Laura McSorley for ANC 6B08

A Better 6B08

The ANC is our first voice as a neighborhood on issues that affect us block-to-block, throughout 6B08, the Hill, and the city. Walking my students to and from our neighborhood playground every day, I am very aware of how simple issues – a stop sign, a construction site blocking the sidewalk, an overgrown lot – can have a big effect on neighborhood life. Below are my goals for making the ANC more responsive and our neighborhood an even better place to live.

Community
Whether we are longtime residents of this neighborhood, families, young people, or grandparents, what makes living here great is the chance to be part of a community. As ANC commissioner, I will facilitate community by, of course, taking part in the planning and support of neighborhood events. However, I will also be proactive in looking for opportunities to create new community spaces and to provide resources for children and adults alike to enjoy our neighborhood.

And our community is strongest when all of us feel safe. As your ANC commissioner, I won’t shy away from holding our elected officials and our police leadership accountable. I’ll vote to enforce sensible licensing and business policies designed not only to keep our neighborhoods safe, but also vibrant.  I know how important it is that residents and families can enjoy our green spaces, our sidewalks, and our streets without worrying about safety. The solution is not to point fingers but to ensure that every avenue available to us in preventing trouble is utilized. This includes community policing, innovative approaches to youth issues, open lines of communication between officials and the community, and honest reporting of patterns of crime in our neighborhoods.

Modernization
While communicating your concerns is my central role, I certainly plan to aggressively advocate for improvements to our district here in 6B08 and throughout the Hill. I will ensure that our neighborhood has a voice in commercial developments across 6B, including Eastern Market, the Hine proposal, and Barracks Row. I will also advocate for appropriate development of city space, including the land east of the Hill along the waterfront (Reservation 13), and I will ensure that all development respects the character and values of our community.

For our district in particular, there is a lot we can improve!

For example:

• Bus Stops: when you have a moment on East Capitol, take a look across the street (our district includes only the south side of East Capitol Street). While the north side of the street has modern, comfortable bus stops, our side of the street has been left behind. Of course, the worst example of this is our lonely, lonely “bench” at the center of Mass Ave. and Independence. An entire island devoted to our key bus line into town should be a comfortable and modern place to wait for the bus. I am also a strong proponent of adding next bus signs to all of our stops (displaying up to the minute arrival times). Of course, that is a modernization that will take fighting for system wide (I am up for the challenge)! [Take a look here for info on the bus shelter modernization project - you'll notice on the map here that our district has no pending plans for upgrades!]
• Bikes: The bike lane at 14th and Mass Ave. is a disaster when it rains, making it dangerous for drivers and bicyclists alike. Another wonderful feature of our neighborhood is its bike-ability. As ANC commissioner, I will vigorously fight for sensible bike lanes throughout our district, and for street repairs and stop signs that benefit bikes, pedestrians, and drivers. I am pleased that DDOT worked with other local leaders to find a Capital Bikeshare station near Lincoln Park so that we can enjoy quick access to the program, but I was disappointed that our ANC was not proactive in working with DDOT and residents to find a solution before we faced a last minute discussion. (Take a look at the station map.)
• Internet: Our corner of the Hill is an internet black hole. We have extremely limited options for high-speed internet service (one in most parts of our district). This is not true in most of the city, and I know we can do better once our voices are heard by other internet providers.

Communication
The most important job – indeed the role – of an ANC commissioner is to keep our neighborhood informed and to be our voice. This includes making the ANC and ANC meetings more responsive to community needs. Among the improvements I plan to implement are changing the way the ANC operates and opening lines of communication to our neighborhood, including:

• Making all ANC meetings – whether committee meetings, meetings of the whole, or informal strategy meetings - truly open. This goes beyond simply posting a date and time somewhere and expecting busy folks to attend every one. For (literally) a few dollars, all meetings can be digitally recorded, edited, posted, and podcast. Surely, basic principles of open government must apply to our ANC.
• Along the same lines, digital communication can be vastly improved within our district and the ANC. I plan to use every avenue of digital communication to keep you informed about fellow neighbors’ concerns as well as developments within the ANC.
• At the same time, I pledge to include the entire neighborhood in our discussions. That means not relying entirely on digital tools or word of mouth to keep everyone informed. I pledge that the last time you see me at your door won’t be the day before the election.