It is with great sadness that I have resigned as Chair of North Capitol Main Street (NCMS). When I became chair of NCMS, after being a member and serving on the board for some years, I assumed the position with great hope and anticipation. Under my leadership - and, really, under the leadership of the board as a whole - NCMS accomplished many of the goals it set out: Established the NCMS Clean Team; completed eight storefront/interior capital improvement projects, with the final two to be previewed March 16th; provided technical assistance to 10+ businesses; commissioned and published the Urban Land Institute Study which includes recommendations for sustainable business growth; founded First on 1st Art + Music Walk; adopted/renovated green space on North Capitol Street; partnered with new businesses for grand opening celebrations; installed 15+ wrought iron tree boxes along North Capitol Street and more stuff than I can remember - oh, and how can I forget the incomporable Winter Blues, which began under the leadership of Vicky Leonard in the early years of NCMS.
I wish I had some noble or high-minded reason for stepping down at this time. (Spending more time with my family or writing a book, for instance). But at the end of the day, my only reason is my time is up and it's time to move on.
What does my leaving NCMS mean? Hopefully, not a thing, zero, nada. NCMS remains a viable organization full of potential to continue assisting the community of residents and businesses in Bloomingdale, Eckington and Shaw Truxton by promoting the area and creating a friendly business environment. But what it means right now is, effective immediately, I will no longer be publicly involved in NCMS as a representative of the organization in any way. What it also means right now is, and some of you have already noticed this, (I know this because I've received letters about it) the NCMS Clean Team will no longer be providing services within the designated areas along First Street, Rhode Island Ave, North Capitol or Florida Avenue as we have over the past three years. Yes, that means the maintenance of the corner trash cans, streets and gutters will now be the sole responsiblity of DPW. As a side note, now would be a good time for residents who routinely use these "public" cans as their personal household trash cans to cease and desist.
Admittedly, the discontinuance of the Clean Team's activities is not directly related to my departure, but is the effect of operational changes at the District's Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) agency which have made the job of sustaining a Main Street Program increasingly more difficult. However, that is a discussion for another time.
Thank you to all the volunteers who lent your talents. Your time, energy and ideas were invaluble to the success of the organization since its inception.
I will simply say in departing, it has been a good run, NCMS remains a viable organization and with help from committed volunteers it can continue to be a catalyst for sustaining and growing neighborhood-serving businesses in the community of North Capitol Street.
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