Bates Area Civic Association

In an email to BACA President Geovani A. Bonilla, Commissioner Joyce Robinson-Paul said (this is actual section of her email not a paraphrase):

From: Ja [mailto:jarpaul2@verizon.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 9:12 AM
To: gbonilla@hospicemanagement.com
Cc: Steve (EOM)Glaude; Levonnia (Council)Mobley; Mayor Vincent Gray; ALBERT PUL; kentamos@capcs.org; Jackie (DPR) Stanley; rachelleroberts@capcs.org
Subject: Construction at CAPCS

A meeting with the head staff at their office on Friday, revealed that they were unaware of who is responsible for the heavy construction on the outside of their property near P street, NW.  The paving of the lot was a good faith effort to help with the neighborhood parking nightmare, during the week long activities at Dunbar and beyond.  The owner Kent Amos has met with the Dunbar Planning Committee, Dunbar construction team, myself and other govt officials to help with parking and traffic.  Several of the above were delighted that over 100 spaces will be available to many of the elderly and disabled seniors involved in the Dunbar celebration and help alleviate a serious parking dilemma in this ANC.

This is the Response from Ms. Carrie Thornhill:

I thank you so much for all your help, gentlemanly support and encouragement throughout the Dunbar SIT and Planning Committee processes.  And thanks for the opportunity to begin to set the record straight on the matter of Dunbar’s use of the CAPCS parking lot.

Under no circumstances did the DAF, nor the School nor SIT participate in any action or non action relative to the paving of the CAPCS parking lot.   It was suggested at the July 13^th planning committee meeting that we request use of the CAPCS parking.  You will recall two CAPCS staff persons were present.  Then Kent Amos attended the August 10^th Planning Committee meeting and told us we could use no more than 50 spaces on his lot because his teachers returned to school the same week of the Dunbar opening ceremonies.  We accepted the offer with no strings.  Kent and Principal Jackson had words about jurisdiction of the lot (Principal Jackson maintains the parking lot property belongs to Dunbar and was formerly its Tennis courts).  At a subsequent SIT meeting Teddy informed us that there was an ongoing dispute between the city and CAPCS relative to some jurisdictional issues and their plans to pave the lot and something about a curb cut.  I strongly expressed the view that those issues of jurisdiction should be discussed and resolve at another day and should not adversely affect the use of the lot during the Dunbar opening.

The planning Committee was surprised to see the paving occurring before the Dunbar opening.  And some of us were informed by a civic leader that proper permits et al were not followed by CAPCS.  But under no circumstances should it be suggested that the paving of the lot had anything to do with Dunbar.  To suggest it is a bold face untruth and far fetch stretch of the imagination.  I/we do not accept any involvement or approval of the paving of the lot and certainly any illegality.  And I will be happy to appear before any neighborhood group and share the facts with civic leaders from our point of view with Kent present or not present.