News

Statement on Creation of Adams Morgan BID

September 22, 2005

“I am pleased to announce that on August 22, Mayor Anthony Williams formally signed off on the creation of a business improvement district (BID) for the Adams Morgan community.

“Through his action, the Mayor has endorsed the years-long community effort to create an organization that will provide improved cleanliness and safety/hospitality services to the vital Adams Morgan commercial corridors.

“This is an example of our business community taking responsibility for its own future, lifting itself up by its bootstraps in an effort to make our already superb neighborhood even better.

“To create a BID for the neighborhood, our commercial property owners signed onto a formal legal petition in support of the creation of a new assessment that the District government will collect, but that the business and property owners will together determine how to spend. By choosing to tax themselves so they can provide a better business environment for their customers, the businesses are truly putting their money where their mouth is.

“The majority of the Adams Morgan BID’s funds will go towards two primary programs.

“First, the funds will go towards daytime cleaning of the neighborhood’s commercial sidewalks and streets. BID contractors will hand-sweep sidewalks, remove litter and leaves, eliminate graffiti, remove illegal posters, and notify BID management of other larger problems (e.g. illegal dumping, damaged bus shelters, large fallen tree branches, etc.) so that they can be quickly resolved.

“Second, the funds will provide for additional nighttime security, possibly in the form of safety/hospitality patrols. These staffers will walk a regular “beat” in the neighborhood, remain in constant contact with the police, provide residents and visitors with a sense of safety through their presence, and answer any questions directed at them regarding neighborhood services, businesses, and transportation.

“While these services are funded by Adams Morgan property and business owners, they will provide clear and certain benefit to everyone in Adams Morgan—residents, visitors, customers, employees, and the owners themselves. We have a cleaner and a safer Adams Morgan to look forward to.

"The Adams Morgan BID will be under the able leadership of executive director Josh Gibson and a board of directors made up of neighborhood business and commercial property owners. They will ensure that the BID’s services stay true to the goals envisioned by the BID’s founders and those who signed the petitions in support of the BID’s creation.

“Over the next few weeks, the BID will complete its administrative setup, and gear up to begin providing its much-anticipated services. Stay tuned for more news as each of these services rolls out.”

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