No matter whether you get around by car, segway, public transportation, or your own two feet – everybody in this neighborhood deserves to have safe access to move around the community. As ANC, I will work alongside advocates and neighbors that have been doing this work for a long time, using evidence and data-based solutions to calm traffic and make our roads and passageways easier and safer to navigate. This looks like: working with DDOT and other agencies to install infrastructure and traffic safety measures like more 4-way stops, curb bump-outs, raised crosswalks, and HAWK signals. With multiple schools within the ANC, I will work alongside DDOT’s Safe Routes to School program to ensure all kids and families get to and from school safely. Some of our roads are in desperate needs of road diets (South Dakota Ave, Taylor Street, 18th Street and more) to make it safer for both pedestrians and drivers to navigate the roadways. I will work alongside CM Parker’s Office to advocate for the right funding and planning to make our streets safer and decrease car traffic (in turn making our air better!).

I’ve often said that DC loves a good ribbon cutting, but is no where to be found 6 months later when deterioration starts to set in. While maintenance is not the sexiest of topics, it’s an important focus that also ties to safety and equity of our neighbors. We deserve to have our local tax dollars go towards ensuring playgrounds are safe, clean, and accessible. This looks like keeping Dwight Mosley playground up to working conditions (water fountains, mowed lawns, playground equipment that isn’t broken), and sidewalks smooth and clear. I will work with local officials, DGS and DPR to ensure our ANC’s amenities and facilities stay clean, safe, and in working condition.

“We’re all in this together. Once we know that we are, we’re all stars and we see that…We’re all in this together…” Cheesey former Disney Channel Movies aside, I am a huge believer in community over competition, building stronger networks, and the power of the people. Our neighborhood is diverse in many ways and it has also been rapidly changing – I recognize that and acknowledge that I have been a part of this change. And I also know that change for many folx can be scary or hard, but getting to know each other, building community and finding common ground can be a truly positive force. The power of community for me has looked like: joining the PTO, forming a rapid response team with neighbors throughout Ward 5, building a community garden in our front yard, routinely buying groceries for a neighbor that could use some extra support, hosting live music to spread joy to neighbors, shoveling our elder neighbors’ sidewalks without being asked …. and so much more. I’d love to use my position as an ANC to build real infrastructure and systems of hyperlocal mutual aid to bridge the gap between those that have and those that need.