<div dir="ltr"><div>Dear Charles,</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for taking the time to respond. That is quite reassuring. <br></div><div>Just having some more information about what is being done is helpful, so I hope you and others will continue to update us.</div><div>Thanks especially for the reminder about the National Guard being based at RFK--I had't put those two together.</div><div>I don't want any of this, of course, but in this awful time, it seems necessary.</div><div><br></div><div>Deborah Hurtt<br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 10:13 PM Allen, Charles (Council) <<a href="mailto:CAllen@dccouncil.us" target="_blank">CAllen@dccouncil.us</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Deborah,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
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<p class="MsoNormal">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. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Charles<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Deborah Hurtt <<a href="mailto:dhurtt@gmail.com" target="_blank">dhurtt@gmail.com</a>> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 13, 2021 8:58 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Allen, Charles (Council) <<a href="mailto:CAllen@DCCOUNCIL.US" target="_blank">CAllen@DCCOUNCIL.US</a>>; Holtzman, Steve (SMD 6B05) <<a href="mailto:6b05@anc.dc.gov" target="_blank">6b05@anc.dc.gov</a>>; Gove, Amber (SMD 6A04) <<a href="mailto:6a04@anc.dc.gov" target="_blank">6a04@anc.dc.gov</a>>; Gentile, Laura (SMD 6A05) <<a href="mailto:6a05@anc.dc.gov" target="_blank">6a05@anc.dc.gov</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Lincoln Park and East Capitol--Security concerns<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Capitol HIll representatives,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">First off, thank you for your hard work on residents' behalf.
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<p class="MsoNormal">This message expresses concern for the security of Lincoln Park, East Capitol St, and surrounding neighborhoods over the next several days.
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Deborah Hurtt<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">1317 C ST NE<u></u><u></u></p>
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