Meet the Candidates: Mitchell Baer, ANC 3F03

Our “Meet the Candidates” series about the people running to represent us at the neighborhood level now turns to single-member district 3F03.

This SMD has everything: High-rise apartment buildings and single-family homes. Institutions including the Hillwood Estate and Museum, Levine Music and the Howard University School of Law. The Embassy of the Netherlands. The Soapstone Valley park and trail. Franklin Montessori and the businesses that line Connecticut Avenue along the east side between Veazey Terrace and Albemarle Street. So, there are many different constituencies to consider. (Are you one of those constituencies? Search your street address at OpenANC.org.)

ANC 3F04

Mitchell Baer has been representing them all for the past two years, and he is running for another two-year term. Here is his statement:

As the current ANC 3F03 Commissioner, I am seeking a second term in November.

During my current term, my priorities were the Soapstone Valley Main Sewer Line Relining Project, which included the re-channeling of the Soapstone Creek; Pedestrian and Resident Safety; the Maintenance and Capital Improvements for the ANC District and National Parks, including Rock Creek Park, Forest Hills Park and Linnean Park; the Installation of Traffic Calming and Control measures; the Construction of New Sidewalks along community streets; the Funding of Van Ness Main Street efforts to expand its plantings along Connecticut Ave; the DDOT Initiative for Connecticut Avenue; the current DC Water Project at the intersection of Albemarle Street and 32nd Street; and resident safety in the apartment buildings in the 3F area. I have engaged the District departments, lobbied the city council, worked with Councilmember Matt Frumin, coordinated with Council staffs, met with the Mayor’s office staff, authored and help passed resolutions, organized community efforts, and met with community residents and leaders to ensure that community interests were addressed.

My priorities for my next term are resident safety, community security, access to services, and maintenance of community resources. Residents must feel safe in their homes, on the sidewalks and when crossing streets. Community security starts in the residences and apartment buildings and extends to the sidewalks and streets, regardless of the time of day or location. Many of our residents are not receiving appropriate services they need, or timely services they are entitled to.

The Forest Hills Park has entertained and provided services to the community for a long time; it is now our shared responsibility to maintain this park, its playground, playing fields and courts. And, until its completion (hopefully) later this year, a major priority will be the completion of the Soapstone Valley project and the manhole reclamation project at Albemarle St. and 32nd St.

The 3F03 SMD includes both apartment buildings and single-family homes; businesses, schools, restaurants and office buildings along Connecticut Ave; and a large area of Rock Creek Park. The resources in the Park, as well as in the District parks, are important constituents for me; the community bikes, hikes, walks, plays, lounges and relaxes in them. I am a proud member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and am responsible for the maintenance of the Soapstone Valley Trail. I am also a member of the Linnean Park Partnership, sponsored by DPR under its Adopt-a-Park program and assist with the maintenance of that Park. One of my other hobbies is walking through the neighborhoods of ANC 3F and the District and occasionally retrieving a wayward shopping cart and rolled it back to the Giant at the Van Ness metro station.

You can contact Mitchell Baer at [email protected].