More on this from a parent at Ian's school (Maury). I thought these further thoughts on redistricting would be of interest.
-----
I just posted this on the Moth list serv. Chris.
Please take 15 minutes to call Jack Evans, Michael Brown, Phil Mendelson to oppose breaking up Ward 6 so that Eliot-Hine and Eastern HS would be located in Ward 7.
The date is not scheduled, but our ANC rep. Nick Alberti, told me that
Evans, Brown and Medelson -- who head up the redistricting committee -- will probably take this up in early June. But we don't have that long since the discussions are going on now - Jack Evan's receptionist just told me that his staffer Kevin Stogner is going to a meeting to discuss this tonight.
Tommy Wells does not want the Council to break up Ward 6 for the reasons I outline below, but also because our Ward works really well together. I didn't think this would affect me until I learned about the Eliot-Hine and Eastern redistricting. Now I am really concerned!! Nick also explained that they are working on several projects that will affect us if our Ward is broken up - like traffic patterns, etc.
Here is the e-mail I sent. Your calls are much appreciated!!
Dear Councilman Evans:
As a D.C. resident of Ward 6 and parent of two children at Maury Elementary School, I am extremely concerned about rumors I have heard that the D.C. City Council is considering splitting up Ward 6 -- so that Eliot-Hine Middle School and Eastern High School would no longer inhabit Ward 6, but become part of Ward 7.
The D.C. City Council should keep the close, successful community that is Ward 6 intact and look to other less drastic solutions to realign the city's ward structure.
Splitting up Ward 6 would create a serious disconnect between the Ward 6 elementary schools, Eliot Hine Middle School and Eastern High School for which they are currently inbounds.
This proposal would remove the jurisdiction our Ward 6 council member, Tommy Wells, would have over the middle and high schools which he has championed and promised to become the jewel of Washington, D.C.
Why would the council member for Ward 7 care about the needs or concerns for citizens from a different ward -- who do not vote for him or her? There would be no pressure for him or her to act in a timely or appropriate fashion, or to push for any needed changes or accountability.
I voted for Tommy Wells because of his record for supporting our D.C. public schools. Tommy Wells will not be able to deliver on his promise to improve our schools and continue the progress we have seen to date, if he can no longer hold the key middle and high schools -- to which his Ward 6 constituents are inbounds -- accountable.
We are hoping to send our children to Eliot-Hine and Eastern if we determine they will offer our children an excellent education. We do not want to be forced to move to the Washington suburbs in search of better schools -- we expect to find them here in Ward 6 -- where a contiguous system would offer accountability, high expectations and superior academic standards. We don't have the time for our children to be the subjects of a failed DCPS attempt -- due to a lack of proper accountability and continuity.
This proposed redistricting would not only drive a wedge in the middle of the community we have created -- and kill the promise our public school system sees in Ward 6. It would undermine the democratic representation we deserve and expect.
Thank you for hearing my concerns. I look forward to hearing that this proposed redistricting in Ward 6 is just a rumor -- not at all fact.
Sincerely,
Christine Mullins
cc: Kevin Stogner, General Counsel, 202-724-8058, kstogner@...
Please make a phone call -- followed up by an e-mail if you have time.
Jack Evans, Councilmember (Ward 2)
jackevans@...
Tel: (202) 724-8058
Phil Mendelson, Councilmember (At-Large)
pmendelson@...
Tel: (202) 724-8064
Michael A. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large)
mbrown@...
Tel: (202) 724-8105
David A. Catania, Councilmember (At-Large)
dcatania@...
Tel: (202) 724-7772
Call him too since he is also an at-large member!
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--- In 11thSEblock@..., Brian Pate <patebc@...> wrote:
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
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.
I really am asking from ignorance (don't know what the issue is here) and
not anything else.
-DK
On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 11:08 AM, toni Herzog <antoniaherzog2004@...<...>
wrote:
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,
patebc at gmail dot com<...>
antonia
--- On *Mon, 5/2/11, Brian Pate <patebc@...<...>
* wrote:
From: Brian Pate <patebc@...<...>
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
--- On *Sat, 4/30/11, Brian Pate <patebc@...<...>
* wrote:
From: Brian Pate <patebc@...<...>
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 (www.anc6b05.com), 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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