compelling. Velychko is Ukrainian who, after the war started in 2022, practiced violin in a bunker with aspirations for Julliard. He came to the US later that year, leaving behind parents, a brother, and grandparents. Still in high school, he auditioned for the Julliard “pre-college” program, was accepted and is a member of the Julliard pre-college symphony. After graduating, he hopes to join Julliard as a full –time student. His story was posted in The Hill, in December of 2022. See here: https://bit.ly/3SBGPxw
The 11th Street Bridge Park will be built on the piers of the old freeway across the Anacostia River. The space will be a venue for education and the arts featuring gardens, an environmental center, and 175 native trees.
This is a model of the bridge installed in front of the Botanic Garden. The park will be managed by Building Bridges, a non-profit designed to provide equitable access to health, arts and economic opportunity.
Here’s a more comprehensive architectural rendering, courtesy of OMA Architects.
Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains. National Museum of the American Indian. On exhibit through January 20, 2026.
Narrative art of the plains evolved from painting on buffalo hides, muslins, and ledger books to modern works inspired by this tradition.
Artists recorded events and history in the on hides and muslin. When ledger books became available – discarded by the U.S. military or trading posts – artists used them with drawings.
Native artists began reviving “ledger art” in the 1970s.
A traditional buffalo robe painted by Spotted Tail, Crow, depicting ten battle scenes.
A modern painting of a Sun Dance – the Renewal Ceremony – by Sherman Chaddlesone, Kiowa, 2013.
A modern painting of a buffalo hunt by Sherman Chaddlesone, Kiowa, 2013.
The Week Ahead…
Wednesday, August 7
ANC 7D August Special Virtual Public Meeting at 6:30pm.
Northeast Boundary Trunk Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Proposed Action: Support 24 hour work period for underwater sewer pipe.
Kingsman Field and Dog Park Meeting
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) hosts a virtual meeting on the future of Kingsman Field and Dog Park from 6 to 7pm. Register to learn the full update. https://kingsmanfielddogpark.splashthat.com/
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Thursday, August 8th
Live! The Library of Congress musical performance and summer movie event.
Thomas Jefferson Building – Southeast Lawn
Panquility Band will perform joyful melodies and rhythms on the Southeast lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Building. This performance will start before the showing of “Lady and the Tramp.” 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm No tickets are required to attend this event.
A screening of “Lady and the Tramp” (1955), the beloved animated classic that tells the story of Lady, a pampered cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a charismatic street-smart mutt. 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm No tickets are required to attend this event.
Friday, August 9th
Folger Fridays – Queer Culture Night featuring Be Steadwell and Pretty Boi Drag, 5:30–7:30pm.
Free | Folger Front Lawn
An evening of queer celebration with Be Steadwell and Pretty Boi Drag.
Comments Off on The Week Ahead & Some Photos from the Past Week
Chander Jayaraman marched with the Capitol Hill Little League in the Barracks Row July 4th Parade. Jayaraman coaches the team.
ANC6B’s Chander Jayaraman Will Not Seek Re-Election
by Larry Janezich
Posted July 31, 2024
Long-serving ANC6B commissioner and former chair of ANC6B, Chander Jayaraman announced today he will not seek re-election.
He joins Frank D’Andrea, 6B04; Kasie Durkit, 6B05, Edward Ryder, 6B08; and Matt LaFortune, 6B09; who have also announced their decision not to run again.
In a statement, Jayaraman said, “It has been my honor and privilege to serve on ANC 6B and represent the amazing residents of Capitol Hill and HillEast over the past 14 years. During these years, I have worked with Commissioners from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who shared a common goal – to make the SE quadrant of Capitol Hill a great place to live and call home. While the Commissioners did not always agree on every issue, we always respected each other’s views and worked to come to a consensus on issues of concern to our residents. Some of my accomplishments over the past 14 years include helping neighbors navigate the DC bureaucracy to get things done, establishing best practices for restaurants and taverns to be successful while being good neighbors, and fighting for our residents when the ideas of city agencies don’t make sense. I have also had the pleasure of meeting countless numbers of amazing and accomplished residents who makeup our diverse neighborhood.
Unfortunately, the impact of the ANC continues to be eroded and our voices are diminished by District agencies who think they know what is best for the residents we represent. Too often now, city agencies view the ANC as a hurdle to overcome rather than a partner to work with – this is especially true of DDOT, ABCA, and the Office of Zoning. I have fought hard to hold agencies responsible for their actions or inaction to the detriment of our neighborhoods but the rate at which agencies are increasingly ignoring ANC input or view attending an ANC meeting as a box to check off to say they received public input is frustrating. This continues to get more and more prevalent which is one of the reasons I have decided not to seek reelection. I will continue to be available to future Commissioners and residents who want advice or guidance.”
Candidates have until August 7 to turn in petitions to get on the ballot for the November election.
Candidates who have picked up petitions are as follows (* indicates incumbent):
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 