Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are bodies of local government in our city. Created in 1974 through a District referendum in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. The ANCs' main job is to be their neighborhood's official voice in advising the District government (and Federal agencies) on things that affect their neighborhoods. ANC's are responsible for considering a wide range of policies and programs affecting the neighborhoods of 2000 constituents. These areas include traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, sanitation and trash collection, and the District's annual budget. Although they are not required to follow the ANCs' advice, District agencies are required to give the ANCs' recommendations "great weight." Moreover, District law says that agencies cannot take any action that will significantly affect a neighborhood unless they give the affected ANCs 30 days advance notice.
