Safety Walks Bring Neighborhood Together

 

What kind of event could bring together the issues of crime, health, community-oriented policing, and overall neighborhood unity? The latest event organized by Rachelle Nigro, Commissioner for Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) Single Member District 2C04, combined all these topics and put it all out there for discussion within the community.

 

On May 23, 2011 Commissioner Nigro led a Community Safety Walk through part of the ANC 2C area in Shaw. Approximately 15 people attended, including two police officers and families with babies and dogs in tow. The walk started in front of Good Libations at 5th and M Streets, NW, made its way up 7th Street, NW, and ended at Beau Thai, 1700 New Jersey Avenue, NW, lasting approximately 40 minutes.

 

The walk route was chosen to highlight areas where there were points for conversation about crime occurring in the neighborhood. Specific areas that were focuses on the walk were the 7th and N Street park site where gates were recently closed due to illicit activity; the "crime camera" at 5th and O Streets, NW; and the 7th and Q Streets, NW corner, where there had been recent complaints of criminal activity.

 

 Description: Safety Walk.jpg                                                    

Photo: Jeff Surprenant

 

Commissioner Nigro’s goals were based on the simple concept of bringing people together to form a "cohesive group in person with police" and be "present in a visible way." This was intended to spur conversation, letting people who might be intimidated to speak at a public meeting be part of the dialogue.

 

This dialogue is part of Nigro’s three-part goal of building relationships across the community: relationships between the ANC Commissioners and constituents; relationships between neighbors in the community, and the relationship between the neighborhood and the police.

 

The May 23rd walk isn’t the first time community safety walks have been used to address these issues. ANC 2C Commissioners have led such walks for decades, but not recently.

 

Commissioner Nigro stated the walk as "very successful" and has planned another Community Safety Walk on June 30, 2011. For details, see the ANC 2C Facebook page, ANC 2C Twitter account, and ANC website.

 

 

Shaw’s Contribution to Erecting Convention Center Hotel

 

The scale of the Marriott Marquis Convention Center Hotel located on Massachusetts Avenue, NW between 9th & 10th Streets, NW, is nothing short of breathtaking.  The 1.2 million s.f., $372,243,261 structure will hold 1,175 guest rooms, 46 suites, and 79 conference rooms, along with 401 parking spaces.  Twenty-four elevators and 12 escalators will be needed in order for future convention goers to successfully navigate the hotel.  At this time, the hotel site is little more than an empty lot with construction equipment on it, steadily pounding away.

 

According to general contractor Hensel Phelps Construction Company, as of June 8, 2011, only 8.61% of the project is completed.  After drilling down to the bedrock, the slurry walls are being set into place alongside numerous other aspects of the early construction phase.  These phases are being completed with the help of many District residents and businesses, many of whom are part of the surrounding Shaw/Mt. Vernon community.          

 

Having contacted Harold Valentine of the Friends of Kennedy Playground, Hensel Phelps was able to find young men and women, some of which have had troubled pasts, and connect them with job opportunities afforded by the convention center hotel construction.  The company was so impressed with the quality of these men and women that they are planning on holding meetings throughout the District in order to continue to make sure District residents and businesses have ample opportunity to take advantage of the on-going construction.

 

Any person in the Shaw, Mt. Vernon Square, Penn Quarter and Logan Circle areas who would like to see if they have the required skill sets or would like to acquire skills for the convention center project should contact the District Department of Employment Services (DOES) at (202) 724-7000 or visit the on-site office on the construction site.

June ANC 2C Meeting Highlights

 

The June meeting of ANC 2C took place on June 1, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library. Reports received and actions taken by the Commission included:

 

 

Robberies:                                                            4

Burglaries:                                                            2

Thefts from Vehicles:                                          8

Stolen Autos:                                                        2

Thefts:                                                                 10

Assaults with Dangerous Weapons:                               5

 

Lt. Carroll reported that 102 arrests were made within Police Service Area 308 and that thefts from automobiles are still on the rise. 

 

Volunteer for an ANC 2C Committee Today!

The ANC is looking for volunteers to run the advisory committees.  Visit the sites below to sign-up pages for our five committees: (1) Communications, (2) Housing & Economic Development, (3) Alcohol Licensing, (4) Public Safety, (5) and Planning, Transportation & Zoning.  We are seeking members and chairpersons for all committees!  Visit http://anc2c.org/committees.html to sign up for a committee.  Please indicate in your sign-up if you’d be interested in chairing a committee

 

 

July ANC 2C Meeting Agenda Highlights

 

The next meeting of ANC 2C will take place on Wednesday July 6, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7th St., NW.  ANC 2C meetings are open to the public and attendance by community members is encouraged.  The agenda will include:

 

 

Get email announcements from the ANC by joining our Google Group (http://groups.google.com/group/ANC2C).