[Lincolnparkdc] Lincoln Park and East Capitol--Security concerns

[Deborah Hurtt]

Dear Charles Allen,

Thank you for responding earlier to my security concern and for sending
along addition al information.

I am quite surprised that the* Eastern Market metro station* is not on the
closed list as it is within an easy walk to the Capitol.  I hope you will
be able to pursue its closure, which would certainly be of interest to
Capitol Hill residents.

Thank you,

Deborah Hurtt

On Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 5:57 AM Deborah Hurtt <dhurtt at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Charles,
>
> Thank you for taking the time to respond. That is quite reassuring.
> Just having some more information about what is being done is helpful, so
> I hope you and others will continue to update us.
> Thanks especially for the reminder about the National Guard being based at
> RFK--I had't put those two together.
> I don't want any of this, of course, but in this awful time, it seems
> necessary.
>
> Deborah Hurtt
>
> On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 10:13 PM Allen, Charles (Council) <
> CAllen at dccouncil.us> wrote:
>
>> Deborah,
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks so much for your note. I know that many others are also very
>> anxious right now and understandably so. I’m working hard to make sure
>> plans and personnel are in place to ensure the safety of our residents. As
>> you may have seen in the Post article, my focus is also on how plans are
>> going to focus on the neighborhoods and communities outside of the fortress
>> they’re building at the Capitol.
>>
>>
>>
>> I’m receiving daily confidential briefings on extremist and militia
>> postings and intelligence. I’m also talking daily with MPD and other local
>> authorities, and will be meeting with US Capitol Police and National Guard
>> leadership later this week.
>>
>>
>>
>> To your specific question about the east flank, while I share your
>> concerns as well, I would note that the National Guard is going to have
>> about 15,000 members in town and a lot of that will be centered at the DC
>> Armory near RFK. So the eastern edge – between the Armory and the Capitol –
>> will likely see a lot of attention in the next few days.
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope this gives you some reassurance that we’re all working hard on
>> making sure the District and our residents are protected. This is a fluid
>> situation and it feels like information is changing every few hours. I’ll
>> do my best to keep everyone posted, but please feel free to reach out to me
>> with any questions.
>>
>>
>>
>> Charles
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Deborah Hurtt <dhurtt at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 13, 2021 8:58 AM
>> *To:* Allen, Charles (Council) <CAllen at DCCOUNCIL.US>; Holtzman, Steve
>> (SMD 6B05) <6b05 at anc.dc.gov>; Gove, Amber (SMD 6A04) <6a04 at anc.dc.gov>;
>> Gentile, Laura (SMD 6A05) <6a05 at anc.dc.gov>
>> *Subject:* Lincoln Park and East Capitol--Security concerns
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Capitol HIll representatives,
>>
>>
>>
>> First off, thank you for your hard work on residents'  behalf.
>>
>>
>>
>> This message expresses concern for the security of Lincoln Park, East
>> Capitol St, and  surrounding neighborhoods over the next several days.
>>
>> I am not generally one to be afraid in my surroundings, but I want to
>> call to your attention a strange experience on Monday.  It has made me
>> wonder how much security attention was being given to areas East of the
>> Capitol. It is SO easy to come off of 295 and head west, through the park,
>> and I am seeing no evident protections here.
>>
>>
>>
>> My strange encounter:  I was taking my regular walk from C ST NE to
>> Lincoln Park and then on to East Capitol on Monday.  All was lovely until
>> my return through the park.  I approached the Lincoln statue from 11th
>> street and saw a man standing, looking at it.  Fair enough, but then as I
>> got closer and began to head toward Tennessee, I noticed that he had a
>> megaphone. I know this may seem small, but it made me ask--who would be
>> carrying a megaphone in the park--and why?  The person also had a
>> suspicious air.  I kept walking--a little faster--as I did not want to
>> stare, take a photo, or otherwise draw attention to myself.  As I was
>> walking along the 100-block of Tennessee I then encountered another person
>> in dark and ragged clothing who was walking unhurriedly toward the park.
>> Were they connected?  Were they planning something?  That was what I felt.
>>
>>
>>
>> As I was alone (it was maybe 3:00 in the afternoon, broad daylight), it
>> was the first time I have felt afraid in my neighborhood.  I wish I had
>> called someone right away, but it took a while to sink in and consider that
>> this small thing might be connected to the larger picture.
>>
>>
>>
>> The question this encounter prompted was "What is being planned by
>> alt-right factions to approach the Capitol and city from the East--and what
>> protections are being taken?"  It seems like an awfully vulnerable flank to
>> me. I hope my suspicions of both figures are unfounded, but they were
>> enough to prompt the question.
>>
>>
>>
>> I ask that you and fellow respresentatives  reach out to various parties
>> working on security protocols and urge for serious protection on the city's
>> the East flank.  I also ask that you reach out to your constituencies--I
>> think many of us have hightened antennae right now--to provide any guidance
>> and alerts so we may protect ourselves.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Deborah Hurtt
>>
>> 1317 C ST NE
>>
>
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