Duties: Serves as a member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). Commissioners represent the views of residents of their Single Member District (SMD). After deliberation and votes, the ANC Commission advises the Mayor, Council and executive agencies in local matters such as parking, zoning, traffic, liquor licenses, permits, etc.Deberes: Se desempeña como miembro de la “Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC)”. Los comisionados representan las opiniones de los residentes de su distrito miembro único “Single Member District(SMD)”. Después de la deliberación y las votaciones, la Comisión del ANC asesora al alcalde, al consejo y a las agencias ejecutivas en asuntos locales como estacionamiento, zonificación, tráfico, licencias de venta de bebidas alcohólicas, permisos, etc.
Qualifications
I have served as ANC6D Commissioner since 2016 and am a 35-years resident of SW. Prior to serving on the ANC, I was a member of the Advisory Committee, who in 2015, developed the Southwest Small Area Plan, a community-based strategy for urban design, land use and neighborhood preservation. The Plan’s framework includes enhancing parks, pedestrian, and street connections; enhancing transportation choices; integrating community amenities; and accommodating and guiding the direction of future growth in the Southwest neighborhood. In 2019, I was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Southwest DC Community Center, a 501c3, which was created to actively engaging the District to build a community center in SW.
We need to re-look at WMATA's Better Bus system and revise some of the bus routes so that my residents have easy accessibility to downtown, Pennsylvania Ave SW, and even upper NW. Right now, there is no direct route and residents are bussed to either the L'Enfant or Waterfront metro stops. Metro is not friendly to seniors or those with physical challenges so we need to improve the system so they have better access.
Also, we need to tackle scooters and recreational bicyclists who use sidewalks to ride on them. This places pedestrians, for who the sidewalk is designed for, struggling to stay safe.
And finally, on a larger scale we will need to fight the proposed legislation to place a dome on Audi Field and increase seating capacity by 8000 seats.
I currently hold Meet & Greets in my SMD to hear resident concerns and to also get a pulse on issues they are interested in. And just last night, I hosted the 1st ever Southwest Neighbors Night to bring neighbors from all over ANC 6D together to meet and mingle. Also, my work with the SW DC Community Center, we hold a Fall Family Fest every year. It's a free event that features live music, food, pet adoption and more. We even get the Racing Presidents to attend!
Qualifications
Moved to DC in 2005 and have lived in SW since 2020. My professional background includes community development, grants management, and policy. I am active in Free DC local government, Congress, Arts & Culture, and National Guard working groups as well as voter registration and statehood efforts with LWVDC. I also support local food pantries, independent local media, and Humane Rescue Alliance as important causes.
Website
BlueSky: katie6d03.bsky.social and Substack: katie6d03.substack.com
People don't know what the ANC is or how to use it to address neighborhood concerns, the ANC has not been doing outreach or engagement, and has accumulated 5+ years of unspent public funds that should be invested to improve and strengthen our community. Whether on pedestrian or bike safety; access to buses, food, or affordable housing; or finding ways to build connection among neighbors, using the ANC to involve neighbors in finding ways to address our issues together is my priority. I will hold office hours and prioritize communications to open opportunity for input and hold info sessions on the city's ANC grants process to encourage local groups to put forward ideas on ways the ANC can support our community. SW is lucky with multiple local groups that could do a lot with a little more.
As an individual commissioner, I will hold office hours and do outreach to each of the buildings/associations I represent to meet constituents. I will also create info sharing channels via the community message boards as feasible and social media/email updates. At the ANC level, I will propose that my fellow commissioners adopt a community engagement strategy to include an updated website, farmers market tabling, local media advertising (e.g., Southwester and Hill Rag), and possibly other outreach such as forums on special topics, targeted text messages, or other methods when major issues are being discussed or there are significant developments that impact our whole neighborhood.
