2006 Election Blog of Commissioner Kris Hammond (ANC 5c-02)

New Blog for ANC 5C-02

2007-05-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

I am in the process of compiling a new blog apart from this campaign blog and will be moving post-election posts from this blog to the new one.

Go to www.5c02.blogspot.com

ANC 5C-02 Neighborhood Meetings

2007-02-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

I will hold my next single member district meeting:

Monday, February 19 at 6:30 p.m.
McKinley Technology High School
151 T Street N.E.

Special thanks to Q Street N.E. resident Darren Snell, who arranged for the room at McKinley

■ Attorney Earle Horton will make some remarks on behalf of the Community Academy Public Charter School (“CAPCS”), which intends to renovate the historic Armstrong School located at 1400 First Street, NW (1st and O Street).

■ Please bring your ideas and community concerns

■ We are also looking for block captains to begin building a Neighborhood Watch team to combat crime and establish emergency-readiness

This meeting will be followed at the same location by the Eckington Civic Association meeting at 7:15 p.m.

■ Alice Thompson, Ward 5 Community Outreach Coordinator, will speak

■ Kelly Cornell of Rails to Trails Conservancy will be discussing the future of the proposed bike trail along the railroad tracks.

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 5C MONTHLY MEETING

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
McKinley Technology High School
151 T Street, N.E.

■ Presentation concerning the National Marathon on March 24 that will take runners down First Street N.W. ― Chris Browne, Greater Washington Sports Alliance
■ Proposed Armstrong School Renovation ―Wendell Butler and Earle Horton
■ Status of St. Martin’s Apartments housing plan before DC Zoning Commission
■ Status of community grants made at 12/06 monthly ANC5C meeting

First 5C-02 Constitutent Meeting is Tomorrow

2007-01-19T12:16:00.000-05:00

I am holding my first monthly Single Member District ANC meeting at 11 a.m. this Saturday January 20 at Emery Elementary School (1720 1st Street N.E.).

If you are a resident of 5C-02, then please attend and bring your ideas, community concerns and documented service requests (with tracking numbers).

I will also be looking for block captains to begin building a Neighborhood Watch team (go here for more information).

Special thanks to Ted McGinn, who arranged for the room at Emery to be made available. Ted writes that City Year Young Heroes "will be starting a community clean up at Noon and we
are all invited to join them. If you only want to come to the meeting that's fine and if you want to join the cleanup that would be outstanding."

SuperLiquor Wins Bid to Stay Open Later

2007-01-04T23:18:00.000-05:00

Tonight I stopped by Super Liquor this evening shortly before 10 p.m. because it was still open. The owner told me that he won his petition to remain open until 10 p.m. because the ANC protest "didn't go through," which I interpret to mean that the protest failed due to a technical legal/procedural defect. No one showed up, he said.

So all of the hand-wringing over this was for naught. I will need to find out what technicality posed a problem so that, in the future, the merits of protests will be considered.

Ironically, I also discovered tonight that all of the other liquor stores in the area had closed at 9. Super Liquor's owner states that because the other owners live in Virginia, they close at 9 on the weekdays, 10 p.m. on the weekends.

It's Official

2007-01-04T23:16:00.000-05:00

I was sworn in yesterday and this is my first post as the new commissioner. Naturally, I will need to transition to a different format for posting. So I am open to suggestions.

Metro Bus Driver Orders Man to Litter in Our Neighborhood

2006-12-07T22:30:00.000-05:00

Tonight around 9:30 I was riding the 80 bus home. Shortly after the bus turned left onto North Capitol Street, the bus driver noticed that a passenger in the back of the bus possessed something, probably food or drink, prohibited by Metro regulations.

"You have to get rid of that," the bus driver told that man. "Throw it out the window." The man protested that he could get a ticket for littering. The bus driver replied "That's not my problem." The man then threw something out the window. A bit surprised, I said to the driver "you're littering in my neighborhood," but I left it at that. My experience with bus drivers has been that they are not interested in passenger commentary about Metro issues.

We ought to make littering every bus driver's problem. No doubt drivers are regularly confronted with the issue of someone eating or drinking on a bus. A trash receptical should be available somewhere on every bus. We have enough trash to deal with on North Capitol Street without bus drivers asking citizens to violate littering laws.

Justice for All, Even the Liquor Stores

2006-11-27T22:09:00.000-05:00

At the ANC meeting last Tuesday, the Commission unanimously voted against a request by the owner of SuperLiquor located at 1633 North Capitol Street N.E. to extend the store hours from the current 9 p.m. closing time, to one hour later, 10 p.m.

This matter does not even appear on the official monthly meeting agenda distributed . . . hours before the meeting? The public had no official notice of this matter.

Cleopatra Jones introduced the motion to reject the application. She said she had spoken with or received comments or letters from constituents who opposed the request.

She didn't speak with the owner. The owner didn't have any notice of the ANC meeting or that it would be voting on his request. And, when I walked into his store shortly before 9 p.m. this evening, I was the first to inform him of what the ANC had done.

Iyob, the owner, opened his store approximately three months ago. In that time, he has transformed an ugly metal grate into a large, well-lit, pleasant window storefront. Someone threw a brick at the new display two weeks ago, shattering a pane of glass that he had since covered up in such a way as to make it unnoticable. The door to the store is well-lit and he says he has been diligent to keep all loiterers away. I have not seen any outside his store (they are all across the street at Yeong Fong, waiting for their orders to be filled).

Naturally, he was a little upset at the development. Does the government want to run him out of business? He would have liked to have told his side at the ANC meeting, but he didn't have any notice. He says that other similar stores already are open until 10 p.m. and he cannot compete if they are permitted to be open one hour later. He is concerned that his livelihood is threatened. Are the commissioners against small businesses, he asked.

I suggested to him that with several new commissioners taking office next month, that the ANC's method of conducting business would likely change. Liquor stores are not well-thought of in our neighborhood, due to some elements that they might attract. But before the Commission takes action adverse to any specific business, it ought to hear that business's side. The hearing date is December 4.

Happy Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I am currently spending Thanksgiving with my family, but will try to write up a recap of this past Tuesday's ANC meeting soon.

Comments Wanted: Where Should the Monthly Constitutent Meetings be Held?

2006-11-19T20:07:00.000-05:00

The first prong of my platform is that I will hold monthly meetings with the residents of 5c-02.

So I'd like to hear from you about where those meetings should take place. And should it be at the same location every month, or should it change? For that matter, ANC 5C is also trying to answer these questions with respect to its official meetings.

Some ideas . . .

1) A room in the Harry Thomas Recreation Center

2) A room in one of our local churches. MPD meetings are often held at St. Martin's Church, for example.

3) Catania Bakery (the bakery will have to purchase chairs, but I think those folks would be willing to invest for the community) or some other similar establishment

4) A different resident each month could open his/her home to the neighbors.

5) A room in McKinley Tech High School

6) A room in Dunbar High School

7) The Artist Studio on O Street

8) In one of our parks (for example, the one at New York Avenue and First Street N.W.), if it is on a warm spring/summer day.

The advantage of changing venues is that some folks will be more likely to attend a meeting the closer it is located. The disadvantage is that everyone will have to be informed every month of the location and some amount of effort will be needed to discern the new location.

Please give the pro/cons, your ideas, and any suggests. If you would care to host a meeting in your home, please e-mail me at KrisForANC@yahoo.com.

A Preview of What is Ahead

2006-11-17T20:07:00.000-05:00

And now for a word about the question "What now?"

I plan to continue this blog through the January 2, 2007 swearing-in ceremony. Keep in mind that I'm not commissioner yet, although I plan to begin implementing my plans.

I'm planning to host a Christmas Party, tentatively scheduled for December 9th. The orientation session for newly-elected commissioners will also be held that day.

This week's schedule includes . . .

The Eckington Civic Association is holding a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at McKinley Tech High School. Guest speakers include Adrian Fenty and Harry Thomas, Jr.

The next Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting is this Tuesday at 7 p.m., at the Harry Thomas Recreational Center on Lincoln Road N.E. (although the meeting notice and agenda have not been posted on the official website yet).

A Thank You to Campaign Supporters

2006-11-09T14:55:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank my campaign volunteers!

J.T. Engelhardt was a tremendous help throughout the campaign, helping me put out signs early on and towards the end. He also worked for three hours in the morning on election day and then came back in the evening.

Katie Nguyen helped throughout the campaign, including helping with signs and the Catania event, plus about seven hours on election day at Dunbar.

Joel Dubenitz spent about six hours navigating Home Depot and helping me get signs up in people's yards. And a big thank you to all of the people who let me place a sign in their yard.

Vittorio Pomante spent three hours helping to stuff envelopes for the Catania Bakery event, then came out for a couple of hours in the evening on election day.

Jerome Fernandez spent the entire day (13 hours) at Dunbar High School!

Pam Friedman served as a poll watcher in the morning and Stephen White served as a poll watcher late in afternoon/early evening.

John Skinner and Preston Bishop, who I met only days before election day, stood out in the rain for a few hours in the evening handing out fliers to voters. Steve Rynecki showed up with fliers in the early evening when I began to run out.

Karen Alston and Carol Legard hosted meet-and-greets for me. The folks at Catania Bakery were a joy to work with.

Chris Edmunds introduced me to folks in the artisian building on O Street, while David Roth rallied folks at the condo building located on New York Avenue.

Curtis Johnson sign-waved for a while at the polls and then allowed his SUV to be used as a big billboard near the polling place all day.

Finally, God was there the entire time, from the moment I knocked on my first door on P Street until the polls closed on election day.

I hope I didn't miss anyone. (One of these photos was taken by Katie at Dunbar High School, and the other by myself at the recreational center.)

Today is the Beginning of a New Era in Eckington-Truxton Circle

2006-11-09T00:21:00.000-05:00

I want to thank everyone for their words of support. Now, I only hope that everyone won't disappear when it comes time to volunteer for the hard work needed to execute the principles set forth in my campaign platform.

November 8 is the first day of a new era in our neighborhood. This election was a little historic. Our neighborhood is 95% nonwhite and 95% nonRepublican. But in this nonpartisan race, I found acceptance from open-minded, open-hearted neighbors willing to reach beyond the barriers of race, class, and party that so often hold us back.

I spoke with at least 161 voters at their doorstep, and knocked on 350 doors after October 19. Prior to that, I had already knocked on those doors at least once before.

The one door I didn't knock on was that of Cleopatra Jones, but on election day we talked on and off at Precinct 75 over a period of 12 hours. We had not talked much at all before, and I obtained a much better understanding of the things she has done for this community.

One can't say nice things about one's opponent during an election because it doesn't get you elected. Know now that when I first read her four pages of accomplishments that she distributed, I was a little impressed. My priorities for the neighborhood are different, but she hasn't been sitting around twiddling her thumbs-- that is sort of the caricature.

The DCBOEE has released the precinct report (see also below). You'll note that I did far better in the southern precinct 19. I focused much of my attention there, at the expense of R and Quincy.

The southern part of the district is more dangerous, rougher, and poorer. It was my intention to reach out to every voter in our neighborhood. I was told that Hanover Place was my opponent's stronghold. The night before the election, one person after another on Hanover said I had their vote.

Two weeks ago, I was very tired of this campaign. I was also worried that I wouldn't have anyone to help me work the polls, but eight people stepped forward. I am very grateful for every volunteer, as well as to those individuals who contributed financially to my campaign.

Finally, I want to thank Ms. Jones for her service to the neighborhood. I’ll need a bit of time to recover from this election campaign, but I hope we can work together for a smooth transition sometime in the near future. Meanwhile, I hope everyone will be considering what role they will be playing in the renewal of our neighborhood.

* * * *

Precinct 19 (Dunbar High School)

ANC FOR SMD 5C02 (Final)
CLEOPATRA JONES 35 -- 32.71%
KRIS HAMMOND 65 -- 60.75%
Write In, if any 7 -- 6.54%
Total... 107 100.00%

Precinct 75 (Harry Thomas Recreational Center)

CLEOPATRA JONES 119 -- 47.04%
KRIS HAMMOND 132 -- 52.17%
Write In, if any 2 -- 0.79%
Total... 253 100.00%

Election Results from the D.C. Board of Elections

2006-11-08T01:29:00.000-05:00

According to the Board of Elections website, I have defeated incumbent Cleopatra Jones.

ANC FOR SMD 5C02 (2 precincts) 2/2 100.00%

Under Votes: 12
Over Votes: 0

CLEOPATRA JONES 154 (42.78%)

KRIS HAMMOND 197 (54.72%)

Write In, if any 9 (2.50%)

Total ... 360 (100.00%)

Election Day is Here

2006-11-07T06:20:00.000-05:00

Election Day is finally here. The past few months, I've knocked on nearly every door in ANC 5C-02 at least once.

Pictured here is my friend Katie, who helped me out. She'll be out there helping me today, along with several other friends.

End The North Capitol Street Tow Truck Trauma

2006-11-06T11:21:00.000-05:00

Incumbent Commissioner Jones could have avoided a challenge to her seat from me. Here's how...

On October 11, 2005, I wrote an e-mail to the Commissioner:

Hello Ms. Jones,

I live at the 1800 block of North Capitol St NE, on the service road. The sign regulating parking on the street states that there shall be no parking in the a.m. from 7 - 9:30 a.m. during weekdays.

The regulation is a mistake and it is taking valuable parking from the area because residents cannot park their cars there before leaving for work via the metro. Parking is becoming more scarce.

The regulation presumably is there to free up traffic during rush hour, but hardly any cars use the service road during rush hour, because naturally they are headed downtown. Approximately one car uses the service road once a minute!

And even if traffic did use the service road during rush hour, banning the parking wouldn't help. I have never witnessed two cars driving side by side on the service road.

Please tell me the fastest way to get this regulation changed. This is a no-brainer.
Kris

Commissioner Jones responded the next day:

Hi Chris,

I have contacted DPW as Well as Ms. Reed, of DDOT to have this investigated as soon as I get a follow up I will contact you.

And that's the last time I heard anything. To be fair, I never sent her a follow-up e-mail. I forgot to mention that residents receive $100 tickets and that they are being towed as well.

The towing has picked up in recent weeks, and I recently took the photo you see here from my porch at around 7:11 a.m.

If Jones had taken that extra step to get back with me and if she had resolved the issue, I probably would not be running. I'd be too grateful.

Instead, some residents will vote for me because they know that I want to resolve this issue.

I have in recent weeks contacted the bureaucracy about the problem, and the response has been "we'll get back to you in 30 days" after I was very persistent. It takes a commissioner who represents 2000 people to break through the bureaucratic malaise.

Jones Adopts Portion of My Platform

2006-11-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

While I was walking on R Street yesterday, I came across a new Jones sign in a person's yard at the corner of Eckington Place N.E.. This sign states what Jones will do if she is re-elected. It includes:

■ "Increase public safety, reduce recidivism, create an effective system to prevent and reduce crime."

■ "Collaboration with community, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the government and the justice system."

■ "Support community and business development."

Sound familiar? From my platform:

■ Organize citizen crime teams and build bridges between police and citizens;

■ Encourage businesses to relocate or initiate in our North Capitol Street business district and thus bring economic vitality to our neighborhood.

On a flyer she distributed recently, Jones lists her accomplishments as shutting down businesses, but there is no word of economic development.

Her crime accomplishments are a street camera that was part of a group going up all over D.C., a one-day walk of the neighborhood with the police chief (which she did organize), and events likely organized by individuals other than Jones. She has been ineffective in dealing with So Others Might Eat.

Obviously I am having an effect on Jones's priorities, so no matter who wins on November 7, we all win. We must hold the winner to his/her promises.

School Board Candidate Lisa Raymond Walking in Eckington

2006-11-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

I was walking on R Street N.E. this afternoon and ran into Lisa Raymond, who is running for the School Board, Wards 5 & 6. We discussed our respective races and the fact that one School Board candidate in particular might not have the support of the neighborhood.

The Washington Post has endorsed her:

Our endorsement in District 3 goes to Lisa Raymond . A former educator and administrator who helped build the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools, Ms. Raymond brings budget, management and program development experience. She knows how schools work and appreciates the distinction between a board's oversight role and the superintendent's job of running the schools.

She seems to be a pleasant, down-to-earth individual, and it was nice to meet another candidate braving the chill.

Open Thread Today

2006-11-04T11:10:00.000-05:00

This post, my 49th since the day I picked up petitions in early August, is an "open thread," meaning that people can post something so long as it relates to this neighborhood and the ANC election.

Anonymous comments are subject to being deleted at my discretion. I do like to hear what people are thinking though, so even if it is deleted, I will read it.

I met with Stuart Davenport this morning. Stu is the owner of Big Bear Cafe and a candidate for ANC 5c-03. We discussed each other's elections and the need for integrity at the polls on election day.

Tear Down St. Martin's and Build Condos?

2006-11-03T09:06:00.000-05:00

A quote from last night from a female resident of the 100 block of Quincy Place N.E. with Jones sign in her yard: "They want to tear down St. Martin's and build condos there, but Cleopatra Jones is going to save St. Martins."

She thought that someone wants to tear down the City Lights School, which she labeled "St. Martin's," and build condos on the property. A complete fabrication, and I told her so. She couldn't tell me who told her this, but said it was a prevalent view in the area she said.

Revitalizing Our North Capitol Main Street

2006-10-31T22:01:00.000-05:00

The photos you see here depict the current state of our neighborhood's business district between New York Avenue and P Street N.W. (click on photos to enlarge). Catania Bakery and the Chain Reaction bike shop are currently the anchors of this area. Word has it that the fitness center Curves is set to move in some day.

The photo you see here to the right is one of the two broken windows on the recently-renovated office building pictured below. No office tenants yet, and the windows are already broken.

From an e-mail exchange with my opponent on the Eckington listserv:

Cleopatra Jones wrote:

Here's some forwarded information in case someone is interested.

From: "Linden, Erik (DDOT)" To: "DDOT
List" Subject: DDOT Release: Pennsylvania Avenue Task Force and
Revitalization Meetings on the HorizonDate: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:00:24 -0400DDOT
List FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: ERIK LINDEN
OCTOBER 25, 2006

PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE TASK FORCE AND REVITALIZATION
MEETINGS ON THE HORIZON

(Washington, DC)) As part of the multi-agency "Great Streets Initiative," the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will make significant improvements to the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor to support economic development and local retail growth; improve mobility for pedestrians, transit and vehicles; and create a safe, attractive corridor worthy of Pennsylvania Avenue - a nationally recognized "Capital Street."

The DC Office of Planning is concurrently conducting a land use revitalization plan for Pennsylvania Avenue SE to help spark development of neighborhood-serving retail, housing, employment and other land uses.

I posted a response to this latest instance of serial forwarding of information by Jones:

Hi Cleopatra:
It's great that you are passing along information about an initiative affecting "Pennsylvania Avenue SE to help spark development of neighborhood-serving retail, housing, employment and other land uses," but what about OUR North Capitol Street, particularly south of Florida Avenue? Rather than a "jewel of the city," [what Jones in a previous posting had called our neighborhood] it's a diamond in the rough.
I plan to work with North Capitol Main Street to invigorate business development in that area and bring about real change as soon as possible. It's time to fill those vacant buildings. It's time for leadership.

Jones responded:

It is an FYI. Our North Capitol, Rhode Island Avenue, and Florida Avenue are all diamonds in the rough, a very rare and unigue diamond that will be a magnificent and priceless jewel. Good luck with all of your plans. leadership is Cleopatra Jones for ANC 5C02 #1 on the ballot Vote!! START SPREADING THE NEWS.

That was her entire response, complete with trademark typographical error.

The list of accomplishments that Jones released recently lists at least three instances where she claims responsibility for shutting businesses down. But nowhere does she lay claim to bringing in businesses, nor does economic revitalization appear to be on her agenda. Folks, this is a major issue in our neighborhood.

I will work with North Capitol Main Street, Inc. to bring businesses to our neighborhood. I've already been in contact with several business owners, as well as leasing agents. I will develop a strategy with folks who have working on these issues for years without help from Jones.

Happy Halloween 2006

2006-10-31T21:29:00.000-05:00

If nothing else, this campaign has caused me to feel more a part of the neighborhood.

This SpongeBobSquarepants pumpkin was my friend Katie's doing. In many parts of the U.S., it would be scandalous for a campaign, but not here . . .

From a party I attended Saturday on N Street N.W. at Michael's house. He has one of my signs in his yard. Because I want him to vote for me on November 7, I'll refrain from posting the photos of him dancing . . .

Eckington Beautification Day

2006-10-28T15:53:00.000-04:00

This morning I worked with the Eckington Civic Association at a beautification project organized by Charlene McCullers.

I picked up trash along portions of Lincoln Road and T Street N.E. It's interesting to see what people throw or drop on the ground. Single-serving potato chip bags are everywhere, but I also found denture adhesive and a baby pacifier. Cognac bottles were prevalent, followed by vodka and soft drink containers. In the T Street alley, there were several automobile-related items.

I've noticed folks, who appear to come from outside the neighborhood, congregating in the past at the vacant former business located at the corner of Seaton Place and Lincoln Road. About five cognac bottles had taken up residence there.

T Street, towards the schools, was the worst-hit of all. But there were no liquor bottles.

Two Weeks Until a Greener Eckington-Truxton Circle Neighborhood

2006-10-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

The November 7 election is only two weeks from today. Hard to believe how fast the past two months have gone. The flowers you see here are my attempt at landscaping the front of my house. At least it's better than I found it.

On Saturday, I sat down with Sarah, who lives in Le Droit Park, at Windows Cafe to lay the groundwork for an organization that will have two objectives: (1) street cleaning teams and (2) promoting energy efficiency and conservation. I raised the subject of defining the organization's geographic boundaries by using the local single member district ANC boundaries of 5c-02, 5c-03, and 5c-06.

During our meeting, Merrit Drucker from the D.C. Office of the Clean City joined us. He provided some interesting admissions, such as "Street sweeper is a broken program." We've been moving our cars and searching for parking on sweep days for only marginal benefits, apparently. In addition, street sweepers may in fact incentivize littering because people may think that the sweeper will clean the streets, regardless of where the trash is dropped.

Merrit raised the possibility of a bottle deposit bill, and also stressed that commercial recycling needed to be "radically increas[ed]."

Campaign Platform Announced at Catania Bakery Event

2006-10-22T22:00:00.000-04:00

On Saturday morning, I hosted an event for the residents of 5C-02 at Catania Bakery, featuring the croissants and coffee. I am hoping that the bakery will expand its very limited public hours and adopt a cafe-style business approach. Many people did not know that the bakery existed.

Former ANC commissioner Joyce Robinson Paul attended and spoke on behalf of statehood for the District of Columbia. Ward 5 City Council candidate Harry Thomas, Jr. was a surprise attendee, and also spoke.

I used the occasion to announce my campaign platform and take questions from the audience. It is an ambitious platform, but it summarizes what the residents want. I hope that, if I am elected, neighbors will come forward and help me make this vision a reality. Like most people, I have a full time job and will be much more affective if I can count on other people to help out.

November 2006 Platform

As Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, I will:

1. Hold monthly meetings with residents of 5C-02 in order to maintain knowledge of community concerns;

2. Encourage businesses to relocate or initiate in our North Capitol Street business district and thus bring economic vitality to our neighborhood;

3. Seek to maintain our streets free of trash by organizing regular community cleanups and promoting self-responsibility in the community;

4. Address parking and signage issues and combat the unresponsive bureaucracy;

5. Organize citizen crime teams and build bridges between police and citizens;

6. Work to secure suitable funding from the ANC for recreational opportunities for our children;

7. Advocate affordable workforce housing that is geared to serving our neighbors and respects our community’s heritage.

Additional Photo - Technical Issues

2006-10-22T21:59:00.000-04:00

Blogger is having issues. Here is another photo from the Catania Bakery event, this one includes Thomas.

Another Day on N Street N.W.

2006-10-22T21:23:00.000-04:00

Late this afternoon, I spoke to residents on the unit block of N Street NW.

I spoke with one family for about 15 minutes about issues in the neighborhood. They said that kids on N Street are being harassed by Sursum Corda children. But when the police are called, the trouble children "escape" to the other side of New York Avenue (Ward 6 territory), and the police say they don't have jurisdiction. These foks are dissatisfied with police response time to incident reports (one incident occurred shortly before I arrived at the scene), approximately 30 minutes.

One of the individuals at this home witnessed the Hoffman police incident. New facts from this witness include: that the Hoffman child had been involved in a fight, had been handcuffed by police, and then tried to run. According to this witness, the police slammed the kid's face down onto the concrete after grabbing him.

I walked to the next house and found a gentleman sitting on the front steps, although he did not live there. Jeffrey, 51, lives at the North Capitol Street shelter. Something caused me to ask "Are you okay?" He was not.

He asked for my hand to help him up, and I did so. He grabbed it very tightly and trembled a bit. He couldn't walk, he explained. After further discussion, I decided to call 911. The paramedics arrived on the scene in a firetruck within only a few minutes minutes. (The photo here is of a paramedic removing Jefferey's jacket in order to take his blood pressure.)

An ambulance arrived shortly thereafter and took him away.

Catania Bakery Folks Are Leasing Office Space

2006-10-20T19:19:00.000-04:00

Down on North Capitol Street near O St N.W., there are many dilapidated buildings up for lease. The owner of Catania Bakery is leasing newly-renovated office space located above the bakery, with an address of 1402 North Capitol Street N.W.

Here's the listing (interior photos were taken by Jessica):

3,000/1300sq ft ~ AMAZING ~ Office Suite (5 rooms) with windows in each room. Beautifully renovated office space that includes five separate office spaces with windows in each room and new carpeting as well as a kitchen area. This space is perfect for a small business. It's two blocks from the New York Avenue Metro Station.

Feel free to contact Jessica at 703-462-8642 to schedule an appointment for viewing.

I viewed the space myself recently and it has a nice feel to it. There's a skylight overlooking the staircase when you walk in that lets in a lot of light. I think this office would be a healthy, cheerful place to work.

MPD Fifth District and Citizens' Advisory Council Awards Dinner

2006-10-20T08:53:00.000-04:00

Last night I attended the annual awards dinner sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Fifth District Citizens' Advisory Council (CAC).

This year's theme was "Remembering the Future" and the emcee was Nikole Killion, an anchor for ABC 7/NewsChannel 8.

All of the local dignitaries attended, including City Councilmember Vincent Orange, Police Chief Charles Ramsey, Commander Jennifer Greene, and various ANCs (Marshall Phillips and Robert Brannum sat at the head table).

Meanwhile, ANC candidates, including John Salatti mingled in the crowd before the ceremony began and during dinner. I missed the photo-of-the-night, the moment when Brannum and Salatti were consulting with each other over a big roll of raffle tickets on how each might distribute the tickets to the crowd.

Jefferey Taylor gave the keynote address. He officially became the United States Attorney (lead federal prosecuting attorney for the district) for the District of Columbia only two weeks ago. Although I work for the Department of Justice, I had not heard of this appointment until last night. Officer of the Year is Arthur Hopper, and Rookie of the Year, Officer Alexander Mac Bean, received a particularly warm applause.

Meanwhile, I sat at the same table as Salatti, Earth Isaac (head of the Eckington Civic Association), and Tom Usselman, the corresponding secretary for the Fifth District CAC.

Tom is throwing a big Halloween party at his home-- the Nightmare on First Street . . . A Halloween Bash Part IV --on Saturday October 28th. E-mail Tom at Tom@isfamily.com to get on the Evite.

Campaign Signs Are Up and the Sign-Vandal Zombies Are Out

2006-10-17T21:43:00.000-04:00

Early Sunday morning, I began putting up my campaign signs in the public space, just like every city council candidate did before the primary (in fact, signs from Kathy Patterson and Agent Orange never came down in some places). The Council candidates' signs were largely untouched and a School Board President candidate's and Eleanor Holmes Norton's signs are currently up. Unfortunately, the sign-vandal zombies have awakened from their long sleep.

Most of my signs are torn down within 24 hours. The sign-vandal zombies leave my signs on the ground, contributing to our trash problem. Perhaps the large signs are distracting. Or perhaps they don't want my campaign theme of Progress in Pursuit of Justice to spread. The sign-vandal zombies are particularly prevalent on North Capitol Street between R and T Street.

If people can be strongly motivated to tear down every sign they see, why can't they also be motivated to pick up all the trash they see? Instead of tearing down someone else's free speech, why don't they contribute their own free speech? If you see a sign zombie, ask them.

Report from the ANC Meeting

2006-10-17T21:40:00.000-04:00

I attended the Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting tonight. It was far tamer than the last meeting. I have secured video footage of the meeting last month, filmed from a vantage point outside the Harry Thomas Recreational Center. You can view that footage here (it should start playing automatically).

The 7 p.m. meeting tonight was more of the standard fare that those of us who have attended several meetings in the past have come to expect. Nature abhors a vacuum, so although the meeting easily could have ended by 8 p.m., it lasted until nearly 9 p.m.

A police officer from PSA 501 gave a report. He said that manpower is increasing, and therefore there are opportunities for neighborhood policing. "The foot beat is a strange concept to a lot of officers," he said. I will do my best to normalize this "strange" concept, because it is what the residents want from their police department.

Edgewood Civic Assocation member Rashidi Christian questioned the usefulness of the new police cameras. He argued that although his law-abiding movements are filmed every day, the criminals simply take their businesses around the corner. He has a good point, although I was able to verify that the cameras are not monitored in real time, so police officers are not taken off the street to monitor the cameras.

A while later, Rashida engaged in an extended, heated exchange with all of the council members concerning whether the ANC received or will receive cash payments from developers. I think he is concerned about the ANC being "bribed" to provide its approval to various development projects. ANC members assured Rashidi that the ANC had not received any payments.

A representative from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Developement gave a brief presentation on the Neighborhood Investment Fund (NIF). I think this is a concept that could do wonders for our neighborhood with strong leadership. Currently, $15,000 is available for small projects (completion within 6 months) and $75,000 for large projects. ANC 5C-02 is wholly within the NIF's target areas.

After 8 p.m., Commissioner Cleopatra Jones robotically read various announcements in a monotone voice for twenty minutes straight. She read the Fall leaf pickup flyer that she acknowledge that everyone was supposed to already have received in the mail. She read an extended portion of a bureaucratic announcement stating that translations of something are available for nonEnglish-speaking folks.

I began to wonder whether violations of the Geneva Convention were occurring when Jones read a listing of every single matter set to come before the Historical Preservation Board at its October 26 meeting. Very few people here are interested in a variance to install new windows in a historical townhouse on the other side of town. It's about prioritizing, and I will streamline meetings to the extent possible.

ANC announcements should be distributed via flyers or by providing the details on overheads, so that people can read as much as they wish to comprehend while the highlights are given orally. Here are the critical announcements in my view: two liquor store applications (stores located at 322 Florida Avenue NW and 1522 North Capitol Street N.W.) are up for review on October 25th at 9:30 a.m. at 941 North Capitol Street NW, 7th floor.

At Least We're Safer Than Northwest

2006-10-14T23:55:00.000-04:00

When it comes to robberies, our neighborhood may be significantly safer than Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, and even Dupont Circle. A story in Friday's Washington Post, "Liveliest D.C. Neighborhoods Also Jumping With Robberies," observes that crime is rampant throughout the city. 11 p.m. is the worst time to be out, while 7 a.m. is the best.

Early on the article states that "There are more robberies per capita in the District than in New York," but the graphic accompanying the story shows that there are twice as many robberies per capita here than in NYC.

Click here for a detailed map by the Post that outlines robberies between January and September of this year. Based on the map, our "hot spots" in 5C-02 are the New York Avenue Metro Station, North Capitol Street between R and Seaton, and the area near the corner of New York Avenue and North Capitol Street.

So Others Might Eat . . . At Others's Expense?

2006-10-13T02:47:00.000-04:00

I came across this CNN transcript the other day:

November 20, 2001 - 11:33 ET BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Awaiting word from the White House. The unveiling, the debut of a new public service announcement coming up momentarily from the first couple to talk about getting Americans, encouraging them more to get out and volunteer. * * *
JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Mr. Bush also, today, visiting a local shelter for the homeless here in Washington. A program called "So Others Might Eat." It feeds the homeless here in Washington. It is run by a local catholic priest. One of the faith based initiatives, one of the faith based programs the president says the federal government should support. And as the president announced, the amount of funding the federal government will provide to help the homeless this year, $1 billion in grants, he said, that's a record level.

So Others Might Eat (SOME) is a faith-based program that the president said the federal government should support? Maybe someone should make the feds more aware of who (or what) they are funding. Despite performing very important services to the less fortunate, SOME reportedly has not been very responsive to community concerns about crime and trash allegedly stemming from that organization's presence in the neighborhood.

One 1st Street N.W. resident told me "It's like the 'Night of the Living Dead' between 5 and 7 a.m. every day. " That same resident has experienced five car break-ins and two house break-ins, which he attributes to the criminal element attracted by SOME. Another resident is concerned about trash being left on her property by SOME beneficiaries. Some people have positive words for the work done by SOME, but then admit that SOME is a drag to have in the community.

Back in July of this year, another 1st Street resident, Michael Thiem, was particularly adamant about highlighting SOME's negative influence in the community. In an e-mail to Linda Cropp, he wrote:

As I mentioned last week, crime in my neighborhood is a very big issue. Despite the efforts of the MPD, there are several major issues that, when combined, create a very negative drain on the East Shaw area in general. * * *

So Others Might Eat (SOME) Food Kitchen: This facility is located in the unit block of O Street NW and has been a magnet for crime since its inception. Everyday, hundreds of people visit SOME for their three meals and then proceed to litter the neighborhood with plastic cups, trash bags, and human excrement. Although I realize we have a homeless problem in the city, and I understand the need to provide services to those who are disadvantaged, I am also exasperated over this. I simply cannot 'accept' that the homeowners in my neighborhood have to endure this kind of behavior from people who may not even be legal U.S. citizens -- much less
residents of Washington.
SOME has a large endowment and is well-funded (mostly by wealthy Virginians and VA-based religious charitable organizations). However, the SOME food kitchen is holding back the development -- and progress -- of Truxton Circle and East Shaw. Last week you talked about the transformation you have seen in the city over the last ten years, but that transformation is uneven in some pockets of the city.
This is such an example. We cannot move forward with this insurmountable burden blocking the path to sustainable growth.

I contacted SOME twice to get its side of the story, but two different individuals, including the Catholic priest mentioned in the CNN report, did not return my phone calls. I'll keep trying.
Residents are unhappy, and SOME appears indifferent.

Word on the Eckington listserv is that SOME has bought more properties in the area. This is precisely the area of 5C-02 that is struggling to attract retail and office tenants. Now more than ever SOME must demonstrate that it can be a good neighbor. I will bring SOME to the discussion table.

ANC Meeting Agenda Announced

2006-10-12T21:01:00.000-04:00

The agenda for this Tuesday's Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting popped up today.
The 7 p.m. meeting will again be held at the Harry Thomas Rec Center located at 1743 Lincoln Road N.E. Click on the pictures to read the agenda. [photos deleted]

Commissioner Jim Berry Comments On Decorum At ANC Meetings

2006-10-11T21:50:00.000-04:00

The next Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting will be this Tuesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. at a location yet to be announced. The ANC website has not been updated yet.

I did not have an opportunity to attend the Bates Area Civic Association meeting on October 2 (their area is technically outside my SMD), but all the information one could desire about the meeting is found here. ANC Commissioner James D. Berry (5C-01) made some remarks at that meeting concerning decorum at ANC meetings.

My post about the last meeting naturally centered on those moments that had the most emotional and newsworthy impact on myself and others around me. It was not intended to be a full account of the meeting, that is the purpose of the minutes (and most readers would not read such a long post).

Barry made some points at the Bates meeting, and I am providing a full excerpt of the minutes:

In rather passionate terms, Mr. Berry indicated that a great deal of discussion on local online electronic discussion groups (listservs) has lately focused on what appeared to be chaotic or controversial aspects of recent ANC meetings. These online discussions implied that very little of consequence was going on at these meetings.

Mr. Berry countered that, in fact, contrary to appearances, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C had approved, in concept, nearly $250 million dollars' worth of area development projects that will have a direct impact on surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, as a result of such deliberations, amenities packages stemming from Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) have resulted in direct benefits to area civic, community groups and service providers to the tune of thousands of dollars.

The ANC has given due thought in spreading benefits from amenities throughout the Commission. Commissions around the city are comprised of volunteers who are empowered to consider issues of enormous impact and consequence from interceding to ensure that a resident has the means to address a concern overlooked by a city agency to lending its great weight to approving multimillion dollar development projects. Any fair accounting of the process must, ultimately, consider the crucial results obtained by these Commissioners and deem most lapses in decorum as the healthy give-and-take of citizens' exercising their right to express opposing viewpoints.

If excesses in the emotional content of some residents' expressions should occur, some allowance should be given to the fact that their voices have long struggled to be heard after years of neglect, or worse, indifference from city leadership and area developers.
Mr. Berry concluded in saying that it takes personal courage and civic pride to serve one's community while balancing many diverse points of view. In the final analysis, the Commission on which he sits, is worthy of defense and should be commended for its overall work product throughout the years.

Bullets Over Breakfast

2006-10-09T22:34:00.000-04:00

The weekend recap . . .

City Council candidate Harry Thomas Jr. hosted a breakfast Saturday morning for all of the ANC and School Board candidates in Ward 5 at Bubba's Muscogee Restaurant (map). Many current and former commissioners attended, and a few spoke as well. Commissioner Marshall R. Phillips, Sr. (5C-08) (he is a reverend) closed out the meeting with a prayer punctuated by the most colorful rendition of the Lord's Prayer that I had ever heard.

Meanwhile, I experienced the most encouraging development yet in the campaign. Three current and former ANC commissioners told me at the breakfast told me that they believe it was time for a change in the ANC membership. A total of six current and former ANC commissioners support me. It is very encouraging to know that should I win this election, individuals stand ready to work with me (even push me) to improve our community.

While I was still at the restaurant, I retrieved a voicemail message from one of my tenants. She said in her message that she had heard rapid gunfire across the street and had called 911. I left the restaurant for Seaton Place to investigate.

Sure enough, two houses on the unit block of Seaton Place N.W. (across the street from 5C-02) had been marked off with yellow tape. I stopped briefly to ask the police officers on the scene whether anyone had been injured, and everyone was fine.

Today, I obtained permission from a resident to take pictures of a glass door with a bullet hole. Someone could have been seriously injured had he/she been standing in the vicinity of the door. No one seems to know what prompted this shooting. Although this is no small matter, the situation is substantially worse in the southern part of the district. More on that matter in the near future.

On Sunday, I attended services again at Zion A.M.E. church. This time a member of the congregation introduced me to the pastor. His sermon focused on the importance of listening before speaking. At least three times during the sermon he asked the congregation to turn to the person sitting to those nearby and say "Lord, help me shut my mouth."

A failure to listen is what this race for ANC is all about. The good pastor also mentioned that there trouble lurks wherever someone speaks for too long, so I'll take that hint . . .

Open Thread Thursday

2006-10-05T01:04:00.000-04:00

Okay, as an experiment, consider this entry to be an open thread.

What issues concern you that have not yet been addressed on this blog?

The comment lines open . . .

Incidentally, these two pictures depict both sides of the short unit block of S Street NE. With a view like this, is it any wonder that the house on the south side of the street hasn't sold yet? But as we learned within the past week, those abandoned buildings are set to become luxury condos.

Vacant Apartment Buildings Portend Future

2006-10-02T00:34:00.000-04:00

There is much discussion in the community about the large, vacant apartment building located at the corner of T Street N.E. and Lincoln Road N.E. (click on photo to enlarge). The building is unsightly as it current stands. Residents speculate as to possible uses as office or retail space. Nevertheless, people assume that the apartments will be converted into condos and wonder what impact the new residents will have on the area parking situation.

On the unit block of S Street N.E. (14 S Street N.E.), a small apartment building that had been vacant for the past year this week displayed a large sign announcing "Luxury Condos from $200,000." A luxury condo from $200K? That sounds almost reasonable for D.C. In any event, people wonder where the new residents will park.

At the end of S Street N.E. is a large Victorian rowhouse anchoring the North Capitol Street block. That house has been vacant for two years, but this year it has demonstrated its future life as a condo project.

That's three substantial condo projects within two blocks of one another, all in the shadow of the St. Martin's 178-apartment building. Residents acknowledge that the current plan for the St. Martin's project does not require that residents pay for parking spots in the proposed building.

New Birth Baptist Church

2006-10-01T23:59:00.000-04:00

I attended the 11:00 a.m. service this morning at New Birth Baptist Church, located across the street from the far southwest corner of my single member ANC district, at 1200 Kirby Street, N.W.

About 23 people were present, many of them children. Overall, it was a younger congregation than usual.

The interior of the church is much simpler than some other churches I have attended; no stained glass here. Based on other Baptist churches I have attended, I believe that the design is in accordance with the Baptist approach to their buildings. The music portion of the service featured a vivacious percussionist operating out of the rear balcony of church.

During the meet-and-greet portion of the two-hour service, a gentleman told me: "We're family here, you can feel the warmth in this place. I don't like big churches, I like it where the pastor knows your name."

XM Radio: Eckington's Technological Pioneer

2006-09-27T02:48:00.000-04:00

Most people are surprised to learn that XM Satellite Radio's corporate headquarters and primary broadcasting station are located within my district. It's a testament to the hurdles of the past that have been overcome and the opportunities presented for the future. XM is located at the corner of Florida Avenue N.E. and Eckington Place, within sight of the New York Avenue metro station.

What exactly is XM Radio? Here's how they explain it:

XM Radio is broadcasting over 170 digital channels of totally new music, news, sports and children's programming direct to cars and homes via satellite and our extensive repeater network, which supplements the satellite signal to ensure seamless transmission.
The channels originate from XM's broadcast center, the world's largest all-digital studio complex in Washington, DC, and uplink to our satellites. These satellites transmit the signal across the entire continental United States. Each satellite provides 18kw of total power making them the two most powerful commercial satellites ever built, providing coast-to-coast coverage.

I sat down with XM Radio staff, including Chance Patterson, the Vice President of Corporate Affairs, to learn more about XM's history in the community. Why the name "XM Radio"? Patterson replied that it describes "taking radio beyond. . . The 'x' is an unknown, one never experiences the same thing twice" when listening to XM.

This past Monday marked the five-year anniversary of XM's first broadcast in our Eckington neighborhood. Five years ago, the area was particularly crime-ridden and the police operated a station out of XM as a way to help control unwanted activity. Today, XM faces growing pains due to dramatic changes in the surrounding area with numerous building projects in the pipeline.

I noted that some residents sometimes complain that XM employees park in coveted spots zoned for resident parking only. Chance suggested that more spots would exist if the city created angled (metered) parking on Harry Thomas Way. In addition, Chance argued that XM has been a good neighbor. For example, a drug clinic for felons on parole was planned for the corner of Q Street N.E. and Eckington Place, but XM successfully fought to have the project moved elsewhere.

XM employees Stuart and Ross gave me a tour of the facility... the building is huge and has a very modern decor. There are 84 studios on site, many of them cleverly decorated to match the genre of the music being played on the particular station. Beyond the music, there are 21 stations dedicated solely to weather and traffic reports. Bands and artists regularly come in to play in two performance studios, such as Kanye West, P. Diddy, and Phil Collins.

The cost of equipment to receive XM Radio's material ranges from $30 to $300, depending on user desires. Some of the equipment is very portable, the key elements that a person needs to carry around being the size of a matchbox. Some of the devices permit a person to record many hours of material, for playback in locations where the device is out of satellite range (i.e., inside an interior office).

In cooperation with XM Radio, I will be organizing tours of the XM building, led by a member of XM staff. Just e-mail me at KrisForANC@yahoo.com if you are interested in a tour.

Neal Drobenare Speaks at the Edgewood Civic Association Meeting

2006-09-26T01:52:00.000-04:00

Last night, I attended the Edgewood Civic Association (ECA) meeting, held at McKinley High School.

In response to a question from the audience, Rhashidi Christian, an ECA leader, noted that ECA rival Eckington Civic Association is a historical community and not an official civic association. He argued that one "will never see Eckington Civic Association state in writing what their boundaries are." He added that Eckington's boundaries are within those of the Edgewood Civic Association, and D.C. officially recognizes Edgewood, so Eckington cannot obtain recognition without the cooperation of Edgewood.

Most of the meeting consisted of an update from Neal Drobenare, the developer of the St. Martin's Catholic Church apartments project. He described the St. Martin's project as being "housing for working folks making between $35,000 and $54,000 per year," comprised of 178 units, including 50 apartments set aside for "working but formerly homeless people." Drobenare later opined: "I don't consider people making between $34,000 and $50,000 to be low-income."

Drobenare said "There are some folks who would want us to be building upper income condos here. We're not going to be doing that. . . . We're not going to make it into a market-rate project or massively reduce density." He continued with respect to the effort to protect the St. Martin's convent on the property: The convent is "not historical. Folks who have moved for this know that it is not historical."

You read the 178 units figure stated above correctly, because as of this week the project is no longer 184 units. St. Martin's has reached an agreement with the Historic Preservation Review Board, which pulled the convent from its hearing scheduled for later this week. The convent will be incorporated into the St. Martin's project, it will become a part of the building. I believe Drobenare stated that the plan is to lift the convent and put it on a new foundation, at substantial expense. This also resulted in the loss of a few units, hence the 178 figure.

Drobenare stated that he has negotiated this past year with the Eckington Citizens for Responsible Development (ECRD), a group strongly opposed to the St. Martin's project in its current form. But, accord to Drobenare, ECRD first proposed that the building be rented with 35% market-rate units. Drobenare countered with 10%, and ECRD responded with 50% market rate. That's not how negotiations are suppose to work, he said, and there will not be any market rate housing unless ECRD/Eckington Civic Association agrees to support the project. Although the parties have not met for several months, Drobenare stated that he still willing to negotiate.

Drobenare added that "the reality is that it actually costs more money to put in market rate housing" because a $50,000 tax credit subsidy is lost in the process. If the church puts in more market housing units, then the mortgage will end up being larger. Supporters of the project are willing to put forward a bit more money, if necessary. "We're committed to doing what we need to do to make this happen."

ANC candidate Michael Henderson observed that there seems to be a disconnect between the two opposing side of the debate (I agree with him). Christian responded: "How do you reach out to people who are already doing things against you?"

I suggested that the two sides sit down and hash things out in a formal, moderated public debate, something I had already proposed to Father Kelley of St. Martin's. Drobenare responded: "We're not interested in having a debate." The president of the Edgewood Civic Association agreed. However, Drobenare said he would be happy to talk with me.

After the meeting, I spoke with Drobenare on the front steps of McKinley. Some items of note include: St. Martin's has proposed that residents be on a steering committee that will continually review the applications of residents for suitability. Drobenare believes that this is a unique proposal in the D.C. housing environment.

I asked whether Section 8 housing vouchers would turn St. Martin's into an all-low-income-housing project. Drobenare responded that a 100% Section 8 housing would not be ideal for St. Martin's bottom line. The maintenance costs would be higher. St. Martin's can legally prune the Section 8 list by requiring that applicants be employed and that they submit to a credit check.

I told Drobenare that my perception is that residents' concerns about the project boil down to a lack of trust in St. Martin's to be able to fulfill the promises it is making. He agreed.

I suggested: What about requiring the 50 formerly-homeless apartment residents to submit to regular drug tests, to be automatically evicted if they deal drugs, and put on probation pending eviction if they test positive for drugs? Drobenare seemed to agree to all of those terms, in writing. He pointed to the current residents of the convent as evidence of how St. Martin's would handle the proposed apartment building (adding that only about 1/3 of the residents currently occupying the convent have had a drug problem). He contrasted Catholic Charities with So Others Might Eat (SOME).

What about providing residents parking spaces free of charge, rather than requiring them to pay for a space? That seems to be on the table, according to Drobenare.

So I asked about teeth in the agreement. Would St. Martin's be agree to a provision that would give residents within a certain radius of the project standing to sue in court for injunctive relief if the terms are violated and grant attorneys fees. Drobenare agreed to that as well.

An alternative, Drobenare added, is for St. Martin's to simply build 50 cheaply-built units of low-income housing that it is permitted to build by right, community input not required by law. While some perceive that option to be a threat, it was the original proposal before St. Martin's received early feedback from the community.

Back to the meeting . . . Ward 5 City Council candidate Harry Thomas, Jr. spoke for several minutes. Thomas said "I'm a very spiritual person," and indicated that given that one woman took prayer out of schools with a lawsuit many years ago, one should "never underestimate the power of the few."

Thomas said that he wants to propose legislation that will create uniformity in amenities packages (Eartha Isaac, Thomas is listening to you).

Thomas looked around the room and stated: "When we see chips in the paint at McKinley, we need to demand more, because it shouldn't be that way."

As for the housing issue, Thomas said he was a "support of workforce housing, 100%."

St. Martin's Catholic Church

2006-09-24T17:15:00.000-04:00

Here is the moment that many of you have been waiting for . . . a discussion of St. Martin's Catholic Church.

I attended services this morning at 9 a.m., and imagine my surprise when I discovered that the building is not a front for low-income housing construction, but a real church with a full mass and everything. Or at least folks are very good at hiding the aluminum siding in the basement. I jest.

First, the church itself. It's beautiful inside and out (I'll probably need to take these photos again, on a sunny day). The sanctuary features blue-tinted stained glass windows with large arches throughout the sanctuary. In the front of the sanctuary there is a large wooden gazebo overlooking the altar.

The congregation is friendly. I spoke with several people after the service over donuts and coffee, including Father Kelley. A few people were amused when I told them who I was running against, because she regularly attends services here. You might call her the odds-on favorite within these walls.

The church has been a center of controversy in the community due to its plans to build a large (184 unit) low-to-moderate income (depending how one defines it) apartment complex at 116 T Street N.E. The development will encompass the city block surrounded by T Street N.E., Todd Place N.E., and Summit Place. I first learned about the project around November 21, 2005, when Father Mike Kelley and the Catholic Community Services made a presentation to the Eckington Civic Association. ANC 5C had already voted on the project the previous month, apparently at the behest of Commissioner Jones.

Organized community opposition to the project began in November with flyers and petitions. Residents were concerned about the size of the project (out of proportion to the community), parking issues, building design, congestion, security, and the concentration of low-income housing rather than a mix-income project. The 50 junior-one-bedrooms set aside for recovering/former substance abusers was of particular concern.

In January 2006, the featured character in this saga was St. Martin's real estate developer Neal Drobenare. It came to light that a D.C. agency had admonished him for a possible conflict of interest in 2002. He also had some interesting e-mail exchanges with residents that created a stir.

Also in January, one Andrea posted to the Eckington listserv: "After my email to [Commissioner] Jones, and the rest of the staff on the letter, I received a call from Ms. Jones. She said basically the 184 unit project is a done deal because they own the property and that all we can do now is to ask them to build it within some confines."

In February, Drobenare disappeared and the church hired public relations specialist Sharon Robinson to assist Catholic Charities with community support and lobbying. In March, Robinson removed several residents opposed to the St. Martin's project from a community listserv that she had a hand in moderating. She had posted several pro-St. Martin's statements at Ward5@yahoogroups.com that residents wished to answer. Rick Lee, owner of Lee's Flower and Card Shop at 1026 U Street NW wrote at the time: "unfortunately people who hide behind computers are cowards and very dangerous. Hopefully your message will touch their spirits and they will repent of their wayward communications. I was thinking about unsubscribing myself because of all the garbage I continue to see."

On Sunday, March 12, St. Martin's (aided by the Bloomingdale and Edgewood Civic Associations) held a procession at St. Martin’s followed by a community meeting at McKinley High School. I wasn't able to attend, but residents who did reported it was more of a rally than a balanced meeting discussion.

On April 6, the Washington Post covered the story:

[N]eighborhoods . . . are awash with charges of hypocrisy, classism and racism -- the result of a continuing rift over gentrification. It's playing out on neighborhood listservs, at civic meetings and at St. Martin's, where the pastor, the Rev. Michael Kelly, has an acerbic tongue and a chastening tone for some of his neighbors.
There would be 134 one- and two-bedroom apartments renting to families earning $30,000 to $54,000, depending on family size. Fifty "junior one-bedroom" apartments, according to St. Martin's, would rent to the formerly homeless with an income of roughly $18,000 a year. Rents would range from $500 to $1,039 a month, amounts aimed at working families and retirees, church officials said.

The latest developments concern certain residents' attempts to achieve historical designation for a convent that the church proposes to demolish in order build the project. Naturally, efforts to designate the convent historical are motivated by a desire to curb the size of the St. Martin's project. On the other hand, two buildings designed by the architect of the convent that are located elsewhere in D.C. have been protected.

Many people argue that a large segment of St. Martin's parishioners do not live within close proximity of the project. I spoke with a 2nd-and-T Street resident and two individuals who live on Rhode Island Avenue, but the vast majority of the 20 or so people I spoke with this morning live closer to Catholic University, in Maryland, or elsewhere.

I've barely begun to cover this issue, but that's what comments are for. If you post anonymously, please be tactful.

Attempted Car Jacking

2006-09-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

From the Scott Roberts neighborhood listserv:

Carjacking attempt in Eckington: "Attempted car jacking in Eckington…occurred at approx. 11:20pm, Fri, 22 Sep. on the corner of Lincoln St NE and R. St NE. A friend of mine was waiting at the stoplight, traveling westbound on R St NE when a car turned the corner from Lincoln St NE onto R St NE traveling eastbound. The car stopped very close to hers and somebody got out from the back of the car and attempted to open her car door and started knocking on the window. My friend stepped on the gas, ran the red light (and she thinks over his foot too); thankfully they didn’t succeed and there was no cross-traffic in the intersection as she sped away.
A reminder to keep your doors locked and your options open; hopefully the newly installed CCTV camera put on that corner by MPD will be able to help track down the criminals."

As noted previously, D.C. recently installed cameras on the corner of Lincoln Road and R Street. Either the word hasn't gotten out yet, or some folks love to be on camera. Also, the incident took place 20 minutes after police foot patrols are scheduled to end. Perhaps those schedules should be randomized.

I hesitate to post about crime because some of my friends are already afraid to come to the neighborhood. The fact is that something like this could occur anywhere in D.C., and it's not like carjackings are imminent should one be out after dark. I drive a convertible with the top down whenever it's warm enough, whatever the hour. I choose not to live in fear. I had to run a red light once at the entrance to Interstate 395 (some pushy pan handlers refused to back away from my car).

What does happen too often is people driving off with vehicles left running unattended. I recently informed a delivery guy that he should not leave his vehicle with the engine running.

Dunbar High School Facilities Under Par

2006-09-23T10:56:00.000-04:00

McKinkley High School, profiled in the last post, is in the far northeast corner of 5C-02. In the far southeastern corner of the district is Dunbar High School.

Dunbar's very successful football team will be highlighted on national television next month, but this morning's Washington Post reports that members of the team

worry that the school in the District's Shaw neighborhood will become a national disgrace should the telecast highlight conditions that athletes confront daily: The running track that encircles the football field has been condemned because of potholes. The carpet in the locker room is tattered and the showers moldy. The secondhand equipment in the weight room is rusty; the floor tiles are cracked and the benches so ripped that nearly as much foam padding as black vinyl cover is showing.

D.C. School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey has released a $2.3 billion plan for renovating school buildings and academics, but the help will not arrive at Dunbar until 2011. Naturally, students and parents want the renovations to begin right away.

Not only is the track team dodging potholes (the track has been condemned for meet use, but is still used for practice), but the Post reports that

Kierra Roulhac, 16, co-captain of the girls' track team, said the showers are so nasty that students refuse to use them. After physical education class or an early morning practice, most students opt to go to class without showering.

Last year, she said, 10 of the girls on the track team would shower at the nearby home of a teammate's grandmother. But the girl graduated, and the team is looking for another place to shower. Until then, Roulhac said, "I'll just spray perfume on myself."

Several residents in the neighborhood have stated that they want Dunbar to open the track to residents and local children. In addition to safety concerns, the following may be some reasons why the school has locked the facility:

A chain-link fence surrounding the field has had numerous holes cut through it, allowing trespassers to enter at night. Sometimes, Gordon said, students find dog feces on the field, used condoms in the stands and broken glass on the track. Over the years, thieves made off with parts from the public-address system and several rows of metal bleachers.

By the way, how much is Superintendent Janey earning to combat this dilapidation? From the Washington Times, March 2006:

D.C. schools Superintendent Clifford B. Janey is the highest-paid school official in fiscal 2006, with a base salary of $250,000, not including a performance bonus last year of $25,000.
(Photo Credit: Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)

Audit Outlines Errors in McKinley High School Renovation Plan

2006-09-22T19:31:00.000-04:00

From today's Washington Times:

The $25 million renovation of McKinley Technology High School in Northeast has cost more than $80 million because of questionable contracting and design errors, a D.C. audit reports.
The report by D.C. City Auditor Deborah K. Nichols singles out for criticism the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which served as project manager for the McKinley renovation under a deal with the public school system. The Army Corps issued more than $11.2 million in no-bid contracts for the project, including more than $6 million to D.C.-based McKissack & McKissack, an architectural firm.

The Corps responds:

But Army Corps officials said the project was budgeted at $76.5 million, not $25 million, and that costs have risen about 5.8 percent above original projections.

Read the full story here.

Photo credit: Davis Construction

Chaos Rules at the ANC Meeting

2006-09-20T09:07:00.000-04:00

Chaos ruled at the 5C Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner meeting last night, at least for a while.

Rashidi Christian, an outspoken member of the Edgewood Civic Association, sounded off at least three times against the Fairfield project. Fairfield is a very large (535 unit) proposed residential and commercial complex to be located near Eckington Place and the New York Avenue Metro. The Fairfield representative said that the amentities package was now at $160,000, but Christian was adament that Fairfield had not met with the Edgewood C.A. in good faith.

Christian was particularly concerned that, in his view, Fairfield would be marketing the residences as a "childless community." At some point, Commissioner Tom Fulton (5C-03) stated that "as the only openly gay public official in Ward Five, I find [Christian's] line of questioning offensive." Christian began yelling in response.

Eartha Isaac chimed in: "Will the respresentative from Eckington say anything" about the project? Perhaps she referring to Commissioner Jones, who was silent throughout the meeting, until her brief Treasurer's report.

Commissioner Marshall R. Phillips, Sr. (5C-08) then stated that he was annoyed that Fulton repeatedly brought up the fact that he was openly gay at meetings. Fulton adamently denied this, and said that the record would support him. I believe Mr. Christian was still yelling.

At this point, the meeting descended into chaos. A few minutes later, James D. Berry, Jr. (5C-01) brought the meeting back from the brink with some conciliatory words that brought applause from the audience and both Phillips and Fulton.

Harry Thomas, Jr., the winner of the Democratic primary for the Ward Five City Council seat, spoke for about five minutes at the end of the meeting. He mentioned that he will be hosting a breakfast for all ANC commissioner candidates in the near future to talk about the role of the ANCs. I definitely plan to attend.

Thomas is hoping to develop a plan to make the ANCs, police, and civic associations work together better. He added that "We must treat our police officers like human beings," particularly in light of the heavy schedules the officers have been enduring lately.

After Thomas finished his speech, Commissioner Robert V. Brannum (5C-04) demanded that Thomas's remarks be stricken from the minutes, because the remarks were political. I think Brannum may be confusing his role as commissioner to be nonpartisan. The ANC meetings are a public forum for the exchange of ideas, including political ideas. Thomas's speech certainly wasn't partisan, but it wouldn't have been a problem if it had been partisan, so long as his opponent (nonexistent at this point on the Republican side of the aisle) is given the opportunity to speak as well.

Eckington Civic Association Meeting

2006-09-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

I attended the Eckington Civic Association (ECA) monthly meeting tonight as I often have in the past. The ECA meetings are held at McKinley Technology High School.

My election opponent was not present. Perhaps that is because the Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) meetings are the same night as the ECA. Bloomingdale is essentially outside our ANC single-member district, but Commissioner Jones is a former (?) resident of Bloomingdale and former president of the BCA.

The Joe Mamo condo project at Florida Avenue and North Capitol Street came up first. For those of you not familar with "amenities packages," those buzz words refer to what some might call bribery of the community by developers who want to grease the regulatory machinery. Most people view it as a way for developers to compensate the community for some of the externalities (costs) imposed by their projects on the community.

ECA President Eartha Isaac noted that the first Mamo proposal (as suggested by someone at the Planning Commission) was to build an $80,000 statue as a community amenity (that was quickly shot down). Instead, Mamo will donate $110,000 to a list of 16 organizations and schools, with money going "to schools I've never heard of," Isaac said.

Notably, Emery Elementary School is not on the amenities recipients list.

Isaac asserted that there is no written ANC policy on amenities packages, and that the policy is a "moving target" that "depends on the development." Beginning with the Mamo project, the amenities benefits are suppose to be spread throughout ANC 5-c rather than just within a close radius of a project. But Isaac pointed out that there is nothing to stop the new ANC in January from changing the new policy yet again, when the current "policy" would otherwise benefit the North Capitol Street cooridor.

Joe Lilavois spoke about the fact that the D.C. Preservation League is holding a September 28 hearing on the application to grant historical status to the St. Martin's Convent and City Lights School (possibly against the will of the owner, St. Martins Catholic Church). Lilavois may have ulterior motives here... namely, his secret affection for nuns (just kidding you, Joe).

Stacie Birenbach raised awareness about a traffic calming study she had reviewed. She is particularly concerned about traffic traveling up Eckington Place, then onto R Street N.E. The intersection of Eckington, Florida and New York Avenue is a mess, definitely not "calm" during rush hour. But none of three proposals in the study looked satisfying.

One thing looks to be a good bet: the employees at the Wendy's located on Florida Avenue should have an exit strategy for when the city decides to raze "our only local sitdown restaurant" in favor of a traffic circle.

Finally, Charlene McCullers is organizing a community clean-up project for October 28.

Worthy Charitable Organizations in ANC 5C-02

2006-09-17T23:48:00.000-04:00

If I wanted to donate money to support a charitable organization in the neighborhood, who should I support? I had thought about So Others Might Eat (SOME), located on O Street NW, but they've got some issues. The closest Boys & Girls Club is located on M Street, just outside the ANC.

Any suggestions? Comments and/or emails, please!

Metropolitan Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church

2006-09-17T23:31:00.000-04:00

This morning, I attended the Metropolitan Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church (1712 No rth Capitol Street, N.W.), located about a block from my house. The architecture of this church building is impressive, my photos don't do it justice. Check out the close-up of the entrance, with the stained glass windows.

Before the service, I spoke with a gentleman named Washington who graduated from McKinnley High School in 1962. He said that back in the early 1960s, North Capitol Street was a quiet street, if you can believe that. Washington added that one could drive straight down to the Capitol building and then straight on to South Capitol Street, but that all changed due to security concerns. He concluded with the statement "God is our security." That's what the man said.

Service began around 11:15 a.m. The instrumentalist was absent this Sunday, but the congregation clapped and sang enthusiastically to songs it apparently knew by heart. The pastor began his sermon around 12:30. By that time, the congregation had grown from 75 to more than 110. I plan to visit this church again . . .

The Next ANC Meeting is This Tuesday

2006-09-16T13:33:00.000-04:00

The next monthly Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting (ANC 5C) is in three days:

Tuesday, September 19th
7 - 9 p.m.
Harry Thomas Recreation Center
1743 Lincoln Road N.E.

And when was this meeting announced? Yesterday, through two Internet listservs. The official ANC website still has not been updated at this writing.

Call me a stickler, but announcing a public governmental meeting four days before it is set to occur is not acceptable. This is, of course, not the incumbent 5C02 commissioner's fault alone. I wonder how well the other commissioners are advertising this meeting.

At best, 20 percent of constitutents are aware of this meeting. If elected, I will do my best to inform all citizens, regardless of their computer access (and by extension, their income level). This is the most basic duty of the ANC commissioners.

At the Polls on Primary Election Day

2006-09-12T23:27:00.000-04:00

About an hour ago, Fox News 5 declared 35-year-old Adrian Fenty to be "the next mayor of D.C."

I arrived at the polling place at around 7:20 a.m. this morning and had a little trouble receiving a ballot. I stepped up in the appropriate location in line and gave my name. "Kris Hammond" I said... "K-r-i-s." I then gave my address as requested. The poll worker couldn't find my name, so I pointed to it on the ledger, which to me appeared upside down.

"Can I see some I.D.?" she said. I balked. A poll worker came over, and I immediately recognized him from the Emery Elementary School cleanup project. "How are you doing?" I said, and he smiled, shaking my hand. "He said his name was spelled C-h-r-i-s." the poll worker told him. I shook my head, but rather than draw things out, I produced my driver's license. The poll worker confirmed my I.D. and immediately became more friendly. They are doing their job, I thought.

Outside the polling place, volunteers for Fenty, Cropp, Johns, and Orange voiced support for their candidates. I managed to chat with volunteers from all of these campaigns, except Johns. (For the record, I asked some Fenty volunteers if one could appear in the photo to the right to provide some balance.)

In the midst of all of this, Officer Freeman came up to me and introduced himself. Apparently my advocacy is making waves. Police officers are walking the streets, he volunteered, but this technique came into use only recently. I told him that my conversation with neighborhood residents confirmed this; that they never saw police officers walking the streets until recently. Kudos to the MPD for embarking on the foot patrols; that seems to be what residents want.

Harry Thomas, Jr. cruised to victory for the city council seat for Ward Five.

Congratulations to Mr. Fenty and Mr. Thomas.

(Adrian Fenty photo credit: Todd Franson.)

Primary Election Day in the District

2006-09-12T06:05:00.000-04:00

Today is the Election Primary in D.C., but it won't affect my candidacy because Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner is a nonpartisan race and there is no primary for ANC. It appears as though Fenty will be the Democratic nominee for Mayor, but I'm not taking sides in this primary. The important thing is that you realize that if elected, I will do my best to inform the elected Mayor and Ward Five City Councilmember of your concerns, no matter who is elected to these positions.

Registered voters will be casting their ballot at 142 voting precincts throughout D.C. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Our ANC is split between two precincts: (19) Dunbar Senior High School (1301 New Jersey Avenue, NW) and (75) Harry Thomas Recreation Center (1801 Lincoln Road, NE).

People often comment on the peculiar shape of ANC 5C-02, particularly given that North Capitol Street is a natural dividing line, but the ANC is split by North Capitol. Does anyone know how this district shape came to be?

Faith Temple Church

2006-09-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier today, I attended services at Faith Temple Church (1719 North Capitol Street N.E.). The worship service began around 12:15 p.m. and wrapped up around 1:30.

Faith Temple is one of the very few churches actually located within the boundaries of ANC 5C-02. This Pentecostal congregation is very small, but their spirit far outweighs their numbers. Pastor Daniel Smith told me that several churches in the past had been "born" in this building until they grew and needed larger quarters.

One of the opening scripture verses from the service came from I Corinthians 9:6: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." That sounds like a call to action for our community.

Did Cleopatra Jones File to Be a Candidate?

2006-09-09T14:44:00.000-04:00

Take a look at the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics website here.

As you can see, I picked up petitions to get my name on the ballot on the first day the petitions became available, August 9. I filed more than enough signatures on August 30, and then filed additional signatures this past Thursday. As of that Thursday, the day before the very last day to file, Commissioner Jones had not filed her petitions.

Perhaps Jones is rethinking another term as ANC. As for myself, I probably will not serve more than one term. I think it is important to have turnover on the ANC so that both newcomers and longtime residents are represented. Wisdom comes with experience, but fresh perspectives are valuable as well.

If Jones is running, she has waited till the last minute to file her ballot petitions. However, several other candidates are waiting till the last minute as well (you can see other ANC singlemember districts by changing the last number in the link above).

I think it's usually best not to wait till the last minute to accomplish a task so important . . . speaking of which, today is September 9th and this month's ANC meeting has not been announced yet on its website. My job sometimes requires me to travel, but I usually have the flexibility to plan that travel around important engagements. But with short notice this month, that may not be possible, and I might have to miss this month's ANC meeting. Drat.

Update 9/11/06: As expected, Cleopatra filed on Friday, 9/8/2006. She has wished me "good luck," I return the same to her as well.

A Conversation With Joyce Robinson-Paul

2006-09-05T01:13:00.000-04:00

On Sunday afternoon, I met Joyce Robinson-Paul. She served our ANC single-member district for several years, until 2004. She lives on N Street NW. When I spoke with other residents in the area, it became clear that there is a lot of respect for her due to all of the things she did for our community.

Currently, Robinson-Paul is running for "Shadow Senator" for the District of Columbia, although she is not fond of the term "shadow." She clearly isn't the type of person who operates in a shadow, particularly when it comes to advocating for statehood for the District.

Robinson-Paul had a lot of things to say about our current ANC commissioners. Notably, she says that ANC 5C has plenty of funds, but no central business office. This strikes her as being ridiculous: "They walk around like nomads with $200,000 in the bank."

She agreed with my assessment that much more must be done to publicize ANC meetings in the community. Robinson-Paul added that at one point local children were paid to deliver the publicity flyers door-to-door, but the ANC discontinued the practice because some people didn't want children to be paid. "You mean they'd rather not teach children the values that result from working for extra spending money?" I asked. "They thought that the children should do it as a part of their civic duty rather than being paid for it," she replied.

Well, it's hard enough to persuade people to show up and vote once every two years, but some people think that children will work for hours every month out of civic duty. There is a gap between what we wish people would do, and what is realistic. What is realistic? The careful use of ANC funds to publicize the meetings to the people the ANC is supposed to serve, while engaging children in activity that teaches work ethic and rewards their efforts. I think we should bring back the flyer distribution program as soon as possible.

(Photo credit: The Common Denominator newspaper)

Sounds of Gunfire on O Street NW

2006-09-05T00:27:00.000-04:00

On Saturday in the late afternoon, I chatted with Sarah, who lives on O Street NW, and her friends. She is a teacher at a correctional facility. One of her concerns is that Dunbar High School does not permit local youth to use its playing field, but yet the school rents the field to a local private school.

While we are talking, a rapid series of explosions could be heard, coming from a street north of us. Given that there was only a fraction of a second between each sound, I speculated that we were hearing fireworks. Maybe I'm an optimist. Sarah thought otherwise, because she had just seen some youth who she believes have access to firearms. Then we heard sirens a while later, and Sarah expressed her concern that one of her students might have been shot.

I asked Sarah if she had ever seen police officers walking in the neighborhood, as a regular beat. She replied that the police are definitely not on foot in the area, and that "the only time they're out of their cars is if they're picking picking up shell casings."

I myself have not seen officers on foot where I live on North Capitol Street. Folks on the local listserv have seen officers, but only recently. I asked a neighbor on my street who is continuously sitting on the front porch, and he said officers would never be seen walking on the street until approximately two weeks ago.

Perhaps it's the political attention to this issue or something else, but it appears that walking beats are a very new phenomenon in our neighborhood. So whenever you see an officer walking in our neighborhood, stop him/her and let the officer know how much you appreciate the presence, and let them know your concerns about crime.

Communication Is Key

2006-09-02T16:08:00.000-04:00

As a commissioner, it will be my foremost duty to communicate with all residents and pass on those concerns to public officials, police, city planners, and commercial developers.

My opponent, incumbent commissioner Cleopatra Jones, recently posted the following message on the Eckington listserv:

Dear Constituents/ Neighbors: Smile you are on camera! Hard work has benefitted the community. Surveillance cameras to deter crime are up on the corner of Lincoln Road & R. Street, NE. The community will be getting more cameras installed, I will give you an up-date as cameras pop -up.

I have mixed feelings about the cameras and hope that they will deter crime rather than move it from R Street to my street. The problem is that Jones did not ask anyone in a public forum about whether we wanted these cameras in the neighborhood. One anonymous resident responded via another listserv:

Hey Cleopatra, instead of putting up surveillance cameras and calling it "hard work that has benefited the community", how about some real hard work by enabling our police officers to do their jobs? We have 100s that are off the street because of bogus allegations by criminals . . . Next time I'm getting mugged I'll be sure to look at the camera and smile.

That statement is a bit unfair, but that resident believes that the cameras are not the answer, and that community policing would be more helpful. (For that matter, police representatives claim that there are police officers walking the streets, but I don't ever see them.)

Incidentally, on her official website, Jones states: "Having been a commissioner the last two terms (four years) in SMD 5C03 . . ." Actually, she is a former commissioner of 5C-03, then she moved to our ANC (5C-02) in 2003 and won the race in 2004.

As for the ANC's News page, it has not been updated since the September 1, 2004 posting of a press release announcing "ANC 5C to Sponsor City-Wide Town Hall Meeting on Housing Affordability." Two years later, that issue is still a frequent topic of discussion. More on that later.

A Visit to Catania Bakery

2006-09-02T12:03:00.000-04:00

Did you realize that there is a bakery operating in our neighborhood? Most people do not, even though it has been in operation since 1932. Catania Bakery (1404 North Capit ol Street N.W. at O Street N.W.) is open only on Wednesdays (from 7 a.m.) and Saturdays (from 7:30 a.m.), and it is easy to overlook given that many of the stores in the area are vacant or just recently opened.

But it is definitely worth a look. I stopped by the bakery for the first time this morning around 10 a.m. I was greeted by a friendly woman with a delicious assortment of pastries, cakes, French/Italian breads, and biscotti (click on any of these photos for a bigger view).

Best of all, the price is right. I bought eight pastries (6 of the raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry items that you see to the left and two croissants) for $7.40. You do the math-- these prices are about half of what you'd pay at Au Bon Pain. I plan to make a regular Wednesday morning stop here on my way to work. The store hours may expand once other businesses begin operating in the area.

Speaking of which, while I was taking pictures, in walked Brian Brown. Earlier this year, Brian and his business partner successfully bid on the old D.C. Firehouse located at North Capitol & R Street N.W., which they plan to turn into a restaurant.
This business endeavor will renew a blighted area in our neighborhood and make productive use of neglected city property badly in need of historic restoration. It also has the potential to be an incredible cultural magnet where individuals of all backgrounds can share live music. Brian told me that he had received the contract from the City and was in the process of reviewing it. I'm looking forward to hearing about further progress.

MPD Emergency Crime Meeting

2006-08-30T00:41:00.000-04:00

This past Monday, I attended the "emergency community meeting" called by ANC Commissioner Robert V. Brannum, held at Saint George's Episcopal Church (2nd and U Streets, NW, not far from my house).

Brannum called the meeting in response to "a surge in home burglaries in recent weeks." Officials of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (Fifth District) led the meeting. About two commissioners, nine residents, and four police officers attended. Dee from Councilman Vincent Orange's office also attended.

Lt. Purnell spoke most of the meeting. He suggested that residents vary their schedules slightly so that criminals cannot gauge expected arrival/departure times. He emphasized that residents should consider purchasing an alarm system with a monitoring service that calls police. The next best thing is a dog and motion-triggered outdoor lights, he said.

Furthermore, Lt. Purnell noted that when walking home, it is important to be aware of one's surroundings. Before exiting one's vehicle, see if someone is standing nearby. "If it doesn't feel right, call the police," Lt. Purnell said, adding, "Don't be tunnel-visioned [when walking to] your door."

The officers took several questions from residents in attendance. I asked whether officers were walking the beat in our neighborhood, because I had never seen any officers doing so. Purnell said that foot patrols do indeed work the neighborhood from the afternoon through the evening (please post a comment if you have witnessed these foot patrols).

Lt. Purnell finished with a discussion of how to make identification of suspects easier for the police. He noted that the most popular description was "male, in white t-shirt and jeans," which identifies half of the neighborhood. Instead, residents should consider working with police officers by giving the dispatcher a call-back number so that officers can ask additional details. Lt. Purnell shared a police technique that requires the continued bravery and cooperation of residents. Whenever reporting criminal activity, residents should take a good look at the persons involved so as to later be able to "paint that picture for us."

Annual Beautification Project at Emery Elementary

2006-08-26T14:32:00.000-04:00

For about three hours this morning, I took advantage of an opportunity to assist with the annual beautification project for the local elementary school within ANC 5C-02, Emery Elementary School, located at 1720 First Street N.E. Several volunteers sought prepare the school for its opening day on Monday the 28th.

Volunteers planted flowers, hauled trash, and painted new lines in the parking lot. I drew sidewalk-recovery duty, removing weeds that had found their way between crevices in the concrete. Along the way, I met several neighbors. Projects began to wrap up around noon, with the washing of the large mural located near the school entrance.

Ted McGinn organized the event (his daughter Claire is pictured in the photos you see here; click on photos for larger view). Ted is chairperson of Emery's Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT), an advisory group of parents and teachers. LSRT meetings are opening to the public; interested individuals should e-mail Ted at mcginnfamily@aol.com.

A Request for Your Support for My Campaign

2006-08-24T00:39:00.000-04:00

If you've been reading this blog, you have an idea of what sort of advisory neighborhood commissioner I would be. If you find my vision for the ANC appealing, I hope that you will consider donating to my campaign. Remember that I am running against an incumbent and she has lots of allies, so I will have to work to get my message out.

The folks in D.C. government have made it easy: The maximum campaign contribution to an ANC campaign is $25. Checks should be written to "Kris Hammond" or "Kris Hammond for ANC" and can be sent to the campaign headquarters at PO BOX 76900, Washington, DC 20013.

(Update 10/28: PayPal payments may be sent to KrisForANC@yahoo.com )

If I hold a fundraiser later, you get in for free. If you feel as though you would rather donate your time, advise or expertise to my campaign, that would be appreciated as well. Just send me an e-mail.

Thank you for your support. I promise that I won't let you down.

The Role of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner

2006-08-23T23:58:00.000-04:00

The first question I ask when meeting a neighbor during my petition drive is: "I am running for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner . . . Have you ever heard of that office, do you know what ANCs do?" Half of the time, the answer is "not really." This phenomenon suggests that we are not doing enough to make the ANC accessible to all of the people (although a recent poll found that most Americans don't realize that there are three branches of the federal government!).

The official description of the office of ANC can be found on the official ANC website:

An Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) is a nonpartisan neighborhood organization that serves as the neighborhood's official voice in advising the District government and Federal agencies on matters that affect its service area. Issues include zoning, streets, recreation, education, social services, sanitation, planning, safety, and health. District officials must obtain ANCs' recommendations on these matters but need not follow the recommendations. The ANCs' most important power, therefore, is the power of involved and concerned citizens.

It's really that simple. It doesn't take a Democrat or Republican or Green Party or independent person to do the best job in the position of ANC. Instead, the best person is someone who has the ability to set aside personal bias, listen to concerns, and zealously advocate on behalf of constituents. Are you concerned about gentrification? About crime? You should try to attend every ANC meeting you can.

There have been times in my career as a lawyer that I have had to advocate positions that I didn't personally agree with. The key is: what is in the best interest of the client and how can I zealously advance my client's interests? And so it goes with the ANC.

D.C. Police: Friend or Foe?

2006-08-21T08:29:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I met a local resident who told me some disturbing allegations concerning members of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Angela, who lives on the unit block of O Street NW, told me that MPD personnel beat her 23-year-old son on July 18, when he ran from police. The police were responding to reports of drug activity, and her son happened to be in the target area (two blocks from his home). For whatever reason, he ran when confronted by the police.

According to Angela, several police officers beat her son and one "stomped" on his head. Her son sustained substantial injuries (concussions) that have sent him to the hospital three times. He possessed no drugs, and it appears he put up no resistance. I did not interview her son, but he came out and stood in the doorway of their home. He did not have a large build, and it appeared that a single officer easily should have been able to restrain him. The look in his eyes suggested bewilderment and fear.

Angela alleges that, since the time of the beating, police officers have mocked her son, calling him names relating to the fact that he ran. In addition, Angela believes that her family is being harassed because she told police that she would file a complaint. Every weekend, a large police vehicle (the size of a motor home) has been stationed just steps from her door. As we spoke, such a vehicle stood idling with the engine running but no officer in sight. (Update 8/25: another neighbor has informed me that the police vehicle was regularly stationed on that street long before the incident in question.)

Allegations of excessive use of force represent the worst possible outcome for any community. In some cases, the true criminals will continue to elude justice in part because the residents are too afraid of or angry at the police to assist them with their duties.

These are serious allegations, but the police department must be given the opportunity to investigate and determine the truth or falsity of the allegations. I will be in touch with MPD and look forward to an eventual response.

Architectual Treasures on P Street

2006-08-20T16:28:00.000-04:00

I headed over to the southern part of the ANC district yesterday to meet some folks who live on P Street NW. Along the way, I discovered some neglected buildings with a rich history.

Several school buildings exist in the area, but none of them are currently being used for much of anything, much less education. Believe it or not, at one time, D.C. schools were the envy of the nation and these buildings were designed to reflect this pride in education.

The first building I came to was the Langston School, built in 1902 (click on any of these photos for a larger view). It is a now-blighted and vacant structure, decorated with assorted graffitti. The building was named after John Mercer Langston, who was the first Black applicant to an American law school (he was rejected due to racial discrimination). Langston eventually achieved admission to the bar in 1854, later founded Howard University Law School, and was elected to Congress (from Virginia).

The John Fox Slater School, built in 1891, is located next to the Langston building at 45 P Street NW. It too could use some restoration. A resident walking by suggested that the building is currently be used as a day care center, but this was not evident from the outside. Those metal window grills are unsightly, but they may still be necessary given the level of crime in the area.

So what is being done to refurbish these buildings, store their heritage, and turn them into productive uses? The only thing I could turn up is a June 21, 2005 email from ANC Commissioner Jim Berry, who wrote:

Mr. Thomas Gore, the Executive Director of Associates for Renewal in Education, is making a presentation [at the June 21 ANC meeting] about the above proposal to develop the Slater and Langston School buildings. After he concludes his presentation, he is likely to ask the Commission to support the proposal. I plan to strongly discourage the Commission from taking an action on this proposal at the present time . . . The DC Office of Property Management is currently developing a Request for Proposals to develop the Slater and Langston School buildings. Once that RFP is issued, Mr. Gore and ARE have an equal opportunity to respond to its elements in hopes of gaining the city's final approval for their project.

Berry also noted that he had been "urging the city to develop those two buildings for a long time." Let us renew the urging-- more than a year later, nothing apparently has happened. (It also turns out that, according to the minutes, Gore did not speak at the ANC meeting as planned.)

My favorite educational building on P Street is the Armstrong Manual Training School (located at First and P streets, NW). Finished in 1902, it is named after Civil War regimental commander General Samuel Chapman Armstrong. The building is on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites and on the National Register of Historic Places. One notable former student: jazz artist Duke Ellington.

The Armstrong building sits vacant and neglected, a diamond in the rough. A neighbor walking by suggested that this grand building, reconfigured and rennovated, would make an outstanding fine/performing arts center.

More information about all of these buildings can be found at this link.

Finally, speaking of rennovations, a few rowhouses on the street have recently experienced revival. One candidate for renewal recently sold (photo to the right).

Are We Prepared?

2006-08-11T00:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's news reports that the U.K. and United States thwarted an almost-imminent terrorist attack designed to destory as many as ten international airline flights dramatically reaffirmed the simple truth that a future major terrorist on the District continues to be a possibility. Is our neighborhood prepared?

In January 2002, the Department of Justice funded a National Crime Prevention Council report titled "United for a Stronger America: Citizens’ Preparedness Guide." The purpose of the guide is to "help Americans learn how to make preparedness a part of their daily lives and improve their neighborhoods and communities in the process." Some of the suggestions include:

● "Make a neighborhood directory and plan. Identify neighbors who need additional help, such as young children, seniors, and those with disabilities, and develop a plan to assist them in an emergency."

● "Organize an emergency preparedness kit." We are expected to "Check batteries, change the stored water, and rotate the food supplies every six months." (Do the battery-powered fire alarms in your home chirp for days before you get around to changing the batteries?) Consider the magnitude of the supermarket raids when an inch of snow falls in this city and multiply that by a factor of 10 in the event of a terrorist attack that knocks out the food and energy supply for days.... that image may provide some motivation.

Your home preparedness kit should contain the following supplies:

- A three-to-five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
- Food that will not spoil and requires no cooking (consult your local college student for details)
- A first-aid kit and needed medicines
- Emergency tools like a battery-powered radio, cell phones, flashlight, and extra batteries
- Toilet paper and plastic garbage bags
- A portable emergency generator if possible.

● "Be prepared to help others. Take a CPR and first-aid training course or get your neighborhood group to take it together."

● "Find out if your area has a Neighborhood Watch group or community association. If not, work with neighbors to start one. "

● "Be alert. Get to know your neighbors."

These are all good suggestions, most of which would be beneficial to the community even without the threat of a terrorism. Remember Katrina. We cannot assume that the government will swiftly restore order in the event of a paralyzing catastrophe.

If we don't know each other, distrust will inhibit our ability to quickly do what is necessary. Even if we don't know each other, mutual knowledge of a common community plan will help build trust quickly.... so what's the plan?

You can find the plan for our neighborhood developed by the D.C. Emergency Management Agency here. As suggested on page 20 of the plan, does anyone know of whether a Neighborhood Corps registered with D.C. Citizen Corps exists in the Eckington-Bloomingdale-Edgewood area?

Why I am running for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner

2006-08-09T22:44:00.000-04:00

First of all, thank you for visiting my blog. If you live in ANC 5C-02, this simple act says something about you. It demonstrates that you are concerned about your neighborhood and that you want to elect the right person to represent you on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). I hope that over the course of the next three months, I will win your confidence in my ability to do the job.

I am running because I want our neighborhood to have the best representation possible on the ANC. The best person for the job might not be the candidate who has lived in the neighborhood the longest. He or she might not be a carbon-copy of the demographics of the area. You might disagree with that person on some political issues.

The question you should ask about an ANC candidate is, first and foremost, will this person listen to my concerns about commercial development, parking, crime, and other issues important to me? Will they act on my concerns? The Commissioner is not going to do your personal business for you, but he/she should help point you in the right direction and take action when doing so will benefit several other neighbors.

In order to listen to your concerns, the Commissioner must make him or herself available to you. How else will the Commissioner know what your concerns (or praises) are? Our current Commissioner has not done this. She has not held meetings with her constituents. If elected, I will hold at least one in-person townhall-style meeting with all constituents every three months (perhaps more often if there are pressing issues).

Secondly, once the Commissioner knows where you stand, he or she must be an effective advocate for your interests. When a commercial developer comes to the meeting seeking ANC endorsement, the Commissioner must be careful to make sure that the often-competing interests of the neighborhood are covered. Neighbors are going to disagree about all sorts of things, so it's important to try to balance everyone's interests.

Last year, when a local church decided to build a very large low-income-housing apartment complex in our neighborhood, our current Commissioner thought that this was such a noble idea that no real discussion with her neighbors was needed. This was a mistake that the Commissioner has yet to resolve.

The intentions of the church appear to have been noble and the availability of affordable housing is a great concern. A more effective Commissioner would have brought both sides together to talk early on; instead, the ANC voted on the issue before most of the constituents even knew about the proposal. Today, the church's proposal is worse off than it would have been if the community had been informed from the beginning.

Your ANC representative should also effectively advocate your concerns to the City Council and the Mayor. We sometimes wonder whether our neighborhood is being treated differently than other parts of the city. Should a homeless shelter with clients that include sex offenders be located next to an elementary school? This issue is now on the road to resolution largely due to the hard work of an unelected citizen and her civic association.

I also believe that we can improve the Commission itself. Anyone who has ever been to an ANC meeting knows that the meetings run a bit long and that few voters know when the ANC meetings are taking place. This must change. We must reach out to all citizens, not just those people who are connected to either the Internet or the right people. Most of the Commissioners do a decent job, but there is never a bad time for new ideas and strategies.

When I picked up petitions earlier today to begin the process of securing a place on the ballot in November, I had to fill out a total of four forms. All of the forms were essential, but it reminded me that much of the time we find ourselves confronted by bureaucratic government machinery.

We neighbors want some aspects of our neighborhood to change (crime!) and other aspects we cherish to be preserved. Yet so often we feel alienated from our government, wondering whether we will ever see our vision for our neighborhood come to pass. Only by working together, all people of all backgrounds and perspectives, can we hope to achieve our goals. I look forward to working with you to make our mutual vision a reality.

Kris Hammond
ANC 5C-02 candidate