Neighborhood Notes - Foxhall: 13 June 2001

Media coverage of D.C. Council’s Ward Redistricting process did not provide sufficient specifics for readers in the “Georgetown Current” delivery area. Councilor Mendelson’s subcommittee has slightly amended Plan H to what is now called Plan C.O.W. (for Council of the Whole). Ward 3 has been further shrunk by moving even more of the Chevy Chase area into Ward 4, with the argument that it will now have two councilor’s representing it.

However, Ward 3 is still 2,211 people above 71,507 target average, and Ward 2 is still 2,671 below. So how come 2,806 population of the entire Foxhall Community Citizen Association’s area (Census Tract 8.2) are still proposed to move from Ward 2 to Ward 3? This despite Palisades Citizen Association’s request for only the part west of Foxhall Rd to be moved back, leaving 1,102 people still in Ward 2. Based on 300+ actual signatures obtained by FCCA, there is strong support for those living east of Foxhall Road to stay within Ward 2, plus unanimous support by ANC2E. Making this split would bring Ward 3 to 1.55% above target and Ward 2 to 2.19% below, well below 5% maximum deviation allowed.

Apart the city statistician’s view about not splitting tracts (although many other tracts already are, notably Tract 3.1 which contains Glover Park and Burleith already split between Ward 2 and Ward 3), making this split has benefit of gaining access to both Kathy Patterson and Jack Evans, and retaining ANC2E representation, while bringing a Georgetown Reservoir talent pool into ANC3D.

 FCCA has asked in writing if ANC2E’s boundaries will be allowed to cross ward boundaries. Lacking any definitive answer from Council on this issue, and no sign of proposed legislation on cross-Ward residential parking rights, why not split Census Tract 8.2?