Introducing the Idea Blog: DC’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions
10.20.2009 // by: Alison
To begin our transition of this area to an “Idea Blog,” here’s a little something from Stand Field Organizer Chris Nystrom. Our comments section is in the works and will be up asap. In the mean time, please send your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we’ll try to get them posted!
I thought I might share some things from my time in DC a year ago. In case you are unfamiliar with our nation’s capital, DC is an interesting place because it is not a state, ultimately relying on Congress to decide major issues (i.e. taxation) for the city. Nevertheless, the city has a mayor and a city council. Each council member represents one of the eight wards (akin to Chattanooga’s districts) in the city.
Within each ward there are anywhere from 3 to 6 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), each with an elected representative that meets with and talks to their respective city council members. That ANC representative’s role is to make sure that DC government, their appropriate city council members, and various committees are informed of each area’s status, etc. It is also another way for the community to voice its opinions. These ANC leaders all meet together in their ward on various occasions and are responsible for getting the pulse on their own neighborhoods. Chattanooga is not so much in need of an ANC since we are relatively small in comparison, but it could certainly learn some things from the way these ANCs function.
Each of these “Advisory Neighborhood Commissions” also has a website. Some are more functional than others, but they act as a resource for each respective ANCs. Many of the website provide access to at least two unique mailing lists: one for immediate concerns and communication (spreading the word about crimes being committed—i.e. I received an email telling me that two blocks over someone was breaking into a house. They called 911 and then proceeded to tell the entire neighborhood via this email group) and the other for events, meetings, etc. The sites also have community calendars, information on contacting each of your representatives, maps of your ANC, and other ways to voice concerns/opinions, etc.
I’m not suggesting we change government style in Chattanooga by creating more elected positions (yikes!), but this could be a very useful tool for each of the nine city council members to connect to their citizens. We already have tons of neighborhood associations, etc. and having a resource to inform and connect all of them would be invaluable. Open-source neighborhoods has a nice ring to it, no? The only downside to this sort of community engagement is the large percentage of lower/middle income that do not have internet and the rest of the population that does not use the internet often or cannot understand it, etc.; STAND has definitely reminded me that face-to-face is still the most valued interaction, as well I think it should be. In that situation, physical existence becomes an important issue.
Nevertheless, check some of them out:
DC Government’s Link Page to ANCs (Note: some of the ANC sites are useless and simply list the monthly meeting time and location)
ANC 6A Capitol Hill
ANC 5B Trinidad, DC
On another note, here is an example of a great neighborhood blog that I referenced often during my time in DC. It is very well known, read, and used throughout DC and specifically near Capitol Hill.
Know of any other cities with something like these ANC websites? Let us know, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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