Ward 3 Update: Additional Inauguration Day Safety Measures

Dear Neighbors,

This update will provide new Inauguration Day safety announcements as well as re-share some of the resources from last week's Inauguration Preparedness newsletter. But first, I would like to offer some comments on Monday's vaccine distribution experience. On Monday, vaccinate.dc.gov crashed multiple times and, once again and despite the doubling of call center staff, the (855-363-0333) hotline was flooded with callers. There are two persistent issues at play: 1) the design of the online registration portal continues to be exceptionally difficult for residents to use and 2) we continue to find ourselves in the situation of not having enough doses for every District senior who eagerly wants one.

Not even taking into account the second dose required for mRNA vaccines, there are about 85,100 healthcare workers and 84,960 seniors aged 65+ in the District. At the current rate of private industry vaccine production and federal government distribution, the District receives about 4,000-8,000 doses per week. Until production increases, which I hope occurs under the Biden Administration's production plan, we will continue to have a demand for vaccines that, in the near term, far exceeds the local supply. So, we must turn to what is in our control, such as fixing the technical glitches and functionality of the online registration portal and continuing to follow the proven effective safety guidelines (mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing). DC Health is going to continue to release new appointments as new vaccines arrive until all residents (for whom it is medically appropriate) are inoculated against COVOID-19. I know this process must feel like a mad scramble for appointments, but new appointments will be released every week for the foreseeable future. And there is just no way around the fact that widespread vaccination is going to be a continuous, rolling process.

One positive development since the first rollout is the repair of DC Health's text and email alert system for when new appointments become available. The alert system is also now sending out notifications when appointments are filled. To sign up for these alerts, please go to: Text or Email Alert.

Another text alert system that I would like to flag for residents is the Inauguration Day system for real-time updates and safety notices. To sign up for these alerts, please text INAUG2021 to 888-777. The 59th Presidential Inauguration will be held tomorrow at noon on the Capitol's West Front, and in lieu of the traditional parade this year, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony and accompanying events are expected to be carried live on all major networks and platforms and will also be streamed virtually through the Presidential Inaugural Committee's social media pages (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch) and online at BidenInaugural.org.

Regards,

Mary

Please see 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 marycheh.com

Modified District Government Services

Agency Service Changes - On Wednesday, January 20th, the District Government will observe the 59th Presidential Inauguration. And, while some services will be affected, many essential District operations will continue.

What's Open on Wednesday, January 20th:

Access to Emergency Shelter - All low-barrier and seasonal shelters will remain open. Families and individuals seeking access to homeless services should call the DC Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311
Drop-In Centers for Residents Experiencing Homelessness - Zoe’s Doors and the Sasha Bruce Youth Drop-In Center for District residents experiencing homelessness will remain open
Meal deliveries - Meals delivered through the home-bound COVID-19 program will continue its regular schedule

What's Closed on Wednesday, January 20th:

COVID-19 Testing - All public testing sites and the call center will be closed
Meal Distribution - DC Public Schools (DCPS) and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) meal distribution sites will be closed
All Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Locations - Online DMV services remain available, and customers are encouraged to use online options by visiting dmv.dc.gov
DC Public Library (DCPL) - All neighborhood library locations will be closed
Rec Centers - All recreation, community, and aquatic centers will be closed on Wednesday, but parks, playgrounds, athletic courts, and fields will remain open (except for Randall Field)

DPW Holiday Slide Reminder - Due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday on Monday, January 18th, trash and recycling collections will “slide” to the next day for the remainder of the week into Saturday. The Inauguration will not add an additional slide day for trash and recycling collections.

Downtown Security Parameter

Road Closures - The map above details the public access and vehicle restrictions put in place by the Secret Service in preparation for the Inauguration. Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid travel to and through the downtown area until after the Inauguration. For a larger view of the map, please click on the image above.

Downtown Parking Garages Close - All parking garages in the downtown restricted zones are blocked off. Any vehicle left in a garage must remain there until after the Inauguration.

High Alert: Please Report Suspicious Behavior

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: 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: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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 are closed

Rail Service Reduction - Trains are operating at Saturday service frequencies. This means that trains will run every 12 minutes on the Red Line and every 15 minutes on all other lines.

Metro Rail will operate from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm this week

Bus Schedule Changes - 26 bus routes will be detoured around the expanded security perimeter downtown 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 timetables for specific bus schedule information
Residents are encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts to receive up-to-the-minute alerts (by email or text) of service changes

Bridge Closures - The following bridges will be closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists beginning today, January 19th, and will remain in effect until 6:00 am, Thursday, January 21st:

Theodore Roosevelt Bridge – East bound traffic will be closed to all vehicles entering the city, west bound traffic will flow normally
Arlington Memorial Bridge – No traffic allowed in either direction
I-395 & 14th Street Bridge – North bound traffic will be closed to all vehicles entering the city, south bound traffic will flow normally

Partial Bridge Closures - The following bridges will have commercial vehicle restrictions, but remain open to local vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists beginning today through 6:00 am, Thursday, January 21st:

South Capitol Street/Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge – North bound lanes will have commercial vehicle restrictions but remain open to local traffic, south bound traffic toward Maryland will flow normally
11th Street Bridge – Travel lanes into the Navy Yard area will have commercial vehicle restrictions but remain open to local traffic
John Phillip Sousa (Pennsylvania Ave.) Bridge – Travel lanes west toward downtown will have commercial vehicle restrictions but open to local traffic, south bound traffic toward Maryland will flow normally
Key Bridge – Will remain open, but access to Whitehurst Freeway will be closed. Traffic from the Key Bridge will make a left turn onto Canal Rd/MacArthur Blvd and local traffic may go right on M Street

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.

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

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

Businesses: Print & Post the Weapons Not Welcome Sign

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:

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 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 charged for their role in the violence at the Capitol. The FBI is also currently investigating over 170 more identified attendees, a number that is likely to grow into the hundreds in the coming weeks.

Ending this Update on a Happy Note:

Celebrate the Inauguration with Takeout from Ward 3 Restaurants

Support Local Businesses - Many Ward 3 restaurants are offering Inauguration Day promotions and specials (such as the Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris cookies by Little Red Fox pictured on the right) to celebrate tomorrow's historic inauguration. For Ward 3 restaurant guides, please see our strong network of Main Street organizations:

Cleveland Park Main Street, Woodley Park Main Street, Van Ness Main Street, Tenleytown Main Street, & the Glover Park Main Street

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.