Brian Flahaven

Around 150 people attended last night’s packed Hill East Community Meeting on Redistricting with Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At Large), co-chair of the DC Council’s redistricting subcommittee. Councilmember Brown was joined by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and, about halfway through the meeting, by fellow redistricting subcommittee member Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large).

Since I had microphone duties, I didn’t have an opportunity to take notes. However, here are my takeaways from last night’s meeting:

• Hill East residents showed up and made their voices heard. Given the short notice for the meeting, it was fantastic to see such a large turnout. Councilmembers Brown and Mendelson were asked tough questions and heard a pretty clear message: Keep all of Hill East united in Ward 6. Thanks to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us last night!
• 17th St. SE as a boundary between Wards 6 & 7 is clearly “in play.” Councilmember Michael Brown stated that the subcommittee is considering 17th Street SE from Benning Road NE to Barney Circle SE as the potential boundary between Wards 6 & 7 – residents west of 17th St. SE would be in Ward 6 while residents east of 17th St. SE would be in Ward 7. Just this morning, Councilmember Wells tweeted that a redistricting subcommittee member has confirmed that Eastern High School will likely be moved to Ward 7. This is a terrible idea for a number of reasons. First, it would divide Hill East in half between two wards, severely limiting our neighborhood’s collective voice. Second, roughly 6,000-10,000 Ward 6 residents would be placed in Ward 7 – a massive change for a subcommittee supposedly trying to minimize any disruption caused by redistricting. Third, and most importantly, the change would still create a situation where an overwhelming majority of Ward 7 residents live on the eastern side of the Anacostia River. At best, 16% of the newly drawn ward’s population would be west of the river and would clearly be an afterthought to any Councilmember representing Ward 7.
• Subcommittee members seem to be giving Ward 5 a pass. Every time Ward 5 was mentioned as an alternative to dividing Hill East, Councilmembers Brown and Mendelson responded by citing geographical concerns (the Arboretum and river) and the potential of splitting up neighborhoods in Ward 5. Yet there are clearly options north of Benning Road, such as the entire Carver/Langston neighborhood, that would satisfy the population requirements of Ward 7 while keeping Hill East intact. One attendee questioned why Hill East is being targeted once again in redistricting (Kingman Park, in the northeast section of Hill East, was drawn into Ward 7 after the 2000 census). She said it is unfair of the subcommittee to solely target Hill East and spare other neighborhoods and wards. I completely agree. The city has already broken promises to the residents of Hill East and made Reservation 13 the social services hub of DC. Hasn’t our neighborhood sacrificed enough?
• Councilmembers Brown and Mendelson do not view leaving the wards unchanged as an option.  Attendees urged the subcommittee to take advantage of language in the DC Code that specifically allows wards to remain unchanged due to “neighborhood cohesiveness” and the “natural geography of the District.” Both Councilmembers said that DC would be sued if the city does not make sure that each ward is within 5 percent of 75,000. I’m not sure that is true, particularly since the exception is in the DC Code. Nonetheless, it seems the subcommittee is not inclined to go in that direction.
• While school boundaries won’t change, schools will be affected by a ward change. A number of residents voiced concern about the effect that redistricting would have on schools. Councilmembers Brown and Mendelson said that redistricting would not affect school boundaries. However, a number of people, including Councilmember Wells, noted that schools and PTSAs do work together with their ward counterparts and that there are a number of Ward 6 schools initiatives, such as the Ward 6 Middle Schools plan.
• We need to do more! While last night’s meeting combined with the petitions and the hundreds of call and e-mails are making a difference, we really need everyone to weigh in this week. The subcommittee will release its proposed map next Wed., May 25. Once the map is out, it is going to be extremely difficult for us to convince Councilmembers to make major changes. We need to weigh in now!

Please continue to call and e-mail Councilmembers Michael Brown, Jack Evans and Phil Mendelson and urge them to keep Hill East united in Ward 6. If you’ve already called and e-mailed, call again! Here is their contact information:

• Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At-Large) – mbrown@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8105
• Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) – jackevans@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8058
• Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) – pmendelson@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8064

Note that calls are more effective than e-mails.

We will also continue to gather petition signatures through the weekend. We will have a copy of the petition at the PeterBug Day Parade and Festival on Saturday, May 21. The parade forms at 9:00 am at 19th and E Streets SE and begins at 9:30 am. The festival runs from 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm at 13th and E Street SE (PeterBug Matthews Way). Please take a few moments to come out and sign the petition.

Thanks for your help and continued support!

An update on redistricting: Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At-Large), co-chair of the DC Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting, will be in Hill East this Wed., May 18, 6:00pm for a Community Meeting on Redistricting. The meeting will be on the DC General/Reservation 13 site at:

Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)
Karrick Hall (Building 17), 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE

Karrick Hall is the tall building. Metro: Stadium-Armory, use the south exit between C St. SE and Burke St. SE.

This is a great opportunity to share our concerns with Councilmember Brown and to urge him to keep all of Hill East united with the rest of Capitol Hill in Ward 6. I hope to see you there!

If you can’t make Wednesday’s meeting (and even if you can!), please continue to call and e-mail members of the Subcommittee on Redistricting:

• Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At-Large) – mbrown@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8105
• Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) – jackevans@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8058
• Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) – pmendelson@dccouncil.us, 202-724-8064

Thanks for your help!

About 20 residents attended Tuesday night’s ANC 6B full commission meeting at the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. The meeting was 90 minutes – extremely short by ANC 6B standards. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted 9-0 to support the redistricting resolution adopted by the ANC 6B Executive Committee earlier this month and to authorize my April 27 testimony on behalf of the commission before the DC Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting. I thanked my colleagues for their unanimous support for keeping Hill East united in Ward 6.
• Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church, announced that the purchase of The Peoples’ Church and their intent to refurbish it back to a movie theater.  Residents can e-mail suggestions and comments to mark@theaterchurch.com.
• After receiving e-mails from a number of residents, the commission voted 8-0 to oppose the application by S&J Liquors (1500 Massachusetts Ave. SE) to renew their single sales exemption.
• The commission voted 8-0 to support a license for beer sales only at DC-3 restaurant and to support a request by Fusion Grill to expand their sidewalk café in front of the Shakespeare Theater building. Both restaurants are located on Barracks Row.
• Citing insufficient notice from the Historic Preservation Office, the commission voted 8-0 to oppose the design of a planned antenna installation on the Haines Building (801 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) and will ask the Historic Preservation Review Board to delay consideration of the case until June so the commission has time to review the plans.
• The commission voted 9-0 to send a letter of commendation to MPD First District Commander David Kamperin congratulating him on his retirement and thanking him for his service to southeast Capitol Hill.
• Finally, for reality TV fans, the show “Top Chef” will visit Eastern Market at the end of May.

• The American University Chamber Singers will be performing a free concert tonight (Wed., May 11), 7:30 pm at Holy Comforter – St. Cyprian Catholic Church, 1357 East Capitol Street SE. The group is preparing for a concert tour of Spain and Portugal.
• Concerned about litter and trash on the streets and sidewalks of our neighborhood? If so, join a Hill Litter Patrol organizational meeting tonight (Wed., May 11), 7:00 pm at Jenkins Row, 1391 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Make sure you enter at the Potomac Ave. SE entrance of Jenkins Row.
• DC Public Schools is hosting a Ward 6 State of the Schools this Sat., May 14 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Eastern High School, 1700 East Capitol Street SE. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and Acting Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson will be in attendance. Food and childcare will be provided.
• The DC Department of Health is hosting its 2011 Ward 6 Animal Fair on Sat. May 14 from 9:00 am – 11:30 am at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N Street SW. Free rabies and distemper vaccines will be available for dogs and cats.
• Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) will be in Ward 6 on Mon., May 16, 6:30 pm to discuss redistricting. The meeting will take place at the Capper Seniors Building, 900 5^th St. SE.