The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Allied Universal on Jan. 12 hosted a security briefing on the 58th Presidential Inauguration for approximately 200 Downtown property managers and stakeholders.
The briefing, held at the Inter-American Development Bank (1300 New York Avenue), featured many Downtown stakeholders as well as a presentation by Assistant Police Chief Lamar Greene and Special Operations Division Commander Jeffery Carroll from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and by officials with the United States Secret Service (USSS). The briefing offered attendees information regarding up-to-date security perimeters, road closures and timing. This briefing also included updates on the Jan. 21 Women’s March on Washington as well as a Q&A session from the audience.
“It was important to the BID that Downtown stakeholders were well-informed and aware of the Inauguration’s impacts along with how to abide by law enforcement guidelines since Downtown is such a strong economic engine for the city in a target-rich environment” said Blake Holub, public space manager for the BID, who helped organize the Jan. 12 briefing. “The partnership for this event between law enforcement entities and the BID highlights how well private and public entities can collaborate and utilize their resources to help ensure safety and security.”
The briefing detailed the differences in the green zones and red zones and their closure times and parking restrictions. Along the Inauguration parade route, there will be checkpoints with magnetometers, and the National Guard will be on site. Pedestrians, not vehicles, will be permitted in the red and green zones and there will also be various Metro and street closings affecting vehicular and pedestrian traffic. For-hire services including Uber, Lyft, and taxicabs, will have limited mobility routes due to “geofencing.” Capital Bikeshare will close several stations and relocate others to different areas.
[For details regarding all Presidential Inauguration impacts, click here.]
The Inauguration is one of many events happening in DowntownDC the weekend of Jan. 20. The Women’s March on Washington, the Protest at the Inauguration: Stand Against Trump, War, Racism and Inequality and Bikers for Trump Halftime Rally, are just a few events happening that plan to bring 30,000-200,000 people to the DowntownDC area this weekend.
Jim Thompson, senior vice president of operations for the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue) at the Jan. 12 briefing discussed how he communicated inauguration information to his staff via press releases detailing restrictions and other important information. In advance of welcoming crowds on Inauguration Day at the Newseum, which overlooks the parade route, Thompson said he offered a select number of staff to stay in the building overnight to ensure the museum’s ability to open their doors on time Jan. 20 and to additionally accommodate guests in inclement weather and those who need to use the restroom.
Wesley Gilmer, the chief engineer of the Willard Inter-Continental Hotel noted that has team held weekly meetings for two months prior to the Inauguration in preparation. “Deliveries and pick ups are something people don’t think about,” Gilmer said. “Trash pick ups won’t be available.”
A representative from USSS reiterated security measures for the Jan. 12 guests and led a Q & A with the audience.
For further details on Inauguration weekend impacts, click here.