Councilmember Wells was the guest speaker at last night's community forum sponsored by the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) where he discussed some of the highlights of his first months in office. Topping the list was a discussion of the Mayoral control of schools, development projects in Ward 6, the scheduled move of the MPD Headquarters to Southeast and, of course increasing traffic congestion.  Councilmember Wells announced that he has hired an urban planner who will join the staff soon and take on many of development and traffic issues in Ward 6.  1st District Commander Diane Groomes was also on hand to discuss the recent upsurge in crime.  She asked CHRS to pull together another meeting for the sole purpose of discussing what can, and is, being done to combat the crime trend.

Looking to take a weekend bike ride but don't have the bike? Looking to find a way to avoid jumping in the car and fighting the traffic by riding a bike to meet-up with friends across town (or down the street) but you're still lacking a set of wheels?

DDOT is considering an automated bicycle rental system in DC in partnership with Clear Channel. Similar to car sharing, the system would allow members to swipe a card and release a bike from a kiosk (DDOT says to think of it as kind of like an airport luggage carts -- but better).

According to DDOT, Clear Channel is operating similar systems in Europe, and this would become the first of its kind in the Northeast U.S.

DDOT is requesting that residents take a short survey to solicit locations for the rental kiosks (several possibilities are in Ward 6). The proposed contract will allow for 120 bikes at 10 kiosks. Officials cite research and experience indicating that the kiosks should be located near each other, and they are limiting the system to the greater downtown area. DDOT has shared these other items to consider regarding locations:

- Locks will not be provided by the system, so cyclists can only park the smartbikes kiosks
- Because of the web-based registration and member card requirement, the system is not geared toward tourists
- Each kiosk is roughly 30 feet by 6 feet, considerable space, but we will scope out the exact site
- Locations with lots of jobs, housing, retail, major attractions, and nearby bike facilities are obviously best.

DDOT has reviewed census data, discussed locations internally and at at the bicycle advisory council meeting, and have some initial ideas, but they want to include as much public input as possible. Please take a minute to respond to the survey at this link. It's only 3 questions!

Let us know where you'd like to see a bicycle rental kiosk in your neighborhood! There's only going to be 10 in the first round, so make you speak up and help select the locations you want. If you've got any questions about this program, please contact Jim Sebastian, DDOT's Bicycle Manager, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

On a daily basis we receive phone calls, letters, or walk in complaints from our constitutents.  Whether it is a homeless issue, a school issue or a child welfare issue, if we receive a complaint, we are going to respond.  Most of the time when I call an agency in reference to the complaint, their staff are very responsive and helpful.  When I call you, I am simply trying to find out if there is some way we can work together in assisting the client.

Sometimes when a client feels that the process may not be moving fast enough, that they may be getting the run around, they will call our office.  Sometimes they just need someone to help them understand the process or an ear to voice their frustration.  In dealing with some of these client issues, I have found that they were not given adequate information or they may have missed something when it was first explained to them.  Sometimes, helping these people get the best service possible is me just doing my job. 

Washington, DC has many sports enthusiasts.  From organized sports to private and business-sponsored leagues of every kind that allow open participation, we are a sports-centered city. Anyone in doubt need only check out all the ball fields in town on any spring weekend or look at the speed and enthusiasm with which the new stadium is going up for confirmation. This love of sports is true for our children as well.  But team sports do not appeal to all children.

Philippe Lajaunie owner of Les Halles restaurants knows this first hand.  As a youngster he was often smaller than the other boys his age, which left him feeling inadequate and shy.  For this reason he avoided many sports.  Once he had a tennis racket in his hand however, it was a different story. He worked hard and mastered the sport and gained inner strength in the process. He fell in love with the sport and has been working to stimulate the same passion for tennis in youngsters at a critical age. He wants to offer all the benefits he received through his participation in the sport to other children who may not be inclined to play team sports.

Since 2002, when he founded the Les Halles Cup, Mr. Lajaunie has been offering an alternative athletic challenge, separate from team sports, to children up to fourteen years old.  The Les Halles Cup annual invitational youth tennis tournament occurs along side the Legg Mason Tennis Tournament at the William Fitzgerald Tennis Center and offers children, unskilled in tennis,  the opportunity to discover their talent as they participate in an organized program along with players with more tennis experience. Among his goals with the program Lajaunie wishes to foster confidence and improve self-esteem while allowing participants’ competitive spirit to develop and thrive.  He hopes to show children that “self reliance and hard work contribute to achieving success in life, school and sports through practice and commitment.” Many of the children who participate come from community based tennis programs such as the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation and Southeast Tennis and Learning Center.  The event kicks-off on the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW on July 28, 2007 with a tennis clinic and information fair where children will be given basic instruction in game fundamentals and hitting skills.