Carolyn Sherman, the Northwest resident named to American University Park’s advisory neighborhood commission in a special election last week, has called on her opponent in that race to drop his opposition to the removal of a controversial traffic barrier in the area.
The barrier, located at the busy six-way intersection at Fessenden Street NW, 45th Street NW and River Road, was the divisive issue in the special election to replace ANC3E Commissioner Chapman Todd. Sherman supports the removal of the barrier, while her opponent, Ernest Baynard, is for keeping the barrier in place.
The barrier, which has not yet been removed from the intersection, reduced the volume of traffic on Fessenden and 45th streets, which are both residential. However, a group of residents on nearby Ellicott Street objected to the barrier because traffic was being directed toward them.
In a lawsuit filed last week, the Coalition for the Common Good, a group comprising residents who support the barrier, filed a lawsuit accusing the District Transportation Department of holding secret meetings with residents referred to as the Anti-Safety Barrier Group, which is led by Sherman. The suit accused Sherman of intimidating city officials into changing their position.
“Ernest should ask his group to withdraw their suit or disassociate himself with the group,” Sherman said.
“This lawsuit is designed to keep the community divided. Ernest pledged to keep the community together.”
She added that Baynard wrote in a community newspaper op-ed piece that the election would determine the community’s stance on the barrier.
Baynard said that in the op-ed he was speaking as a candidate and would not ask the group to withdraw the lawsuit.
“I don’t think I was speaking for all of the residents or the Coalition for the Common Good,” he said.
