Neighborhood update - 31 January 2023
In this email -
Thank you, and introduction
Redistricting
Neighborhood trash and rat walk, Sat Feb 4 at 10am
New ways to commemorate Black history in our area
ANC 1B committees - join one!
ANC 1B Commission January update
Dear neighbors,
Thank you - I am honored to represent our part of our neighborhood on Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B. My name is Tucker, and I've lived in DC for over six years, and near the corner of 13th and Fairmont NW for over five of those years. I ran for ANC because I love our neighborhood and because I have felt welcomed here since day one - and I want to give back and ensure that our corner of Columbia Heights remains welcoming to neighbors old and new.
I am grateful to former Commissioner Eric Behna for his service on the Commission from 2021-22. As of the end of his term and the beginning of my term on January 2, 2023, Commissions and Single Member Districts (SMDs) have had their boundaries changed, per the 10-year redistricting process. I was elected from SMD 1B09, which includes most, but not all, of the people previously represented by Commissioner Behna. You may want to confirm your current SMD. There are several ways to confirm which SMD you live in, but my personal favorite is the non-government website OpenANC.org.
I want to make sure DC's services respond to our needs. That's why this Saturday, February 4, I am hosting a neighborhood trash and rat walk/talk. I know that sanitation is a top concern for many of us, so I invited representatives from DC's Department of Health - Rodent and Vector Control team, as well as the Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program. We will talk about problem spots, as well as discuss what we as a neighborhood as well as DC as a city can do to keep our area sanitary. This is primarily about services, not a community cleanup - so don't be deterred by cold weather! Join us at 10am at the corner of 13th and Clifton NW, at Cardozo education campus. RSVPs are welcome but not required. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!
As you are probably aware, tomorrow is the first day of Black History Month. Earlier this week I came across this app, "DC Civil Rights Tour," developed by two high school students local to the region. The app highlights several locations in our area, including the U St. NW area as a whole and specific sites on it such as the Lincoln Theatre and the True Reformer Building. I love learning about the history of our neighborhood and DC broadly, so I'm glad to find new ways to commemorate some of the many contributions of Black Washingtonians.
As you may already know, ANC 1B has committees based on specific issue areas or policy areas. I was elected chair of the Zoning, Preservation, and Development committee, and I'm looking forward to working with the committee to support affordable housing and commemorate our area's rich history. Community members are invited to serve on any of the committees too! In fact, our neighborhood relies heavily on community members of committees, since committees are often where the details get hashed out. If you have an interest in any of the five committees, please reach out to the relevant committee chair (can be found on the ANC 1B website), or let me know. The current committees are:
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation
Economic Development
Public Safety and Community Engagement
Transportation
Zoning, Preservation, and Development
Finally, if you are not already signed up for the ANC 1B email list, you can sign up on the Commission website. You can find the January update here. If there are items you'd like included in my email distribution, or if there's something interesting going on that all of our ANC 1B neighbors should know about, please let me know, and I'd be more than happy to publish that.
See you around the neighborhood!
Tucker
Commissioner Tucker Jones
ANC 1B - SMD 1B09
1b09@anc.dc.gov