June 21, 2006 - Capitol Hill Transportation Study Public Meeting (& Notes on ANCs)

Overview: On June 21, 2006, Capitol Hill residents had the opportunity to see and hear the latest updates on the massive Capitol Hill Transportation Study that is currently underway. Between now and September 2006, residents should be reviewing the study {CLICK HERE to see the study}. The study is being updated to reflect the recommended improvements presented at the June 21, 2006 meeting.

Call to Action: I hear routinely about the traffic problems experienced throughout Ward 6. From the impending baseball stadium construction, to the challenges faced by pedestrians navigating Capitol Hill, to the pros and cons of making major thoroughfares (e.g., 17th and 19th Streets) two-way to slow down traffic flow, we clearly can improve transportation conditions to make navigation safer and more conducive to pedestrian-friendly living. To make sure our next round of transportation decisions have your input, I ask our Capitol Hill residents to;
1. Review the Study: I strongly encourage all Capitol Hill residents to thoroughly review the website hyperlink above to see how the current study and its recommendations may improve your neighborhood traffic conditions.
2. Get Involved:
2.A. If you are part of ANC6A, I encourage you to contact Omar Mahmud. Omar chairs the ANC6A Transportation Committee. He and his committee are aggressively reviewing the current recommendations being considered to improve their neighborhood conditions. They intend to provide Chris Delfs with their thoughts and concerns in August, for consideration prior to the presentation of draft final findings and recommendations in September 2006.
2.B. If you are not part of ANC6A, you can submit recommendations directly to Mr. Delfs and his staff.
2.C. You can also pass your recommendations directly to me as I intend to provide a consolidated list of recommendations to Mr. Delfs. I would be happy to include your recommendation in my submission. My submission will also include the petition, drafted and routed by Amy Searight, voicing Barney Circle resident's concerns about making the 700-900 block of Kentucky Avenue two-way. In speaking with Mr. Delfs, that idea has been shelved given the significant changes currently underway in the Penn East corridor. It will be revisited at a later date.
3. Own Your Community: The District Department of Transportation is going out of its way to involve the citizens it serves. Between now and September, it is incumbent on us, the benefactors of DDOT efforts, to review their work to date, and ensure the study and its recommendations reflect our needs. While this study does not address all concerns, it is a major step forward. Now is the time to speak up to make the study event better, ensuring DDOT addresses as many of our concerns and recommendations as possible during the project's rapidly approaching implementation phase.

In the Future - ANC Utilization: I referenced the Transportation Committee from ANC6A in 2.A. above.
1. Baseline Committees: Under my watch, I intend to aggressively promote active committees across each of our ANCs. At a minimum, I would like ANC committees to include transportation, planning and zoning, alcohol/beverage, and public safety.
2. Ad hoc Committees Addressing Neighborhood-Specific Needs: I envision other ad hoc committees to exist to address specific community needs and concerns across our diverse ward.
3. Sharing the Burden: Most importantly, I envision increased sharing of lessons learned, operating procedures and an increased distribution of workload across an ever-increasing involved citizen corps determined to hold our government accountable and emblazoned by a passion to improve our community. We can do better and working inclusively across the entire ward will prove it.

June 20, 2006 - Jailbreak Thoughts and Next Steps

On June 3, 2006, two individuals escaped from the DC Jail. Is an escape required to force the DC Department of Corrections into action to prevent further escapes? This seems to have been the catalyst for a broad suite of reforms and security enhancements designed to prevent further escapes. However, I find it downright shocking that a fence, increased security cameras, the siren that didn't function, the steel-cased windows, the strobe lights, the dogs, and a exterior roving security patrol had not been considered or were deemed unnecessary prior to June 3, 2006. As a resident not privy to the details of the DC Jail's day-to-day operations, this neighborhood trusted that the DC Jail knew what it was doing in protecting local residents, its correctional officers, and the inmates themselves during routine operations. Given the recent chain of events, that was a complete mistake.

1. Training: In the United States Coast Guard, we trained and drilled for every possible scenario routinely. Exercises were run daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually based on probability of occurrence and impact. Apparently, the DC Jail's operations prior to June 3, 2006, did not require any drills or training. How else can one explain the missing siren or the lack of awareness prior to the chase by the Corrections Officer who happened to be arriving as the departing inmates made their way to the Metrobus?

2. Trust: While the DC Jail aggressively pursues reform, the trust has been broken. Are we to trust that the DC Jail is prepared to deal with the many possible scenarios that could significantly impact the community? How will the community be impacted when the DC Jail is affected by another escape, a fire, a riot, a man/woman down, severe weather or power outage? The DC Department of Corrections efforts in communicating with the neighborhood at last night's event are greatly appreciated. However, many people in the community could not attend. As a good neighbor, the DC Jail needs to perform an outreach campaign to ensure that all residents living in close proximity to the facility are aware of the ongoing security improvements. Most importantly, they should not assume that nearby residents know what to do during possible scenarios. They should develop an information package and provide it to all nearby residents. Only by going above and beyond the call of duty will the DC Jail begin to regain the trust of the residents.

As the Ward 6 City Councilmember, I will;
1. Require publication of drill type and frequency. For security reasons, I would not publish drill results. However, they will be made available to the City Council. As the Ward 6 City Council representative, I will personally witness a surprise 'escape' drill annually.
2. Ensure the DC Department of Corrections is in regular contact with every resident of every street in the quadrant bordered by 19th Street to the east, 16th Street to the west, G Street to the south, and Independence Avenue to the north. The Department of Corrections should provide a list of FAQs (frequently asked questions) and key things about the jail that community members should know (e.g., when detainees are released, strobe light locations, what to do in case of, etc.)
3. Ensure the Department of Corrections satisfactorily completes the promises for security enhancements outlined by Devon Brown on June 19, 2006 at Payne Elementary School. Through neighborhood collaboration on the 1800 block of Potomac Avenue, we have a list of the items outlined by Devon Brown at Payne Elementary on June 19, 2006.
3.A. I have added an item to the original list requiring further review. Specifically, through the June 24, 2006, siren test, it is apparent that we need siren repeaters throughout the neighborhood. I positioned myself with neighbors in the Barney Circle neighborhood for the test, and it was barely audible. In questioning many residents along the 700-900 block of Kentucky Avenue, SE, immediately after the test, most did not hear it. The only people that heard it were on the porch of 737 Kentucky Avenue, SE. It would not have been heard if a plane had been overhead, or if any other competing noises had been present at the time of the test. Based on today's test, it is clear that an improved siren must be installed at the DC Jail, and repeaters must be placed in nearby neighborhoods to ensure all receive the audible alarm in case of emergency.
3.B. With respect to the test execution, residents were extremely appreciative of the event and now have a better understanding of how reverse-911 works after last night's calls to all local residents to further prepare residents for today's drill. This was a great step and as evidenced by the numerous online comments and today's street discussions, the residents of this community look forward to increased interaction with DOC and DC Jail officials in improving our dialogue, awareness, and understanding of DC Jail operations as improvements continue.
4. I will aggressively combat complacency at the DC Jail and in our community. We cannot afford to assume government is ready to respond with the resources to protect our citizens. If Katrina and my time in the Coast Guard taught me anything, it is that neighborhoods and communities must plan for the worst. We cannot assume that government will have things under control when the unexpected takes place. DC's public servants are aggressively trying to do their jobs above and beyond the call of duty. However, they are often shortchanged with inadequate leadership or constrained resources that inhibit their ability to serve the public to the utmost of their ability. Your City Councilmember must insist on effective leadership and adequate funding, and he or she must be ready to take drastic action when the forces of complacency work to maintain the status quo.
5. I will challenge Ward 6 residents to work with me to demand increased tranparency in government operations. I will be in the trenches encouraging residents and leaders to step forward to receive training as emergency certified volunteers, prepared to act as emergency responders with the knowledge and awareness to help in times of distress. My shipmates and I succeeded on the high seas under the mantra of 'Semper Paratus - Always Ready.' As an Eagle Scout, I was taught to 'Be Prepared.' Our government and its citizens need to operate under similar mantras if we are to be ready the next time the government drops the ball. As your City Councilmember, I will be doing everything in my power to ensure the ball is never dropped. Concurrently, I will be putting forth an extreme amount of energy into preparing this community for when the unexpected happens or when our emergency resources are simply overextended due to an unprecedented emergency. The current state is unacceptable and everyone knows it. It is up to us to come together and do something about it. To me, the '06 jailbreak is the latest wake-up call of our overarching lack of preparedness. How many more wakeup calls will we get before it is too late? With me as your City Councilmember, you can expect a major call to action. I will accept nothing less!

June 17, 2006 - MoTH; As parents, should we stay or should we go?

I am often asked why I am running to be the next Ward 6 City Councilmember. Over the months, the answer has continued to evolve as I have developed a deeper and deeper understanding of the biggest challenges facing Ward 6.

As I initially embarked on this journey of service, I was inspired by the daunting figures reflected in the ongoing exodus of parents, friends, and neighbors with children facing the challenge of obtaining placement in effective, reasonably priced schools. More often than not, my friends and neighbors have moved to Stafford, Annapolis, Vienna, Frederick, or elsewhere.

The biggest issue holding Ward 6 back is our inability to adequately address the educational challenge. For this reason, I am all for increasing accountability, raising performance, and fundamentally shifting how DCPS operates. As your Ward 6 City Councilmember, I will;

A. Be a strong voice for increased mayoral oversight and control. As I look at the success stories around the world, and especially in NYC, I will support adoption of their model of mayoral control and neighborhood advisory councils comprised mostly of concerned parents.

B. Be a strong voice for fiscal accountability, performance measures, and regular review. We continue to throw money at DCPS without better results. If we are not getting the performance our children and parents expect, I will be a strong voice for quickly finding someone who can meet our needs.

C. Be a 'watchdog' as we embark on a major modernization of our schools - we must all be 'watchdogs.' Having proven that DCPS cannot adequately oversee large expenditures, we as a community must receive regular reports on progress to date with the schools undergoing construction or major modernization. We must know as soon as a project is offtrack so that corrective action can be taken before it is too late.

D. Be a strong proponent of increased communication and transparency in everything DC government and DCPS does. A prime example is Rightsizing - this is a painful, necessary step in improving our schools. However, as with my professional life to date, I am a strong proponent of planning. In my state and local government consulting experience, we strive for 60% of the work to take place during the planning phase(s). As a community, we have known for years that our schools have been underutilized, yet we didn't begin a real community dialogue on the subject until March 2006. This was way too late; improvements in communication must be made in order to create a better education system here in the District.

June 13, 2006 - SW Forum - Getting Together

On June 13th all of the Democratic Ward 6 City Council candidates met for a debate at the Capitol Park Towers at 301 G Street, SW. It was a pleasure to engage the other candidates as well as hear the concerns of the residents. Everywhere I go, I get continued validation that people are looking for someone that will stand up and represent all of Ward 6. I am making it very clear that I am that candidate. The residents of SW have yet to be welcomed to Ward 6, having spent the first two-plus decades of home rule as part of Ward 2. While a bit late, I look forward to formally welcoming all of SW to Ward 6, ensuring the entire community recognizes that they finally have someone that will represent their interests; someone who will fight on their behalf at the Wilson Building. My actions and time spent in SW reflect my commitment to further understanding the issues dividing SW from the rest of Ward 6. You can bet that I will continue to spend a significant amount of time in SW throughout the campaign, and most importantly, each week after the election to ensure our Ward 6 representative is addressing the issues and challenges most adversely affecting this important Ward 6 community.

June 11, 2006 - Complete Equality

To me, Capital Pride symbolizes fairness. We currently have a large segment of our population that continues to deal with day-to-day discrimination because of sexual orientation. I believe that many of us are proud that our City is one of the most liberal in supporting our gay and lesbian residents in the pursuit of total equality. However, we have a long way to go. As the Ward 6 City Councilmember, I will fight to ensure all of our residents are treated equally and fairly. I will work with our GLBT community to ensure the District is on the leading edge in guaranteeing equality in all legislative respects.

It was an honor to join members of our GLBT community on Pennsylvania Avenue on June 11, 2006 and it has been a pleasure to meet so many members of the community during my door-to-door campaign. I also appreciate the support I am attracting from members of the GLBT community as they recognize that they have a sincere, honest candidate that is not afraid to stand up and fight for what is right for all members of our community, regardless of race, income, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation.

June 6, 2006 - Eminent Domain - Inappropriate Use

On June 6, Sharon Ambrose brought Proposed Bill 16-551 out of committee and before the entire City Council, with the hope of obtaining eminent domain authority for the City in redeveloping Northwest One. Given the current state of Northwest One and the proactive stance of the owners of Sursum Corda in redeveloping the property, I am strongly opposed to this action.

The residents of Sursum Corda have formed a joint venture with Virginia-based KSI. As such, Sursum Corda is in a position of overseeing the development of their property, and if given the opportunity, they could lift not only themselves from poverty, but could potentially provide assistance in lifting the residents of nearby Temple Courts and Golden Rule as well. Furthermore, a success story created by empowering KSI and Sursum Corda could serve as a role model for Washington, DC, and the rest of the country.

With 16-551, the City is guaranteeing a 'right of return' to residents currently calling the area now designated as Northwest One home. However, experience has taught us that once these residents are removed, they are unlikely to return. As a city, can we honestly look at the proposed use of eminent domain as appropriate when the residents have created a joint venture that would allow them to stay in Ward 6? We are on the verge of throwing away an opportunity that Washington, DC, and the rest of our nation, may not see again for quite some time. Let's empower the residents of Sursum Corda to lift themselves and prove that they can pull together to make their development a success. This will allow them to preserve their community, while introducing new housing that will facilitate housing integration with other income levels.

June 3, 2006 - Community Ownership

At 309 Kentucky Avenue, SE, neighbors (e.g., Dinis Leal, Carl Ford, Lauren Hudacik, Josh Boots, Lisa Dixon, Spencer Nichols, Bill Flynn, Pam Cobb, Dan and Chris Ridge) gathered for another monthly cleanup this morning. Gathering nearly 15 full bags of DPW-approved yellow trashbags, the impact of the effort on the surrounding community was readily apparent through the litter-free streets that I proudly walked along later in the day. It became even more apparent as I spent the afternoon knocking on doors in other parts of Ward 6 that clearly had not been subject to any type of neighborhood cleanup (i.e., resident or government initiated) in quite some time. While I will push for increased results from our hard working public servants in DPW (Justin Ingea and Thomas Day; Thank-You for your continued effort!), I will also emphasize the importance of increased community ownership in ensuring their streets and communities are clean, reflecting the pride we all should feel as residents of one of our nation's most beloved and historic communities. While it is painful to see our neighbors or passersby leaving litter along our streets, we should all be proud when a fellow resident goes out of their way to pick up someone else's debris. It happens everyday in Rosedale when Perry Roots patrols 17th Street from E Street to Gales Street in NE. It happens everyday when Bill Flynn walks his dachtsunds up Kentucky Avenue, SE. It happens elsewhere throughout Ward 6. What we have to ask ourselves is whether we're doing our own little part to ensure Ward 6 is a bit cleaner after we pass?

June 1, 2006 - Increasing Chances of Success with Recovering Addicts

The Near Northeast Citizens Against Crime and Drugs (NNCACD), in conjunction with Charles J. Moreland, JD, have made 300 copies of Mr. Moreland's latest book ("The Way To Freedom From Life's Many Addictions") available to Ward 6 residents working to put their lives together after extensive battles with addiction. The book will be published this fall. In advance of publication, Mr. Moreland has graciously offered the book in its pre-publication state to Lorre Murray and the NNCACD to aid ongoing efforts to support members of our community battling addiction. If interested in obtaining a copy of this insightly publication, please contact Mr. Moreland at cjmoreland@aol.com, or Lorre Murray at 202-547-9235. In my review, it was very apparent the book will serve as a great tool in reaching members of our community in need. Mr Moreland should be commended for donating so many copies for use by NNCACD to reach our neighbors currently in battle against addiction.

June 1, 2006 - Homeland Insecurity

At the June 1st Near Northeast Citizens Against Crime and Drugs (NNCACD) meeting at Wilson Elementary, Jerald J. 'Crazy Horse' Woody, Sr., spoke about his efforts to raise awareness for citizen preparedness in Ward 6. It was encouraging to finally hear someone other than Mark Dixon and yours truly address the importance and urgency of ensuring our residents have taken necessary precautions in case our community is at the center of a natural or man-made disaster. There are many things we can do (and should be doing) today to ensure we are prepared for something bad tomorrow. Unfortunately, we are not doing them. You can bet that as the Ward 6 City Council Member, I will aggressively work with our ANCs to stress the importance of getting our families and individuals prepared to handle themselves in case of a disaster. In the Coast Guard, I was taught to live by a slogan - Semper Paratus (Always Ready). That mantra should apply to Ward 6. But, I regret to inform you that my door-to-door inquiries have revealed that we are far from ready. As your Ward 6 Councilmember, I will do everything in my power to ensure that changes.

Woody & Mark - Thank-you for your persistent effort in this area to make our citizens more aware and prepared in case of unexpected disasters.