Bates Area Civic Association

Thanks to Councilman Thomas for spending a couple of hours with us at the BACA meeting.  My recap of the meeting follows:

Recap the BACA meeting on September 14, 2009  (Unofficial)

Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas visited the BACA meeting tonight and spoke for anhour and a half on a number of issues.  They are outlined below.

JF Cook and MM Washington School –

Thomas authored a Public Property Disposition bill but it has gotten resistance from the administration.  When RFP’s are issued for re-use of properties, the public learns about them after the fact.  Often without neighborhood input.  Thomas said he believes that the community should have input.  Thomas has legally challenged the administration about public properties. He also said that most of the properties that have recreation and education purposes were built with funding from federal grants and designated for that specific purpose. Many of the re-uses have housing on them and that’s not legal according to the original agreements that they made in order to receive federal grants.

We discussed the JF Cook school, and a resident asked for Thomas to support our opposition of the Latin American Youth School’s plans to inhabit the JF Cook School.  The LAYC plans include housing on that property.  Thomas’ representative Vicky Leonard Chambers said that LAYC had come to their office seeking support from Councilmember Thomas, and they had refrained from giving it because they were aware of the community’s position against the LAYC plans.

In the end, Councilmember Thomas agreed to publicly state his opposition to the LAYC issue.  He did however, put it in a larger context of discussing development on the North Capitol corridor (discussed more below), saying that big development projects in that area would do a lot more for the neighborhood than would focusing on opposing social services.

Councilwoman  Mary Cheh has said that she will have a hearing on this issue.

If you want to express your opinion on the JF Cooke send an email to Thomas, Mary Cheh (mcheh@dccouncil.us) and to Harry Thomas (hthomas@dcouncil.us) Describe your position (with the JF Cooke school) to support the Public Property Disposition Bill.

If you are interested in this issue, see the Empower DC web site here: http://www.empowerdc.org/ppc. They are tracking it. He also urged resolutions from the civic association supporting the issue.

The 4^th St NW/P St/ NJ Ave billboard issue.

“The billboards have been a DCRA nightmare and I am supportive of the community’s position” Thomas said.  He agreed to put this position in writing in a letter of support of our efforts to get them removed.

The BACA also supported a resolution on the billboard issue, which we’ll post on the blog here.

North Capitol St from Florida to NY Ave

Thomas said he has been meeting with business owners – and social service providers -to discuss how the former can improve business or be encouraged to move into the area and how the latter can be better neighbors. SOME was discussed and Thomas said they need to be more proactive with neighborhood concerns, but these complaints have been going on for years.  (They do actually hire people to clean up people the neighborhood – but the loitering is really a problem.)

Thomas said he is working on a property tax freeze in that specific area – that would encourage investors.

When we discussed how the neighborhood was saturated with social services,  he encouraged us to focus instead on attracting businesses to the area.  (I believe there’s some mixture of the two approaches.)  Thomas the real focus should be on getting developers in there.  (He said the bill that would encourage this was not yet ready for public dissemination.)

Moody’s just rated the city with a Trippple A bond rating, which means investors might take risks to invest.

Dunbar High school space usage for neighbors

Thomas said school systems needs to do a better job  of interacting with neighbors. For example, Why aren’t we notified about games?  But he offered no real solutions.

Dog parks

Thomas touched on dog parks and said people had a misperception of the government process to fund them. He said it takes matching private funding. Suitable space is important. Money for playgrounds and dog parks come from different pots of city funds. He mentioned support for Langdon park as a site for a dog park in Ward 5 since there is a 23 acre site.

MacMillan Plant

Thomas said his has been a 25-year journey.  Hospitals are one of the biggest employers in Ward 5.  It would be better to have workforce with housing and  amenities  nearby– so that that money would be spent in Ward 5.

Kiosk closed at NY Ave/1^st St NW (Library and Day care closed)

The rationale was to shut this down since the Northwest One (Walker Jones Education Center) will have a new library opening in November – but Thomas says he is still concerned with NY Ave Sursum Corda library. He also talked a lot about his work a private donor to rebuild those basketball courts there, fighting closure of day care and basketball court.

Bloomingdale Farmers Market

Thomas touched briefly on opposition to the BFM and said one idea under consideration was to put the farmers market to put it in the Florida Ave park.

Talked a lot about plan for the community.

Marriage equity bill

“I believe in marriage equity – but there is a split in Ward 5 and I have to look for the most comprehensive law.”

OTHER NEWS:

Peter of the Environmental Services Committee announced an Oct 24 event – for which he is working with Anita Bonds to identify funds – a tree box sprucing event in coordination with a neighborhood BBQ. By Oct 29, we need to have paperwork for a beautification grant.   THESE EFFORTS NEED YOUR SUPPORT Putting in request to have lamppost paintings. Hanging plant baskets at least every corner.  We need to find a contractor and determine how much the cost is and put in a request for the funding needed.  Looking at what we can get donated.

Public Safety Committee – Jon talked about a grant to get front lights to illuminate front yards.  Mary Ann suggested motion lights would be very effective.  Reece Electric donated light bulbs in the past.

Public Relations – Blog is churning along and Caryn would like to work with the Hanover Civic Assn on getting bulletin boards for community notices posted in key sites.

BILLBOARD REMOVAL PROJECT: a vote was taken and a resolution passed officializing the BACA’s position in support of the removal of the billboards at 4^th/NJ Ave and P St NW.

Actions to be taken: Follow up with Councilman Thomas office to seek a formal letter of support for the billboard removal.