DC ANC's using quasi-polling to support their positions?

[Anonymous]

How common is it for local DC ANCs to use quasi-polling methods to claim community support for a particular issue?

Our current and immediately former commissioner often claim they have "polled" the community. However, many of our neighbors never are polled. This did not seem to happen with our previous commissioners (the ones prior to our current commissioner and our immediately former one). When questions about methodology are raised with our current and immediate past commissioner, they often say why don't you do a poll of your own if you don't like the results. Also, they will claim they will make sure we are polled the next time they conduct a survey, if only we will join their community email list. However, if a constituent does agree to join this email list and eventually disagrees on a particular community political issue proposed by the commissioner, it may not be uncommon for the constituent to stop receiving emails. When questioned about this situation, the commissioners may often claim their is some sort of technical issue and constituents are not purposely removed because a constituent may disagree with a commissioner's position on a given community issue.

For instance, we have a community park/green open field that is now managed by an outside organization that is called CRYSP DC (formally Friends of Capitol Riverside Youth Sports Park). It is made up of an assortment of individuals, including local leaders. They recently installed a new disc golf course in the middle of a previously open green field. To help make this new game happen, they cut down big trees and underbrush from other trees that provided wonderful shade in the August heat. For background, we live is a Ward that has a more limited tree canopy compared to most other Wards. The negative environmental impact is a concern. This is one small issue, of many, where the ANC claims community support based on their quasi-polling results.

However, it reminds me of an incident that happened many years ago in another Ward. Local professional activists or others who had more free time than most claimed their community didn't want a restaurant to be built. They had their own ANC polling. However, when the individuals who wanted to start their restaurant had the resources to commission an independent scientifically-based poll, it turned out most residents in their ANC actually supported the building of the restaurant. I am curious, is the use of quasi-polling based on non-scientific methods a tactic common across DC's ANCs? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood association did this when considering establishing a historic district. They used SurveyMonkey and sent it to all residents who are members of the neighborhood association. They sent on results to the ANC for their consideration.

Look, the ANC realizes that only the most passionate residents show up or call in to ANC meetings. It’s often the curmudgeons and DINKs. Lots of us like to answer a survey since we are busy making dinner and putting kids to bed at 7pm when the ANC meetings are usually scheduled.

[Anonymous]

You sound like a nimby. Frisbee golf sounds like a good use of public space. Why not take your energy and volunteer at a soup kitchen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood association did this when considering establishing a historic district. They used SurveyMonkey and sent it to all residents who are members of the neighborhood association. They sent on results to the ANC for their consideration.

Look, the ANC realizes that only the most passionate residents show up or call in to ANC meetings. It’s often the curmudgeons and DINKs. Lots of us like to answer a survey since we are busy making dinner and putting kids to bed at 7pm when the ANC meetings are usually scheduled.

Not sure I agree with that methodology because it misses a lot of people not in the neighborhood association, for something potentially as disruptive as becoming a historic district. Surveys and polls are fine; just don’t claim they represent “all the neighbors” when they clearly don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood association did this when considering establishing a historic district. They used SurveyMonkey and sent it to all residents who are members of the neighborhood association. They sent on results to the ANC for their consideration.

Look, the ANC realizes that only the most passionate residents show up or call in to ANC meetings. It’s often the curmudgeons and DINKs. Lots of us like to answer a survey since we are busy making dinner and putting kids to bed at 7pm when the ANC meetings are usually scheduled.

Not sure I agree with that methodology because it misses a lot of people not in the neighborhood association, for something potentially as disruptive as becoming a historic district. Surveys and polls are fine; just don’t claim they represent “all the neighbors” when they clearly don’t.

(but as to the rest of what you wrote - I agree.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a nimby. Frisbee golf sounds like a good use of public space. Why not take your energy and volunteer at a soup kitchen?

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood association did this when considering establishing a historic district. They used SurveyMonkey and sent it to all residents who are members of the neighborhood association. They sent on results to the ANC for their consideration.

Look, the ANC realizes that only the most passionate residents show up or call in to ANC meetings. It’s often the curmudgeons and DINKs. Lots of us like to answer a survey since we are busy making dinner and putting kids to bed at 7pm when the ANC meetings are usually scheduled.

Not sure I agree with that methodology because it misses a lot of people not in the neighborhood association, for something potentially as disruptive as becoming a historic district. Surveys and polls are fine; just don’t claim they represent “all the neighbors” when they clearly don’t.

Historic district in DC requires signatures of a certain percentage of residents in the affected area. So this survey was a precursor to gage the temperature before starting the signature gathering effort. The survey was strongly against the Historic designation, with something like 65% of households in our neighborhood participating.

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to use surveys, if you can get a solid participation rate among affected households.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood association did this when considering establishing a historic district. They used SurveyMonkey and sent it to all residents who are members of the neighborhood association. They sent on results to the ANC for their consideration.

Look, the ANC realizes that only the most passionate residents show up or call in to ANC meetings. It’s often the curmudgeons and DINKs. Lots of us like to answer a survey since we are busy making dinner and putting kids to bed at 7pm when the ANC meetings are usually scheduled.

Not sure I agree with that methodology because it misses a lot of people not in the neighborhood association, for something potentially as disruptive as becoming a historic district. Surveys and polls are fine; just don’t claim they represent “all the neighbors” when they clearly don’t.

Historic district in DC requires signatures of a certain percentage of residents in the affected area. So this survey was a precursor to gage the temperature before starting the signature gathering effort. The survey was strongly against the Historic designation, with something like 65% of households in our neighborhood participating.

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to use surveys, if you can get a solid participation rate among affected households.

that sounds decent. as long as the details are accurately represented, sounds good to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a nimby. Frisbee golf sounds like a good use of public space. Why not take your energy and volunteer at a soup kitchen?

Perhaps. Didn't consider preferring the space when it was open and free for softball games, neighborhood pick-up football/soccer, etc. as NIMBY. Don't see how metal polls and baskets anchored in the ground make it a better use of public space? I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Volunteering at a soup kitchen is a great idea. I have volunteered with communities on and around Benning impacted by housing insecurity and those experiencing poverty. There is a great need. I wish the activities of the ANC were focused on helping those truly in need as opposed to the interests of big development that decided to change a valued community resource in the pursuit of charging people money and making profit. However, I understand what you mean by the concerns with the NIMBY mentality. Our previous commissioner, who sits on the board of the organization that oversees these changes, once successfully advocated for minimizing traffic on his block while increasing it on other blocks. This change in traffic pattern also negatively impacted the historic local church. The commissioner used to attend this church and changed churches because it appeared the commissioner could not handle different points of view from those concerned about actions that appeared to benefit the commissioner personally. Granted, appreciate that siding with the interests of big development are more helpful in terms of a political future. I guess some things never change.

[Anonymous]

After all the talk about paying ANC's the council shipped them down the river with this year's budget. Adios amigos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a nimby. Frisbee golf sounds like a good use of public space. Why not take your energy and volunteer at a soup kitchen?

Perhaps. Didn't consider preferring the space when it was open and free for softball games, neighborhood pick-up football/soccer, etc. as NIMBY. Don't see how metal polls and baskets anchored in the ground make it a better use of public space? I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Volunteering at a soup kitchen is a great idea. I have volunteered with communities on and around Benning impacted by housing insecurity and those experiencing poverty. There is a great need. I wish the activities of the ANC were focused on helping those truly in need as opposed to the interests of big development that decided to change a valued community resource in the pursuit of charging people money and making profit. However, I understand what you mean by the concerns with the NIMBY mentality. Our previous commissioner, who sits on the board of the organization that oversees these changes, once successfully advocated for minimizing traffic on his block while increasing it on other blocks. This change in traffic pattern also negatively impacted the historic local church. The commissioner used to attend this church and changed churches because it appeared the commissioner could not handle different points of view from those concerned about actions that appeared to benefit the commissioner personally. Granted, appreciate that siding with the interests of big development are more helpful in terms of a political future. I guess some things never change.

you sound exhausting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After all the talk about paying ANC's the council shipped them down the river with this year's budget. Adios amigos.

I don’t think paying ANCs is necessary. I think paying for ANC staff would be a much better use of funds.