COVID RECOVERY TASKFORCE
With the pandemic expected to linger throughout 2021, experts are now predicting we could loose 30 to 50% of all local businesses. We are already seeing restaurants closing for good along 14th Street and 17th Street - Nazca Mochica, Sushi Taro, Ghibellina, Sotto, Amsterdam Falafel and even our local 14th Street branch of Peet's Coffee.
The mass loss of local shops and eateries will cause years of damage to the character and vitality of our neighborhood.
I'm calling for the ANC to create a COVID Recovery Committee to work daily with our local businesses to find ways to help them survive this crisis. This committee should also lead efforts to promote social distancing and other steps to help individual residents as well who are at risk from illness and facing financial hardship.
Until we control this pandemic, it will control us. We need leadership at every level of government to fix this problem and that includes the ANC.
EXPAND ANC SERVICES ONLINE
Most residents don’t have time to go to ANC meetings. With the COVID crisis, DC now allows ANC meetings online. This change should be permanent. The Zoom meetings should also be recorded and posted on the ANC website. All documents should be posted. Residents should also be able to submit comments online as well so that we can hear from more people and more diverse perspectives.
The ANC should also consider using online survey tools, like surverymonkey that is already used by some DC agencies, to better capture community opinions.
The ANC website should be a first step directory of DC government resources from tree trimming to parking permits.
All of this will make the ANC work transparent, responsive and useful.
MORE DIVERSITY ON THE ANC
I'm a longtime resident who has lived here as a single renter and as a married homeowner. Our ANC has not always welcomed everyone's views .I have watched speakers at ANC meetings be heckled because they were renters or viewed as too young or too old. All of that needs to stop!
All ANC committees and co-chairs should be equally divided between women and men to foster more engagement with our female residents who have been chronically under represented.
All committees should include a renter, a homeowner, a resident who is under 30 and one who is 65 or older. Our committees should also include people of color to match the demographics of our neighborhood.
Everyone should be welcome at the ANC and everyone should have a chance to be heard!
Transportation
Transportation
Transportation
DC fits its 21st century needs into a 19th century street pattern. That only works by balancing competing modes of transportation.
I support better transit service, expanded bike lanes, and widening many neighborhood sidewalks. I also believe DC fails to take full use of "smart road" technologies that can better synchronize traffic and bike & pedestrian signals to more smoothly move people.
Finally, DC's Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate traffic and pedestrian fatalities should be the cornerstone of the ANC's transportation program.
Development
Transportation
Transportation
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Sadly a lot of renovation projects in our ANC start with an architect but end with a lawyer.
I believe the ANC should help facilitate compliance with zoning and preservation rules, and promote friendly resolution of disagreements.
Weaponizing building rules through specious complaints and law suits hurts every 2B09 property owner, and discourages investment in housing for new residents at all income levels in Dupont Circle and along U Street and 14th.
Pets
Transportation
Pets
My dog Wally loves our S Street dog park! It is one of the most used public amenities in Dupont Circle. Our pets are part of our families and they deserve representation too!
- Advocate for resources to better clean and maintain the S Street dog park. Oppose the recently proposed budget cuts to the City's already small, inadequate budget for dog parks.
- Support other local dog parks, and help identify new parks ~ especially for smaller dogs.
BLACK LIVES MATTER & POLICE REFORM
As DC takes its first steps to reform law enforcement and combat systemic racism in policing, the ANC liaison with local police forces should join in promoting those new reforms passed by the DC Council and hopefully soon by the U.S. Congress.
Parking
Parking will always be a perennial issue, but we can make it better for residents.
- Expand resident only parking,
- Work with DDOT to audit our blocks to identify areas where parking can be safely expanded by a more flexible use of parking rules.
Recreation: Stead Park Renovation
The upcoming renovation of Stead Park will dramatically expand meeting spaces and host yoga, adult learning and exercise classes. As Dupont's most used park - and home of Stonewall kickball and other sports leagues - the community needs to be engaged at assure the project benefits all of the parks current and new users.
As our demographics skew younger, it brings an exciting new energy and perspective, I want to hear about their needs for improved recreation spaces and parks. Our ANC needs to consider the needs of all of its residents at all age levels.