FRIENDSHIP-TENLEYTOWN CITIZENS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
And
COMMUNITY-WIDE TRAFFIC FORUM
From: Kay McClenon <kayandpaul@erols.com>
Tuesday, June 18, 7:15 p.m.
Tenley Library
Guest Speaker Wil DerMinassian, Associate Director, Traffic Services
Administration

He will speak on traffic issues in the following communities west of
Reno Road/34th Street:  Friendship Heights, Tenleytown, American
University Park, Cleveland Park, North Cleveland Park. There will be
special emphasis on Wisconsin Avenue traffic.

All Area Residents are invited to attend.
 

-----------------
 
 

EXCERPTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER PATTERSON'S NEWSLETTER
[The following was heavily edited by me. For a complete newsletter,
contact
Penny Pegano -- KS]

From: "Pagano, Penny (COUNCIL)" <Ppagano@dccouncil.washington.dc.us>
Email:  KPATTERSON@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
Penny Pagano  (202) 724-8064

June 7, 2002
Email Newsletter #6
 

Mayor Signs Omnibus Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002

On Monday, June 3, Mayor Anthony Williams signed into law the Omnibus
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002. The legislation makes it a crime to commit
an act of terrorism in the District and also defines crimes associated
with the manufacture, possession or use of a weapon of mass destruction.
"With this legislation, the District becomes the nation's first
jurisdiction to recognize the increased level of danger in the work of
our firefighters and emergency medical personnel. We make clear that
anyone who brings harm to these public safety workers will meet the most
severe penalties under District law, as is already the case with members
of the Metropolitan Police Department.
 

"Anti-terror act allows mayor to quarantine" which strengthens the
mayor's authority to order detentions, quarantines and medical
examinations.
 

Civil Commitment bill passes Council of the District of Columbia

The council has sent a civil commitment bill to Mayor Williams that
stresses a
civil rather than criminal approach to the problem.
 

Private School Expansion Task Force Created

"Ms. Patterson has asked Palisades resident Cary Ridder and Forest Hills
resident Gary Stevens to co-chair her task force. Both have children who
have attended private schools and therefore are aware of the schools'
contributions to the community. Both have also opposed private school
expansions, so they are aware of the problems the schools can bring to
their neighborhoods.
 

Hearings About Police Deployment

"The Judiciary Committee will hold a new round of hearings in early July
on issues affecting police deployment throughout the city. Questions to
be asked: "Should the police service areas be redrawn?  "What are the
response times? How can we make it easier to sign up police reservists?

In her remarks at last week's meeting of the 2nd District Citizens
Advisory Council, Patterson praised increased cooperation between the
Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office that has
reduced the amount of court overtime by 40 percent, an important step in
getting more officers on the street. The next task, Patterson said, is
development of an on-call system for officers who are needed in traffic
and misdemeanor cases."
 

"Council Tiring of Mayor's Stall on Tow Reforms"

The city has new tow trucks but D.C. Council members are saying
residents have waited too long for promised regulations to clean up
fraud in the city's private towing industry. The reforms have not yet
materialized.
 

Disclosure Law to Benefit Tenants Introduced

The purpose of the legislation is to "ensure that tenants have all of
the relevant information to make an informed decision when considering
whether or not to rent an apartment. A key aspect of that decision is
whether an apartment is, and is likely to remain, affordable. This
legislation will assist tenants by giving them access to the important
information pertaining to rent control laws that is now available to
landlords." Specifically, the Tenants' Rights to Information Act of 2002
will require
that tenants have access to information about the applicable base rent
and applicable rent ceiling, unimplemented rent adjustments, pending or
contemplated petitions for rent ceiling or base rent increases as well
as how often rent increases may be implemented and the rent control or
exempt status of the building. The legislation also requires landlords
to disclose any outstanding housing code violations, and to provide
tenants with information about laws and regulations pertaining to
restrictions on rent
increases when housing code violations exist.
 

Update on College Savings Plan

The District will have a College Savings Plan in place by the end of the
year, according to the city's Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi. The
plan - also known as the "529 Plan" for the section of the Internal
Revenue Code where such plans are approved - will permit District
families to save money in a special college savings account on behalf of
a beneficiary's qualified higher education expenses. In the program,
contributions are tax deductible for state income tax purposes, and the
earnings are exempt from state taxation altogether as long as the funds
are spent for the named beneficiary's education expenses.

For more information, contact Brenda Mathis in the Finance Office. She
is compiling a list of interested residents and account owners. Her
number is 727-0780 and her email is Brenda.Mathis@dc.gov
 

Update on Tenleytown Firehouse

In response to inquiries about where the Engine 20 equipment will go as
construction begins on the new Tenleytown firehouse, current plans are
for Engine 20 equipment - the pumper and hook and ladder - will be
housed at Engine 31 on Connecticut Avenue while the ambulance will go to
Engine 29 on MacArthur Boulevard.  I have been in touch with officials
at the Washington Naval District about using the Naval Security Station
on Nebraska Avenue near Ward Circle for Engine 20, one of the options
recommended earlier by community leaders.
 

Upcoming Hearings:

Tuesday, June 11,  3:00 pm
Council Chamber, Room 412
The John Wilson Building -- 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
         The Committee on Public Works and the Environment chaired by
Councilmember Carol Schwartz, of which I am a member, will hold a public
oversight roundtable on the Department of Motor Vehicles' Destiny
Computer
System. The roundtable has been scheduled to provide an opportunity for
citizens to comment on their experiences at DMV since the debut of DMV's
new Destiny computer system. The Committee has received an inordinate
number of
phone calls and e-mails since Destiny's debut.  Those wishing to testify
should contact Ms Adrienne Carter of the Committee on Public Works and
the Environment by phone at 724-8105 or by email at
acarter@dccouncil.washington.dc.us.

Copies of written statements should be submitted to Ms. Phyllis
Jones, Secretary to the Council, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 5,
Washington, DC 20004, no later than 5:30 pm on Thursday, June 20, 2002.
 

Wednesday, June 13
12 Noon
Council Chamber, Room 412
The John Wilson Building - 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
        The Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Councilmember Kathy
Patterson and the Committee on Public Works and the Environment, chaired
by
Councilmember Carol Schwartz will hold a joint public hearing on "The
Use
of Video Technology in Police Surveillance and Traffic Control." Those
who wish to testify should contact Patrick Norton, Legislative Assistant
to the Committee on the Judiciary at 724-7808 by June 10, 2002. The
public is also encouraged to send copies of any written statements to
Ms. Phyllis Jones, Secretary to the Council, Suite 5, John A. Wilson
Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. The record
will officially close on June 27, 2002.
 

Upcoming events in Ward 3

Saturday, June 8  -- Avalon Theatre Project's Ninth Avalon Saturday on
the
Avenue from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm in front of the Avalon Theatre at 5612
Connecticut Avenue.

Saturday, June 8  -- Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut
Avenue,
Book Fair to benefit Avalon Theatre Project with 20% of sales going to
the
Project.

Sunday, June 9 -- 12 Noon to 5:00 pm. Politics and Prose Bookstore's
Annual
Used Book Sale in parking lot behind the store. Avalon Theatre Project
will
sell donated videos with proceeds benefiting the Avalon.

Saturday,  June 8 (Rain Date: June 15) --  McLean Gardens Spring Yard
Sale
8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Porter Street, NW (two blocks west of Wisconsin
Avenue)
Joint yard sale for McLean Gardens residents.

Saturday, June 8 - 12 Noon to 4:00 pm Hearst Elementary School's Annual
Spring Fair.  Hearst Park and Recreation Center, 3950 37th Street, NW

Sunday, June 30 --  DC Day at the Washington National Cathedral.  Mayor
Williams will be the guest preacher and Councilmember Patterson will
read a
scripture lesson.
 

--END--