Police Report. Lieutenant Johnson reported 12 crimes in the past 30 days, up from 9 for the same period a year ago. They included 3 thefts from auto and 9 general thefts, two of which were packages stolen from porches and most of the remainder were thefts at CVS. No violent crimes occurred in the past 30 days.
General Discussion of Issues Regarding the D96 Bus Route and Service. Commissioner Rodriguez opened the discussion with an explanation of the removal of the bus stop for the D96 at New Mexico and Cathedral. The bus stop is on Cathedral close to the intersection. Because it is so close, it is causing traffic to snarl especially during rush hour because traffic backs up into the intersection behind the stopped bus. As a result, WMATA has removed the stop from the D96 route. It has also removed the D96 stop on the north side because buses were not able to move over easily to make the left turn onto New Mexico from Cathedral. Commissioner Lane said other problems that 3B has heard about is that buses are bunching especially during rush hours and that buses are now running more than 30 minutes apart. Commissioner Rodriguez said that he and other 3B commissioners have attempted to contact WMATA officials several times to discuss these issues and attend an ANC 3B meeting but have not had any success. Commissioner Lavezzo commented that whenever we have tried to contact them more broadly about issues with the buses that WMATA has not communicated openly. Commissioner Rodriguez said 3B would continue to try to get WMATA to address these issues.
Notice of Public Hearing on Kahama West LLC application for a new medical cannabis license at 2208 Wisconsin Avenue NW. Commissioner Rodriguez introduced former Commissioner Jackie Blumenthal who has done research on the applicant for a medical cannabis license at 2208 Wisconsin Avenue. Ms. Blumenthal said that she has extensive experience working with liquor and cannabis license applications on the GP Wisconsin Avenue strip and stressed that where owners are respectful and responsible in the neighborhood, there are seldom any problems. She has concerns about this applicant. The applicant is the brother of a man who along with his partner owns three other medical marijuana retail stores which is the maximum number allowed n DC. The original owners want to start a cultivation center and therefore must shed some of their retail operations. Their plan is to transfer two of their retail licenses to Kahama West who is the applicant for the license at 2208 Wisconsin. According to transcripts of previous ABCA hearings on this license transfer request, Mr. West does not have experience running this type of business and ABCA could not determine his fitness to run the business. As such, the concern is that it may be a “straw transfer” meaning the original owners would run it and Mr. West would only be the frontman. A further concern is that one of the retail stores run by the two original owners and located in Georgetown was so disruptive to the neighborhood that it was shut down twice by MPD at the request of nearby neighbors. Given these concerns, Commissioner Rodriguez said that ANC 3B needs to ask questions about the applicant’s ability to run this type of business and be responsible to and respectful of the neighborhood. A medical cannabis store can and did operate successfully in Glover Park for several years and that was due in large part because the owner was responsible and worked with the neighborhood. A motion was made and seconded to protest the license application with ABCA and to have either Commissioner Turmail or his designee represent ANC 3B at the ABCA hearing on Monday, August 31st. The motion passed unanimously. A letter will be sent to ABCA by the August 10th deadline informing them of ANC 3B’s intention to protest.
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 10th, 2026