A snowball's chance in Hell
Okay I'm back from vacation and I gather I and several other bloggers must have gotten email from the campaign of some guy named Richard Urban who is running for the at large seat on the council. Okay
he's a socially conservative white guy running as an independent. In this town. Snowball's. Chance. In. Hell.
Last thought, never announce you're going on vacation on blogs or social media sites. That's almost asking for it. Even though I had an unemployed unpaid intern house sitting while I was gone, I figured it was best not to say anything.
Labels: politics
Marion Barry
Marion has mojo, a particular political mojo that allows him to get away with anything. If you could bottle his mojo it would be as valuable as that unobtainium stuff in the movie Avatar. It would make any politician invincible, so they can sleep with anyone, not bother with federal taxes, be sloppy with city funds and be a shoo in around election time. If you could bottle his power, you can rule the world, or Ward 8.
Labels: politics
Safeway at RI and 4th NE
Really I should stay of this. But the store that was closed for a short period due to a
rat infestation. It is a store at the top of the hill and about 1/4 of a mile from the Giant near the Rhode Island metro station. I've been in the Giant a few times. I know people hate it. I've been okay with it, but haven't been in enough times to say if it's any worse than the O Street Giant. I've been in that Safeway once and haven't felt any deep need to return.
So on the listservs there is this clamoring to keep the Safeway from closing. Harry Thomas has gotten involved. There is some sort of petition for a Harris Teeter.
Okay, someone enlighten me. Someone 'splain to me how the politicos are supposed to convince a private business to land on top the same old unprofitable rat's nest? As
Safeway said they aren't making enough money in that spot, how is a Teet supposed to make it work?
Anyway good luck with that, but since a
Harris Teeter is slated to open near the NY Ave metro, I don't see one popping up anytime soon 1 mile away.
Labels: food/dining, politics
Tommy and the Chickens
I would feel a bit more hopeful about the possible legalization of backyard chickens if I could see something on Ward 6 Councilman
Tommy Well's webpage. Wells is the
reported council champion. What I'd like to know more but can't find any more info, so far, and that's kinda frustrating.
Labels: animals, politics
No stopping Leroy
Today on ANC 2C02 Kevin Chapple's blog is a letter announcing that Mr. Leroy Thorpe, who was deposed, dethroned, by Kevin in 2006,
is requesting a recount for the 2008 election. I'm not that concerned this year, as the difference is 29 votes, as opposed to 5 votes in 2006.
This is just one thing, but Leroy surprised us back in 2006 with his take over of the ECCA and the invented position of puppet master, I mean Parliamentarian for ANC2C chair Doris Brooks. So any guesses of what else he'll do besides this? Will he start up a ANC2C centric 'non-profit', or his own publication. What will he do next because I don't think he'll go quietly.
Labels: ANC, politics
Locally....
Part of me is screaming and cursing.
Reason 1- Michael Brown has the majority of the non-Democratic vote for city council. I'm so unhappy about that.
Reason 2- I regret that Jessica Lanza was not able to secure the seat for ANC2C03 with only 40% of the vote, according to the
unofficial results.
The results between Chapple vs Thorpe and Sule vs Curtis look good, close, but it appears that the puppet show may come to and end, Praise be to G-d. And of course Padro wins by a landslide.
Over in Ward 5, Anita Bonds wins over the tree killer Jerry Mack. Sadly Ted Mcginn is behind Sylvia Pinkney. And Mark Jones, who had no spelling errors on his signs, got the DC School Board seat for Ward 5.
Labels: ANC, ANC5C meeting, politics
Make the world go away
I'm going to take a cue from one of my co-workers and stay home tomorrow. His plan is to vote and curl up with some good science/fantasy fiction. Something taking place in a kindgom far, far away. I plan the same thing, vote, and finish off a
fictional parable about economics.
I've grown weary of the all election all the the time media so once I've done my part I'm shutting down. I plan to disconnect from the Internet, no TV, no radio and put the phones on silent. I'll read my books, maybe do laundry, maybe take a hot steamy bath (haven't done that for months) and watch those netflix dvds that have been piling up. I'll wake up Wednesday when the radio alarm goes off and find out, unless there is something going on in the streets that clues me in.
I chatted with my Aunt and she also plans to stay home and have a quiet night. Her church, Shiloh Baptist, is having some sort of election party, gathering, whatever when the polls at their Hertigage Hall closes. Anyway she expressed concern about how residents would react to an unfavorable or favorable outcome and so she's staying well away from the city. Even after several decades have passed and Shaw has bounced back from its past, the suburban distrust of the city is still there. Oh well.
I'm hoping for a quiet evening.
Labels: politics
Michael A. Brown, G-ddamned A*hole
Guess what I came home to today? I think it was the fifth fuking phone call I got from his piece of shyte campaign. I now hate Michael A. Brown's guts with a passion. But before I came home I was introduced to a colleague whom, I was told, also lived in the District. The first words out of my mouth was, "Don't vote for Michael Brown." He had no idea who Michael Brown was, so if I see this person before Election Day I will give him several reasons of why he should not vote for Micheal A. Brown (the A. stands for Ass).
So far from his campaign it appears the Micheal Ass Brown is pro-litter, anti-neighborhood, and anti-human. Let's explore his pro-litter stance. Earlier in his campaign Mr. Brown sought to plaster his pudgy bald head on cars indiscriminately. DC cars, MD cars, VA cars, don't matter. I've also spotted several of these glossy strips of campaign paper in the gutter, a gutter that would then take these slips to the Potomac and so I guess he's also against the environment as well. Then the litter spread to my yard, and my neighbors' yards and so forth. So if you're willing to vote for Rap Snacks, or a used condom wrapper you may be the kind of voter Michael Brown is looking for. Since litter, in addition to crime is a neighborhood issue, Michael A. Brown hurts neighborhoods with litter, and that brings to question, does he help neighborhoods in anyway?
Brown strikes me as a big picture guy so your corner drug problem, the trash in your alley, the trash his campaign helped add to, probably would be too small to concern himself with. I found my last robo-call preposterous. In it Micheal A. Brown plays the friendly character that appeared in the neighborhood. Can anyone tell me what neighborhood functions he's appeared at? I saw Carol Schwartz and the Cult of Kwame at the BACA meeting. Of course, there is usually someone at BACA willing to tout Kwame. Kwame got people at the grassroots level. So I wonder if Michael A. Brown would even hear you at that level. Has anyone in Ward 4 seen him since he tried running as council man for your ward back in 2006? Did he go back to playing with the big boys on the national level? On his website he claims to be a community activist. Community doesn't necessarily mean neighborhood, or local level. Bankers are a community, there's the lobbying community, and so forth.
Anti-human. Okay I have a stronger argument that he's pro-litter. To say Michael A. Brown hates people is untrue. To say he hates people who have answering machines and don't want to be called five friggen times, is possibly true. Well it's true at my house. And he's pro-robot, hence the robo-calls. He's denying some actual human the ability o annoy the hell out of me with a live call. Since he likes funding his campaign every few years why couldn't he have funded a little job training program that has people, not robots? Or was he litter program the jobs producer?
Yes, I know I said I'd post a profanity filled post but I tend not to curse, and it isn't really my voice. However I welcome your words so I'll lift the profanity rule for for this post (and this post only) so you can tell how you really feel about Michael Brown.
Labels: politics
Michael Brown, I hate you
I'm sure
Michael Brown is a nice man who loves puppies, but the 2 robo-calls I received since posting my last post about his campaign littering program, has turned great annoyance to hate. What genius thought that constantly calling people would make people want to vote for your candidate? It serves to get your candidates name out, but why the heck would it make me want to vote for him?
DC is a city of neighborhoods and I don't know if the man recognizes that, and instead sees it as a national city. It is a capital city, but as far as city government and governance goes it's that down to the block stuff that makes this city livable. Even the Cult of Kwame [Brown] gets that. I'm not convinced Michael knows that.
The other thing that annoys me about his campaign, besides the litter, is his trying to ride the coattails of Obama. And second, he's running as an independent. Independent my ass. That last robo-call I got was a very partisan message.
In closing, the only thing I think Michael Brown has proven is that he can raise money, buy a lot of campaign lit, and annoy the crap out of DC citizens. He may know how to run national programs but I don't know if he knows boo about getting trash cleaned out of an alley or getting DC Employee X to call you back.
Vote for Schwartzman or Mara or write in Carol Schwartz*. But whatever you do don't, don't reward this fool with your vote.
PS- if I get one more f'ing robo call, I'm posting a profanity strewn piece written to be high in the Google search results.
*I don't endorse Kwame 'cause he told Si's mom to get a HELOC to pay her taxes.
Labels: politics
Dear Michael Brown
Don't keep calling me and leaving messages on my answering machine.
Don't litter my yard with your campaign crap.
Don't litter my streets with it either.
You've blanketed the neighborhood
and I am so not voting for you.
10/23 addition-
Michael Brown, I hate youLabels: politics
ANC2C02- Don't vote yourself into an abusive relationship
They basically confirmed something that I always knew to be true, many in this neighborhood fear reprisal from Leroy Thorpe if they ever "supported" his opponent in his re-election bid. Just two years ago I will admit that I was in the same boat but today I am not scared and to tell you the truth if Leroy were stupid enough to do something to me or my family it would say more about the man than anything I have ever written on this website.
--
Off SeventhAnother commenter on the Off Seventh's blog
already compared it to an abusive relationship. But let me stress that point even more. Voters of 2C02, you are like Tina Turner, just after she's escaped a long abusive marriage to Ike, redone her image, and Ike comes threatening Tina with violence to force her to come back. ANC2C02, be the strong Tina. Be the Tina that goes forward on to bigger and better things, not the Tina who makes excuses and lives in fear.
Please don't be in denial about how bad it is and was. Daddy 5-O has
a good refresher of why you don't want to go back. It should also be good reason why the rest of you all in 2C shouldn't keep the enablers of the abuse (Brooks & Curtis) on either.
Before I finish this I want to thank everyone who voted for Kevin Chapple back in 2006. Especially the voters who were abroad at the time and submitted their absentee ballots, who made their neighborhood a better place to come back home to. By doing so you brought in a man who truly serves the people of 2C. Kevin is a man who shares information with the people, knowing that information is power, and power belongs to the people.
Labels: ANC, politics
Are you registered?
If you're going to vote Nov 4th you're going to need to be registered by Oct 6. Please check the DC Election Board's
online voter registration page or
the registration status page.
I wish I could say great things about the status checking but I have been unable to confirm my voting status. The problem is I recently changed my name and there are several confusing ways my name can be entered into the computer. Just to be confusing, my first name is a single letter. I know I can vote, as I did vote in the primaries.
Labels: politics
Kevin needs signs
Walking around the hood, I noticed a lot of Leroy Thorpe signs in yards. The puppet master of ANC 2C02 wants his job back. Well if you don't like being informed about what's going on, unless you belong to a small clique of loyal followers, go ahead vote him back in.
But you can't tell me you don't want current ANC2C02 Kevin Chapple's
seasonal magazine or his informative
website with video and updated info of things going on in around central Shaw. These did not exist before Kevin people. What you got before was yelled at or a poorly edited flier that may or may not have found its way to you.
Let's not go back to the
bad old days of Thorpe. Let's not even stall in the
bad present of an unelected Thorpe puppet regime (yeah, lotta drama for such a little slice of DC) with Ms. Brooks, as the puppet ANC 2C chair. By re-electing Kevin Chapple and Alex Padro, and electing Lanza and Sule you get rid of the whole puppet show, or at least move it to a civic group where it can't do too much harm.
So I'm distressed at the lack of Chapple signage. Guess I'm going to have to write a check to campaign fund. It seems Kevin had a fundraiser earlier this month, but lo, there is a place to where monies may be sent, according to his website:
P.O. Box 26064, Washington, DC 20001. The maximum contribution is $25. Checks should be made out to Kevin Chapple, with "reelection campaign" written in the memo section.
Labels: ANC, politics
Go Jim Go
Got this from our great leader Jim Berry. Now, let me say I am very supportive Jim. I considered his leadership fair and quiet. Quiet as in he's the type who doesn't need to do a lot of grandstanding and yelling and screaming. Also he believes in serving the people. So even though he's seeking a post in a party I don't belong to, I believe he, by bringing his skills and his integrity to the post, do one more thing to make the District better.
Dear Friends and Family Members,
I write to inform you of my decision to pursue an At-Large seat on the DC Democratic State Committee (DCDSC) as well as to actively seek your support for my election. As you know, on Tuesday, September 9, 2008, the DC Democratic Party will hold a local primary election for a candidate to serve as an At-Large member on the Council of the District of Columbia. In that race, Council Member At-Large Kwame Brown is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. In addition, you will have an opportunity to vote for six males who are vying for a seat on the DCDSC to represent Democrats in an At-Large capacity. And, it is to gain one of these six seats on the DC Democratic State Committee that I ask for your vote and, if you are willing, for your help in reaching out to your friends, family members, and neighbors, to do the same.
The District of Columbia State Committee (DCDSC) is the governing body of the DC Democratic Party. As such, the DCDSC develops and implements programs of voter registration and education, charters and works with ward Democratic organizations, and assists in the election of candidates for President and Vice President of the United States as well as candidates for other national and local offices. In this regard, I pledge to do everything within my power to help Senator Barack Obama to become the next President of the United States of America and, perhaps needless to say, I plan to enthusiastically promote his national platform to “Renew America’s Promise” towards the ultimate goal of helping its many elements to become a reality for the citizens of the District of Columbia.
Finally, like the other members of the “Obama for DC” slate, I am personally committed to the goal of forcing the key priorities of the citizens of the District of Columbia, including D.C. voting rights, to the top of the national Democratic policy agenda.
For those who might not be as familiar with my background and the types of involvements that my Democratic Party activism includes as you are, please inform them that I am a native Washingtonian and a member of the Mount Sinai Baptist Church. I am an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 18, F. &A.M., PHA. I served my
community as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 18 consecutive years and I was a former convener of the citywide ANC Assembly. I am also proud to report that I was a member of Leadership Washington’s Class of 1995. Currently, I am the president of the Bates Area Civic Association, Inc.; I am a member of the Washington, DC Police Foundation’s executive committee; and I also sit on the executive committee of the Council for Court Excellence. As one of the two incumbent Ward Five Committeemen on the DCDSC, I have served as an active member of the Party Functions and Organization Committee. Most recently, I served as a co-chair of the DCDSC’s 2008 Delegate Selection Committee and as chairperson of the Resolutions Committee for the DCDSC’s 2008 Convention. And, I will be in Denver, Colorado at the DNC 2008 National Convention later this month, providing office support to the DCDSC.
In closing, I pray that you will support me in this ambitious undertaking to gain a citywide seat on the DCDSC. With your active support as well as that of your network of friends and family, I am confident that I can and will prevail in this race. If you would like to discuss my candidacy with me or would like to volunteer to help out with my campaign, please contact me at (202) three-eight-seven-8520 or you may email me at jamojam[at]msn.com. I thank you in advance for your vote as well as any and all support that you can extend to me on September 9th!
Best,
“Jim”
JDB
Labels: politics
Supporting Jessica Lanza
After some thought I have decided to have InShaw endorse the ANC candidacy of Ms. Jessica Lanza. Though I don't live in Ward 2, I work in Ward 2, ANC2C03 exactly. Having someone who is both interested in the Penn Quarter/ Gallery Place area as a developing and residential place is a good thing. Downtown is a little different, but the residents of that area and Shaw share some similarities. And due to its proximity to Shaw, the ups and downs of Downtown can impact Shaw and Mount Vernon Sq.
Another reason why I support Ms. Lanza is that the current ANC2C03 leader is lacking and is holding back ANC2C as a whole. A change will hopefully shift things in ANC2C and move away from the unaccountability and ineffectiveness.
Check out
Jessica's website, see her informative
blog.
Labels: ANC, politics
Fun with Eleanor Holmes Norton
This weekend, I and several neighborhood bloggers were invited to talk with Delegate to Congress
Eleanor Holmes Norton. From my notes the topics were the $5,000 DC tax credit for home buyers and businesses, development, the gun law, Home Rule, Homeland Security, how she got into her position and Union Station. Possibly before all the questions she did talk about how she wound up getting into it with
Stephen Colbert and how Colbert has helped the cause of DC voting rights. (See
video of Colbert honoring her for an award)
I asked the question about the tax break because I consider it part of a package that makes buying in DC more attractive than MD or NoVA. Ms. Norton talked about how that
lovely tax credit came to be in a GOP dominated Congress and how a tax credit was more appealing than asking for more money. As one who has taken that tax credit, I told her (later, after the Q&A ended) what it meant for me.
Though she cannot vote on the floor, Ms. Norton is in several committees where she can vote. She is the chair for the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Now what does that mean for neighborhoods? Well she did explain it, but I take crappy notes. Somehow it relates to the creation of places like NoMa, and it relates to being able to influence developers who do government and public/private development and encouraging positive development that helps the city grow. Grow and not be a dead urban center surrounded by suburbs where agencies (and there are a lot out there in Langley, Beltsville, Bethesda, etc) flee.
Anyway, it was a good exchange.
Labels: government, politics
Diversity of Buildings
Yesterday I did stop by
Jessica Lanza's fund raiser. I was superfashionably late because I had to sell a man an air conditioner. Thank you craigslist.
First thing I did when I got into the building was write a check. Yes, I live in Ward 5, and not in the Ward or ANC single member district that Ms. Lanza is in. However, I walk through it and work in it, and what happens in 2C impacts my life in 5C. And really there is so much development and lunch option goodness happening in 2C-03 that it should be represented by someone with more strength than a sock-puppet. Seriously, can Ms. Doris Brooks conduct a meeting or two without her puppet master pulling her strings and throwing his voice?
Anyway, after writing a check for political change, I went out on the patio of the condo building on the corner of 7th and H and gazed at the sights. What I really liked was the diversity of building styles jumbled up together representing different periods. There was the synagogue dome on 6th & I, with the brutalist
Wah-Luck House, and 555 Mass in the background. There was little homogeneity, and that's what made it so lovely. Looking over at
555 Mass I thought about all the people living there who came to stake their claim on downtown. With the older 19th and turn of the 20th century facades I thought of an earlier DC. And then the larger buildings set back that house the residents, hold the employees, and draw in the shoppers and diners who give life to the streets below.
And then I saw the lightening in the distance, and high tailed it out of there.
Labels: ANC, politics, weather
Getting all nosey in 2Cs business
First I'd like to say that there is love and happiness over here in ANC 5C. We have been blessed with great leadership as well as good and plain old leadership. So I sit comfortably outside the boundaries of ANC 2C at home.
I was praising the Lord upon hearing
the news that someone is running for the ANC 2C-03, the seat currently held by 2C Chair Doris Brooks. Brooks was elected chair with the vote of sorta outgoing Mr. L. Thorpe of 2C02. However, despite electoral defeat, Mr. Thorpe assists Ms. Brooks as the "parliamentarian" an office with powers that, I believe no other ANC has. But that's a whole 'nother long sad story.
ANC 2C03 amazingly covers a huge swath of real estate that includes all the Gallery Place Penn Quarter loveliness that is 7th and the odd side of 9th Street. I'm wondering if the boundaries were drawn up prior to all the condos, because that's a lotta people to be represented by someone so..... lacking.
Ms. Jessica Lanza is planning to challenge Ms. Brooks. She is having a fundraiser June 7 from 6pm to 10pm at the Residences at Gallery Place, 777 7th Street NW, 3rd floor. Individual contributions are limited to $25. I got $25 in my budget, and since I haven't heard of any other challengers, she's got my support. Gotta remove Mr. Thorpe's puppet.
Speaking of
Mr. Thorpe, I noticed a flier on the sidewalk today from his hi-jacked ECCA (another long sad story) organization. And should you not have received this flier in your gate or mailbox I will retype his letter to Shaw residents, caps & all
por tu:
DEAR SHAW RESIDENTS: ANC 2C-02 SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT HAS EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN CAR ACCIDENTS AT THE CORNER OF 5TH & "QUE," STREETS, NW OVER A NEARLY TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE ECCA- EAST CENTRAL CIVIC ASSOCIATION WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AT OUR MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2008 MEETING TO BE HELD AT THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH LOCATED AT 5TH & "QUE," STREETS, NW.
ALSO ANC 2C-02, ONCE THE SAFEST SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT OF ALL FOUR COMMISSIONS WHEN I SERVED AS IT'S REPRESENTATIVE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORST REGARDING CRIME. CHARLES WALKER A RESIDENT OF ANC 2C-02 WAS SEVERLY ROBBED AND BEATEN LAST WEEK at 6TH AND QUE STREETS, A SIGN THAT CRIM AND DRUG DEALING ARE NOT PRIORITIES FOR THE CURRENT ANC COMMISSIONER SERVING ANC 2C-02. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE 1500 BLOCK OF 7TH STREET IN FRONT OF THE LAUNDROMAT, THE LOWEST PRICE GAS STATION LOCATED AT NEW JERSEY & RHODE ISLAND AVE OR 5TH & N.
I'm not going to bother with the signature which has a bunch of letters that mean nothing to me. I got only to words for that letter. Pig poop. It looks like someone is going to try to get his seat back. Guess puppeteering gets tiring after a while.
Labels: ANC, politics
More voting harassment
Not like you haven't been bugged enough, but I'm going to add my 2c. Dunbar is open, try the last door to your right because of the 10 million red doors to get in, only 1 or 2 will open for you and you get to waste 20 seconds trying almost all of them trying to break in to do your civic duty.
Last night I came home to two calls on my answering machine. One from Ron Paul and the other from Mayor Fenty. Fenty wanted me to vote for Obama, which though I would have loved nothing more than to vote for Obama, DC is a closed primary, and I'm not a Democrat.
Anyway, if you are registered for either the Republican or Democratic party go and vote. If you are an Independent or Statehood Greenie you're screwed till November.
Labels: politics
Vote for Obama, pretty please.
Most of the time I stay away from the whole national politics because local politics matter more. Because local people will improve schools, fight crime, support business and improve their fellow citizen's quality of life. So I'm going to try to tie in my plea to the local.
Please vote for Sen. Barak Obama next week. And let me state a few reasons why and hopefully this may convince you. For one, he has a better chance of an overwhelming victory and possibly a longer honeymoon period than Sen. Clinton. Clinton is divisive and she just may energize conservatives to fight like cornered rabid pit bulls. A woman president is possible, but I don't think she is the one. It's not just Democrats voting for President, but Independents, Republicans and the rest of Purple America. As a moderate conservative, Obama's message of hope and possibility appeals to me, even though his left leaning doesn't. In that appeal he can bring us together as a country, and maybe even move us beyond the divisions of red and blue that divides us and work on the things that unite us. Imagine spending less time bickering about the things we know we disagree about and more time working on the things we do agree on.
And if you haven't noticed, he's black and he's not your typical old style black politician. There was something that he said that took hold of my heart as he described himself and those of the like as the Joshua Generation, the generation who have moved into the Promised Land**. I am grateful for the struggle that previous generations endured so I can see myself as an equal and succeed. However the old style black politicking is well, old, and in some ways destructive when dealing with non-blacks. Obama and his message, as President, can change the tone of black politics, and DC politics
IS black politics (maybe on the other side of the Park it isn't). A change in tone can benefit all Washingtonians, since race plays such a major role in our local politics.
So please do your part by changing the tone and moving into the promise and voting for the man who can inspire and unite. Since I'm not a Democrat I can't make that move and the best I can do is ask you to do it for me, and spread the idea of hope, unity and change.
I'm not allowing comments because I rather have a conversation with you face to face.
UPDATE: Got an email from a fellow Truxtonian about donations that will be matched making your contribution go even further
donate.barackobama.com/match. Or you can just donate the
plain non-matching way.
**This hearkens to the imagery of Dr. ML King's speech about being on the mountain top the promised land and the biblical story of Exodus. Moses and MLK led the people in the direction of the promised land. In the case of the Israelites they had to wander the desert for 40 years, but those who left Egppt as slaves could not enter the promised land. It has been explained to me (and this is just one interpretation) that Moses' generation carried with them that slave mentality, that yearning for Egypt, and the next generation, Joshua, was free of that, and it was that generation that could enter.Labels: politics
Cary Silverman throws hat in Ward 2 ring
I'm not sure if this is news as it has been mentioned on the MVS listserv/blog, but Cary Silverman, ANC 2F and Logan Circle Community Association prez is going to challenge Jack Evans for the the Ward 2 Council seat.
I know the citizenry over on this end of the ward is a bit unhappy with Jack Evans for a variety of reasons. However, I'm not sure if voters on the other end of the ward are just as annoyed with him as well. It will be interesting to see if Mr. Silverman can appeal to the people of Dupont, Georgetown, Foggy Bottom and other points north and west.
Labels: politics
Off topic: Freedom of Speech?
If you can't lash out at some political SPAM as part of your first amendment right to the freedom of expression, especially when you belong to the 5th column, then truly the terrorists have won.
Washington Post
music critic got some SPAM from the staff of.... well guess:
Must we hear about it every time this Crack Addict attempts to rehabilitate himself with some new — and typically half-witted — political grandstanding? I'd be grateful if you would take me off your mailing list. I cannot think of anything the useless Marion Barry could do that would interest me in the slightest, up to and including overdose. Sincerely, Tim Page.
I don't completely disagree but the moral side of me tells me that I shouldn't wish for nor be unmoved by an overdose. Not wishing for anyones death. But really, if we can't call our elected leaders nasty names then the democracy is in grave danger. And if you can't blast spammers, including political spammers who apparently didn't blind copy (I'm taking a guess here if Page hit 'reply all' then it should have just gone to the sender and those cc'd), then I don't know what.
Yes, Page shouldn't have sent the reply from his work email, where he received the offending email, there he was in the wrong. But is it a firing offense? Heck naw. An offense deserving leave? Admin. or leave without pay? Admin. with pay, for a few days, with flowers and a gift basket, maybe.
There is more
here too, apparently Mr. Barry's staff is dismissive regarding bloggers.
Labels: media, politics
Dang that is too funny
Mr. Thorpe finds
Mr. Chapple threatening. Now, I'd hardly call leaving literature at one's home
stalking. Since one has shoehorned himself in a couple of positions of leadership, one should expect that part of the job is having business with persons who are elected leaders.
Labels: politics
Buncha Bloomingdale Stuff
Ya know there are like 2 or 3 Bloomingdale blogs.Farmers market still the neatest thing since sliced multi-grain bread. Every time I go there I think, damn, this/my neighborhood is so cool. Yes, technically in Bloomingdale, but right on the TC/Shaw border. It’s the vibe. You run into neighbors and people with kids, people with dogs, people with people. Some of the
vendors at the market take WIC so there is an income mix and fresh food goes to the people. The market goes on until sometime in November, so if you haven’t experienced it, go.
Friday, North Capitol Main Streets had a beer and wine tasting at Bloomingdale Liquors. That was an interesting social experiment. ‘Cause you get a mix of people going in and out. There was a beer table and a wine table, and a big crowd. I only got one little cup of wine, and the merlot wasn’t that great, but I was told the other higher end but lower priced red was much better, Unfortunately, they were out of the better red by the time I made my way back to the table. The store seemed to be doing some fairly brisk business. Of course it was Friday night. Before I bought my tequila (for a great shrimp tequila cerviche dish) I was asked if I was going to bother reporting about the ‘secret meeting’ that occurred two days before. Not a secret meeting, because I posted it in the
announcements.
DC GOP hold meeting in back of the St. George's Episcopal church basement to meet with 3-4 Ward 5 Republicans and an Independent. The goal, as I’m remembering this off the top of my head, is to hear what the people want. Lower crime, lower taxes, and better support for small businesses, which this city seems so hostile to, seems to be desired.
And lastly, circling back to the market area, check out the
Big Bear if you haven't been there lately. There is a thing in the corner, which was supposed to be there till Oct 14th, was still there when I passed by Friday, so hopefully the Bear got the extention for this installation piece.
Labels: Bloomingdale/Eckington, events, farmers markets, politics
Y'all mean
Because my usual Wednesday activity has been discontinued and because I don't have a TV I wandered over to the ANC 2C Show. I don't think my skin is thick enough to deal with a full fledged meeting, 'cause y'all mean. Not to be too
Deanna Troi, but Captain, I sense hostility.
I say full fledged because Ms. Brooks appeared ill at the beginning of the meeting and the official meeting was adjourned sometime after the minutes (I believe, I can't hear that well) were approved. What occurred after she and Mr. Thorpe left was a community meeting facilitated by Misters Chapple and Padro.
I guess one good thing was the leader of the Organization for Training Others in Need, Carole A. Mumin, wife of Ibrahim Mumin, addressed her grievance with Mr. Chapple and his reporting of the DC Auditors report. She stated that she erred in giving the auditor the wrong receipts, which resulted in a damning report. There were apologies, speeches and testimonials about the program.
Moving on.
There was something about a building on New York Ave. MVSQ has concerns. I wonder how realistic is it to move a brick building that isn't stable. But I'm keeping my thoughts to myself.
Then lastly, there was Parcel 42 and the presentation was for a matter of right proposal. Matter of right, good, as for reasons I'm not entirely free to blog about, PUDs take for-ever. You can get married have kids and send those kids off to college before some PUDs get finished. Not so great, and I'm keeping my thoughts to myself, but the presenters were suggesting 100% affordable housing. Doesn't the Susan Reitig House of Prayer building that's up have affordable housing aspects? And then across 7th St there is a post-riot affordable housing building, which across 8th from that building another affordable housing structure, and across R Street from that a public housing. Then across R/Rhode Island from Parcel 42 is senior affordable housing. So short of the 7-11 that intersection would be a concentrated area of affordable housing if this plan was chosen. I'm no city planner, but isn't this almost like concentrating poverty? And despite being structured to have retail or some commercial space on the first level the building on 7th and R (Lincoln-Westmoreland? Name escapes me now), there is little for profit business that I see. So something is wrong if pre-existing space is underperforming.
I'll stick with the peace, love and happiness of 5C. I am gaining a greater appreciation for Jim Berry and his legacy of grace and being slow to anger.
Labels: ANC, development, housing, politics
The road to Hell is paved with the very best of intentions
So, former Mayor-for-Life, current Ward 8 Councilman
has proposed some housing bills recently, some not bad, others.... I don't want to call them 'stupid' but I can't find another word. It seems his heart is in the right place.
Let's start off with the not-bad proposed legislation,
Housing Support for Teachers Act of 2007 B17-0095, sponsored by our own Harry Thomas Jr., Vincent Gray, Carol Schwartz, Kwame Brown, and Marion Barry. A quick look at it seems to offer funds of $5K for individual teachers with moving expenses, housing down payments, and housing stipend. Good stuff for teachers. No complaint here.
The next one I mentioned to someone and he proclaimed the "
Evictions with Dignity Amendment Act" as stupid. To me it is not so much stupid, but it looks like a huge liability for the city. Does the city have tons of storage space for people's stuff? And what happens when someone precious thingamabob heirloom dohicky gets damaged by a water leak while in the City's care? Anyway it is co-sponsored with Kwame Brown.
And the last of Barry proposed legislation that should be cause for concern for anyone who is/ will/ has rented out their basement, condo, house or part of their house, the Rent Control Expansion Amendment Act of 2007 (
PDF). Barry is the sole sponsor of this really bad idea, that would
seem to make every rental-able unit in the city subject to the Rent Control laws, which are now just limited to units of 4 or more. If I'm interpreting this thing right (and I hope I'm not) this would mess with owners of single units, and increase their risk. Also there are a lot of things that go into the expense for a single (or double if it is a house with a rentable basement) landlord that are beyond the control of that person that it seems rent control ignores, like condo fees and skyrocketing tax assessments. The proposed bill is very short and left me with two big questions. One was does it include single and half units (room in house)? And in Sec.3 'Fiscal impact statement' is the language saying there will be an study of some sort to see what economic impact such legislation would have or is it saying that this will be based on a fiscal impact statement that was done already? If there is a study to be done, I hope the city would take a look at incentives for people to decide to make their basements rental units, or to rent out their condos or houses (short-term/ indefinitely) over just selling their properties. People make choices about what to do with their homes and the city shouldn't put something out there that would give homeowners second thoughts about renting out their place as an extra source of income, and thus taking some units off the legal* market.
*Regarding basement units there are height and other requirements, but some folks rent out their basements regardless, and illegally.
Labels: housing, politics
Anyone else get the call?
Last week, I got a call from someone (I was half asleep when I answered the phone) looking for volunteers for a candidate running for the Ward 7 seat. "Who?" I asked, though it didn't matter because I forgot his name as soon as I went back to my nap. I am not sure how I, an Independent in Ward 5, got on someone's potential volunteers list for a candidate in Ward 7. Anyone else outside of Ward 7 get a random call from someone looking for unpaid campaign workers?
Labels: politics
Evil Evil Gentrification
In today's
New York Times the case where the cash strapped city of New London wants to steal the property from homeowners so they can build yuppie complexs has been placed on the Supreme Court's docket. The city fathers (and mothers) have some wacked out idea of "public use." Which is the part of the law that allows local governments to kick people out of their homes. Usually it is to build a road, make a big park, like Central Park in NYC, or even to build a factory that would employ thousands. Not a hotel, conference center and
private 80 homes.
Labels: gentrification, politics
How gentrification can be just plain EVIL
Friday morning while trying to convince myself that getting up and going to work early is a good thing, I heard over
NPR a
newstory that riled up passions in my conservative heart. Property rights.
The story is about what's going on in New London, CT where the city wants to redevelop a section of town to make way yuppie condos. Fine. Problem, they are threatening to use 'eminent domain' as a way of taking land away from the few homeowners in that area. Eminent domain should only be used to build roads for polluting cars or waterways or big public utility projects, not privately owned condos. Yuppies and the working class are equal in the eyes of G-d, and should be equal in the eyes of the State, but alas no. Apparently because you can suck more money out of yuppies via taxes, yuppies are better people and thus the State chooses to kick out working/middle class homeowners, depriving them of their property. The State is dangerous.
Eminent Domain Watch, a blog, has a wonderful amount of information on
this case along with other incidents of local and state governments encroaching on individual property rights.
The New London case is the best example of gentrification evil style. Gentrification done naturally invovles individual property owners selling to either other property owners or corporation when they so chose. They are not forced to sell (ok this can be argued on whaddya mean by 'force'). Provided they can keep up with real estate taxes and local ordinances, individuals can choose NOT to sell. The residents in the New London area do not have that choice. And that is plain wrong. So wrong.
Should the Supreme Court decide in favor of the City of New London real property rights will be undermined for all US citizens. In DC I could only imagine the worst. My beloved Anthony Williams is already the bitch of the developers 'round here. I know the city likes sucking money from higher incomes and crack fuel housing prices, but if they were given this tool....
Labels: gentrification, politics
On the bright side....
According to
Jimbo the bright side of having Marion Barry on the Council is maybe the prices of homes will go down and he could afford to buy.
Labels: housing, politics
DC-> Hell -> Handbasket
Lo, there was great wailing and nashing of teeth,
and the dead rose and rallied the people to the polls.
Across the great river,
in the east,
the people rejoiced.
In the west they shook their heads and cried.
--MM 1:1-3Our favorite crackhead won the
Democratic Primary for Ward 8. So this morning I've been going though the 5 stages of grief. 1st denial. Well that's over. Followed by anger, still here. Bargaining.... give Ward 8 a supermarket, maybe that would help. Depression, still here, too. Lastly, acceptance, Ward 8 was angry, and in that anger they elected a (former) crackhead who drove the city into the ground. Okay, bring it on.
Oh and Harold Brazil was unseated, as well as Kevin Chavous in Ward 7. Harold had to go anyways. Sam Brooks, a challenger had a pretty good showing considering he is a)white and b) young. Let's hope Mr. Brown and Mr. Grey (hey anyone notice the color names of the winners?) do a good job on the Council. Although the elections were primaries, they were as if they were the general election as this city is like 90% Democrat. This kinda leaves out Independents like me. Oh, well.
I hope that the city will survive having Mr. Barry on the Council, and continue to thrive despite him. I hope that DC's goal of representation in Congress is not derailled by his presence on the Council.
G-d I need a drink.
Labels: politics
Jim Berry fighting against more Section 8 housingJim Berry fighting against more Section 8 housing
From: "JBerry"
To: "'Jeannette.Johnson
Subject: North Capitol Townhomes Limited Partnership Affordable Housing Pr oduction Project
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 20:12:31 -0400
Ms. Johnson,
Thank you for establishing contact with me concerning the above-referenced subject. There is a glitch in ANC 5C's telephone service with Verizon that we are in the process of correcting. That is, the telephone mail box for ANC 5C is shared between 12 commissioners and due to a progressive increase in the volume of calls that we have been receiving from members of the
general public over the last six months, we plan to significantly expand its capacity in the immediate future. Nevertheless, for your information and future reference, I can be reached daily, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at (202) *******and at (202) ******** during the evening hours.
As you may know, I volunteer my time and talents to my neighbors via my service to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C and, because we don't have an office manager at the time, there is a predictable delay in my receipt of calls transmitted to our office number.
I appreciate your advising me of Ms. Matthias' availability next week, but my written request of the DHCD was to meet with its Director, Mr. Stanley Jackson. Hence, I am at a loss to understand why a meeting with Ms. Matthias is being offered as a preliminary step towards the attainment of this goal.
It appears that the DHCD intends to move with dispatch to facilitate the release of Community Block Grant Funds in order that an out of town developer can implement the proposed North Capitol Townhomes Project and, frankly, I fear that it may succeed with this unfortunate and
unacceptable plan while I am engaged in and, possibly, being distracted by offers and arrangements to meet with surrogates of Mr. Jackson's.
As I have previously indicated, DHCD's existing plans to continue a subsidized housing program for the next 30 years in my neighborhood, that has not yielded a single homeowner as a result of its implementation over the past 21, strikes me as an abomination that I/we who are also
heavily invested in this community, must resist by all possible means. Indeed, I have shared this position with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's representative, with Ward Five Council Member Vincent B. Orange and other members of the D.C. City Council, and I plan to elaborate on this position in a meeting with officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development that I plan to have in the immediate future.
It is my hope that reason will ultimately prevail in this unfortunate situation and that the DHCD will abandon its current plan, in favor of one that promotes and facilitates homeownership (especially, for those participants in the Bates Street Limited Townhomes Project of
longstanding). Indeed, if the DHCD and the local government is serious about and
committed to the goal of helping those who live in subsidized housing to evolve
into homeowners, now is the ideal time to implement such a program which, I believe, would represent a "win-win" situation for all of the stakeholders involved.
Sincerely,
James D. Berry, Jr.
Chairperson, ANC 5C
Labels: housing, politics
