Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham invites MHNA members to a meeting on Wednesday, February 3, at 7:00 pm at the #10 Boys and Girls Club, 2500 14th Street, NW, to discuss recent break-ins at 1407 W Street NW.

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From councilmember Graham's message on the MHNA Listserve: In May of 2009 Commissioner Deborah Thomas and I convened the V and W Task Force as a result of a shooting in the alley between the gas station and 1418 W. A young man was injured in the alley. And a stray bullet went into the home of a resident of 1418 W and embedded in the wall. The same resident had a bullet enter his apartment about the same time the previous year.

The Task Force met every other week from May - November, 2009. Commissioner Thomas and I felt the Task Force should initially be a small working group of representatives of property management companies, MPD, social service agencies and residents of the large apartment buildings on V and W. The smallness of the group lent itself to the great progress and improvements they were able to bring about.

It is time now to share that work with the larger community and identify next steps. The Task Force quickly learned that many of the issues of loitering, drug sales and other nuisance behavior can be addressed through enforcement, but also engagement. We will talk more about how to sustain the progress made by the Task Force as spring weather, hopefully, is just around the corner.

Please contact John on my staff if you have any questions at 724.7774 or jdetaeye [AT] dccouncil [DOT] us.

Bests, Jim Graham