 The Thomas Connection |
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January 2010 Volume 4, Issue 1
Building Bridges, Finding Solutions, People First
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 When introducing this measure at the December 15th session, Councilmember Thomas noted that moving management of the projects to OPEFM is not ideal, but a necessary, one-time measure to place capital funds back within Council oversight according to the law, as well as fulfill promises made to residents regarding improvements to parks and recreation facilities. “The Council is committed to following the law and ensuring public dollars are spent appropriately and judiciously” said Councilmember Thomas.
Council Shifts Recreation Projects to OPEFM
Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, thanked his colleagues for voting unanimously to support legislation he submitted at the Council’s December 15, 2009 legislative session shifting management responsibility of Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) projects from Banneker Ventures to the District’s Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM). Councilmembers Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, and Mary Cheh were co-introducers of the measure.More than a dozen DPR capital project contracts were routed circuitously via memorandums of understanding from the agency through the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to the DC Housing Authority. The Council has held a series of joint public oversight roundtables on the contracts, which Councilmember Thomas has chaired, to unravel: why the contracts were channeled to the DC Housing Authority; who made the decision; whether selection of Banneker Ventures as the project manager was competitive; and to what extent funds were reallocated to projects not included in DPR’s FY2010 budget.
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 Thomas’ Ward 5 Holiday Events Draw HundredsTo ensure that Ward 5 residents had a joyous holiday season, Councilmember Thomas hosted a Ward 5 Holiday Open House on December 17, 2009, and a Breakfast With Santa on December 23, 2009.
The Ward 5 Holiday Open House was held on the main level of the historic Wilson Building and included a range of entertainment, food, and music. Councilmember Thomas arranged transportation so that more than 200 seniors were able to participate in the festivities along with other residents from across Ward 5.
Breakfast With Santa was held at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center and provided toys and books to more than 500 Ward 5 children, as well as a catered, hot breakfast for the kids and their parents. Other activities included face painting and magical tricks. “Bringing residents of the Ward together to celebrate the holiday season is a family tradition that I am proud to continue,” said Councilmember Thomas. “Nothing is more satisfying than spreading joy at Christmas time.”
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Bill Establishing 51st State Commission Voted Out of Committee Councilmember Thomas announced that the Committee on Aging and Community Affairs voted unanimously on December 11, 2009 to forward Bill 18-177, the “51st State Commission Establishment Act of 2009,” to the Council for a full vote.
Bill 18-177, which Councilmember Thomas introduced along with his colleagues Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander, Chair of the Committee on Aging and Community Affairs, and At-Large Councilmember Michael Brown, calls for the establishment of a 51st State Commission to study, research, and promote statehood for the District of Columbia. The bill was co-sponsored by Chairman Gray and Councilmembers Marion Barry, Muriel Bowser, Kwame Brown, David Catania, Mary Cheh, Jim Graham, Phil Mendelson, and Tommy Wells.
Legislation passed in 1980 created a D.C. Statehood Commission, but was repealed in 1994. “I introduced this bill because, with the election of President Barack Obama and the Democrats regaining control of Congress, the timing is right to step up the District’s efforts to push for full representation,” said Councilmember Thomas.
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Thomas Applauds Removal of Billboards from Ward 5 Intersection
Councilmember Thomas announced his enthusiastic support for the removal of several billboards located at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue, 4th Street, and P Street, NW, which were taken down on December 28, 2009. Councilmember Thomas wrote a letter advocating for their removal on September 23, 2009.
In particular, Councilmember Thomas applauded the diligent efforts of the Bates Area Civic Association in seeking the removal of the billboards, as well as the industrious work of Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Director Linda Argo and her staff in negotiating their removal with Clear Channel. “These billboards have been an eyesore for more years than I can count,” said Councilmember Thomas. “Their removal is a great victory for Ward 5 and the residents of the Bates/Truxton Circle neighborhood.” |
Forman Mills Opens First DC Location
Forman Mills, which selected Ward 5 for its expansion into the District of Columbia, held its grand opening celebration on December 9, 2009. Councilmember Thomas was the keynote speaker.
Forman Mills is a mid-Atlantic-based firm specializing in warehouse-styled stores offering significant discounts on high-profile brand names, such as DKNY, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, Perry Ellis, Fila, and more. The retailer also plans to become one of the area’s leading sources of authorized sports apparel for local major sports teams.
“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to open our first Forman Mills store in the nation’s capital” said Richard Forman, the company’s founder and CEO, at the grand opening ceremony. “Our goal is to help people purchase quality brand name clothing at reasonable prices.” A self-made man, Mr. Forman started his retail clothing business 25 years ago printing T-shirts and selling them on the streets of Philadelphia. The District store is his twenty-first, bringing area shoppers designer clothes at affordable prices.
In his remarks at the grand opening celebration, Councilmember Thomas remarked that “Forman Mills is bringing much-needed jobs to the Ward.” He noted that his office worked closely with Forman Mills to ensure that the store hired Ward 5 residents. Those efforts were successful: More than half of the 150 individuals hired live in Ward 5, and the remainder are all DC residents.
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Bates Area Civic Association 