Single member district 6D02 spans South Capitol Street, running south of I Street west of 1st Street, with a notch for Capitol Hill Tower. Current commissioner Stacy Cloyd is running unopposed for reelection, but was generous enough to answer the questionnaire.

Web site:
https://www.facebook.com/CloydforCommissioner

Twitter:
@stacycloyd

Other ways to be contacted?
6D02@anc.dc.gov, 202-734-0205
 

Where do you live?
Capitol Park IV.

When did you move to the neighborhood?
2009
Why?
I came to DC for work; I came to Southwest because of its relative affordability and great public transit access; and I've stayed because I like the neighborhood's convenience, diversity, and community feeling.

What made you decide to run for the ANC?
I half joke that it was because I got so frustrated with the gravel path north of the CVS in Southwest; it was ugly and dangerous to walk on, and I thought maybe as a commissioner I could get it fixed (with some effort by me and many others, it did get paved in August!). More broadly, I didn't know if anyone else would apply to fill the vacancy in 6D02, and I wanted our area to have a voice.

How do you envision the role of an ANC commissioner? And of the ANC in general?
I think our job is to elevate the concerns of our immediate neighbors to DC agencies and others who influence our area. We should also facilitate community members' ability to communicate directly with District government officials, because there generally isn't a single "neighborhood perspective" but a plethora of different opinions. Balancing the perspectives of people who may think very differently though they live very close together and figuring out if there is a possibility for consensus is one of the biggest roles--and challenges--of being an ANC commissioner.

What sort of experience do you have that would make you a good commissioner?
I have a law degree and a master's degree in urban planning. I am also a LEED (green building) Accredited Professional. Through my career as a public benefits lawyer (first in direct service and now in a policy advocacy role) I have gotten to see a lot of different sides of DC and talked with a lot of different people. I like to hear other peoples' opinions and even when I don't always agree with them, I try to see where they're coming from. Finally, I am detail-oriented and a very quick reader, which comes in handy for the large number of documents sent to the ANC.

Do you have a specific topic area or theme that you would bring a particular focus to?
I care a lot about education and attended a lot of the meetings about school boundary and student assignment policies this year. It's a complicated topic and one where I could share the knowlege I'd gained with the other commissioners. I plan to stay focused on this over the next several years, since the new mayor will likely put his or her own imprint on the current plan. In addition, I am very interested in transportation, from safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists to public transit to parking rules.

If you could wave a wand and get something done in the neighborhood tomorrow, what would it be, and why?
I'd end crime, completely and forever. I want all people to feel safe walking, parking, and living in our neighborhood.

How do you reconcile the somewhat different concerns and profiles of your Southeast and Southwest constituents?
I don't know that I try to reconcile them (since they are rarely opposed, but just focus on different topics) so much as I try to listen to people who live on both sides of South Capitol and make sure they all have their needs met. I go to a LOT of meetings, in both quadrants, and I try to respond quickly when people contact me.

And do you see ways to bridge South Capitol Street as a psychological barrier, or does it not need that?
I think it's ok for the two quadrants to have separate identities; they are each wonderful, but different in terms of history, architectural styles, amenities, and overall feel. One way we can come together is through support for our DCPS schools, which currently serve the whole ANC (when Van Ness opens, its boundary will include parts of SE and SW, which I think could further cross-quadrant relationships). I know there are plenty of people crossing South Capitol for Nats games, plays at Arena Stage, and other wonderful community events. One final, and very concrete, way to reduce the barrier: the ANC recently asked DDOT to put another crosswalk on South Capitol, at the north side of its intersection with I Street.

What do you think residents of your ANC think is/are the most pressing issue(s) in the neighborhood?
The topics about which I hear the most from constituents living in SE are noise and parking. There are a lot of buildings in our ANC that are ineligible for residential parking permits; at the very least, people moving in need to be made aware of this so they don't have an unpleasant surprise later on. There are broader issues, too: school quality and choice, what retail and services are available, what sort of housing stock should be built (condo or rental? affordable, and to whom? how many bedrooms?), and how to create a cohesive community in an area that is diverse and changing rapidly.

Where do you stand on the CSX/Virginia Avenue Tunnel project?
It is going to be a long and major disruption, but it is almost definitely going to happen. We should focus on getting the best mitigation and community benefits package possible for the households, businesses, and communities that are affected.

What do you want voters to remember about you as they fill out their ballot?
I welcome feedback, and I'm trying my best.

What do you call the neighborhood?
Navy Yard for the SE side of the Single-Member District and Southwest Waterfront on the SW side. If people need landmarks, I usually go with "near the baseball stadium" or "just south of the Mall."