Advocacy for livability and walkability

While I don't remember his exact words, an area blogger mentioned to me last night that now I am part of the system (at least through the end of this project) since I am working for a county government. It's kind of interesting, because while I write in a reasonably strident fashion, I am not comfortable with being direct and argumentative, unless people are so hypocritical or out and out misrepresenting-lying, so if my b.s. meter hits about 70% I end up speaking out.

(e.g., the time I described the transportation planning project that is resulting in what is now being built as the new H Street NE Streetscape as "faux urban renewal shopping mall aesthetic, [that] H Street is a real neighborhood not neighborhood 9 at Potomac Mills Shopping Center" and I went on to explain why their response to perceived problems with loss of traditional building stock [every place there are new buildings, for the most part what was there was destroyed in the 1968 riots] was extremely "flawed.")

For 20 years I have been bicycling transportationally. For 10 years I have had many roles as an involved citizen, advocate, grant writer, consultant, and commercial district improvement program manager. Now I work for government...

So when you're sitting on a board and someone says something so outlandish (i.e., the day when a board member of H Street Main Street argued that we should create and operate a retail business so we would understand and have empathy for businesspeople), if you blurt out "that's absolutely insane" because you can't help it (even though the correct response is "what an interesting idea" and then ignore it) because it is insane, you can kind of get away with it. (Well, eventually they kicked me off the board because they weren't into directness about our situation, but I ended up learning from that too.)

But you can't say stuff like that working for government, when you have to build relationships with other agencies in the Executive Branch of your government, as well as other agencies in surrounding jurisdictions and the State, as well as with legislators representing at all levels of government within your area of service.

The trick though is to think radically (see the field of "communicative planning" which is derived from the work of John Friedmann and is focused on building a radical planning discourse) rather than bureaucratically, while working practically and pragmatically to achieve the best possible outcomes, from that radical-progressive framework.

So when someone from the DPW says something that to me is "absolutely insane" I don't say it. I think it. And I figure out how to deal with the problems that the attitude causes, and lay out a long term course of action to change that policy and practice.

Anyway, while Councilmember Tommy Wells of Ward 6 doesn't have the luxury of always being doctrinaire because he has to answer to all too often extremely parochial constituents (a/k/a "people who vote, donate money, and work on campaigns"), the fact of the matter is that he is the only DC City Councilmember with an active platform and agenda focused on placemaking--walkability and biking as well as transit--improving the Ward's neighborhoods and advocating for better city policies, laws, and practices more generally.

Tommy Wells talking to campaign workers at the Hine School polling site, 2006.

Three years ago Councilmember Wells introduced annual awards for Livability, to call attention to the residents, civic groups, government employees, and others working to make Ward 6 (and to a lesser extent, the city) a better place to live, work, play and visit. The third set of awards, given out Monday night, shows the progress of the Councilmember's thinking and working on these issues. It's a great array of awards (I seem to recall the first event had three honorees).

From the Councilmember Tommy Wells Blog, "Tommy Hands Out 3rd Annual Livable, Walkable Awards":

Livable, Walkable Neighbor Award – Ms. Elizabeth Nelson

Elizabeth Nelson has spent the better part of two decades working to improve her neighborhood and community. In reviewing the nominations, one neighbor wrote that Elizabeth “personifies the livable, walkable ideal of public service”. Another wrote of her as an “ambassador for the North Lincoln Park neighborhood”. Noted Councilmember Wells, “Elizabeth has helped lead Trees for Capitol Hill – an effort that adds more tree canopies and shaded walks every year.” He added, “Countless times we’ve seen her hauling water jugs to area parks in the summer to make sure young trees survive and thrive. Everyone who knows Elizabeth knows of her passion for preserving and creating great public spaces.” An active volunteer with the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, ANC 6A, the North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association and the Maury Elementary School PTA, she is both dedicated to our community and our neighborhoods - not just her trees or her street, or her park, or her block, but her entire community.

Livable, Walkable Community Organization Award – Moms on the Hill

Moms on the Hill has become a vital link for parents and families across the Ward. It’s moved well beyond finding the latest information on elementary school test scores and now boasts thousands of members that don’t shy away from sharing the diversity of opinions, priorities and advice from within our neighborhood. Besides becoming a font of information, Moms on the Hill has developed a reputation for true grassroots advocacy for many of the principles and values that create livable, walkable communities. Stated Wells, “From pushing for challenging and high performing neighborhood schools, to supporting strategies to slow traffic commuting on our streets, to embracing public parks and green space, MoTH creates a forum for thoughtful debate that doesn’t pull any punches.” In handing out the award, Wells noted that there is no one voice for Moms on the Hill, but accepting the award on the group’s behalf were many of the women that serve as moderators for the group.

Livable, Walkable Business Award – The Channel Inn

In Southwest DC, retail and restaurants can be scarce. Hundreds of millions of dollars of redevelopment are in the pipeline, creating new housing and office space, and renewed commercial retail options for neighbors. But for right now, neighbors have a hard time finding a cup of coffee, let alone a meal. Despite it all, Manny Fernandez and the Channel Inn have kept their doors open, creating community space where residents can gather, discuss, or simply socialize. “In a neighborhood that too often feels isolated, the Channel Inn is steps from the Circulator bus, two blocks from the Waterfront Metro station, accommodates walking, biking and wheelchairs, and opens its doors onto the river walk of the Washington Channel with boat docks and slips just a stone’s throw away -- it’s just about the most transit friendly restaurant in the city,” commented Wells. Manny Fernandez, the owner of The Channel Inn, accepted the award on behalf of his business and all the Channel Inn employees.

Livable, Walkable Public Service Award – Barry Margeson, Dept. of Real Estate Services

Earlier this year, the community reopened Eastern Market to much excitement – welcoming back the merchants and vendors into their homes. “Shortly after the fire, one man had the unenviable position of serving as the District’s go-to guy – and with every challenge we put before him, he answered the call,” stated Wells. Barry Margeson worked with all the stakeholders – merchants, vendors, neighbors, and elected officials, to find compromise and common ground, be it during streetscape construction, improving daily maintenance, or ensuring our local merchants and vendors have what they need to be successful. Added Wells, “Eastern Market is a special and revered place in the hearts of our community – it’s practically the definition of ‘livable, walkable.’ Barry Margeson has bent over backwards to preserve that for us and I’m proud to recognize that public service on behalf of all of us.”

Livable, Walkable Honorary Award – Miles Groves

“Miles Groves became a resident leader in Penn Quarter almost before there was a Penn Quarter neighborhood,” stated Wells. As the city created a new vision for our downtown, Miles played a pivotal role in turning an area that emptied out at 6 pm, into a vibrant community with retail, restaurants and nightlife, but also supported the new residential neighborhood that emerged. From fighting for better sidewalks, better lighting, stepped up police presence, neighborhood based retail, and most recently, supporting two-wheel alternatives as personal vehicles, he’s been a champion of the revitalization of our downtown. Miles also helped form and lead the Downtown Neighborhood Association, bringing a voice to City Hall for thousands of his neighbors, and became a mentor to dozens of leaders in the communities around him. Miles was unable to attend the event last night, but Councilmember Wells will present him with his award at an upcoming Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting.

Congratulations all, and thank you Councilmember Wells for continuing to focus attention and action on livability and placemaking.