Priorities
ANC's are a unique governance body that are intended to be close to the people. Part of this role is ensuring that your priorities are my priorities. I take pride in making myself very available to ANC 7B03 residents via whichever communication method you prefer, whether that be via telephone, text message, email, or social media. If you are having an issue you think I can help with, I am ready to help! Additionally, other issues I have worked on since taking office last year include:
- Transportation - There is no denying that Washington, D.C. is on the move! But, as our city continues to grow our streets become more and more congested. This is why I believe we must continue to invest in public transit to create a network that is comprehensive, reliable, and affordable. If a system does not include all of these components it will struggle to attract new users.
- Comprehensive: we must ensure that every person in the district is within a reasonable walking distance of a transit line. We also must invest in various systems including: rail (metro), light rail (streetcar), and bus rapid transit (BRT) to ensure users can get to their destination easily and with as few transfers as possible.
- Reliable: we must invest in systems that speed up bus and streetcar services. This can include things such as: priority signals which let buses depart from red lights a couple of seconds before cars so they can move ahead of the traffic, dedicated bus lanes which help buses (and emergency vehicles) bypass congestion, and rear-door boarding which allows passengers to board buses at either door rather than waiting in line to enter through the front door.
- Affordable: everyone should be able to access public transit regardless of their personal financial circumstances. This is why I am a strong propionate for fare-free public transportation, and why earlier this year I presented a resolution to ANC 7B to express our support for the Metro for D.C. Amendment Act (B24-0429) which would give every Washingtonian up to $100 each month automatically added to their SmarTrip card to help offset their transportation expenses; this resolution unanimously passed ANC 7B.
- Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety - Between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021, approximately 3,900 pedestrians in the District of Columbia were struck by vehicles, of which 545 experienced severe injuries, and another 64 tragically lost their lives. Between January 1 and July 17, 2022, there have been 171 pedestrians and 83 cyclists struct by vehicles citywide, 12 of whom tragically lost their lives. This year in ANC 7B alone there have been six pedestrians struck and two bicyclists by vehicles. Most of these crashes are preventable if drivers would just slow down and watch their surroundings. This is why earlier this year I presented a resolution to ANC 7B supporting the Walk Without Worry Amendment Act (B24-0566), a council bill which would require the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to define circumstances in which installation of continuous sidewalks, raised crosswalks, and raised intersections would be considered standard. My resolution - which passed ANC 7B unanimously - went on to call for the bill to go further than the proposed language by: requiring that all rapid flashing beacons in the District be replaced with High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) beacon signals, that HAWK signals be required to be installed on all freeway onramps and offramps where pedestrian crossings are not otherwise controlled by a standard traffic light, and that cars turning on red lights should be banned to improve pedestrian safety.
- Accountability - Government agencies need to be accountable to D.C. Residents, and as your ANC Commissioner I am your first line of defense in holding them accountable. I have held community walks with various agencies so they can see firsthand the issues in our community and work towards solutions. I have also established a relationship with National Park Service (NPS) to hold them accountable for maintaining the properties they own in ANC 7B03 which have historically been neglected. I believe residents of ANC 7B03 deserve the same services from our city government as residents of all other parts of the city, and I will continue to hold these agencies feet to the fire if it seems like our neighborhood is being neglected by the city agencies who exist to serve us.