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.
The Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC), which provides technical support to the 37 ANCs, is located
in Room 8 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20004. The office can be reached at (202)
727-9945.
