As you may have heard, DC is in the midst of the redistricting of its Ward lines and recent reports suggest that the 3 member Redistricting Subcommittee is prepared to recommend lopping off the eastern parts of Ward 6 and adding them to Ward 7, which needs to increase in size due to its relatively reduced size in the recent census. The latest report is that 17th Street will become the arbitrary dividing line spliting the area on the east side of the street from the rest of Capitol Hill and Ward 6. Among other things, using this dividing line would place Eastern High School ("the Pride of Capitol Hill") outside Ward 6, which is the Ward that encompasses Capitol Hill. If you agree that this plan makes little sense, you may be interested in attending a rally in Lincoln Park on Tuesday evening or contacting the Councilmembers who serve on the redistricting subcommittee whose info is listed in the below annoucement.
Join your friends and neighbors for the Rally to Keep Capitol Hill Together Tuesday, May 24, 2011. 5:45 p.m. — meet at Lincoln Park (plaza at 13th & East Capitol Sts. SE). Be ready to march to the Rally for Ward 6!
Contact DC Councilmembers on the Redistricting Subcommittee by Wed, May 25, 2011. Call or email the Councilmembers below to let them know your concerns:
• The schools, businesses, and community organizations on the Hill are tied together. Ward 7’s distinct neighborhoods have different priorities and interests.
• After all the work we have poured into improving schools (like Eastern High School), they will fall into the hands of a Councilmember who will struggle to represent them from across the river.
• Don’t let us become a community divided. If “contiguous” and “compact” are keywords to redistricting, Capitol Hill and Hill East fit the bill — keeping neighborhoods like ours intact should be a key part of the process.
Michael Brown (I-At-Large), Co-Chair. Phone: 202-724-8105 Email: mbrown@dccouncil.us
Co-Chair Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Co-Chair, Phone: 202-724-8058 Email: jackevans@dccouncil.us
Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) Phone: 202-724-8064 Email: pmendelson@dccouncil.us
If you have questions, contact Brian Flahaven, ANC 6B09 Commissioner, at brianf6b09@anc6b.org or 202-658-9447.
To learn more about the redistricting issue, visit DC Council’s redistricting website for additional information on the process: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/redistricting2011info. Keep Hill East united with the rest of Capitol Hill in Ward 6
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Finally, some common sense! We need everyone out so the council doesn't hand us over to Ward 7!
ReplyDeleteWell, common sense hasn't really prevailed since 2001, when neighbors in Kingman Park were handed over to Ward 7 without much consideration. While it seems unlikely at this point that we will rejoin our neighbors in Ward 6, when you make the arguments for "contiguous", "compact" communities, please cast a thought our way.
ReplyDeleteA neighbor to the East.
ward 7's size did not decrease during the recent census.
ReplyDeleteit grew.
it simply didn't grow as fast as the city as a whole, which is why it needs to add population.
just correcting a common error.
IMGoph,
ReplyDeleteThanks -- I know you're right and have inserted the word "relative" into the post to clarify that point.
so where do you think ward 7 should expand to?
ReplyDeleteI'm concerned about Eastern High School and like the fact that Tommy Wells has made it such a high priority. But if Eastern goes into Ward 7, Wells still would have many constituents with a stake in Eastern, and presumably there would now be another Council member who would support it. Might that actually be better for the high school? Just asking.
ReplyDeleteVery good point, and then we would have a councilmember who is never in our area acting as its guardian. It sounds like what DC already deals with in Congress. Ward 7 should really expand into Ward 5, it is the most logical change.
ReplyDeleteThe Rally is RAIN OR SHINE!
why would expanding into ward five be the most logical? the Eastern part of ward five that it would expand to is not as populated as the area of ward 6 that is up for redistricting. Isnt the entire point of the redistricting to increase the population of ward 7?
ReplyDeleteThe rally tonight has press coverage coming out, you should too...we expect ABC, WAMU, FOX, Examiner and maybe the Wash Post.
ReplyDelete