December 2019

The Ward 5 MOCRS are Dominique Chestnut (202-394-4399:  dominique.chestnut@dc.gov and Malik Miller 202-251-5049:  malik.miller2@dc.gov.  Both MOCRS represent the Mayor’s office.
 
Free Exercise Classes at various DC Recreation Centers for all ages.  To receive more information contact DPR (Department of Parks and Recreation) Events, go to https://dpr.dc.gov/. 
 
Monday, Dec 2nd, 7PM – Stronghold Civic Association (SCA) meets at the Inspired Teaching Public Charter School at 200 Douglas St NE every 1st Monday of each month unless it falls on a holiday, then it’s on the 2nd Monday.  POC:  Doris Newton, President.  SCA listserv:  strongholdcivicassociation@yahoogroups.com; E-mail: StrongholdCivicAssociation@gmail.com - Next Door website:  https://stronghold.nextdoor.com/news_feed/.  
 
Wednesday, Dec 11th, 5th District Police Appreciation Day 
 
Thursday, Dec 12th, The Ward 5 holiday party at Dock 5 in Union Market.  I invite you to celebrate the holiday season with me and ask, if you are able, to bring a new, unwrapped children's toy. I am again partnering with Women’s Wing, an organization that hosts an annual holiday party for children of incarcerated parents. This year Women’s Wing is supporting more than 675 children ages 0 – 17.  Together, we will continue the tradition of celebrating with love and generosity.  Councilmember McDuffie
 
Monday, Dec 16th, 7PM – Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) meets at St George’s Episcopal Church, 2nd & U Streets NW.  BCA meets every 3rd Monday of the month but if a holiday falls on the 3rd Monday, it meets on the 4th Monday.  POC:  Teri Quinn, President (bloomingdalecivicassociation.org)
 
Tuesday, Dec 17th, 7PM – ANC 5E Public Meeting meets at Friendship Armstrong Public Charter School every 3rd Tuesday of each month @ 1400 P Street NW (corner of 1st and P Street NW) website:  www.anc5edc.org; twitter@anc5e;  POC: Bradley Thomas, Chair.
 
Thursday, December 19: The Mayor's 21st Annual Senior Holiday Celebration (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.)
Join Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Aging and Community Living for the Mayor's 21st Annual Senior Holiday Celebration! During the fest, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DACL will provide DC seniors with information and resources, music, food, live entertainment, and more!  Use this time to discover new hobbies, make friends, and learn all about what's going on in your community.  For ticket reservations, visit dcseniorholiday.splashthat.com, contact your local senior site or wellness center, or call (202) 535-1372
 
NOVEMBER MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING UPDATE
Part V:  VOTING SUPPORT REQUESTED - Voting items are posted on www.anc5EDC.org
Resolution:  In Support of the Stronghold Community’s Participation in the Alley Naming (Lot Square 3505)                                                                                     Commissioner Barnes 
9-0-0 (CJ Absence)

BZA #20174 Special Exception – 1416 3rd St NW Commissioner Thomas
9-0-0 (CJ Absence)

BZA #20148 Special Exception – 149 RI Ave NE  Commissioner Thomas
9-0-0 (CJ Absence)

BZA #20177 Variance 2017 2nd St NE                      Commissioner Segmen
9-0-0 (CJ Absence)

BZA #20173 2011 First St NW                                  Commissioner Holliday
9-0-0 (CJ Absence)

DCRA :19-47771 Alley Closing 30 R St NE             Commissioner Pinkney
6-1-2  CC-N; CW-Y;  CS-Abstain; CP-Y; CT-Y; CL-Y; CH-Abstain; CB-Y; CBA-Y; (CJ-Absence)
 
DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
 
The release of the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update on October 15 marked the beginning of a public review period.  Since then, the Office of Planning has been hosting a series of community meetings across each Ward of DC to provide an overview of the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update, including the major themes and any area elements specific to the meeting location.
 
Note:  The Office of Planning has given DC residents until December 20, 2019, to submit comments, and given ANCs until the end of January, 2020, to submit resolutions regarding a dense, 1500-page planning document with significant amendments. www.dcgrassrootsplanning.org/roadmap
 
As we near the conclusion of nearly three years of public engagement, it is OP’s hope that each ANC pass a resolution on the Draft Comp Plan Update by January 31, in advance of review by the DC Council in the Spring of 2020.
 
To facilitate with the resolution process, OP is inviting ANC Commissioners to participate at one of two working sessions on the Draft Comp Plan Update. This work session is intended to provide Commissioners with the opportunity to engage with their peers and share their approach to reviewing and drafting resolutions on the Draft Comprehensive Plan Update.
 
Deborah L. Crain-Kemp, CPM • Lead Planner-Community Outreach and Engagement, DC Office of
Planning, 1100 4th Street SW, Suite E650 • Washington, DC 20024, 202.442.7615 deborahlcrain.kemp@dc.gov; planning.dc.gov
 
 
JOB OPPORTUNITIES:
 
The 2020 Census recruiting is in high gear. We need 500 applicants per week in Washington, DC from now until early February. If possible, could you take a yard sign to show your support of the 2020 Census?
 
The attached pdf files can be shared widely including on social media. (Census employees are not allowed to post on social media.)  The jobs are part-time and temporary and people work in their own neighborhoods.  The DC rate sheet is attached along with descriptions of the jobs that are to be filled from Jan 2020 in DC. 
 
The application is online, and once an applicant is selected, s/he will be provided with the details of the job including number of hours (from 10-40 hours per week) and the rate of pay ($20-27.50 per hour).  Additional information can be found at 2020census.gov/jobs and on 1-855-JOB-2020.
 
Please feel free to reach out to me by email or cell 720-224-5283 for further information. I look forward to hearing from you.  With thanks, Patricia A. Nelson, Recruiting Assistant, U.S. Census Bureau, 2020census.gov/jobs, patricia.a.nelson@census2020.gov 
 
Pepco Urges Customers to Be Aware of Scams  During the Holiday Season
National Scam Awareness Week is November 17-23 to raise awareness and provide customers with essential information to fight back and protect themselves
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 20, 2019) – With the holiday season quickly approaching, Pepco is reminding customers to always be on alert for potential payment scams targeting customers. Scams occur throughout the year, but the company generally sees an increase in scam reports during the holiday season. With holiday shopping and family gatherings planned, scammers are using the holiday season to trick customers into providing their personal or financial information and making false payments under the pretense of keeping their service active.
 
Pepco is joining more than 100 utility companies across the United States and Canada in an effort to protect customers from scams targeting customers of electric, natural gas, water, and other utilities. Collaborating companies have joined together for a fourth year and designated Nov. 20 as “Utilities United Against Scams Day.” Utility Scam Awareness Day is part of the week-long National Scam Awareness Week, an advocacy and awareness campaign focused on educating customers and exposing the tactics used by scammers. Pepco and its sister Exelon companies, Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power and PECO are committed to educating customers and putting a stop to scamming. 
 
“The safety and well-being of our customers and the communities we serve is our top priority,” said Morlon Bell-Izzard, vice president of Customer Operations for Pepco Holdings. “Coordinated initiatives, such as this, are important in our efforts and our partners’ efforts to educate and protect our customers. By understanding the many tips and tactics associated with these scam attempts, customers will have the power to protect themselves and those in their community.”
 
When scams occur, a customer typically receives an unsolicited phone call from an individual, who falsely claims to be a company representative. The scammer warns that the customer’s service will be terminated if they fail to make a payment – usually within a short timeframe through a prepaid debit card or other direct payment method.
 
Scammers have even duplicated the telephone systems of some companies, so when customers call the number provided by the scammer, it sounds like a legitimate business. Some scammers also use caller ID “spoofing” to replicate a company’s phone number.
 
Red flags for scam activity

• The scammer often becomes angry and tells a customer his or her account is past due and service will be shut off if a large payment isn’t made – usually within less than an hour.
• The scammer instructs the customer to purchase a prepaid debit or credit card – widely available at most retail stores – then call him or her back to make a payment.
• The scammer asks the customer for the prepaid card’s receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the funds loaded to the card. 

 
How to protect yourself

• Pepco representatives will never ask or require a customer with a past due balance to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection.
• Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank withdrawal, mail, or in person.
• Customers with a past due balance will receive multiple shut off notifications – never a single notification one hour before disconnection.
• If a customer ever questions the legitimacy of the call, hang up and call Pepco at 202-833-7500.

 
Don’t Get Scammed: Customers can avoid being scammed by taking a few precautions:

1. Never provide your social security number or personal information to anyone initiating contact with you claiming to be a company representative or requesting you to send money to another person or entity other than Pepco. 
2. Always ask to see a company photo ID before allowing any Pepco worker into your home or business. 
3. Never make a payment for services to anyone coming to your door.

 
Any customer who believes he or she has been a target of a scam is urged to contact their local police and call Pepco immediately at 202-833-7500 to report the situation.
 
Readers are encouraged to visit The Source, Pepco’s online news room. For more information about Pepco, visit pepco.com. Follow the company on Facebook at facebook.com/pepcoconnect and on Twitter at twitter.com/pepcoconnect. Our mobile app is available at pepco.com/mobileapp.
 
Pepco is a unit of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation’s leading energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers.  Pepco provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 883,000 customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland.   
 
Linda Bunch | Administrative Coordinator
 
Pepco | Governmental and External Affairs 701 Ninth Street N.W. | Washington, DC 20068 o: 202-872-2547 | f: 202-872-2482
ldbunch@pepco.com | pepco.com