Held May 5, 2014, 7:00 at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 3rd and Q NW
7:00 President Geovani Bonilla Called to Order, Summary of Last Meeting (primarily Community Benefits Agreement)
7:03 MPD Community Crime and Safety update by Officer Clark: crime stats mostly down, be aware while walking, will try to focus on loitering at 200 Florida in next 7-10 days, noted recent robbery at 3rd and Florida liquor store (Best One) and noted they have great security cameras so should be able to get good lead, noted weather getting nicer so focus on gambling on Q St and Florida Ave Park, getting new units/manpower so should be able to have more units in that area, noticed more police in front of 3rd and P Market and had made difference, noted will have Movie Nights in Florida Ave Park starting 5/23 and National Night Out in coordination with MPD on first Tuesday in August
7:07-8:18 Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton: legislative updates impacting DC residents, also distributed folder of pamphlets with more detailed info, she’s familiar with area and went to Dunbar High School, encourages to have conversation/speak up with any questions as she’s speaking
– encourages to schedule special tour of House of Representatives for DC residents e.g. group of civic association and ANC together – can go to floor of House only by invitation, her chambers, statues in statutory hall, she got Frederick Douglas in government building to represent DC
– had parks town meeting on Tuesday 5/13 with aim to make more involved in communities, also small business day on 6/5 to learn how to finance business and other practical matters
– fighting for DC budget autonomy for years, Senate has passed budget autonomy but last year House didn’t approve it, President’s budget includes DC autonomy, includes DC TAG (Tuition Access Grants) that is federal funding for university in any state b/c DC doesn’t have university system, currently there are bills introduced in both houses which is promising, 83% of DC residents support autonomy referendum and there is currently “friendly lawsuit” pending on it b/c DC Council and Mayor have asked for declaratory judgment as to whether is constitutional, worked with Darrel Issa over years on this and Eric Cantor is also in favor of autonomy
– National Capitol Planning Commission wanted to make no changes on height act, Mayor and Council worked out compromise at her encouragement and bill has passed House and under consideration in Senate, currently on building above height restrictions that houses only mechanical equipment but agreed to allow to use as penthouse not just mechanical equipment
– DC War Memorial built by DC residents, Congress wanted to nationalize it but she fought against it, worked with Eric Cantor who helped and reached compromise, now will be WWI Memorial
– Discussed cooperation with Republican lawmakers to get things done, noted very far right Congresspersons are preventing anything from happening in Congress in recent years
– DC has no senators but Senate appoints US attorney who deals with local and national matters, also appoints DC district court judges but DC residents have no official say, Clinton and Obama have given her senatorial courtesy, all senators and all federal district court judges live in DC currently, President has never turned down her recommendations for appointments
– She characterized recent Emancipation Day as Statehood Day – spoke to Congress about statehood e.g. we have very high federal tax base but no vote in House and Senate
– She’s trying to get statue of Pierre L’Enfant installed for DC residents, also DC seal in Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Reading Room
– Re committee work: has opened up development on Southwest Waterfront which also creates jobs and $47 million anticipated new tax revenue per year, federal tax benefits for mass transit commuters in past has been included again in Senate Finance Committee bill, introduced bill re Department of Defense “sensitive” jobs where can be deprived of job with no review, bill to reduce long-term unemployment and get unemployment insurance to give employers $5,000 tax credit for each person hired who was unemployed for 27 weeks or more and also help youth with high school degrees get job by expanding Americorps, re sexual assaults on airplanes on flights overseas including some into Dulles introduced bill to require FAA to keep statistics on assault and has Republican cosponsor, members of Union of Painters and DC Jobs for Justice approached her re organizing undocumented workers without interference from employers so she plans to get written statement from ICE and Dept of Labor that they won’t respond to those reports from employers, she thinks Washington Redskins name should be changed and lawsuit has been filed, thinks Adam Silver did right thing re racist comments in NBA
– Questions re charter schools, how much oversight does federal government have, what needs to be done to revise some of current regulations such as lottery system? – explained how public charter schools came into being instead of private vouchers which she opposed, noted some charter schools are very specialized, charter schools are entirely in DC jurisdiction not federal
– Question re decriminalization of marijuana – she worked to allow medical marijuana in DC, she will be testifying on Thursday at hearing re marijuana decriminalization bill and she objects because they didn’t ask for DC official and also to explain why council moved so rapidly e.g. that ACLU study shows in DC African Americans are 8 times more likely to be arrested than whites for marijuana possession vs 3-4 times more likely in other states and “drug offense” on record can seriously affect life opportunities, DC passed the law so she will support it as our representative
– Question re ethical issues around mayor and councilmembers, how does that effect efforts toward statehood – scandals haven’t hurt statehood efforts at all, no hearing was held and Issa issued report but didn’t take position
– She got rider removed from appropriations bill prohibition against using DC money for needle exchange with immediately reduced AIDS rate, she’s still trying to get rider removed re prohibition to use DC funds for abortions for low-income women like in other jurisdictions
– Question re unemployment for seniors – requested focus on elders also, she noted a lot of long-term unemployed are 35 and older, federal law protects 40 years and up but not lower
– Current big push is for raising minimum wage to $10.10, President has used authority to raise wage for federal contract workers, she believes all wages will go up not just minimum wage
– Question re Dept of Homeland Security, noted she was involved in acquiring federal land as DC land, who is in charge of that land and how are jobs distributed – one site for major federal project of Coast Guard in Ward 8 had DC Opportunity Center to make jobs known, they requested contractors to reach out to residents and GSA would collect monthly data, she did unscheduled monitoring so ended up with 10% of DC population had 20% of jobs, in Southwest Waterfront development it will be DC owned so they can make sure DC residents are hired
– Question re statehood what does she think is best approach representation or statehood? Discussed history of efforts and trying in both House and Senate, she focuses more on budget and legislative autonomy now because doesn’t think should only go for statehood or nothing
– Question re hiring, is Office of Contract Compliance still active re hiring women and minorities? Yes they have been very active including in St. Elizabeth’s project, federal contracts are supposed to be “making up” for past discrimination in hiring
8:18-8:32 ANC Commissioner Teri Janine Quinn:
– McMillan hearings at zoning commission started last week, all public comment/testimony has been deferred until last hearing on May 13, ANC 5E has been negotiating community benefits agreement including one BACA did last meeting, those documents went to McMillan Advisory Group who combined them, we supported having MAG as member of CBA but she doesn’t see that being approved by ANC because doesn’t appear to be support, CBA will be huge and she is concerned that people on ANC haven’t looked into numbers as much as they should, no agreement reached yet with developers although normally there would be agreement before first zoning hearing but ANC’s first meeting with them was only 2 days before first zoning hearing and have hopes of reaching agreement before last zoning hearing, developers have agreed to request zoning commission for extension of deadline i.e. hold record open, ANC commissioners are really far apart on some aspects of agreement so contact if feel strongly
– Re repaving of Florida Avenue portions have been finished, will extend to some side streets, started with portion in our area because that part was worse than others re potholes
– Reached agreement with Pub and the People and submitted it to ABRA so on fast track, if ABRA sends modifications or rejects agreement then may have to do extended protest proceedings
– Re small business grants through DSLB structure will be different then some in past, won’t be giving grants directly to businesses but to organizations to distribute funds, North Capital Main Street can apply for funds but that’s different than money already given to them, there will be brief on grant process on Wednesday so see DSLB website for time details
– Re recent spike in crime and loitering on Florida btwn 2nd and 4th – she has been working with MPD but be very alert and careful because has become very dangerous, not familiar faces, if you see anything suspicious/uncomfortable call 911 to get police patrols and try to get under control
– Question any update on Firehouse restaurant? No, they’ve been approved for license but won’t have that in hand until have occupancy permit
8:32-8:42 Updates from CM McDuffie’s office by Kate Mitchell
– currently in budget season which is busiest time of year, are adding BACA priorities such as cleaning alleys, tree boxes, etc to list, first of two votes happens 5/28 so if have priorities for neighborhood or DC in general please let them know
– has had 4-5 affordable housing bills this session alone, trying to get all through system before 12/31 so don’t have to start all over, bill on 5/29 contact Muriel Bowser’s as chair of committee, send email to CM McDuffie or CM Bowser’s office with support if can’t make meeting
– question re budget cycle would like to make priority for security and MPD especially given new developments around McMillan and new business on N. Capitol, none of studies for McMillan included public safety – she suggests to contact CM Tommy Wells for that committee
– question re budget for General Services for Langston and Slater general upkeep at least to exteriors of building so not unsafe – she heard about that already
– question re charter schools what can we do to increase access for our residents to good quality schools, Mundo Verde but lottery means residents are very far back on waitlist, noted Ward 5 has some of best charter schools in city, she has been tangentially involved related to bullying, trying to balance freedom of choice with access, Ward 5 choice has been good advocate
– noted funding for North Capitol Main Street is being reinstated this week, thanks to CM for that – about $370,000 to be allocated for development along N. Capitol etc through September, noted CM will continue to work for infrastructure and economic development
8:42-8:46 Community Events by Geovani Bonilla
– Movies at Florida Park start May 23 – MPD with BACA and Bloomingdale – have 4 volunteers
– Flower Power for June – have 3 volunteers but need more, including for house to host
– First Tuesday in August National Night Out Ward 5 kickoff – need volunteers, in past were about 800 attendees, really big event including cookout, many law enforcement agencies, band etc
– Ibrahim Mumin from Masjid Mohammed Mosque – spoke about June 3rd anniversary for hallal site open to all (see also flyer), seniors from 12:00-2:00, currently focus on nutrition but hope to have programs in future
8:46 Treaurer’s update by Kyle Thomas – please join BACA as member for $20 per person for year to be voting member, can pay via paypal or cash or check, current balance $3,160 which is pretty good in comparison with history, 27 members this year which is less than in past, filings are up to date
8:48 Geo noted elections in September and will have nominating committee
8:49 ADJOURNED
Bates Area Civic Association 