ANC 2B09 - Commissioner Noah Smith
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Why I’m Running for Reelection

7/15/2014

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It’s been two years since I decided to run for ANC and began collecting signatures to get on the 2012 ballot. Last week I went back to the Board of Elections and picked up petition sheets to once again run for neighborhood commissioner and continue to represent you in ANC 2B09.

Over the last two years I have gained enormous respect for this neighborhood and for the people who live here, work here and visit here. I also have a deeper understanding of the  processes which the city uses to make decisions and how we can best foster and value community input. Most importantly to me, I have made dozens of new friends and now feel a real sense of belonging in the place I live, something I had been missing in my almost ten years of DC residency.

Of equal significance is that together over the last two years, we have accomplished a great deal to improve our neighborhood. Looking back at what I wrote on election night 2012: 

When I moved to the neighborhood, I was looking for a way to meet more of my neighbors and give back to the community that I call home.  My goals for the next two years are to make incremental progress in: 

  • Making our neighborhood streets safer for pedestrians, bikers and drivers
  • Finding community-based approaches to solving neighborhood issues
  • Creating stronger relationships with DC government agencies so they better serve our needs
We have had several key successes in each of those areas, including:
  • Helping to pass a law that protects pedestrians and cyclists from dangerous and inconvenient construction;
  • Expanding our biking infrastructure and pushing for better maintenance so that cyclists feel safe on our streets and don’t feel the need to be on the sidewalks;
  • Established and chair the ANC’s Transportation and Public Infrastructure Committee to focus discussions on improving our neighborhood’s beauty and safety; 
  • Worked closely with neighborhood organizations, other ANCs and businesses to manage our neighborhood’s success by finding collaborative solutions to late-night noise, trash issues, parking concerns and more;
  • Developed key relationships with officials at DDOT, MPD, DCFEMS, the Mayor’s Office, Councilmember Evan’s Office and more so that when something needs to be fixed or an agency is process is moving too slowly you can get the help you need quickly; and 
  • Elected as Vice-Chair of the ANC by my colleagues and provide leadership and stability to our Commission. 

Of course, there is much left to be done and we need someone with experience and motivation to continue our progress in this important role. I’m ready to lead the way for two more years.

I am committed to our neighborhood and I will continue to bring a calm head with a goal of compromise to processes like historic preservation or zoning reviews where reason and logic don’t often prevail. I will continue my work on transportation policy, including improving our parking “system” for residents and visitors, making our streets and sidewalks safer for pedestrians and improving public transportation options; this is work that impacts every person every day.

And as always, I will remain available to each of you. I have found that one of the hallmarks of a an effective ANC Commissioner are to be available consistently, to listen first, and to approach situations without bias.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to knock on your door and ask for your signature to once again represent you on the ANC. And for all the reasons listed above, come November, I hope you will vote for me. 
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Updated: Thoughts on the St. Thomas Church Project

7/10/2014

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PictureRendering of the proposed Church St. project
UPDATE: The Historic Preservation Office contacted the ANC on July 11 to let us know that the project developers have decided to delay the HPRB hearing to at least September 25th, while they continue to respond to neighbor's concerns. I can't imagine this was an easy choice for their team and I applaud it. I look forward to working with them and the church to settle on a modified design in the coming months. 

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Last night’s ANC2B meeting was lively and full of spirited debate on the St. Thomas Episcopal Parish redevelopment project, among other things. The project, situated on 18th and Church Streets proposes to rebuild sections of the church that had burned down in 1970 and to pay for it through the construction and sale of 50-60 residential units on Church St.

Links to stories on the project can be found here and here and here.

I thought I’d take a few minutes to write out my thoughts on the project and on the meeting, in case there was any confusion from the 1.5 hours of debate we shared.


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Dupont ANC Meets Wednesday July 9 at 7pm

7/8/2014

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The Dupont Circle ANC has its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday July 9th at 7pm at the Brookings Institution (1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW). You can download the full agenda HERE. Some agenda items of note for 2B09 include: 

  • During public announcements, the owners of Art Soiree will introduce themselves. Art Soiree is exploring a permanent home and gallery space at 1832 14th St. Much more on that later this summer. 
  • Mr. Curtis from the District's Rat Abatement Team will present on rat abatement efforts in the neighborhood. 
  • Review of a request for outdoor seating at Taylor Gourmet at 1908 14th St. 
  • Historic review of proposed construction at 1772 

Hope to see you all there!  

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    Welcome! This site serves as a resource for residents of ANC 2B09 in U Street and Dupont Circle. I provide updates with information on upcoming meetings, events in the neighborhood, and discussion topics. 

    You can learn more about me by clicking here. If you have any questions or comments or have an idea for a post, please reach out to me anytime. 

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