January 15, 2021

Ward 3 Update: Inauguration Preparedness

Dear Neighbors,

There are multiple federal and local agencies coordinating the safety
procedures and planning process for the upcoming Inauguration on the 20th.
Past Inaugurations have required heightened security and restrictions, yes,
but perhaps never to the level that we are experiencing this year. And, as
the Secret Service and our safety partners have implemented many
[1]transportation, bridge, and road closures days earlier than in years
past, it is important to remain updated on any new restrictions.

The District is using a special text alert system to notify residents of
Inauguration Day updates and safety notices. To sign up for these alerts,
please text INAUG2021 to 888-777. The best thing residents can do to remain
safe through Inauguration Day is to avoid the downtown area. A security
perimeter, comprised of cement barricades, road closures, and non-scalable
fencing, is being installed downtown and will greatly restrict travel to
and through the downtown and Capitol Hill areas. In fact, those traveling
downtown may be asked to show photo identification and proof of one's
reason for being there.

Given the violence, injury, and death experienced at the Capitol during the
insurrection on January 6th, local Washington has been increasingly
included in the federal planning process (please see Mayor Bowser's
[2]letter to the Department of Homeland Security) and over 20,000 troops
will be deployed to the District. And while we have seen many positive
developments in the past week, [3]such as the decision by Airbnb to cancel
all Inauguration reservations and Mr. Trump's ban from [4]Twitter and
suspension from [5]Facebook, it is very likely that we will see continued
protest from his supporters. It may be that area hotels are still hosting
these rioters, and I support any and all efforts that the Mayor is making
to close hotels until after Inauguration Day (I will share any progress
made on that front as it becomes available). These people do not respect
the peaceful transition of power, they do not respect our gun laws, and
they most certainly do not respect coronavirus safety protocols. They are
still in our community, so please be as safe as possible and do not engage
with them. And please also report any suspicious activities to the police:
* To report by phone, call (202) 727-9099
* To report online, go to [6]iwatchdc.org
* To report by text, text 50411

Today, Mayor Bowser is hosting a public emergency preparedness meeting at
4:30 pm with the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Agency
(HSEMA) and our Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Residents will be
able to watch a presentation on [7]Channel 16, tune-in [8]online, or listen
in by phone at 844-881-1312.

This year's Inauguration is operating under emergency conditions and,
obviously, it will not be like past events. We will be watching the
delivery of President Biden's vision for our country at home, there will be
no parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and certainly no Inaugural Ball. But,
there is one thing that will remain true to this sacred process. And that
is the constitutionally-dictated oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office
of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability,
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

And what a welcome change it will be to have a President in place who
believes in, and leads by, those words.

Regards,

Mary

Please see [9]coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates &
resources on COVID-19

The Public Emergency is active and has been extended through January 22nd

The Public Health Emergency has been extended through March 31st

If you know someone who would like to receive these updates directly, he or
she may sign up through [10]marycheh.com

DCPS Parents: Meal Sites Will Close January 18th, 19th, & 20th

[11]

Meal Site Holiday Schedule - All DC Public School (DCPS) meal sites will be
closed on January 18th, 19th, and 20th in observation of Martin Luther King
Day and the Presidential Inauguration.

Please be sure to grab extra meals TODAY ahead of the holiday closure

All meal sites will resume normal operations on Thursday, January 21st.

Ward 3's meal site is Wilson High School at 3950 Chesapeake St NW,
Washington, DC 20016.

What to Expect in Public Transit:

Metro Closures, Service Changes, & Bus Detours

Metro Station Closures - Metro will close 13 stations inside the downtown
security perimeter this weekend until after the Inauguration. During this
time, trains will pass through the closed stations without stopping.

Station Closures (January 15th through January 21st):
* Red Line: Farragut North, Judiciary Square, and Union Station
* Yellow/Green Line: Archives
* Blue Line: Arlington Cemetery
* Blue/Orange/Silver Line: Farragut West, McPherson Square, Federal
Center SW, Capitol South, Smithsonian, and Federal Triangle
* *Metro Center and Gallery Place stations will close on Saturday, the
16th

Rail Service Reduction - Beginning today, trains will operate with Saturday
service frequencies. This means that trains will run every 12 minutes on
the Red Line and every 15 minutes on all other lines.
* The Metro will operate from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm on weekdays, 7:00 am to
11:00 pm on Saturday, and 8:00 am to 11:00 pm on Sunday

Bus Schedule Changes - 26 bus routes will be detoured around the expanded
security perimeter downtown from today through Thursday, January 21st.

During this time, buses will operate on a normal schedule with the
exception of Inauguration Day, January 20th, when the bus system will
operate on a Saturday schedule.
* Additional station closures and bus detours may be necessary on a
temporary basis during this period for security reasons
* Please see WMATA's[12] [13]timetables for specific bus schedule
information
* Residents are encouraged to [14]sign up for MetroAlerts to receive
up-to-the-minute alerts (by email or text) of service changes

Today's Must-Read Story:

From The Washington Post - How battered D.C. police made a stand against
the Capitol mob

Blinded by smoke and choking on gas and bear spray, stripped of his radio
and badge, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone and his battered colleagues
fought to push back rioters trying to force their way into an entrance to
the U.S. Capitol.

The officers had been at it for hours, unaware that others in the mob had
already breached the building through different entrances. For them, the
West Terrace doors — which open into a tunnel-like hallway allowing access
to an area under the Rotunda — represented the last stand before the
Capitol fell.

“Dig in!” Fanone yelled, his voice cracking, as he and others were being
struck with their own clubs and shields, ripped from their hands by
rioters. “We got to get these doors shut.”

[15]Read the Full Story

Another strong article published this week was "[16]Capitol custodial staff
recount what it felt like to clean up the mess left by violent Pro-Trump
white supremacists" from Business Insider.

Downtown Street Closures & Parking Restrictions

Road Closures - As barricades and fencing are installed downtown, the
Capitol Police have released an updated list of areas impacted by parking
restrictions and road closures due to preparation for the Inauguration.
Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid travel to and through the
downtown area until after the Inauguration.

The current list of road closures that are already in effect is available
here and will be updated by Capitol Police is available here:
[17]Inauguration Road Closures.
* For those residents must travel downtown, please be aware that police
may ask for identification of those traveling within the downtown security
zone

Downtown Parking Garages Close - Beginning at 6:00 am today, all parking
garages in the downtown restricted zones will be blocked off. Any vehicle
left in a garage must remain there until after the Inauguration.

High Alert: Please Report Suspicious Behavior

[18]

Report It - If you see or hear anything that appears out of the ordinary,
please contact the police.
* To report immediate threats or emergencies, call 911
* To report suspicious activity or behavior, call: (202) 727-9099
* Report by using MPD’s iWATCH website: [19]iwatchdc.org
* Report by using MPD’s Text Tip Line by texting: 50411

Please Keep Camera Footage - MPD is requesting that property owners
preserve video and security camera footage to assist in current and
potential future investigations.

Receive Inauguration Alerts - For real-time Inauguration updates from the
DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA),
text INAUG2021 to 888-777. Updates are also available on HSEMA's social
media: [20]Twitter, [21]Facebook, and [22]Instagram.

Capitol Bikeshare Station Closures

Downtown Bikeshare Restricted - Capital Bikeshare has announced that all
stations around the National Mall, Capitol Hill, and Union Station will be
unavailable until further notice.

[23]Please check the map for the most up-to-date service information.

Streetcar Suspends Service

News from H Street- Due to the security apparatus for the Inauguration,
Streetcar service is suspended immediately until further notice.

Businesses: Print & Post the Weapons Not Welcome Sign

[24]

Weapons Not Welcome -

Download and print the 'No Guns on Premises' signage for your business
(pictured Left) for use during the 2021 Inauguration.

Download the sign here:
* [25]No Guns on Premises
* [26]Two Sided No Guns on Premises

Please Remain Vigilent: Help MPD & FBI Identify Rioters

Persons of Interest - MPD has collected numerous, clear images of people
involved in the storming of the Capitol and are seeking the public's
assistance in identifying and locating these individuals. As some may still
be in the District, MPD has shared these images with hotels, businesses,
airlines, and the FBI.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of anyone featured
in MPD's [27]Persons of Interest album should report their tip:
* By calling 202-727-9099
* By texting 50411

With the public's help, more than 30 people have already been identified
and charged for their role in the violence at the Capitol. The FBI is also
currently investigating over 170 identified attendees, a number that is
likely to grow into the hundreds in the coming weeks.

To read more on the Justice Department and FBI's special sedition and
conspiracy task force, please see "[28]Justice Dept. investigating sedition
and conspiracy charges and any terror links to violent storming of U.S.
Capitol" from The Washington Post.

National Mall Likely to Close on Inauguration Day

From The Washington Post - National Mall to close on Inauguration Day

"The National Mall will be closed for [29]Inauguration Day, only accessible
by media and security personnel, according to two people familiar with the
matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive
security issues.

The extraordinary closure is the latest in a series of security measures to
harden the city against the type of violence that rocked the Capitol on
Jan. 6. Local and federal officials had already established a downtown
security zone and called up more than 20,000 National Guard troops to
protect the presidential swearing in on Jan. 20."

[30]Read the Full Story

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Celebrating President Biden's Rescue Dog with an 'Indoguration'

From NPR - Biden's German Shepherd To Be Celebrated With 'Indoguration'
Hosted By Animal Shelter

"President-elect Joe Biden is set to restore a bipartisan norm upon moving
into the White House: presidential dogs. The Bidens have two German
shepherds, Champ and Major.

Major, in particular, has a "wags to riches" tail.

He'll soon be the first dog to go [31]from a shelter to the White House.
That shelter, the Delaware Humane Association, plans to "indogurate" Major
on Sunday in a virtual ceremony."

(People and pets alike are invited to attend.)

[32]Read & Listen to the Full Story

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is
closed during the public health emergency, she and her staff are
teleworking and will remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to reach us via phone through our main line at (202)
724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget requests, and constituent services
requests.

[33]Facebook [34]Twitter

FOLLOW MARY

References

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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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