February 2017 Circulation 12,000 FREE Published by the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc
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Find us online at TheSouthwester.com, or The @TheSouthwester @TheSouthwester /thesouthwesterdc Serving the Waterfront Communities of Southwest and Navy Yard SouthwesterCopyright © 2017 Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc., All rights reserved. February 2017 Circulation 12,000 FREE Published by the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc. (SWNA) — a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation. Women’s March Descends on D.C. 750,000 people turn out to protest the incoming president. The Women’s March on Washington drew three times the inauguration crowd size and began in Southwest. Photos by Shannon Vaughn Making SWNA Work for Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Southwest By: Bruce Levine, President, SWNA personal knowledge only extends back three Articles of Incorporation (described below), a non-member nonprofit corporation. Quite years—the duration of my residence here— that the “District representative” concept no simply, this would mean that residents of It has been some time since I last wrote but as a student of our history, I have learned longer works well, in practice and perhaps not Southwest would no longer vote for the board. a “president’s column.” As we enter 2017, I from colleagues on the board and others in even in theory. Finally, many of the younger Frankly, in the last election, out of more than first want to extend the best wishes of the the community just how much SWNA has people whom we have recruited to our orga- 12,000 residents eligible to vote, fewer than Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA) contributed to the community. nization (and others of all ages) and with 150 did (~1%), and this was after a con- board to all members of our community for a Times have changed, however, and we whom I have spoken have made it clear that certed effort to “get out the vote.” Although fulfilling, healthy, and happy year. have had difficulty recruiting board mem- getting immersed in the administrative details there may be additional means of pumping During my nearly two-year term as presi- bers and enticing our “members”—i.e. all of of running a nonprofit is not of interest to up the vote totals, engaging in the process dent of SWNA, it has become increasingly you—to vote. Significant effort has been put them—they are however, eager to get involved of attracting candidates and then promoting clear to me that our venerable organization, in by certain of our board members to recruit in action projects (which we call “task forces”) and conducting voting is not something that so valuable to Southwest for so many years, folks to join, but this has had limited success. that do not require attendance at numerous our board members feel is worth their effort. is in need of a structural overhaul. As you Moreover, these recruiting efforts are time meetings throughout the year. Instead, our task forces will be our face and may know, all adults 18 years of age and older consuming and distracting from our ability to At our January board meeting, after sev- actively work to better Southwest. residing in zip code 20024 are members of actually do the work of enhancing the qual- eral months’ worth of consideration, our We did not take the vote lightly to become SWNA and eligible to vote for officers and ity of life in Southwest, which is our stated board passed two resolutions that we now a non-member organization but we feel that board members. Every two years, our com- mission and the reason most of our members ask you, as members, to approve. We believe doing this is the only way to ensure there is a munity elects four officers, and two “District joined the board. that amending our Articles will enable us to path forward for SWNA. If you as members representatives” each from four districts in When board positions have become open become a more efficient and effective group approve the change, you would enable the cur- Southwest that relate to, but are not within because of attrition, some have not been filled in enhancing the quality of life for residents rent board to select the new board in March, the same boundaries as, the ANC districts. for years. Significantly, it is my view and that of Southwest. as opposed to conducting elections across the This arrangement has served SWNA and of the overwhelming majority of our board, The first amendment would change SWNA community. Southwest well for decades. The extent of my who joined me in voting for changes to our from a membership nonprofit corporation to See “SWNA” page 4 Page 2 The Southwester February 2017 Jacqueline Walker [email protected] Renderings by Studio 27 Architecture. Renderings by Studio 27 WE KNOW OUR STUFF. The Short-Term Family Housing project as seen from the north side. The Short-Term Family Housing project as seen from I St. SW. Which helps when we’re insuring yours. Design Unveiled for Ward 6 Short-Term Great coverage, rates and insurance advice from Nationwide®. Family Housing Program n Feb. 2016, Mayor Muriel Bowser replace the enormous decrepit shelter with Care Clinic. The site is owned by the city, an announced an ambitious plan to close smaller shelters in all of the city’s eight wards. important point for the DC City Council to DC General, a previously shuttered hos- In Ward 6, the Short-Term Family Housing consider while reviewing the proposed plans. Ipital now serving as the largest family shelter location is planned for 850 Delaware Ave. SW, in the District for the past seven years, and which is the current site of the Unity Health JACQUELINE A WALKER AGENCY 420 8th St. SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 548-5240 PSA 105 Meeting Notes By:Georgine Wallace, Crime Statistics Safety Tips PSA 105 Community Facilitator The following crime statistics were pulled Lt. Williams cautioned attendees at the ©2006 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Nationwide Life Insurance Company. Home office: from crimemap.dc.gov for the time parameter November meeting but a reminder is warranted: Columbus, Ohio 43215-2220. Nationwide, the Nationwide he December PSA 105 meeting took Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Not available Nov. 16 to Dec. 14. • Put away phones when you walk even dur- in all states. place on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016. Lt. Williams was unable to cover the First District Summary ing the day and when walking a dog. This is Tmeeting. Officer Charles (CJ) Smith repre- a crime of opportunity and can even occur The First District saw a small decrease in on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Be aware of sented the Metropolitan Police Department violent crime (56 last month, 55 in this 30-day your surroundings. The (MPD) at the meeting. Seventeen community period) over the last 30 days. Theft from members were in attendance. auto crimes decreased slightly but remains an • If you are using Uber, stay inside of a build- Update on Neighborhood issue. Burglaries decreased from 19 to 18 this ing in a well-lit area until your transporta- Southwester tion arrives. People are being mugged while Criminal Activity month. Circulation 12,000 waiting for an Uber. PSA 105 Send submissions and questions to The Officer Smith informed the group that • If you feel uneasy walking home at night Southwester by e-mail at editor@thesouthwester. arrests had been made in the holiday pack- Assault with 2 cases with a gun call Uber or call for a police car. Criminals com. Submissions for each monthly issue are age theft ring active in the Navy Yard area. have no sense of death and view mortality due on the 15th of the preceding month. Dangerous Weapon 4 cases with He assured the group that the crime rate was like a video game. For advertising information and rates, see lower but reminded attendees that the crimes another type of • To deter theft from your automobile, www.thesouthwester.com/advertising.pdf occurring are crimes of opportunity. He urged weapon remove valuables from sight through the or contact [email protected] the group not to walk alone at night or look Robberies 3 Robberies without windows, make sure the windows are up, Remittance address for ad payments only is: down while using their cell phones as it pres- a gun and lock your car. Report break-ins to The Southwester ents such an opportunity. 0 robberies with a MPD immediately. Also, if you have a secu- P.O. Box 70131 • Washington, DC 20024 Officer Smith then proceeded to have an rity camera on your home, let police know open discussion with the group where he gun Southwester Staff you might have footage of a crime that has asked whether anyone had questions or con- Theft from Auto 42 thefts recorded Editor Emeritus: Dale MacIver happened. This often helps them identify cerns. The 300 block of O Street, the gate in last 30-day Editor-in-Chief: Shannon Vaughn suspects to obtain arrest warrants. Editorial Staff: Julia Cole (Copy & Web); at River Park, loitering behind Edgewater period but 18 in this The February PSA meeting will take Maya Renee (Calendar) Condominium in the evening, and cell phone period place on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at Donna Purchase (On-line Calendar) thefts were issues presented to Officer Smith. Burglaries 5 reported cases Distribution: Perry Klein His knowledge of 105 impressed many in the Town Square Towers, 700 7th Street, SW. Design & Layout: Electronic Ink group. There’s guest parking in the alley behind Printer: Silver Communications the building. The Southwester is published and distributed by the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly For Southwest Neighborhood Assembly Visit Grant Hall on Fort McNair! financial reports, please see http://goo.gl/pQYCd oint Base Myer-Henderson Hall announc- the free event.