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ANC 4B April Meeting
*Regular Public Meeting: April 22, 7 pm, 4th District Police Station
*Next Planning Meeting: May 14, 6:30 pm, 4th District Police Station
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The Commission will hold its next regular public meeting on Monday, April 22nd at 7 pm at the 4th District Police Station (6001 Georgia Ave, NW). The draft agenda includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- a resolution proposed by me supporting implicit and unconscious bias training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4C recently passed a similar resolution introduced by 4C09 Commissioner Tearsa Coates);
- a resolution proposed by me in response to numerous requests from residents in support of razing Buildings 31 and 84 at Walter Reed (sheds) and widening of Aspen Street, NW, as necessary for safety and accessibility along the street (draft resolution here);
- a resolution proposed by me in support of the installation of roof solar panels at a home within the Takoma Historic District in light of the temporary nature of solar panels and the environmental benefits (draft resolution here);
- a resolution proposed by me in support of the Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act of 2019 to require employers to offer equivalent incentives to employees who choose to drive and who choose alternative methods, such as riding Metro, biking, and walking (draft resolution here);
- a resolution proposed by Commissioner Tiffani Johnson in support of full funding for the Birth-to-Three for All DC Act of 2018; and
- a letter of inquiry proposed by Commissioner Evan Yeats requesting the Chief Financial Officer to track sexual harassment and assault settlements involving DC agency employees (Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B recently issued a similar letter introduced by 6B10 Commissioner Denise Krepp, and so did Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4C as introduced by 4C10 Commissioner Jonah Goodman).
Please contact me with any questions or if you would like additional details regarding the agenda.
As the Commission's Secretary and in the interests of transparency, I seek to share agendas and meeting minutes in a timely and accessible fashion. As we work toward updating the Commission's current website, you can review past agendas and approved minutes on my website at www.erinforanc.com. You can see my reflections on the March meeting here.
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SMD 4B02 Office Hours
Next Office Hours: Thursday, May 16, 7-8 pm, 715 Van Buren St, NW
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Let's chat about the neighborhood! Join me Thursday, May 16th from 7 - 8 pm at 715 Van Buren St, NW, for monthly office hours for Single Member District 4B02. Please RSVP here. If you need accommodations or would like to schedule another time to meet, please email me at 4B02@anc.dc.gov or call me at (202) 821-6333.
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*Affordable Housing at 410 Cedar Street, NW: Mayor Bowser recently announced $138 million in investments in affordable housing projects across the city, both production and preservation, including funding to preserve 30 units of affordable housing at 410 Cedar Street, NW. The Cedar Street Tenant Association worked tirelessly to secure funding and preserve affordability in the neighborhood.
*Eastern Avenue Construction: As many are aware, Pepco and Washington Gas are doing work on Eastern Avenue, Carroll Street, and Cedar Street. Representatives from Pepco, Washington Gas, and the DC Department of Transportation recently attended a meeting with Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart, and Takoma Park Councilmembers Peter Kovar and Kacy Kostiuk. The work is projected to continue until Summer 2020. An additional meeting is scheduled for April 24th, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the SDA Church Center (6810 Eastern Ave).
*Takoma Dog Park: The DC Department of Parks and Recreation has indicated they anticipate the Takoma dog park will be completed in the Fall of 2019. The dog park will be located where the Coolidge High School temporary classrooms are currently located. Special thanks to neighbor Marci Wasserman for the update!
*Takoma DC Library Renovation: I recently attended a meeting about proposed renovations to the Takoma DC Library that will include flooring upgrades, a new HVAC system, and basement work. Most notably, the cork flooring (which is in severe disrepair) will be replaced with impermeable, water resistant, and sound absorbent dark gray carpet. The timeline for the work is not known at this time since the renovation will involve multiple projects.
*Walter Reed 90-Day Look Ahead: View the Parks at Walter Reed 90-Day Look Ahead of On-Site Construction Activities here.
*Takoma Education Campus T-Shirts & Sweatshirts: Show your support for Takoma Education Campus by ordering a t-shirt or sweatshirt. Short sleeve t-shirts are $15, long sleeve t-shirts are $20, and hooded sweatshirts are $25 for youth and $30 for adult sizes. Orders must be received by Tuesday, April 29th. Order shirts here: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/tec-pto-spring2019, where you can ship directly to your home for $4.99, or the school will contact you to arrange pick up.
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New & Notable
What's happening in local government?
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Check out these DC Council legislative and other updates.
- PuPublic Citizen published a scathing report about DC elected officials' misuse of constituent services funds - private donations for "emergency, informational, charitable, scientific, educational, medical, or recreational" services for the primary "primary benefit" of DC residents. Public Citizen found that only a quarter of elected officials' constituent service funds over the past seven years have gone toward their intended use: fulfilling residents' immediate needs, such as paying utility bills, buying food, or funeral assistance, whereas the vast majority have gone toward items like sports tickets, party supplies, and things that sure seem like campaign materials. More here, and the report here. You can read my views here. At-Large Councilmember David Grosso has introduced legislation to reform these funds. Details here.
- The DC Council issued its final vote to "reprimand" Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans and strip him of some of his Committee functions. I have argued that a reprimand is insufficient, in part because the Council's own rules state that a reprimand is "not punishment or discipline" and in light of significant reliable evidence of substantial additional misconduct. More on the resolution that ANC 4B passed here. Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau has introduced legislation to limit outside employment of Councilmembers. Details here.
- ComhStuCommdCommunity members turned out to testify in support of funding for Truesdell Education Campus. More here. Details from DC Fiscal Policy Institute regarding public school funding here. 17 of 20 schools facing steep budget cuts are in Ward 7 and Ward 8.
- True to form, Morgan Baskin (Washington City Paper) has done some great reporting on how D.C.’s child welfare agency pushes social workers to the brink of their capacity, with devastating consequences for children and employees. More here. And another piece on a sexual harassment lawsuit against DC Housing Authority Director Tyrone Garrett, among others, for his oversight of an employee who allegedly serially abused the plaintiffs with Garrett's knowledge. More here.
Are you interested in or following pending legislation or a city-wide issue? Send me an email, and I will include updates in this newsletter.
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Upcoming Community Events
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There's lots going on in the neighborhood! Check out the following community events:
- Saturday, April 13, 10 am, Whittier Beautification Day at Whittier Education Campus (6201 5th Street, NW).
- Tuesday, April 16, 7 - 8:30 pm, Ward 4 Democrats Monthly Meeting at Washington Ethical Society (7750 16th Street, NW).
- Wednesday, April 17, 7 pm, Concerned Neighbors, Inc. Meeting at Shepherd Park Library (7420 Georgia Ave, NW).
- Thursday, April 18, 7 pm, 4D Citizens Advisory Council Meeting at 4th District Police Station (6001 Georgia Ave, NW).
- Saturday, April 20, 9:30 am, Pre-Stroll Clean Up on Uptown Main Street at 7th and Kennedy Streets, NW, followed by the Earth Day Umbrella Stroll.
- Saturday, April 20, 10 am - 12 pm, Ward 4 Spring Celebration and Easter Egg Roll at the Parks at Walter Reed.
- Saturday, April 27, 11 am - 5 pm, Art Hop at various locations in Takoma Park and Takoma DC (4th St, NW). Check out wine and more at Takoma Station Tavern, followed by a special performance to honor Selena McDay from 5 - 8 pm.
- Sunday, April 28, 4 - 5:30 pm, MPCA March General Body Meeting - Earth Day! at Albright Memorial (411 Rittenhouse St, NW).
- Thursday, May 2, 7 - 8:30 pm, DC Democratic State Committee General Body Meeting. Location TBD.
- Saturday, May 4, 8 - 9 am, 3rd Street Manor Park Community Cleanup at 3rd & Sheridan Streets, NW.
- Thursday, May 9, 6 - 8 pm, Ward 4 Education Alliance Meeting at Takoma EC (7010 Piney Branch Rd, NW).
- Monday, June 3, 6:30 pm, Walter Reed Community Advisory Committee Meeting. Location to be determined.
Know of other neighborhood events? Send notable events my way for inclusion in upcoming email newsletters.
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