We have offered to post brief statements from all of the ANC candidates running for seats on Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods that we cover here on The Hill is Home. These statements are not endorsements and have been posted exactly as submitted by the candidates.
As a resident of Capitol Hill for more than 32 years, it has been my honor and pleasure to serve these most recent couple of years on the ANC. With a child at Brent Elementary, my longtime law practice situated in the heart of our district, and deep ties to this community through participation in community foundations, our church, and our cultural resources, the past two years have been among my most rewarding.
During this time, we have faced – both as a commission and as a community – important issues related to crime, development, and the essential balance between commercial interests and the safety and health of our residents. Working to maintain the essential historic character of our neighborhood while facing the growth and popularity of the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor has been a particular challenge, but one I feel we have and will continue to address in a realistic and productive manner. This year’s renewal cycle for the restaurants and bars along Barracks Row and Pennsylvania Avenue has presented us with a unique opportunity to address continuing noise and sanitation issues, and to arrive at new legally binding agreements with a majority of the establishments that I believe will significantly improve the quality of life for those abutting the restaurants and hold the establishments accountable for best practices to reduce the negative portion of their impact on their residential neighbors. I have continued to work closely with law enforcement and other community resources to ensure we are receiving sufficient and effective deployment of resources, and that no crime in our neighborhood is dismissed as “petty.” These battles have been hard fought, but I believe are essential to keeping and continuing to improve the character and quality of our neighborhood.
In the next term, I look forward to building upon these successes and in taking on new initiatives to improve the quality of city services, transportation, historic preservation, and carefully regulated development within ANC6B.