Author: eckingtoncivic

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting Link:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84398728029?pwd=eTM2ZDM4MXQwS0NBbFJwNlFCQlUvUT09

Meeting ID: 843 9872 8029
Passcode: 817022
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,84398728029#,,,,*817022# US

How to Participate in-person:
Join us in the Judd & Weiler Community Room. It is located next to Eckington Hall. See the snip below.

Agenda Items

ECA business — 7:00-8:00 pm
● DC Department of Parks and Recreation presentation – Jason Gerson
● EPA air quality sensors being deployed – Brandt Witt
● Discussion of transit equity questions before the City Council – Jason Gerson
● Q&A with Sam Bonar of Councilmember Parker’s office – topics to address:
○ Harry Thomas Rec Center renovations
○ Boulevard + deckover for North Capitol
○ Dave Thomas circle
○ Transportation equity
○ Update on trash can pickup

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 8:00 – 8:30 pm
● Conor Shaw, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker
● Other members of the community

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting

February 13, 2023 | 7:00PM-8:30PM

Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84398728029?pwd=eTM2ZDM4MXQwS0NBbFJwNlFCQlUvUT09

Meeting ID: 843 9872 8029

Passcode: 817022

One tap mobile +13052241968,,84398728029#,,,,*817022# US

Agenda Items                                                                                    

ECA business — 7:00-8:00 pm

• Call for Input Regarding Metropolitan Branch Train Improvements – Jason Gerson
• Acknowledgement of Public Safety Concerns – Michele Keegan
  • Proposal to engage local businesses on public safety
• ECA Survey Results – Michele Keegan
  • Takeaways and top insights
• Road & Sidewalk Safety Improvements Letter to DDOT — Brandt
  • Fix striping and parking designation at Harry Thomas Way
  • Bringing intersections to compliance with Safe Schools, and associated improvements
• Communications update
  • Website updates
  • Seeking volunteers for door knocking and flyering

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 8:00 – 8:30 pm

• Conor Shaw, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker
• Other members of the community

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• First and third Saturday of every month
• March: Spring Rush, raise awareness of the ECA and its impact for the community

November 14, 2022 | 7:00PM-8:00PM 

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting
Link: meet.google.com/ryy-qwco-bod 
Or dial: +1-219-654-2369‬ PIN: ‪149 080 474‬#

Agenda Items

ECA Elections — 7:00-8:00 pm

• Individuals running for ECA office in 2023:
  • For President: Jason Gerson
  • For Vice President (up to 4 positions may be filled): Brandt Witt; Ben Colbert; Michele Keegan
  • For Treasurer: Daniel Agold
  • For Communications Director: William Dick
• Additional candidates may be added before Monday. Please contact us at eckingtoncivic@gmail.com if you would like to run for office. 

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• First and third Saturday of every month: community cleanup with Eckington Parks & Arts
• December TBD – end of year celebration

October 24, 2022 | 7:00PM-8:30PM 

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting
Link: meet.google.com/ryy-qwco-bod 
Or dial: +1-219-654-2369‬ PIN: ‪149 080 474‬#

Join the Civic Association:
Register here (it’s free). 
You can also support the civic association by making a one time or recurring donation. 

Agenda Items

ECA business — 7:00-8:00 pm

• Presentation and vote on proposed curb cuts for “Rhode Island Avenue Assemblage” project
  • Rhode Island Avenue Assemblage project requests support for proposed curb cuts
  • Proposed ECA letter to DDOT re: curb cuts and other public space considerations
• Vote on letter re: proposed installation of protected bike lanes on 8th Street NE to fill gap in the Metropolitan Branch Trail
• Update on Fort Myer Asphalt Plant Advocacy
  • DOEE (finally) responded to the ECA’s May letter – they have received our concerns. They will share a draft permit when they are ready and will work with the ECA to ensure a hearing on the permit is scheduled at a time that allows residents to participate. 
• ECA Elections on November 14. We are particularly interested in recruiting candidates who will help ensure that the ECA’s leadership is representative of the community. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Conor if you’re interested in running for office this fall. Current candidates for office:
  • President: Jason Gerson
  • Vice President (up to 4 VPs may serve at once): Brandt Witt, Ben Colbert, 
  • Treasurer: Daniel Agold
  • Communications Director: William Dick
• Eckington Day Recap
• Short updates:
  • The ECA-funded Art-in-the-right-of-way project completed installations at three intersections in the neighborhood, and they look great. Many thanks to Nick Roland and Japer Bowles for leading the project and all of the volunteers who helped paint. 
  • Other grant project still looking for volunteers:
    • Folks who live near the Met Branch trail to host a purple air quality monitor
    • Folks to host a pollinator garden
  • Pedestrian access to Union Market via Florida Avenue NE to be restored once concrete pouring is completed – hopefully by December. DDOT has also commenced its own work on Florida Avenue, so space is tight (or at least that is the latest story they are sticking with)
  • Remember to vote for your Eckington ANC commissioners on your 2022 ballots!

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 8:00 – 8:30 pm

• Silas Grant, Senior Advisor, Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
• Nokomis Hunter, Ward 5 Liaison, Mayor Bowser’s Office of Community Relations & Services
• Other members of the community

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• First and third Saturday of every month: community cleanup with Eckington Parks & Arts
• Monday, November 14: ECA Elections
• December TBD – end of year celebration

To avoid a conflict with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the next monthly meeting of the Eckington Civic Association will be held on Monday, October 24 at 7pm. We look forward to seeing you then!

Decisions Taken

ECA members voted as follows:

• Voted to transmit a letter to DC’s Office of Planning re: the New York Avenue study
• Voted to support Langley Elementary riversmart grant application for “an ADA accessible paver path through the garden, raised beds, increasing the number of garden beds, expanding outdoor classroom capacity, expanding the herb garden, adding butterfly, pollinator, and rain gardens in the terraced area by the stairs, planting more shade trees in the playground area, and creating a sensory garden in the courtyard.”

How You Can Help

• Eckington Day
  • If you’d like to volunteer to help us make Eckington Day a success, please sign up here
  • If you would like to support Eckington Day by making a contribution, please do so via paypal 
• Art in the right of way. Help paint several street corners Eckington:
  • 3rd and R Streets NE –  September 17th starting at 11am
  • 2nd and R Streets NE – September 25th starting at 11am
  • 4th and S Streets NE – October 1st starting at 11am
• Run for ECA office in November. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Conor if you’re interested in running for office this fall. Current candidates for office:
  • President: Jason Gerson
  • Vice President (up to 4 VPs may serve at once): Brandt Witt, Ben Colbert, 
  • Treasurer: Daniel Agold
  • Communications Director: William Dick

ECA Updates

• ANC elections in November
  • There are now four different single member districts that are either wholly or partially in Eckington
  • Candidates have been invited to participate in Eckington Day
  • We are exploring the idea of a candidate forum that would likely need to be a standalone meeting due to the number of races
• Updates
  • Art in the right of way grant projects to occur this fall
  • Pedestrian access to Union Market via Florida Avenue NE during construction
  • RPP coming to 3rd Street NE between S St. and Seaton Place
  • News expected on Rhode Island Avenue developments this fall, including a construction timeline for the Jair Lynch project and a proposed disposition of the DC-owned lot at 5th and Rhode Island Avenue. 
  • BellRinger, a bike ride that raises money for cancer research, is seeking someone to help form an Eckington team for their inaugural 2022 fundraising bike ride. Please contact Kate Colgan at kate@bellringer.org if you are interested. 

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• First and third Saturday of every month: community cleanup with Eckington Parks & Arts
• Every Thursday from 3-7pm: Farmer’s Market at Tanner Park
• Saturday September 17: Nature Walk with Eckington Parks & Arts
• Saturday September 17: Art in the right of way at 3rd and R Streets NE 
• Sunday September 18: Family bike day (plus book bike & story thyme)
• Saturday September 24: Art in the right of way at 2nd and R Streets NE 
• Sunday September 25 at 2:30pm: Meeting re: triangle pocket park in NE Eckington (Contact Simon Ira Galed)
• Saturday, October 1: Eckington Day!
• Saturday October 1: Art in the right of way at 4th and S streets NE
• Monday, October 10: Next ECA monthly meeting
• Thursday, October 13: Listening session with democratic candidate for Ward 5 councilmember Zachary Parker
• Monday, November 14: ECA Elections 

September 12, 2022 | 7:00PM-8:30PM 

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting
Link: meet.google.com/ryy-qwco-bod 
Or dial: +1-219-654-2369‬ PIN: ‪149 080 474‬#

Agenda Items

Guest presentations (7:00 – 7:15)

• BellRinger is seeking someone to help form an Eckington team for their inaugural 2022 fundraising bike ride (Kate Colgan) 

ECA business — 7:15-8:00 pm

• Vote on draft ECA letter to DC’s Office of Planning re: the New York Avenue study
• Vote on letter of support for Langley Elementary PTO riversmart grant application for “an ADA accessible paver path through the garden, raised beds, increasing the number of garden beds, expanding outdoor classroom capacity, expanding the herb garden, adding butterfly, pollinator, and rain gardens in the terraced area by the stairs, planting more shade trees in the playground area, and creating a sensory garden in the courtyard.”
• ECA Elections in November. ECA elections in November are going to be an important opportunity to bring fresh energy to the association. We are particularly interested in recruiting candidates who will help ensure that the ECA’s leadership is representative of the community. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Conor if you’re interested in running for office this fall. Current candidates for office:
  • President: Jason Gerson
  • Vice President (up to 4 VPs may serve at once): Brandt Witt, Ben Colbert, 
  • Treasurer: Daniel Agold
  • Communications Director: 
• ANC elections in November
  • There are now four different single member districts that are either wholly or partially in Eckington
  • Candidates have been invited to participate in Eckington Day
  • We are exploring the idea of a candidate forum that would likely need to be a standalone meeting due to the number of races
• Eckington Day Updates:
  • If you’d like to volunteer to help us make Eckington Day a success, please sign up here
  • If you would like to support Eckington Day by making a contribution, please do so via paypal 
• Short updates:
  • Art in the right of way grant projects to occur this fall
  • Pedestrian access to Union Market via Florida Avenue NE during construction
  • RPP coming to 3rd Street NE between S St. and Seaton Place
  • News expected on Rhode Island Avenue developments this fall, including a construction timeline for the Jair Lynch project and a proposed disposition of the DC-owned lot at 5th and Rhode Island Avenue. 

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 8:00 – 8:30 pm

• Silas Grant, Senior Advisor, Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
• Nokomis Hunter, Ward 5 Liaison, Mayor Bowser’s Office of Community Relations & Services
• Other members of the community

On July 12, 2022, the Eckington Civic Association sent at letter to Councilmember McDuffie calling on him to pursue legislation that would regulate last mile delivery services.

This request comes as a result of hearing numerous concerns voiced by our neighbors and community members, such as:

• contracted drivers observed imbibing alcohol or smoking marijuana before driving;
• the operators of the facilities claiming no responsibility for disruptions of peace, order, and quiet or conduct by their operation or their drivers; and
• contracted drivers routinely speeding, ignoring stop signs, and endangering the health and wellbeing of our community as a result.

This request also comes at the heels of numerous other neighborhoods in ANC 2E, ANC 2B, ANC 5E, and ANC 6B sharing the same observations and concerns regarding the impact of LMDS operating in their neighborhoods under the current rules and regulations for their business type.

We look forward to working with Councilmember McDuffie and his staff to address this important issue.

July 11, 2022 | 7:00PM-8:00PM 

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting

Link: meet.google.com/ryy-qwco-bod 

Or dial: +1-219-654-2369‬ PIN: ‪149 080 474‬#

Agenda Items

ECA business — 7:00-7:45 pm

• ECA grant presentations and vote:
  • D.C. Natives 10 garden consults + 200 plants (Thorne Rankin) – $750 
  • Installation of 3 air quality monitors in Eckington  (Joshua Blatt) – $760
  • 5 Arts in the right of way installations (Nichola Roland) – $918
  • Vote on ECA officer recommendation to fund all three projects
• Letter of support for grant submission to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities to bring found-object sculptures to Alethia Tanner Park in Eckington for Earth Day 2023 (Ira Tattleman)
• The ECA elections in November are going to be an important opportunity to bring fresh energy to the association. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Conor if you’re interested in running for office this fall.     

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 7:45-8:00 pm

• Silas Grant, Senior Advisor, Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
• Nokomis Hunter, Ward 5 Liaison, Mayor Bowser’s Office of Community Relations & Services
• Other members of the community

Upcoming Meetings & Events

• First and third Saturday of every month: community cleanup with Eckington Parks & Arts
• Every Thursday from 3-7pm: Farmer’s Market at Tanner Park
• Saturday, July 23, 11am-3pm: Alethia Tanner Day, hosted by the NoMa BID
• The ECA will not be meeting in August
• Monday, September 12: Next ECA monthly meeting 
• Saturday, October 1: Eckington Day!
• Monday, November 14: ECA Elections

Highlights from our June ECA meeting have been posted.

Members voted to submit a proposed letter to Councilmember McDuffie, Chair of the D.C. Council Committee on Business and Economic Development,  seeking enhanced regulation of Go-Puff and other last-mile delivery services.

We also flagged a few ways Eckington residents can make a difference:

• Eckington Day is returning October 1, 2022
  • Volunteers can sign up for the following activities by contacting Dana Samuels: dana.samuels@gmail.com:
    • Outreach to local businesses/potential sponsors
    • Outreach to local news outlets and others who can spread the word about the event
    • Helping to staff the event for part of the day on October 1.
• DDOT is looking for someone in Ward 5 to join its recreational trails advisory committee. The committee only meets twice a year, but it’s a great opportunity to get involved if you use and love DC’s trails–including the Met. Branch Trail. Please email us if you’d like to learn more about this opportunity!

Our July meeting will be Monday, July 11, from 7:00 – 8:30. We’ll be hearing from three prospective grantees about proposed projects to promote air quality, traffic safety, and improved ecosystems. We hope you’ll join us!