Jerry Malitz
Commissioner
ANC 3G-05

"Building Local Engagement"

NEWS & STORIES

ANC3/4G ADOPTS COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY PLAN

As reported previously ANC3/4G convened a small task force to examine our communication strategies. The goal was to optimize and promote greater accessibility, timeliness, efficiency and transparency in communicating to neighbors. As part of this we developed a 2 question survey for residents to help inform our decision-making process. Both questions allowed the respondent to check all that apply. The percentages reflect the number of responses we received for each option from our 160 respondents.  The final report is structured by presenting the following: Driving Concepts, Questions That Were Addressed, Current Communication Vehicles Used and Notable User Statistics, Outreach Questions, Essential Characteristics for a Strong Responsive Website, Recommendations, and Survey Results. The full results and recommendations are available in the final report. Thank you to all those who responded to the survey. Your assistance helped to quantify and augment the other analyses that took place which are fully described in the 7 page report. 


Survey highlights include: 

  • We asked on which social media platforms or discussion vehicles would you prefer to receive information. The top choices were: the Chevy Chase [Community] Listserv 57.5%, NextDoor 39.4%, Facebook 22.5%, Other (23 wrote in email) 15.6%, and the Chevy Chase Google Group 14.4%
  • We asked what features and topics people were interested in. The top 5 choices were: Neighborhood Topics and Issues 82.5%, Calendar of Events 75.6%, Agendas of Upcoming and Past Meetings 67.5%, Community Resources 57.5%, and What's New 55.6%. 


Nine recommendations are included in the report all embracing the notion that effective organizational strategies rely on messages being delivered multiple times in various ways to have the most impact. Not everybody receives information the same way and different messages require different methods of delivery.  Using multiple channels (e.g. website, newsletters, social media, etc.) to communicate with constituents and others will increase the odds that information is understood and received in a timely fashion. 


HAPPY HOURS, SPECIALS & MUSIC AT CHEVY CHASE D.C. EATERIES
Here in Chevy Chase D.C. we are fortunate to have several fine establishments for our dining pleasure. Most of them also have various Happy Hours, Specials, and Live Music. These establishments are within a three block segment of Connecticut Avenue between Livingston and McKinley. No doubt many of us have frequented them on occasion. In addition to dining these other specials of which we can avail ourselves at these eateries range in time throughout the day and span every day of the week. Here is the current lowdown on what you can expect for Happy Hours/Specials along Connecticut Ave. in Chevy Chase as well as who has live music on certain days of the week.


Blue 44 - Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 5-7pm. Beer, wine, cocktails and rail drink specials. Anywhere in the bar area (some tables included).
Chevy Chase Lounge - Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 4-7pm. Cocktails, beer, wine, and rail drink specials. Also, for all NFL games on Sunday, Monday and Thursday night drink and appetizer specials. Anywhere in the bar area (all tables included).
Little Beast - Late Night Happy Hour: Daily: Sunday-Saturday 8-10:30pm. Beer, wine and cocktail specials. At the bar only. Also, every Thursday night (8:30-11pm) is 1/2 price bottles of wine throughout the restaurant. Additionally, every Thursday from 8-10:30pm they have a different local music group performing with styles ranging from Bossa Nova to jazz. Their music series is curated by Thad Wilson, a DC-based jazz trumpeter and all events are free to the public.
Macon - Summer Happy Hour: Sunday-Thursday 4-7pm. Snacks, beer, wine and cocktail specials at the patio and bar only. Also, every Monday night 1/2 price bottles of wine throughout the restaurant. 
The Avenue - Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 3-7pm. Beer, wine and cocktail specials. Throughout the bar area (bar tables included). Also, Wednesday nights 1/2 price bottles of wine throughout the restaurant. Additionally, there is now live music every Thursday night and most Friday nights starting around 8:30pm. Recently they have also had a piano player (Spenser Bates) Thursday during happy hour followed by their regular acoustic singer/songwriter Sean Chyun. Occasionally on weekends they also have local bands upstairs in their Loft. All music is free to the public unless otherwise noted.


Enjoy what our neighborhood has to offer (information current as of 7/1/2019).

JULY 8TH ANC3/4G MEETING ON YOUTUBE

Video of the July 8th  regular meeting of ANC 3/4G is available to view on YouTube.  Major items discussed:

  • Presentation by the Office of Campaign Finance (OCF) on DC's new Public Funding Program. 
  • Presentation and vote on a resolution to rename Lafayette Park to Lafayette-Pointer Park.
  • Presentations by Pepco and the Office of People’s Counsel on Pepco’s proposed rate increase.
  • Discussion and vote on resolution supporting Mayor Bowser’s statement on President Trump’s threat to arrest and remove immigrant residents.


JULY NEWSLETTER

The July 2019 Issue of WHAT'S GOING ON: NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS & BEYOND is now available on-line.  This edition is coming out a few days early in anticipation of expected holiday travel plans for many readers. This issue contains lots of neighborhood information on items such as: Updates concerning 5301 and 5303 Conn. Ave., a new local newspaper, DDOT paving plans and parking restrictions, an upcoming meeting on the modernization of the Lafayette Recreation Center, and a newly adopted ANC3/4G communications strategy (see full report). To directly receive future issues via email please subscribe. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.


NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT: LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

On March 26th DDOT held a public meeting to discuss their Neighborhood Traffic Safety Assessment for the Lafayette Elementary School area. ANC 3/4G was represented at the meeting by Commissioner Rebecca Maydak. This public meeting was followed up by an ANC3/4G meeting on April 22 where the following proposals were discussed in detail. Please view this video for the most recent updates. Items discussed included: 

  • Add backstop signs to the existing stop signs so that they have signs on both sides of the pole increasing visibility.
  • Raise the crosswalk at Broad Branch and Northampton an additional 4" (it is currently not in compliance for a raised sidewalk).
  • Add "No thru traffic" at alleyway on Northampton to prevent cars from unsafely cutting through it so they do not have to go through the intersection.

More controversial proposals included:

  • Speed humps on Northhampton.
  • Taking away all the parking on the school side of the street for the entire block of Northampton.
  • Making Northampton a one-way street (it would involve more than one block because traditionally DDOT wants to make it one way from a more major street than 33rd).
  • Removing E6 bus stops at the intersection of Broad Branch and Northampton.
  • Re-routing E6 to Nevada from Broad Branch. 


The entire presentation by DDOT can be found here. WMATA also attended the meeting and said they need to do community outreach with our ANC before they do anything. 

On Monday April 22 this topic was the focus of the ANC 3/4G public meeting.  Based on this discussion, the Commission supported the limited changes that DDOT proposed (better signage and an increased height for the crosswalk at Northampton Street and Broad Branch Road) but by a vote of 7 to 0 it opposed WMATA’s proposal to reroute the E6 bus from Broad Branch Road to Nevada Avenue and urged WMATA to investigate other alternatives to the current route on Broad Branch Road.