July 21, 2023
Dear Washingtonians,
On Monday, I was proud to name Pamela Smith the next Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Smith has a distinguished 25-year career in law enforcement. She rose through the ranks — from patrol officer with the U.S. Park Police to Chief of the department. She knows Washington, DC, she knows MPD, she knows policing, and she understands very well the network of law enforcement and public safety teams that work together to keep Washington, DC safe.
While this is not Chief Smith's first time stepping into an historic role, I am proud that she will become the first African American woman to be named permanent Chief of MPD.
I urge you to listen to Chief Smith tell her story and share her vision for MPD and our community in the video below:
 We are getting the full package with Chief Smith: experience, passion, and a strong commitment to making DC safer.
Let's continue working together as a community — with Chief Smith, with all our public safety teams, and with the Council —to keep driving down crime and to keep our community safe.
Sincerely,
This week, Mayor Bowser, the District Department of Transportation, the NoMA Business Improvement District (BID), and community members kicked off the transformation of “Dave Thomas Circle.” The long-awaited $41 million infrastructure project will deliver a safer, less frustrating intersection to Florida Avenue and New York Avenue NE and will create three new public spaces.
The NoMa BID invites community members to participate in the naming process for the transformed intersection. The BID received 1,200 nominations from community members, and the public now has the opportunity to vote for their favorite name, from the following selections:
-
Douglass Crossing, which emphasizes the important contributions of social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who was a District resident.
-
Mamie "Peanut" Johnson Plaza, which pays homage to the first woman to ever pitch in the Negro League. She was a longtime resident of Northeast DC, a graduate of Long Branch High School, and a youth sports advocate.
-
People’s Plaza, which invokes the name of the adjacent, still-standing former warehouse for the DMV-headquartered People’s Drug Store, predecessor to CVS, and is also a double entendre, emphasizing the fact that this new public space belongs to the people of the District.
-
Three Stars Plaza, which emphasizes the three stars prominent in the DC flag and reflects the three separate, green public spaces in the project.
-
Tiber Gateway, which represents Tiber Creek, now diverted underground, which ran near First Street NE and was important to the early development of DC. Referencing the creek in this name would help connect DC back to the natural characteristics and resources that made its very existence possible.
Vote for your favorite name by Friday, August 25 at 11:59 p.m. You can vote at: NameThisNoMaSpace.org.
Those without internet access can call (202) 289-0111 to request a ballot be sent in the mail. Returned ballots must be postmarked by August 25. The NoMa BID will also solicit votes through local pop-ups and postcard mailings.
Back to Top
The Department of Parks and Recreation invites families and District youth to attend Roving Leaders Day. The event will include live music, food, moon bounces, carnival rides, water slides, jumbo games, and more! No registration is required.
- When: Saturday, July 22 @ 12:00 p.m.
- Where: Langdon Park Recreation Center (2901 20th Street NE)
Back to Top
 Join the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs for a cleanup in the Fairlawn community. During the event, District agencies will also discuss environmental and public service programs that DC residents can participate in.
- When: Saturday, July 22 @ 9:30 a.m.
- Where: Anacostia Library (1800 Good Hope Road SE)
- RSVP to attend HERE.
Back to Top
|
