by Cesse Ip

Ever since moving to Brightwood Park, I’ve wondered why my ANC is 4B, while the other three corners of my intersection belong to ANC 4D. My Single Member District 4B05 is bisected by Missouri Avenue, a large physical divide between the two halves of my SMD. For things like requesting parking zones on my block or finding out how to get speed bumps, I’ve had to deal with two SMD Commissioners and two ANCs. Since ANC 4D encompasses more of Brightwood Park, I feel like that ANC meets more of my neighborhood needs.

I’ve wondered when the lines are redrawn, and how I can submit my input.

The DC Office of Planning launched a tool to submit your own proposal for Ward and ANC boundaries for official consideration. According to an email from Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George’s:

The redistricting website includes training materials for the public to learn how to use the mapping tool. The Office of Planning will also host a series of live, virtual trainings for members of the public who want more individual, hands-on instruction about how to use the website. Residents can go to calendly.com/redistricting to sign-up for the trainings, which will take place between September 28 and October 8. The tool is rather technical, so the training materials and training are important if you plan to submit your own proposal.

ANC boundaries are based on the census and were last redrawn in 2002. For the next redistricting, the maps are scheduled to be approved in 2022, and become effective in 2023, according to Seth Gottlieb, the Executive Director of the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

Lewis George’s newsletter on September 17th stated that Ward 4 grew from 75,773 residents to 84,660 residents, an 11.7% increase in population. DC law requires all wards be substantively the same size, plus or minus 5%. Each Ward must have more than 81,883 and fewer than 90,503 residents.

Current population totals for Ward 4 and our adjacent wards fall within this range. Councilmember Lewis George stated while this doesn’t guarantee that Ward 4’s boundaries will change, they won’t be required to change for wards that are at or below the range.

According to the DC ANC website, the ANCs began operating in 1976. They are defined by the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, enacted by Congress in 1973. There are 40 ANCs, and each ANC is subdivided into a total of 296 Single Member Districts (SMDs). Each SMD consists of around 2,000 people, but the population of each ANC varies widely. Ward 4 has four ANCs: A-D. You can find your ANC and SMD at this interactive map. The ANC’s main job is to be their neighborhood’s official voice in advising the District government and Federal agencies on things that affect their neighborhoods. These include things like requested or proposed zoning changes and licenses.

If you also feel flummoxed by your ANC boundary, or would like your opinion heard, please consider submitting your own proposal through the Office of Planning tool.

Update 9/28: An email on local listservs and sent to the DC Council from residents in 16th Street Heights are asking for new boundaries, not wanting to be in ANC 4C, and wanting to come out from under the shadow of Petworth. The topic is clearly on top of mind for some. Here’s their — and your — chance to have a say.