Leading by Listening and Showing Up

Since taking office, Anthony has tirelessly worked to improve the quality of life for residents in Columbia Heights. His leadership has brought meaningful change through the passage of critical resolutions for government action, advocacy for transforming our community life and public spaces, and dedication to responsible and transparent governance. From ensuring the revitalization and vibrancy of the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza to advancing public safety initiatives, Anthony has consistently championed community-driven solutions. His work as chairman of the Permanent Special Committee on Public Life and Neighborhood Planning reflects his commitment to fostering a thriving, inclusive, well-planned neighborhood for all.

Legislative & Policy Achievements

Anthony’s strong leadership within ANC 1A has resulted in the passage of several resolutions aimed at protecting and improving the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Here are some of the key steps that Anthony is taking as your representative:

• Supported the Amplified Sound Mitigation Act of 2024: Anthony sponsored a resolution calling for the immediate passage of an amended version of legislation to bolster enforcement of illegal amplified sound, which would likely improve conditions residents at Park Triangle Apartments and Kenyon Square Condominiums experience nearly daily. He also submitted written testimony to the DC Council’s Committee on Public Works and Operations.

• Opposed the Harmonious Living Amendment Act of 2024: Anthony's opposition to incentivizing entertainment in public spaces reflects his deep concern for the balance of community life. Because of this, he testified before the DC Council’s Committee of the Whole to oppose the Harmonious Living Amendment Act of 2024. He believes we can live in a vibrant, urban environment that offers clean, enjoyable public spaces. He is focused on ensuring that Columbia Heights' public spaces remain free from commercial exploitation and maintain their value as spaces for all residents.

• Driving New Community Amenities: In a dense, well-developed area like Columbia Heights, finding an opportunity for new green space can seem rare. This is why Anthony has been working to build on the advocacy of many others, like the 11th and Bark Board of Directors, to realize the completion of the Columbia Heights Dog Park. He drafted recommendations for the Department of Parks and Recreation to help inform the agency’s next steps on the project, which is now in the design and planning stage.

• Advancing a commonsense community policing agenda: You will get no argument from Anthony that, while violent crime is on the decline, crime overall remains a problem across the District, reaching crisis levels in 2023 and 2024. This is precisely why Anthony has decided to build a partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to understand their motivations and strategies for addressing crime in Columbia Heights and across the District and how a community policing model can renew trust with residents. Anthony will continue this critical work, working alongside MPD to ensure a safe neighborhood for all while also recognizing what should be criminalized and what should be addressed through other non-criminal means.

A Voice for the Community

Anthony has been a vocal, unrelenting advocate for greater transparency, accountability, and community involvement in ANC 1A’s work. He’s done this by:

• Fighting for Office Space for Greater Access: One of Anthony’s priorities upon taking office was ensuring that ANC 1A could be more accessible to its constituents. To accomplish this, he’s been advocating for the Mayor to provide the Commission with office space, allowing Commissioners to hold regular office hours, provide District officials with a venue to host community outreach events, and let the Commission’s committees meet in person and engage with residents.

• Protecting Institutional Integrity: Anthony has authored concurring and dissenting opinions on ANC 1A’s decisions, always focusing on maintaining institutional integrity and fiscal responsibility and ensuring that the community’s voice is prioritized in decision-making.

• Leading Internal Operations: Elected by his colleagues to serve as Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer, Anthony takes every opportunity to understand how residents engage with the Commission and how it can be improved for greater impact. Anthony led several internal change management initiatives to streamline how the Commission serves the neighborhood, including broadening its social media engagement, updating its website, overhauling its records management protocols, and institutionalizing the role of the Secretary.

• Community Planning and Development: Anthony’s work with the Permanent Special Committee on Public Life and Community Planning ensures that Columbia Heights continues to grow in ways that reflect its residents' needs and values. From neighborhood planning to community volunteer efforts, Anthony has dedicated himself to a comprehensive vision for Columbia Heights.

Championing Parks and Public Spaces & Quality of Life and Community Well-being

As Chair of the Permanent Special Committee on Public Life & Neighborhood Planning, Anthony has led significant initiatives to enhance and maintain Columbia Heights' public spaces, notably the Civic Plaza, and improve the quality of life for all residents. His efforts include:

• Revitalization of the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza: Anthony has been a leading voice in ensuring the Civic Plaza remains a vibrant, accessible public space. He’s focused on proper maintenance, safety improvements, and diverse programming and has worked tirelessly to transform this vibrant public space into a welcoming environment for all neighborhood residents and visitors.

• Oversight of Management Failures at Civic Plaza: On September 5, 2024, Anthony held a public hearing on oversight of the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza, examining the challenges and opportunities of this space and our public realm, with government officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Public Works (DPW), and the Office of Planning (OP). The Special Committee advances several key recommendations in its hearing record — which was adopted unanimously by the Commission — that will ensure the Civic Plaza and the surrounding public realm are holistically transformed.

• Leading Commission’s Engagement with Columbia Heights | Mt. Pleasant Public Life Study: Columbia Heights is undergoing a once-in-a-generation examination for how the neighborhood can comprehensively be improved to ensure our roads/streets, sidewalks, and public spaces look and function to serve the broader needs of our communities. Anthony has led this work since the Commission established the Special Committee on Public Life in October 2023, working with the DC Office of Planning and many other stakeholders to ensure we get this right and have a chance to create a stronger, more resilient neighborhood for the next several decades.

• Community-Driven Focus on Neighborhood Planning: Anthony successfully spearheaded a resolution to make the Special Committee on Public Life a permanent standing committee of the Commission—now known as the Special Committee on Public Life & Neighborhood Planning—formalizing its role in community development and planning to ensure the neighborhood's growth aligns with resident needs and values.