Reply to WTF is wrong with DC ANCs?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele]I'm pretty sure that the ANC had nothing to do with the Apple Store. That delay was caused by the Old Georgetown Board which had issues with the design.

But, to your larger issue, the influence of ANCs is pretty uneven. In some parts of the city, they are influential. But, in other parts, they are practically ignored. I imagine that our user Takoma can provide a number of examples in which ANCs proved fairly toothless.

Also, it is very easy to run for the ANC. I think you only need 25 signatures on a petition. So, if you don't like the course your ANC is plotting, challenge the incumbent and try to replace him.[/quote]
Takoma here, but too lazy to sign on lately.

Jeff is right about the restricted influence of ANC's.  They have "great weight" according to the law, but that just means that City agencies are supposed to respond to their resolutions and explain their actions when they do not follow them; it does not require that they follow them.  Furthermore, there is no enforcement of that minimal requirement, so many agencies ignore it.  Agencies are also required to give ANC's reasonable notice of hearings, actions, etc, but again there is no enforcement.

If some ANC's do have clout, I think it's because they are in a part of the City where the residents have clout (spell that with a $), not because they have the title ANC.

It is also true, as Jeff says, that there is a very low threshold to get on an ANC, and among the 300 or so commissioners in the City, there is great variation, and some commissions are virtually dysfunctional.  But as has been said of DC and many states, if government were judged by the worst of our officials, we would abandon democracy. [/quote]

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