Rob Halligan, 44, is the president of the Dupont Circle Citizens Association. The neighborhood is home to a lively mix of homes, restaurants, embassies, shops and galleries. Halligan, a former ANC commissioner, has been a vocal watchdog of city government. He’s a small-business consultant who moved here in 1998.
What made you get involved politically?
I had a gun stuck in my face right in front of my house in broad daylight. Rather than take that into anger or fear, I decided to figure out what I could do to improve the city. It was the beginning of the Williams administration. There was a lot of momentum. It was an exciting time.
What was exciting about it?
They pushed to improve the quality of service and tackle problems in a systematic fashion. It became less personality-oriented and more process-oriented. Before, you had to go to some person in the know to make things happen. Five years later, I still spend my time bugging city workers to do what they’re paid to do.
One of your causes was fighting the rat problem. How is that going?
Poorly. I spend a lot of time on that. I’ve met with everyone up the chain, but they still don’t do enough enforcing or educating.
Dupont Circle is losing its last movie theater. What’s going on?
The rents are way up, the commercial property taxes are way up. The market’s changed with the big theater in Georgetown and the E Street theater.
We’ve been trying to keep it from turning into general mall space. That’s something the city council should be trying to figure out, but we don’t get much help.
Any future political plans?
Iam seriously considering running against (Council Member) Jack Evans.
