Update on Shooting

The police have identified the victim in yesterday's shooting as Durval Martins. The police are looking for information on the murder, and have released this flier seeking the public's help. If you have any information, please contact the Detective Paul Regan at (202) 425-5563 (mobile) or (202) 645-0472 (desk); or Detective Doug Carlson at (202) 486-0233 (mobile) or (202) 645-6360 (desk); or the anonymous tip line at (888) 919-2746, or by texting to 50411.

Shooting at Q and Rhode Island

Inspector Delgado posted the following to the MPD-3d listserv at 4:56 this morning:

On December 16th 2008, an Officer of the Third District while on patrol heard a series of gunshots. The officer responded to 11th and Rhode Island Ave, N.W. and observed a male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. If anyone has information regarding this shooting please call our tip line on 1 888 919 CRIME. You can also text on 50411# or call our Command Center at 202 727 9099.

That location is a mere half block from the new dog park. I'll update this post as more information comes in. This recent spate of violence in the northwest Logan/northeast Shaw/U Street area is a definite cause for concern for all area residents.

30th ANNUAL LOGAN CIRCLE HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR 2008

30th ANNUAL LOGAN CIRCLE HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR 2008

Historic Blagden Alley-Naylor Court is Featured

The Logan Circle Holiday House Tour will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 1-5pm. This year’s tour will feature East Logan, with special emphasis on the rich history of residential and commercial alley life in Logan's own Blagden Alley and Naylor Court. The tour will also feature the Blagden Alley studio of world-renowned master printmaker David Adamson. Tickets will be sold for $15 in advance at the Logan Circle Community Association Web site (www.LoganCircle.org), or $20 the day of the event at 1324 Vermont Avenue, NW, and Azi’s Café at 1336 9th Street, NW. The tour includes a Wassail reception hosted at the Long View Gallery, 1302 9th Street, NW from 3pm-5:30pm the day of the tour, and raffle prizes from local merchants.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR, PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HOMES OR TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HOME OWNERS, CONTACT:

Parker Stanzione 202-489-4553 parkerism@gmail.com
Bill Smith 703-298-2888 wsmith66@cox.net

Dog Park Opens

Mayor, DPR and Ward 2 Community Celebrate Opening of District’s First Public Dog Park
Media Contact Only: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

This afternoon, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, DC Department of Parks and Recreation Director Clark E. Ray, and District leaders joined Ward 2 residents and dog owners for a “leash cutting” ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Shaw Dog Park at 11th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW. The Shaw Dog Park is the District’s first public dog park.

“Today is a day of celebration for dog owners throughout the District,” said Mayor Fenty. “After years of waiting, dogs and their owners can now enjoy the District's first public dog park.”
Each one of the District’s public dog parks will be maintained by partnerships between DPR and a sponsoring community organization. The Dog Owners of Greater Shaw (DOGS) is the sponsoring organization for the new Shaw Dog Park.

According to DPR Director Clark E. Ray, “This afternoon dogs are finally enjoying a park in the District leash-free. The opening of the Shaw Dog Park demonstrates how DPR is actively working to meet the many recreational needs of all of our residents."

The approximately 15,000 square foot Shaw Dog Park features fencing around the park, a dog park surface of pea gravel and stone dust, two enclosures - one for large dogs (25 pounds and larger) and one for small dogs, three waste disposal stations, and a community bulletin board. Access to the dog park is from 11th Street, NW. The Shaw Dog Park is a temporary dog park and is scheduled to close in June 2010 to accommodate the construction of the new Shaw School.

Use of the dog park is free, but each dog must have a valid DC dog license and have a DC dog park registration tag. Applications for the DC dog park registration tag are available in the "Dog Parks" section on DPR's website, DPR.DC.GOV.

Other local leaders at the event included Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, ANC 2C01 Commissioner Alexander M. Padro, and Coordinator of Dog Owners of Greater Shaw, George Kassouf.

Also joining the celebration was the Washington Animal Rescue League. “In keeping with its support of the city’s dog park initiatives, the Washington Animal Rescue League wholeheartedly applauds the establishment of the city’s first ever dog park and is proud to be on hand with a few canine ambassadors from the shelter to help mark the occasion,” stated Executive Director Gary Weitzman.

DDOT Public Meeting

DC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DDOT) WILL HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING ON
The Reconstruction of 11th St., NW from L St. to O St. NW

Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm

On Thursday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will provide the public with an update on a roadway construction project along 11th Street from L Street NW to O Street NW. The meeting will be held at the Asbury United Methodist Church, located at 926 Eleventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The improvements in this area include roadway reconstruction, sidewalks, street lighting, intersection and signal improvements, enhancements to traffic operations, pedestrian amenities, and safety improvements.

Thursday’s briefing with residents and businesses in the area will provide an update on construction timing, phasing, and traffic management, as well as DDOT’s plans for coordinating with utilities and private developments in the area.

Information will continue to be distributed throughout the construction of this project.
For more information please contact the construction manager, Mr. Osman Mohamed; or DDOT’s project
engineer Mr. Michael Conley at (202) 671-4550.
The project’s public outreach coordinator, Martha Kemp can be reached by e-mail at
mkemp@volkert.com or by phone at (202) 237-6269.
Dawit Muluneh, Project Manager
DDOT Team 1, Wards 1 and 2

Illegal Parking and Unpaid Tickets

It's not what you think.

The Post has an article this morning about 1,147 unpaid parking tickets - totaling some $176,000! - racked up in the District and New York by various federal agencies. And which agencies lead the pack in our fair city?

Leading the way in the District were the Army, Navy and Air Force, whose employees ignored 158 tickets for $28,000 in 2007. Most were racked up by recruiters working at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center near 13th and L streets NW.

Let's hope there's no protest in Logan Circle Park over this one...

Strategies to Combat Prostitution - Oversight Hearing

COUNCILMEMBER PHIL MENDELSON, CHAIRPERSON
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE JUDICIARY ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING

on

Strategies to Combat Prostitution

on

Friday, November 7, 2008
12:00 p.m., 5th Floor Chambers, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004


Councilmember Phil Mendelson, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, announces a public oversight hearing on the District’s strategies to address prostitution. The public oversight hearing will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008 in the 5th Floor Council Chambers of the John A. Wilson Building.

The purpose of the oversight hearing is to identify problems and solutions to improve efforts to combat prostitution in District neighborhoods. The Committee anticipates hearing and receiving testimony from the Metropolitan Police Department, Office of the Attorney General, United States Attorney’s Office, and the public.

Those who wish to testify should contact Ms. Heidi Tseu, Committee Clerk, at (202) 724-8038, by fax at (202) 724-6664, or via e-mail at htseu@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Wednesday, November 5, 2008. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing. Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted either to Ms. Tseu, or to Ms. Cynthia Brock-Smith, Secretary to the Council, Room 5 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 21, 2008.

Upcoming LCCA Events: Candidate Forums, Parties, Awards, House Tours, and More!

Dear Neighbors and Friends:

We wanted to update you on some upcoming events and announcements. We hope you’ll mark your calendars and join us – in person and online.

October 15, 2008 – Candidates Forum - Washington Plaza Hotel

In one of the most exciting election years in recent history – both nationally and locally – LCCA is hosting a candidate forum for At-Large Council, Ward 2 Council, and ANC2F candidates. We are pleased to report that nearly all candidates have confirmed, so we are expecting a great turnout. The event will include an opportunity to hear from each candidate, as well as an opportunity for you to ask questions that are important to you and to our community. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please email me.

Because of the large number of candidates, and to give the political junkies among us time to watch the presidential debates, we will be starting promptly at 7:00 p.m., so please come early. More information can be found on our website.

November 8, 2008 – Lt. Smith’s Retirement Party

Please join greater Logan Circle community as we celebrate Lt. Michael A. Smith's retirement and honor his many years of service. We'll have light appetizers, a cash bar, music, dancing, and a festive celebration (read: roast!) and retrospective in honor of Lt. Smith. Details are available on our website or by clicking here.

We have tried to keep the cost to a minimum ($35) so as many people as possible can join us. All money raised for this event will go towards the actual costs for the event and towards the gift/honorarium for Lt. Smith. If you cannot attend but would like to show your support with a donation, please let us know when you donate so we can give the caterer an accurate headcount.

Finally, if you would be interested in helping us put on a fabulous and very special celebration, please let us know. We need people to help with decorations, music, etc.

* Note that this is not an official LCCA event. It is being hosted by and is open to the community, and we are encouraging participation by our businesses, residents, community organizations,and more so please help us spread the word.

November 20, 2008 - Annual Awards Dinner

December 7, 2008 - 30th Annual House Tour

LCCA invites you to attend its 30th annual Logan Circle Holiday House Tour on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 1 pm - 5 pm. The self-guided tour concludes with a Wassail reception from 3 until 5:30 pm.

This year we're featuring East Logan, with special emphasis on the history of residential and commercial alley life in Logan's own Naylor Court and Blagden Alley. For a brief history, click here. For more general information on the alleys and stables of Washington, D.C., click here.

For more information, or to volunteer, please email the house tour committee.

Social Networking has arrived

LCCA is now on facebook! For those already addicted to or considering experimenting with social networking, we encourage you to check out our groups on Facebook, including our main group page (Logan Circle, DC) and our Logan Circle House Tour page. While the same information will also be posted on our blog, we encourage you to take advantage of this new medium to stay current with what’s going on in Logan Circle and connect in new and exciting ways with your neighborhood friends.

Finally, don't forget to renew your membership for 2009 today! Visit www.logancircle.org.

October Membership Meeting - Candidates Forum

Please join the Logan Circle Community Association for its October meeting and candidates forum on October 15, 2008 from 7-10 p.m. at the Washington Plaza Hotel. We will host candidates for At-Large and Ward council positions, as well as ANC2F candidates. Candidates who have already confirmed include Ward 2 Candidates Jack Evans and Christina Culver, At-Large Candidates Carol Schwartz, Patrick Mara, Kwame Brown, and David Schwartzman, and nearly all of the ANC2F candidates. We are very excited for this event and hopeful for a great turnout. The format will allow each candidate to provide an opening statement followed by a question and answer period. To ensure we are as efficient as possible, we are encouraging you to email us questions in advance.

Also, LCCA's annual board elections will be held in November, and we have several seats up for reelection, including Vice President, Recording Secretary, and several at-large positions. If you are interested in running, please send us an email. Nominations will be held at the October meeting. Our annual November awards dinner will be November 20, 2008, also at the Washington Plaza.

Finally, and most importantly, please mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8 for Lt. Smith's retirement party to be held at the Ronald Reagan Center at 13th and Penn from 8 p.m. until midnight. We will be sending formal details in the next few days, but we hope that you will all consider coming out to honor and celebrate Lt. Smith and the amazing contributions he's made to Logan Circle and the District over the past three decades.
-Jennifer

2008 LCCA Membership Drive & October Meeting

Dear Neighbor:

The Logan Circle Community Association (LCCA) cordially invites you to join us for another year. We appreciate your past support. Your financial support is vital – it enables us to address community issues while providing opportunities to meet your neighbors through social activities and community events.

Renewing your membership has never been easier! Just visit www.logancircle.org, and click on "Join LCCA." In the last year, LCCA has made significant improvements to its data management, communications software, and website, which will allow us to automate membership renewals and better serve you by tailoring our mailings to your interests and identifying events that may be of interest to you. When joining or renewing online, please be sure to check the boxes to indicate your particular areas of interest.

You may also receive a written membership reminder in the next few days. As part of the transition to our new database management system, unless you specify otherwise, this is the last year that you will receive a hard-copy membership renewal letter. Future reminders will be timed to coincide with expiration of your membership and sent via email.

We have had some exciting and informative programs this year; including a community information meeting to for new and long-time residents to let you know what community and government resources are available in our community and a festive mid-summer picnic.

This year, we would also like to offer our business members the opportunity to be listed on our website as a “LCCA Member Businesses.”

If you have any questions about membership or would like more information about LCCA, please contact us by email at membership@logancircle.org. We also encourage you to visit our blog at http://loganupdates.blogspot.com/ and to visit our website, which is in the process of being redesigned to better serve you.

Thank you for your continuing support, and please mark your calendars for our October meeting and candidates forum. We will host candidates for ANC2F, Ward 2, and At-Large council positions, and we hope to have a lively and interactive discussion. We will also hold our annual board elections in November, and we have several seats up for reelection, including Vice President, Recording Secretary, and several at-large positions. If you are interested in running, please send me an email. Nominations will be held at the October meeting.

Reminder - LCCA Meeting Tonight

The September meeting of the Logan Circle Community Association will be held this evening at the Studio Theatre. Special guest Phil Mendelson will be joining us. Come on by, meet your neighbors, and enjoy some wine and cheese and a tour of the Studio!

LCCA September Meeting
7:00 PM Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Studio Theater, 14th & P St. NW

See you there!

ANC 2F Wrap-Up

Tonight's meeting of ANC 2F was attended by Chairman Reed, Commissioner Cole, Commissioner Trock, Commissioner Schneider, and Executive Director Cynthia Cota.

Also, since I am running for ANC 2F03, and since I am running unopposed, I expect I will not be doing these wrap-ups for much longer. I'm looking for a volunteer to take over. Anyone?

Commissioner Announcements

• Jennifer Trock was announced vice-chair pro-temp, so that Chairman
  Reed could make an announcement as a citizen to invite the community to Greg McCarthy's home to meet Jack Evans. The event is 1334 Riggs St. NW. at 6:30 PM on Sunday.


• Lt. Mike Smith is retiring near the end of this year.

Crime Report

Lt. Smith, fresh from a drive back in from vacation, gave the report. Lt. Houser is actually the current PSA 307 lieutenant.

• Violent crime is down 9%.


• Armed robbery at 12th and O. Victims hit with a brick. Suspects are both juviniles from around the area of 200 Block of Bates.


• Armed robbery at 13th and M. Suspects caught by Power Shift unit.


• A suspect in the murder of Derrik Green was caught. Not one of the usual suspects. Derrik Green was involved in numerous robberies around the neighborhood, possibly earlier in the day on the day of his death.


• Commissioner Cole question Lt. Smith about a hate crime against hist boyfriend at 14th and P, where the police took 24 minutes to respond. Commisioner Cole asked about improving patrol of 14th Street, especially focused on late-night carryout establishments, serving mostly drunk people. Lt. Smith stated that response times are a difficult issue, due to lack of manpower. Lt. Smith also noted that hate crimes are difficult to judge, for many reasons.

Exuctive Office of the Mayor

Abbey Peterson

• 1124 15th St. - Illegal construction had stop work orders placed.


• 1107 11th St. - Nuisance property, having grafitti removed and grass and weeds cut.


• 1426 12th St. - Brothel operating. Fines have been placed; doesn't know exact amount. "Were severe." Also, the property has a large building that is not on record, and not being taxed.

DDOT

Chris Zeeman was not present. Brian Vargas gave a short, impromptu report on the DDOT meeting he attended last week. There was displeasure expressed by both the community and the commission on Chris' absence.

Crime & Public Safety Committee

Helen Kramer reported there were no meetings over the summer. The solution of the Derrick Green has settled nerves in the Rhode Island/Vermont Ave. communities. Chairman Reed noted that Lt. Smith reported violent crime is down 9% since his death.

Street Closures

All presenters stated they read the ANC's policy on street closings, and stated their events comply with that policy. Chairman Reed assures the commission that Mr. Brodsky from DC Bike, who was absent, also understands them. The motion to write a letter recommending issuance of the permits passed unanimously.

• Capital Criterion Bike Race


• Capital Pride and AIDS Walk

ABRA Matters

Chairman Reed reported on:

• Vegas Lounge - President of Cooper Lewis condo is present. Chairman Reed thought this would be easily done, but Vegas Lounge has hired counsel to fight a voluntary agreement. Vegas Lounge is creating a noise problem. The protest hearing was postponed until next month, at the request of Vegas Lounge's counsel. Chairman Reed hopes that progress can be made in the upcoming month.


• As a late edition, The Park was present asking to extend the hours of their back sidewalk cafe. There are no local residents, and no complaints from local businesses.

CDC

The CDC had no meeting, due to lack of agenda items. Chairman Reed appointed Ben Harris to the CDC, to replace the loss of Sam Robfogle and Phillipa Hughes, as they left the neighborhood.

Shaw Dog Park

George Kassouf was not present. Nobody from DPR was present. Chairman Reed reported that DPR turned down the advice from the ANC to place the dog park next to Shaw Jr. High because the site is scheduled for redevelopment (improvements to the high school) three or four years down the road. George Kassouf came in later, and reported that the alternative sites are 1) a space on the southern half of the field at Garrisson Elementary (where the wading pool is); 2) the northeast part of Kennedy School; and 3) a parking lot around 5th and P. George's group spoke with Jack Evans' office, and his office is going to ask the mayor to release the land so it could be considered.

ZipCar

No representative from ZipCar was present to discuss the issue of their poorly kept lot at 14th and Corcoran, which was brought up at a prior meeting. There have been complaints from the community and the CDC that ZipCar is also illegally parking cars on public space (on the frontage space between the curb and the facade of a building). The Commission asked Ms. Perez to attend, who failed to appear. Chairman Reed moved to seek revocation of permits issued to ZipCar by DDOT for violating the agreements it made with the ANC. Commissioner Trock seconded. Passed with one nay from Commissioner Cole, who explained his nay because of his belief that the company had been working in good faith on the parking lot.

Ms. Perez showed up at 20:30, when she was on the agenda. And provided this update:

• 14th & Corcoran - Painted poles, cleaned and mulched, painted building, worked with Garden District to plant ivy on the site. Commissioner Trock asked if there is a regime for upkeep, and Ms. Perez answered that there is. Chairman Reed stated that he had hoped that the company would do more to hide the cars from public view, because they create a sense of a parking lot, which is not consistent with the nature of the street. Not to mention it's ugly. Commissioner Cole warned that a fence or enclosure might make the site a bit less safe; Commissioner Schneider agreed. A suggestion was for planter boxes, but Ms. Perez stated they had been stolen. A suggestion for a lattice was good.


• 15th & Rhode Island - Location closed.


• 11th & M - Cars are now inside the gate.

Chairman Reed moved to reconsider the previous action, and then withdrew his motion. The matter is effectively dead.

Single Sales Ban

Despite the failure of the ANC to recommend approval of the Singal Sales Ban, due to a divided vote, Chairman Reed testified before the Council as a private citizen in favor of the ban. He noted that only two of forty-five witnesses were against the ban. Chairman Reed spent a few minutes speaking passionately about the evidence in favor of the ban.

• Commissioner Trock spoke in favor of supporting ban, noting the major problems in her SMD due to single sales.


• Commissioner Cole expressed his concerns that the bill targets only specific ANCs, rather than the entire ward or city. Chairman Reed noted that the law is targeted because the problem is targeted. He mentioned a suggestion from a Jeff Harris from Modern Liquors to limit single sales to warm beer only.


• Commissioner Schneider stated that, though she voted against the ban last time, she would be voting in favor of it this time. However, she did note that she doesn't believe this is the best way to get at this issue.


• Several community members made statements in support of the ban.


• A question was asked about the enforcement of the ban. It falls under ABRA, but the community can also play a part thanks to the protest process.


• Commissioner Cole wonders whether or not Whole Foods is currently illegally selling singles under the emergency legislation which is currently in place.


• Chairman Reed moved that the ANC advises the Council to pass the ban. Commissioner Trock seconded. The motion carried three to one, with Commissioner Cole voting in the negative.

Treasurer's Report

Same old, same old. :-)

What *IS* Up With All The Stolen Cars?

A good post over at 14th & You draws attention to an unexpected uptick in the number of stolen cars in the neighborhood. Though homicides and muggings tend to get the lion's share of attention in our neighborhood forums, property crimes like theft of and theft from autos are the vast majority of our local crime.

Do any of our local PSA officers reading (I know there's a few of you!) have any information to share?

Blagden Alley / Naylor Court Picnic Tomorrow

The annual Blagden Alley / Naylor Court picnic is tomorrow!

Saturday, August 23, 2007
Historical, Brick-Paved
Naylor Court
6:00pm-9:00pm

Details, including a map, can be found here, on the BaancBlog!

Happy Birthday, Bens!

Dear Ben's Chili Bowl,

Congratulations on turning fifty! Thanks for the invitation to your awesome party, too! We'll be sure to stop by!

Happy Birthday!

Your Friends in Logan Circle

Shaw Library - Will We Ever Get A Say?

The Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library has been closed for years now, with a temporary facility opening up only a year or so ago. In the meantime, the DC Public Library have been bandying about plans for a new library. Unfortunately, the plans have been changing for the worse, and despite outcry from the community, it is unclear that things are getting better.

For example, check out the changes made to the plans, made over the course of six months, with virtually no community input. Gone is the modern library building to serve the fast-growing Shaw/Logan community, and in its place is another concrete bunker - exactly what the community has said the do not want.

On Saturday, the Library Dynamos held a Speak-Out/Read-In to educate the community and build grassroots support for a better library. ANC 2C02 commissioner David Chapple has a good round-up of the event at his blog.

In the meantime, the DCPL has scheduled the final public meeting for the discussion of the new library. Given the importance of this issue, and the controversy surrounding the current design, let's hope we can convince them to work a little harder on it. Please show up and lend your voice!

Watha T. Daniel Shaw Library Public Meeting
Thursday, September 4, 2008 from 6:30-8:30 pm
Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Interim Library
945 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Former Dakota Cowgirl/Hamburger Mary Location

Via 14th & You, the Post has some information on what's going into the 14th Street spot former occupied by Dakota Cowgirl (formerly Hamburger Mary) and Ramrod (formerly Titan's). It turns out, like the former occupants, there's going to be two places. The downstairs will be called Birch & Barley, and something called ChurchKey will be upstairs. Both sounds quite beer-ish, so that's a good sign.

Also: "500 labels, 100 styles and 50 draft beers" is a big win in my book. They're hoping to open in October.

Cafe Salsa

Logan Circle is getting a new Mexican Restaurant. A very welcome addition! I snapped this photo on the building currently being renovated next door to the Verizon Behemoth, across the street from the Whitman Walker clinic, and kiddy-corner from the Central Union Mission.

I'm sure this will be discussed at the upcoming ANC meeting, as the petition mentions sidewalk cafe hours until 3AM on weekends, and this location is right across the street from a big residential complex.

National Night Out 2008

And let's not forget about National Night Out! This annual event is a great opportunity to come out and meet your friends, neighbors, and local MPD officers. This year, the Third District will be holding its official event at the Kennedy Recreation Center, at 1401 7th Street NW, from 5:00 until 9:00 PM. The flyer doesn't really say, but usually things are picnic/potluck style.

Or, you can join the national kickoff down at the mall, beginning at 4:00 PM.

Borderstan - Public Safety Meeting on Wednesday

For our neighbors who live in Borderstan (roughly encompassing the northwestern portion of Logan Circle that borders the Dupont Circle neighborhood), there is a public safety meeting this Wednesday, August 6th, at 6:00 PM.

Want your concerns heard by those who can help?

Then join your Borderstan** neighbors and city officials at a public safety meeting to discuss the problems and suggest solutions.

When? Wednesday, August 6th at 6:00 p.m.

Where? 15th Street Presbyterian Church (15^th and R Streets NW)

Who? DC Councilmember Jack Evans (Ward 2), Assistant Chief of Police Diane Groomes, Commander George Kucik (3rd Police District), ANC Commissioners Charles Reed (ANC 2F-01), Jack Jacobson (ANC 2B-04), Borderstan Residents and Neighbors

We'll discuss and address neighborhood concerns about crime in the area we've come to know as Borderstan. Please invite your neighbors and friends.

Logan Circle is Ranked Second Most-Walkable Neighborhood

If you live here, you probably know it already. Still, it's nice to see it in a arbitrary list on somebody else's web site. WalkScore.com has ranked Logan Circle the second most-walkable neighborhood in the District, and #30 overall. The District itself ranks seventh, which is pretty dang good!

I found this site over a year ago, and this blogger's house ranked 97 out of 100. Checking again, we've gone up a point! Huzzah!

Whole Foods on Half Paycheck?

What do you think of when you read "Whole Foods"? Do you think of it as a place to find a good bargain? Probably not. With the nickname "Whole Paycheck", even among those who love the place, our neighborhood green grocer doesn't exactly have the reputation as a bargain-hunter's paradise.

And they're aware of it. Nationwide, the company is trying to fight its image as a over-priced. Have you seen evidence at the P Street location? I haven't really, but perhaps I'm not looking for the right things.

Rising Gas Prices - ZipCar Raises Rates

I got an email from ZipCar yesterday, announcing (without the usual peppy flair that comes with their emails) that they are increasing driving rates due to the ever-increasing cost of gasoline. The importance of car sharing services to the ability of Logan Circle residents to live without a car at all cannot be understated. It fills that gap for those times you just have to drive to Bowie, MD. (Four years and counting, for this blogger!)

• Weekday hourly reservations increase by $0.25 per hour and 24-hour weekday reservations increase by $2.


• Weekend hourly reservations increase by $0.75 per hour and 24-hour weekend reservations increase by $5.


• The incremental mileage charge (i.e. fee for miles over 180 per day) increases by $0.10 per mile.

Though I'm too lazy to do the math at the moment, that rate increase seems far below the percentage increase in gas prices over the last six months. That's not too bad, although I'm sure it will hurt some more than others.

Shot Spotter Mostly Avoids Logan

The City Desk blog has posted the following image of the boundaries of the areas covered by the long-in-coming-but-finally-here Shot Spotter. Originally billed as the "Shaw Shot Spotter", as you can see, it actually covers a much, much larger area.

On the one hand, it speaks volumes as to the overall crime picture here in Logan Circle that our neighborhood is almost entirely - and, it almost seems, intentionally - left out of the coverage area. On the other hand, with everyone buzzing about the recent murder in the alley behind Vermont Avenue, I have to admit it would have been nice to have coverage there.

(Thanks City Desk for the map!)

Protestors In Front of Studio Theater Hate Opera

It seems that the opening of Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Studio Theatre has attracted more than the usual dramaturgs. A reasonable contingent from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (what a mouthful!) is outside protesting the play as blasphemous - complete with banners and bullhorns!

At first, I thought it might have been a publicity stunt, but Studio representatives I spoke with confirmed that it was indeed a real protest. They were a bit confused as to why nobody took the 30 seconds to notify them of an impending protest on opening night. The pair of police officers stationed nearby, to watch the scene, indicates they likely do have the appropriate permits.

So if this doesn't convince you to go see Jerry Springer: The Opera, I don't know what will!

Information on Homicide in Vermont Ave. Alley

So by now most of us have heard about the homicide in the alley behind the 1300 block of Vermont Avenue. Heck, it even made DCist. Here's what is known, after a few days of processing and information gathering:

• The call came in at around 2:00 AM on Thursday, July 17, to this alley.


• The victim was dead at the scene, apparently from a gunshot wound to the head.


• The victim has been identified as Derrick Green, who was a suspect in many of the robberies around our neighborhood.


• It appears he was out in the alley to fight with somebody; and, well, as the saying goes...

If you have any information on this murder, please call +1 202.727.9099 or 1-888-919-CRIM. Or send an anonymous text messaging to 50411. There is a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Picnic Photos

Yesterday's LCCA Picnic at Hotel Helix was a great success. There was no official count, but at least sixty people showed up to enjoy the afternoon with their friends and neighbors. We were also honored to have Councilmembers Kwame Brown, Jack Evans, Phil Mendelsen, and Carol Schwartz stop by.

I have a few photos of the event. Sorry I didn't get more - I was too busy drinking beer and mingling with friends.

ANC 2F Wrap-Up

There was a decent crowd, despite the monsoon outside. Have fun!

A quorum of 3 is present. The small quorum is because of the resignation of several of the commissioners. Present are: Chris Dyer, Charles Reed, Mike Benardo

Announcments

• Joe Freeman, Director of Operations to Tender Loving Care. They have been acquired by Amedisys. Located at 1212 New York Avenue.


• I announced the LCCA June Newsletter, and the change of venue for the June Picnic from Pepco Park to Hotel Helix.

Crime Report

Officer Caron

• Spike in violence - mostly focused in 5D area. Issues are starting over informal craps games. Vice is working on catching them in-the-act. Be on the lookout for this kind of behavior.


• Mike Benardo asked about issues behind Shiloh Baptist around 3am. Officer Caron will be looking into it.


• A citizen asked about about all the buses and motorcades. It's related to the Israeli Prime Minister, and the presidential candidates being in the area.


• Mike Grady asked about the inagural ball security zones, which will be an upcoming concern during election year. You'll need ID to make sure you lived on a block.


• I asked about the home invasions. A guy was caught last week in Adams Morgan; he broke into a house occupied by two former Marines. Could be one of the culprits. No other major trends there.

Committee on Crime & Public

• Chairman Reed will be meeting with Councilmember Mendelson to allow ANCs to be considered victims for the purposes of allocution, as a matter of law.

EOM Report

Abbey Peterson

• Dumpster at 14th & P will be getting tickets for its nastiness.


• Helen Kramer has been working with EOM and Mike Smith on a prostitution house.


• Commisioner Dyer looked into the parking and right turn restrictions on K Street. He talked with the MPD Prostitution unit, and they still make arresets around there, and don't want to give up that tool.

DDOT Report

Chris Ziemann

• A public meeting open house has been scheduled for how the 15th Street reconfiguration should go. Thursday, June 19th, 6-8pm, at the 15th St. Presbyterian Church (15th & R)


• Chairman Reed raised a question about the re-paving of Kingman Street, which needs to be done after the re-work of Q Street. DDOT has said it's not on the schedule for at least two years, despite the fact that DDOT is currently doing major work there. Chairman Reed would like to see it re-paved entirely, rather than just patched.


• I asked about Smart Bike rack on Rhode Island, which is in total disarray. Chris says the program should be going by the end of the month.

ABRA Matters

• Izalco Voluntary Agreement - Moved and seconded to approve the voluntary agreement. Some minor non-material issues were resolved. Motion carried.


• CulinAerie was deferred until next meeting, at their request.


• Toscana West and Geisha are requested the ABC for substantial changes to their license. Since they're in the business district, and having heard no complaints from any residents about their operations, the ANC chose not to act.


• Vegas Lounge - Negotiations are under way with them, with Cooper Lewis condominiums as a party, for a voluntary agreement. Chairman Reed is confidant one will be reached, and should be presented at the next meeting.


• HR-57 - The voluntary agreement was accepted by ABRA.


• Single Sales Ban - Is Logan Circle in favor of the single sales ban? Chairman Reed asked the matter to be deferred until the next meeting, when more commissioners would be present.


• Stoney's - Their sidewalk cafe is probably illegal, there have been serious allegations of illegal construction, and there have been reports of patrons drinking beer on the curb outside of the establishment. Chairman Reed will be investigating, and will speak with the owner. Expect to see this coming up again soon.

CDC Report

• Everything on the consent calendar was approved.

New Business

• Dustin Cole was appointed as delgate to SMD 2F05.


• Morrison Clark hearing - The BZA denied the re-hearing, but did re-consider the motion. They passed it again, and Chairman Reed feels they failed to consider all the issues raised; he wants the ANC to agree to another request for re-consideration. Chairman Reed also feels that the level of proof required of the ANCs by the BZA is inappropriate for the type of organization an ANC is. Chairman Reed moved; Commisioner Dyer seconded; passed unanimously.


• Stephen Calcott from HPRB stopped by. He is the primary project reviewer for the Logan Circle neighborhood. Chairman Reed chided him for his mis-speaking that HPRB recommends that applicatants seek input from the ANC, as the ANC act requires the HPRB to seek input from the ANCs. Mr. Calcott agreed, but noted that the laws for HPRB and the ANC are somewhat contradictory, thus leading to some confusion there. In general, all sides agreed that the relationship between the ANC and HPRB is a very good one.


• Zip Car - Ellice Pérez from ZipCar was on hand. Chairman Reed noted that, when the ANC advised DDOT to approve their application for public space at 14th and Corcoran, that they would provide screening of the lot from the street, via vegetation or some other means, to help make what is otherwise just a nasty parking lot more beautiful. This hasn't been done. Ms. Pérez noted that, after speaking with Casey Trees, the original plan to plant trees was abandoned, as the site is an old gas station with some serious environmental problems. Chairman Reed suggested they hire a landscape architect, and offered to provide some names. Also, Chairman Reed noted that the church across the street was hoping to use some of their parking spaces on Sundays, but it was explained that that is infeasible due to how ZipCar works. Also, Chairman Reed noted that the issue of parking was likely going to cause pressure to have their public space street permits revoked, and Commissioner Dyer made an impassioned argument against that idea.


• Vacant Wading Pool - The wading pool at 11th & R has been a hazard for quite some time. The ANC voted to send a letter to Clark Ray at the Department of Parks & Recreation requesting that it be removed.

Library Survey

The story of our neighborhood's public Library, the Watha T. Daniel Library, is a tragedy. Though there has been some movement on it in recent years, it hasn't amounted to much. Fortunately, the Library Dynamos group is looking to change that.

They have an online survey that they'll be using to help drive the plans for the new, permanent library. Please take a moment and fill it out.

National Park Service - Memorial Day Cermony - Logan Circle

OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION News Release

May 16, 2008 For immediate release

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HONORS MEMORIAL DAY FOUNDER WITH WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY

Washington, D.C.—The National Park Service, the Illinois State Society of Washington, DC and the Logan Circle Community Association will hold a wreath-laying ceremony Monday, May 26, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

May 5th, 1868 marks the date when Congressman John A. Logan, serving as the Commander and Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal veteran’s organization, issued General Order No. 11 establishing May 30^th as Memorial Day to honor fallen American war heroes.

The Brass Express will kick-off the event with a pre-program concert starting at 12:30 p.m., followed by, the Joint Armed Forces Honor Guard opening the ceremony with the posting of the colors at 2:00 p.m. The program will include special guest speaker Gary Ecelbarger, John A. Logan Biographer. The ceremony will conclude with a wreath laying ceremony followed by an open house and garden reception at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site.

This program is part of an ongoing series of public programs offered at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, to promote public understanding of the history and special places that have been included in the national park system. For more information call (202) 673-2402.

National Capital Parks-East (NCP-East) offers a wide array of historic, cultural and natural and recreational areas that are part of Washington, DC and its eastern environs. The park is comprised of over 8,000 acres of federal land, ranging from community parks and National Historic Sites to unique wetlands ecosystems, meadows and mature hardwood forests.

(nps)

14th Street Study Final Meeting Tonight

The ongoing saga of the Fourteenth Street Transportation and Streetscape Study draws to a close tonight, with the fourth and final public meeting tonight at the Reeves Center, beginning at 6:30pm. Like the last three meetings, it will be held open-house style.



You might want to check out the draft final report before coming by, and make sure any issues you might have had with it have been cleared up.

LCCA's Spring Fling - Meet Your Neighbors & Community Leaders

Please join us for LCCA's April meeting on Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. Do you have a neighborhood concern but don't know who to call? Do you want to learn more about your community leaders and local elected officials? Are you interested in meeting fellow condo and apartment dwellers new to Logan Circle? Do you want to learn about special crime and safety tips for your condo or apartment building? Then this meeting is for you! Special guests include Councilmember Jack Evans, and representatives from ANC2F, MPD, and the Executive Office of the Mayor. We'll be meeting outside (weather permitting) at the Icon condos on 13th Street and will have light refreshments. We also encourage you to pass this along to any other condo residents you may know in the area. Details below:

LCCA Spring Fling:

Meet your Neighbors, Elected Officials and Community Leaders:

Resources for Condo and Apartment Dwellers

Date: April 9, 2008

Time: 7:00-9:00

Join the Logan Circle Community Association at a special April meeting to meet your neighbors, learn about neighborhood resources, and meet community leaders.

Light refreshments provided

Special Location—The Terraces at the Icon—1320 13th Street, N.W. between N and O Streets

Rain Location: Washington Plaza Hotel

For additional information, please contact desi.deschaine@logancircle.org or visit www.logancircle.org

Street Cleaning

Heads up! All those "No Parking - Street Cleaning" signs you've been ignoring all winter are about to come back into effect. In two weeks, the city will begin ticketing cars in street cleaning zones.

Weekly residential street cleaning operations resume Monday, March 24, 2008. Alternate-side parking restrictions during street sweeping hours will be in effect once again. Parking citations will be issued to vehicles parked during street sweeping hours in areas posted with “No Parking/Street Cleaning” signs.

For more information, you can check out the online DPW calendar. And thanks to Commissioner Benardo for the heads up!

Theft From Auto in PSA 307

One of the biggest problems in Logan Circle is the ubiquitous Theft From Auto. According to the DC Crime Map, in the last two months, 84 out of 148 property crimes in our neighborhood were car break-ins. Over half of the thefts in our neighborhood are of valuables from cars. And the problem is getting worse. The statistics show a 15% increase in these crimes over last year. With the summer months fast approaching, I'm guessing we'll see an even larger increase over last year.

The solution to the problem requires a two-prong approach. First, residents and visitors must not leave valuables in their vehicles. Theft from Auto is a crime of opportunity. Unattended items in a car present an easy chance to grab-and-run, and the quiet residential nature of so much of Logan Circle makes for a low risk of getting caught. Look at the crime map above: You don't see many break-ins on 14th Street or in front of Whole Foods! We need a campaign to educate the residents and visitors in our neighborhood to be smart about what they leave in their automobiles.

The other piece of the puzzle is police enforcement. The quick nature of a Theft from Auto means that police don't usually catch the thief red-handed. We only get that lucky once in a while. There are other techniques, though, besides patrolling the streets. The MPD has successfully used bait cars to catch smash-and-grab thieves quite recently on Capitol Hill. Logan Circle is a perfect candidate for bait cars, and if they're not already in use here, let's hope they can be brought to bare soon.

In theory, it only takes a few arrests from a bait car to dramatically bring down the crime rate. The idea is similar to the idea of the LoJack:

The thief's challenge is that it's impossible to determine which vehicle has a LoJack (there's no decal). So stealing any car becomes significantly more risky, and one academic study found that the introduction of LoJack in Boston reduced car theft there by 50 percent.

In this case, though, the thief has to decide whether or not the car is actually an MPD bait car. Even though the number of bait cars is very small, if the thief happens to "win" that lottery, he's absolutely guaranteed to be caught. Making a living stealing from cars becomes much, much riskier. So instead of spending millions of dollars on crime cameras that don't work, perhaps we should consider spending money on more bait cars and officers (or auxiliaries!) to monitor them.

March Newsletter Available

The March 2008 edition of the Logan Circular is available for download (direct link).

Features include:

• House Tour Wrap-Up


• 2008 Vision and Values Statement


• Details on Upcoming Meetings


• 14th Street Study Recommendations


• And much more!

On a related note, some people who are on our mailing list are reporting errors when attempting to download the newsletter. If you happen to be one of them, please try the links above, or contact me. Also, it would be of great help to me to know your browser version and PDF reader version.

Orange Hat Patrol in the Robotic Age

In the old days, many of the trail-blazing residents of Logan Circle would resort to drastic and dramatic measures to combat the crime, drugs, and prostitution that ran rampant in our neighborhood prior to its revitalization. I love hearing stories from them about blocking the streets to keep johns from circling the block, or donning brightly-colored hats and sneaking up on cars with johns and hookers in flagrante and blasting them with air horns.

The modern Neighborhood Watch, though, has some more sophisticated tools under its belt. Like this armoured robot armed with a water canon!

He flashes the robot's spotlight and grabs a walkie-talkie, which he uses to boom his disembodied voice over the robot's sound system.

"I tell them they are trespassing, it's private property, and they have to leave," he said. "They throw bottles and cans at it. That's when I shoot the water cannon. They just scatter like roaches."

I'm not really sure we need another crime-fighting robot in PSA 307, though. After all, we already have Lt. Smith.

ANC 2F Wrap-Up

I missed last months ANC meeting, but the wrap-up is back! Enjoy!

Update: Mark Bjorge informed me that I incorrectly had him listed as no longer serving in Ward 2. Fix made. Sorry about that!

Announcments

• Lima Restaurant, located around 14th and K, has offered a free meal to members of the community.


• The Vegas Lounge liquer license, which the ANC protested, is up at the roll call hearing on March 12th.


• The DC Council is holding oversight hearings. ANC 2F is up on March 11th. Chariman Reed is looking for suggestions or comments regarding the ANC structure, duties, and operations. Do you like the ANCs? Hate them? Here's your chance to say so!


• A SmartBike kiosk will be installed on Rhode Island Avenue, just west of 14th Street.


• The Source Theater renovations are on-going. The black-box theater will remain, and they are also adding a rehearsal space and arts studio. They are trying to raise money for the work, and have currently raised $2.1 million of their $3.5 million goal. They will be holding the Source Festival this June, with various theater-related activities. Every Monday in April, they will be doing hard-hate tours.


• The Logan Circle Community Association March meeting will be held next Wednesday, March 12th, at the Washington Plaza Hotel.

Crime Report

Lt. Smith was on-hand to report.

• Overall 13% drop in crime for the year. Rough start of the year, but things got much better as the year progressed.


• Lower crime rate means fewer personelle. PSA 307 was down to only 13 officers, where we were supposed to have 28-29.


• Derek Green was sentenced. Charged as an adult. Convicted of armed robbery at 916 N Street.


• Sex offender notification: 1425 N Street. Sex with a minor.


• GPS units are getting stolen left and right. DON'T LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAR!


• PSA 307 has lowest number of robberies.


• Church parking: The department is ticketing public safety hazards (fire hydrants, crosswalks, etc.), and for complaints from residents who are parked in. Sixteen tickets were issued on March 2nd.


• An illegal fetish club has opened at 916 Blagden Alley. Lt. Smith wrote $15,000 worth of traffic tickets, and has contacted DCRA for license investigation. Google "dxs rapture" for more information.


• Charles has informed Mike that the residents of the housing at 1400 R Street are complaining of break-ins and vandalism. The ANC supported the takeover of that housing, and Charles thinks that the developer may need to get some better security in there.

Executive Officer of the Mayor

Abbey Peterson has replaced Joe Martin and Mark Bjorge, who is now serving in his own ward. She lives in the neighborhood, specifically in ANC 2F03.

DDOT Report

Chris Zeeman was absent.

• Charles reports that he has been told that paving may start on Q Street tomorrow.

DDOT Matters

• AYT Auto Service, 1630 14th Street - The auto service is looking to open an auto service training center above their store. They are currently waiting for approval of their education license. There is no request for action, but Charles suggests asking for a recommendation from the ANC to the appropriate authority to approve their license. It's turned down, since the process is almost complete.


• Street Closures - Approval letters from last month have not yet been sent. Various street closures were all approved.

Crime and Public Safety Committee

No report. There is a meeting of the committee on March 12th. However, Lt. Smith and Chariman Reed are concerned about the lack of cooperation between the US Attorney's office in regard to prosecuting cases.

ABRA Matters

• Lima, Public Space Application for a Sidewalk Cafe - Already have a sidewalk cafe, but there was a technical problem with the old license. The ANC approved the old version two years ago, but they are here looking for a do-over to correct the problem. There is no voluntary agreement, but since it's not in a residental area, and there have been no significant other issues. Approved unanimously.


• Izalco, Application for an Entertainment Endorsement - No representative from Izalco is present. However, Chariman Reed circulated a re-draft of the Voluntary Agreement originally proposed in February. No action was taken tonight, but the new agreement requires a beefed-up security presence, a log of complaints, and provides for a stop-clause to their entertainment license if there are three or more complaints in a three-month period. The Chairman believes this is one of the strongest Voluntary Agreements ever proposed by the ANC, since there are consistently so many problems and complaints about the establishment.


• Olley's Trolley - I'm not sure what the deal is here. But it was unanimously approved.


• HR-57, Liquor License Renewal - Negotiations are complete. This is another fairly strong agreement. However, Chairman Reed solicted input from the community, but received no complaints from any direct neighbors of the establishment. One clause, however, is that they cannot serve liquor at their sidewalk cafe without food present. Unanimously approved.


• Veranda, Complaints - Resident David Berger (1400 block of 11th Street) spoke: On October 4th, a large exhaust fan was installed next to his patio, and when on produces a lot of noise and awful restaurant smell into his home. He asked for help from the ANC for relief. The Voluntary Agreement with Veranda clearly prohibits that odor and noise from exhaust fans, including on patio areas. The Pegasus Condominium Association (where Mr. Berger lives) is also a party to the Voluntary Agreement. Commissioner Dyer moves that the ANC writes a letter to Veranda, informing them that they are in violation of their Voluntary Agreement, and demanding response within 10 days, or steps to begin a Show Cause hearing will be taken. Passed unanimously.

Other Business

• Chariman Reed motions to send a letter to Mayor Fenty expressing the ANC's gratitude for the service of Joe Martin and Mark Bjorge for their excellent service.

Central Union Mission - Still Scouting for a New Home

The Central Union Mission, currently located on the corner of 14th and R, is in the middle of a move-and-redevelop process. They sold their property to a developer, and obtained property and zoning up on Georgia Avenue. The neighborhood, though, has been less than enthusiastic about a homeless shelter in an area they hope to see go through a growth spurt in the future - although it didn't seem to hurt our neck of the woods much!

Still, the Post is reporting that the Mission is looking and options for property closer to downtown, since more of the homeless population seems to be deeper in the city. I'm not sure where they think they're going to go, but let's hope they find a home soon. They're scheduled to move out of their current location in 2009.

Third Public Meeting - 14th Street Study

The third public meeting of the 14th Street Transportation and Streetscape Study is scheduled for tomorrow, February 19th, at 6:30pm, at the Studio Theater Atrium.



This is the big one. The study will be present its recommendations - that is, what they plan on doing, as well as what would be ideal, given unlimited time and budget. Please come out and participate, and let them know if there is something you don't like! This could be your last chance!

PDF version

Music at National City Christian Church

A heads-up to all you classical music lovers out there in the neighborhood: The National City Christian Church is hosting the Washington Sinfonietta this Saturday at 3pm. The show is part of their American Music Series, and will feature works composed by Aaron Copland, William Grant Still, and others. Tickets are $10 at the door.

The fine folks at National City are a bulwark of great music in the neighborhood. Many thanks to them!

LCCA Meeting Cancelled

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, tonight's LCCA meeting has been canceled. Please accept our apologies, and stay tuned for the next meeting!

Help Wanted: Re-Design LCCA's Web Site

If you've been over there recently, I'm sure you've noticed that the Logan Circle Community Association's web site, www.logancircle.org, is in need of a major update. Well, we're going to do something about it, but we need some help making it happen!

To that end, we're distributing an RFP to redesign the website. If you're a good web designer and developer, or you know a good web designer and developer, take a gander, put together a proposal, and drop it in the tubes to me.

Download the RFP here.

Stepped Up Parking Enforcement

Mike Benardo, the commissioner for ANC 2F06, got a note from Mark Bjorge that MPD will be increasing parking enforcement in our neighborhood.

This message is to inform you that MPD 3D has begun full enforcement of posted parking regulations 7 days per week. We ask for your help in ensuring that residents are informed of this increased attention to parking compliance and safety issues, which will begin immediately.

Given the often contentious nature of the parking issue in the past, let's hope that this keeps up over the long haul. Blocked crosswalks and fire hydrants are simply not acceptable, and neither are residents unable to move their cars.

So make sure you park your car in a legal spot!

Seeking Input on Shaw Library

The DC Public Library is looking for input on the new Watha T. Daniel Shaw Neighborhood Library, and they're holding a meeting tomorrow night.

Join the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) to discuss the design of your neighborhood library. With construction scheduled to begin soon, your input and feedback are encouraged.

Where: Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library
945 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

When: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
6:30-8:30 PM

Getting There: The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Interim Library is located on Rhode Island Avenue, NW between 9th Street, NW and 10th Street, NW and is accessible by the G8 bus.

This is a long time in coming!

Cork About to Open

Taking over the location on 14th Street, formerly occupied by Sparky's Espresso Café, is a new wine bar and restaurant called Cork. They are supposed to be opening on the 29th of this month. It should be clear from this photo of a private party going on inside that things are definitely falling in place for that to happen. I, for one, am looking forward to it!

El Sauce

As I mentioned in the last ANC 2F Wrap-Up, the ANC is looking for complaints to assist in a protest of El Sauce, at 1227 11th Street. Here's a good one, that just came across the listserv, courtesy of Johnnie Jackson from ABRA, forwarded by Jack Evans:

On 1/18/2008 at approximately 10:30 p.m. a patron who had just left the El Sauce Restaurant and Carryout, 1227 11th Street NW, was attacked by another male a short distance from the establishment. The suspect cut the patron in the hand with a knife, and hit him with his fists. The patron, who was taken to GW Hospital, suffered cuts to his head due to his fall and a laceration to his hand. The suspect was not apprehended. Investigation has determined that the suspect had entered the establishment earlier during the evening and tried to pick a fight with the customers. There is no indication that the suspect had a knife while inside the establishment.

With the information from Lt. Smith that this location is a frequent gang hotspot, El Sauce could be in some hot ... er, sauce.

P Street Roadwork

DDOT is planning to do some roadwork on P Street, between Dupont Circle and Logan Circle. From the press release that went out today:

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to begin repairs on the road and sidewalk on P Street, NW from DuPont Circle to 13th Street on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.

Repairs will include replacement of damaged sidewalks, gutters, bus stop concrete pads and the upgrade of all wheelchair ramps in the work area.

Work hours are 7am to 3:30pm, Monday thru Friday.

Amusingly, they claim to be doing work from "Dupont Circle to 13th Street". Somebody needs to check their maps more closely.

311/911 Change-Up

A note from Assistant Chief Diane Groomes just came across the MPD-3D mailing list, detailing a change in how the city would like us to use the 311/911 services. Now, rather than using 311 for non-emergency police calls, we should call 911 for all police-related matters, whether emergency or not, as well as for fire or ambulance. From the email:

I met with the Office of Unified Communications last Friday and it has been discussed that ALL POLICE RELATED CALLS MUST BE CALLED INTO 911…311 will now be used for the Mayors Customer Service Requests

911 – all police related matters – emergency and non emergency, need of ambulance, fires

311- all other governmental agency requests/city services – cars towed, streetlights replaced, streets repaired, animal issues, abandoned vehicles, trees trimmed, trash pick ups, etc.

This all seems rather sudden - usually this type of thing requires months or years of public comment before getting done. And does the new 311 replace the old 202.727.1000 number for city services? Many questions abound...

ANC 2F Wrap-Up

The January meeting of ANC 2F was held on Wednesday, and your's truly was there for the whole proceedings. While not quite the super-speedy affair that was last month's meeting, Wednesday's meeting came in at just about an hour-and-a-half. Not bad!

Announcements

• The ANC commissioners elected their officers for 2008. The election was done by acclimation, yielding the same officer positions as the close of 2007.


• Chairman Reed wanted everyone to know that he has received a plethora of information on free in-home Radon testing, which is being conducted by the DC Government. If you'd like more information, let him know.


• Greg Cassou (sp?) came by to talk about dog parks in the city. He's looking for good locations for dog parks in the area, and is looking to get the ANC involved in the process - as it seems most of the decisions on the matter are being delegated to the neighborhoods and community. Four sites are being considered, including Bundy Field at 5th & P, Kennedy Field, and part of the playground at Garrison Elementary. Those are all existing dog owner hang-outs, so would be a natural fit for being blessed officially.

Neighborhood Services

Mark Bjorge was on hand to give a neighborhood services report. Joe Martin was over at the Dupont ANC meeting.

• There are some problems at 1107 11th Street. The building has been shut down due to lack of potable water, and some twenty people evicted from the property. They have claims on tenancy, and are being placed in hotels by the DC Government pending resolution of their concerns. The building's owner went bankrupt, apparantly, and the building is likely to be condemned.


• Mark got a stop signed placed in the alley between 13th and 14th Street. (Somewhere. I'm not sure where...)


• A community member asked about the illegal gate on the alley on 10th Street. While either DDOT has jurisdiction to remove it, Mark suggested working with FEMS to have it removed, as he thinks it's probably blocking safe egress from some of the buildings there.


• Mark was also asked about the on-going saga of the bus stop on P & 14th. Several commuinity members, especially those from the Cooper-Lewis condominiums, have been trying to get it moved back across to the east side of 14th Street, next to the Studio Theater. They've been making no progress, though, and appealed to Mark to get the wheels un-stuck. Mark said he'd bump this up on some issue lists, to try and get things moving.

Crime Report

Lt. Smith gave the crime report, mostly a year-end summary of 2007.

• PSA 307 had an overall 13% reduction in crime for 2007. Nice work!


• There were a total of three homicides in the PSA for 2007. Two of those have been closed, but one is remaining open. It seems they "know who did it", but are going to have a hard time proving it, so it may never close. The victim was allegedly beaten to death by his wife, having a blood-alcohol level of .60 (WOW!!) at the time.


• Juveniles committing crimes continued to be a problem. The force and the AG are working to prosecute juveniles involved in violent or gun crimes as adults.


• I asked Lt. Smith about ShotSpotter, and whether it will be coming to the PSA. He said he doubted it would be coming here directly, because we seem to have relatively little need for it; but it would be coming to PSA 308 (where they clearly have some major problems), and that the areas would overlap significantly with the east side of PSA 307. Since that's where most of our problems are, anyway, it works out pretty well.

ABRA Matters

• The protest hearings for Vegas Lounge and Be Bar have been rescheduled. (The ANC decided last month to protest, based on community feedback.)


• Tony from HR-57 was at the meeting to inform the ANC of his intention to seek an application for a sidewalk café and an entertainment endorsement, changing the license from a DR (beer & wine only) to a CR (full bar). The matter was referred to Chairman Reed and Commissioner Richardson for negotiation of a voluntary agreement, for later approval.


• The ANC is looking to protest the liquor license of EL Sauce, located at 1227 11th Street, and are looking to talk to some neighbors and community members who may have complaints about the establishment. Lt. Smith mentioned that the location is a frequent hangout for MS-13 gang members, and has seen more than its fair share of crime related to their activity. He suggested that the ANC make the hiring of a reputable security guard firm a requirement of any voluntary agreement that may be reached.

DDOT Report

Chris Ziemann from DDOT came to make a report.

• The next 14th Street Transportation and Streetscape meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 19th at 6:30 pm, at the Studio Theater. This will be the meeting where the study makes its recommendations, and invites the community to provide feedback on them.


• The traffic analysis of the various potential redesigns of 15th Street have been completed. Chris said that they should be posted on the DDOT web site soon, but that none of the alternatives significantly reduce the traffic flow through the neighborhood.

Building at 9th and Naylor Court

A renovation and expansion of a building fronting 9th Street and Naylor Court was discussed. It's being converted into a mixed-use property, with retail, offices, and residential. The ANC voted to recommend the approval of the design, concept, and massing of the property. (Sorry I don't have more details - I missed part of this presentation.)

House Tour Raffle Winners

I'm a bit late posting this, but here goes. The raffle winners from the 2007 Logan Circle Holiday House Tour have been chosen. They are:

• Steven Haber (Washington, DC) - Gift certificate to Rice restaurant


• Nesreen Khashan (Washington, DC) - Gift certificate to Rice Restaurant


• Chandra Kumar (Oakton, VA) - Small Lofts book


• Robbie Misenheimer (Arlington, VA) - a Lekue classic baking sheet


• Philippa Motion (Sterling, VA) - a Lekue flexible non-stick fluted bundt pan


• L. Radow (Washington, DC) - Duncan's Kitchen Grips heat-resistant glove


• Al Sullivan, Jr. (Bowie, MD) - Small Urban Gardens book

The Logan Circle Community Association and the house tour committee would like to give a special thanks to the donors who made this year's raffle possible, including Candida's World of Books, Home Rule, and Rice Restaruant.

And congratulations to the winners!