Answers to CCCA Questions

The following questions were posed to all ANC Commissioner candidates in a Chevy Chase Citizens Association forum held on Oct. 8th and 9th, 2024.

Since these questions touch upon issues that concern many ANC 3/4G residents. we are including Liz’s responses here.

Why are you running for the ANC?

Running for ANC is a humbling experience. Meeting so many neighbors quickly emphasizes how many people could use a dependable representative to help navigate decisions that deeply affect their lives. It is a big responsibility, not to be taken lightly, and I am fortunate to have the time to devote to this important civic role.

I am running for ANC Commissioner because I believe in government that truly listens to and reflects community views. The ANC provides a critical link between residents and the city’s decision-makers, ensuring local voices are heard. My motivation and goals are to enhance this communication, promote transparency, and ensure that every resident feels informed, engaged, and represented.

Under Home Rule, the ANC’s primary role is to advise the DC Council and Mayor on community views. The ANC is a unique, grassroots component of governance, meant to give the local community direct input. This opportunity, codified in DC law, is rare. I believe our ANC can do a better job of informing and educating the community and gathering meaningful community input, as promised by Home Rule.

I will bring years of legal and managerial experience and a fresh perspective to ANC3/4G to make it more responsive to constituents. I have seen ANC Commissioners vote based on their own views, even when those views contradict the community’s. I am committed to not substituting my opinions for those of the community, as occurred, for example, when ANC 3/4G ignored its own survey results regarding the Library and Community Center site—a survey that reached all households, including apartments. This disregard for community input was a key reason I decided to run for ANC3/4G07.

If there are clear signals from the community regarding a District policy or proposal, it is the ANC’s duty to communicate those signals back to the Council and Mayor. I did not vote for my ANC Commissioner to tell the Council and the Mayor what they want to hear, but to tell them what the community needs them to hear. I want the ANC to inform and educate voters first, and then honor their opinions. I intend to be that kind of Commissioner, actively seeking input from SMD07 residents. While not every opinion will prevail, I will collaborate with fellow Commissioners to pass resolutions that reflect community views.

I have opinions, and I have never implied otherwise. However, I am committed to advocating for my constituents’ views, even those with which I may personally disagree. As a lawyer, I often represented positions I disagreed with, and I will do the same as Commissioner if needed.

I believe in listening, learning, and leading with integrity. Throughout my career, I have worked in government and community roles to make systems more effective and fairer. Now, I want to apply that experience to serve my neighbors in SMD07 where I have lived almost 28 years. Whether helping residents navigate city services, providing a platform for their voices, or ensuring that local issues such as development, transportation, and safety are addressed with input from all, my goal is to make our local government work for everyone.
Together, we can build a more inclusive, responsive ANC and a stronger, more connected community where every voice matters.

Where do you stand on the issue of building housing in general, including affordable housing, on the Chevy Chase Commons?

The question of where one personally stands on the overall issue of housing development, including affordable housing, is an important topic. However, when directed at an ANC Commissioner or a candidate for that office, the question raises concerns about the appropriateness of seeking personal beliefs from someone whose primary role is not to impose personal views, but rather to represent the neighborhood’s collective concerns.

An ANC Commissioner is tasked with communicating the needs, concerns, and perspectives of their constituents back to the District government. My personal beliefs about housing development, or any other issue, should not and will not interfere with this duty. The Commissioner serves as a liaison, ensuring that the voices of residents are accurately and fairly conveyed in its resolutions and in discussions with city officials and other stakeholders. It is the community’s concerns—such as infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, or housing affordability—that should guide the Commissioners’ actions, not their personal stances on the matter.

Furthermore, the Commissioners’ role includes facilitating dialogue, fostering consensus, and helping to balance various perspectives. It is essential that they remain neutral and open to all viewpoints, especially in contentious issues like housing development. Their job is to ensure that the community is heard and that decisions reflect the residents’ input, rather than any personal preferences.

In this context, the question of where an ANC Commissioner “stands” on housing development is less relevant than asking how a commissioner will ensure that all neighborhood concerns—whether in favor or against development—are effectively communicated and addressed in discussions with the District government.

As to the question of housing on Chevy Chase Commons, including affordable housing, we already know the views of the community through the survey undertaken by the ANC. The majority of SMD07 respondents did not favor redevelopment of the site to include housing of any kind.

While I do not believe that my personal views on affordable housing are relevant for the reasons stated above, I do want to address this matter. I have said that I am in favor of affordable housing. I am on record as stating that I do support affordable housing, but not on the Commons site. As a matter of principle, how could I not be for affordable housing? I understand the problem from personal experience: my son would love to be able to afford an apartment but cannot because prices are high while his income is not. Also, when I moved to DC, I shared an apartment with a friend from law school. Neither of us could afford to live on our own and even sharing the rent, money was tight. And that was back in 1981 when rents were more affordable than they are now.

Furthermore, I do have concerns about the process DC has used to upzone Upper Connecticut Avenue, considering the level of density and the rapid and significant change in the neighborhood that upzoning will create. As I canvass and speak to neighbors throughout SMD07, I repeatedly hear the concerns of residents who do not want Chevy Chase DC to be overbuilt with high-rise and similarly tall buildings.

In summary, I would support the development of housing, including affordable housing in Chevy Chase, if it is thoughtfully planned, integrates community needs, and addresses housing shortages while balancing environmental and neighborhood concerns. The process should ensure that all voices are given a meaningful opportunity to be heard and that the projects benefit both current and future residents.

If the development on the library/community center site proceeds, how will you ensure that the needs of the community will be met?

What specific initiatives do you propose to improve public safety?

Public safety is a top priority for me, as it directly affects the well-being and quality of life in our community. (I am a volunteer member of the ANC Transportation Committee. It is examining transportation issues including traffic safety in our ANC and the impact of reductions in bus service.) I propose a multi-faceted approach, combining proactive communication, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement.

Enhanced Traffic and Pedestrian Safety: One of the key issues is ensuring our streets are safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. While DC is actually safer in terms of traffic fatalities compared to other major cities, any fatality is one too many. We need to continue improving. I would consult with those who are experts in the field who have proven studies and techniques. I would present these ideas to the community and explore the effectiveness of better traffic calming measures, such as improved signage, better lighting at crosswalks, and strategically placed speed bumps, particularly near schools and other areas with more foot traffic.

Community Engagement and Communication: Public safety is about fostering a strong, connected community. When people feel heard and valued, they are more likely to be involved in looking out for one another. I will leverage community discourse through the methods I have outlined earlier (online and mailed surveys, neighborhood meetings, newsletters, my website, and social media). I plan to keep the neighborhood informed and engaged. I will request my constituents’ email so that I can create a communications base to reach my constituents. I will also use these channels to share important updates on local safety measures, crime statistics, and emergency response protocols.

Collaborating with Law Enforcement and Local Services: I would work closely with our local police department and emergency services to ensure they are attuned to the specific concerns of our SMD07 residents. By fostering open lines of communication between law enforcement and the community, we can better address issues like property crime, traffic violations, and public disturbances. This collaboration would also help in advocating for increased police patrols in areas identified as high-risk by residents.

Infrastructure and Public Spaces: I will collaborate with other ANC Commissioners and DC government agencies to ensure that public spaces frequented by SMD07 residents, including parks and communal areas, are well-lit and properly maintained. Safe, well-maintained environments can reduce crime and encourage community use.

Emergency Preparedness and Response: I will promote community awareness programs related to emergency preparedness, such as fire safety, first aid training, and neighborhood watch programs. Strengthening community ties and knowledge about emergency responses will empower residents to act quickly in times of crisis (hurricanes, heavy storms, heat waves, etc.).

By focusing on infrastructure, fostering community involvement, and improving communication among DC government agencies, local services, and residents, I believe we can make our community safer for everyone.

Greater density creates many issues, one of which is not enough school capacity. What is your opinion on alleviating this problem?

Public education is key to equity, the future of our city, and our children. It is, to me, one of our greatest challenges. I believe the solution lies in a comprehensive, long-term strategy that engages the community and local government in improving academic quality and ensuring sufficient capacity in our schools. Addressing the issue of school capacity in the context of increasing housing density is crucial for maintaining quality of life and making sure our educational infrastructure keeps up with the growing community.

From my interactions with neighbors and constituents, it is clear that while increased density can contribute to school overcrowding, additional strain on schools also comes from families moving to the area for the quality of the schools. Therefore, a broader approach is necessary, one that considers both the citywide need for equitable access to high-quality education and the localized impact of new housing developments.

Here are some ways I would approach alleviating school capacity issues:

Engage with the Community and Government: The ANC’s role is to represent the community’s voice in discussions with the DC Council and the Mayor. As Commissioner, I would advocate for proactive measures, such as ensuring that the additional burden on schools is considered from the outset in plans for housing development projects.

Push for Infrastructure Investments: It is essential that we lobby the city to increase investments in school infrastructure to expand capacity where it is needed most. This can include building new schools or expanding existing ones, especially in areas experiencing rapid population growth due to new housing.

Maintain Balance with Quality of Life: We must also ensure that changes in density do not overwhelm existing infrastructure. It is vital to strike a balance between adding housing and ensuring that our schools and other essential services scale accordingly.

Improve Schools Across DC: Ultimately, a long-term solution to overcrowded schools involves improving educational quality across all neighborhoods in DC. This would reduce the need for families to move so their children can attend better schools, which contributes to overcrowding.

By focusing on thoughtful, community-driven solutions, we can address the challenges of school capacity while maintaining the quality of education that makes our neighborhood desirable and provides children with promising futures.