Vote Matt McFarland for ANC 3/4G-07
Here's why I'm right for the job.
Here’s what I shared with members of the Chevy Chase listserv today, a popular forum for community news. I’m proud of my track record and excited for what lies ahead:
I’m incredibly excited to share my candidacy for commissioner in ANC 3/4G-07.
I’m a proven neighborhood organizer with a track record of innovative, inclusive and lasting successes that connect neighbors and boost quality of life. I was born in DC, grew up in Arlington and went to high school in the city. My family moved to Chevy Chase last year and my son attends Murch.
My neighborhood organizing began when I bought my first home in Park View. I co-founded a neighborhood group after a murder at Georgia Avenue and Lamont Street.
We addressed the gun violence, addiction and rampant drug use at the corner. The improvements were so dramatic that a bagel shop thought it was a good idea to open in a vacant building at the corner.
You’ve probably heard of it — Call Your Mother — a huge success with 12 locations now in the DC area.
The corner of Georgia and Lamont is an incredible turnaround story. One contributor was the monthly cleanups I launched after the murder. They won an award from Mayor Bowser and endure to this day, carried on by current residents.
I am a uniter not a divider. When young White residents in Park View clashed with older Black residents over tree boxes and bike lanes, I brought people together on the shared value of pedestrian safety.
The city planned to remove crosswalks at Georgia Avenue and Morton Place. The crosswalks connected businesses and were heavily used by neighbors, including residents of the adjacent public housing complex.
We called for safety improvements. The city heard us, kept the crosswalks and installed a safety median, acknowledging that a changing neighborhood must not leave behind the vulnerable. We also had safety improvements installed at other intersections that had no negative impact on traffic or parking.
My passion for public art includes leading the first ever traffic signal cabinet box art project in DC. You can see part of the installation outside Petworth Library.
It beautified Georgia Avenue, discouraged graffiti and celebrated a Barbadian artist with ties to the neighborhood.
The project showcased my creativity, grit, people skills and coalition building. Getting those permits wasn’t easy. Too often our city bureaucracy fails us.
I once spent 22 months getting our government to replace a graffiti covered traffic sign that was unreadable. It shouldn’t take Herculean efforts for common-sense maintenance to occur.
When not working or raising my kids — I’ve spent recent weeks knocking on doors and hearing from neighbors.
It’s alarming how many neighbors are disconnected and unaware of what’s happening in Chevy Chase. My district has the lowest voter turnout of any of our ANC’s districts.
My goal is to make my district the most engaged and connected part of Chevy Chase.
Public safety and uniting neighbors remain top priorities. This year I’ve testified for reform at our troubled Department of Forensic Sciences. A best-in-class crime lab is essential for a city that values public safety, trust, and racial equity in criminal justice.
I’ve seen the power of smart ANCs to drive change. When a school principal told me his students were encountering drug paraphernalia and trash at the rec center that served as their playground, I pressured the city government to improve things. I involved the local ANC to pass a resolution supporting better cleaning at the rec center.
We got results. I get results.
When neighbors on an unsafe block struggled to hear from their unresponsive police lieutenant, I reached out to MPD Chief Pamela Smith, and explained the importance of MPD engaging.
The lieutenant met with the neighbors.
Our district deserves an advocate for all, and I’d be honored to take on the role. Please be in touch, matt@51problems.com.