Big Things poppin'

Helping out my partner in crime, the Advoc8te over at Congress Heights on the Rise...

Apparently something big is going down across the river in Anacostia on September 10, 2010...be sure to sign up for an email notification with specifics and plan on kicking it that evening in Anacostia to see what's happening.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available!

ANCs...going rouge!

Community development/international development is my thing so in this 'federal city' that I presently reside a democratic body of community-minded individuals coming together to deal with neighborhood issues would ordinarily be a good thing.

The Advisory Neighborhood Commissions of Washington, DC in my opinion, however, don't cut it.

Of course, this intransigence goes ways back and extends to ANCs all around the city but most recently, we have the case of Big Bear Cafe's recent ABRA license support request to ANC5C that quickly went nuclear...complete with three postponed votes and a massive oppo dump once they did decide to go on the record.

This is further buttressed by a report from Rosedale Citizens' Alliance, of an ANC7D Commissioner apparently trying to shut down the Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden located in an interior block near E and 20th Streets NE. The purported reason are mosquitoes as a result of the garden's rain barrels and a generic claim that contaminated soil is being used to grow the vegetables/fruits. The neighborhood coordinator of the garden is adament that the rain barrels are covered with a mesh material to prevent access to the water by female mosquitoes and how ludicrous does it sound that a bunch of community garden folks would want to be growing food that they are actually consuming in "contaminated soil"...whatever the heck that means?

Do the ANC Commissioners who make these spurious claims ever bother to make sure their arguments are at least logical? This contaminated soil claim along with many of the allegations made about Big Bear simply sound like what they are...utter hogwash.

Partay time!

Some community events are coming up...two in the neighborhood and one in Anacostia that I promised my friend I would help promote. In chronological order, they are:

Anacostia: Never Far From Home > Opening reception July 30th @ 6:30pm

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions hosts Anacostia: Never Far From Home, a look at the past and present of Anacostia, with the help from local bloggers Fred Joiner (fredjoiner.wordpress.com/), Nikki Peele (congressheightsontherise.com/) and David Garber(anacostianow.blogspot.com/). This interactive exhibition includes community participation -- everyone is invited to bring their own photographs to hang on the community wall and assist the gallery in telling a visual story of Anacostia. The exhibit will evolve over the course of the show, as local residents and bloggers react to and build their story.

(Contact us to be involved: bferraro@archdc.org / 202-365-8392)

Exhibit will be on display until September 10th, 2010. Melani Douglass will leading educational workshops during this exhibit, if interested please contact her at: mdouglass@archdc.org

2010 Fellowship Festival > July 31, 2010 from 11am-4pm

sponsored by the North Capitol Street & Rhode Island Avenue Ecumenical Council of Churches

This community fellowship event will take place at the Harry Thomas Sr. Recreation Center at Seaton Place and Lincoln Road NE. Live entertainment, FREE health screenings, food/drinks, games, face painting, etc.

This event is free and open to the public...come out and meet Eckington and Bloomingdale community members in a fun and festive atmosphere.

First on 1st Bloomingdale Art Walk > Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 12-4pm

sponsored by North Capitol Main Street

Find it along First Street, NW (between Florida and Rhode Island Avenues, NW). Come out for live music, activities, and some outstanding art!

More information at: The Pink Line Project

Liquor License = F-bomb

Just came from the Eckington Civic Association meeting...

Thankfully, it was brief, especially since I screwed up the time and had to run up and down the street a few times, all under the watchful eyes of the neighborhood youths hanging out on the corner.

It seems like every community meeting I have been to (it's been awhile I know), whenever the word liquor license is dropped, someone might just as well have dropped the f-bomb or cursed someone's mother. Whenever those two words pass someone's lips here in DC, the tone of everyone changes and semi-confrontation is in the air.

Tonight, we found out that the firehouse on N. Capitol, a beautiful piece of architecture, is finally going to see life once more (some of us hope) as a restaurant and tapas lounge. The gentleman the developer has signed a lease with is from an immigrant background and has extensive experience with restaurant operations. Of course, once the white developer asked for support for their liquor license application, some people chose to get their dander up and make sure the developer fully understood that he needed to abide by a very strict process, at least with respect to gaining the support of the ANC. Of course, the ANC just released their draft guidelines this past week...they haven't even been formally adopted yet...but 'you better make sure everything is in order'. Oh and while we're at it, those of us who feel the need to show off our "authoritah" (think South Park) will ask you crazy questions like whether your property is actually zoned commercial and whether you're trying to sneak a 'Go-Go' club in under the radar on N. Capitol St. Seriously folks! I couldn't stay quiet on the Go-Go comment and noted that we could have a more positive view on the project but that went over like a lead balloon. The developer had the ultimate trump card in hand though, when he mentioned that there would be north of 100 jobs at stake in the project. Once the dog and pony show was over, we got around to approving an ECA meeting for the 2nd where the developer and lessor will make a formal presentation to the neighborhood folks gathered...and a subsequent vote to lend ECA support will follow on the 16th. You can be sure I will be at both meetings.

The ANC will be a whole different ball of wax and I am sure we'll run through the same liquor license 'respect my authoritah' charade again...ughhh...once again, wish some folks could liberate themselves from mental slavery (and I have some good reggae tracks I can cite to back me up on that point).

Before I go...no new info on the shooting but will try to see what I can find out via the list-serve.

The Heat is on...

Well, just into July now and I have been on sabbatical...not really, though I wish I was. Had some good job leads over the last month that took a lot of my attention and I have needed to focus on personal issues. Anyway, I am back...

Another reason for my lack of posting is the fact that I haven't been able to attend a lot of the recent community meetings and feel like I haven't been as up on the issues as of late. Checking out our Eckington list-serv just a moment ago...I have fresh fodder.

1) Apparently there was a shooting near the 100 blk of Todd Place late Thursday afternoon...that's pretty damn close to where I live. I am not sure on the full details but the ECA Meeting is coming up on Monday so I hope to learn more about what exactly occurred. Regardless, of the precise cause there has been a lot of "traffic" in the area lately and I am not talking vehicular. I just nod, smile, ask 'how's it going?' and move along but I am very perceptive and the vibe isn't necessarily the greatest.

2) My other message is to conserve power folks! I was reading about the miserable state of affairs for people in the southern half of Eckington and, from over at Frozen Tropics, I understand parts of H St. and Trinidad were also without power during this most recent spike in temps. I am sure PEPCO needs to do a much better job but, from the house I live in, I know we all could do better at keeping our AC set to reasonable temps and remembering to turn it down when you're going out, unless you have a pet or someone home-bound. Granted I am more heat tolerant than most but on my most recent days at home, while having the AC on, I do try to keep the lights off as much as is feasible and let in some natural light. Also, if you have a clothes line, dry your clothes outside in this blazing heat...free solar energy from above! Several of my neighbors have been doing that lately and I would join them, if I only had the line. If you really must use your dryer, do so in the evening when power demand is less. It's easy to blame the utility (and they have their issues) but we also have responsibilities too and need to do our part to help make sure our aging electrical grid can survive the extra burden when it's hot out.

Some more energy saving tips from our friends in California here.

In the meantime, stay cool!

The blogosphere roundup on Big Bear and the ANC

Here is a compilation of the other viewpoints circulating out there on this issue:

Prince of Petworth

Life on Edgewood

in bloom

Greater, Greater Washington > second item down

From Matt Yglesias @ Think Progress

Keeping Bloomingdale dry?

The Big Bear Cafe, one of the icons of Bloomingdale's community vibe, is now seeking a liquor license to serve alcohol as a restaurant establishment. This will be in concert with Big Bear's plans to keep longer hours and host various community gatherings and social mixers.

I missed the last ANC meeting where Big Bear was hoping to gain ANC support, which took place at St. George's Episcopal Church this past Tuesday, but you can find all the interesting details in this WCP piece.

While the final chapter has yet to be written and I remain hopeful that the ANC will ultimately see the importance of supporting Big Bear's ABRA request, it seems some commissioners were content to drag their feet earlier this week. Some hemmed and hawed about the slippery slope to crime and public drunkeness that would occur should Big Bear be allowed to serve a dreaded drop. What is always so ironic about ANC posturing on alcohol (not just in our ANC mind you) is that there is never any mention of the numerous establishments already selling alcohol and what the ANC commissioners are doing about the public nuisance that these establishments already represent in our communities. This tunnel vision and regressive thinking on the part of some commissioners who then seek to foist their myopic views on those in attendance only perpetuates the "plantation politics" thesis that I advanced back in December. Despite having 40 some odd persons stand up in support of Big Bear at this meeting (to the 4 in opposition), the ANC found it necessary to delay a decision on this matter...maybe, they need to go round up some more opposing voices or are hoping that the Big Bear supporters don't have the stomach to give up another Tuesday evening?

Keep in mind, the Big Bear's request was for the ANC's support of a stipulated license, which is essentially a provisional one provided that the ANC or any other entity or person doesn't lodge a complaint within a 45 day period. This means that the ANC could offer conditional support in the interim and entertain further complaints/comments to reiterate its support or revoke it and lodge a formal protest subsequently. Really no excuse for foot-dragging on this one...

Finally, make your voice heard on this > The ANC will now vote on this matter next Tuesday the 18th and Chairwoman Bonds has invited public comment

You can write to Ms. Anita Bonds at these email addresses: 5c01@anc.dc.gov or dcbonsa@yahoo.com

Please also write the commissioner for your neighborhood...if you don't know who represents your area, you can find that information below:

ANC DC Gov

ANC 5C website