ANC 4a Meeting

WASHINGTON-The ANC 4a meeting was held Tuesday, March 2 to discuss the possibility of a pawn shop relocating into the area as well as the possibility of a restaurant on Georgia avenue creating a new voluntary agreement.

The residents of ward 4a were concerned a pawn shop in the area would cause crime rates to spike in the neighborhood and attract the wrong types of people, Sara Green, ANC Advisory neighborhood commissioner for 4b, said.

“We’re across the street, we effect each other,” Green said. “We had two issues tonight where we were working with 4a. One of them was the pawn shop,” Georgia avenue is the divider between 4a and 4b, Green said.

Despite the concern of neighbors in both 4a and 4b, Sgt. Kimberly Missouri does not see a correlation between crime and pawn shops. “I cant equate a pawn shop to crime in the district,” she said. “I can’t say that if a pawnshop goes to a location that crime will increase.”

Dwayne Tolliver, 4a ANC advisory commissioner, wants to work to prohibit pawn shops from 4a with an overlay. An overlay can be put in place if ANC 4a moves quick enough, he said. It would prevent any pawn shop from opening up in the area.

In order to enact an overlay would require the assistance of the council members office. The overlay would extend to Shepherd Park. Tolliver is relying on the extensive requirements needed to build a pawn shop in the area to give ANC 4a more time to create an overlay.

“Certain requirements that have to be met for the pawn shop to come into existence,” Tolliver said.

A pawn shop is not the only business 4a is concerned about. An Ethiopian restaurant, the Nile, has been negotiating with the ANC to contract favorable business hours and entertainment.

“The reason they asked for changes is because they are in steep competition,” Tolliver said. The Nile Market has been on Georgia avenue for eight years, according to Green.

“The Nile market is in my single member district, and both [4]a and [4]b are going to do a voluntary agreement,” Green said. “There [the city’s] system is to do a voluntary agreement where you enter into a contract with an alcohol establishment to restrict certain things.” 4a has already negotiated operation hours, entertainment, and when alcohol can be served, Tolliver said.

4a is concerned that other establishments will want to change their voluntary agreements to include longer operating hours and live entertainment. The commission has made an exception for the Nile Market because they are 200ft away from homes, Tolliver said.

Tolliver and Green both agreed to add a clause pertaining to the uniqueness of the Nile Market’s location to deter other establishments from extending operating hours, entertainment, and when alcohol can be served.

4a has agreed to allow the Nile Market to stay open longer and have entertainment as long as it does not exceed 600 decimals. The commission unanimously agreed to the new voluntary agreement.

Community discusses plastic bag tax, pawnshop opening

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Area 4A met Tuesday evening for its monthly discussion of community issues. The 4A Area represents the Colonial Village, Shepherd Park, Brightwood, 16thStreet Heights, and Crestwood neighborhoods. They met at the Fort Stevens Recreation Center.

            The Commission invited Ward 4 Outreach Specialists to give an update from the Office of the Mayor. Corey LaPlante, the invited specialist, addressed issues of high property taxes before announcing that he brought free reusable grocery bags for everyone in the audience, sparking a heated discussion about the new DC plastic bag tax.

            Kelly Shy, an audience member and owner of Ledo Pizza in Langley Park, expressed discontent with the new tax. “It’s impossible to negotiate with customers,” Shy said. “And during the snow days I had barely any bags.” Shy continued that this new tax is making it very difficult for her to do take-out orders because customers argue with her over how many bags the food should go in. Not to mention that reusable bags are not really ideal for cooked food and a take-out service, Shy added. The DC bag tax charges customers five cents for every bag they use when purchasing non-clothing items. 

            LaPlante sympathized, but said he did not have any concrete suggestions of yet, He disputed accusations of the bag tax being a money scam for grocery stores that do not spend nearly as much money on plastic bags because fewer customers are using them. One audience member called the tax “an annoyance and a profit scheme,” but left the meeting before the board could verify his name.

“This is not for revenue,” LaPlante said of the bag tax. He assured the audience that the tax’s purpose was to help limit the amount of garbage in the deteriorating Anacostia River. “We are protecting and conserving the environment,” added Council Member Habieba Snow-Israel.

The board also introduced new Police Commander for the area, Kim Missouri. She described her vision for the area as more community-inclusive, with more positive interaction between the police and everyday people. Sara Green of the neighboring community, 4B, spoke with great concern over the scheduled opening of a pawnshop on Georgia Avenue, called Famous Pawn.

“To have a pawn shop go in this area is a step way back,” Green says of a community she feels has come along way since its high crime record in the early 1980s. While Missouri she is in the midst of gathering data from other pawnshops and cannot directly correlate them with crime just yet, she assured concerned community members that she would “look into it.” The owners of the shop have yet to attain a police warrant.

The meeting winded down with the discussion of The Nile Restaurant, an Ethiopian establishment located on northwest Georgia Avenue.  Commissioner Dwayne Toliver negotiated with the restaurant for longer business hours and freedom to serve customers alcohol even if they do not order a meal to go with it. The restaurant wanted such changes in order to compete with other Ethiopian restaurants in the area.

The issue of the pawnshop was again raised before the speaker of the board, Marian Bennett, adjourned the meeting. The board decided that this issue warrants a special, separate meeting. The date has yet to be announced.

Community disscusses plastic bag tax, pawnshop opening

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Area 4A met Tuesday evening for its monthly discussion of community issues. The 4A Area represents the Colonial Village, Shepherd Park, Brightwood, 16th Street Heights, and Crestwood neighborhoods. They met at the Fort Stevens Recreation Center.

            The Commission invited Ward 4 Outreach Specialists to give an update from the Office of the Mayor. Corey LaPlante, the invited specialist, addressed issues of high property taxes before announcing that he brought free reusable grocery bags for everyone in the audience, sparking a heated discussion about the new DC plastic bag tax.

            Kelly Shy, an audience member and owner of Ledo Pizza in Langley Park, expressed discontent with the new tax. “It’s impossible to negotiate with customers,” Shy said. “And during the snow days I had barely any bags.” Shy continued that this new tax is making it very difficult for her to do take-out orders because customers argue with her over how many bags the food should go in. Not to mention that reusable bags are not really ideal for cooked food and a take-out service, Shy added. The DC bag tax charges customers five cents for every bag they use when purchasing non-clothing items. 

            LaPlante sympathized, but said he did not have any concrete suggestions of yet, He disputed accusations of the bag tax being a money scam for grocery stores that do not spend nearly as much money on plastic bags because fewer customers are using them. One audience member called the tax “an annoyance and a profit scheme,” but left the meeting before the board could verify his name.

“This is not for revenue,” LaPlante said of the bag tax. He assured the audience that the tax’s purpose was to help limit the amount of garbage in the deteriorating Anacostia River. “We are protecting and conserving the environment,” added Council Member Habieba Snow-Israel.

The board also introduced new Police Commander for the area, Kim Missouri. She described her vision for the area as more community-inclusive, with more positive interaction between the police and everyday people. Sara Green of the neighboring community, 4B, spoke with great concern over the scheduled opening of a pawnshop on Georgia Avenue, called Famous Pawn.

“To have a pawn shop go in this area is a step way back,” Green says of a community she feels has come along way since its high crime record in the early 1980s. While Missouri she is in the midst of gathering data from other pawnshops and cannot directly correlate them with crime just yet, she assured concerned community members that she would “look into it.” The owners of the shop have yet to attain a police warrant.

The meeting winded down with the discussion of The Nile Restaurant, an Ethiopian establishment located on northwest Georgia Avenue.  Commissioner Dwayne Toliver negotiated with the restaurant for longer business hours and freedom to serve customers alcohol even if they do not order a meal to go with it. The restaurant wanted such changes in order to compete with other Ethiopian restaurants in the area.

The issue of the pawnshop was again raised before the speaker of the board, Marian Bennett, adjourned the meeting. The board decided that this issue warrants a special, separate meeting. The date has yet to be announced.

Andover loses clerk, gains a piece of history

Background: I was home during the weekend of the 24th for my brothers birthday, and I sat in on my hometown's selectman meeting that monday night before coming back; the meeting turned out much more interesting than I planned.

An eventful Town Selectman’s meeting revealed a piece of Andover’s history Monday night. Town Clerk Randy Hanson of 15 Pasho St took to the podium to announce her retirement after 20 years. She also presented the town with a peculiar gift: Andover’s Boston Post Cane.

The cane is one of a set, Hanson explained, given to the oldest resident in every Massachusetts town in 1909 by the Boston Post, at the time the largest newspaper in New England. Hanson says she found the cane in the town’s vault during her first year as town clerk. “I knew it was of significant value importance when I found it, and I didn't want to lose it, so I hid it in my office for 20 years”, Hanson said with a chuckle.

Hanson presented the cane, which is made of african ebony and tipped with a 14 carat gold handle, in a wooden and glass case made by town building inspector Ed Ataide. “I thought it would be fun to displayed for the whole town to see” said Hanson, who requested it be hung for public display in the Town Offices.

Hanson also presented a plaque detailing its original owner, a 93 year old Andover citizen named Benjamin Franklyn Wadwell, a carpenter who graduated from Andover’s Phillips Academy prep school in 1832.

Wadwell had many descendants, one of whom is Jim Batchelder, an art teacher at Andover High School and local historian. “I’d seen pictures of my great grandfather holding the Cane growing up, but always thought it was lost,” Batchelder said. “I’m glad to see a historical artifact like this open to the whole Andover community”.

After accepting the cane, the Board of Selectman gave Hanson their accolades for her years of service.

“You are the wind beneath our wings”, Selectman Brian Major said, referencing the famous Bette Middler song.

Another Selectman, Gary Stabile, expressed his thanks. “You’re one of the most professional people I’ve ever worked with,” Stabile said, adding “Every time you couldn’t make it to a meeting, I always felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants”

Hanson quickly replied “I’ll be sitting here [in the audience] every Monday making sure things go according to plan.”

Other items addressed at the meeting included

· Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski, gave an announcement that streetlights would go dark between the hours of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. in an effort to cut costs and limit light pollution. The town bought the streetlights, previously maintained by an outside contractor, in order to initiate the switch.

· The town manager announced that the search for a new Superintendent of schools had been narrowed down to four candidates: prior assistant superintendant Susan Nicholson, as well as other candidates Kelly Clenchy, Marinel McGrath, and Christopher Farmer.

· Resident Sheila Doherty of Morton St reminded the audience to wear reflective vests or carry a flashlight when walking at night.

DC Committe on Economic Development Tightens its Belt

WASHINGTON -- The Chairman of the District’s Committee on Economic Development questioned the accuracy and transparency of the Office of Motion Picture and Television Development’s reported numbers at the DC Council oversight hearing yesterday.

Coucilmember Kwame Brown heard testimony from both public witnesses and the MPTD’s Executive Director, Kathy Hollinger, on the accuracy and effectiveness of the office’s spending in FY 2009. The MPTD has come under scrutiny for lacking capability to accurately measure the expense of projects and quantifying the number of jobs created for DC residents. When asked to produce statistics on the number of jobs and businesses benefiting from the registered film projects in the last year, the MPTD could not.

The MPTD office consists of a staff of three people, they are responsible for approving and distributing permits for all film projects in the District. According to Brown, 64 percent of the MPTD’s budget,$652,000, went to staff salaries alone. The MPTD has the largest percentage of money that goes to staff salary than any other DC agency, according to Brown.

In the last year, as Kathy Hollinger took office, the MPTD has worked to both “initiate, implement and manage projects,” and to promote the city as “film-friendly.” The panel that came in support of the MPTD consisted of a writer and director of an independent film, a location manager and local business owner, and the Executive Director of the DC Film Alliance. They were all enthusiastically in support of the MPTD’s “one stop shop” initiative.

The “one stop shop” program consolidates the process of obtaining a permit through the MPTD. It is a step-by-step process that has become increasingly efficient since its creation. The permit system works in sync with the DC Department of Transportation to ensure that there are no interferences with project schedules. Jim Wareck, Producer of the independent film Below the Beltway, said his project wouldn’t have been completed without the MPTD. “At every step of our process the MPTD treated us like a big motion picture.” Under this new initiative, 326 projects shot in DC and 654 permits were issued in FY 2009.

Jonathan Gann, Executive Director of the DC Film Alliance, said that the MPTD has made a permit accessible in a number of hours instead of a number of days. Gann also commented that in the past obtaining a filming permit in DC required calling New York City and the involvement of multiple third parties. Brown agreed that the film industry in the District needed to rely less on “expeditors” and more on the MPTD’s staff for quick permit approval. This transition would save the project managers up to $2,500, according to Brown.

The MPTD has also done substantial work in emphasizing the applicant pool of workers in DC. Panelist, J. Clan Clagget was hired through this database. They created a database accessible to all registered projects of actors, crew, and local services. According to Wareck, working with DC residents on film projects give them “career-enhancing skills,” that can help with future job opportunities. He also said that “the MPTD gives the district the maximum opportunity to get money from these practices.” In the last year, 2,600 temporary job opportunities were created by these film projects and $26 million were spent locally in throughout the completion of these projects, according to Hollinger. These jobs and the money being filtered into the city is important to help revitalize DC’s neighborhoods in the current economic climate, Brown said.

Even with the success of the ‘one stop shop” initiative, Coucilmember Brown continued to question the reported statistics and key performance indicators of the office. According to Brown, the office’s performance measures have remained unchanged since FY 2008.

The MPTD’s activities and overall lack of transparency “helps [the Committee on Economic Development] better understand where our resources go when we have no resources,” according to Brown. March 1st, the MPTD rolled out a new fee structure for permit applications. However, Hollinger made it unclear to the Committee where the expected $51,500 in fees would be spent. Brown also questioned Hollinger’s allocation of $1.4 million for a Sony picture project that was not exclusively hiring in DC.

Overall the direct manner of questioning by Coucilmember Brown is indicative of the Committee on Economic Development’s stricter approach on spending. Considering the loss of income and unemployment in DC and the unstable economic climate of the country, the DC Council is emphasizing transparency in budgets, accuracy in reporting spending numbers, and a more strategic and conservative spending tactic for the DC government.

DC becoming a more "film-friendly" city.

“One-Stop-Shop” concept on the forefront of the District’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development’s request for more government funding.

As the Committee of Economic Development evaluates spending during the 2009 Fiscal Year, it looks to make adjustments in the upcoming 2010 year. At an oversight hearing in front of Councilmember Kwame R. Brown, chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Friday, members of the motion picture and television communities in the District testified.

In Brown’s opening statement, he said it was necessary to look at both accomplishments and spending of the committees, and to evaluate accountability and transparency to see if agencies would receive city funding. Due to the “tough economic climate,” which Brown referenced many times during the hearing, he said it was necessary to hear from the agencies, as there is less funding to distribute than in previous years.

A main agreement between the different speakers was that a “One-Stop-Shop” arrangement would be helpful for the industry as a whole. The “One-Stop-Shop” concept would be a centralized government office to handle requests and permits for members of the film and media arts industry locally in the District.

Chan Clagget, a location manager, said that support from the office is necessary for help. He has been in the industry for over 25 years in DC, and he said the Office of Motion Picture and Television Development “makes filming in DC possible.”

Before having a centralized office for the members to go to with issues, or when needing permits to film, Jonathan Gann, a member of the DC Film Alliance and worker for the DC Short Film Festival, said he used to have to get permits in New York, which could take days.

With a centralized office in DC, it is now possible for film directors and producers to get permits within the same day, and through a variety of ways. Executive Director of the Office of Motion Picture and Television, Kathy Hollinger, explained the process her office goes through, which cuts the process of filmmakers receiving a permit down from days to hours.

Along with providing permits to filmmakers, the mission of the Office of Motion Picture and Television is to initiate, implement and manage all multimedia productions in the district’s borders, as well as promote DC as a “film-friendly” city.

With the help of the Office of Motion Picture and Television, 326 projects were registered during the 2009 Fiscal Year, $26 million was spent locally, and 2600 temporary jobs were created. Hollinger said that of the 326 projects, 114 participated in an exit survey evaluating the city, and the help provided by the office. All 114 surveyed rated their experience filming in DC as satisfactory or over-satisfactory.

Because of the satisfied response from those who had worked with the office, as well as the amount of money they brought to the city, and jobs they provided, the office claimed in 2010 they would continue to provide jobs and find local citizens who were qualified for filmmaking jobs before looking outside the city, and that they would create business to vendors as well.

The office hopes to make even more profit in the next year, as they plan on implementing a free structure effective March 1. The fee would be for filmmakers to film in DC, and the amount of the fee would be dependent on the crew size and amount of time they were planning on filming. Hollinger considered it a conservative fee, and estimated it would create $51,500 in revenue. She said it would ease access to filming in DC, as the filmmakers would be provided with more help, and that the “One-Stop-Shop would be crucial.”

All members who testified at the hearing agreed it was important to ease access to filming in DC, and that it was important to keep the industry strong in DC. The amount of jobs created and money brought into the city through filmmaking, as well as the interest in tourism would be helpful to the city.

Jonathan Gann stated that there are over 70 film festivals in the DC area, and that the majority of those occurred within the district boundaries. This gives DC the area with the most festivals per capita. He said that $2.6 million was brought in by the film festivals through the audiences admission last year. He said that it would be important to have more centers that were metro accessible, since as of now there is only one metro accessible venue for the festivals.

Councilman Brown stated that the Committee on Economic Development would be meeting to discuss allocation of the budget, and that they would be taking into account the past fiscal year, as well as what was said during the hearing. He then moved on to the Commission on Arts and Humanities.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B Meeting

Within the last couple of years many restaurants in the D.C. area are looking to expand in order to accommodate more guests and the growing popularity of the nation’s capital. Masa 14, a fusion restaurant located at 14^th and T Street, plans to add an outdoor dining space on the rooftop this spring. However, local residents are worried that the expansion will result in more noise after midnight.

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1B met in the U street corridor and Commissioner E. Gail Anderson Holness, the committee’s newly elected chairperson, led the meeting. There were about thirty-to-forty community members and organization representatives present.

On behalf of owner Richard Sandoval, restaurant representatives presented the benefits of the expansion with packets of historical information and blueprints of the site. The proposal includes a rooftop dining space that will be open until one o’clock in the morning each evening. The fusion restaurant has done well since it’s grand opening in mid-October and would like to increase customer turnover through the expansion.

Masa 14 is a fusion restaurant, serving Latin and Asian dishes. The 5,000 square-foot restaurant will house one of the largest bars in the DC area with a 65-foot long, 74-seat bar/lounge, which is divided into three sections. Also, guests can view the open kitchen complete with a wood-fired brick oven.

Many local residents voiced their opinions on the expansion. Several residents believe that they (as residents) should revaluate whether or not they’re comfortable with the changing environment on U Street. This is an environment filled with clubs, bars and lounges. Noise, is the primary issue concerning neighbors. In response, representatives from Masa 14 say noise will be at a minimum because it is a restaurant and not a club. Still, residents rolled their eyes and laughed at his statement.

Due to time constraints, the issue concerning Masa 14 was not fully resolved and was advanced to another city board for review. The owner and his business partners are very adamant about their expansion plans. However, in the closing statements, man who lives in a condominium complex next to the Donovan said, “the rooftop expansion of the Donovan has truly enhanced the neighborhood and the fabric of the community.”

Sandoval believes his establishment can restore an outdoor-dining experience that was present on T Street over 100 years ago. In the 1830s a restaurant named Geyer’s was one of the most popular restaurants in D.C. The restaurant was located in the very same lot as Masa 14, however, the residential landscape of the community has changed drastically since the 17^th century. Geyer’s was a two-story restaurant with a palm garden for outdoor dining. The team at Masa 14 believes that their restaurant has the potential to be one of the most popular restaurants on the block.

The historic U Street Corridor is known for being a "city within a city" for the African American community. In the 1920s and 1930s the area witnessed thriving cultural development with entertainers such as Sarah Vaughn, Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway, and Edward "Duke" Ellington (a D.C. native.) Over the years the U Street neighborhood has transformed as a result of new populations moving into the area. With a clear growth in entertainment and dining locations, residence are concerned with the effect these evening destinations will have on their community.

ANC meetings serve the purpose to inform and develop communal bonds. Without the interest of the community in their own progression, these meetings would not serve a substantial purpose. There was an assortment of individuals in attendance from all walks of life interested in the Masa 14 expansion because it doesn’t affect a type of people; it affects a community of people. The next ANC meeting will take place in the same location March 4^th, 2010. For more information, feel free to browse the anc1b.org website.

Further References:

www.anc1b.org

www.uscensusbureau.com

Masa 14 Review: http://www.washingto

nian.com/b

logarticles/restaurants/bestbites/13841.html

Masa 14 (Located on 14^th Street): http://www.masa14.com/