Hi all,
I've attached Brian Flahaven's testimony before the Council Sub-Committee on Redistricting. ?It does an eloquent job of making the case for why this is a bad idea.
How could this adversely impact us? ?Here are a few possible ways, ranging from the "soft" to the very tangible.
?? a) First, I believe that Capital Hill has an economic, political, cultural and social identity. ?It's strongest from block to block (witness the great tradition of the street/alley party, as embodied by last Sunday's 11th St gathering!), but extends more broadly from the Capital to RFK stadium. ?Hill East is a part of our collective Hill identity. ?To bifurcate the neighborhood politically diminishes all of us.
??b) Hill East is the most diverse part of the Hill. ?Moving any significant part of Hill East into Ward 7 or 8 would make our community less diverse. ?If you read the New Hill East list serve with any regularity, or follow some of the more contentious gentrification related issues on the Hill, then you know that our diversity is not always without tension. ?I would suggest that politically dividing the community does nothing to further the goal of creating a community that is a model of socioeconomic integration. ?If anything, it's makes that objective more difficult to achieve. ?
??c) Reservation 13, one of the most important future developments on the Hill, is a priority target for those in favor of redistricting at the expense of Ward 6. ?This development will bring much needed businesses and services to this part of the Hill. ?It will turn the waterfront in this area into a viable, desirable destination for all of us. ?Numerous Hill residents spent a great deal of energy crafting a community based master plan for this area. ?Politically separating those who will both benefit from and be impacted by the development from the development itself is a recipe for further complicating this already delayed initiative. ?
?d) Lastly, DC General hospital currently serves as an ad hoc, location of last resort for various social services (several homeless shelters and a methadone clinic). ?While I'm not debating the need for these services, I question the city's approach to delivering them. ?DC General is a deteriorating facility that is not properly configured to house DC's homeless population. ?The decision to cluster social services at this site seems more a decision born of convenience than of thoughtful consideration of how to best deliver services and ensure that they have a positive impact on the intended recipients. ?Moving this part of Ward 6 into Ward 7 or Ward 8 would do nothing to incentivize the city to improve this situation. ?Indeed, I think it would make it politically very easy to maintain the status quo.
Hopefully that helps and thanks for the question. ?Let me know if I need to clarify anything--there are many ?nuances and possible outcomes.
Best,
Brian
On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 8:57 AM, toni Herzog
<antoniaherzog2004@...> wrote:
One of the key point?is keeping the hill community together and cohesive, of which hill east is part, as opposed to splintering it off into another ward that is mostly across the river.? I am adding in Brian so he can weigh in with more details on the discussion points as I have not been really following.
--- On Tue, 5/3/11, Dan Kolker <dakolker@...> wrote:
From: Dan Kolker <dakolker@...>
Subject: Re: [11thSEblock] Redistricting e-petition link
To: 11thSEblock@...
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 11:31 AM
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It sounds like this would not affect us directly (I don't know the actual borders of neighborhoods, but I am assuming Hill East is over closer to RFK).? But what is the argument for staying in ward 6 or against being part of ward 7?? Are there material things that would change?? Is it a question of whether people want to be represented by Wells as opposed to Alexander?? I just can't see the big deal in being classified as part of one ward or another.
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I really am asking from ignorance (don't know what the issue is here) and not anything else.
-DK
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On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 11:08 AM, toni Herzog <> wrote:
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fyi, in case you hadn't heard. Info below from our ANC commissioner Brian Pate, who was at our alley party.?You should feel free to contact Brian directly with any questions,
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antonia
--- On Mon, 5/2/11, Brian Pate <> wrote:
From: Brian Pate <>
Subject: Redistricting e-petition link
Date: Monday, May 2, 2011, 10:02 PM
For those unable to sign a hard copy petition but are still interested in registering their opposition to redistricting Hill East, Commissioner's Critchfield and Flahaven have set up a conenient e-petition. ?
So far we've collected several hundred signatures.
Best,
Brian
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--- On Sat, 4/30/11, Brian Pate <> wrote:
From: Brian Pate <>
Subject: Ward 6 Redistricting - Potential Impact on Capitol Hill
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2011, 12:26 PM
Neighbors,
I want to pass a long a cut and paste from my blog (), and seek your help in the proposed petition process. ?I am seeking one person from each block to circulate the attached petition---please contact me via separate e-mail if you are interested.?
Thanks so much and I hope everyone is doing well. ?Please don't hesitate to contact me with any issues in the neighborhood.
Best,
Brian
From the blog:
"DC Redistricting and Ward 6
For those not following the arcane process of post-census redistricting in the city, the Council Subcommittee on Redistricting held two public hearings last week to gather feedback on possible new ward boundaries. ?The Council expects to finalize new boundaries by June, followed quickly by the redrawing of Advisory Neighborhood Commission and Single Member District boundaries. ?
DC requires each Ward to be of roughly equal size (+/- 5%). ?Given the growth of the city, each Ward should contain about 75,000 people. ?Achieving this objective requires the Council to add several hundred people to Wards 7 and 8, and these additions must come from adjacent Wards. ?Practically applied, this means that Ward 6 lies vulnerable to poaching, a vulnerability confirmed by the Ward 7 & 8 Council Members' public proclamations targeting the SE/SW Waterfront and parts of Hill East. ?
Tuesday night, prior to the Hine special call meeting, the ANC6B executive committee used emergency authorities to vote on a resolution firmly stating the Commission's opposition to any part of Capitol Hill, especially Hill East, moving from Ward 6 to Wards 7 or 8 (resolution attached). ?The Commission also voted to authorize Commissioner Flahaven to provide testimony at the 27 April Redistricting Subcommittee hearing (testimony attached). ?Commissioner Campbell joined Commissioner Flahaven and provided supporting testimony at the meeting. ?
I believe this reflects the greater will of Capitol Hill residents, and am interested in your opinions on the matter. ?As highlighted in the testimony, there are a number of reasons why moving any part of Hill East into another Ward is a bad idea...chief among them it bifurcates a geographically contiguous neighborhood. ?ANC6B is initiating a petition drive over the next 72 hours (petition attached). ?If you feel so moved, I strongly encourage you to make a copy of this petition, seek signatures from your neighbors and return it to me Monday evening. ?I am happy to come to you to pick up the petition."
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