Supporting Martin

Meet your neighbors and help Martin Moulton Tuesday, January 19 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Long View Gallery 1234 Ninth Street NW Friends and supporters of Shaw neighborhood activist and leader Martin Moulton are coming together to help raise funds to pay Martin's legal fees, helping him defend against recent legal actions taken by Leroy Thorpe. Here's a link to recent developments or you can review the official legal docket (Case No. 09 CA 007215) by searching "Leroy Thorpe" here. Please make checks payable to "Harmon Curran" (the law firm representing Martin) and include "Martin Moulton Legal Fees" on the note line at the bottom of your check. Thank you for your consideration and we hope you will join us. Host Committee (in formation): Kari and Jason Beard, Ralph Brabham and Drew Porterfield, Frances Evangelista, Mike Gormley, Miles E. Groves, Suzi Molak, The Hon. Alex Padro, Cary Silverman, Stephanie Slewka, Charles Walker, William Waybourn, Deborah Ziska. Please phone 202.518.2453 for more information or RSVP by January 16. If you are unable to attend the event, you can still support Martin’s legal defense by sending a check payable to “Harmon Curran" (the law firm representing Martin), at 1726 M Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 .  Please include "Martin Moulton Legal Fees" on the note line at the bottom of your check.  Any amount helps and is appreciated.

Your Neighborhood Earmarks

Earmarks are now front and center in DC. They are the subject of Marion Barry's latest scandal. They are the target of legislators attempting to deal with a budget shortfall and the concern of nonprofits that rely upon them. Councilmember Mary Cheh has suggested a moratorium and Chairman Vincent Gray noted he might eliminate them completely so as to avoid favoritism.

Here are highlights of earmarks allocated to organizations that are either located in Ward 2 or that have programs serving the area. Later this week, I'll provide some thoughts on DC's earmarks and potential ways of improving the system.

[Note: Council rules adopted in January 2009 limited earmarks to $250,000, or $1 million for capital projects.]

Fiscal Year 2010

In FY 2010, proposed earmarks for nonprofit and arts organizations were included in the budget, many at the maximum level permitted ($1 million for capital improvements, $250,000 for other purposes), then slashed, then completely eliminated. I have not yet been able to confirm that all of those below are among the funds for social service and arts organizations that are gone, but you can see the amounts originally proposed and then the amounts after they were reduced.

• Originally $1 million, reduced to $400,000, to the Phillips Collection for a capital grant for repairs and renovations.
• Originally $1 million, reduced to $400,000, to the Washington Ballet to support facility modernization of a recently acquired structure.
• $150,000 to Shaw Main Streets (not reduced).
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to the Friends of Kennedy Recreation Center to expand youth mentoring and community service programs at the Kennedy Recreation Center, to include a program by the Washington Chiefs to involve Shaw youth in sports and fitness programs, promote team building, teach healthy lifestyles, and promote leadership development.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to the Kennedy Center to support cultural programming, including free performances.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to Washington National Opera to support education and community programs for District youth.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to Washington Performing Arts to provide performing arts education programs serving District children.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to Safe Shores to provide additional support for operating the newly expanded DC Children’s Advocacy Center at the Bundy School.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to the DC Jewish Community Center to expand cultural and artistic programs and services as a neighborhood hub in Dupont Circle.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to Bread for the City.
• Originally $250,000, reduced to $100,000, to DC Vote to support education, outreach, and advocacy efforts on District voting rights and related home rule issues.
• $100,000 to the Mid-City Business Association ($60,000, reduced from proposed $150,000, for unspecified purposes, and a separate $40,000, reduced from proposed $100,000 to support its promotional and programmatic activities, including business promotional activities associated with the rebuilding of U Street).
• Originally $100,000, reduced to $40,000, to the Alliance of Concerned Men.
• Originally $100,000 reduced to $40,000, to the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce.

Fiscal Year 2009

The DC Fiscal Policy Institute has a full, easily readable list of the $64 million in earmarks to more than 150 organizations included in the FY 2009 budget. Some highlights are below.

• $10 million to Ford’s Theatre Society for a capital project.$1 million for the Washington Ballet for capital fund for their new building.
• $1 million to Peaceaholics for gang intervention and support for at-risk youth.
• $1 million for the Lincoln Theatre for operating and capital expenses, including structural upgrades, among other purposes.
• $600,000 to the Historic Society of Washington for support for services that preserve and commemorate the history of the District of Columbia.
• $500,000 to the Greater Washington Sports Alliance for operational support, specifically for efforts to attract sporting events to the District.
• $500,000 to the Washington National Opera from maintaining and expanding education programs.
• $500,000 to D.C. Vote for operational support.
• $200,000 to the Alliance of Concerned Men for community services to families and at-risk children.
• $200,000 to “Cease Fire . . . Don’t Smoke the Brothers” for stopping gang violence with a special concentration for preventing “beefs” or disputes among troubled youth.
• $100,000 to the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce for youth fashion vocational program and entrepreneurial fashion incubator.
• $100,000 to the Chinatown Cultural Center to support the center that seeks to preserve and promote Chinatown and celebrate Chinese culture, history, language, and heritage.
• $50,000 to Friends of Kennedy Playground for a capital project to include a water play area at the park and support for additional programming.

Fiscal Year 2008

• $5 million to the Washington Ballet.
• $1 million to the Washington Performing Arts Society.
• $500,000 to Peaceoholics to support positive mentoring for youth.
• $500,000 to Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
• $500,000 to the Historical Society of Washington ($250,000 through Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development and $250,000 through Commission on the Arts and Humanities)
• $300,000 to Cease Fire . . . Don’t Smoke the Brothers and Sisters, Inc.
• $300,000 to CityDance to support general operations, outreach, and education programs at Mt. Vernon Square.
• $150,000 to Friends of Kennedy Playground.
• $125,000 Chinatown Community Cultural Center.
• $100,000 to Bread for the City.
  

14th & Geez...

Two blocks from the White House, three blocks from the DC Council's Wilson Building, in the center of the downtown, there is a half block of vacant property, and it's not a pretty sight. Welcome to 14th and G Streets N.W.

Those of us working nearby have wondered why, it has stood like this for nearly a decade. "It's just bizarre," said a co-worker who caught me snapping photos.

The largest and most notable of the properties is the National Bank of Washington, which doubles as "Washington's Oldest Bank" and possibly downtown's longest eyesore. The bank, which is a designated historic landmark, includes Hahn Shoes at the ground level, which wraps around 14th Street onto the G Street side. The windows are held together by clear tape. The entryways are boarded up.

It's 24 degrees this morning and there's a homeless man bundled up so tight at the corner of the building that you can see nothing but his blue gloves slightly protruding from the blankets and tarps.

The Washington Post did a feature on the shoe store as part of a series of places that have disappeared from the DC area, in October 2008.

Just around the corner on the G Street side is a half block that is frozen in time. It harks back to the days when small independent businesses were able to exist downtown.

There's the ruins of a large office building that continues to have a sign for Shelton's Salon & Day Spa at the ground level, which was apparently operating into 2004. In front, there is one of the largest homeless encampments I've ever seen. Fort G. Back in the 1930s, the Olmstead Grill was located here. (1336 G Street NW)

Next, is Clement's Pastry Shop, which moved to Hyattsville, Maryland in 2000 after 35 years at that location. A decal still hangs in the inside window noting its membership in the National Restaurant Association - 1995. (1338 G Street NW)

Then there is the nail salon and tattoo parlor, which still has a website in its old address.

There's also a newsstand, which had moved to 1004 F Street, in case you arrive back in town after moving in the 1990s and you're looking for the latest edition of The Common Denominator. At some point, the building had an Italian restaurant, though it's sign is partially covered by a "Lease Office" sign. The space is clearly not for lease, but there it sits. (1340 G Street NW)

The strip wouldn't be complete without the building that included the Dragon Exotic Massage Parlor and a brewing company upstairs. The first floor continues to have a window display composed of sea shells and candles. That soothing feeling is interrupted by crime scene tape that has cordoned off the entry way for at least the past month. (1342 G Street NW, 5th photo below)

Finally, between the strip of buildings and the bank is a vacant lot. There's a weed as tall as a tree growing there. In the summer, passers by can see it peaking over the wall. For now, tourists receive an education message, noting how the District has greater population and more registered voters than Wyoming, but doesn't have a vote in Congress. (1344 G Street NW)

The properties, all of them, were purchased one by one by the Armenian Genocide Museum between 2001 and 2003. According to D.C. records, the museum spent $21.5 million in total to acquire the area. The total proposed assessed value of the properties for 2009 is $32.9 million.

The museum plans to open "before 2011." It appears the museum has recently made progress. In March 2008, the museum sought and obtained approval of their plans from the Historic Preservation Review Board. You can view its plans online.

The wait has not been without cost to the museum. Since 2005 (as far as online records go), the museum has paid $1,676,314.98 in DC property taxes. It has apparently been spared paying at the significantly higher vacant property tax rate, however. The museum pays about $12,000 to the downtown Business Improvement District each year.

Let's hope that the Museum of Urban Decay's exhibit on "Downtown, DC in the 1990s, the Pre-Anthony Williams Years," is replaced soon.

DC Government 2009 Wish List - Top 10

The top 10 areas that I'd like to see progress on in 2009 -- or at least the top 10 that come to mind at the moment....

10. DDOT addresses dangerous intersections, such as the crosswalks at New York Avenue NW at 4th and 5th Streets NW where pedestrians have 20 seconds to cross 6-10 lanes of traffic.

9. DC government disposes/better maintains the hundreds of vacant property it OWNS throughout the city, such as properties in the Home Again program.

8. MPD provides assurance that ShotSpotter (detects the location of gunfire instantly) is fully operation and producing results in the Third District.

7. Election reform ensures every citizen's vote is actually counted (no more touch screen ballots without a paper trail). Consideration of eliminating set-aside seats for minority parties on the DC Council and authorizing open primaries through a referendum vote.

6. Generally, more consistent enforcement of DC laws -- all of them -- and applying the law equally to all, i.e. permitting/construction and "quality-of-life crimes."

5. An effective, well-managed Advisory Neighborhood Commission representing the Shaw, Mount Vernon, and Penn Quarter neighborhoods.

4. Tax relief and other support for small businesses in areas that were hit by high property tax increases over the past decade so that they do not go under and find themselves replaced with more Starbucks and Subways.

3. The DC Council stops giving away public property (i.e. the Southwest waterfront for $1 a year for 99 years) without a transparent, open competitive bidding process. Next up: Franklin School?

2. Renovation of abandoned and neglected parks, such as Carter G. Woodson Park, 2nd and Massachusetts Avenue NW, 6th and N Street, or the Chinatown Park at 5th and Massachusetts Avenue NW. Let's see at least one more forward in 2009! Also - more dog parks.

1. When federal legislation to provide DC with a vote in the House fails yet again (or is declared unconstitutional), I hope the DC Council will restart discussion of true Home Rule issues (as opposed to license plates and billboards at the baseball stadium). Potential action items include having our own prosecutors and judges, an elected attorney general, placing federally-controlled small parks (aka "reservations") under DC control, and legislative and budgetary autonomy. DC Council passes a resolution urging Congress to move forward in one or more of these areas.

Michele Molotsky Moves to DPR

Photo Credit: By Lois Raimondo -- The Washington Post Photo

I learned today that Michele Molotsky, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans' longtime Director of Constituent Services, has left for a position at the Department of Parks and Recreation. She is now serving as DPR's Director of Senior Services.

I came to know Michele when I was active in Logan Circle. Michele worked extremely hard for Ward 2 for so many years, and, regardless of the campaign, I always praised her as I spoke with community groups. She was the go-to person of the councilmember's staff and we miss having her there.

If you are a senior, this is a good time to take a stroll to the park.

Thank you, Michele.

Our Newest Neighbor, Barack Obama

Barack Obama campaigns at the old convention center site in September 2007.
Photo: precentorpium on Flickr.

There's tremendous excitement as we learned last night that come January 2009, DC's Ward 2 will have a new resident of particular prominence, President Barack Obama. President Obama will move into a historic white house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. It is a charming historic home with a nice view of the park and the National Mall, and within walking distance to downtown living, including Foggy B0ttom and Dupont Circle. President Obama will live and work just 2 blocks from my office and about 14 blocks from my home. I doubt I'll run into him at the new CityVista Safeway, but I'm very happy to have him as my new neighbor.

This is a tremendous day of momentus importance for our country and for Washington, D.C. Truly, the American dream remains a reality and, after eight years of heading down a mind-boggling, hair-pulling wrong path, we will hopefully move in the right direction with educational opportunity, support for small businesses, equality, and economic revitalization. Let us also hope that Obama's presidency, coming with Democratic gains in both the House and the Senate, also means that disenfranchised residents of the District of Columbia will finally attain full voting representation in the U.S. Congress. [UPDATE: Congresswoman Norton believes the legislation to give the District a vote in the House has a good chance given Democratic gains last night].

By the way, any thoughts on where he and Michelle will send their kids to school? As you may remember, during the final debate, he praised Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee for undertaking an ambitious plan to improve our city's public school system and their support for charter schools.