During our Monday, June 6th meeting, we had a turnout of about 38 residents, a good turnout for a summer night.
3 key things were discussed:
1. PSA Realignment. Community input and concerns were received. A meeting with Chief of Police Cathy Lanier will be held Thursday, June 23rd at the 5th District Police Head Quarter for final community input. Meeting starts at 7pm and all welcome to attend.
2. Ward Redistricting. We focused on discussing a Redistricting Committee recommendation to add Shaw into Ward 5. A lot of discussion was had around how important and beneficial the reunification of East Shaw (east of NJ Avenue) and Shaw were reunited. The overall consensus of those in attendance was that Shaw being added to Ward 5 is worth pursuing. BACA residents are encouraged to email the following Council Members to voice their support of this change to our Ward: Harry Thomas, Michael Brown, David Catania, Phil Mendelson, and Jack Evans.
The following message template may be used:
mbrown@dccouncil.us
pmendelson@dccouncil.us
dcatania@dccouncil.us
Dear Council Members,
As a resident of Ward 5 living on the east side of New Jersey Avenue and bordering Ward 2, I urge you to please consider the Redistricting Committee’s recommendation to unite Shaw and East Shaw (currently divided by New Jersey Avenue). The reunification of Shaw into Ward 5 has tremendous historical value to the Shaw Dunbar Community. Moving Shaw into Ward 5 makes the most historical and geographic sense as these communities share not just streets, but also a rich history and past. The Committee also identified this as the preferable realignment to disrupt the least number of people as possible.
The 2008 Shaw Neighborhood Investment Fund and the Shaw Urban Development Plans call for Shaw and East Shaw to be developed together and with this redistricting opportunity, finally be reunited in the same ward. This merger of Shaw into Ward 5 would allow Ward 2 to be within the legal population requirements.
Regards,
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The Subcommittee examined a number of options to redraw the ward boundaries in response to the 2010 U.S. Census. These included the following:
• To shift the population count out of Ward 2, the boundaries would have to change either:
1. In the area of Foggy Bottom, with this area becoming either part of Ward 8 (connected via West Potomac Park and Hains Point) or part of Ward 6 (connected via West Potomac Park and the Mall); or
2. In the area of Shaw and the Mount Vernon Square neighborhoods, with this area becoming part of either Ward 5 or Ward 6.
The second option is preferable for a number of reasons. The connection between Foggy Bottom and either Ward 6 or 8 is tenuous because it spans a great distance with very few people in between: at least 2-½ miles from Capitol Hill or about 5 miles (by car) from Anacostia. On the other hand, the communities in Shaw and Mount Vernon Square are much more connected with the communities in Wards 5 and 6 – adjacent, separated by streets rather than large, unpopulated land masses. Further, residents in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood have, through their civic association, expressed an interest in being redistricted to Ward 6. Finally, public comments have ignored the Foggy Bottom option and instead focused on the Shaw/Mount Vernon Square option – confirming this is the more obvious area to redistrict.
3. Resolution opposing the liquor license application of Capital Food Mart was approved by those present at the BACA meeting.
Bates Area Civic Association 