Police Redistricting

We, residents in the vicinity of 13th to 14th Streets and E to F Streets NE, are writing to urge the District of Columbia to revert to their original proposal for the new Police Service Area (PSA) 102 and 103 boundaries. We oppose the new proposal to shift the PSA 102 western border from 15th Street NE to 8th Street NE. Under the new proposal, our neighborhood would be part of PSA 103, which would run from 8th Street NE to the Anacostia River's east bank.

We have several concerns:

1. The new proposal was drawn up solely based on input from certain residents belonging to current PSA 106, without adequate consultation with our neighborhood or even our representative body, ANC 6A. Residents and merchants between 8th Street NE and 15th Street NE are directly affected but were not informed of the proposal and therefore had no way to protest the proposal in its draft stage. Residents satisfied with the original plan were unaware of the new proposal.

2. Splitting H Street NE into two police districts undermines the City's H Street NE revitalization plans. Splitting H Street NE into two police districts would make H Street NE more difficult to police and could squander tremendous resources Washington, DC is allocating for H Street revitalization. By contrast, the original plan would include H Street under one PSA and support plans for the revitalization of H Street NE. This would benefit all neighborhoods near H St.

3. 8th Street NE is a busy street and should not be split into two PSAs. 8th Street NE has a bus line and high crime rate. Splitting 8th Street NE into two PSAs will make it more difficult to patrol 8th Street NE effectively.

4. 15th Street NE is the natural and historical boundary for Capitol Hill and has been ever since the original plan was drawn for Washington, DC over one hundred years ago. Please do not change our neighborhood boundaries.

5. The newly proposed PSA 103 is too large and will stretch police resources in our area. Our neighborhood has enjoyed good cooperation with the Metropolitan Police. Only with adequate police resources can our neighborhood continue to improve.

We strongly urge the City to reconsider its newest proposal and revert to the originally planned new PSA 102 and 103 boundaries announced in May; support the City's H Street NE revitalization plan; and maintain our neighborhood's safety and historical boundaries.

Respectfully,

The undersigned residents in the vicinity of 13th to 14th Streets and E to F Streets NE. §