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

Thu Jan 14 16:53:16 EST 2021

I have the same concern others have expressed about closing the Eastern
Market station.
I also need to get across town each day.  If they just keep open Eastern
Market, Metro Center and Foggy Bottom (which, I understand, is the current
plan, with appropriate security measures, of course) then those like me who
still need to get across town for work between now and the 21st will be
able to do so without resort to cars or more "COVID-risky" (rerouted and
maybe crowded) buses.  There are trade-offs here.

On Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 4:22 PM Marche Maine <markrichardgrace at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Can heavy military presence be there instead.
> I am one of perhaps many tgat need to use metro still.
> If you clise off three in area, I'll be trapped.
>
> On Thu, Jan 14, 2021, 3:42 PM Deborah Hurtt <dhurtt at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that
reflects it." — Edith Wharton
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