Results are in for races to serve on the District’s Advisory Neighborhood commissions, the D.C. government’s lowest level of elected office.
The vote tallies, which are still unofficial, cover dozens of ANC contests in or near the Borderstan coverage area.
As of 12:26 a.m. today, the winners (in bold) are:
(Updated at 12:55 p.m.) More than 100 locals who live in or near the Borderstan coverage area are running for the lowest level of elected office in the D.C. government today.
In contested Advisory Neighborhood Commission races, we’re curious who got or will get your vote. You can weigh in through the polls below and in the comments.
(Updated at 5:55 p.m. Aug. 21) The 2016 ballot for the lowest level of elected office in the D.C. government is now almost final.
More than 100 locals who live in or near the Borderstan coverage area have submitted nominating petitions to serve as members of the District’s Advisory Neighborhood commissions. They had until yesterday to collect the signatures of 25 of their neighbors in their single member districts and bring the paperwork to the D.C. Board of Elections.
But before the ANC candidates officially can get on the ballot, they must make it through a petition challenge period, which lasts until Aug. 22.
The candidates for the Nov. 8 general election for now include:
Renderings for Parcel 42 at 7th and R Streets NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com.
This Wednesday, ANC 2C will vote to make a formal recommendation on what the city should do with Parcel 42, the vacant lot at the intersection of Rhode Island, 7th and R streets. The meeting will take place at 6:30 pm at the Watha T Daniel/Shaw Library (1630 7th Street NW).
Six bidders met the qualifications of the previously solicited Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI). The proposed plans include the following:
- 105-unit residential building with retail
- 102-room hotel, 22 affordable units and 74-space underground parking
- 50-unit apartment building with community garden and 60 underground parking spaces
- 100-unit residential project with retail, community garden and live-work spaces
- 81-unit or a 99-unit project with a Yes! Organic Market
- 96-unit residential project with two levels of retail, rooftop garden and a public courtyard
Since the city owns the land, the ANC’s recommendation will be given great weight in awarding the development contract.
Currently, some members of the community have weighed in on the decision by sending a letter to Commissioners recommending the proposal submitted by Principian Ventures (Baywood Hotels and Dantes Partners), which would feature a Marriott Towneplace Extended Stay hotel.
According to an email circulated by a resident, the group “believes a hotel would do more to sustain a thriving, safe and beautiful neighborhood than any other proposed use (apartments and, in some other proposals, more retail space).”
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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com
One of the neighborhood ANCs is 2F, which covers the Logan Circle area. It is gaining two seats due to population growth in the area. Click to see on Google Maps. (Map created by Geoff Hatchard)
We’re all guilty of it. “I can’t believe the city hasn’t fixed this street yet!” or “My child needs a playground in the area, there are no safe outdoor places for kids to play anymore.” Whether we like it or not, we are all active complainers when it comes to neighborhood (and city) politics and government.
While some complaining is fun now and then, there is a more proactive approach: running for a seat on one of the city’s 38 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) with a total of 300 Single Member District (SMD) seats citywide. The role of an ANC is advisory and they cannot actually pass laws or set regulations. However, DC government agencies are required to give consideration and weight to the resolutions that ANCs pass.
ANCs Represent Neighborhood Interests
Each ANC has about eight to 10 commissioners, and one commissioner represents a SMD with approximately 2,000 residents. When drawing boundaries for ANCs an effort is made to draw lines that take recognized neighborhoods into account.
ANCs work with community members, District government agencies, the City Council and some Federal agencies on a range of issues including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and the District’s annual budget.
Local ANCs in Borderstan
Locally, the following ANCs serve the Borderstan area:
- ANC 2B covers the Dupont Circle area and has nine seats.
- ANC 2F covers the Logan Circle area and is growing from six to eight seats due to population growth in the area.
- ANC 1B includes most of the U Street corridor and a swath of 14th Street NW. It is also growing from 11 to 12 seats due to population growth.
- Also, ANC 2C shifts from being Shaw-centric to a new downtown-Chinatown ANC. After redistricting following the 2010 Census, most of the Shaw neighborhood went to Ward 6 from Ward 2.
Getting on the Ballot, Raising ANC Campaign Money
In fact, you could begin picking up nominating petitions on July 9 from the DC Board of Elections (DCBE) — you only need the signatures of 25 registered voters in your SMD. The deadline for turning in petitions is August 8 in order to qualify for the November 6 general election ballot; the races are non-partisan with no party labels attached to candidate names. The DCBE regularly updates the list of people of who have picked up petitions for ANC seats.
Worried about raising money? Campaign contributions are capped at $25, but you can give as much as you like to your own campaign.
Do You Have What it Takes to Serve?
If you think you have what it takes to fight for your neighborhood’s needs and concerns, then consider running for commissioner on your local ANC. If you are committed to the job, it can be time-consuming and commissioners are not paid (see ANC 2F-02 Commissioner Barron Not Seeking Full Term for a first-hand account of the duties of an ANC commissioner).
So let’s all slow down the complaining, stop making excuses, and find a way to better serve our community, one way or another.
