*UPDATED* ANC 6B To Consider DDOT 17th & 19th Street Recommendations

November 12, 2012

DDOT plans to narrow 17th Street SE from two lanes to one lane between East Capitol Street and E Street SE.

In late September, the District Department of Transportation announced its final recommendations for the 17th and 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project. On Tuesday night (Nov. 13), ANC 6B will consider the recommendations during the commission’s November meeting, 7 pm, at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).

Prior to taking action, the commission will hear a presentation from DDOT on the recommendations (read my detailed post on the specific recommendations). DDOT will also take commission and audience questions. If you plan on attending the meeting, please note that the DDOT presentation and commission action on the recommendations will take place after 8:00 pm.

While I plan to support the recommendations, I will push for the commission’s resolution to include:

  1. A request for full funding for the project so that implementation can begin in spring 2014,
  2. An extension of the 17th Street SE recommendations (curb extensions, etc.) to the 700 & 800 blocks of 17th Street SE (south of Potomac Ave SE), and
  3. Inclusion of a raised pedestrian crosswalk at 17th and E Streets SE, where 17th Street SE will transition from one lane to two lanes.

Please post your comments or questions below.

Updated 11/12/12: Here are links to the DDOT 17th & 19th Street Project Fact Sheet (pdf) and to a draft of the resolution (pdf) that ANC 6B will consider tomorrow night.

Leave a Comment » | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, ANC 6B, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Election Week Quick Takes: Vote Grosso, 17th & 19th, Leaf Collection

November 5, 2012
  • Tuesday, Nov. 6 is Election Day. Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. You can find your polling place by visiting the DC Board of Elections website. Residents who live in 6B09: If you live south of D Street SE and west of 17th Street SE, you vote at Watkins Elementary School (Precinct 91). If you live north of D Street SE and/or east of 17th Street SE, you vote at Payne Elementary School (Precinct 87). 
  • In the race for At-Large Councilmember, I’m supporting independent David Grosso. I’ve been impressed by David’s commitment to clean up the DC Council and make ethics and education a priority. I’m confident that David will listen to and support the residents of our neighborhood, unlike our current non-majority At-Large Councilmember Michael Brown. David has been endorsed by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, former Ward 6 Councilmember Sharon Ambrose and the Washington Post.
  • While I’m fortunate to not have an opponent in my ANC race, my three ANC 6B freshman colleagues face challengers. In a previous post, I explained why I support Jared Critchfield, Ivan Frishberg and Brian Pate for reelection. I hope all three come out on top Tuesday night.
  • DDOT’s 17th and 19th Street Safety Improvement Project Recommendations will be on ANC 6B’s November 13 meeting agenda. While the meeting will begin at 7 pm at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE), DDOT will not present until the 8:00 pm hour. Read my post on the recommendations.
  • The Department of Public Works has announced its leaf collection schedule. DPW will pick up leaves in Hill East between November 19 and December 1 and between December 17 and December 29. Make sure to rake leaves into the treebox the weekends prior to collection periods. Holiday trees will be collected between Dec. 31 and Jan. 12, 2013.

Leave a Comment » | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, ANC 6B, Election 2012 | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Why I’m Running for Reelection

November 3, 2012

The following is the statement I’ve been sharing with my constituents on why I’m running for another term:

Dear Neighbor:

I’m running for reelection as ANC Commissioner for 6B09 because I want to improve the quality of life of residents in Hill East and Capitol Hill.

It is easy for ANC commissioners to get caught up in the little things – minor planning and zoning cases, liquor license requests and public space permits. During my first term representing ANC 6B09, I’ve focused on the big issues affecting our neighborhood such as keeping Hill East united in one ward during redistricting, urging Mayor Gray to implement the mixed-use development master plan at the Hill East Waterfront/Reservation 13 and encouraging the District Department of Transportation to improve safety along the 17th Street SE “speedway” and 19th Street SE corridor.

If I’m re-elected, I will:

  • Push the city to keep its promise and pursue mixed-use development at the Hill East Waterfront (Reservation 13)
  • Encourage DDOT to implement recommendations from the 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project in a timely fashion
  • Strengthen the partnership between residents and MPD to improve public safety
  • Increase neighborhood engagement with, and ANC support for, our DC Public Schools
  • Work with the city to find a future use for the Eastern Branch Building that is supported by the neighborhood
  • Support efforts to bring more retail and residential development to the eastern end of Pennsylvania Avenue SE

In addition, I plan to keep constituents engaged and informed on ANC activities by posting frequent updates on my blog, http://www.flahaven6b.com, holding periodic community meetings, distributing flyers with information on key meetings and events, and organizing groups of residents to contact and/or visit with DC Councilmembers.

Our neighborhood has a wonderful history of successful community activism. I’ve done my best to continue this tradition through my work on ANC 6B. It has been an absolute privilege to represent you on the commission.

You can learn more about me and the issues I care about on my blog. If you have questions or want to be added to my e-mail list, send an e-mail to flahaven4anc@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I ask for your support and your vote on November 6.

3 Comments | Election 2012 | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

*UPDATEDx2* Information on Hurricane Sandy

October 27, 2012

Yesterday, DC Mayor Vincent Gray declared a state of emergency in preparation for the arrival and potential impact of Hurricane Sandy. I’ve pulled together this list of links to help you prepare for the storm and will update this post as necessary.

Take some time today to secure patio/lawn furniture and anything else that could be blown away during the storm.

Updated 10/28/12:  The following closures have been announced for Monday, Oct. 29:

The District Department of Public Works has announced that trash/recycling collection has been suspended.

Updated 10/30/12: Hill East weathered the storm relatively well. I took a walk around the neighborhood this morning and didn’t see any trees on houses or blocking streets and sidewalks. Continue to report any downed trees on public space to 311. Federal government, DC government and DC Public Schools are all open tomorrow. Trash & recycling pickup also resumes on Wed., Oct. 31. If you were scheduled for pickup on Monday or Tuesday, DPW is asking you to hold your trash until next week.

With the Hill Center closed until tomorrow, tonight’s ANC 6B Executive Committee meeting has been relocated to 218 D Street SE, Second Floor. The meeting begins at 7 pm.

Leave a Comment » | Weather | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Support Critchfield, Frishberg and Pate for ANC 6B

October 26, 2012

While I’m extremely fortunate and grateful to be unopposed on November 6, my three “freshmen” colleagues – Jared Critchfield (6B06), Ivan Frishberg (6B02) and Brian Pate (6B05) – face challengers in their reelection bids.

Jared, Ivan, Brian and I were elected to the commission in 2010. Since that time, we have worked together to bring new ideas and energy to ANC 6B. I strongly support all three and hope to continue serving with them on the commission.

I’ve worked the most with Commissioner Jared Critchfield, who represents 6B06, the district immediately to the south and west of mine. In his two years on the Commission, Jared has been a strong advocate for Hill East. A few examples:

  • In 2011, Jared spent multiple hours gathering petition signatures at the Potomac Avenue Metro during ward redistricting. His help was critical in getting the redistricting subcommittee to move the proposed Ward 6/7 boundary from 17th to 19th Street.
  • Earlier this year, a group of ANC commissioners from Wards 6 & 7 invited Mayor Gray out to the neighborhood to discuss his plans for a Redskins training facility at Reservation 13. For a time, it seemed as though Mayor Gray would decline our request, until Jared stood up at a meeting of ANC chairs and asked Mayor Gray point-blank  whether he would accept our invitation. Ultimately, the Mayor agreed to come out to the neighborhood.
  • Jared and I have worked together to engage neighbors and organize meetings around proposed development projects along Pennsylvania Avenue. Most recently, Jared took the lead in convening the developer and nearby neighbors around plans for the old KFC site. Thanks to his work, we will soon see a new commercial building at that corner.

In addition to his efforts in the neighborhood, Jared has done a great job serving first as secretary and currently as chair of ANC 6B. Under his leadership, the commission has continued on a path to improving transparency and increasing resident engagement.

I’ve also worked closely with Commissioner Ivan Frishberg. Ivan represents 6B02, a district that includes Eastern Market and the Hine Jr. High School site. Ivan took on the daunting task of chairing ANC 6B’s Hine Subcommittee and handled it extremely well. It would have been easy for him to oppose the Hine project, but Ivan spent hundreds of hours negotiating with the site’s developer in the hopes of coming to an acceptable agreement. Throughout the process, he kept nearby residents and community groups informed and engaged in the process. In the end, Ivan voted for an agreement that effectively balanced the interests of nearby neighbors with the interests of Capitol Hill as a whole.

Ivan has also done a great job of working with business owners and residents around Barracks Row. A perfect example of Ivan’s proactive leadership style was his handling of an application for a proposed medical marijuana dispensary. Ivan proactively convened nearby residents and the applicant to discuss concerns and details prior to ANC consideration. His hard work resulted in unanimous commission support for the application.

Commissioner Brian Pate also deserves a great deal of credit for his work on Hine. Brian represents 6B05, which includes the southern portion of Lincoln Park and blocks immediately to the east of the Hine site. Like Ivan, Brian could have easily opposed the development but chose instead to spend hours of his time engaging his constituents and negotiating with the developer. He deserves a great deal of credit for helping craft an agreement with the developer that is good for the neighborhood.

In addition to his work on Hine, Brian created and chairs ANC 6B’s Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force, a new task force that has worked to improve ANC 6B’s website and tackled the issue of vacant and blighted properties on Capitol Hill. And Brian has been a strong and effective voice as ANC 6B’s representative on the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee.

I’m particularly grateful to Brian for his testimony before the DC Council during ward redistricting. Though his district would not have been directly affected by redistricting, Brian waited five plus hours to testify in front of the redistricting subcommittee on behalf of Hill East, finally getting a chance to share his thoughts at 1:00 am. He made a strong and effective case for keeping Hill East united with the rest of Capitol Hill in Ward 6.

My support of Jared, Ivan and Brian is based on my experience working with them on the commission. It is certainly not meant to slight their challengers, individuals who care just as deeply about our neighborhood. Ultimately, their constituents will have the final say on who will represent them these next two years.

To learn more about Jared, Ivan, Brian, their challengers or other ANC races, visit The Hill is Home. THIH has compiled a comprehensive list of individuals running for ANC in Ward 6 , including links to candidate statements and websites.

2 Comments | ANC 6B | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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