Brian Flahaven

This week, the DC Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting is holding two public hearings on plans to re-draw ward boundaries. One of the options being floated around the web would place the Hill East Waterfront (Reservation 13) in Ward 7. This is a bad idea with potentially negative consequences for our neighborhood. Before I go further, let me explain why Hill East is in the conversation.

The 2010 Census showed that DC gained population over the past decade. The city now has a population of around 601,000, up from 570,000. With this new data in hand, members of the redistricting subcommittee are tasked with ensuring that the city’s eight wards are within 5% of 75,215, the number you get when dividing the city’s total population by 8.  According to the 2010 Census, Ward 6 grew significantly in population over the past decade but not enough to require our ward to shrink.

However, three wards need to gain or lose population. Wards 7 & 8 have populations below the 5% threshold and must gain population while Ward 2 is above the 5% threshold and must shrink. Since Ward 2 is not contiguous to Wards 7 & 8, the only way for 7 and 8 to gain population is for their boundaries to expand west of the Anacostia River. Note that Ward 7 already includes the Kingman Park neighborhood and the northern half of RFK Stadium.

That is where Hill East and the Hill East Waterfront comes in. One of the scenarios being discussed (see Greater Greater Washington) would place the Hill East Waterfront (Reservation 13, the DC Jail and Congressional Cemetery) in Ward 7, effectively cutting off Hill East residents from the waterfront. Since the census counts inmates at the DC Jail and individuals residing at shelters at Reservation 13, there is enough population on the waterfront to allow Ward 7 to gain the population it needs to be back within the mandated 5% threshold.

While this idea makes the numbers work, it does not make sense from a policy and representation perspective. While we wait for waterfront development to begin, our neighborhoods are going to be the most affected by the continued aggregation of social services at the site. And when development does begin, the construction trucks, materials and noise will directly impact our blocks, not those across the river. To report problems, we would have to contact a Councilmember in a different ward who is unaccountable to us and more focused on issues affecting voting residents on his/her side of the river.

And while I’ve had no complaints about Congressional Cemetery (a real asset to our neighborhood) does it really make sense to separate the cemetery from the residents who use it, many on a daily basis?

I am strongly opposed to efforts to draw any portion of Hill East into another ward. Hill East is a part of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Our waterfront will be the gateway to Capitol Hill from the East, hopefully sooner rather than later. It is critical that our entire neighborhood remains united with the rest of Capitol Hill in Ward 6.

I plan to share my views with the Subcommittee on Redistricting. The subcommittee is holding hearings today (Mon., April 25, 6:00 pm ET) and on Wed., April 27 at 10:00 am. You can view the proceedings on the DC Council website (click on Media, then on Watch Hearings Live, then select Room 500). The Wednesday hearing announcement (pdf) includes information on how you can submit a statement for the record.

Here are two other ways you can help:

1. Write or call the three members of the Subcommittee on Redistricting and urge them to keep Hill East united in Ward 6. The subcommittee members are 1) Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At Large) – mbrown@dccouncil.us; 2) Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) – jackevans@dccouncil.us; and  3) Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) – pmendelson@dccouncil.us.
2. Attend the Ward 6 Democrats Public Forum on Redistricting on Thursday, May 5, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at Friendship Charter School (1345 Potomac Avenue SE – across from Harris Teeter). All three of the subcommittee members have been invited.

I’ll continue to keep you posted. Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Around 20 or so residents joined Lt. Michael Thornton and Douglas Klein of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for DC at last night’s PSA 107 meeting. Here is a brief recap:

• Overall crime is down 29 percent year-to-date from the same time period in 2010. Violent crime is down 45 percent year-to-date. The largest decrease has been in reports of assaults with a deadly weapon (down 75 percent).
• Unfortunately, burglaries are up 56 percent year-to-date. We have had 14 burglaries occur in the PSA so far this year compared with 9 at this time last year. Burglaries are taking place primarily in the northern end of the PSA.
• The burglaries are typically happening during the day when residents are at work. While most burglars are taking advantage of unlocked windows or doors to enter homes, one incident did involve burglars breaking down a locked basement door to access a home.  No arrests have been made but MPD does have a few leads on these cases. MPD has also sent increased resources into the area to try and prevent future burglaries. 
• Lt. Thornton reminded attendees to dial 911 immediately if they see anything or hear anything suspicious happening in alleys or on their block. Don’t worry if your call ends up being a false alarm.
• Lt. Thornton also said that locked fences are not a deterrent. Burglars can easily get over fences by climbing onto garbage cans or jumping. Make sure you are locking all of your doors and windows.
• While thefts from auto are down 64 percent year-to-date, stolen autos are up 50 percent (12 so far this year compared with 8 in 2010). Overall, thefts are up 3 percent.
• At my request, Lt. Thornton has asked the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to install permanent electronic speed display signs on 17th St. SE and 19th St. SE. Wards 4, 5 & 7 have permanent speed display signs attached to streetlight posts. We would like to see similar displays in Ward 6.
• I also asked about sporadic enforcement at the “Authorized Vehicles Only” entrance to the freeway at 17th St. SE and Barney Circle SE. Lt. Thornton said that when MPD is at the entrance, officers are issuing tickets. The department sometimes posts outside police patrols (protective services, etc.) at the intersection as a deterrent. These patrols cannot issue violations, which explains why some motorists are not pulled over when police are present. Bottom line: motorists caught using the authorized vehicle entrance to the freeway will be ticketed and the fines are steep.
• A few residents mentioned noise issues from recent concerts/activities at the DC Armory. Lt. Thornton said that he invited representatives from DC’s Department of Consumer Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and the Washington Convention and Sports Authority (WCSA) to the meeting but they were unable to attend. He said that WCSA will be holding a community outreach meeting on Monday, May 2, 7:00 pm, 4th Floor at RFK Stadium to discuss noise issues and other neighborhood concerns. RSVP to Theresa DuBois (TDubois@wcsa.com) by Wed., April 27 to attend the meeting.
• Residents asked Lt. Thornton to periodically provide crime statistics from Reservation 13 and the Metro Transit Police at future meetings.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a work trip last week and had to miss the April 12 commission meeting. A big thanks to my colleague Commissioner Jared Critchfield (6B06) for helping me pull together a recap. Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted 5-3 to send a letter to the District Department of Transportation indicating support for a new information hub and its design at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Once completed, the hub will replace the current info. tent at the plaza. You can read more about the hub and its design on the Eastern Market Metro Community Association’s blog.
• Before the final vote on the hub letter, the commission passed an amendment (5-3)introduced by Commissioner Ivan Frishberg (6B02) that inserted language into the letter indicating the commission’s desire that DDOT also use funds to upgrade landscaping at the metro plaza. Three commissioners – Dave Garrison (6B01), Norm Metzger (6B03) and Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04) – voted against the amendment, arguing that landscaping was beyond the scope of the project. The same three voted against the final letter with the landscaping language. For the record, I would have voted in support of the amendment and the final letter. The info hub will be much more welcoming if the plaza around it is spruced up. And it won’t happen unless we ask.
• Councilmember Tommy Wells shared his intent to introduce legislation that would create a new governing structure for Eastern Market. Currently, EM is run by the DC Dept. of Real Estate Services and overseen by the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee. Councilmember Wells would like to see EM have a governing body with full authority over the market’s finances and operations. Councilmember Wells asked ANC 6B to hold a public hearing on the proposed legislation when it is introduced and to consider a resolution or recommendations on how the legislation should be amended. He hopes to have the DC Council vote on the legislation prior to their July 15 recess.
• During the community speakout portion of the agenda, a resident who lives on the 1800 block of Bay Street complained about noise levels from April 9 event at the DC Armory. Commissioner Campbell has asked the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, the entity with jurisdiction over the Armory and RFK Stadium, to make sure their events comply with DC’s sound ordinance. WCSA replied that they will ensure that future events do not disturb the neighborhood.
• On an 8-0 vote, the commission supported a new voluntary agreement with Pacifico, paving the way for a liquor license for the new Barracks Row establishment. The new agreement adds 20 new seats to the restaurant’s proposed roof deck in exchange for the deck closing an hour earlier. With the agreement, a group of residents who live on the blocks adjacent to 8th St. SE have dropped their plans to protest the license.
• On unanimous 8-0 votes, the commission supported three requests by restaurants to renegotiate the terms of their voluntary agreements. Lola’s and Acqua Al Due want to seek additional seating while Zest Bistro would like to open earlier for bruch. All three establishments would have to present their plans at future commission meetings.

It is nice to be back in DC after a busy work trip to Arizona. I plan to post a brief recap of last week’s April ANC 6B meeting in the next day or so. In the meantime, a few important upcoming meeting announcements:

• Tonight at 7:00 pm I’ll hold my monthly Office Hours at New York Pizza (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). Please stop by if you have questions, want to share your views, or have an upcoming project that will be considered by ANC 6B.
• Tomorrow (Thurs., April 21) is the monthly PSA 107 Meeting, 7:00 pm at Liberty Baptist Church (527 Kentucky Ave. SE). Lt. Michael Thornton will provide an update on public safety issues and trends in our neighborhood.
• Next Tues., April 26, ANC 6B will hold a second special call meeting on the proposed design of the Hine Jr. High School redevelopment. The meeting will be at  6:30 pm at Brent Elementary School, 701 North Carolina Ave. SE. The commission has posted a draft resolution (third bullet from bottom) and plans to vote on a final resolution to submit to the Historic Preservation Review Board during the special call meeting. The HPRB will consider the Hine project on Thurs., April 28. You can view the latest design concept on Stanton-Eastbanc’s Hine website. Please e-mail me or post your comments below on the draft resolution or the Hine project in general.

• Looks like negotiations over the federal budget are going down to the wire. If the federal government shuts down tonight at midnight, a number of DC government services will be affected, including trash collection (for one week), DMV and permitting services. Police, Fire & EMS, DC Public and Charter Schools and a limited number of health and human services functions will be unaffected by the shutdown. Please take a few moments to review the shutdown plan posted on the DC government website.
• Regardless of whether there is a shutdown or not, ANC 6B will hold its April commission meeting next Tues., April 12, 7:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, 522 7th Street SE. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend Tuesday’s meeting due to a work conference scheduled more than a year ago. My colleague, Commissioner Jared Critchfield (6B07), has graciously offered to send me the highlights so I can still provide a meeting recap. Barring the unexpected, this should be the only ANC meeting I miss this year.
• Next Thursday, April 14, Congressional Cemetery, in partnership with The Faith & Politics Institute, will be hosting a Civil Rights Heroes Tour beginning at 7:00 pm at the Cemetery Chapel. The evening will honor abolitionists, suffragists, Native American delegates, and gay rights activists who have fought for social justice over the past 200 years. Food and wine will be provided. You can register for the event on the Congressional Cemetery website.
• Stay tuned on ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force. We hope to hold an organizing meeting for the task force sometime in the next month or so. Thanks to everyone who has expressed interest in serving and/or being involved on the task force. If you are interested in the Hill East Task Force or serving as a resident member of any other ANC 6B committee or task force (planning & zoning, alcoholic beverage (ABC), transportation, outreach and constituency services), please let me know.
• Finally, join us for our weekly neighborhood walk this Sunday, April 10, 6:00 pm in front of Harris Teeter (1350 Potomac Ave. SE).

Have a great weekend!