"Can We Talk?" meet-and-greet for Ward 5 candidate Kenyan McDuffie - Saturday, 04-14-2012

From: Neighbors for Kenyan McDuffie
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 4:15 PM
Subject: Can we Talk?

Join John T. Salatti, Tim Clark, Vicky Leonard,
and Pat Mitchell, this Saturday, April 14, 2012...

. . . we're teaming up to show our support for Kenyan McDuffie who we believe is the best choice to represent this community as our next Ward 5 Councilman.

If you're still undecided or on the fence, come out to meet Kenyan McDuffie this Saturday, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Stop in for a cool drink, talk with your neighbors, and let Kenyan convince you that he's the right man for the job. . . we believe you'll be persuaded.

Saturday, April 14, 2012
3:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
12 R Street, NW

meet-n-greet tonight for Ward 5 candidates Raenelle Zapata and Drew Hubbard - at St. George's

See this message from John Salatti:

As a service to Bloomingdale residents, I am sponsoring an opportunity to meet two candidates for Ward 5 Council

WHEN: Thursday the 22nd
WHERE: St. George`s Episcopal Church, 2nd & U NW
WHO: Raenelle Zapata from 6:30 to 7:30
Drew Hubbard from 7:30 to 8:30

So come out and meet some of the candidates. Get your questions asked right here in Bloomingdale!

See you there,
John

John T. Salatti
(202) 986 - 2592
``Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale``

a neighbor expresses frustration with the planned McMillan development project

See this Email exchange:

Hi Hugh,
Here's something that I worked up ---a little "pie in the sky" i'll admit..but I wanted to put a thought piece together to jump start a locally derived alternative plan worthy of that land...I shared with John Salatti....he seemed mildly enthusastic about it...but I think also he has a realistic view of the desire of the city to make some money on the property... he encouraged me to think more about how such a plan would generate funds for the city... I think that this is a good and useful line of thought.

Let me know what you think.... I sent it to Scott Roberts to put on the Bloomingdale blog to solicit community opinions, but no dice so far....I'm unsure if Scott ever looked at it...and i think he has forgotten about it...if you dig it, i would suggest that the next step is to share it with the community to see how it can be modified to generate local support... or transformed into a more workable community derived plan.

It's really frustrating to see this last great open space be used in the way they are proposing. It's such a waste of a world class opportunity. What they are proposing is so mediocre...so mundane...so uncreative and so yesterday.... not really about the future in any way.

T

On Mar 3, 2012, at 12:43 AM, Commissioner Youngblood wrote:

Hi T,

Thank you for writing.

The VMP-DMPED team is trying their best to accelerate the process.

I'm working with a group called Friends of McMillan Park to remove VMP due to the lack of an RFP process etc and to advance an alternative plan to develop a world class park with community amenities (museum, meeting space, etc) and sustainable economic underpinning via industrial and commercial reuse of the caverns and other historic structures where possible.

What would you most love to see happen at McMillan?

Have a great day,

Hugh

On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 11:56 AM, T wrote:

yes,... also the mockups online aren't the ones that i saw.... the park was much bigger ...and it was in a diagonal across the property, not a single corridor... regardless, there is so much wrong with this plan it's hard to know where to begin.... I'm im more or less pro-development (of some kind).

T

On Mar 1, 2012, at 4:49 PM, John T. Salatti wrote:

T,

The Council has not approved this plan, but the District is moving forward with the various approvals that would be needed before the Council votes. So the community still has a lot to do to have an impact on the final plan that gets to the Council.

Thanks for your continued sharp eyes on this project.
John


John T. Salatti
Vice President, Bloomingdale Civic Association
(202) 986 - 2592
"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"

On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 10:23 AM, T wrote:

Scott,

I've been following (from here in Africa) the McMillan stuff pretty closely and when I was there in 2010 i took place in all the VMP community meetings. I'm really surprised that this plan is nearly at implementation phase. I have never seen where it was voted on and approved by the City Council. I thought the whole H. Thomas victory was in part about stopping this ghastly plan from going forward. Is this my imagination or has this thing just gone behind closed doors to finalize it?

Am i missing something or they simply circumventing the community now in pushing this thing forward?

T

challenging DC's speed camera fines

Okay, let's put this out there for community discussion:

Some commentary on Lisa Sutter`s statements

First, see this response from Lisa Sutter to John Salatti:

From: Sutter, Lisa (MPD)
Date: Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 8:10 AM
Subject: Quick question

To: ``john.salatti @ gmail.com``

Dear John,

Over the past few days, NBC and Fox5 have been covering an effort by citizens to have folks sign a petition at change.org to lower fines for speed enforcement in the District. Our response is below. I was wondering if you would consider asking folks in your area to weigh in on this topic. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!

In 2010, the fines for the most frequent traffic violations in the District were increased to align with the significantly higher fines in Maryland and Virginia. Before the increase, in DC, speeding 11-15 miles per hour (MPH) over the speed limit incurred a fine of $50. In Maryland the fine is $90, and at $126, Virginia`s fine was more than twice that of DC. At 20 MPD over the speed limit, Maryland`s fine increases to $160, and in Virginia, the speeder must appear in court. Some drivers seemed to treat the District`s lower fines as a pass to speed up once they reached District streets. Therefore the District raised its fine to deter illegal and dangerous driving.

Although Maryland has lower fines for automated tickets, District fines for automated traffic enforcement violations remained the same as officer-issued fines. Since one of the primary objectives of an Automated Traffic Enforcement program is to serve as a force multiplier so that individuals obey traffic laws even without an officer on the corner, it would not be logical to have lower fines for these tickets. As it is, drivers do not get points on their record for the Automated Traffic Enforcement tickets.

In our densely populated city, there is a higher risk for collisions between vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists, and speeding increases the risk of serious injuries or fatalities in the event of a collision. An adult pedestrian hit by a car going 30 mph has an 80% chance of living. If the car is going 40 mph, there is an 80% chance that the pedestrian will be fatally injured. Traffic safety is more important now than ever with the population and development in the District rising, and more bicyclists on the road.

The bottom line is that motorists who obey the posted speed limit do not have to worry about the fines for tickets.

Lisa Sutter, Program Manager
Metropolitan Police Department
Homeland Security Bureau
(202) 492 - 1150
lisa.sutter @ dc.gov

Now read this response from a Rhode Island Avenue NW resident:

For dissemination and further discussion.

I, too, join the general disgust with the rationale proffered by MPD's Lisa Sutter. There are, among other things, potential constitutional law violations that come to mind when discussing the legality of unsupervised red light and speed cameras - both of which have become pervasive within the District in the last 10 years. Ms. Sutter's analysis does not make any rational sense and even she concedes that the dollar amount of violations are not consistent across the jurisdictions. Lastly, I think it foolish that we are the only jurisdiction (of the three in our area) that continue to engage in what ought to be considered predatory enforcement and penalization for fairly routine infractions. Now, folks may say 'well, I don't speed - and you shouldn't too' but that's an unfair assertion given the facts of daily life and how we all reconcile our individual behaviors to daily reality. My opinion is that I might well deserve a ticket - just not one that results in a windfall to DC and their service vendors at my expense.

Here's an interesting article about the legality of red light cameras which I believe has relevance in forming a better understanding of the history, applications, legal challenges, etc...
http://law.wustl.edu/journal/32/Christensen.pdf

Lastly, to whomever is organizing the petition, I join you in that fight and would consider taking the matter one step further by considering the pressing of a legal challenge. There are due process considerations in the presumption of innocence, or the lack of such presumption, here. Fundamentally, due process is a linchpin of the Constitution and ought not be disregarded and dismissed so cavalierly as has been done by MPD. This is not merely about efficiency and increasing safety - we shouldn't consider the smoke and mirror response as conclusive of the motivation for the rampant exploitation of this technology simply for the sake of it.

John Salatti drops out of Ward 5 Council race

From the Washington City Paper:

Ward 5 Hopeful John Salatti Drops Out

Posted by Alan Suderman on Feb. 22, 2012 at 11:33 am

Former Bloomingdale ANC commissioner John Salatti has decided to drop his bid to run for the Ward 5 seat, left open by the resignation of disgraced former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.

Salatti says he had a strong shot at winning but decided to end his campaign after reevaluating the commitment necessary to be an effective council member.

"I decided it was the best thing for me to do right now," he says.Salatti's departure is likely good news for Kenyan McDuffie, who lost to Thomas last go round and would likely have competed with Salatti for the non-Ward-5-political-establishment vote.

"We're outsiders," says Salatti of he and McDuffie, though that's not an official endorsement. Salatti, who resigned as an ANC commish when he launched his campaign, says he'll likely endorse someone after the April primary. The Ward 5 special election is scheduled for May 15.

John Salatti's ANC 5C04 position declared vacant by DC BOEE

1) First, from Teri Janine Quinn, President, Bloomingdale Civic Association:

Pursuant to this notice, anyone interested in running for the ANC 5C04 seat vacated by former Commissioner John Salatti may pick up petitions between February 13, 2012 and March 5, 2012.

2) And from ANC 5C Chair Ronnie Edwards:

From: ``Brenda Garner``
Date: Feb 15, 2012 4:24 PM
Subject: 5C04 Notice
To: ``ronnieedwards.5c11@gmail.com``

Hello,

Attached is the 5C04 notice.

Thanks

Brenda Garner
Voter Services Assistant
DC Board of Elections and Ethics
441 4th Street, NW Suite 250N
Washington, DC 20001
202-727-2523 (Office)
202-347-2648 (Fax)
Bgarner @ dcboee.org
www.dcboee.org

BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS
CERTIFICATION OF ANC/SMD VACANCIES

The District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics hereby gives notice that there is a vacancy in one (1) Advisory Neighborhood Commission office, certified pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-309.06(d)(2); 2001 Ed; 2006 Repl. Vol.

VACANT: 5C04

Petition Circulation Period: Monday, February 13, 2012 thru Monday, March 5, 2012
Petition Challenge Period: Thursday, March 8, 2012 thru Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Candidates seeking the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, or their representatives, may pick up nominating petitions at the following location:

D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics
441 - 4th Street, NW, Room 250N
Washington, DC 20001

For more information, the public may call 727-2525.

Bloomingdale Public Safety Walk -- tonight, Wednesday, 01/25/2012

See this reminder message from Bloomingdale resident Jennifer McCann:

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners John Salatti, Hugh Youngblood, and James Fournier Invite you to take part in a Bloomingdale Public Safety Walk

Help Bloomingdale continue to grow into a safer neighborhood!

Who: You! ...and your children, dogs, friends, etc.

All are welcome to come, regardless of where you live. This is about making a strong presence in the community, showing that Bloomingdale will not tolerate crime in our neighborhood.

When: Wednesday, January 25, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Where: Northwest corner of 1st and Rhode Island NW
(Meet in front of Windows Café. Dress comfortably and bring a flashlight!)

"join Ward 5 Council candidate tonight at Boundary Stone to watch Obama`s 2012 State of the Union Address"

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Tree Martschink:

Join Ward 5 Council candidate tonight at Boundary Stone to watch Obama`s 2012 State of the Union address!

President Obama`s State of the Union address on Tuesday January 24, 2012 will provide both an assessment of the year past and a plan for the year ahead. As residents of Ward 5, we are also planning for the year ahead, and considering the future our neighborhoods and our city as a whole. John Salatti, Ward 5 candidate for Council, would like to invite you to join him in watching the 2012 State of the Union Address, celebrating the successes and considering the future of our country, and discussing next steps for Ward 5!

What: State of the Union Watching Party

Where: Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave NW

When: Tuesday January 24, 2012, 8pm

Bloomingdale public safety walk - Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012

See this event announcement from Bloomingdale resident Jennifer McCann:

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners John Salatti, Hugh Youngblood, and James Fournier

Invite you to kick-off 2012 by taking part in a
Bloomingdale Public Safety Walk

Help Bloomingdale continue to grow into a safer neighborhood!

Who: You! ...and your children, dogs, friends, etc.
All are welcome to come, regardless of where you live. This is about making a strong presence in the community, showing that Bloomingdale will not tolerate crime in our neighborhood.
When: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 7:00 P.M.
Where: Northwest corner of 1st and Rhode Island NW
(Meet in front of Windows Café. Dress comfortably and bring a flashlight!)

Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale

ANC 5C meeting/holiday celebration -- Tuesday, 12/20/2011

Passed along by ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti:

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 The Summit
7:00pm -9:00pm 116 T Street NE
Notice
Public Holiday Celebration and Meeting
Bring a friend – let`s celebrate
**************************************

Part I: Gathering 6:45 pm
Unity Call…………………..………………………………….…..Commissioner Edwards, Chairman
Confirmation of Quorum .…………………………………………………….
Adoption of Agenda
Review/Approval of Minutes.………………………………………..

Part II: Business Administration
Financial Report.………..…………………Commissioner Salatti, Financial Secretary
Review/Approval 4th Qtr Financial Rpt Documents..…Commissioner Ransom, Treasurer
Report & Pay Bills………………………..Commissioner Ransom, Treasurer
Meet the Fire Chief………..Kenneth Ellerbee, fire Chief

Part III: Community Concerns, Updates and Resolutions
1. Community Concerns
2. 225 Escot Street NE, Rear Deck Public Space Application……..Commissioner Farmer-Allen
3. Consideration of Alternative Proposals for Curb Cut - ANC 5C02 related to Dunbar High School…………………………………………………..………Commissioners Thomas and Pinkney

SPECIAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
(Acknowledgement of Sponsors)
Each one – Bring a Friend.

Let’s Celebrate the Accomplishments of 2011
and
Rejoice in the Expectations of 2012

John Salatti wants you to take this MedStar Health survey

From ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti:

I have participated in some community conversations held at Washington Hospital Center concerning hospitals and health care in our area. The goal is to get as much community input as possible to give the hospital system some guidance as to where to best extend its resources into the community.

I hope residents will take advantage and let our local hospitals know about their concerns.

John

John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
Vice President, Bloomingdale Civic Association
(202) 986-2592
John.Salatti @ gmalil.com
``Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale``

Here is the survey:

Dear Friend,
You have been invited by MedStar Health to offer your input concerning the health needs of the District of Columbia.

Your feedback will help determine the community health priorities for MedStar`s three DC hospitals - Georgetown University Hospital, National Rehabilitation Hospital and Washington Hospital Center.

In order to participate, copy-paste the entire following link between quote marks (NOT including the quote marks) in a web browser
" http://research.zarca.com/k/SsTRTVsURWsPsPsP "

If you attended the Professional Stakeholders Community Input Session on Monday, December 12, please do not continue with this survey.

Responses received after 5pm on Tuesday, December 27 will not be considered.

Thank you for your participation

CM Thomas releases draft Ward 5 ANC SMD map; John Salatti: "Bloomingdale remains united"

See this message from ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti.

Note the draft Ward 5 ANC SMD map PDF has been posted over at the Bates Area Civic Association (BACA) blog: http://batesareacivicassociation.org/2011/12/15/the-new-ward-5-anc-smd-map-from-cm-thomas/

BLOOMINGDALE REMAINS UNITED!!!!

Hot off the presses.

I just received a copy from Councilmember Harry Thomas of the revised Ward 5 draft redistricting plan.

I have asked Scott Roberts to post the map of the plan on the Bloomingdale blog.In this draft, which still is subject to comment from the community and to votes from the City Council, Bloomingdale residents have achieved the two goals we have advocated for since October:

(1) All of Bloomingdale from Florida Avenue to Michigan Avenue remains united in a single Advisory Neighborhood Commission!

(2) All Single Member Districts in Bloomingdale (and now throughout the Ward) adhere much more closely to the 2,000-person standard laid out in the Home Rule Charter!

I thank Councilmember Harry Thomas for hearing the voices of Bloomingdale residents. He heard and he acted. We appreciate the many competing concerns he has had to consider and appreciate his willingness to put his imprimatur on a map that really is in the best interest of this community (and many others in Ward 5). I thank Redistricting Subcommittee chairs Councilmembers Michael Brown and Jack Evans and Subcommittee member Councilmember Phil Mendelson for hearing our concerns and working closely with Councilmember Thomas to create a stronger, fairer Ward 5 map. Special kudos go to Michael Brown. I have visited with him and his staff many times in the last two weeks. His door was always open to us. They have always made time to talk about the concerns we have and about the possible alternatives that would uphold the principles of redistricting while carefully addressing the concerns of Bloomingdale residents. I could not ask for more.

I reserve my biggest thanks to you all. Congratulations on your efforts. By testifying, calling, e-mailing, visiting you conveyed the seriousness with which we viewed this issue. You made a difference. You made democracy work. Thank you so much!

But the work isn't done. As I noted, this is the latest draft. It is not law yet. So my ask to you is to contact the Subcommittee and copy Councilmember Thomas:

(1) Please thank them for what they have done to bring us this new map; they have worked hard and made a lot of changes that strengthen Bloomingdale;
(2) Please ask them to enact it into law.

If you have questions about the map or about redistricting generally, please contact me.

Again, Congratulations Bloomingdale!

John
John T. Salatti
Commissioner, ANC 5C04
Vice President, Bloomingdale Civic Association
(202) 986-2592
John.Salatti@gmail.com
"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"


....and see Ward 5 resident Geoff Hatchard`s post on the presented draft Ward 5 redistricting map at the Greater Greater Washington blog: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13055/thomas-adopts-fair-community-proposal-for-anc-map

Commissioner Fournier: "ANC Redistricting in Ward 5 - Do NOT split Bloomingdale"

ANC 5C07 Commissioner James Fournier has asked to have this message posted.


----------Original Message----------
From: James Fournier
Date: Dec 1, 2011 12:41:19 PM
Subject: ANC Redistricting in Ward 5 - Do NOT split Bloomingdale
To: mbrown@DCCOUNCIL.US, JACKEVANS@DCCOUNCIL.US, PMENDELSON@DCCOUNCIL.USCc: anc5c-commissioners@googlegroups.com, ronnieedwards.5c11@gmail.com, 5C02@anc.dc.gov, b-ashton-thomas@verizon.net, john.salatti@gmail.com, vorange@dccouncil.us, DCATANIA@DCCOUNCIL.US, HThomas@DCCOUNCIL.US, 5C11@anc.dc.gov, Ted Kill

Dear Councilmen M. Brown, Evans, and Mendelson:

That the Chairman of ANC 5C (which includes Bloomingdale) is compelled to answer the direct question of whether the redistricting plan that Harry Thomas's office submitted was the one agreed upon by the task force with the caveats of yes, "as edited," and "following technical adjustments," speaks for itself. So does the fact the only information he has about the redistricting process is a variation of the canned campaign e-mail that Harry Thomas has been circulating, for over a week, to everyone with a question concerning redistricting - regardless of the question posed.

Everyone in Ward 5 is not stupid, and you heard many of them at the November 29th hearing. The types of answers, resolutions, and ponderously empty statements repeatedly coming from Harry Thomas and his political allies are telling and plainly suggest that they think we are.
Ward 5 residents:

If you care about the bizarre consequences of the Thomas plan, regardless of which part of Ward 5 that you may live in, take the few minutes to submit your thoughts to the members of the redistricting subcommittee receiving this email:

Michael Brown - 202-724-8105; mbrown@dccouncil.us
Jack Evans - 202-724-8058; jevans@dccouncil.us
Phil Mendelson - 202-724-8064; pmendelson@dccounsil.us

The redistricting subcommittee is co-chaired by Councilmen J. Evans and M. Brown. Harry Thomas is not on the subcommittee. And yet he was the councilman pummelled with questions about the panoramic deficiencies of his plan at the November 29th hearing. Let the subcommittee know that there is no basis for dividing Bloomingdale and that if Harry Thomas thinks that dividing Bloomingdale will make forcing his ill-conceived development plans for the McMillan site onto the Bloomingdale that he has another thing coming.

I asked Harry Thomas to explain the basis for dividing Bloomingdale at the November 29 hearing before the DC City Council.

He refused.

Telling. . . .

- Commissioner James J. Fournier(ANC 5C07) - Bloomingdale, Stronghold, Park Place, Franklin Commons

Bradley Thomas: "Why I Support in Part and Oppose in Part the Position of Commissioners Salatti, Fournier on the Ward 5 Redistricting Plan"

From ANC 5C01 Commissioner Bradley Thomas:

WHY I SUPPORT IN PART AND OPPOSE IN PART THE POSITION OF MY COLLEAGUES COMMISSIONERS JOHN SALATTI AND JAMES FOURNIER ON THE WARD 5 REDISTRICTING PLAN

Today, Tuesday, November 29, 2011, I attended and gave oral testimony at the hearing on B19-528, the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Boundaries Act of 2011, conducted by the D.C. Council’s Subcommittee on Redistricting. I sat and listened intently to all 42 other witnesses and paid particular attention to the witnesses who spoke on the topic of what effects the Ward 5 Redistricting Task Force plan may have on the Bloomingdale community. Go into the hearing, I believed (a belief that was validated by the testimony presented) that the dispute, for lack of a better term, boils down to three issues which I summarize here in the form of three questions:

1. Does respect for the democratic principle of “one person-one vote” dictate that adjustments need to be made in the proposed Single Member District (SMD) lines because of the fact that the population of many of the proposed new SMDs does not fit within the 2,000 plus or minus 5% target specified in the redistricting guidelines?

2. Would the Bloomingdale community, which is by and large represented by a single civic association, the Bloomingdale Civic Association, be adversely impacted by having its population split between two ANCs?

3. Would an ANC configuration which places the McMillan sand filtration site in an ANC other than the one in which the majority of Bloomingdale’s residents live leave the Bloomingdale community without an effective voice in the development of the McMillan site?

My friends and colleagues, Commissioner John Salatti (5C04) and Commissioner James Fournier (5C07), have been quite articulate in answering all three questions in the affirmative. And while I reach the same conclusion as to question one, for the reasons I laid out in my testimony before the Redistricting Subcommittee this afternoon, I differ with Commissioners Salatti and Fournier on questions 2 and 3. While I don’t expect to change any minds, I do encourage all of my friends in Bloomingdale, and yes, we can still be friends even if we don’t see eye to eye on every issue, to read the full text of the written testimony I submitted today.

Anyway, for what it’s worth, here is the text of my testimony:

ANC Redistricting Hearing Testimony-full text
Commissioner Bradley A. Thomas, ANC5C01

Let me first express my gratitude to the Honorable Co-Chairs and members of the D.C. Council’s Redistricting Subcommittee for allowing me to be heard on the issue of ANC redistricting in Ward 5. My name is Bradley Thomas and I am the Commissioner who represents Single Member District ANC5C01. I also chair the ANC5C Economic Development Committee.

The decision to testify in this matter has not been easy. I do so reluctantly because the last thing I want to do is to give the impression that I’m opposed to Bloomingdale or the way it has unified and progressed under its current leadership. On the contrary, I consider myself a supporter of Bloomingdale. Never-the-less, I rise to support the Ward 5 ANC Redistricting Task Force proposal.

I was not a member of the task force but I believe the team was fairly selected from a cross section of the ward and that it operated through a fair and open process. Like my friends from Bloomingdale, I didn’t always agree with every decision the task force made but unlike them, I don’t question the integrity of the process.

First off, I have great affinity for Bloomingdale. I’ve never mentioned this before but my roots there go back more than 80 years. As a boy, my father, with his newly divorced young mother moved to Flagler Place in 1928 or 29, shortly before the stock market crash that plunged this nation into the first Great Depression. 60 years ago, my grandmother moved from Flagler Place to the unit block of W Street, N.W., where she lived until her death almost 20 years ago, about a year after I moved into my home just south of Bloomingdale’s southern border of Florida Avenue. Thus, from a purely emotional standpoint, I want to support Bloomingdale at every juncture.

Secondly, I have nothing but respect and admiration for Bloomingdale’s current Commissioners. Hugh Youngblood is as energetic and enthusiastic as any public servant I can name. John Salatti is popular among his constituents and knowledgeable about the goings on both in and around his community. James Fournier is as thoughtful and articulate a spokesman as anyone I have met in my year on ANC5C. All three of them take very seriously the interests of their neighborhood and work tirelessly on behalf of the citizens who elected them. But I come here today because on the ingular issue of whether the redistricting plan coming from the Ward 5 Redistricting Task Force adversely affects Bloomingdale, I firmly believe that their position is ill-informed and emerges from a “glass is half empty” perspective.

Let me begin by stating that I agree with my colleagues that any redistricting plan ought not have any single member districts that fall outside of the 2,000 plus or minus 5% population threshold specified in the redistricting guidelines. I strongly urge the Council to make any adjustments that might be necessary to insure that we don’t wind up with some districts with for example, fewer than 1,800 residents and others with more than 2,200. I think, from my outsider’s point of view, that that kind of tweaking can be done without scraping a generally reasonable and well thought out plan. But Commissioners Fournier, Salatti and Youngblood have articulated the position that the proposed redistricting plan will divide Bloomingdale and dilute its political voice. I respectfully disagree. The Bloomingdale Civic Association (or BCA), which represents most of the residents living within the boundaries of what are now ANCs 5C03, 5C04 and 5C07 will not be disbanded by the adoption of the redistricting proposal. The BCA will still represent those same residents. Under the new plan, however, that constituency will have a voice in not one, but two ANC’s in Ward 5. Presently, they have three votes out of 12 on ANC5C, thus representing a 25% voting block. Under the new arrangement, Bloomingdale residents will be the majority in 4 SMDs and will have one vote out of 6 (or 16 2/3 % ) on one ANC and 3 votes out of 6 (or 50 %) on another ANC in the ward. Thus overall, Bloomingdale will have a greater, not a lesser voice in Ward 5. Think of it as analogous to a set of parents, apprehensive about their daughter’s impending marriage. The best advice for those parents is “don’t think of it as losing a daughter, think of it as gaining a son.”

My colleagues in Bloomingdale also argue that the new proposal is detrimental to Bloomingdale because it takes from them control of McMillan Reservoir. With all due respect, I submit to the Council that the McMillan project does not belong to Bloomingdale but rather to all of the citizens of the District of Columbia. Furthermore, its development, with job creation, housing opportunities and environmental impact reaches far beyond Messrs. Fournier, Salatti and Youngblood’s single member districts. The storm water run off and traffic effects alone will be felt as much in my SMD, on the south side of Florida Avenue, as in Commissioner Youngblood’s SMD on the other side of the street. If Mr. Youngblood and Mr. Salatti get to have a voice in McMillan’s future, why shouldn’t ommissioner Pinkney and I be permitted to speak on behalf of our affected constituents?

Once again, I did not serve on the Ward 5 Redistricting Task Force. And when I heard of the plan to change the configuration of the ward from 3 large ANC’s to 6 smaller ones, I was less than enthusiastic. ANC5C currently covers all of Ward 5 west of the railroad tracks. If we are going to divide what is now a 12 single member district ANC into 2 ANCs, logic dictates we should do so as evenly as possible. The only logical place to draw the dividing line is through Bloomingdale, the neighborhood which is geographically in the north-south center of our present ANC. If we keep all three current Bloomingdale SMDs together, we wind up with two unbalanced ANCs; either a large one on the north end and a significantly smaller one on the south, or vice versa. The opposition to the proposed split presumes that the two new ANCs cannot work together for the collective good
I respectfully disagree. If this is to be One City, then we in Ward 5, can and must function as One Ward.

In conclusion, I say to the Council that I hope the redistricting proposal put forth today will receive a favorable reading. And to my friends in Bloomingdale I say that I hope you will take a fresh look at the proposal and see the glass as half full; a chance to have more, not less, input into the affairs of the ward and the city. The bottom line is that the task force which drafted the proposal was composed of 30 or more spirited and opinionated individuals and we know from experience that whenever two or more people get together, there are going to be differences of opinion. This committee worked through its differences to reach a consensus. Would I have reached the same results? Maybe, maybe not. But I honor and respect the efforts of those who volunteered their time to take on this formidable task. If the Council needs to make minor adjustments to make the SMD population numbers work, by all means it should do so. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Prince of Petworth post on Ward 5 redistricting

From a resident:

At the Prince of Petworth blog, there was a post by John Salatti summarizing his concerns about the proposed Ward 5 redistricting and what people in the neighbourhood can do to voice their concerns about it.

Here is the link and title:

Don’t Let Bloomingdale Be Split by Redistricting (date November 14)
http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/11/dear-popville-dont-let-bloomingdale-be-split-by-redistricting

G8 Metrobus problems

From: Dana King

Dear Neighbors,

Like many of you, as a daily rider of the G8 bus, I have gone through all the problems (repeatedly) that plague that route. In an effort to change the route for the better, I contacted ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti. He has already put my concerns before WMATA, which is currently investigating. But rather than simply wait for WMATA's response, John and I are taking a more active approach. We're reaching out to you.

The G8 takes me to and from work every day. On the weekends, the G8 takes me to and from social activities. Unfortunately, for those of us that rely on the G8, poor service is a source of real frustration. During rush hour, buses do not show up at the scheduled time, often run back-to-back with large time gaps in service, and/or do not stop upon arrival because they are too full. During off-peak and weekend hours, when the buses are supposed to pass twice an hour, I have found myself waiting at the bus stop 40 or 50 minutes with no service.

That's been my experience. What has been yours? To get WMATA to take action and do so quickly, John and I want to give the agency a full picture of what people in Bloomingdale and surrounding neighborhoods go through on the G8. So we would greatly appreciate input from you on your experiences--bad or good--riding the G8.

Please e-mail me your thoughts on, experiences with, and suggestions about the G8. My address is oaklandout @ yahoo.fr. Then John and I will collect, summarize, and use your responses in our contacts with WMATA. We are also considering putting together a short survey of G8 riders; if anyone would like to help with that effort, please let me know.

Thanks,

Dana King and John Salatti

"CM Thomas submitted Ward 5 redistricting plan to the DC Council one month ago"

From: James Fournier
To:
Cc: John Salatti ; Tim Clark ; Hugh Youngblood ; Brice McCracken ; Geoffrey Hatchard

Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 3:09 PM
Subject: TIme sensitive message re redistricting development

Hear this crucial news bulletin regarding the ongoing Ward 5 redistricting issues from concerned Ward 5 residents, Commissioners Tim Clark, James Fournier, John Salatti, Hugh Youngblood, and Geoff Hatchard and Brice McCracken.

Councilman Harry Thomas recently made several promises to Ward 5 residents to address the turmoil created by his redistricting plan to split neighborhoods like Bloomingdale and Trinidad into multiple ANC commissions. Specifically, Harry Thomas promised that he:

``will work to incorporat[e] concerns`` regarding re-districting ``through the task force`` (Nov. 3, 2011 e-mail);

``in an open and transparent way`` will address residents` concerns about his re-districting plan (Nov. 4, 2011 e-mail); and

``[W]ill continue to work with you and the residents of ward 5 to ensure input `` concerning redistricting (Nov. 7, 2011 e-mail).

We have just learned that Councilman Thomas nearly one month ago submitted to the DC City Council his plan to cut Bloomingdale into separate ANC commissions as well as truncate other surrounding neighborhoods. In fact, Councilman Thomas submitted his plan to the DC Council`s Subcommittee on Redistricting on or about October 11, 2011, weeks before meeting with the Bloomingdale Civic Association and repeatedly placating constituents in other neighborhoods with the promise of addressing their concerns and recommendations. In fact, he had already submitted his plan for DC Council consideration weeks before he continued making promises to the contrary.

Given Harry Thomas`s repeated disingenuousness with both the elected representatives and constituents of our neighborhoods, it is crucial to reach out to the members of the DC Council`s Subcommittee on Redistricting to express your concerns. They can be reached as follows:

Councilman Michael Brown – mbrown @ dccouncil.us - (202) 724 - 8105.
Councilman Jack Evans – jevans @ dccouncil.us - (202) 724 - 8058
Councilman Phil Mendelson – pmendelson @ dccouncil.us - (202) 724 - 8064

Their bios and key staff are set forth at http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/council.

Harry Thomas has already characterized as ``bogus`` and ``misrepresentative`` the proposal to keep neighborhoods like Bloomingdale and McMillan in a single ANC Commission. That proposal is the subject of a three part series in Greater Greater Washington, numerous neighborhood list discussions and recent community meetings. If you disagree with Councilman Thomas, let him and the City Council know - now.

The proposed plan will have an tremendous effect on Ward 5`s historic and close knit communities for the next ten years.

To make sure that the integrity of Ward 5 neighborhoods are preserved and the redistricting process does not fall victim to Ward 5 politics, make your presence felt. On Monday the 14th, the Ward 5 Redistricting Task Force is scheduled to meet at the Fifth District Headquarters, 1805 Bladensburg Road, NE, starting at 6:30. The meeting is open to anyone. If the Task Force clearly senses that a broad swath of the community does not approve of the plans being sent to the Council, the Task Force will likely balk at supporting such efforts.

As always, feel free to reach out to any of us should you have any questions.

Bloomingdale public safety walk -- Sunday, 11-13-2011

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Jennifer McCann:

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners
John Salatti, Hugh Youngblood, and James Fournier
Invite you to take part in a

Bloomingdale Public Safety Walk

Help Bloomingdale continue to grow into a safer neighborhood!

Who: You! ...and your children, dogs, friends, etc. All are welcome to come, regardless of where you live. This is about making a strong presence in the community, showing that Bloomingdale will not tolerate crime in our neighborhood.

When: Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.

Where: Northwest corner of 1st and Rhode Island NW
(Meet in front of Windows Café. Dress comfortably and bring a flashlight!)

Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale

Huffington Post article on today's McMillan Sand Filtration site tour

ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti passes along this Huffinton Post article on today's McMillan Sand Filtration site tour:

McMillan Sand Filtration Plant Walking Tour (PHOTOS)
First Posted: 10/28/11 03:32 PM ET Updated: 10/28/11 03:32 PM ET
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/mcmillan-sand-filtration-_n_1064061.html

WASHINGTON -- On Saturday, Friends of McMillan Park will be hosting a free Halloween walking tour of the McMillan Sand Filtration Site, the former water filtration plant and park designed in part by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.

The day will include a mix of structured tours and free time for visitors to wander around the regulator houses, sand bins, underground cells and grassy areas of the historically significant 25-acre property adjacent to the Bloomingdale neighborhood and Washington Hospital Center complex.

Saturday`s visitors will also get updates -- and are free to give input -- on the site`s controversial development plans, says ANC 5C04 Commissioner John T. Salatti, who is vice president of the Bloomingdale Civic Association and will be leading some of the tours.

``This tour is meant to get people excited about world-class development, and is meant to give them the feeling that they can influence the process,`` Salatti told The Huffington Post in an email. ```The tour is a catalyst for putting the people`s interests on par with those who stand to make large profits. The tour is a catalyst for local residents to say to the developers and their elected allies that we will not accept pedestrian plans that leave the neighborhoods holding the bag when it comes to meager park space, flooding problems, traffic nightmares, suburban-style development and loss of historic resources.``

The McMillan Sand Filtration Site will be open for tours from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday. The tour is free, kids and dogs are welcome, and costumes are encouraged. Visitors should enter the part at the 2600 block of 1st Street. NW across from the entrance to the U.S. Army Corps facility at the McMillan Reservoir.

LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale Community Safety Walk – Wednesday, 10-26-2011

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Jennifer McCann:

COMMUNITY SAFETY WALK
Join your neighbors from LeDroit Park & Bloomingdale

WHEN: Wednesday, October 26th @ 7:00 PM

WHO: You! ... and your children, dogs, friends, etc. All are welcome to come, regardless of where you live. Please consider bringing a flashlight to light up the neighborhood! Officers from the 3rd and 5th Districts of the Metropolitan Police Department will join us.

START: Anna J. Cooper Circle (3rd & T Streets, NW)

Sponsored by: Bloomingdale & LeDroit Park Civic Associations, ANC Commissioners Salatti (5C04), Youngblood (5C03), and Fournier (5C07)

www.LeDroitParkDC.org
www.BloomingdaleDC.org