Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C met March 23, 2025 virtually and in-person. Present wer: Jeremiah Foxwell (6C01), Karen Wirt (6C02, chair); Jay Adelstein (6C03, treasurer); Mark Eckenwiler (6C04, vice-chair); Daniela McInerney (6C05); Andrew Hayes (6C06, secretary) and Tony Goodman (6C07).
In the context of a discussion around a $100 website security payment, the ANC discussed contingency planning in the interest of preserving the ANC information in case the of District Home Rule are altered or even repealed.
“These are awkward times in the District of Columbia,” Commissioner Adelstein said as he moved the funds be approved.
The ANC met after the Senate introduced and ed a bill restoring $1.1 billion in funding to the District’s FY 2025 budget. It was needed as earlier the same day, the Senate ed a House continuing resolution (CR) allowing the federal government to continue to operate under its budget for the previous fiscal year. But that CR included DC as a federal agency, essentially making it illegal for the District to spend the difference between its FY2024 and FY2025 budgets. The federal government is behind in approving its FY2025 budget; DC is already 6 months into FY2025 spending. The FY2025 DC budget was finalized in June 2024 and received Congressional approval that summer.
As of the date of ANC 6C meeting, the House was in recess and had not considered the Senate’s DC budget restoration bill. The House must the Senate bill in order for it to become law.
Commissioners from other ANCs are also discussing contingency planning in light of renewed Congressional interest in District governance, Chair Wirt noted. The ANC is providing website back up and is considering alternate forms of communication if their government Outlook email s are terminated. They will also prioritize disbursing grants in consideration of the possibility of changes to or termination of ANC funding.
Modifications to Sixth and K Street
The Committee voted to a District Department of Transportation (DDOT) notice of intent (NOI) for a project to make modifications to parking and traffic patterns at Sixth and K Streets NE. The ANC recommended DDOT move an electrical box to provide an ADA-compliant sidewalk as part of the project. Commissioners heard testimony from community concerned about the impact of this project on parking. The Commission considered delaying its input to allow for more time to look into parking issues but given the short timeline before its input was due decided to submit the comments of the ANC Transportation and Public Space (TPS) Committee to the agency.
In Other Business
The ANC voted to send a letter to DDOT in of road closures linked to the Capitol Hill Classic, the race and fun run in of the Capitol Hill Cluster Schools. The race will be held May 18. It is the 44th year for the race, a 10K course that begins at Peabody Primary School on Stanton Park and takes runners past the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the Folger Shakespeare Library, before turning along East Capitol Street to run through Lincoln Park towards RFK Stadium and along the Whitney Young Bridge, before returning along the same route. After the 10K, a 3K and kids’ fun run will take place, centered on Stanton Park. Funds raised the Cluster School PTA, the parent organization for Peabody Primary School, Watkins Elementary and Stuart Hobson Middle School.
Commissioner McInerney appointed representatives to the following ANC 6C committees: Benjamin Ray (TPS), Annette Lee (Alcohol Cannabis Licensing, ACL) and Beth O’Connor (Planning, Zoning and Economic Development, or PZE).
DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education Presentation
Jenifer Souza Dodds, Assistant Ombudsman with the DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education, described the role of the office to the commission. The Ombudsman’s office operates under the DC State Board of Education umbrella. Their primary role is to assist families and schools in resolving concerns related to public education, using an informal conflict resolution approach.
The goal is to ensure equitable access to education by ing communication between families and schools, providing guidance on policies and procedures, working to address systemic issues when it comes to public education. The office has assisted over 6000 families in the last 10 years to navigate issues such as academic progress, attendance, safety, discipline and special education. The ombudsman’s office offers outreach and training opportunities, engages with the community through informational events and also through the DC Special Education Hub (specialeducation.dc.gov). Online and in-person trainings provide information and resources about special education for families and community .
The ombudsman also offers an informal conflict resolution approach for families in schools to foster open communication and problem solving between schools and families that can build trust and prioritize students’ best interests.
Finally, the office can provide guidance on existing policies and procedures and on strategies that can help community to resolve school related concerns, referring families and community to programs and other resources when necessary. Learn more at educationombudsman.dc.gov
ANC 6C generally meets via Webex on the second Wednesday of every month with the exception of August. The next meeting is scheduled for April 9. See the full calendar of meetings and instructions to at anc6c.org.
