Following months of frustration and “lack of engagement” from District government agencies, commissioners are shifting focus from their unanswered Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to advocacy.
Last fall, commissioners submitted several FOIA requests to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) concerning National Guard activity and immigration enforcement across the city. To date, they have not received a response.
In June, commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution expressing concern about the National Guard presence and immigration enforcement in the neighborhood. The resolution, and associated press release, called for an end to the postings and patrols. “We’re done with FOIA and we’re on to advocacy informed by FOIA,” secretary Andrew Hayes said at the July meeting.
Hayes expressed the commissioners’ “disappointment” with the “state of cooperation between the city and federal government” and said the commission is now eagerly awaiting “substantive responses” to its resolution, not the FOIA requests.
Hayes remains hopeful that the agencies will respond and work with commissioners to modify patrols to be “less burdensome” for community members. Despite the lack of direct response to the inquiries, Hayes is encouraged by the mayor’s office, which has “repeatedly disavowed cooperation with local immigration enforcement.” The commission took no vote on this matter.
Other Matters
Commissioner Hayes will step down from his position following the July meeting due to relocation outside of his single member district (SMD). Hayes plans to support the commission in a “secretary-type role” through the end of the year. Chair Wirt noted that, depending on the needs for secretary-specific responsibilities, commissioners may elect a new secretary at the September meeting.
The commission voted to:
- support the Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA) permit application for a cargo bike warehouse installation at 640 Orleans Pl. NE that would take up a single parking space;
- approve a $7,000 grant to J.O. Wilson Elementary School for a homecoming event to celebrate the return from a temporary swing space to the newly renovated school in September;
- support an application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) to allow special exceptions for rear addition, occupancy, a residential conversion to construct a third story plus cellar rear addition, as well as convert a two-story existing dwelling to a three-unit apartment building.
Commissioners Jeremiah Foxwell (6C01), Karen Wirt (6C02, chair), Jay Adelstein (6C03, treasurer), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04, vice chair), Daniela McInerney (6C05) and Andrew Hayes (6C06, secretary) attended the ANC 6C commission meeting on Wednesday, July 8. Commissioner Tony Goodman (6C07) was absent.
ANC 6C will not meet in August. The commission will meet next on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., via WebEx. Learn more about the commission and register to attend at www.anc6c.org.
