Last night, the liquor-licensing affairs committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle met. It completed all its business in 12 minutes. This is the shortest ANC-related meeting I have attended.
No one from the community appeared to object to any of the liquor license renewal requests.
The most complex item concerned the Capitol Supermarket (1231 11th Street NW). The committee wanted to include an item in the establishment's settlement agreement stating that deliveries will be taken from 11th Street (i.e., the front of the supermarket) and not the rear alley. The owner said he would, except in cases where official or construction vehicles took up the parking spaces in front of the building. The committee agreed to include language to this effect.
The second item was the liquor license renewal for Whole Foods (1440 P Street).
"No one objecting to the rowdy crowds at Whole Foods?" a committee member asked in mock astonishment.
The third item was a request by Studio Theater (1501 14th Street) to change their liquor-license category from D-X to C-X. This will allow the theater to serve hard liquor, in addition to wine and beer, to patrons.
The fourth item was a liquor license renewal for Cork & Fork (1524 14th Street). No one objected to that either.
Congratulations to all involved on the short meeting.
The items above will now be considered at the next meeting of the full ANC, scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, at 7pm, at the Washington Plaza Hotel (10 Thomas Circle). Items like those above, which pass the committee unanimously with little controversy, normally are passed by the full ANC as a slate with little or no discussion.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
944 Florida Avenue: "The Neighbor Upstairs Wants the Place Closed"
At a meeting October 15, a committee of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B/U Street voted to recommend the ANC attempt to broker peace between the operators of Darnell's Bar (944 Florida Avenue NW) and a group of neighbors. But Nick Baumann, chair of ANC1B's liquor-licensing affairs committee, wasn't very optimistic of the chances of smoothing over the contending parties.
"The neighbor upstairs wants the place closed and won't compromise," Baumann told the committee, reporting about an attempted mediation between the bar and its neighbors.
"The complaint about Darnell's is the music," a committee member said. Neighbors angry about the noise from the establishment have been protesting the renewal of Darnell's liquor license since at least 2013, according to documents available at the web site of DC's Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).
A neighbor who lives upstairs in the same building from Darnell's gave the following testimony (see page 17 of a 24-page .pdf here) about the establishment at a February 26, 2014, ABRA hearing:
There has been an attempt to settle the dispute by getting the liquor licensee to sign a settlement agreement, which could make clear, for example, the hours of operation, permitted noise levels, and mechanisms for resolving disputes. However, the settlement agreement recently drafted by the lawyer for Darnell's said, in summary, that Darnell's agreed to abide by the letter of the law -- not really a document worth signing.
"There's stuff to be negotiated but who will negotiate?" Baumann asked at the meeting. Baumann is committee chair but has said previously that contentious negotiations with liquor licensees often require the authority of an elected official.
Darnell's is in district 11 of ANC1B. The Commissioner is E. Gail Anderson Holness. Holness is running for election as Ward One representative on the DC State Board of Education. She will give up her ANC seat at the end of the year.
ANC1B Chair James Turner (Commissioner for district 09) attended the meeting, although he is not on the alcohol-licensing committee. Turner advised the committee that Holness could negotiate on this matter, but she would need clear guidance from the committee on what were the desired outcomes of the negotiations.
"If you ask Gail to make it better, make it specific," Turner said.
The committee came up with some clear goals for the negotiations, such as explicit promises to close all windows and doors while music was playing, no amplified music outside, no noisy disposal of glass bottles and other trash between 10pm and 7am.
The committee then passed a resolution to recommend a settlement agreement be negotiated by Commissioner Holness with the owner.
The resolution will probably come up at the next meeting of the full ANC, scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at 7pm, at the Reeves Center (14th and U Streets).
During the daytime, The Blind Dog Cafe, a coffee house, also operates at 944 Florida Avenue. The Blind Dog Cafe was not discussed at the meeting.
 |
| 944 Florida Avenue (Google Street View) |
"The neighbor upstairs wants the place closed and won't compromise," Baumann told the committee, reporting about an attempted mediation between the bar and its neighbors.
"The complaint about Darnell's is the music," a committee member said. Neighbors angry about the noise from the establishment have been protesting the renewal of Darnell's liquor license since at least 2013, according to documents available at the web site of DC's Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).
A neighbor who lives upstairs in the same building from Darnell's gave the following testimony (see page 17 of a 24-page .pdf here) about the establishment at a February 26, 2014, ABRA hearing:
... [W]e tried to get along with the party and we need a sound proof because we can hear everything that's going on downstairs. Got my window shaking, my picture dropping off the wall. And we tell him to cut the music down, he don't. We done called the police. I bet a couple, over a hundred-some times, they go and they tell him, the manager, cut the music down.In addition to the upstairs neighbor, residents of the Floridian, a nearby apartment building, and other neighbors have joined the protest against Darnell's.
There has been an attempt to settle the dispute by getting the liquor licensee to sign a settlement agreement, which could make clear, for example, the hours of operation, permitted noise levels, and mechanisms for resolving disputes. However, the settlement agreement recently drafted by the lawyer for Darnell's said, in summary, that Darnell's agreed to abide by the letter of the law -- not really a document worth signing.
"There's stuff to be negotiated but who will negotiate?" Baumann asked at the meeting. Baumann is committee chair but has said previously that contentious negotiations with liquor licensees often require the authority of an elected official.
Darnell's is in district 11 of ANC1B. The Commissioner is E. Gail Anderson Holness. Holness is running for election as Ward One representative on the DC State Board of Education. She will give up her ANC seat at the end of the year.
ANC1B Chair James Turner (Commissioner for district 09) attended the meeting, although he is not on the alcohol-licensing committee. Turner advised the committee that Holness could negotiate on this matter, but she would need clear guidance from the committee on what were the desired outcomes of the negotiations.
"If you ask Gail to make it better, make it specific," Turner said.
The committee came up with some clear goals for the negotiations, such as explicit promises to close all windows and doors while music was playing, no amplified music outside, no noisy disposal of glass bottles and other trash between 10pm and 7am.
The committee then passed a resolution to recommend a settlement agreement be negotiated by Commissioner Holness with the owner.
The resolution will probably come up at the next meeting of the full ANC, scheduled for Thursday, November 6, at 7pm, at the Reeves Center (14th and U Streets).
During the daytime, The Blind Dog Cafe, a coffee house, also operates at 944 Florida Avenue. The Blind Dog Cafe was not discussed at the meeting.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Logan Circle ANC Endorses Raze of Building on "Most Endangered Places" List
At its regular monthly meeting on October 1, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2F/Logan Circle voted unanimously to endorse the raze of two historically-protected buildings at 911-913 L Street NW. On October 8, the DC Preservation League included this property on its annual list of "most endangered places".
"911 L Street is one of the oldest buildings to survive in the Shaw Historic District," the DC Preservation League says on its website. 913 L Street "was constructed in 1892 and designed by well-known Washington architect Appleton P. Clark."
See articles about the DC Preservation League's 2014 list of most endangered historic properties from the Washington Post here and the Washington Business Journal here.
A small piece in a big puzzle
If the raze goes forward, it will be a small part of a larger plan to build two separate Marriott hotels and a 12-story residential building near the intersection of 9th and L Streets in Shaw. The planned complex would cover a large part of the city block bordered by 9th, 10th, L and M Streets, close to the Washington Convention Center. (This should not be confused with another Marriott hotel, the Marriott Marquis, which opened nearby in May.)
The construction of the hotels and residences is part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), a planning tool which allows developers of large projects to bundle benefits to the community and concessions from the community into a single package. (See a short explanation of PUDs here and 21 pages of official PUD regulations here.)
But before the PUD process can move forward, the developers and city must deal with the historic preservation aspects of the project. There are currently nine historically-protected buildings on the site, which is in the Shaw Historic District. The developers plan to incorporate seven of the nine into the design of their hotel and residence complex. 911-913 L Street are the other two buildings on the block.
ANC2F's Community Development Committee (CDC) had, on September 24, recommended after community discussion that the full ANC support the raze application with the condition that the existing materials be preserved and reused as much as possible -- see SALM blog post of September 30.
The discussion at the full ANC meeting
At the October 1 meeting, ANC2F Commissioner Greg Melcher (district 06) started the portion of the meeting dealing with this matter by noting the building was in the downtown development district.
"Something's going to have to come down," he said. "I'm inclined to vote for it. It's not a wholesale tearing down of the building."
911-913 L Street is in Melcher's ANC district.
Sherri Kimbel, Director of Constituent Services at the Office of City Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward Two) told the ANC that Evans had spoken to "several people" about the development. The people Evans talked to were supportive of the two hotels but not the residential component, Kimbel said.
"There was a requirement to have housing," Kimbel said. "That requirement was not in place for the Marriott across the street" -- meaning, the new Marriott Marquis.
Robert Knopf, Senior Vice-President of the Quadrangel Development Company, spoke on behalf of the developers.
"We're very interested in putting in the residential component," he said. "We need the residential component to cover costs."
As it was, Knopf said, the development had to pay "retail price" for the lots where the planned hotel and residences would go, and then were compelled to shrink the size of the project due to historic preservation requirements -- from an original plan of 237 units to 200.
"We feel like we've been tricked," Knopf said. "We were told we would not have to preserve the building."
All applications to raze buildings in historic districts have a public hearing before the Mayor's Agent in the Historic Preservation Office. A hearing on this project was originally scheduled October 15. On September 19 (well before the meetings described in this article), attorneys for the developers asked for the hearing to be postponed until November, because the developers needed time to respond to comment on the project's overall design from DC historic preservation authorities.
See an article about this development's struggles with historic preservation authorities from the blog BadWolfDC here.
 |
| The property in 2007 (from Flickr, licensed for reuse) |
See articles about the DC Preservation League's 2014 list of most endangered historic properties from the Washington Post here and the Washington Business Journal here.
A small piece in a big puzzle
If the raze goes forward, it will be a small part of a larger plan to build two separate Marriott hotels and a 12-story residential building near the intersection of 9th and L Streets in Shaw. The planned complex would cover a large part of the city block bordered by 9th, 10th, L and M Streets, close to the Washington Convention Center. (This should not be confused with another Marriott hotel, the Marriott Marquis, which opened nearby in May.)
The construction of the hotels and residences is part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), a planning tool which allows developers of large projects to bundle benefits to the community and concessions from the community into a single package. (See a short explanation of PUDs here and 21 pages of official PUD regulations here.)
But before the PUD process can move forward, the developers and city must deal with the historic preservation aspects of the project. There are currently nine historically-protected buildings on the site, which is in the Shaw Historic District. The developers plan to incorporate seven of the nine into the design of their hotel and residence complex. 911-913 L Street are the other two buildings on the block.
ANC2F's Community Development Committee (CDC) had, on September 24, recommended after community discussion that the full ANC support the raze application with the condition that the existing materials be preserved and reused as much as possible -- see SALM blog post of September 30.
The discussion at the full ANC meeting
At the October 1 meeting, ANC2F Commissioner Greg Melcher (district 06) started the portion of the meeting dealing with this matter by noting the building was in the downtown development district.
"Something's going to have to come down," he said. "I'm inclined to vote for it. It's not a wholesale tearing down of the building."
911-913 L Street is in Melcher's ANC district.
Sherri Kimbel, Director of Constituent Services at the Office of City Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward Two) told the ANC that Evans had spoken to "several people" about the development. The people Evans talked to were supportive of the two hotels but not the residential component, Kimbel said.
"There was a requirement to have housing," Kimbel said. "That requirement was not in place for the Marriott across the street" -- meaning, the new Marriott Marquis.
Robert Knopf, Senior Vice-President of the Quadrangel Development Company, spoke on behalf of the developers.
"We're very interested in putting in the residential component," he said. "We need the residential component to cover costs."
As it was, Knopf said, the development had to pay "retail price" for the lots where the planned hotel and residences would go, and then were compelled to shrink the size of the project due to historic preservation requirements -- from an original plan of 237 units to 200.
"We feel like we've been tricked," Knopf said. "We were told we would not have to preserve the building."
All applications to raze buildings in historic districts have a public hearing before the Mayor's Agent in the Historic Preservation Office. A hearing on this project was originally scheduled October 15. On September 19 (well before the meetings described in this article), attorneys for the developers asked for the hearing to be postponed until November, because the developers needed time to respond to comment on the project's overall design from DC historic preservation authorities.
See an article about this development's struggles with historic preservation authorities from the blog BadWolfDC here.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Historic Preservation Website Reboot Creates Hundreds of Broken Links, Vanished Information
Without any apparent announcement or press release that I could find, DC's Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and its mother agency, the Office of Planning (OP), have redesigned HPRB's web presence. The result, as of this writing, is that hundreds of hyperlinks that formerly led to HPRB informational web pages and official documents, from its welcome page to scores of staff reports, now lead to a default "page not found" page (see screenshot below). In addition, I am unable to find any information on the HPRB website about Board meetings before September 2014.
A email request for information from HPRB about the broken links and removed information was not answered as of this writing. The email request was made before opening of business three days ago, Friday, October 17.
In addition, Google searches for "HPRB" or "Historic Preservation Review Board" also lead to the default "page not found" page, as of this writing.
This page advises, among other things, to visit the Office of Planning at the following URL: http://www.op.dc.gov/ . However, this URL does not lead to a functioning web page.
However, there is a link on the page that reads "Historic Preservation" on the upper left of the same page. This link leads to the new HPRB web presence.
In the HPRB's new "Agendas & Reports" page, no longer has information prior to September 2014. Before the reboot, this HPRB page contained information going back to 2010 -- see this archived page of the old HPRB website from Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.
Hyperlinks to HPRB documents, especially staff reports, from many local blogs and other sources now lead to dead links. A short Internet search lead me to find broken links to HPRB documents at the web site of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle (the broken link is located on this page) and at the following blogs that report on HPRB activity:
Dozens of links to HPRB-related stories I have written about on this blog in the
last 14 months are now also dead.
Finally, the abbreviated URL (tinyurl.com/887zoy8) that HPRB posts on its mandatory public placarding (see example left), which promises a web page where people unfamiliar with the process can get information about historic preservation review, also leads to the unhelpful "page not found" page.
HPRB announced a pilot program of public placarding of historic preservations projects in March -- see SALM blog post of March 28. I first noticed actual placards appearing in public in September -- see SALM blog post of September 2.
I would appreciate comments or emails from anyone who can help me make sense of the HPRB website redesign and/or help me re-link articles to now-difficult-to-find HPRB information.
 |
| A Google Search for HPRB yields this |
In addition, Google searches for "HPRB" or "Historic Preservation Review Board" also lead to the default "page not found" page, as of this writing.
This page advises, among other things, to visit the Office of Planning at the following URL: http://www.op.dc.gov/ . However, this URL does not lead to a functioning web page.
However, there is a link on the page that reads "Historic Preservation" on the upper left of the same page. This link leads to the new HPRB web presence.
In the HPRB's new "Agendas & Reports" page, no longer has information prior to September 2014. Before the reboot, this HPRB page contained information going back to 2010 -- see this archived page of the old HPRB website from Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.
Hyperlinks to HPRB documents, especially staff reports, from many local blogs and other sources now lead to dead links. A short Internet search lead me to find broken links to HPRB documents at the web site of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle (the broken link is located on this page) and at the following blogs that report on HPRB activity:
- BadWolfDC
- Blagden Alley Naylor Court Association
- Bloomingdale
- District Source
- Park View DC
- Urban Turf
- Washington City Paper's Housing Complex
Dozens of links to HPRB-related stories I have written about on this blog in the last 14 months are now also dead.
Finally, the abbreviated URL (tinyurl.com/887zoy8) that HPRB posts on its mandatory public placarding (see example left), which promises a web page where people unfamiliar with the process can get information about historic preservation review, also leads to the unhelpful "page not found" page.
HPRB announced a pilot program of public placarding of historic preservations projects in March -- see SALM blog post of March 28. I first noticed actual placards appearing in public in September -- see SALM blog post of September 2.
I would appreciate comments or emails from anyone who can help me make sense of the HPRB website redesign and/or help me re-link articles to now-difficult-to-find HPRB information.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Interview with William K. Smith, Candidate for ANC2A district 04
This is a written interview with William K. Smith, who is running for Commissioner of district 04 of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2A/Foggy Bottom.
Smith's opponent is Thomas Martin. An interview with Martin was published yesterday.
District 04 is the district in the lower left corner of the map at right. It includes the Watergate complex and the Kennedy Center, but also some residential streets.
Don't know your ANC district? There are two search tools: one by the DC government, the other by Code for DC.
– Where can people go to find out who you are and what you stand for?
They can contact me directly at smith4ANC2014@gmail.com, or they can visit my website: http://www.william-kennedy-smith.com. I am happy to available to neighbors and residents. My office is at 600 New Hampshire Ave NW and my campaign phone number is 202-803-1978.
– What is your daytime job? What skills have you acquired at that job that will help you be an effective ANC?
Well, I am a board certified physiatrist, which is to say, I am a rehab doc. Rehabilitation medicine is the only branch of medicine that is not organized around an organ system, e.g. lungs, heart, brain. It is organized around a philosophy of management, the team approach. A physiatrist anchors a team that includes, nurses, therapists, social workers and technicians all of whom work together in helping the patient achieve the highest level of function and independence possible. This is directly applicable to work on the ANC because ANC members really have no independent authority or power. They work by exerting influence and marshaling teamwork.
Currently, I am CEO of MedRed, a medical software company located right here in the ANC District. Last year, when the Veterans Administration (VA) put out a challenge to industry to help solve VA’s medical scheduling challenges, a lot of big companies, like HP, Google, Talend and Medsphere responded, but our small company beat out 40 other entrants to finish first in the contest. I like solving problems.
For many years I also worked in grass roots movements internationally. I founded Physicians Against Land Mines, which was part of the Nobel Prize winning International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. I was a founding steering committee member of the International Disability Caucus, which worked with member states to negotiate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. In my life and in my work I have always enjoyed working with diverse groups and interests toward a meaningful goal. I hope to carry that forward to my work with the ANC. I believe I can contribute to the Foggy Bottom community.
– For many people who live in your district, routine shopping means walking many blocks heavy-laden with shopping bags. What can the ANC can do to attract more retail in your district?
Shopping patterns in the area have changed. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are great additions, but the loss of the Safeway was a real blow to many folks who have limited access to transportation and are shopping on a budget. Initiatives like the supermarket shuttle, which ANC Commissioner Armando Irizarry was instrumental in getting and keeping, are incredibly important in ensure access to affordable shopping for seniors. Also, my wife and I are members of the Foggy Bottom West End Village: http://www.fbwevillage.org/. It was launched in October, 2013 and its volunteers “join with neighbors to give a ride, grocery shop, take a walk, share a special skill, attend lectures, share stories and have fun! Services are provided through a cadre of volunteers, directed by a full-time Director of Volunteer and Village Services.” It is a great program that we need to support. Initiatives like these can improve accessibility to area amenities, but overall, retail in the area will continue to reflect the health and character of the neighborhood. That is and will continue to be a central concern of the ANC as expressed through zoning, licensing and other initiatives.
– Parking is always a hassle all over DC. How can the city reconcile the desire of residents for no-cost parking on the streets in front of their homes with the fact that it is impossible to provide free on-street parking for everybody who wants it?
I have lived in cities most of my life. New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., I have never seen one where parking was not a source of frustration. Public transportation, bicycles and car sharing services can help, but I do think that zoning some residential parking within neighborhoods and giving residents an advantage improves the quality of life.
– Some of the properties in your district, and many properties in the ANC, are part of one historic district of another. What's your position on the role of Historic Preservation in Foggy Bottom? Is it too much of a hassle for homeowners to modify their own homes?
I live in a Coop, not a house, but I served on the Watergate West Coop board and am very interested in the issue. I will listen carefully to those who are living it. I will say that I believe history is incredibly important and truly one of the great resources of this community. That said, there are plenty of examples in Europe and here in the U. S. where truly historic buildings have been renovated and modified in a ways that preserve the past and enhance the present. My wife is heavily involved in just such a project here in DC, the renovation of the Franklin School on 13th and K. The trick is to make sure that regulation designed to protect historic buildings does not wind up strangling them in the process. The challenge is greatest for small homeowners who can get lost and paralyzed in a maze of regulation. I believe the ANC can be a useful champion for them.
– DC won't be a family-friendly city until the school system gets fixed. There seems to have been some progress on elementary schools, but now people are moving to the suburbs because the middle schools just don't measure up. What's the best way to attack the problem of improving middle schools?
Over the years, I personally have had exposure to the VSA Arts program founded by my mother, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. It is now housed at the Kennedy Center and VSA's national and international affiliates work in arts-related special education programs in the District and all the states. The model of institutions like the Kennedy Center affiliating with, and providing assistance to, public schools is one that I think could really be expanded in D.C. If you start to think of the District’s public institutions as educational resources you can see the incredible potential. The Kennedy Center, National Gallery, Smithsonian, Library of Congress, National Archives, even the Department of Education, the list goes on and there is no suburban area in the country can match it. So, we should help break down the walls and expand the partnership. All these institutions have some educational profile. I know leadership at many of them and believe they would welcome a chance to expand it locally. With some encouragement and coordination these institutions could become much more meaningful partners with district schools. Don’t get me wrong, improving the quality of schools is not a simple matter. It will take a combination of educational reform, along with a sustained investment of time, community engagement and resources but the payoff in terms of our tax base, economic vitality, and overall quality of life is something no one disputes. While the ANC may not be the logical epicenter of education reform, simple, well-executed ideas and local partnerships can make a difference. That is what I hope to bring to the ANC.
– Is there anything I should have asked you but didn't?
Why are you running?
I have lived, on and off, in DC for nearly 14 years and have had a home in Watergate West for the past 10, now with my wife and 2 children. My medical software business, MedRed, is also located in the single member district. When I received a note from current ANC Commissioners Armando Irizarry, Florence Harman and Rebecca Coder indicating that Armando was not seeking re-election, I spoke with my wife and we decided that this was an important way that I could serve this community. I spoke with a number of friends on the ANC and in the neighborhood and they urged me to run.
I admire Armando, what he was able to accomplish and the way in which he conducted himself and so I am very honored that he has endorsed my candidacy. I have been involved in volunteer and charitable service for most of my life. After completing my medical residency I spent years working with polytrauma programs in war-affected countries like Angola, Bosnia, El Salvador and many others. I also devoted time to working with disability groups on rights issues in many countries around the globe. During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom my focus shifted more to working with war wounded programs closer to home, at Walter Reed and the VA. Since moving to Foggy Bottom, I have served on the Coop Board at Watergate West and now would like to continue to provide volunteer service to the community in which I live. A commitment to public service, a wealth of experience and a network of friends are some of the building blocks I plan to use to make a contribution to the ANC and Foggy Bottom.
The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Early voting will startSaturday, October 25 Monday, October 20. Thanks to all candidates for responding to my questions.
Smith's opponent is Thomas Martin. An interview with Martin was published yesterday.District 04 is the district in the lower left corner of the map at right. It includes the Watergate complex and the Kennedy Center, but also some residential streets.
Don't know your ANC district? There are two search tools: one by the DC government, the other by Code for DC.
– Where can people go to find out who you are and what you stand for?
They can contact me directly at smith4ANC2014@gmail.com, or they can visit my website: http://www.william-kennedy-smith.com. I am happy to available to neighbors and residents. My office is at 600 New Hampshire Ave NW and my campaign phone number is 202-803-1978.
– What is your daytime job? What skills have you acquired at that job that will help you be an effective ANC?
Well, I am a board certified physiatrist, which is to say, I am a rehab doc. Rehabilitation medicine is the only branch of medicine that is not organized around an organ system, e.g. lungs, heart, brain. It is organized around a philosophy of management, the team approach. A physiatrist anchors a team that includes, nurses, therapists, social workers and technicians all of whom work together in helping the patient achieve the highest level of function and independence possible. This is directly applicable to work on the ANC because ANC members really have no independent authority or power. They work by exerting influence and marshaling teamwork.
Currently, I am CEO of MedRed, a medical software company located right here in the ANC District. Last year, when the Veterans Administration (VA) put out a challenge to industry to help solve VA’s medical scheduling challenges, a lot of big companies, like HP, Google, Talend and Medsphere responded, but our small company beat out 40 other entrants to finish first in the contest. I like solving problems.
For many years I also worked in grass roots movements internationally. I founded Physicians Against Land Mines, which was part of the Nobel Prize winning International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. I was a founding steering committee member of the International Disability Caucus, which worked with member states to negotiate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. In my life and in my work I have always enjoyed working with diverse groups and interests toward a meaningful goal. I hope to carry that forward to my work with the ANC. I believe I can contribute to the Foggy Bottom community.
– For many people who live in your district, routine shopping means walking many blocks heavy-laden with shopping bags. What can the ANC can do to attract more retail in your district?
Shopping patterns in the area have changed. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are great additions, but the loss of the Safeway was a real blow to many folks who have limited access to transportation and are shopping on a budget. Initiatives like the supermarket shuttle, which ANC Commissioner Armando Irizarry was instrumental in getting and keeping, are incredibly important in ensure access to affordable shopping for seniors. Also, my wife and I are members of the Foggy Bottom West End Village: http://www.fbwevillage.org/. It was launched in October, 2013 and its volunteers “join with neighbors to give a ride, grocery shop, take a walk, share a special skill, attend lectures, share stories and have fun! Services are provided through a cadre of volunteers, directed by a full-time Director of Volunteer and Village Services.” It is a great program that we need to support. Initiatives like these can improve accessibility to area amenities, but overall, retail in the area will continue to reflect the health and character of the neighborhood. That is and will continue to be a central concern of the ANC as expressed through zoning, licensing and other initiatives.
– Parking is always a hassle all over DC. How can the city reconcile the desire of residents for no-cost parking on the streets in front of their homes with the fact that it is impossible to provide free on-street parking for everybody who wants it?
I have lived in cities most of my life. New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., I have never seen one where parking was not a source of frustration. Public transportation, bicycles and car sharing services can help, but I do think that zoning some residential parking within neighborhoods and giving residents an advantage improves the quality of life.
– Some of the properties in your district, and many properties in the ANC, are part of one historic district of another. What's your position on the role of Historic Preservation in Foggy Bottom? Is it too much of a hassle for homeowners to modify their own homes?
I live in a Coop, not a house, but I served on the Watergate West Coop board and am very interested in the issue. I will listen carefully to those who are living it. I will say that I believe history is incredibly important and truly one of the great resources of this community. That said, there are plenty of examples in Europe and here in the U. S. where truly historic buildings have been renovated and modified in a ways that preserve the past and enhance the present. My wife is heavily involved in just such a project here in DC, the renovation of the Franklin School on 13th and K. The trick is to make sure that regulation designed to protect historic buildings does not wind up strangling them in the process. The challenge is greatest for small homeowners who can get lost and paralyzed in a maze of regulation. I believe the ANC can be a useful champion for them.
– DC won't be a family-friendly city until the school system gets fixed. There seems to have been some progress on elementary schools, but now people are moving to the suburbs because the middle schools just don't measure up. What's the best way to attack the problem of improving middle schools?
Over the years, I personally have had exposure to the VSA Arts program founded by my mother, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. It is now housed at the Kennedy Center and VSA's national and international affiliates work in arts-related special education programs in the District and all the states. The model of institutions like the Kennedy Center affiliating with, and providing assistance to, public schools is one that I think could really be expanded in D.C. If you start to think of the District’s public institutions as educational resources you can see the incredible potential. The Kennedy Center, National Gallery, Smithsonian, Library of Congress, National Archives, even the Department of Education, the list goes on and there is no suburban area in the country can match it. So, we should help break down the walls and expand the partnership. All these institutions have some educational profile. I know leadership at many of them and believe they would welcome a chance to expand it locally. With some encouragement and coordination these institutions could become much more meaningful partners with district schools. Don’t get me wrong, improving the quality of schools is not a simple matter. It will take a combination of educational reform, along with a sustained investment of time, community engagement and resources but the payoff in terms of our tax base, economic vitality, and overall quality of life is something no one disputes. While the ANC may not be the logical epicenter of education reform, simple, well-executed ideas and local partnerships can make a difference. That is what I hope to bring to the ANC.
– Is there anything I should have asked you but didn't?
Why are you running?
I have lived, on and off, in DC for nearly 14 years and have had a home in Watergate West for the past 10, now with my wife and 2 children. My medical software business, MedRed, is also located in the single member district. When I received a note from current ANC Commissioners Armando Irizarry, Florence Harman and Rebecca Coder indicating that Armando was not seeking re-election, I spoke with my wife and we decided that this was an important way that I could serve this community. I spoke with a number of friends on the ANC and in the neighborhood and they urged me to run.
I admire Armando, what he was able to accomplish and the way in which he conducted himself and so I am very honored that he has endorsed my candidacy. I have been involved in volunteer and charitable service for most of my life. After completing my medical residency I spent years working with polytrauma programs in war-affected countries like Angola, Bosnia, El Salvador and many others. I also devoted time to working with disability groups on rights issues in many countries around the globe. During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom my focus shifted more to working with war wounded programs closer to home, at Walter Reed and the VA. Since moving to Foggy Bottom, I have served on the Coop Board at Watergate West and now would like to continue to provide volunteer service to the community in which I live. A commitment to public service, a wealth of experience and a network of friends are some of the building blocks I plan to use to make a contribution to the ANC and Foggy Bottom.
End of interview
The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Early voting will start
Cheater's Guide to Dream City -- Part 21 (Resurrection)
This is the twenty-first installment of a series (see the first installment here) summarizing the 1994 book Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C.
by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood. This book has recently been republished as an ebook and a paper book. HBO has plans to use material from the book to make a movie about the life of Marion Barry.
Chapter 16: Resurrection (three of three)
Marion Barry was released from a Pennsylvania jail on April 23, 1992.
Hundreds of people, including his mother, escorted him back to DC on buses. “The five buses pulled up to the Union Temple Church in Anacostia at 8:00 p.m. and hundreds of screaming, chanting supporters exploded in ’Barry’s back, Barry’s back, Barry’s back’ “ (Kindle location 5536).
“A few weeks later, Marion Barry moved into a small apartment in Ward Eight to establish residency and start running for the council seat that would be filled by voters on September 15 -- four months down the line.... In Barry’s eyes, still guided by tremendous political instincts, it was a natural fit: the outlaw candidate for the outcast ward” (l. 5542).
“Ward Eight was the only place in the city that Barry could have hoped to start a political comeback. He's always tapped into the anger in the black community, and there's plenty there -- for good reason” (l. 5543).
“It is the city's poorest Ward. The median income is $16,000. According to city statistics, 15,000 people live in public housing and another 10,000 live in subsidized apartments, so that 35 percent of the population qualifies for government help. Forty-one percent didn't graduate from college. In the midst of a homelessness crisis, there are 5,000 vacant housing units, and at least 1,700 are boarded up. In comparison, there are five boarded-up units in Ward Three, where the whites dwell” (l. 5551).
“ ’This isn't a campaign,’ [Barry] preached in his kickoff speech, ’this is a crusade to bring power and dignity and services back to us here in Ward Eight’ “ (l. 5567).
“ ’I’ll tell you why Marion Barry’s running,’ said Absalom Jordan, a Ward Eight activist who was also running for the council seat. ’He wants to run for mayor again in two years. It's that simple’ “ (l. 5575).
“ ’His premise is that people have short memories,’ said Absalom Jordan, ’and he can keep playing the race game again and again. He says “look at what the white man did to me.” He wants people to forget that for years he was the white man, he was the law, he was in control of the city...’ “ (l. 5595).
“On September 15, a record number of Ward Eight voters elected Marion Barry over [opponent Wilhelmina] Rolark by a 3-1 margin. Victory was his, and it was sweet” (l. 5604).
“Many people were mystified that he'd won, but the reasons were clear. Neighborhoods with terrific views of the sparkling lights on the Mall and the national monuments were breeding grounds for violence and drug addiction. Why Barry? Because no one else had helped them. They had no better choices. At least he could bring some attention. He could bring some hope” (l. 5611).
1992 also brought Bill Clinton to the White House. “...Clinton’s greatest impact was to give hope to Washingtonians who wanted the District of Columbia to become the state of New Columbia. Statehood is the holy grail of Washington politics....Clinton was the first president who publicly supported the District’s becoming the fifty-first state; he'd even testified on its behalf early in 1992" (l. 5620).
“Unfortunately, Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly didn't do much to help the District’s case. Kelly used statehood as a political weapon, blaming Congress for the city’s problems and leading people to believe that all would be fine if Congress would grant statehood. It was pure demagoguery.... Kelly’s campaign only served to make enemies in Congress. As Kelly dangled statehood in front of the city, the prospect that Congress would appoint a federal financial oversight commission was much more likely” (l. 5643).
“On Inauguration Day, January 20, 1993, when the capital city was in the spotlight of the world for a swearing in of a new president, the mayor had her aides changing the locks to doors to keep council members away from choice seats to view the parade from the city's District Building” (l. 5656).
“The city council job was a cakewalk for [Marion Barry]. He'd already been a councilman for four years before he was mayor, and he knew the executive branch better than anyone in the city. He had virtually created it. In private working sessions and public committee meetings, Barry applied himself to the task of representing his ward. he was studious and conscientious, asked intelligent questions, and cooperated with the other twelve council members” (l. 5673).
“In fact, he could hardly get his mind off a total comeback. The next election would be in September 1994. He could run for mayor and not give up his council seat, so there would be no risk. He loved campaigning more than anything else and he could parlay the threat of running to gain favors from Kelly or other council members. Kelly appeared to be weak. If another candidate or two got into the race and split the vote, even Barry’s most vitriolic detractors had to admit that he had a real chance to win the Democratic primary” (l. 5696).
“Many felt another Barry campaign would be bad for him personally, bad for business, and bad for the city. It was time for other challenges. Barry should let go. They shared some of their feelings with him, but just as in his race for Ward Eight council seat, Marion Barry had his own sense of timing, his own vision” (l. 5707).
Cheater's Guide to Dream City continues next week
Further installments will appear on successive Fridays. All posts will be cross-posted on the ad-hoc "Cheater's Guide to Dream City" blog.
Full disclosure: I have a commercial relationship with Amazon. I will receive a very small portion of the money people spend after clicking on an Amazon link on this site.
This is a great book and well worth reading in its entirety.
by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood. This book has recently been republished as an ebook and a paper book. HBO has plans to use material from the book to make a movie about the life of Marion Barry.Chapter 16: Resurrection (three of three)
Marion Barry was released from a Pennsylvania jail on April 23, 1992.Hundreds of people, including his mother, escorted him back to DC on buses. “The five buses pulled up to the Union Temple Church in Anacostia at 8:00 p.m. and hundreds of screaming, chanting supporters exploded in ’Barry’s back, Barry’s back, Barry’s back’ “ (Kindle location 5536).
“A few weeks later, Marion Barry moved into a small apartment in Ward Eight to establish residency and start running for the council seat that would be filled by voters on September 15 -- four months down the line.... In Barry’s eyes, still guided by tremendous political instincts, it was a natural fit: the outlaw candidate for the outcast ward” (l. 5542).
“Ward Eight was the only place in the city that Barry could have hoped to start a political comeback. He's always tapped into the anger in the black community, and there's plenty there -- for good reason” (l. 5543).
“It is the city's poorest Ward. The median income is $16,000. According to city statistics, 15,000 people live in public housing and another 10,000 live in subsidized apartments, so that 35 percent of the population qualifies for government help. Forty-one percent didn't graduate from college. In the midst of a homelessness crisis, there are 5,000 vacant housing units, and at least 1,700 are boarded up. In comparison, there are five boarded-up units in Ward Three, where the whites dwell” (l. 5551).
“ ’This isn't a campaign,’ [Barry] preached in his kickoff speech, ’this is a crusade to bring power and dignity and services back to us here in Ward Eight’ “ (l. 5567).
“ ’I’ll tell you why Marion Barry’s running,’ said Absalom Jordan, a Ward Eight activist who was also running for the council seat. ’He wants to run for mayor again in two years. It's that simple’ “ (l. 5575).
“ ’His premise is that people have short memories,’ said Absalom Jordan, ’and he can keep playing the race game again and again. He says “look at what the white man did to me.” He wants people to forget that for years he was the white man, he was the law, he was in control of the city...’ “ (l. 5595).
“On September 15, a record number of Ward Eight voters elected Marion Barry over [opponent Wilhelmina] Rolark by a 3-1 margin. Victory was his, and it was sweet” (l. 5604).
“Many people were mystified that he'd won, but the reasons were clear. Neighborhoods with terrific views of the sparkling lights on the Mall and the national monuments were breeding grounds for violence and drug addiction. Why Barry? Because no one else had helped them. They had no better choices. At least he could bring some attention. He could bring some hope” (l. 5611).
1992 also brought Bill Clinton to the White House. “...Clinton’s greatest impact was to give hope to Washingtonians who wanted the District of Columbia to become the state of New Columbia. Statehood is the holy grail of Washington politics....Clinton was the first president who publicly supported the District’s becoming the fifty-first state; he'd even testified on its behalf early in 1992" (l. 5620).
“Unfortunately, Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly didn't do much to help the District’s case. Kelly used statehood as a political weapon, blaming Congress for the city’s problems and leading people to believe that all would be fine if Congress would grant statehood. It was pure demagoguery.... Kelly’s campaign only served to make enemies in Congress. As Kelly dangled statehood in front of the city, the prospect that Congress would appoint a federal financial oversight commission was much more likely” (l. 5643).
“On Inauguration Day, January 20, 1993, when the capital city was in the spotlight of the world for a swearing in of a new president, the mayor had her aides changing the locks to doors to keep council members away from choice seats to view the parade from the city's District Building” (l. 5656).
“The city council job was a cakewalk for [Marion Barry]. He'd already been a councilman for four years before he was mayor, and he knew the executive branch better than anyone in the city. He had virtually created it. In private working sessions and public committee meetings, Barry applied himself to the task of representing his ward. he was studious and conscientious, asked intelligent questions, and cooperated with the other twelve council members” (l. 5673).
“In fact, he could hardly get his mind off a total comeback. The next election would be in September 1994. He could run for mayor and not give up his council seat, so there would be no risk. He loved campaigning more than anything else and he could parlay the threat of running to gain favors from Kelly or other council members. Kelly appeared to be weak. If another candidate or two got into the race and split the vote, even Barry’s most vitriolic detractors had to admit that he had a real chance to win the Democratic primary” (l. 5696).
“Many felt another Barry campaign would be bad for him personally, bad for business, and bad for the city. It was time for other challenges. Barry should let go. They shared some of their feelings with him, but just as in his race for Ward Eight council seat, Marion Barry had his own sense of timing, his own vision” (l. 5707).
Cheater's Guide to Dream City continues next week
Further installments will appear on successive Fridays. All posts will be cross-posted on the ad-hoc "Cheater's Guide to Dream City" blog.
Full disclosure: I have a commercial relationship with Amazon. I will receive a very small portion of the money people spend after clicking on an Amazon link on this site.
This is a great book and well worth reading in its entirety.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Interview with Thomas B. Martin, Candidate for ANC2A district 04
This is a written interview with Thomas B. Martin, who is running for
Commissioner of district 04 of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2A/Foggy Bottom.
Martin's opponent is William K. Smith. Read an interview with Smith here.
District 04 is the district in the lower left corner of the map at right. It includes the Watergate complex and the Kennedy Center, but also some residential streets.
Don't know your ANC district? There are two search tools: one by the DC government, the other by Code for DC.
– What is your daytime job? What skills have you acquired at that job that will help you be an effective ANC?
http://gmpllp.com/portfolio-view/thomas-martin/
I am a founding partner at a DC law firm. We represent businesses and nonprofits with DC-specific issues. We are a one-stop shop for DC business legal needs from commercial real estate leases, to litigation, to permits and lobbying. The skills I would bring to ANC would be a familiarity with DC agencies and government personnel. Most importantly, I understand and regularly help my clients navigate the DC bureaucracy. Sometimes that means negotiating and sometimes it means litigating. I think I am effective in building coalitions and moving efficiently and strategically to accomplish goals. I hope to be able to put those skills to work as an ANC Commissioner.
– For many people who live in your district, routine shopping means walking many blocks heavy-laden with shopping bags. What can the ANC can do to attract more retail in your district?
My campaign is focused on solving the problem of the dearth of commercial outlets that serve the entire neighborhood. We have a lot of seniors in my Single Member District (SMD) and closing the Safeway at Watergate, along with several other stores has created an unnecessary burden for too many. While the ANC does not have control over the commercial space at the Watergate, I would move the ANC to engage with the Board at Watergate East and its management partner to encourage economic development at the Watergate. Specifically, there needs to be a grocery store with fresh produce and national brands. There also need to be stores that compliment anchor tenants CVS and (hopefully) a new grocery store. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are good for the neighborhood, but the market can definitely bear an alternative to these two stores. That alternative should be in my SMD so that it is convenient and affordable for seniors. Further, the route to get there must be safe and accessible for people in wheelchairs and people with strollers.
– Parking is always a hassle all over DC. How can the city reconcile the desire of residents for no-cost housing on the streets in front of their homes with the fact that it is impossible to provide free on-street parking for everybody who wants it?
I think the market is demanding reconciliation in one of two ways – either pay for a parking space behind home or in a garage, or rely on a bicycle or public transportation. I see the use of shared cars and rides increasing. Metro has been extended to Reston, and I see a reduced reliance on the automobile. I think the importance/reliance on cars is changing as the Millennials come of age. They seem to be less enamored with cars than my generation (Gen X) and those before me. To your question, in my SMD it’s impossible to have street parking for everyone who wants it.
– Some of the properties in your district, and many properties in the ANC, are part of one historic district of another. What's your position on the role of Historic Preservation in Foggy Bottom? Is it too much of a hassle for homeowners to modify their own homes?
Historic Preservation is important. I do not think it is too much of a hassle to have ANC involvement when an owner proposes to modify her/his home. Quiet enjoyment of one’s property is the most important thing to Foggy Bottom residents. I think the prospect of McMansions is disturbing to many who understand and respect the neighborhood and its history. That is why there is this review of proposed modifications.
– DC won't be a family-friendly city until the school system gets fixed. There seems to have been some progress on elementary schools, but now people are moving to the suburbs because the middle schools just don't measure up. What's the best way to attack the problem of improving middle schools?
Me and my wife have been very involved with the neighborhood school, Francis Stevens. We are one of those families that is committed to staying in town and helping to improve the public schools for all students. The middle schools will improve as groups of committed families keep their kids in the system through elementary through middle school. In the intervening years before those large groups of students come through, DCPS has got to work to standardize best practices among the middle schools. I believe the Chancellor is doing a good job as she attempts to mold and improve what was a broken public school system. But, the schools will not improve unless families commit to keeping their children in the system while actively working to improve the system. From our experience, active engagement of the parents with the administration and teachers is essential. If elected to the ANC, one of the things I want to do is engage our neighborhood on increasing involvement with the neighborhood school. In our SMD we have a wealth of diplomats, entrepreneurs, and every kind of professional. I would like to see the opportunities for increased volunteerism at Francis Stevens. We could have a mentor program that is the envy of the city. Further, the Foggy Bottom community should engage with the school since it will be remodeled soon. There may be the opportunity to create neighborhood meeting space and/or amenities at Francis Stevens. If elected I can facilitate that neighbor-school communication.
– Is there any questions that I should have asked you but didn't?
None.
End of interview.
The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Early voting will startSaturday, October 25 Monday, October 20. Thanks to all candidates for responding to my questions.
Martin's opponent is William K. Smith. Read an interview with Smith here.District 04 is the district in the lower left corner of the map at right. It includes the Watergate complex and the Kennedy Center, but also some residential streets.
Don't know your ANC district? There are two search tools: one by the DC government, the other by Code for DC.
– Where can people go to find out who you are and what you stand for?
– What is your daytime job? What skills have you acquired at that job that will help you be an effective ANC?
http://gmpllp.com/portfolio-view/thomas-martin/
I am a founding partner at a DC law firm. We represent businesses and nonprofits with DC-specific issues. We are a one-stop shop for DC business legal needs from commercial real estate leases, to litigation, to permits and lobbying. The skills I would bring to ANC would be a familiarity with DC agencies and government personnel. Most importantly, I understand and regularly help my clients navigate the DC bureaucracy. Sometimes that means negotiating and sometimes it means litigating. I think I am effective in building coalitions and moving efficiently and strategically to accomplish goals. I hope to be able to put those skills to work as an ANC Commissioner.
– For many people who live in your district, routine shopping means walking many blocks heavy-laden with shopping bags. What can the ANC can do to attract more retail in your district?
My campaign is focused on solving the problem of the dearth of commercial outlets that serve the entire neighborhood. We have a lot of seniors in my Single Member District (SMD) and closing the Safeway at Watergate, along with several other stores has created an unnecessary burden for too many. While the ANC does not have control over the commercial space at the Watergate, I would move the ANC to engage with the Board at Watergate East and its management partner to encourage economic development at the Watergate. Specifically, there needs to be a grocery store with fresh produce and national brands. There also need to be stores that compliment anchor tenants CVS and (hopefully) a new grocery store. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are good for the neighborhood, but the market can definitely bear an alternative to these two stores. That alternative should be in my SMD so that it is convenient and affordable for seniors. Further, the route to get there must be safe and accessible for people in wheelchairs and people with strollers.
– Parking is always a hassle all over DC. How can the city reconcile the desire of residents for no-cost housing on the streets in front of their homes with the fact that it is impossible to provide free on-street parking for everybody who wants it?
I think the market is demanding reconciliation in one of two ways – either pay for a parking space behind home or in a garage, or rely on a bicycle or public transportation. I see the use of shared cars and rides increasing. Metro has been extended to Reston, and I see a reduced reliance on the automobile. I think the importance/reliance on cars is changing as the Millennials come of age. They seem to be less enamored with cars than my generation (Gen X) and those before me. To your question, in my SMD it’s impossible to have street parking for everyone who wants it.
– Some of the properties in your district, and many properties in the ANC, are part of one historic district of another. What's your position on the role of Historic Preservation in Foggy Bottom? Is it too much of a hassle for homeowners to modify their own homes?
Historic Preservation is important. I do not think it is too much of a hassle to have ANC involvement when an owner proposes to modify her/his home. Quiet enjoyment of one’s property is the most important thing to Foggy Bottom residents. I think the prospect of McMansions is disturbing to many who understand and respect the neighborhood and its history. That is why there is this review of proposed modifications.
– DC won't be a family-friendly city until the school system gets fixed. There seems to have been some progress on elementary schools, but now people are moving to the suburbs because the middle schools just don't measure up. What's the best way to attack the problem of improving middle schools?
Me and my wife have been very involved with the neighborhood school, Francis Stevens. We are one of those families that is committed to staying in town and helping to improve the public schools for all students. The middle schools will improve as groups of committed families keep their kids in the system through elementary through middle school. In the intervening years before those large groups of students come through, DCPS has got to work to standardize best practices among the middle schools. I believe the Chancellor is doing a good job as she attempts to mold and improve what was a broken public school system. But, the schools will not improve unless families commit to keeping their children in the system while actively working to improve the system. From our experience, active engagement of the parents with the administration and teachers is essential. If elected to the ANC, one of the things I want to do is engage our neighborhood on increasing involvement with the neighborhood school. In our SMD we have a wealth of diplomats, entrepreneurs, and every kind of professional. I would like to see the opportunities for increased volunteerism at Francis Stevens. We could have a mentor program that is the envy of the city. Further, the Foggy Bottom community should engage with the school since it will be remodeled soon. There may be the opportunity to create neighborhood meeting space and/or amenities at Francis Stevens. If elected I can facilitate that neighbor-school communication.
– Is there any questions that I should have asked you but didn't?
None.
End of interview.
The election will take place on Tuesday, November 4. Early voting will start
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