In 2009, Vogue magazine's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour wanted to stimulate the country's slow economy with a night that would specifically focus on getting consumers back into stores.

DDOT Seeking Public Input on Parking in the District

All Who Live, Work or Visit in the District Are Encouraged to Participate

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting a series of community conversations, called Parking Think Tanks , to gauge the state of parking and to solicit public input on the future of parking in the District. DDOT envisions that these conversations will contribute to the development of a comprehensive curbside parking management plan.

In the ten years since DDOT’s establishment both the District and the role of transportation have changed dramatically.  The population has grown; vehicle ownership has declined; transportation options and choices have greatly expanded; and more people are taking advantage of these new options.  DDOT is asking for citizen input to develop strategies and recommendations to better balance the parking needs of everyone -employees, residents, and visitors – who competes for a share of the limited curb space.

The goal of parking management in the District is to improve mobility and convenience by:

* Preserving access to parking in residential areas for residents;

* Promoting and facilitating commerce by prioritizing customer and commercial vehicle access in commercial areas; and

* Ensuring the safety of all transportation users including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists.

DDOT is seeking comments and recommendations on a number of its current parking programs such as the Residential and Visitor Permit Parking (RPP) programs, Performance Based Parking, parking meters, the management of reserved / restricted spaces (such as commercial loading, car sharing, ADA parking, etc.) and bicycle and scooter parking accommodations. Details about DDOT’s current parking programs are available online at http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/Services/Parking+Services . In addition, DDOT is seeking suggestions for future parking enhancement opportunities.

Anyone who visits, lives or works in the District is invited to attend a Parking Think Tank and/or to share their input via an online survey.  The input received will help shape future parking policies and programs to create a more efficient use of parking resources.

The following Parking Think Tanks are scheduled to take place as follows:

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

One Judiciary Square (Old Council Chambers)

441 4th Street, NW

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Ora Glover Community Room

1800 Good Hope Road, SE

The schedule for the additional Parking Think Tanks, the online survey and the information that will be presented at these meetings will be made available online at ddot.dc.gov/ParkingThinkTanks . The same DDOT presentation will be made at each Parking Think Tank.

Following the Parking Think Tanks, DDOT will host a public summit to report on the input received from the public; how the input may potentially shape the outcome of comprehensive curbside parking management plan; and the agency’s next steps.

Questions and requests for additional information may be directed to Angelo Rao at 202-671-1370 or angelo.rao@dc.gov .

Councilmember Vincent Orange Hosts Small Business Summit at

The Hamilton Restaurant & John A. Wilson Building on September 28, 2012

Councilmember Vincent B. Orange, Sr., Chair of the Committee on Small and Local Business Development, in partnership with Mayor Vincent C. Gray, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), the DC Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invite you to the Small Business Summit on September 28th at the Hamilton Restaurant, 14th and F Streets, N.W. and the John A. Wilson Building located at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray has been invited to highlight his vision for a diversified and resilient District economy including a thriving small business community. Barbara Lang , President/CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, and Angela Franco , President/CEO of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, both sponsors of the Summit, will highlight how their organizations work with and assist the small business community. Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins will share insights on economic development in the District; DSLBD Director Harold Pettigrew will explain the services available through DSLBD.

Keynote luncheon speaker Dr. Stephen Fuller, will discuss how the economic forecast for the District of Columbia might impact your business.

Each participant will attend the breakfast plenary session and luncheon at the Hamilton Restaurant; and the four panel sessions and closing session at the John A. Wilson Building.

Event Details:

· September 28th -- 7:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.

· Registration, Breakfast and Plenary Session, 7:30 A.M, and Lunch, 12:15 P.M. at the Hamilton Restaurant 600 14th Street N.W.

· Panel and Closing Sessions at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.

· REGISTRATION FEE: $75.00. Space for participants is limited.

Sessions Include:

· Resources Available to DC Businesses (Harold Pettigrew, DSLBD)

· DC’s Regulatory Environment (Nicholas Majett, DCRA)

· Contracting and Procurement in the District (James Staton, OCP)

· Federal Contracting Opportunities (Invited: Marie Johns, U.S. Small Business Administration)

The Adams Morgan Partnership BID will sponsor scholarships for up to 10 Adams Morgan businesses to attend the summit. Please email Kristen at kbarden@adamsmorganonline.org

to sign up. First come first serve.