Thursday, February 28, 2008

Sidewalk Safety Standards

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has announced new safety standards that aim to protect pedestrians near construction sites. The work-zone standards require covered walkways or protected open walkways at most construction sites.

The policy, developed by the District Department of Transportation, the D.C. Building Industry Association and community leaders, requires that traffic control plans developed for construction sites replicate existing walkways as closely as possible. Developers must submit their plans to the city for approval in order to use the public space as part of the construction site.

The policy is intended to address the concerns of residents and visitors regarding construction-related sidewalk closings. The Transportation Department developed the policy after studying similar methods in other cities such as New York and Cincinnati.

Former D.C. first lady Cora Masters Barry has been inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation's Hall of Fame. Barry, founder and chief executive of the Recreation Wish List Committee of Washington, is recognized for her significant contributions to the sport, education and the community.

Founded in 1995, the committee has been instrumental in the renovation of several recreation centers across the District. The $5.1 million state-of-the-art Southeast Tennis and Learning Center was made possible by the committee and is ranked as one of the most prestigious tennis and learning facilities in the country.

"I am honored," Barry said, "and accept this award on behalf of all the people who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of children through tennis and education."

The Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation is a charitable arm of the U.S. Tennis Association. It supports tennis and education programs for financially disadvantaged youth in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District.

For information about the Recreation Wish List Committee and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, call 202-678-7530 or go to http://www.recreationwishlist.org.

The District has received a national award that recognizes the city's fiscal responsibility for 2007.

Natwar M. Gandhi, the District's chief financial officer, announced recently that the city received the Government Finance Officer Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This is the sixth time the District has received the award.

Established in 1984, the program encourages governments to prepare high-quality budget documents. The award recognized the District's commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. More than 1,100 were chosen after a review by members of the association and others with experience in public-sector budgeting.

A new online resource is available that is intended to help Washington-area women start small businesses. The Women's Small Business Development Directory offers information on micro-loans, training and technical assistance, business plan development and other critical resources.

Funded by a grant from the Washington Area Women's Foundation, the guide was started by Trinity University professor Roxana Moayedi and her students over two semesters. They created the database after polling showed that low-income women, especially single mothers, believed that they would never get ahead as someone else's employee.

"We learned that these women felt there was no way to move up in their jobs," Moayedi said. "They believed if they started their own business, they could move out of poverty."

The datebase is available at http://thewomensfoundation.org/small-business-development-directory.

-- Compiled by JILLIAN S. JARRETT