The Advi­sory Neigh­bor­hood Com­mis­sions con­sider a wide range of poli­cies and pro­grams affect­ing their neigh­bor­hoods, includ­ing traf­fic, park­ing, recre­ation, street improve­ments, liquor licenses, zon­ing, eco­nomic devel­op­ment, police pro­tec­tion, san­i­ta­tion and trash col­lec­tion, and the District’s annual budget.

In each of these areas, the intent of the ANC leg­is­la­tion is to ensure input from an advi­sory board that is made up of the res­i­dents of the neigh­bor­hoods that are directly affected by gov­ern­ment action. The ANCs are the body of gov­ern­ment with the clos­est offi­cial ties to the peo­ple in a neighborhood.

The ANCs present their posi­tions and rec­om­men­da­tions on issues to var­i­ous Dis­trict gov­ern­ment agen­cies, the Exec­u­tive Branch, and the Coun­cil. They also present tes­ti­mony to inde­pen­dent agen­cies, boards, and com­mis­sions, usu­ally under the rules of pro­ce­dure spe­cific to those enti­ties. By law, the ANCs may also present their posi­tions to Fed­eral agencies.

To assist ANCs, agency offi­cials, and the gen­eral pub­lic, a search­able data­base of let­ters writ­ten by the Office of the Attor­ney Gen­eral on ANC issues is now avail­able. Foggy Bot­tom and West End are rep­re­sented by ANC 2A. For more infor­ma­tion about the agenda and cur­rent issues visit www.anc2a.org.