August 2021 Newsletter
Good afternoon, neighbors!
Seeking Assistance in Response to Kidnapping on 13th St NE
On Saturday, August 28, at approximately 3:45am, we experienced a robbery-kidnapping in the 500 block of 13th St NE. This case actually was the fifth in a string of armed robbery-kidnappings citywide where the suspects drive up to victims walking alone late at night, kidnap them at gunpoint, drive them around the city, and force them to withdraw cash from ATMs. If you live in this area and have any security camera footage of the robbers, please send it to MPD (photos available here): https://mpdc.dc.gov/release/updated-photos-suspects-sought-kidnapping-while-armed-gun-offenses-district.
MPD is also urging folks to avoid walking alone late at night and/or remaining in groups and well-lit areas.
Gun Violence – Community Walk-Through
My colleague, 6A01 Commissioner Keya Chatterjee, is hosting a community walk-through this Friday, September 3 at 1:30pm at 1200 K St NE to discuss gun violence and related issues in our neighborhood with DHS, DPW, MPD, DDOT, and the mayor’s office. If you would like to attend or request accommodations, please RSVP to 6A01@anc.dc.gov.
Free Outdoors Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing
If you’re like me and vaccinated but in a relatively higher-risk situation, such as working an essential face-to-face job or sending kids to school every day, you may enjoy additional peace of mind from COVID-19 tests. Thus, I wanted to remind everyone of the free outdoors walk-up COVID-19 testing sites operated by the DC government. You can visit these sites frequently, such as once a week (a la testing in Los Angeles schools!). Many of them can be easy to stop by for a few minutes on your way to work or other errands. In and near our neighborhood, the fire stations at 1342 Florida Ave NE and 1520 C St SE have been open for testing Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 7:30pm. I visit at all times of the day and often experience short or nonexistent lines. You can see all citywide testing sites and their schedules at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/testing. It helps to register online before your visit so you can have this step complete before you go through the testing.
Daru is open!
Our neighborhood’s newest Indian restaurant is open at 1451 Maryland Ave NE and offering both outdoor dining and takeout! Kudos to Daru for being a great neighbor so far and issuing guidance on both vaccines and mask-wearing. See the Washington Post review here.
Please visit them, spread the word, and spread butter chicken:
(Scrumptious Indian food)
The Long Push for a More Walkable and More Livable H St NE
We have a small number of new curb extensions at 12th & H St NE and I am continuing to contact DDOT about long-awaited curb extensions at other intersections along H St NE. Many of us neighborhood leaders – including Councilmember Allen – and small businesses are eager to effectively expand the sidewalks in this nightlife district. We are also continuing to ask DDOT about planters and other materials more durable than the plastic flexiposts that have produced only a very small improvement in the below photo.
(curb extensions at 12th & H St NE)
Nightlife – Joys and Tribulations
Most of the nightlife establishments in our district are good neighbors and quite responsive to anybody in the area. Some – especially those that opened after March 2020 – also are finding their footing. A few need intervention from DC ABRA and/or the ANC. I respond to all noise complaints I receive at robb.dooling@anc.dc.gov, and these complaints are very helpful in informing how we conduct negotiations and – ultimately – vote when liquor licenses come up for renewal and go through the ANC every three years.
If you are experiencing excessive nightlife noise in violation of the DC noise ordinances or illegal dumping, please contact the establishment first! Establishment owners have expressed to me their sincere apologies for issues such as a staff member not being trained well enough to seal windows or seal the tops of garbage cans in light of pandemic staffing difficulties, corrected course (hooray!), and indicated a strong desire for neighbors to contact them directly. Of course, a small number of establishment owners do not help neighbors. In this case – please contact me and submit noise complaints through https://abra.dc.gov/page/noise-ordinances or via the complaint hotline (202) 329-6347 between 7 pm and 3 am seven days a week. Report illegal dumping to 311.
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