Neighbors,
I write to remind you of the following important events that will be taking place in our community over the next 21 days:
Meet the Candidates Forum:
On Wednesday, July 28, 2010, the Coalition for Voter Empowerment (C.O.V.E.) will be sponsoring a series of interviews over the next several weeks with various candidates who are competing to represent us as Mayor and those who are seeking membership onto the Council of the District of Columbia. That is, on each of the next 5+ Wednesday evenings we hope to interview one candidate each for the offices of Mayor, City Council Chairperson, At Large City Council, and Ward Five City Council, respectively.
The line-up of candidates for Wednesday, July 28, 2010 consists of Leo Alexander (candidate for Mayor); Vincent Orange (candidate for Council Chairperson); Michael Brown (candidate for an At Large City Council); and Kathy Henderson (candidate for the Ward Five seat on the City Council).
Each candidate will be asked to respond to a series of questions that relate to our specific interests, as well as tell us why they believe that they are the best persons to occupy the offices for which they are running.
The COVE series is being co-sponsored by the Bates Area Civic Association, the Bloomingdale Civic Association, the Eckington Civic Association, the Edgewood Civic Association, and the Hanover Area Civic Association. Tomorrow night’s forum will take place at McKinley Technology High School, 2nd and T Streets, NE, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm. It is important that as many residents of the area participate in this series and that you be on time. Should any of these candidate succeed in their current run for elected office, we want them to know that we will expect them to be responsive to our concerns and accountable for the commitments made in these sessions.
Neighborhood Sidewalk Sale:
The BACA is hosting two Neighborhood Sidewalk (or Yard) Sales on Saturday, August 7, 2010 and Saturday, August 14, 2010, respectively. Our goal is to get a minimum of 20 households to participate on one or both days of the sale.
If you are interested in having your house included on the list of sites that will be circulated around the community in advance of the dates of the events, please email me at jamojam or call 202-387-8520 to leave your contact information.
I hope you will seriously consider participating in this fun activity that will give you a chance to sell household items that you no longer need and want, walk the area in search of bargains, as well as meet neighbors that perhaps you didn’t know before.
Best,
Jim Berry
Bates Area Civic Association 
It was disappointing to see only 2 BACA residents at the forum. I know the notice went out late, but I wish more folks would become involved in making our voices heard with our elected officials. I hope more community members show up at the next forum.