Tuesday, November 29, 2011

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.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving from North Capitol Main Street

From North Capitol Main Street President Pat Mitchell:

FROM NORTH CAPITOL MAIN STREET
BE KIND TO YOUR TURKEY, TELL HIM HE'S DINNER ...

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY (11-26-11)
DEPARTMENT OF SMALL & LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & DC MAIN STREETS KICK IT OFF IN A BIG WAY


"Small business is the backbone of the American economy". This has become the slogan that's most often repeated by every politician -- left or right -- from Florida to Washington State.
Starting this Saturday, you'll have an opportunity to vote with your pocketbook, not by contributing to some do-nothing politician's campaign fund, but through your support of local small business, especially those right here in your community.


Here's how you can stimulate the local economy::
Make a commitment this holiday buying season to support your neighborhood small business
Visit our website to see a complete listing of North Capitol Area Small businesses;
www.ncmsinc.org

If your neighborhood's still a little lacking, keep your commitment to support local neighborhood small businesses by clicking on the links to other D.C. Main Street programs: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tp9zhzcab&et=1108740541008&s=4&e=001y9reNltdW_hrumvMuEw7lM0ern8uULekoHxkeJu3Fk6SJp007GOHwA7Bh5B6PenhAq73P3K--4rGSYqslFfQDZu5z6E1o0imWlxVpqICRzagkOy0RtX_OL7iIhwstQfe12gZBtUpYvxByGivfy--8LhBnKTu7QBWAVFFglygzwU=

Where ever you shop/dine/recreate remember to:
KEEP IT SMALL & KEEP IT LOCAL . . .

Featured North Capitol Area Small Biz
Small Business Saturday (Season)

Short on ideas for your Holiday gift-giving season? Here are six suggestions (1st installment of the 12 days of Christmas theme) for keeping your shopping small and local:

1) How about a twist on Turkey for the Holidays?
We hear the jerk turkey at Jam Doung is insanely delish (with or without stuffing, yum!) 1726 No. Cap/202-483-2445
2) Need a new hairdo for holiday parties?
Complyments Hair Studio can do the job right. 1709 No. Cap/202-269-6900
3) Time to bring out the Metro Sexual in your man?
Stop by Community Barbershop and ask for Nathaniel to give you the best haircut in the city. 1931 No. Cap/202-635-9869
4) Planning that special party for the Holidays?
Stock up on Christmas cheer at Blooomingdale Wine & Spirits 1836 1st St/202-588-9443
5) Know someone who really needs to chill out in the New Year?
How about a gift pack of classes from Yoga District? 251 Florida.
6) Time to spruce up your home this Season?
Pay a visit to Noa Gallery and ask for Mike, 132 Rhode Island/202-483-7328

LOOK FOR NORTH CAPITOL MAIN STREET'S CITY PAPER AD FEATURING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SMALL BUSINESS ALL-STARS!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

? stolen bicycle ?

See this 11/22/2011 message:

Last night, it looks like someone stole a bike, climbed up on top of my neighbor's garage, and threw it into our backyard. That’s the only rational way I can see the bike ending up where it did, and how it did. Guessing they were planning on coming back to get it, but I put the bike in the house.

I’m happy to return the bike to it’s owner if the owner is able to describe the bike. Some of the basics – it’s a ladies bike and the brand is Magna. It’s a relatively new, so I’m guessing someone is missing it.

E-mail me at dturano @ gofirsthome.com.

last night's Bloomingdale Civic Association election results

See this message from Bloomingdale Civic Association President Teri Janine Quinn:

Congratulations to the Bloomingdale Civic Association`s newly elected executive board members and delegates! Many thanks to our outgoing executive board members and delegates: Elle Cayabyab Gitlin, Em Hall, Diton Pashaj, Hugh Youngblood, James Fournier and Tolu Williams. We look forward to having another successful year!

BCA 2011-2012 Executive Board

President Teri Janine Quinn
First Vice President Bertha Holiday
Second Vice President John Salatti
Corresponding Secretary Jeremy Fegley
Assistant Corresponding Secretary Myra Dandridge ​​
Recording Secretary Regina Anderson
Assistant Recording Secretary Scott Roberts​​​​​
Treasurer Michel Fine
Financial Secretary Regina Anderson
Robert Brannum (Past President)

BCA Delegates to the DC Federation of Civic Associations

Chris Rodousakis
Robert Brannum

The next BCA meeting will be Monday, December 19th.

Best,

Teri Janine Quinn

Monday, November 21, 2011

neighborhood cat seeking new home



We recently adopted a wonderful 1 year old cat whom we found through Bloomingdale newsletter. His brother, however, is also looking for a home. Here's a note from the current owner, attached is also the pic of Charlie:



"Looking for a wonderful home for Charlie, this sweet, adorable cat. Our son brought Charlie home from college but, unfortunately, our long-time female cat has not been happy at all with Charlie in the house. Charlie loves attention, is surprisingly obedient (for a cat) and has all shots. If interested, contact me at Mlevitt@nelliscorp.com ."

elections tonight at the Bloomingdale Civic Association meeting

See this message from Bloomingdale Civic Association board member Teri Janine Quinn:

Bloomingdale Civic Association Meeting Agenda

Monday, November 21st @ 7pm,
St. George`s Episcopal Church
160 U St, NW (corner of 2nd and U NW)

Welcome
Opening remarks

Committee Reports
§ Membership Committee
§ Nominating Committee

Discussions
§ BCA dues structure
§ Executive Board voting protocols

Officer Elections
§ Elections of 2012 BCA officers

Community Updates
§ Executive Office of Mayor Vincent Gray
§ Office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr.
§ Bloomingdale ANC 5C Commissioners

News and Notices
§ Nov. 28 – Ward 5 Democrats meeting
§ Nov. 29 – DC Council ANC/SMD Redistricting hearing
§ Dec. 3-4 – St. George’s Christmas Bazaar & Café
§ Dec. 18 – Bloomingdale Holiday Art Fair

Next BCA Meeting
Monday, December 21, 2011


From Bloomingdale Civic Associaton President Teri Janine Quinn and from Nominations Committee Volunteer Regina Anderson:

Below is the Nominating Committee`s proposed BCA ballot.

Bloomingdale Civic Association 2011 Nomination Ballot

Please vote for one person per position

President First Vice President

 Teri Janine Quinn  Bertha Holiday
 Write-in _________________  Write-in _________________


Second Vice President Corresponding Secretary
 John Salatti  Jeremy Fegley
 Write-in _________________  Write-in _________________


Assistant Corresponding Secretary Recording Secretary
 Scott Roberts  Regina Anderson
 Write-in _________________  Write-in _________________

Assistant Recording Secretary Treasurer
 Myra Dandridge  Michael Fine
 Write-in _________________  Write-in _________________

Financial Secretary
 Regina Anderson
 Write-in ________

Vote for up to three delegates

Delegates to the DC Federation of Civic Associations
Write-in ________
Write-in ________
Write-in ________

Please vote for up to two people
MAG Representatives
 Tolu Williams
 Hugh Youngblood
 Write-in ________
 Write-in ________

Note that nominations remain open to those who may want to run as write-in candidates.

Studio 85 at 53 Florida Ave NW: Pink and Black Friday Sale !

Studio 85
53 Florida Avenue NW
Washington DC 20001

Pink and Black Friday Sale
Friday, November 25, 2011

Doors open at 9 am for all day savings!

Nail polish
Accessories
Handbags
Apparel

20% off store wide!
Custom artwork & exclusive designer pieces not included.

Customers enjoy a fresh glass of Orange Juice daily with us!

Boundary Stone closed on Thanksgiving Day



See this brief message from Boundary Stone`s Gareth Croke:

I just wanted to pass along that Boundary Stone will be closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Dog found near Howard University



From a resident of Bloomingdale:

Did anyone lose their dog? I found him this morning near Howard U. at 6th and Bryant. He's with me now. Please circulate if you think it may be yours or a friends dog. My cat is not thrilled to have a new housemate.

If you think you might know whose dog this is, please call Meghan at 202 550 6950.

(read me) Bloomingdale's Scenic Artisan's participation in the Howard Theatre restoration



See this message from Bloomingdale's Scenic Artisan:

I wanted to pass along a cool and nearby project that i'm working on and deeply excited about:
http://scenicartisan.blogspot.com/2011/11/howard-theatre-restoration-project.html

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Boundary Stone reviewed in the Washington Post



Thanks to Dina Lewis for this post to the LeDroit Park, crossposted here.

From: Dina Lewis
To: LeDroitPark@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 3:30 PM
Subject: [LeDroitPark] Boundary Stone featured in the Post

Look for this review in the Weekend section tomorrow. Just posted online today.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/bars-clubs/boundary-stone,1215797/critic-review.html?wpisrc=nl_gogthu

Regards,

Dina

Theft of computers @ #LangleyEducationalCampus

update********************************************************************************************************


NBC wrote a story on this theft

***************************************************************************
I wanted to pass along something that you all may care about and I hope that some may be in a position to help.


The Langley Education Campus had many of their computers stolen recently and the PK- 8th grade students are in need of computers. They even had to cancel their Science Lab Open House this week. it's very sad and frustrating. 
I don't have the full story. i don't know any details. Give them a call if you can help out. 
If you can provide more information, please leave it in the comments.


thank you.




Langley Education Campus
101 T Street NE 
202.576.6034

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I * think * that ANC 5C voted last night to support the plan to have the McMillan site in a separate ANC from the remainder of Bloomingdale







I attended last night`s ANC 5C meeting held here in Bloomingdale.

At the tail end of the meeting, Commissioner Pinkey submitted a resolution titled ``Resolution on Redistricting and Designation of Six (6) Advisory Neighborhood Commissions WIthin Ward 5.`` I do not know if the full text of this resolution is posted anywhere.



It would appear that the resolution voted on and passed last night supports the plan to have Bloomingdale's McMillan Sand Filtration site in a separate commission -- a separate ANC -- than the remainder of Bloomingdale.



Perhaps one of the commissioners could weigh in and clarify.

Ward 5 redistricting: final redistricting PowerPoint presentation + language corrections document

See this message from the office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.



From: "Streeter, Racheal (Council)"
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 4:29 PM
Subject: Redistricting Final Meeting PowerPoint and Language Corrections from OP





Good Afternoon Ward 5,

Attached is the PowerPoint presentation from the final redistricting meeting held 11/14/11 along with the language corrections from The Office of Planning. If you have any questions, feel free to contact The Ward 5 Council Office.

Thank you,

Racheal L. Streeter, Administrative Assistant
Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 107
Washington DC
20004
202-724-8028 (office)
202-724-8076 (fax)
Rstreeter@dccouncil.us

Unfortunately, blogspot cannot accommodate either Powerpoint .ppt files or Word document .doc files, so neither of Ms. Streeter's supplied files are provided here. I am hoping that someone can post these two files somewhere at some public location with links, so that they may be referenced.

Engine Company 12's liquor license pursuit



One of the items on last night`s ANC 5C meeting agenda was "Reconsideration/Finalization of Action Re: Engine Company 12 ABRA Application/Mediation."



Applicant Abbas Fathi did not appear at last night's meeting. ANC 5C03 Commissioner Hugh Youngblood commented that Mr. Fathi had a family emergency and could not attend.



Note that ANC 5C is on record for supporting Engine Company 12. There was discussion last night amongst the commissioners to withdraw that support, but no motion was made to withdraw support.

ANC 5C votes to support HU's campus plan




At last night's ANC 5C meeting, the Commission voted to support the Howard University Campus Plan.





Not too much controversy there.





You can see the HU master campus plan here: http://community.howard.edu/








Tuesday, November 15, 2011

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

car break-in on the unit block of W Street NW

Can you please share with neighbors that we need to be vigilant about car break-ins, especially anyone who has a detachable face or after-market car stereo?

Between Sunday evening and 7:00 AM today, thieves broke the rear passenger, small ``triangle`` window of my very old Honda CRV (1997), unlocked the doors and rummaged through my glove compartment. It doesn`t appear they took anything when they didn`t find the car radio in the glove box. They left a variety of clothes, including a new roller board suitcase with the tags on it that was in the car. (Yes, I know, I shouldn`t leave valuables in the car, but clearly they weren`t interested in anything but the radio.) This is the second time this has happened to me in the unit block of W street where my car was parked almost directly in front of my house. In July or August, someone broke in and took the entire radio component as I forgot to detach the radio face on that occasion. I will call the police and file a report when I get home from work this evening.

I`m not really sure what I can do at this point other than leave a sign that says ``RADIO NOT IN CAR`` to keep thieves from trying again.


Now read this feedback from ANC 5C04 Commissioner John Salatti:

I am very sorry to hear about the break in. That is a shame and something we continue to work against. Of course, unless we have cameras or webcams on the streets, getting these thieves is tough. But not impossible. We`ve gotten them before.

I was just speaking this morning to 5D Commander Andy Solberg about how good things are in Bloomingdale this days concerning crime. Home burglaries are down 60% from earlier in the year! But I did note that the burning irritant of the moment is exactly what happened to you, car break-ins. So we have to stay vigilant and report the incidents. As police see the pattern emerge, they can track it and move against the perpetrators. They`ve succeeded before.

And remind me to find one of those ``No Radio`` signs soon.

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

seeking referrals on repairing tin cornice work

The tin (i think its tin) cornice work on the front of our house is rusting and needs to be repaired and painted.

Might someone have a recommended contractor who does this kind of work?

Monday, November 14, 2011

matching heart of pine wood flooring

From a resident on V Street NW:

Hello I am trying to replace the flooring in my kitchen and am trying to match it to the rest of my house. Have any of you bought new boards to replace the existing hardwood floors in your houses? My contractor said they are 2.5`` ``heart of pine`` which is apparently pretty hard to come by and must be custom made...at significant expense. Since I only have to redo my kitchen, I suppose I could buy salvaged wood that matches?

Has anyone tried that or maybe have a good (and resourceful) flooring company?

Feel free to email me at jj8993 @ gmail. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it

tonight at Boundary Stone: Crispus Attucks Park fundraiser happy hour

Crispus Attucks Park Fundraiser Happy Hour at Boundary Stone

Please join your neighbors and friends for a fundraising happy hour at local hotspot Boundary Stone (116 RI Ave NW) on Monday, Nov 14th. To support Crispus Attucks Park, your $15 donation will get you exclusive happy hour specials $4 Miller Lite and Yuengling and $5 Tito`s vodka mixed drinks from 5 to 10 p.m. It costs approximately $10,000 per year to maintain our little piece of green heaven in Bloomingdale and your support is needed.


Go to www.crispusattuckspark.org to donate in advance (we`ll check you in at the event) via Paypal or credit card, or just pay at the door.

Thanks and see you there!

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

Sunday, November 13, 2011

final Ward 5 redistricting meeting - Monday, 11-14-2011 -- get the scoop -- what's the new Ward 5 commission map going to look like?

From the office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.:

Good Morning Ward 5 Residents,

Our final Redistricting meeting has arrived!

Date: Monday, November 14, 2011
Location: 5th District Police Station
1805 Bladensburg Rd NE
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

If you have any questions, feel free to contact The Ward 5 Council Office at 202-724-8028

Thank you,

Racheal L. Streeter
Administrative Assistant
Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 107
Washington DC 20004
202-724-8028 (office)
202-724-8076 (fax)
Rstreeter@dccouncil.us



_____________________________________________________________
I wanted to amend this post by adding in a photo and link to a map of the proposed
 redistricting. 
-sean.






here is a link to this google map created by Geoffrey

Tour the Mcmillan Sand Filtration Site Today

mcmillan sand filtration site

Site tour of McMillan today at 1:00 pm. Come to the 1st Street NW entrance to the site across the street from the McMillan Reservoir Filtration Plant. (about the 2500 block of 1st)

Friday, November 11, 2011

an alternate idea for Bloomingdale's McMillan Sand Filtration site



See this brief message from Bloomingdale resident Todd Crosby:

"I saw this interesting article on CNN and thought it would be a great idea for the McMillan Sand Filtration site:





http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/11/tech/underground-park-new-york/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 .

Click on the link to see all of the images.

PoP: Bloomingdale's Bacio Pizzeria (at 81 Seaton Pl NW) now open !

Wow! Another retail business opens up in Bloomingdale!

From the Prince of Petworth (PoP):

Bacio Pizzeria Opens Today in Bloomingdale
10 November 2011 11:30 AM
By Prince Of Petworth
http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/11/bacio-pizzeria-opens-today-in-bloomingdale/

Back on Sept. 26 a reader asked for an update (http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/09/dear-pop-whats-going-on-with-bacio-pizzeria/) on Bacio Pizzeria coming to 81 Seaton Pl, NW in Bloomingdale. At that time we learned they`d be opening in about six weeks. And they were true to their word! Thanks to everyone who sent emails about the opening. According to their Web site (
http://www.baciopizzeria.com ) initial hours will be:

``Monday thru Friday: 4pm – 10pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am- 10pm``

You can see their menu here (
http://www.baciopizzeria.com ).

We`ll come back for a proper judging after they`ve been open a bit.

Subcommittee on Redistricting hearing -- Tuesday, 11/29/2011

Passed along by Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.:

Council of the District of Columbia
Committee of the Whole
Subcommittee on Redistricting
Notice of Public Hearing
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004


COUNCILMEMBER MICHAEL BROWN,
COUNCIMEMBER JACK EVANS
CO-CHAIRPERSONS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING

ANNOUNCE A PUBLIC HEARING ON

B19-528, the ``Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Boundaries Act of 2011``.

Councilmember Michael Brown and Councilmember Jack Evans, Co-Chairpersons of the Subcommittee on Redistricting, announce a public hearing on B19-528, the ``Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Boundaries Act of 2011``. The public hearing will be held on November 29, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. Please note that the submitted recommendations of each ward task force are available on the Council website under the Subcommittee on Redistricting tab. This notice has been abbreviated in order to give timely notice to the public.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 10:00 a.m.
Council Chamber, Room 500, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20004

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

"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.

CM Thomas` office: Final Ward 5 Redistricting Meeting -- Monday, 11-14-2011

See this message from the office of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.:

Good Morning Ward 5 Residents,

Our final Redistricting meeting has arrived!

Date: Monday, November 14, 2011
Location: 5th District Police Station
1805 Bladensburg Rd NE
Time: 6:30- 8:00 PM

If you have any questions, feel free to contact The Ward 5 Council Office at 202-724-8028

Thank you,

Racheal L. Streeter
Administrative Assistant
Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 107
Washington DC 20004
202-724-8028 (office)
202-724-8076 (fax)
Rstreeter@dccouncil.us

Miriam's Kitchen

I'm passing along information on a fund raising event that Miriam's Kitchen is taking part in.


•  Starting at midnight on Wednesday, November 9, local residents will donate online to help raise millions of dollars for local nonprofits as part of the first annual Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington.

•  Give to the Max Day is a massive one-day regional online fundraiser that will unite local Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC communities to support nonprofits serving the area.

•  As part of Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington, nonprofits large and small can earn their share of $125,000 in cash awards, including up to $25,000 for nonprofits with the most individual donors and the most money donated. 

• Homelessness in Washington, DC, the Nation's Capitol: there are more than 6,500 homeless men, women and children in Washington, DC on any given night. Of those, nearly 2,000 are chronically homeless--meaning they have been homeless for a year or more, or four or more times in the past three years.

•  Miriam's Kitchen provides free, homemade meals and high-quality support services to more than 4,000 homeless men and women each year in the Nation's Capitol, Washington, DC. Their core programs are meals, case management, Miriam's Studio, and Miriam's Cafe.   

• Homelessness at Miriam's Kitchen: on any given day at Miriam's Kitchen, 82 percent of their guests are chronically homeless.  In fact, the average length of homelessness of the guests is 5.5 years

• Nearly 80 percent of Miriam's Kitchen's guests live on the streets of DC, in parks around the city, under the bridges along the Potomac River, and in emergency shelters.  

• Miriam's Kitchen's guest demographics: 95 percent of Miriam's Kitchen's guests are male, 60 percent are African American and the median age of our guests is 50.

• Mental illness and addiction at Miriam's Kitchen: Many of Miriam's Kitchen's guests suffer from severe mental illnesses and addictions, making them the most fragile and hardest to connect with social services.





More Information on Miriam's Kitchen

Lotus Uprising - another fabulous mashup yoga + music + delicious brunch -- Sunday, 11/13/2011




Hey Bloomingdalians!

Thanks for your awesome response to our October event! We`re back this Sunday with another fabulous mashup: Yoga + Music + Delicious Brunch.


The menu for this Sunday is Mediterranean inspired and completely vegan! Brunch only tickets available for $15 (arrive 12:15 PM); event is located at 11th and U NW. Join us. Tickets available here (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/203255).

In gratitude for your support,

Erin McCarthy and the Lotus Gang
lotusuprising.com

Walnut-Pomegranate Pate
Buckwheat Sesame Crackers
White Bean-Squash Hummus
Socca (Chickpea Skillet Flatbread)
Moroccan Carrot Salad
Spicy Garlic Kale
Chopped Cauliflower-Apple Salad
Sweet Potato-Chard Falafel
Roasted Lemon-Tahini Sauce
Rosemary Pear Tart

Monday, November 07, 2011

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

Crispus Attucks Park fundraiser happy hour at Boundary Stone -- Monday, 11-14-2011



Crispus Attucks Park Fundraiser Happy Hour at Boundary Stone

Please join your neighbors and friends for a fundraising happy hour at local hotspot Boundary Stone (116 RI Ave NW) on Monday, Nov 14th. To support Crispus Attucks Park, your $15 donation will get you exclusive happy hour specials $4 Miller Lite and Yuengling and $5 Tito`s vodka mixed drinks from 5 to 10 p.m.

It costs approximately $10,000 per year to maintain our little piece of green heaven in Bloomingdale and your support is needed.

Go to
www.crispusattuckspark.org to donate in advance (we`ll check you in at the event) via Paypal or credit card, or just pay at the door.

Thanks and see you there!

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale for 11/06/2011

I've been running around all morning getting ready for my own two open houses today in the neighborhood and almost forgot to post all the opens!

Here they are. The same info can be seen in a map format. To see details for each property, scroll over the push pins on the map.

My two new listings are 1711 1st St NW, across from Big Bear, and 603 U St NW in LeDroit Park. 1711 1st St NW is open early, from 11-2 during the Farmers Market, and 603 U is open from 1-4pm. Details can be found on either link above.

Then and Now: SE Corner of First and T NW

Then: March 1st, 2008

still no retail....hellers???




Now: October 30th 2011

First St. and Rhode Island Avenue NW
Now home to Rustik Tavern

Saturday, November 05, 2011

today! Bloomingdale business district beautification day! Come out and participate!



Hey, Bloomingdale residents and devotees!



Here is what you are doing today (thanks to Bloomingdale resident Dennis Anderson for coordinating today's beautification/clean-up event!):



Bloomingdale Business District Beautification Day



When: Saturday, Nov. 5th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

(Rain Date: Sunday, Nov. 6th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM)



Where: Meet at 1st and T St. NW in front of Rustik Tavern



What: The Bloomingdale Civic Association is seeking volunteers to help us spruce up Bloomingdale's Central Business District! Come out and join your neighbors in new tree box plantings, mulching, cleaning up trash and leaves, and generally improving the feel of our ``Main Street.``



All plants and materials and light refreshments will be provided, however donations are gladly accepted to help offset costs.



If you are interested in helping out or just making a contribution, please email Dennis Anderson at andersod33 @ gmail.com.



Just-Added Incentive for Participants: This just in... Boundary Stone is offering a complimentary Yuengling, Miller Lite or soft drink to anyone who participates in Saturday`s Business District Beautification event. Thanks to the guys at Boundary Stone for their support!



Look forward to seeing you all.

vomiting



Does * anyone * read this blog?



I don't think so.



In any event, let's keep going....

Friday, November 04, 2011

? Bloomingdale solar co-op ?



First, see this blurb from the Washington City Paper:

Solar Advocates: It’s Not Just For Yuppies
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Nov. 4, 2011 at 1:55 pm
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/11/04/solar-advocates-its-not-just-for-yuppies/

This story is about DC Solar United Neighborhoods.
Here is this group's website: https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/

Is Bloomingdale one of the listed neighborhoods?
Yes, it is.

Stay tuned!

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Big Bear Cafe: Sunday family-style farmers` market dinner series -- starting this Sunday, 11/06/2011



From Stu Davenport:

Sunday Family-Style Farmers` Market Dinner Series


Starting Sunday evening, Nov. 6th at the Big Bear Café, 7pm.



Come join us for a family-style farmers` market dinner series starting Sunday evening Nov 6th.


Sit down by candlelight at our communal table & enjoy fresh bread, an assortment of Cowgirl and Keswick cheeses, & a three-course meal with greens, vegetables, fruits, & meats all available from the local farms of the Sunday Bloomingdale Farmers` Market!


We have limited space, so please RSVP per person with bigbearcafe.events @ gmail.com , though we hope to have room for you if you decide to drop in last-minute! Dinner will be at market price. 37.


We look forward to dining with you.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

ABRA rules against Shaw`s Tavern retail Class CT license



See this post from the Washington City Paper

Shaw`s Tavern `Unfit For Licensure,` Liquor Board Rules
Posted by Chris Shott on Nov. 2, 2011 at 5:45 pm
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2011/11/02/shaws-tavern-unfit-for-licensure-liquor-board-rules

Beleaguered would-be boîte Shaw`s Tavern has suffered yet another setback. The District`s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has deemed owner Abbas Fathi ``unfit for licensure,`` citing the venue`s prior history of serving alcohol without the proper permits.

In rendering its decision, the board also points to mismanagement by former tavern keeper Steven May, who is accused of altering official documents with ``correction fluid`` in order to improperly obtain booze from distributors.

The board`s decision comes despite some community support for Fathi`s application, including that of local Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2C.

According to the official ruling: ``The Board understands ANC 2C`s disappointment; however, the Board cannot turn a blind eye to the Applicant`s violations in the name of economic development.``

The tavern shuttered back in August (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2011/08/27/shaws-tavern-r-i-p-we-could-not-survive-without-a-liquor-license) after struggling for weeks to stay afloat without the financial benefit of alcohol sales. Read more here (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2011/08/24/tavern-on-the-wean-can-shaws-tavern-survive-long-without-a-liquor-license)

Dennis Anderson: come out for this Saturday's Bloomingdale business district beautification day

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Dennis Anderson:

Bloomingdale Business District Beautification Day

When: Saturday, Nov. 5th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
(Rain Date: Sunday, Nov. 6th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM)

Where: Meet at 1st and T St. NW in front of Rustik Tavern

What: The Bloomingdale Civic Association is seeking volunteers to help us spruce up Bloomingdale's Central Business District! Come out and join your neighbors in new tree box plantings, mulching, cleaning up trash and leaves, and generally improving the feel of our ``Main Street.`` All plants and materials and light refreshments will be provided, however donations are gladly accepted to help offset costs. If you are interested in helping out or just making a contribution, please email Dennis Anderson at andersod33 @
gmail.com.

Look forward to seeing you all!

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Ward 5 redistricing meeting tonight

The Bloomingdale Civic Association invites you to a discussion on

Redistricting Ward 5

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
7 pm
St. George`s Episcopal Church, 2nd & U Street NW
Childcare room available

Why come out? Redistricting ensures that your vote carries as much weight DC's political process as every other vote. It creates advisory neighborhood commissions and single member districts that group neighborhoods together and promote a sense of community.

Join us to learn about proposed Ward 5 redistricting and how it impacts Bloomingdale.

Bloomingdale Civic Association
www.bloomingdalecivic.org