ANC 5C votes to /oppose/ zoning map amendment change for Big Bear Cafe

So you missed last night’s ANC 5C meeting?

Edgewood resident and avid community meeting notes taker Michael Henderson thankfully attended and took notes. You can read his entire set of notes from the December 2010 ANC 5C meeting here: http://www.edgewooddc.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/anc5c_december_2010.pdf

The zoning map amendment change request for Big Bear Café was on the agenda. It looks like it was an animated discussion.

Did you know that ANC 5C voted back in 2008 to support the zoning change (from R-1 to C-2-A)?

Last night, the commissioners voted to rescind that 2008 motion. ANC 5C07 Commissioner Barrie Daneker`s motion to support opposition to change the zoning was passed, with ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti voting no.

So ANC 5C has switched its position of voting to support the zoning map amendment change to opposing it.

....And Washington City Paper Housing Complex columnist Lydia DePillis reports on last night's ANC 5C meeting: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/12/22/zoning-fights-that-make-me-sad

Lydia's prediction: "The powers that be will likely ignore the ANC appeals for ... monochromatic residential character."

Stay tuned.

James Fournier responds to 10/15/2010 Washington Blade article

Candidate for ANC 5C07 commissioner in the November 2010 primary election James Fournier asked to have this Email thread posted on the blog:

From: James Fournier
Date: October 16, 2010 10:13:00 AM EDT
Subject: Letter to the editors concerning inaccurate facts in ``Gay incumbents face opposition in ANC races``

Oct 15, 2010 05:46:18 PM, james.fournier wrote:

===========================================

Dear Mr. Chibarro and editorial staff:

The October 14, 2010 electronic edition of the Blade published a piece entitled ``Gay incumbents face opposition in ANC races``.

In the piece, reporter Lou Chibbaro states that:

``In Ward 5, gay incumbent Barrie Daneker, who represents SMD 5C07 in the city`s Bloomingdale neighborhood, is facing a challenge from attorney James Fournier. Fournier states on his campaign website that Daneker didn`t adequately reach out to his constituents over a controversial liquor license application in the district and has not adequately handled a controversial proposal to develop the site of the city`s former water filtration plant near North Capital Street and Michigan Avenue.

Daneker said he has a two-term record of working closely with constituents and soliciting their views on a wide range of issues, including the water filtration site and the liquor license flap. He told members of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club Monday night his outspoken support for the city`s same-sex marriage equality law was controversial in a ward where many residents strongly opposed the law.

Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr., who angered many of his constituents by voting for the marriage bill, endorsed Daneker`s ANC re-election bid. Thomas won the Democratic nomination for his own seat by winning the primary in September by a comfortable margin despite organized opposition led by same-sex marriage opponents.

Daneker said some of that same opposition may be seeking to oust him from office in the ANC race.

Fournier could not be immediately reached.`` (emphasis added).

I have never been contacted by anyone from the Blade for comment on any story - ever.

Second, I wholly support gay marriage, which the Blade would have known had it bothered to contact me. Third, I grew up in Northern California and lived in Berkeley, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, D.C. and probably have more gay friends than straight ones and have been to my several gay unions over the years – another fact that would have been pointed out had the Blade bothered to contact me.

The Blade also would have known this if it had bothered to read the brief biography posted on my website. Mr. Chibarro inaccurately refers to my website, yet manages not to cite it, not to quote it, and fails to even present the website address.

There is not much of a connection between ones sexuality and whether you are a decent ANC Commissioner (or if there is it escapes me). The issues that people actually care about in SMD 5C07 are listed on my website at www.jamesjfournier.com and certainly are not limited to the issues referenced in Mr. Chibbaro`s piece.

The Blade`s piece is inaccurate and poor journalism. Commissioner Daneker`s comments reflect a transparently desperate effort for public sympathy three weeks prior to an election after four years of grandstanding and failing to grasp the fundamentals of what it means to be a good ANC Commissioner.

James Fournier

candidate for ANC 5C07 in November: Barrie Daneker

See this message from ANC 5C07 Commissioner and Bloomingdale resident Barrie Daneker:

RE-ELECT

BARRIE DANEKER
ANC Commissioner 5C07
Prosperity, Progress and Putting People First

Endorsed By:

Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr., Councilman Ward 5
Mark Jones, Ward 5 School Board Member
Anita Bonds, Chair DCDSC and ANC 5C
Ronnie Edwards, Vice Chair ANC 5C
Mary Farmer-Allen, Commissioner 5C06
Denise Wright, Commissioner 5C05
Marshall Philips, Commissioner 5C08
Silas Grant, Commissioner 5C09
Timothy Day, Commissioner 5C10 &
Republican Candidate Ward 5 Council
Fred Allen, DCDSC Member and DC Union Leader


I’m excited to be seeking election to the ANC representing Stronghold, Bloomingdale, and Park Place communities. Together we have made great progress in many areas of our community: new alleys and curbs; fostering excellent communications with MPD over crime; Inter-generational Education Development Center in Franklin Place; to improvements at Washington Hospital Center.

My efforts with the Mayor resulted in all 5C07 city owned vacant properties being auctioned off , now rehabilitated and new families moving into those homes. With the support of active community members, CM Thomas, and I; we have had walkthroughs the neighborhood to point out issues for DOT, MPD, and DPW that needed attention. We have seen great results on a great many of those issues. By fostering relationships and communications with Howard U and Catholic U, we have seen great successes in reducing noise and public nuisance issues. With the help of the CAC along with Cmd. Green of MPD, there has been attention given to areas of the community with respect to drug related, auto-theft and home evasion crimes. The institution of the Visitor Parking Pass Program has also been a great success.

Let’s not lose site, the McMillan Sand Filtration development project which was acquired 30 years ago and has been revived again. I have spent the past 3 years working with other members of the McMillan Advisory Group, CM Thomas, Office of Economic Development, and VMP Partners, to help shape this site plan and to keep this project on track. The signs of progress are just now starting to show with the opening of Rustic Tavern and the soon to open Boundary Stone in Bloomingdale Center. My voting record attests to the support for local small businesses. My background in affordable housing and financial services along with my expert contacts in the areas of architecture, architectural preservation, water filtration and engineering have been a great asset to the shaping of the McMillan development.

If you desire a fair, equitable and balanced plan for McMillan and a Commissioner who represents the major interests of the overwhelming majority of our neighbors who have longed for development of McMillan. If you desire a development that provides jobs; integrated independent senior living; affordable work-force housing; service orientated retail meeting the needs and desires of our community; “smart” preservation of McMillan; and good urban planning and design with 1/3 green/public, 1/3 residential, and 1/3 commercial/office space then I ask you to support me November 2nd.

Much more needs to be accomplished, and the work is never done. This year is a very important election to ensure progress keeps moving forward here in DC and the country. I need your support and vote on November 2nd. This election I have an opposition for my seat, and the special interest groups have entered the political arena; out of the gate, the negative attacks have started. As in the past and now, I have stayed away from negative campaigns and prefer to focus on people, issues and continue progress in our community.

Many of my opponent’s supporters have used questionable tactics, threats and lawsuits to stop development of the site and to deny residents the amenities we have long sought in ANC 5C. I have worked hard with DC Economic Development Partnership to help attract first class retail to the area, along with being a strong advocate for reputable local small businesses looking to locate here in Ward 5 and in DC. So don’t let your voice not be heard or drowned out by outside special interest groups, their money. As always, to maintain integrity and transparency in my bid for office; I do not accept campaign contributions from special interest groups, political groups, or even you, my neighbors and voters of SMD 5C07. Let your voice be heard! I ask is for your support and vote on November 2nd, get the VOTE OUT!
Vote Barrie Daneker for ANC 5C07

brdaneker@hotmail.com
202 - 986 - 8781.

Mehdi Mansouri has resigned "the City has proven the depth of its corruption"-seeking McMillan Advisory Group (MAG) representation from Channing St NW

See this message from ANC 5C07 Commissioner Barrie Daneker:

As you can read below, Mr. Mansouri has resigned from the MAG Group. I am hoping that we can find a resident from Channing Street who will represent the interests of the residents of Channing St. I will be out in the community over the next few weeks talking to residents on Channing Street to find someone willing to put the time and energy into helping shape this project. I`d like to thank Mr. Mansouri for his time. If anyone from Channing Street NW is interested, please feel free to email me at 5C07@anc.dc.gov or call me at 202- 986- 8781.

Sincerely

Barrie Daneker
Commissioner 5C07
Financial Sec. ANC 5C
202- 986- 8781

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mehdi Mansouri [mailto: Mehdi@eeducation.us]
Sent: Tue 10/5/2010 4:53 AM
To: `Mehdi Mansouri`
Subject: A New Direction

To the DC Community:

Once again the City has proven the depth of its corruption and its commitment to the businesses that are running our DC Government by denying my request to do a 15 minute presentation at the upcoming public meeting that the City is arranging to show people what it has decided to do with the McMillan sand filtration. And once again most MAG members have proven their continuous submissiveness to the criminals acts of the City by not asking any questions from the City, as they didn`t for the past three or four years (hence, their participation in the crimes of the City against WeThePeople).

Since none of my efforts so far produced any changes in the direction that the City and MAG are going (other than probably the City having adopted a ``new start`` for its old tricks), I am starting a new process and direction at a much broader legal and public range. As before, this legal and public process will include everyone who is involved in pushing the McMillan process forward, and will hold them responsible for their role in deceiving people and causing astronomic, unrecoverable damages and losses for WeThePeople. As I mentioned before, McMillan will be used as an example of elements in our society that cause and support corruption and closed doors in our government system, and therefore, devastation for WeThePeople. I will send out an email in the near future to officially announce the new efforts as well as a series of websites and forums that will serve as information dissemination and discussion tools on the subject of corruption and closed DC Government, as well as corrupt businesses that are pulling the strings of our so called ``government officials`` and ``politicians.``

Since I have all the information that I need to have regarding the MAG , and since I see most MAG members shamelessly continue betraying people`s trust in them, I see there is nothing else that I can do on the MAG as a representative of people. I believe now I can be more effective in my efforts in helping to clean our DC Government by not being on the MAG. As such, I am resigning from my MAG position as of now. Kenyan will be notified once the person who will replace me is identified. However, I will continue going to the MAG meetings as myself. In the meantime, I will also continue informing my neighbors on our street about MAG reports until the new person is identified.

Best Regards,

Mehdi

candidate for ANC 507 commissioner in November: James Fournier

Dear Neighbors,

My name is James Fournier and I am running against Barrie Daneker to be the Commissioner for ANC 5C-07. I know this position is important to the direction the development for the McMillan Sand Filtration Site and the development of neighborhood businesses, so I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that I am available to talk.

You can read my public statement at my website at www.jamesjfournier.com .

Soon I will be having a couple of meet and greets at supporters` homes. I will be in contact again and I hope that you can come.

I know you all have been working hard to get your voices heard over years. I look forward to working with you and the neighborhood in a positive, respectful, and open way.

I think we have a lot to look forward to.

James

James Fournier
Fournier for ANC 5C-07
james.fournier9@verizon.net

ANC 5C votes unanimously * not * to support the Big Bear Cafe liquor license at this time

I attended tonight's predictably contentious ANC 5C meeting held at Trinity University.

Here is the executive summary of what you all really want to hear about: the status of the liquor license pursuit by Bloomingdale's Big Bear Cafe at 1st & R Street NW,

First, be advised that Big Bear's application for a liquor license was withdrawn.

After much public testimony by residents in opposition and support, ANC 5C07 Commissioner Barrie Daneker read aloud a resolution stating that ANC 5C cannot support the the liquor license application by Big Bear Cafe for a number of stated reasons (which are not stated here).

All of the commissioners present -- except for ANC 5C03 Commissioner Stu Davenport, who recused himself from the vote and did not participate in the discussion -- voted unanimously to support the stated resolution opposing the pursued liquor license at this time.

Edgewood resident Michael Henderson took copious notes which I hope will be available later this evening. I will update this blog entry with the link to Michael's meeting notes for more info.