Dear Neighbors —

I am pleased to announce that I am running for re-election to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G, representing Single Member District 03.

When I ran for election to the ANC two years ago, I promised to inform you, seek out your opinions, and faithfully represent your views on issues that affect our quality of life in Chevy Chase. I believe that I have done that to the best of my ability — and hope that you agree!

I am renewing my pledge to always inform you, solicit your opinions, and work hard to represent your needs and priorities before the Mayor and District agencies.

Important decisions lie ahead.

The City and special interest groups are currently proposing changes in the density and the zoning of our neighborhood.

Recent zoning changes along upper Connecticut Avenue, and the proposed redevelopment of the publicly owned Chevy Chase Civic Core site, will shape our neighborhood for years to come. Decisions about housing, public facilities, open green space, schools, traffic, parking, and community services deserve careful scrutiny and meaningful public participation.

Listening to You; Working for You

Much of my job as ANC Commissioner involves everyday quality-of-life issues and making sure that City services are properly delivered. I have worked tirelessly to represent my neighbors before city agencies to improve the quality of life in my district and in Chevy Chase as a whole.

I have met several times with Council Members, our future mayor, and agency heads, to discuss the needs and concerns of our neighborhood. I have attended meetings throughout the District to learn what plans are being made for Chevy Chase and what new ideas and solutions are being discussed. I have attended neighborhood meetings and block parties to seek constituents’ viewpoints. I have sent out several surveys about local issues to my constituents and carefully noted the responses.

I have walked my district’s streets with DDOT to point out problems and demand traffic calming and have led neighborhood meetings with residents and DDOT representatives. I’ve directed paving crews and city tree-trimming crews. I have written petitions for residents who want increased police patrols or a new stop sign, collected the signatures, and sent them to the appropriate officials.

During Snowmageddon and the snowcrete debacle, I repeatedly walked through and surveyed every street and alley in my district and communicated daily with the head of DPW and the Mayor’s office to direct services to the exact addresses that needed snow and ice removal and trash and recycling collection.

I have written countless letters to DC agency heads on behalf of my constituents. I have demanded better bus service for Ingleside residents and my other constituents. I am repeatedly pressing DDOT to install traffic-calming measures for parents of young children who are demanding them for their residential streets.

I am in constant communication with MPD regarding public safety issues, and with the utility companies that are improving our infrastructure but have been causing inconveniences with traffic and water service.

I have written extensive and detailed analyses of the eight proposed Civic Core development proposals as well as the Omnibus Zoning Text Amendment zoning changes the city proposed for accessory buildings (including accessory dwelling units), and front, side, and rear setbacks in our neighborhood. I sent both analyses to my constituents seeking feedback.

I co-authored a resolution calling upon the DC Zoning Commission to change its process for examining the city’s proposed zoning changes for upper Connecticut Avenue, from “rule-making” to “contested,” to obtain more extensive due process rights for the community not afforded under the “rule-making” process.

I have written resolutions on behalf of my constituents, and gained the support of the ANC, on more mundane — but equally important — issues. I have voted dozens of times for measures that I was convinced the majority of my neighbors would support and that would improve life in Chevy Chase.

And I have never missed an ANC meeting.

The list above is just a sampling of the kind of work I do on a daily basis on behalf of our community. The work of the ANC has become a full-time job for me.

Through it all — amid the big decisions and the small — my goal is to serve — and to bring together and celebrate this wonderful community of Chevy Chase.

Your voice, honestly represented — in a neighborhood we all love.

The ideals of democracy and representation lie at the heart of everything I do. I believe that Chevy Chase residents must be the ones to make decisions about our community and how it grows and changes — not advocacy groups, and not the personal agendas of ANC Commissioners.

As a 34-year resident of Chevy Chase, I am deeply invested in this community; I want us and our community to succeed. To that end, I want you to know that I am Listening to You; I am Working for You.

My candidacy is about your voice, honestly represented, in a neighborhood we all love.

I hope I can count on your support.

Carol Grunewald
Commissioner and Candidate, ANC 3/4G03

Paid for by Carol Grunewald, 5636 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20015, PO Box 6233