The GeorGeTown CurrenT
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Vol. XXVI, No. 49
Serving Burleith, Foxhall, Georgetown, Georgetown Reservoir & Glover Park
Council bill seeks vote for Norton
ROSEY TUNES
■ Politics: Legislation aims
for voice on D.C.-only issues By CUNEYT DIL
Current Correspondent
In an unconventional effort to give D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton a long-sought vote in the House of Representatives, Ward 3 D.C. Council member Mary Cheh introduced a bill Tuesday for the
council to grant her that right. Most of Cheh’s colleagues are in support of the legislation, and while it would only give Norton a vote on matters that deal with the District, the change would mean that she could actually vote on matters that affect only her constituents. As it stands now, D.C.’s delegate can speak in the House but can only vote in committee, not on final legislation. Can D.C. just decide to give
itself a vote in Congress, even a partial one? Cheh said she is relying on court precedent and the Home Rule Charter, the city’s governing document that was passed by Congress in 1973. The charter gives the D.C. Council “the authority to amend federal legislation that applies exclusively to the District,” Cheh said. One example is the Federal See Cheh/Page 10
K Street bike lane plans remain divisive By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer
Brian Kapur/The Current
The Citizens Association of Georgetown hosted its annual Concerts in the Parks series on Sunday. The event featured the Market Band performing popular and folk songs.
Plans to remove more than 40 parking spaces from southern Georgetown this fall to make way for new protected bike lanes remain a divisive issue among residents and neighborhood leaders. The D.C. Department of Transportation proposal is part of a broader effort led by the Georgetown Business Improvement District and Toole Design Group to mitigate rampant congestion issues on the neighborhood’s southernmost corridor: K Street/ Water Street NW below the Whitehurst Freeway. Draft versions came before residents earlier this year, and the agency has issued a notice of intent to complete the work this fall. The protected bike lane project would eliminate 42 of the metered spots on Water and K between 30th and 34th streets NW, leaving 100 along that stretch, See Bikes/Page 12
Brian Kapur/Current file photo
The D.C. Department of Transportation intends to install a protected bike lane along K and Water streets, which would eliminate 42 parking spots.
Cathedral grad wins national competition
Gas meter work faces review for effect on historic districts
Current Correspondent
■ Utilities: Agencies examine placement of gas meters.”
with regulations regarding the
By ANDRIA MOORE
Georgetown resident Skye Bork made history July 1 when she became the first-ever D.C. winner of the national Distinguished Young Women of America scholarship program. The recent National Cathedral School graduate took home $36,500 total to attend Columbia University this fall. Distinguished Young Women (formerly known as Junior Miss) was founded in 1958, but D.C. didn’t begin competing as a district until last year. The competition encourages high school seniors to pursue higher education, and honors their academic and extracurricular accomplishments. The first-place winner receives an automatic $30,000 to attend the university of her choice, but cash prizes can also be awarded for placing in individual categories. This
issue after resident complaints By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Distinguished Young Women of America
Skye Bork, a Georgetown resident, won $36,500 as the District’s first winner of the national contest.
year alone the program awarded $2.1 million in scholarships. “One of the biggest challenges is educating the public in what this program is about,” said Mohra Gavankar, D.C. chair of Distinguished Young Women. “It’s not a beauty pageant.” See Award/Page 12
If Betty Ann Kane wants to replace the windows of her Capitol Hill home, the permit would need review by the D.C. Historic Preservation Office to ensure there’s no damage to the fabric of the designated historic district where she lives. Accordingly, Kane told The Current, “it seems to be reasonable that the Historic Preservation Office could come up
Kane is the chair of the city’s Public Service Commission, which oversees the rates, safety, reliability and quality of the District’s electricity, natural gas and telecommunications services. The commission has an open case regarding complaints that Washington Gas has damaged the aesthetic of historic neighborhoods — including areas of Capitol Hill and Foggy Bottom — with unsightly installations of exterior gas meters. With limited authority to govSee Meters/Page 10
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Calendar/16 Classifieds/23 District Digest/4 In Your Neighborhood/14 Opinion/6
Turkish White House reporter proposes new establishment on N Street / Page 3
Northwest Little League 10U and 11U teams won their respective District championships / Page 9
Police Report/8 Real Estate/13 Service Directory/21 Sports/9 Week Ahead/3
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