Commentary: ANC5D Meeting November 2021
Hi there. Welcome to my recap of the ANC 5D monthly meeting, representing Trinidad, Carver-Langston, Ivy City, Gallaudet and Union Market. Sorry I missed last month. Hope you’re enjoying the fall and had a nice Halloween.
All commissioners were present at the meeting. Here’s the agenda and here’s the recording of the meeting on Youtube.
Budget: It’s worth noting that the substantial ANC budget is finally being spent, and the latest Treasurer’s Report has a closing balance of $65,000, down from about $100,000 last term. I’m personally glad that money is finally flowing, because there isn’t much clarity about whether the balance will disappear after redistricting next year. “It’s hard for us to actually spend this money,” said Commissioner Sydelle Moore, describing the budget as an “excess of funds.” However, most of the line items are just labeled, “Sydelle Moore,” and it would be nice to know what those purchases are, even generally.
MPD Public Safety Report by Capt. Jerome: There have been a few construction-site robberies locally. Car theft is down significantly.
Mayor’s Office report from Kyla Woods: As of November 1, any adult who is regularly in a school or around students, as well as students 12+ playing school sports, must be vaccinated. Reminder to use the 311 app, which gives you a ticket number for your request. On November 17th, there will be a first come, first serve vaccination pop-up for children 5-11 at Center City Public Charter School, at 1217 West Virginia Avenue.
Ward 5 Councilmember’s Report from Silas Grant: Councilmember McDuffie's office is still collecting requests for traffic calming measures like speed bumps around Ward 5. Commissioner Hoffman notes that these requests have been pending for a long time. Councilmember McDuffie’s Baby Bonds bill passed the Council recently.
Redistricting: Every 10 years, the city’s eight wards are rebalanced to be roughly equal. This time around, Ward 6 is way too big, and 7 and 8 are a bit too small. This is on the ANC5D homepage: “In recent remarks, CMs Bonds and Silverman hinted they may support splitting Carver/Langston at Maryland Ave. & moving some neighbors to Ward 7. I oppose this proposal.” (Presumably Comm. Sydelle Moore) On Tuesday night, Commissioner Sydelle Moore said she recently testified before the Council and warned that putting the ward borders along Maryland would split apartment complexes into two different wards, as well as neighborhoods that have been linked for decades. You wouldn’t split up a hospital or college, said commissioner Moore.
However, Comm. Sydelle Moore said she was now optimistic. Recently, Councilmember Silverman posted three discussion maps on her website (at top here), and splitting up Carver and Langston is not on any of the maps. “At this point there are unlikely to be any changes,” said Comm. Sydelle Moore. In some of the maps, the Ward 7 border might be moving west, as far as 15th Street. After the wards are established, ANC borders will be redrawn next year.
Family Community Fellowship Grant Closeout Report: Grant recipient Thelma Duren gave an enthusiastic report about the use of a $25,000 grant for six months of food distribution and workforce development in Ivy City and Carver-Langston. “Everybody was always telling somebody, and it was a great success,” said Duren. It’s always satisfying to hear a report about a successful distribution of grant funds (see above). Duren said, “It’s so important that we have programs like this in our community.”
Langston Terrace Dwellings Master Plan Report from Broderick Spencer, DC Housing Authority: There was a presentation about the DC Housing Authority effort to rehab and improve Langston Terrace by Broderick Spencer, who was difficult to hear. Interestingly, the Langston Terrace Dwellings is a historic site, being the city’s first housing project and the second in the entire country, completed in 1938 by African American architect Hilyard Robinson, a Bauhaus-trained DC native. At this point DCHA is seeking to hire a planner and get input from the community in order to determine the features of the master plan. This is the beginning of a 12 month planning process, with a report finalized late next year. “There will be lots of opportunities to get your feedback and this will be what drives the plan,” said Spencer. Commissioners Blacknell and Rhodes were both skeptical of whether DCHA was serious about getting input from the entire community.
Office on Racial Equity Report, Dr. Amber Hewitt, Chief Equity Officer: The Office on Racial Equity is new. Its leader, Dr. Hewitt, was appointed in April by Mayor Bowser, and will work with the Council Office on Racial Equity. That’s right, there’s now ORE and CORE, both created by the REACH Act, written by Councilmember McDuffie. There’s a flurry of action, in what Dr. Hewitt described as the “normalizing phase” in the organization's theory of change. “We know racial equity has become a buzzword and we’re unpacking what it is and what it isn’t,” she said.
Lead Pipe Replacement Project, John Deignan, DC Water: The city is trying to eliminate all lead service lines by 2030. Most of the lead pipes are actually the small, service lines connecting individual houses to larger pipes. In 2019, the city funded full replacement, meaning homeowners no longer have to pay anything to replace the entire service line. Next year, DC Water will be tackling a few specific blocks in ANC5D… including mine! I for one am thrilled, mainly because I’m sick of testing my water every six months. If you live on my block, 1400 Morse, the 1200 block of 17th Street or the 700 block of 19th Street, letters have gone out, and DC Water will be following up with door-to-door outreach and robocalls. More info here.
Northeast Boundary Tunnel Project Update, Hadiah Jordan, DC Water: You may have wondered what the construction on Mt. Olivet is all about. On Tuesday, Hadiah Jordan gave an update on the cause, the Northeast Boundary Tunnel Project, a five mile long tunnel, about 100 feet underground and dug by “Chris." When operational in 2023, it will help reduce flooding and make it so the sewer overflows into the Anacostia far less often during storms. This work, scheduled to finish a year from now, will complete the Anacostia River Tunnel, taking storm water and trash miles away, directly to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Voting Actions:
Letter Supporting AT&T Cellular Antenna Proposal (Spingarn). Tabled, Hoffman opposes.
BZA: Case #20568 -1801 Maryland Ave. NE. Supported.
ABRA: Letter Supporting a Protest of Mudrick’s Liquor License. Supported.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment.