In early May, our office was contacted by residents around Seward Square regarding concerns about the park being used for illegal behavior; including assaults, drinking in public and overnight sleeping on park benches. They asked for increased policing by the National Park Service and Capitol Police, and also whether it was possible to have the park benches replaced or retro-fitted to make them more similar to the benches found in Lincoln Park that include dividers or armrests -- thus making it difficult to sleep on the benches.

As many know, this park is not under the jurisdiction of the District, but rather, is controlled and maintained by the federal government and National Park Service. Councilmember Wells wrote a letter to the NPS requesting the benches to be fitted with dividers or armrests. We recently received a response from the NPS and we wanted to share the information they included. The letter is inserted below. We also invite residents to use the comments section below to discuss next steps. Mr. Wells will be contacting Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to discuss federal budget support to find the additional funding required, but we invite ideas, suggestions and discussion on the topic.

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Honorable Tommy Wells
Councilmember, Ward 6
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Mr. Wells:

Thank you for your letter dated May 14, 2007 regarding park benches at 4th Street and Seward Square, SE, Washington, DC.

The National Park Service does not currently have a mechanism necessary to retrofit dividers/armrests on existing benches to discourage the homeless from lying down unimpeded. The benches referenced in Lincoln Park were purchased specifically with project funds combined with private donations to improve the park and its playgrounds. While we would like to replace all of our benches with the Lincoln Park benches, we do not yet have the resources to make these improvements. At an approximate cost of $2,000 a piece, it could be quite some time before we are able to complete bench replacements throughout all of our parks. We are, however, open to any partnerships you might suggest that would allow us to raise funds and help facilitate this change for specified areas.

Until such time we are able to address the bench replacement, we will make the United States Park Police aware of your concerns in the are of Seward Square with the expectation that increased patrols and scrutiny will address the illegal activity in the park.

If you have any further questions or comments regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me on (202) 690-5127 or Frank Young, Chief, Division of Maintenance, National Capital Parks-East at (202) 690-5183.

Sincerely,
Gayle Hazlewood
Superintendent 

On June 28th, Tommy hosted a Community Walk Through with ANC Commissioner Alan Kimber through several blocks and alleys between 2nd and 6th Street NE on both sides of H Street.

One of the most serious discoveries was an alley just north of Parker Street, NE. It was filled with trash and had a long list of public safety concerns. As part of the follow-up, MPD and the Mayor’s Core Team came back to the alley a few days later and conducted a “Fix It” operation. They cleared debris and wrote citations, and worked with residents to try and help clean it up. It’ll certainly take more than just one “Fix It” to create lasting change for that alley and the residents around it, but it was a rapid response and made a dent in a chronic problem.

Another problem that was cited was the lack of lighting at 2nd and Parker Street along the length of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute building. Residents and police reported the deep shadows attracted drug sales and prostitution. Tommy wrote a letter to the organization’s President and CEO (inserted below) and last Friday, I got a call from their office letting us know that they would be placing three exterior lights on their building to help better illuminate the corner and reduce the dark corners on that block. They said they would also angle the lights such that they won’t disturb residents at night.

We appreciate the quick work of the Mayor’s Core Team to begin addressing the alley, and the actions of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to be good neighbors and to respond to the community request. Please let us know what you think.

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June 29, 2007

Esther Aguilera, President & CEO
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
911 2nd Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002

Dear Ms. Aguilera,

On behalf of the residents and business owners around your office headquarters at 911 2nd Street, NE, I request that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus install exterior lighting on the side of your building adjacent to Parker Street, NE.

During a recent community event in the neighborhood, it was brought to my attention by community members and the Metropolitan Police Department that poor lighting on the Parker Street side of your office has caused the building to become dangerous; attracting drug-dealers, prostitution, and vagrants. This poses an obviously dangerous situation for those that live and work in the area.

Installation of appropriate exterior lighting can serve as a significant deterrent to criminal behavior and would be a welcomed comfort to the local community. I would appreciate your assistance in this matter and would be happy to speak further with you regarding this request. If there is anything we can do to help, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (202) 724-8072.

Sincerely,
Tommy Wells
Councilmember, Ward 6 

Hello Ward 6!  I would like to update you regarding some of the changes in contact information for the DC Public School system. Presently, the Office of the Chancellor, newly confirmed Michelle Rhee, is located at 825 North Capitol Street, NE. The telephone number there is 442-5885. The State Board of Education has now moved to 441 4th Street, NW.  There telephone number is 724-7863.  Deborah Gist is now the State Superintendent for DCPS.  Her office telephone number is 727-6436.  Presently, the position of Ombudsman has not been filled, but I'm told the search is on. At our office, I am more than happy to assist with educational issues. I will also try to keep you informed as plans continue to evolve.  I'll see you on my next blog.  Bye, bye for now! 

Since July 6, 2007, when the Douglas Bridge project required the closing of South Capitol St south of M St., construction and other commercial trucks and Metro buses have been seen traveling through the neighborhood streets adjacent to South Capitol.  

DDOT announced on July 9, 2007 at the ANC 6D meeting that an agreement had been reached with the truck companies and the ANC that the new traffic pattern would keep trucks on the main arteries, namely M St., 4th and P Streets and off tight neighborhood streets such as Half and First.  Further, the maximum speed limit would be 20 miles per hour.  At that meeting, residents reported that there were already violators of that agreements and that Half St. SW was experiencing both speeding truck and bus traffic at all times of day and night.

After receiving numerous calls this week from SW residents on various SW streets, we went out to personally investigate and observe the new traffic patterns.

We discovered that DDOT has posted detour signs directing southbound traffic from M and South Capitol to N Street and then to Half Street ending at the new Metro bus parking lot on Half Street. across the P Street intersection. For northbound traffic, the signs directed traffic down First to M Street.  

The answer to why the truck and bus traffic were using these neighborhood streets became clear.  There were no signs directing trucks and buses to use the main arteries of 4th and P, south of M Street, although a traffic board in front of Fort McNair on P St. stated that trucks must drive at 25 miles per hour in this residential area.

Upon contacting Ms. Kathleen Penney of DDOT, she was very apologetic about the DDOT mix up as evidenced by the misplaced detour signsand acted quickly.  She responded the next day with a status report that the new signs would be put up the following day, and that she would drive through herself that evening to confirm the change.

Now we are hearing from residents of their concern with the trucks coming down M St to 4th St. to P St.  Unfortunately, given the other road closures, this temporary detour is the plan for the next month or two until the Douglas Bridge project is completed in early September.

Commander Diane Grooms has asked PSA 104 to give added vigilance to truck and bus compliance with the detour routes and the  lower speed limits.  If residents do see these large vehicles continuing to violate these terms, please advise us of specific bus numbers and company names and license plates of trucks.  We will pass the information on to DDOT for follow up with Metro and the companies.

Another traffic detour related to the Douglas Bridge construction is encountered on Washington Avenue SE near the U.S. House offices.  The South Capitol street closing requires traffic traveling south on Washington Avenue to make a left turn at D Street. and make a u-turn eastbound on D Street, or enter on the access ramp to the northbound 395 freeway.

Concern has been expressed about the added congestion on D Street as well as the possibility of being ticketed for making an illegal u-turn at that intersection. There are not any real options to this detour due to a variety of reasons including security in the area.  Commander Groomes has been advised of the emergency and temporary nature of the required u-turn and it is not expected that any one making that turn during the next month will be ticketed.

Hopefully, the summer months will go fast and the beautiful renewed Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge will be completed sooner than planned.