Media Alert and Release : Saturday, July 3, 2021
Contact: Nick DelleDonne ,
delledonne.n@comcast.net, 703 929 6656
BREAKING – CM Pinto Says: No, to 17th St Bike Plan Presentation
Friday, July 2, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto refused to provide a public presentation for the benefit of her constituents in Ward 2 regarding DDOT’s confusing 17 th St. Bike Plan. But, oddly, she said Ward 6 constituents concerned about the 9th St. Bike Plan, will get several.
After weeks of delay, the Councilmember who campaigned on a platform of caring and listening, Pinto declined to attend the meeting July 1 with representatives of a coalition of neighborhoods seeking community engagement over imminent construction of bike plans across the city that threaten the safety of pedestrians in Dupont Circle, Shaw, Glover Park and Burleith.
“Most of the residents of Dupont Circle do not know of DDOT’s 17th St. Bike Plan and those who know of it are confused,” said Nick DelleDonne, president of the Dupont East Civic Action Association (DECAA). “Everyone you ask tells you something different.”
“This city owes us the customary and required presentations and all the studies that DDOT normally provides for our own safety and for the sake of community engagement,” said DelleDonne. “In a brazen display of indifference, Pinto washes her hands of her obligation.”
It’s not just residents, 19 merchants on 17 th St., concerned about deliveries, streateries and parking for patrons, have made written requests for a public presentation,” DelleDonne said.
Pinto supports a plan that discriminates against the elderly and the disabled. The Plan will have not one handicapped parking space anywhere on 17th St. from Massachusetts to New Hampshire Avenue, but Pinto refuses to help. Two new PickUp/DropOff Zones are too small to meet the ADA requirements, but Pinto doesn’t seem to care.
Attending the meeting was Alexander Padro, Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets who expressed concerns about the proposed 9th St Plan. On that point Pinot assures Ward 6 constituents that:
“DDOT is working to schedule a virtual open house/community meeting that will have a telephone call-in number for individuals who are not comfortable accessing Zoom technology. DDOT will do outreach to neighbors (flyers, etc.) so that neighbors are made aware of the phone option.”
“We never got the same consideration from DDOT and now we are not getting it from our elected Ward 2 Councilmember, Brooke Pinto,” said DelleDonne.
Media Alert:
This weekend, DECAA will knock on doors in the neighborhood to inform them of the intransigence of DDOT and city officials.
When: Saturday, July 3, 9:45 am
Where: 1700 block Corcoran St. NW