January 2022 Newsletter
Happy New Year, neighbors!
Redistricting Splits 6A06, Sends Rosedale to Ward 7
The DC Council passed and Mayor Bowser signed into law a new ward map that went into effect on January 1. Thank you to all of the neighbors who advocated to preserve the political unity of the residential neighborhood around 15th St NE and especially my colleague 6A07 Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert.
We sought to avoid a ward border at 15th St NE because as Commissioner Phillips-Gilberts said, it disenfranchises the Black vote in Ward 6. We sought to keep the historically Black Rosedale neighborhood in Ward 6 and keep Ward 6 as diverse as it was during the 2010s. All of ANC 6A also strongly advocated for more equitable ward borders using East Capitol St NE or another border more meaningful than small one-way residential 15th St NE.
Unfortunately, the DC Council selected 15th St NE as the new border between Wards 6 and 7. This new Ward border extends from Potomac Ave SE to the Starburst Intersection. Vincent Gray is the Councilmember representing Ward 7, or the area east of 15th St NE, including Miner Elementary School and Rosedale Library and Recreation Center. Charles Allen remains the Councilmember for Ward 6, or the area west of 15th St NE.
Residential Parking Permit zones, school enrollment boundaries, and police districts all will not change. ANC boundaries will soon change under a Ward 6 redistricting task force, which will publicize these boundaries before the November 2022 elections. These November 2022 elections will determine the councilmembers for Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6 as well as commissioners for all ANC districts.
In the meantime, ANC 6A itself, including our committees and colleagues from 6A07 and 6A08, will remain the same until January 1, 2023.
Maryland Ave NE Project
1300 block: DDOT is finally installing gardens in the trenches after several months of delay. Huzzah! They also committed to me that they will continue to pick up trash in this area and indicated that the plant installation will take place over the course of several weeks. If you see any other issues with this area, please let me know.
1400 block: DDOT’s poorly executed reconfiguration of the traffic lanes here removed several street parking spaces that neighbors with disabilities needed. DDOT explained in a December ANC meeting that they prioritized the bus stop and left turn lane on the north side of the 1400 block as well as a new lane dedicated to the Chik-Fil-A drive-through queue on the south side. This is also why DDOT erased the new bike lane painted there in September.
Thankfully, DDOT in the December ANC meeting expressed openness to reconfiguring the lanes north of Chik-Fil-A (away from the drive-thru entrance) to return these parking spaces to the neighbors who need them the most.
DDOT’s Will Handsfield agreed to meet 1400 block neighbors and me outdoors in January to discuss public space on this block and, potentially, alley access issues. We should have an exact date for this meeting soon. I’m emailing several 1400 block neighbors on a separate list with regard to our ongoing discussions on this block, and please let me know if you would like to join this list too.
Though I normally advocate to reduce car-dependence, removing street parking spaces from a block of older and Black residents while leaving nearby blocks untouched is not the way to go.
Erin On Your Block: Saturday, January 8, 10am, 1300 H St NE
ANC 4B02 Commissioner and attorney Erin Palmer is running for DC Council Chair in this June’s Democratic primary election. Erin has been a superb advocate for safe streets and green spaces in our neighborhood as well as DC overall. On Saturday, January 8, 6A01 Commissioner Keya Chatterjee is hosting an outdoors meet-and-greet with Erin at 1300 H St NE! This is in front of Mozzeria and the same space where the farmers market takes place during other months of the year. Attendees must be fully vaccinated, wear masks, and maintain a healthy distance from each other. I won’t be able to attend myself but hope to see you soon at another neighborhood walk or virtually.
“6A Commissioners On Your Block”
(Commissioners Chatterjee and Gove and me at December 12’s Chalk-In For Allie)
Omicron-Induced Staffing Issues Affecting DC Trash and Recycling Pickup
Below, I’m sharing another update from our DC Department of Public Works. If you aren’t already in ANC 6A’s useful Google Group that posts these neighborhood updates more frequently than once a month, you can join at anc6a.org/joinlistserv.
Cheers,
Robb Dooling (he/they)
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner 6A06 (H St Corridor)
robb.dooling@anc.dc.gov | 585-666-7364
…
From: Duffie, Celeste (DPW) <Celeste.Duffie@dc.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2021 3:24 PM
To: Duffie, Celeste (DPW) <Celeste.Duffie@dc.gov>
Subject: DPW Trash & Recycling Information
Dear Commissioners,
The District of Columbia like the nation is experiencing a rise in coronavirus cases related to the Omicron variant. The recent uptick in COVID-19 rates has impacted our trash and recycling collection service. We continue to adhere to safety protocols including, staggered shift start times, deploying smaller crews, wearing face masks, and disinfecting and sanitizing vehicles at the start and end of all shifts in an effort to keep our employees and residents safe.
Collection on your route may be slow, resulting in collection times happening later in the day. DPW scheduled trash and/or recycling collection is anytime between 6 am through 7 pm on the scheduled collection day. If after 7:00 pm, your trash is not collected, please leave trash at the normal collection point for priority collection the next day. Residents do not need to place a “missed collection” service request unless their trash/recycling is not collected within 24 hours after their normal collection day i.e. if your normal collection day is Monday and your trash/recycling has not been collected Tuesday by 7 pm.
We expect to return to our normal service levels within the next two weeks. As soon as normal service levels resume we will let you know.
Thank you in advance for your understanding as we manage the impact of this most recent COVID-19 variant. Please share with your constituents as you deem appropriate. If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Regards,
The Department of Public Works