This weekend’s event was so great, and it was all because of all of you who read and follow along with us. Thank you so much! The rally got coverage on NBC Washington, the Washington Post, The Hill, WDVM and others. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Councilmember Charles Allen’s presence made our event that much more meaningful and impactful. On Sunday, Capitol Police announced that the outer perimeter of the fence would start coming down (CNN), a great bit of news that is the product of our elected officials’ efforts, as well as those of neighbors like Don’t Fence the Capitol and, to borrow a line from PBS, readers like you! One could argue that the most successful advocates for the takedown of the fence were the adorable third graders at Brent Elementary, who were featured on WJLA last week. Way to go, kiddos!
Today, Capitol Police announced that the outer perimeter will be gone by the end of next week.
In a press release, Del. Norton said the following,
“Finally, the fencing around the Capitol complex is beginning to come down, representing an enormous victory for D.C. residents and the American people,” Norton said. “This week, the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police will move the inner fencing around Capitol Square closer to the Capitol, which will allow more pedestrian access to the sidewalks and walkways. Next week, the outer perimeter fencing will be removed. I’ll keep fighting to remove all of the fencing.
After this great bit of news, what else is going on?
16-year old Sarah Cymrot writes a heartfelt piece on why the fence should come down. It’s bittersweet and deeply moving. Hill Rag
One last thing on the January 6 insurrection: An internal memo obtained by the Washington Post makes some unfortunate revelations. The Army originally was not going to entertain DC’s request for National Guard presence ahead of the event, unless the crowd size was above 100,000.
Is there a chance the Nationals will allow fans to their season opener on April 1? After yesterday’s press conference, (see Twitter highlights here) where Mayor Bowser announced that professional sports could re-apply to get a waiver to open to fans, it looks like DC United will welcome fans back but there has been no announcement yet from the Nats. (Fox-5)
After a spate of robberies to several establishments all over H Street NE that left business owners rattled– on top of all their coronavirus worries (NBC-4)– some good news: The robber was apprehended this past Friday (NBC-4 again!)
After ANC 6B09 commissioner Alison Horn started advocating for more vaccine equality, Councilmember Charles Allen announced that zipcode 20003, Hill East, would be added to priority zipcodes. WUSA-9 has more details.
Photographer Evelyn Hockstein captured much more than just a hometown protest in her powerful Lincoln Park photo: She captured a raw essence of dissent and the spirit of our inner brokenness. The photo is a nominee for the World Press Photo awards. EuroNews
George Tanios of Morgantown, WV, and Julian Khater, of Pennsylvania, have been charged with assaulting Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who later died of his injuries. It appears Tanios and Khater sprayed Ofc. Sicknick with bear spray, which may have more actively contributed to his death. AP
Brood X is coming this April. Are you ready? Earth Sky News
Hill East’s new development could pave the way for building a national model in aging-friendly neighborhoods. This month’s Capitol Hill Village newsletter eloquently tackles a subject that is on the minds of many Hill residents and of our evolving family structures. Click here to read the newsletter.
Want to help DDOT make roads more friendly to the way YOU move around town? Take the moveDC survey.
The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is looking for your stories. They have asked if I can share the following information:
USCHS is collecting oral histories from people in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and beyond about their experiences on January 6th. While many have focused on the experiences of elected officials, law enforcement, etc., there has been a lack of coverage on the effects of the attack on the DC community. We hope you will join us in collecting those stories! We plan to post these recordings to our website and potentially feature them in blog posts or social media.
If you are interested, please email communications@uschs.org
Not causing nearly as much Beatlemania-type behavior as other sightings, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was spotted yesterday shopping at Capitol Hill Supermarket. It’s really great to see local politicians supporting local spots– and that kind of small-business help is the kind of thing we like to see in our neighborhood, from both sides of the aisle.
Parting thought: If you think the pandemic has been rough on your ability to leave your home, read this tweet and meditate on the conditions the inmates at the DC Jail have endured: only one hour per day of outdoor time.