BROWN AND COUNCIL PASS NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION—Economic Development Committee holds first 2008 public hearing
BROWN TO DC AGENCIES: 80 DAYS TO BALLPARK OPENING, RESOLVE TRAFFIC ISSUES AND INVOLVE RESIDENTS
This morning, the Council Committee on Economic Development, chaired by At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown, held a Public Oversight Roundtable on the “Parking and Traffic Plan for the Nationals’ Stadium.” After hearing feedback from four ANC Commissioners and concerned residents on the traffic plans, Brown called for enhanced coordination from DC agencies and increased public involvement. Brown set the tone for the hearing with an opening statement, “To ensure that opening day runs smoothly and every contingency is planned for, we are here to focus on finding solutions to the challenges that we face to opening the Stadium. But more importantly, we are here to gather the public’s feedback and ensure that the Stadium’s development continues to be an open and transparent process. We must also focus on ways to minimize the impact that parking and traffic will have on District residents.” While the stadium carries with it benefits for District residents, there is also concern in the community about how the Stadium will affect neighborhoods, local businesses and the community at large. When the Stadium opens, there will be an enormous number of people using surrounding roads and nearby parking lots. Residents who live near the ballpark and proposed parking locations are understandably concerned about the impact these plans will have on their neighborhoods. Public witnesses at the roundtable included four ANC Commissioners and concerned District residents. The community witnesses expressed apprehension that the government has not made clear to the community which District agency is the lead on traffic planning. They also argued for more public involvement in the planning process. Greg O’Dell, President and CEO of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission; Judi Greenberg, Special Assistant in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; and Gregory McCarthy, Senior Director—Ballpark District of the Washington Nationals were there to give the Council and the public an update on the status of the plan. Government witnesses testified the District Department of Transportation is leading the traffic and parking plan process and will release a plan next week. In addition to the release of the traffic plan, the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission will hold a community meeting to discuss traffic and parking plans with the public. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at Southeastern University, 2nd Floor Multipurpose Room, 501 I Street, SW. “With 80 days left to opening day, it’s critical the traffic and parking plans are finalized and implemented,” said Brown. “DC agencies need to efficiently coordinate their plans. All plans must adequately address the community’s feedback and concerns. Opening day should be fun for everyone but it can only work if the community is a full partner in the planning process. I look forward to working with Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham to conduct more hearings on these matters in the future.”
________________________________________________________________ BROWN: RADIO ONE DEAL PASSES COUNCIL--Deal brings Radio One headquarters back to the District On Tuesday, the DC Council passed legislation supported by At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown that will bring the headquarters of Radio One back to the District. Radio One will be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Shaw neighborhood where it will be located. Radio One has agreed with the community and the District to create 25% affordable housing, reserve discounted retail space for local businesses, include 35%-50% participation of local, small business vendors in the development amongst other important community benefits. “This is a historic moment for the District and a victory for residents of the Shaw community who worked hard to maximize the benefit of Radio One’s return to the neighborhood,” said Brown. “Radio One is the largest African-American owned broadcast company in America and its return to the District is symbolic of our city’s progress. I’m proud to support this measure.” Broadcast Center Partners, LLC, which will develop the land, and Radio One negotiated an agreement with neighborhood stakeholders, including Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner SMD 1B01 Myla Moss, ONE Right to Land Shaw Advocate Virginia C. Lee, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner SMD 2C01 and Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets Alexander Padro, and Organizing Neighborhood Equity Executive Director Dominic Moulden. The agreement specified the benefits the project would provide to the Shaw community. Some of the highlights of the agreement include: - Creating 25% affordable housing units;
- Proving for 35%-50% participation of local, small business vendors in the development process;
- Reserving 10% of the retail space for existing or emerging local businesses, providing reduced rents at a rate of 50% for the first 2 years and 25% for years 3-5;
- 20% equity ownership by Ellis Development Group, LLC; and
- Radio One donating $250,000 for a scholarship fund for Shaw high school students to attend the Howard University School of Business or the Howard University School of Communications. “Bringing Radio One back to the District is a victory for the Shaw neighborhood and our city as a whole,” said Brown. “This is an important milestone in the effort to revitalize our neighborhoods outside of the downtown area. The project will help stimulate the neighborhood’s economy while providing new local job opportunities and affordable housing so that residents can afford to live where they work.”
________________________________________________________________ IN THE NEW YEAR, BROWN IS BACK TO LOCAL BUSINESS--Brown’s Small, Local Business Legislation Passes the DC Council The DC Council passed three pieces of legislation on Tuesday co-introduced and authored by At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown that would help continue to revitalize our neighborhoods by promoting small and local businesses in the District. The “Small Business Commercial Property Tax Relief Act of 2007” (B17-20), the “Minority and Women-Owned Business Assessment Act of 2007” (B17-337), and the “Excellence in Local Business Contract Grading Act of 2007” (B17-336) all passed the final reading of the Council. “Small, local businesses are the lifeblood of our economy,” said Brown. “It’s imperative that we pass legislation that recognizes their contribution to the local economy and gives business owners the tools they need to thrive.” Small Business Tax Relief The “Small Business Commercial Property Tax Relief Act of 2007” (B17-20) would reduce the real property tax rate for Class 2 Properties and increase the amount of tangible personal property exempt from the personal property tax from $50,000 to $225,000. The reduced commercial property tax rate would apply to the first $3 million of the property’s assessed value and in some cases could go as low as $ .90 per $100 of assessed value. Supporting Minority and Women-Owned Businesses The “Minority and Women-Owned Business Assessment Act of 2007” (B17-337), authored by Brown, would establish a business assessment program to provide comprehensive recommendations to the Department of Small and Local Business Development. The recommendations and responsibilities of the program include: - Analyzing the current state of businesses owned or controlled by minorities or women qualifying as Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs);
- Recording and tracking the number of businesses owned or controlled by minorities or women that have been awarded government contracts; and
- Recommending ways to encourage minority and women owned businesses to compete in the procurement process with the District. Setting Standards of Excellence Councilmember Brown authored the “Excellence in Local Business Contract Grading Act of 2007” (B17-336) to improve the efficiency of government and provide improved government services. The legislation would require the Mayor to establish a grading system for businesses receiving contracts in the District. With a grading system in place, the District would be able to more effectively assure quality performance on District contracts and create a standard for businesses to provide high quality goods and services in the District for the benefit of residents. “It’s critical that the District continue to create policies that support our local, small businesses,” said Brown. “With businesses thriving in the District, we can revitalize our communities and strengthen our economy. I thank my colleagues for their support of the legislation and look forward to working with them throughout the year.”
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FOLLOWING HISTORIC PRIMARY, BROWN TESTIFIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ON DC VOTING RIGHTS
On Wednesday, At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown traveled 500 miles with a delegation of colleagues to Concord, New Hampshire to testify on DC voting rights before the NH State House of Representatives. State representatives in NH are considering a resolution, H.R. 26, that would express “regret that New Hampshire’s United States Senators voted to deny the District of Columbia the right to be represented in the Congress.” The hearing on the resolution followed New Hampshire’s historic presidential primary, which recorded the highest primary turnout in the state’s history. “The excitement generated by the presidential primary has been contagious across the country,” said Brown. “It has invigorated our conviction to fight for DC voting rights and end taxation without representation. By testifying before representatives in New Hampshire, our goal is to bring national attention to voter disenfranchisement in the District. To win this struggle, we will need the support of our fellow citizens living in the states. The resolution strikes at the heart of what we are striving to achieve and unifies us with our colleagues from New Hampshire.” In his testimony, Councilmember Brown reflected on words written by Thomas Jefferson that are inscribed on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial: Etched in stone are Thomas Jefferson’s poignant thoughts, which help elucidate the argument for full voting representation in the District of Columbia. [Jefferson] said, ‘I am certainly not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.’ Brown concluded his testimony with the following remarks: The states and their citizens must be our partners in this effort. Only when our fellow Americans see it is just that our old coat be traded for a new one, a coat befitting a modern democratic people, will we no longer ‘remain ever under the regimen of [our] barbarous ancestors.’ I urge elected officials in New Hampshire including nearly 400 state house representatives, 24 state senators, 1 governor, 2 US Senators, 2 House representatives, nearly 240 town and city clerks, and others to support our efforts. Clearly, the State of New Hampshire recognizes the value of democratic ideals as evidenced by the rich diversity of representation throughout the state. In December of last year, the Committee of the Whole held a public hearing on B17-28 “Taxation without Representation Federal Tax Pay-Out Message Board Installation Act of 2007.” The bill was authored by Councilmember Brown and co-introduced by Councilmembers Barry and Schwartz. The legislation would authorize the District to create two LED message boards, one to be displayed on the John A. Wilson Building and the other on the new Nationals baseball stadium. “I thank representatives in New Hampshire for joining in our common democratic struggle,” said Brown. “I look forward to working with other states to raise awareness about this issue and to moving closer to our ultimate goal…full voting representation in Congress.”
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BROWN: TWO WOMEN, TWO LEGACIES--DC Council passes initiatives to honor Effi Barry and Hilda Mason
On Tuesday, the DC Council passed legislation to honor former first-lady Effi Barry and a resolution to honor former Councilmember Hilda Howland Mason. The East of the River HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Initiative is to be renamed to honor Effi Barry. The Initiative would be renamed the Effi Slaughter Barry HIV/AIDS Initiative. Mason was honored with a resolution, which recognized her lifelong dedication to the District of Columbia. “Effi Barry and Hilda Mason left behind legacies of honor and dedication,” said Councilmember Kwame R. Brown. “Effi Barry was dedicated to improving the lives of District residents and as a health professional was on the front lines of fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Hilda Mason was a teacher who fought for children and a patriot who fought for DC voting rights. As a resident of the District, I’m inspired by their never ending commitment to our great city.” When Effi Barry passed away in September of 2007 she was the Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Director of the Department of Health. The “Effi Slaughter Barry HIV/AIDS Initiative Act of 2007” (B17-372), would not only rename the Initiative, it would dedicate $1.35 million to the Initiative for a 2-year capacity building training program and create capacity building grants for Initiative participants. An Initiative Coordinator would be hired to administer the program. Councilmember Brown is a co-sponsor of the legislation. In her lifetime, former Councilmember Hilda Mason served as a teacher, counselor, supervising instructor, principal, chair of the Council’s Committee on Education, member of the Board of Education and she helped create the University of the District of Columbia. The “Honorable Hilda Howland Mason Posthumous Recognition Resolution of 2007,” recognizes her many accomplishments.
________________________________________________________________ MAYOR ADRIAN M. FENTY AND DCPS CHANCELLOR MICHELLE RHEE ANNOUNCED SCHOOL REORGANIZATION AND CLOSURE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR JANUARY 17, 2008 Below is a listing of public hearing locations as provided by Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee to discuss school reorganization and closures. Full event information can be viewed at www.k12.dc.gov by clicking the “What’s Happening” section. Public hearings are scheduled for Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Those wishing to testify should contact Traci Higgins in the Office of the Chancellor via email at traci.higgins@dc.gov or by telephone at (202) 442-5615 by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. Witnesses should bring 3 copies of their written testimony to the hearing. Hearing Locations (The school closure being discussed is in parentheses): Aiton Elementary School (Smothers Elementary School)
533 48th Place NE
_________ Amidon Elementary School (Bowen Elementary School)
401 I Street SW
_________ Barnard Elementary School (Clark Elementary School)
430 Decatur Street NW
_________ Brookland Elementary School (Bunker Hill)
1150 Michigan Avenue NW
_________ Cleveland Elementary School (Gage-Eckington Elementary School)
1825 8th Street NW
_________ Eastern SHS (M.M. Washington SHS)
1700 E Capitol Street NE
_________ Eliot Middle School (Hine Middle School)
1830 Constitution Avenue NE
_________ Emery Elementary School (J.F. Cook Elementary School)
1720 1st Street NE
_________ Francis Middle School (Stevens Elementary School)
2425 N Street NW
_________ Garnet-Patterson Middle School (Shaw Middle School)
2001 10th Street NW
_________ Kelly Miller Middle School (Douglass and Taft CHOICE Academics and Centers)
301 49th Street NE
_________ LaSalle Elementary School (Backus Middle School)
501 Riggs Road NE
_________ Merritt Middle School (Ron Brown Middle School)
5002 Hayes Street NE
_________ Miner Elementary School (Gibbs Elementary School)
601 15th Street NE
_________ Moten Elementary School (Wilkinson Elementary School)
1565 Morris Road SE
_________ Noyes Elementary School (Slowe Elementary School)
2725 10th Street NE
_________ Parkview Elementary School (Bruce Monroe Elementary School)
3560 Warder Street NW
_________ Patterson Elementary School (PR Harris EC)
4399 South Capitol Terrace SW
_________ Taft Center (Burroughs Elementary School)
1800 Perry Street NE
_________ Truesdell Elementary School (Rudolph Elementary School)
800 Ingraham Street, NW
_________ Tubman Elementary School (Meyer Elementary School)
3101 13th Street, NW
_________ Turner Elementary School (Green Elementary School)
3264 Stanton Road SE
_________ Young Elementary School (Young and Browne Junior High School)
820 26th Street NE
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