Brian Flahaven

Beginning today, the DC Department of Public Works will be collecting tree debris  through Friday, Sept. 2. See the full DPW announcement below for details on the when/where/how to place debris for collection.

1. If hiring a tree specialist or landscaping company to cut up fallen trees and limbs, please have your contractor remove all the debris, limbs and branches.
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2. From Aug. 29-Sept. 2 only, the Department of Public Works will remove from the treebox space(s) or next to the curb in front of residents’ homes, branches that are cut into 4′ lengths and tied into bundles no more than 2′ in diameter. After Sept. 2, these items can be placed where the resident’s trash is collected.

3. Please place debris, bagged or loose, in the treebox space, not the gutter or street so the gutters can remain clear and crews can run mechanical sweepers along the curb lanes and gutters. Also, DPW asks residents to resist putting the debris in the street to help prevent flooding in case of rain before the debris is collected. Do not include rocks, stones or concrete.

4. Hurricane season ends in November, so please hold onto your sandbags, just in case. If you cannot keep your sandbags, please mix the sand with the soil in your yard or potted plants to aerate it. Please do not put the sandbags into the trash or empty the sand into the gutters or catch basins.

I had a chance to walk around the neigbhorhood this morning and took a few photos of downed trees. All of the incidents pictured below have been reported to the city. Report any downed trees, branches by calling 311. City crews will be out clearing trees all day today.

Downed tree on the 1700 block of E Street SE.

Tree snapped in half on the 1800 block of D Street SE.Tree leaning on the 1800 block of D Street SE.

 

Downed tree takes the sidewalk with it on 1500 block of D Street SE. Parked car also damaged, though no one hurt or injured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of 1500 block of D Street SE with downed tree.Branches dangling from a tree on the 300 block of 15th Street SE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fence was blown over in an alley near the 1500 D Street SE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large tree leaning on a house on the 1600 block of D Street SE. Again, no injuries.Another tree leaning on a house at the intersection of 15th and E Streets SE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Hurricane Irene expected to bring significant rainfall and heavy winds to our area, here are some important phone numbers to have close by in case of an emergency:

• DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Hotline – 202-727-6161. DCHSEMA will provide weather updates and shelter information. Make sure you sign up for the DC Alert emergency notification system. You can also follow on Twitter: @DC_HSEMA
• DC Water Emergency Line – 202-612-3400. Call to report storm drain back-ups and other water/sewer issues. I’ve already called to report the storm drain back-up at 17th St. SE and Potomac Ave. SE.  Follow on Twitter: @mydcwater.  
• Washington Gas – 800-752-7520. Call if you have an emergency involving natural gas or if you smell gas. Also call 911.
• PEPCO Power Outages – 877-737-2662.
• PEPCO Downed Wires – 202-872-3432.

Sandbags: The Department of Public Works is distributing five sandbags per household beginning at noon, Friday, August 26, at its New Jersey Avenue and K Street, SE site. The entrance is at New Jersey Avenue and I Street, SE and staff will be on hand to direct residents to the distribution point. Distribution will continue through midnight Friday, then resume at 8 am, Saturday, August 27, through midnight Saturday. Residents will be asked to show a DC identification. Be prepared to wait in a significantly long line to get sandbags.

Stay safe!

ANC 6B is hosting two meetings this week. As always, all  are welcome to attend and participate.

• The Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force is meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 7:00 pm at the ANC 6B Office (703 D Street SE). The task force will be discussing resident members, updates to ANC 6B website and outreach to the Congresswoman Norton and the DC Council.
• The Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday, Aug. 25, 6:30 pm at the Southeast Library (403 7th Street SE). A presentation on landscaping plans for the Eastern Market Metro Plaza and a discussion of criteria for evaluating proposals for Performance Based Parking funds are on the agenda.

Want to serve on a committee or task force? If you live in 6B09 and are interested in serving as a resident member of any ANC 6B committee or task force, please e-mail or call me by Monday, Aug. 29. Many thanks to those of you who have already expressed interest!

New ANC 6B SMD boundaries, as proposed and recommended by the Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force (photo courtesy of Larry Janezich, EMMCA).

Last night, the Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force voted on new ANC Single Member District (SMD) boundaries for ANC 6B. The proposed plan shifts the northern and eastern boundaries of my SMD, 6B09 (see photo).

Under the plan, the following blocks would shift from 6B09 to 6B10:

• 200 block of 16th Street SE (eastern side)
• 200 block of 17th Street SE (western side)
• 1600 block of Massachusetts Ave. SE (northern side)
• 1600 block of Independence Ave. SE (southern side)

The blocks below would shift from 6B10 to 6B09:

• 1800 block of Potomac Avenue SE
• 1800 block of D Street SE (southern side)

View the current boundaries for SMD 6B09.

Under the plan, the Congressional Cemetery, Barney Circle and the Eastern Branch Boys & Girls Club building would remain in 6B09. In addition, the new eastern boundary of 6B09 would border the DC Jail, though the jail itself will be in Ward 7.

Overall, I’m pleased that the task force did not make major changes to 6B09, though I am disappointed to lose my constituents in the north and that my SMD will be the smallest (by population) in the new ANC 6B. I am, however, happy that the eastern end of Independence Avenue SE will be united in one SMD, which should be helpful in tackling the speeding and traffic issues along that corridor.  Note that the new boundaries will not take effect until after the 2012 elections, so I will still represent the current 6B09 through next year.

The task force also voted 4-3 to keep Near Southeast (Nats Park, Yards Park, Capitol Quarter) with ANC 6D. You can read a brief recap of the meeting on the task force blog.

In September, the task force will present their proposed plan at each Ward 6 ANC meeting, including the ANC 6B meeting on Tues., Sept. 13. The task force will then submit their final plan to Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and the DC Council in late September/early October.  

Again, thanks to all who urged the task force to keep Hill East with ANC 6B. And a big thanks to Chair Joe Fengler, former 6B09 Commissioner Antonette Russell and the rest of the Ward 6 Redistricting Task Force for their hard work.