Bates Area Civic Association

On Monday, February 1, 2010 is the next monthly meeting of the Bates Area Civic Association, Inc. Below you can find the issues that will be discussed this Monday.

Where: lower auditorium of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 3rd and Q Streets, N.W.,

When: Feb 1. 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., (and first Monday of each month).

Please help us to spread the word to others about this monthly meeting and do make your best effort to attend.

Speakers:

Ms. Linda Softli, Partner Specialist, from the US Census Bureau, will be a featured speaker for the evening.  Specifically, Ms. Softli has been asked to provide us with an overview of the various ways we can participate in the 2010 Census as a group, as well as to answer any questions you may have with respect to your individual participation.  As you may know, Census results are directly tied to the allocation of financial and other resources that are targeted to a particular State (or in our case, “District”) by the Federal Government.  And, with specific regard to Washington, DC, they form the basis for very important redistricting decision-making around Ward as well as ANC Single Member District boundaries.  So, it is very important that we “stand up and be counted” in the 2010 Census and that we hear Ms. Softli’s presentation so that we can learn more about the constructive role that we can play in motivating our neighbors and other family members to do the same.

Mr. Merritt Drucker, the Director of Operations for the NoMa Business Improvement District, will also be a featured speaker at Monday’s meeting.  Mr. Drucker has been asked to come prepared to talk to us about the operations of the BID, and to discuss ways in which the BACA can collaborate with the efforts of his organization to help make that portion of the North Capitol Street commercial corridor that is closest to us, more attractive to those who might be interested in locating viable, quality businesses there.  Further in this regard, Mr. Garry Clark, the Executive Director of North Capitol Main Streets, Inc. (NCMS), has asked for time on the agenda to provide us with an update on the work of the “Green Team” that NCMS sponsors to help keep North Capitol Street free of litter and debris, and he wants to give us the latest details concerning their  “Winter Blues” fundraising event that is coming up soon.BACA

Significantly, on yesterday evening I was advised that we can expect to receive an update from Department of Parks and Recreation officials regarding their proposed plans to transform the pocket park at First and Florida Avenue, N.W. into a more safe and “user-friendly” place in which neighborhood residents can comfortably spend their recreation and leisure time, especially our children.

Committee Reports:

We expect to receive updates from the Committees on Environmental Services, Public Safety, Public Relations, Youth Services, as well as Land Use, Planning, and Economic Development, respectively.

Other Remarks:

As usual,  we will receive any community updates that our local Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, Com. Anita Bonds and Com. Sylvia Pinkney, have to offer and from the Ward Five representative with the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, Mr. Richard Norwood.