An abundance of trash on your street? Cars driving too fast in your neighborhood? Looking for a way to get more involved in the community? Your Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner is here to help (and yes, he/she ran for the position knowing it was unpaid!) This week, Commissioner-Elect Brian Flahaven (ANC 6B 09) discusses the changes he’d like to help make in his neighborhood.
1 – Tell us a little about yourself and the reason(s) you sought a position on your neighborhood’s ANC.
I ran to represent ANC 6B09 because I felt strongly that we needed a commissioner who would be an active and visible advocate. With a number of critical issues facing our neighborhood, I plan to proactively reach out, listen to and engage residents on all sides. I am concerned ANC 6B is not weighing in on all the issues affecting our neighborhood and that many residents feel disengaged from and disinterested in the organization.
My wife and I have lived in Washington, DC for six years, three years in Hill East. I work as director of government relations for a nonprofit education association and have experience in local, state and federal government. I’ve also served on the board and continue to serve on the advisory council of the Washington, DC chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPNdc), a nonprofit association that seeks to train, connect and inspire tomorrow’s nonprofit leaders. I have a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a Bachelors degree in political science, economics and history from the University of Illinois.
I care deeply about the future of Hill East. My neighbors are intensely interested and passionate about our community and deserve the same in their commissioner. It will be a privilege to represent them.
2 – What is the number one issue facing your neighborhood and how do you plan to address it?
There are many critical issues facing 6B09 – keeping Hill education options viable and accessible, speeding on 17th Street SE, development of Reservation 13, and the future of Eastern Branch Boys & Girls Club. But the most important issue, in my opinion, is continuing to improve public safety in our neighborhood. All of the other issues are moot if residents do not feel that their families and homes are safe and secure. In my role as commissioner, I plan to work closely with PSA 107 and Lt. Thornton to increase resident engagement in public safety issues. I would also like to help re-invigorate some of the orange hat and neighborhood watch efforts that have played such a vital role in our neighborhood’s history.
3 – What will you do to increase resident participation in the ANC process? Do you have any plans to make meetings more appealing to residents in your neighborhood and/or solicit increased community involvement?
I will push for more resident representation on committees and will actively seek volunteers from 6B09 to serve on committees. Residents also need to know when meetings are taking place and what is on the agenda. I will work with my colleagues to improve communication about meetings and events, including making sure residents know what was discussed and what decisions were made at meetings.
Meetings would be more appealing to residents in my neighborhood if ANC 6B more frequently put issues facing Hill East on the agenda. While planning/zoning cases and liquor license requests are an essential part of the ANC’s business, ANC 6B can and should be doing more to weigh in on other critical issues, such as the future of Reservation 13. Residents will be more likely to attend meetings and participate if they see issues they care about on the agenda.
4- What do you need from residents in your neighborhood in order to be a good representative?
While we have a number of active and engaged neighbors, I’d like to see more residents involved in community meetings and weighing in on key issues. I plan to actively seek input from residents through a neighborhood website, monthly office hours and annual block meetings. I need residents to take advantage of these opportunities to share their thoughts and concerns with me so I can truly represent our neighborhood.
5- Complete this sentence: “Capitol Hill is the best place to live in DC because _________.”
…we have strong neighborhoods full of passionate, committed residents who care about each other and constantly work to improve the quality of life in our community.
Leave a comment or suggest an ANC rep to be featured in an upcoming post! You can also contact the author and follow her foray into the twitterverse @laurentorlone.