ANC Report: Plans Fall Flat Due to Budget Uncertainty
By • April 7, 2025 0 322
The “April” meeting of the Georgetown-Burleith Advisory Neighborhood Commission, held on March 31, delivered two bits of good news.
The first was regarding public safety. There were no violent crimes to report, announced Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Danielle Vitatoe. She then added that she had no information about a robbery that had reportedly occurred that afternoon, just before the meeting. “Get back to you when I know more,” she said.
The second bit was the news that former ANC 2E chair Rick Murphy had accepted the position of co-chair of the Georgetown Community Partnership. The commissioners also applauded retiring co-chair Ron Lewis, who had helped the Partnership grow into a model of town-gown cooperation since 2012.
The rest of the meeting consisted mainly of routine updates. Reports from the offices of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto fell somewhat flat due to the District’s current state of financial uncertainty.
Ironically, Georgetown residents have been encouraged by city officials to share ideas for fiscal 2026 budget planning sessions via a link called “how to shape the future of D.C.” This seemed particularly premature since no one knows for sure how this year’s budget will end up. The hoped-for reinstatement of some $1 billion that was removed by Congress due to missing language has to await Congress’s return around April 8. The prevailing opinion was that the funds would be restored.
The nearly final report of the Georgetown Transportation Access and Circulation Study remains delayed. The District Department of Transportation would let the ANC know if there had been any significant changes. The lack of a stop sign at 35th Street and Dent Place was noted (it has been that way for years). Some commissioners insisted that the report contain commitments from DDOT not to use flex posts anywhere in Georgetown to designate where lanes divide.
Once again, commissioners politely requested an update from the mayor’s outreach coordinator on the failure by the Department of Public Works to pick up the neighborhood’s deteriorating bags of leaves, despite numerous communications. “Now we’re looking at spring yard waste that must be dragged through homes without a backyard alleyway to the street,” commented Commissioner Paul Maysak.
Progress has been made on Council member Pinto’s Peace DC plan, an extension of Secure DC, her successful public safety plan, instituted last year. The plan’s four goals are to end recidivism, support public safety workshops, prevent violence and strengthen neighborhood “harmony.” However, “nothing is fully funded,” said Pinto spokesperson Brian Romanowski.
A presentation was made by CommuniKids to support and maintain public funding for bilingual pre-K programs for toddlers.
The list of some 16 liquor license renewal applications, to be approved by the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, included applicants ranging from Thunder Burger to the Four Seasons. The renewed licenses will follow the same, previously agreed-upon parameters. Any objections should be submitted in writing. Of note: Green Almond Pantry and Grace Street Coffee Roasters, both at 3210 Grace St. NW, hope to extend their closing time from 9 p.m. to midnight.
After the formal meeting ended, relatively early, a long, informal discussion about street barriers and parking in a newly energized Georgetown began — to be continued at future meetings.
