Board Votes No to Historic Status for Heating Plant
• May 6, 2015

In a 4 to 3 vote, the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board voted April 23 not to grant the West Heating Plant on 29th Street extra landmark status.

The D.C. Preservation League had nominated the building for landmark status within the Historic District of Georgetown, arguing that the 1940s heating plant deserved such protection. League representatives made a presentation to the Georgetown Advisory Neighborhood Commission in March. The commission disagreed with the league and said it believed that the building at 1051-1055 29th St. NW did not warrant landmark status. Even, the Citizens Association of Georgetown — known for its advocacy of historic preservation — held that the building was undeserving of special protection.

While Georgetown is a federally protected neighborhood in terms of historic preservation, the board vote makes its easier for the owners of the one-time government property to alter it, including partial demolition. (Most residents of 29th Street agree with this approach.) There are many more reviews and approvals the owners must obtain for the project.

The developers of the heating plant property, the Levy Group, the Four Season Hotel and the Georgetown Company of New York plan to make the structure into Four Seasons condominiums and dedicate some of the land as public space. The property is due south of the Four Seasons and adjacent to the C&O Canal and Rock Creek.

In Council Elections With Bowser Allies: Todd Wins; May Leads
• April 30, 2015

Score one for team Bowser. You’ll have to wait on number two.

That’s what happened in the District of Columbia yesterday’s special elections held to fill vacant city council seats in Ward 4  and Ward 8, where candidates endorsed and backed by Mayor Muriel Bowser were running for both seats.

In Ward 4, it was good news for Brandon Todd, and good news for her supporter, Mayor Bowser.  Todd, who was a campaign fund raiser for Bowser and worked as her constituent-services  director won easily in a big field,  taking 42 percent of the vote with 4,310 votes to runner up Renee L. Bowser (no relation to the mayor), who had 21 percent of the vote at 1,192, followed by Leon T. Andrews  at 15 percent and Dwayne M. Toliver at 12 percent .

In Ward 8, the race was still too close to call. Approximately 1,000 special ballots are yet to be counted, which could take a week.

Another Bowser-backed candidate, LaRuby May, who worked as a field director for her mayoral campaign was leading Trayong White, a protégé of the late former Mayor Marion Barry and political legend and Ward Eight councilman,  1,711 votes to 1,559 votes, or 26.94 percent for May and 24.55 percent for White.  This was a race to fill the seat left open in the wake of the passing of Barry. Significantly, Barry’s son Marion C. Barry, trailed badly in the voting with 7.24 percent of the vote.

While the result in Ward 4 was a personal victory for Todd, who joins a council now dominated by an infusion of new faces over the past few years, the mayor was a big winner, too, giving her more influence over the council itself. Should May end up winning, Bowser would have two members on the council who either worked for her or her campaigns, a point that became an issue in both campaigns.

Sad to say, the results could have been even more significant if more people had voted.  As is often the case with special elections—with local elections in general—the turnout was tepid.

Out of a possible 111,723 registered voters, only 16,512 actually voted in the two races. That would be 14.78 percent.

This belied the brave presence of 13 candidates in each race who received votes.  Maybe it means that there lots of people have political ambitions in this city, but few people want to take the time to find out who they are, or even less, to vote for them.

Weekend Roundup, April 23
• April 28, 2015

Lexington Spring Premiere

April 24th, 2015 AT 12:00 AM | EVENT WEBSITE
This United States Equestrian Federation “AA”-rated hunter and jumper horse show fea-tures a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday and a $25,000 Grand Prix Show Jumping on Saturday evening.
Address: Virginia Horse Center, 487 Maury River Rd., Lexington, Va.

Friends of the National Arboretum Garden Fair

APRIL 24TH, 2015 AT 12:00 PM | ADMISSION IS FREE. | EVENT WEBSITE
FONA’s 25th annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale will feature a wide variety of plants for sale, a performance by Washington Revels and a strawberry-planting activity for children.
Address: 3501 New York Ave. NE.

‘Trading Futures’ Opening Reception at Artist’s Proof

April 24th, 2015 AT 12:00 PM | EVENT WEBSITE
The Book Hill contemporary gallery Artist’s Proof will host an opening exhibition of works by promising local artists aged 25 and under. The show will run in conjunction with an online charity auction benefiting the D.C. nonprofit College Bound. Address: 1533 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

Walking Tour: Georgetown Worships

April 24th, 2015 AT 12:00 PM | TICKETS ARE $15 | EDUCATION@DUMBARTONHOUSE.ORG
Dumbarton House offers a walking tour of places of worship, old and new, in Georgetown. Highlights will include Mt. Zion, a historically African American church that served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, used as a hospital during the second Battle of Bull Run. Address: 2715 Q St. NW.

Trading Futures

April 24th, 2015 AT 07:00 PM | FREE | ENQUIRY@APROOF.NET | TEL: (202) 803-2782 | EVENT WEBSITE
Trading Futures is an exhibition of works by promising young local artists aged 25 and under. Artist’s Proof will also hold an opening reception on April 24th from 7 to 9pm. For more information please visit: http://www.aproof.net/exhibitions/ The show will run in conjunction with an online charity auction, to benefit the DC nonprofit College Bound, which will open at midnight on April 17, 2015. Use the following link to place your charitable bid: www.charitybuzz.com/ArtistsProof. Address: 1533 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Live Music at Greenhill Winery

April 25th, 2015 AT 06:00 PM | INFO@GREENHILLVINEYARDS.COM. | TEL: 540-687-6968. Singer, pianist and guitarist Brandon Diaz will perform live in the tasting room at Greenhill Winery and Vineyards. For details, call or email. Address: 23595 Winery Lane, Middleburg, Virginia.

We’re all DOOMed

April 25th, 2015 AT 08:00 PM | FREE EVENT | SHANE@ARTWHINO.COM | TEL: 301-567-8210 | EVENT WEBSITE
Art Whino presents “We’re all DOOMed” a group art show inspired by MF DOOM. His work is engraved in the psyche of many artists, with a career that spans over 26 years. His creativity with references from comic books, freestyle, and instrumentals inspires a vast pool of international artists want to pay homage to him in their artwork. We will have MC Ciphering as well as live performances of MF DOOM Cover songs by top MC’s such as DC’s Own Flex Mathews. Address: BLIND WHINO:Sw Arts Club 700 Delaware Ave, SW Washington, DC 20024

Filmfest DC 2015 Closing Night: I Can Quit Whenever I Want

April 26th, 2015 AT 04:00 PM | $25.00 | TEL: 202-274-5782 | EVENT WEBSITE
Closing Night at the Lincoln Theater, sponsored by the DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development will premiere the new Italian comedy I Can Quit Whenever I Want. An after party at The Brixton will follow the film. Address: Lincoln Theater 1215 U St., NW Washington, DC 20009

Closing Night of Filmfest DC

April 26th, 2015 AT 06:00 PM | TICKETS ARE $25. | EVENT WEBSITE
The D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is sponsoring the premiere of a new Italian comedy, “I Can Quit Whenever I Want,” as the closing-night screening of the 2015 Filmfest DC. There will be an after-party in Brixton. Address: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW.

Bowser’s State of the District: Accountability, Affordable Housing, Streetcars to Georgetown
•

Mayor Muriel Bowser delivered her inaugural State of the District Address March 31 at the Lincoln Theatre.

Bowser’s main theme for the speech was “Pathways to the Middle Class,” which echoed some of her own family history in Washington, D.C. WIth eight curtains for the eight wards of the city hanging behind the stage as she stood before a standing-room-only audience, the city’s eighth elected mayor spoke of government accountability, educational opportunities for young people, the various transportation choices for D.C. and said she would maintain the city’s H Street streetcar project, thought to be under budgetary threat, and keep it going and extend it to Georgetown.

In a theater named for the 16th president, Bowser — who said she needed help from the District Council and from the city’s residents — repeated Abraham Lincoln’s quotation on government: “The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves.”


Below is Mayor Muriel Bowser’s State of the District Address as delivered on March 31 at the Lincoln Theatre.

Thank you everybody, and good evening. Please.



Isn’t great to be in this beautiful theatre in the District of Columbia?



And good evening, fellow Washingtonians. I’m here tonight, humble and proud to be your Mayor.



It is an honor to have the opportunity to deliver the 2015 State of the District Address.



Today, I am pleased to report, that the District is strong and growing stronger.



We are one of the strongest economies in the country. We are the economic engine of the region, accounting for one quarter of the job market, and in the last year, over two-thirds of its private sector job growth – yes.



We are, too, the number one tech hot spot and among the top ten cities for venture capital investment. Forbes Magazine even says we’re the coolest.



Wall Street knows our city finances are strong, and this year, increased our bond rating.



We are a – that’s good news, too.



We are a Top 5 US City for New Construction; Top 10 Most Walkable City in the US; #2 Fittest City (we’ll catch you, Minneapolis, St-Paul!); We’re #1 in US for attracting entrepreneurial founders of companies; and the #2 Best paying US City for Women;


We are the home to the best new restaurant in America, and we are the Top 5 Best U.S. City to Come and Vacation;



So, no wonder why we’re one of the fastest growing cities in the country.



Big cities – like the District of Columbia – have world-class schools, parks, and libraries. They are home to vibrant cultural institutions that highlight the arts and entertainment. We are making strides in these areas too.



But we all know that there is room to improve.



We face in our city historic economic inequality with tragic rates of homelessness. Too many of our residents can’t afford to continue to live in their own neighborhoods. Our schools are not yet good enough and our transit system isn’t reliable or safe enough. And, as good as our finances are, we’re heading into the next fiscal year starting this October, we face a $200-million budget gap.



We know that it’s tougher and tougher for many people to start down and stay on the pathway to the middle class.



When my parents bought our home – and they’re here tonight, Joan and Joe Bowser. Good to see you.



They bought a simple three-bedroom home in 1960 in Ward 5’s North Michigan Park. They could afford to do so on two modest government salaries.



Growing up in that middle class household meant that we had food in the fridge, new clothes at the start of the school year and money in our pocket to go to the movies or a vacation every now and then.



Growing up middle class meant that my siblings and myself, we didn’t always have everything we wanted but we always had everything we needed.



Back in 1960, when my parents bought their home, the average home in D.C. costs – get this – about $15,000. That was only three times the average family income.



Today, the median home value tops $500,000 and that’s six times the average family income.



If we are going to be a city where families can stay and grow, we must do more to create opportunity for them.



Creating opportunity means – that’s right – taking steps every day to improve the quality of life for residents of the District of Columbia.



Creating opportunity means economic development that makes life easier, more convenient, while preserving the rich heritage that makes D.C. so unique.



And it means promoting the arts and those cultural institutions that will continue to make it so.



It means being able to take a walk or wait for a bus without concern for your safety. It also means access to modes of transportation that you need to get to and from your daily life.



And it means neighborhoods that welcome all District residents, whether they’ve been here for five minutes like some or five generations like the Bowser family.



Sometimes, it means just getting out of the way, especially for small businesses so they can get to work.



But it always means creating pathways to the middle class.



Now, you may have heard me say the following two words, in fact I know you have: “Fresh Start.”



Some have called it a catchy slogan others have embraced it on social media. And no matter what you think of it, I can assure you it is a promise I will fulfill.



I believe – that’s good. I believe it is critical that we walk forward together proud of all the things that we have accomplished and where we stand; yet step away from the shadows that haunt our past.



We achieve this and uphold the public’s trust by doing what we say we will do, being responsive to what residents want and demand, and striving always to be open and transparent.



You have my commitment that my administration understands that integrity is paramount, and we are forever grateful to those who came before us and we are always committed to the residents who rely on us not just today but every single day.



On the campaign trail last year, for the last two years. I told you that a Bowser administration would reflect your values and beliefs. 


I told you that we—the 660,000 residents of District of Columbia—believe in education reforms that guarantee every child a quality seat—no matter her zip code or her parent’s tax bracket. 



I believe and I know you do, in housing that is safe, clean, and affordable.



We believe in healthcare for all.



We believe in marriage equality, a sustainable D.C., a level playing field for women, African-Americans, Latinos, and DC residents of every background and belief.



We believe that taxation without representation is fundamentally undemocratic. And we know that corruption at any level is unacceptable in our city.



And we believe that the government has a duty to ensure a fair and equal pathway to the middle class.



Last year, I promised you that as mayor I would make, and I would wake up every day humbled, energized, and motivated to do the little things and the big things needed to pursue our shared beliefs and make the District the greatest city in the world.



To put it another way, I promised you, that ours would be a government that would create opportunity and do so decisively.


And for the last 89 days, this government has been working doggedly to deliver on that promise.



So, I’ve walked the halls of Congress and the White House.

 I entered into an agreement with the Prince George’s and Montgomery County executives to focus on regional housing affordability and an end to homelessness.

 I’ve travelled to Austin, Texas, to sell our tech community and to New York City to achieve a better bond rating.

 I’ve hosted the mayors of Mexico City and of Paris.

 I’ve made big asks of billionaires and hosted foreign investors.

 I’ve met with big labor, big utilities, and big business to make the pitch for D.C. jobs for D.C. residents.



And as the sports capital, we will continue to meet with the biggest sports guys and gals – right, Jack [Evans]? So that they know that D.C. is Ready to host the 2018 MLB All-Star game, and perhaps a Super Bowl one Sunday.



We will do all of this, while keeping in mind that this is your city and your government. We work for you.



You do not just get a seat at the table in a Bowser administration – we know that you are the table.



But I think John Dewey said it best. He said this: “The cobbler may know how to fix the shoe, but only the wearer knows where it pinches.”

 So, when it came to cobbling together my first budget, I wanted to hear from you on the front end.



And that is why we’ve hosted hundreds of residents from all eight wards at our budget engagement forums.



More than 2,300 of you, employees and residents, gave us fresh ideas about how to spend your tax dollars to create opportunity. The budget I will submit to my friends, our friends at the Council will reflect your input and priorities.



It will also reflect the looming $200-million budget gap that will require some tough decisions in order to pave the way to the middle class and allow those who need it the most, to prosper.



Dr. King challenged us to develop: “a kind of dangerous unselfishness.” We will do that by giving a little more to create and preserve affordable housing, to care for our homeless neighbors and to invest in a safe and reliable transportation system to get residents to work and school and to keep the visitors coming to the District of Columbia.



We will do that by making “black lives matter” more than just a hashtag. We will take concrete steps like investing in, and creating opportunity for, those students who are falling behind.



Creating opportunity, in particular for our youngest residents, is a driving focus of our administration.



That starts with our infants and toddlers and is why we launched the Early Childhood Learning Quality Improvement Network to ensure that those who care for our babies meet national standards.



We have the fastest improving urban school district in the nation. We should congratulate our chancellor, our teachers, our staff and our officials who are standing strong for school reform. But, we know, we also need to increase the pace of reform.

 Nowhere is that more necessary than in our middle schools.



That is why in next year’s DCPS budget, we will spend $15 million to support our middle school students with more extracurricular activities, summer programming, and international travel. We will create a state of the art middle-school in Petworth at the former McFarland.



And, next fall, the school building that I attended as a kindergartner will re-open in Ward 5 as the Brookland Middle School.



And whether you go to McFarland, or Murch or Maya Angelou, your child will ride free on the bus or rail because of our commitment to make it just a little easier on our families.



And that’s why beginning this school year, parents will have predictability and consistency, and a clear path from pre-K to graduation thanks to long-overdue boundary realignments. 
We take these steps because we know that when children succeed, we all succeed.



For our older students, we have to turn the corner at UDC and align our Community College with the careers that will yield pathways good paying jobs and to the middle class.



Last week, I announced the creation of the LEAP Academy. The academy is born from a simple idea. We will train District residents to work in the District government.



The District employs hundreds of workers to maintain our buildings and keep our fleet of vehicles road-ready. The academy will serve as a conduit for motivated District residents to enter the workplace in a good, steady job and begin down the pathway to the middle class all the while providing you with first-class services.



Exposing youth to work prepares them for jobs as adults. That’s why I announced an additional $5 million in funding to expand the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. The program will now serve young people ages 22 to 24.



Creating employment opportunities means rethinking our workforce development investments. Did you know that our creative economy generates over $19 billion to the local economy annually? We should be more creative in how we think about investing in the arts so that we are retaining and developing a creative work force that not only provides revenue and jobs, but sustains the District as a cultural capital.



We all know that the streetcar has been a long promised program. It’s been long on promises, and short on results. But tonight we pledge, that that changes now.



I promise you that we will get the streetcar along H Street and Benning Road up and running.

 Then, we will extend the line to downtown Ward 7 so that Councilmember Alexander’s constituents can get from Benning Road to H Street to Union Station and eventually all the way to Georgetown.



Earlier this month, we announced a new technology partnership with Howard University – some Howard grads here? – that will bolster efforts to support our growing technology and innovation sectors by addressing the needs of startups and entrepreneurs in D.C.



We’ve also brokered an agreement between labor and our soccer team so that UNITE HERE and D.C. United will come together to make sure that not only will we have a new soccer stadium with the support of our taxpayers, but we will also have good-paying jobs.


Because we all know that when we stand with our brothers and sisters in labor so that they can succeed, then we all will succeed.



You saw my friend John Boardman in the video, and he may not know this, but he introduced me to a woman named Juanita King and meeting Juanita King changed my life. I caught the bus with Juanita. I cleaned rooms at the Marriott Marquis. It cemented within me the notion that every economic development dollar this government spends must lead to good-paying jobs.



In the coming year, we are committed to this goal. We will look for new opportunities to get D.C. residents, including returning citizens, on the job. Whether it is by way of our largest infrastructure projects or by creating incentives to attract and retain businesses – large and small.



We will make first-time capital investments to reinvigorate upper Georgia Avenue at Walter Reed and to spur development at Hill East. 


We will experiment with OUR RFP, a new endeavor to give the community the first opportunity to shape development. We will try it first right down the street at Parcel 42 in Shaw.



We will support vibrancy in historic Anacostia by reimagining and redeveloping the Gateway at MLK and Good Hope Road. Just this week, I announced our intention to redevelop a huge government owned parcel right at that very important intersection.



And, we will ensure that our small businesses are given a fair shot to compete for work on all of this development that’s moving in our city.



Your government is hard at work to give everyone a fair shot.



We are active participants in President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to narrow the achievement gap that is too pervasive in America today.



Late last year, I invited a group of 100 boys to take the Audacity of Hope Challenge.



The participants were challenged to read President Obama’s book and to examine how they can each improve themselves by improving their communities.



Each time, I meet with the participants, I am struck by their tenderness and their desire to be engaged.  They are not as tough as they think they are, they’re not even as tough as you think they are. What they are looking for is a pathway. What they are looking for are caring adults to show them the way. They are not looking for a hand out; but a hand up.



Earlier today, I announced a partnership that will guarantee 100 students in the Audacity of Hope Challenge year-round internships in businesses throughout the city.



Now, that’s a fresh start.



And tomorrow, I am excited to say that I will announce the first-ever Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity.

 The Deputy Mayor will be charged with creating solutions to improve outcomes for residents who face challenges to enter the workforce and start their way on the path to the middle class.

 Because we know that when they succeed, we all succeed.



Being mayor of my hometown is the greatest job in the world and the greatest honor. We are a city on the move and we have our share of challenges. But many of the decisions have been easy in the last 89 days.



Like standing up for marriage equality as we did by urging the Supreme Court to end marriage discrimination nationwide.



Like deciding not to send any District employees to Indiana.



Because we ALWAYS – Where’s Grasso? Grasso’s absolutely right – because we know that when we stand with the LGBT community, we won’t sit by, we stand in our city. We won’t stand by while other cities discriminate against the LGBTQ community.

We stand with DREAMers who deserve a chance to succeed.



We also join hands with our Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and our fighter on the hill to stand up to the bullies – like Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland’s 1st District – who seek to undermine the will of District voters.



And I think I can say this for the congresswoman, we won’t stop until we achieve statehood.



We will stand together for the District’s right to spend its dollars. As a councilmember, I supported Phil Mendelson’s efforts for budget autonomy. 

 And as mayor, I stand with him, the Council, and the 83 percent of D.C. voters who approved the referendum.



Because when we all stand together, we will succeed.

 I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish together, and I am excited about what more we will do together to create opportunity for all eight wards.



In one way or another, much of what we will do will be linked to my first budget, which I will deliver to the Council, balanced, this week.



I’ve already mentioned the budget deficit that we’re facing, and simply put, we came into office with a budget deficit of about a quarter of a billion dollars. That deficit means that we will have to make tough decisions about which programs to fund, which to cut back, and whether to raise taxes.



I challenged my budget team to look for savings, to trim only those programs that could withstand it, and I tasked them to do more with less.
This is what we have in store.  



So, this year, we’re adding an additional $32 million for DCPS and our public charter schools to keep pace with growing demand. Our public school system will enroll 2,000 more students this year, we’re growing.

 We are making capital investments in our DCPS schools so students can be comfortable, engaged, and inspired.



These investments will do much to improve educational outcomes for our students.



Unfortunately, the prospects of success for many students are poor. For instance, by fourth grade, nearly 50 percent of Black and Latino males are reading below grade level.



We know we have to do a better job at engaging these students and accelerating the pace of academic achievement so they have an equal chance of being successful in college, career and in life. They aren’t failing themselves. We are failing them.



To address this failing, in my first month in office, I stood with Chancellor Henderson and we announced a $20-million initiative to empower young boys and men of color.



We will also launch an all-male public high school that will focus on the academic success of these boys.



Councilmembers David Grosso and Kenyan McDuffie were bold, courageous and right to recognize that eight years of education reform has moved our boys too slowly.

 And Attorney General Karl Racine knows the importance of this effort and has those students’ backs just like we all do – regardless of whether the challenge comes from within or beyond. We thank him.



We need you involved as well. And that’s why we launched the 500 for 500 – an effort to recruit mentors to participate in the Empowering Males of Color Initiative.



We are very proud to say that we’re two-thirds of the way there. Which means we have one-third of the way to go.



Students have been matched with a mentor to improve their literacy skills and enhance their sense of self-worth.



And there is more we can and will do.



Last year, the Council approved—unanimously—the creation of the At-Risk student formula. Not an equal student funding formula, but a formula to give the schools with the most kids facing the most challenges the resources necessary so that they can succeed.


Now this year, Chancellor Henderson fully implemented the Council’s plan and the budgets reflects that. If we are going to move the needle, we cannot poke holes in this funding.



Last year, I introduced legislation that allows students to ride free on Metro Bus which saves families with two kids $720 a year.



We know that those savings goes a long way to help families make the rent, pay for field trips, or even buy a family computer.


More families could benefit from Kids Ride Free if it were extended to Metro Rail and we know that we should change that.


Because when those families succeed, we all succeed.



We know, too, that creating opportunities to attain pathways to the middle class means that we have to invest more in affordable housing.



The Housing Production Trust Fund is the District’s primary tool for creating and preserving affordable housing at a variety of income levels. I made a commitment last year that if elected mayor, the Housing Production Trust Fund would be budgeted at $100 million each single year. And I am proud to say, that we will deliver on that promise.



I know we will, because the At Large Councilmember for Housing – that’s what I call her, Anita Bonds – is going to fight for it.



I know that NKOTB – you know, you know what that means, the New Kids on the Block, that’s what I call them – Elissa Silverman, Brianne Nadeau, and Charles Allen they’re going to stand up for that $100 million for affordable housing and fight for it. Isn’t that right, New Kids on the Block?



Part of that effort will entail a genuine commitment to new communities. I spent a great deal of time as a Councilmember shining a light on the failings of that program; now I pledge to redouble my efforts to get it right.



Today, the District’s Interagency Council on Homelessness finalized a plan to end homelessness by making it rare, brief, and non-recurring.

 And, with the Council’s support of our homeless funding plan, we will deliver on another promise: ending family homelessness by 2018 and chronic homelessness by 2025 in the District of Columbia.



And you told me, “Bowser, D.C. General is no place to raise a child,” and we will, with your support, close D.C. General once and for all.



Now I’ve tasked Brenda, Laura, and Kristy with a heft task. I have. But they can’t do it alone. We can’t do it alone. We need your help. Closing DC General means this, producing small, safe, attractive transitional emergency housing throughout the District of Columbia’s all eight wards.



Long-time Boston Mayor Tom Menino used to say this: “The true privilege of being mayor is that I have the opportunity to be everybody’s neighbor,” and tonight, I extend that privilege to each and every one of you, and I challenge you to be more inclusive of those who need a hand up, in every neighborhood of our city.



Because we know that when they succeed, we all succeed.

 We succeed, too when we take steps to ensure a healthy population. The way the District has embraced President Obama’s health care law is a model for the nation. Today, more than 93 percent of District residents have insurance.

 Thanks to the president.



And despite the fact that almost everybody has insurance, we are not as healthy as we should be. We succumb to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes at rates higher than the national average. And I know we can do better.



Preventative health should be a focus, too. So, I am dedicating funds for the joyful markets; a partnership with nonprofits and schools that distributes free vegetables at pop-up markets in schools at the end of the month.



And when a resident needs a hospital – one should be close to their community. And that’s why I am committed to investing in the only East of the River hospital. To make sure we have a state of the art new hospital, east of the river. And that is what I’m looking forward to working with you to accomplish.



We want residents to led active lifestyles and I am committed to investing more in the Metropolitan Branch Trail – I’m looking at Leif as I say this. We’re looking to investing in recreation facilities, and in open spaces so that D.C. residents of all ages have opportunities to pursue a healthy lifestyle in ways that are convenient.



To create opportunity requires us to make our streets safer.



The safety and well-being of D.C. residents is my top priority and FEMS, our Fire and Emergency Medical Service is at the top of my list.

 Our fire and emergency services can do better.



We are undertaking a top to bottom review of FEMS and we’ve found more than we thought we’d find quite frankly. We have many more calls coming in, many – too many going unanswered, more than half of our ambulances were out of service, and equipment was rolled out without much training for our first responders. With the right leadership, we will change all that.



So, we did a nation-wide and found a professional, collaborative leader from the other Washington, Seattle. He led a department with an international reputation for its fire-based EMS performance. And I am certain that Chief Gregory Dean will work with our brave men and women who are our first responders to move the department forward in ways that will give you more confidence, and comfort in your homes.



Chief Cathy Lanier and her team at MPD are working hard to do that, too.



In the early 1990s, the number of homicides in the District regularly topped 400 a year. Street gangs and open air drug markets seemed to consume entire neighborhoods and the violence grew to epidemic proportions. This was the era when the District was known as the “Murder Capital of the World.”



From 2008 to 2012, we reduced homicides by more than half, to a level the District had not seen in nearly 50 years.

 And for the past two years, the annual number has remained below 100, an almost unimaginable notion back in 1991.



Since 2008, we have reduced overall violent crime, and that includes homicide, assault with dangerous weapons, sex assault and robbery by more than 18 percent.



And when comparing the most recent four years to the first four years of the 90s, we have had 1,446 fewer homicides. Now that’s not just a number. That represents more than 1,400 lives saved and innumerable families and loved ones spared unnecessary tragedy and loss. But that’s not enough. One homicide in this city is too many.



This progress, however, did not occur overnight. It took many years and a concerted effort to implement an effective policing strategy for combating violent crime and rebuilding the relationship between the police and members of the community.



Our progress on this front must continue, even in the face of the looming “retirement bubble” that will see us lose more officers each year than we can reasonably hire and train.



We will increase the number of officers on the streets this year by making sure that more officers are retained and the maximum numbers of officers are out on the streets, not doing desk jobs.



So, last October, the MPD launched a pilot program to test the use of body cameras. And today I’m here to say that the pilot is over and that we will expand the use of body cameras to all MPD patrol officers in the next 18 months. 
It’s the right thing to do for our officers and our residents.
 Accountability is embedded and will be embedded in everything this administration does. 



Accountability is why we are re-launching CapStat, a data driven government efficiency and, ultimately, service delivery tool. It’s a model that we once employed to great success; and it’s time get back to CapStat – it’s what I like to say.



We’ve already measured snow and trash removal efforts, and we know we need to make adjustments for next winter – that’s true.



Since becoming mayor, I still haven’t found a way to make the snow not hit the ground, but after 24 deployments and 58,000 tons of salt spread all over the city, we have the frontline workers to thank for clearing the roads and hauling all of the waste in our allies. I want to thank our workers.



So, when it became apparent that the weather made us fall too far behind on collections, I called the leadership in management and labor into my office and charted a path forward. We declared an “All Hands on Deck” and with the help of our frontline workers – and a few private haulers – we hauled over 1,000 tons of trash in a matter of three days.



My commitment for the next season is that we will find efficiencies and borrow a few best practices and we will for sure communicate better with residents about what we as a government can and will do.



Our Office of the Chief Technology Officer will launch another new initiative, “OpenDC,” a web-based portal that will permit third-party developers access to government data.



By doing so we encourage not only transparency from our end, but also the development of innovative solutions to pressing District problems. So stay tuned for our first Hackathon in May.



We will, we will celebrate innovation – not just the type that rewards you with love by swiping to the right or delivers a ride with a few taps. We will seek out innovation that makes life a little easier for a working mother trying to find social services or to use public transit.



That’s the same reason why we are building out an office dedicated to public private partnerships that will lower the time and cost for procurements in the District expertise and oversight of these complex projects so that public resources are used wisely.


These programs represent a modern, results-oriented approach to good government.



I’m convinced that by leveraging technology and business management strategies we can improve service delivery, and save money.


We know that we can do more to advance positive outcomes to those that are economically disadvantaged, especially in our east of the river communities.

 Because when all wards succeed, we succeed.



So before we close tonight, we must acknowledge that the job of keeping our streets safe is a shared responsibility.



When it comes to snow response, we gather 20 agencies on calls at all hours of the night to devise our plan of attack, communicate about how we will work to together and decide whether schools and government can operate.



For too long, when an act of violence occurs that we know could lead to further acts, we have looked solely to the brave women and men of Metropolitan Police Department to end the cycle of violence.



In my administration, that approach will get a fresh start, and we call it the Community Stabilization Protocol.



The Protocol harnesses the energy and bandwidth of over a dozen agencies – from our MOCRS, do you know our MOCRS, they’re out in the communities every day, to the Department of Behavioral Health – to provide support to the families of victims – and sometimes of suspects – to engage the community in finding a solution.



In the hours after an incident, a multi-agency call is convened. Within 12 hours, a member of the Deputy City Administrator’s visits the family, and within 24 hours, a multi-agency team visits the family and neighbors. And when necessary, a community meeting is held with 48 hours.



This approach is too new to hold up as a success, but we are pleased with its progress thus far. Families of those affected by violence have been open to assistance, communities have been engaged in the solution, and law enforcement has been able to interrupt the cycle of violence.



I cannot stand before you tonight and claim to have all of the answers to eradicate our toughest problems like senseless violence, but I can commit to you that we as a government and as a city will experiment with new approaches to face them head on. And we will always seek solutions that engage and empower our residents.



Tonight, I have spoken about the work we’ve done already to fulfill promises made. And I’ve detailed how we will continue to create opportunity in the coming months.



And I’ve spoken about how this administration strives every day to be responsive, inclusive, and decisive.

 I’ve spoken about this government, that it belongs to you, and about how we’re opening its doors to allow you better access.


I want to come back to that point that I started with.



Given our presence here at the historic Lincoln Theatre, and on the 150th anniversary of his assassination, it struck me as appropriate to invite you to an event that we’re all proud of and we should all support, celebrating Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia. And let me thank Councilmember Vincent Orange for his leadership, for his energy, and for never letting us forget our history.



Let me also offer you some words from the nation’s 16th president. Abraham Lincoln said: “The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves.”



You elected me to do what needs to be done to create opportunity for you and your family, to blaze a path to the middle class, to improve schools, make our streets safer, and our population healthier.

You know that I cannot do it alone. We want your help and we need your help. We want you to be engaged and we want you to make demands of us and we want to be held accountable.



I began tonight’s speech by recalling some other promises I’ve made previously, and I’ll end by making yet another on.



Every day I wake up humbled and grateful that you have placed in me your trust. That you believe that I’ll wake up everyday day to do the best job I can for the residents of the District of Columbia. I promise to live up to your expectations, to make yours a government that is open, accessible, transparent, and responsive to your needs. We pledge to make you proud.



Because when we succeed together, we all succeed as a great city.



Thank you for being here tonight. And may God continue to bless the District of Columbia.

12th Annual French Market
•

This Friday and Saturday, visitors to the stretch of upper Wisconsin Avenue known as Book Hill may feel like calling it “la Colline aux Livres.” That’s because the 12th annual Georgetown French Market, organized by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, will have once again turned the blocks between P Street and Reservoir Road into an open-air Parisian-style bazaar.

Between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days, more than 40 local fashion and home boutiques, antique shops, art galleries and cafés will be offering special displays and discounts. The sidewalk-sale ambiance will be enhanced with strolling entertainers.

On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the TD Bank parking lot on Wisconsin Avenue above Q Street will become a gathering place for families with children to listen to live music, interact with mimes and have their faces painted and caricatures sketched.

Live music with a Louisiana-gypsy-jazz flair will also be presented at Wisconsin Avenue and P Street and the 1600 block of Wisconsin Avenue near Urban Chic. The list of performers includes acoustic swing quartet Laissez Foure (a play on laissez faire – get it?), Yamomanem (said to be New Orleans patois for “your mother and the rest of your family and friends that always seem to be around the house”), the Rachel & Sean Jazz Duo, Swing Guitars DC and the Red Hot Rhythm Chiefs.

With some help from the Alliance Française of Washington, the Georgetown Public Library at the top of Book Hill is going Gallic with three special programs. On Friday at noon, art historian Vanessa Badré will lead a discussion, “From Versailles to China.” On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., there will be a Madeline storytime, with a reading of “Madeline at the White House” and a workshop in which participants will make their very own yellow hat. On Saturday at 2 p.m., Jacques Bodelle will talk about and sign copies of his book “Petite(s) Histoire(s) des Francais d’Ameriqué [A Brief History of the French in America].”

At Wisconsin and Volta Place, Georgetown Lutheran Church, founded in 1769, will invite French Market visitors to stop in for water and treats.

Among the curbside food options will be merguez sausages, sweet and savory crepes, Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches, BBQ chicken skewers, pizza and dipped fruit. Patisserie Poupon – which will feature chicken with lemon and olive tagine along with their extensive selection of fresh-baked pastries – is running a drawing to win an Illy Y5 Duo espresso machine, now through Saturday.

Free parking will be available Saturday at Hardy Middle School across from the Georgetown Safeway, near the intersection with 34th Street, where there is also a Capital Bikeshare station.
Participating Retailers (west of Wisconsin, north to south):

All We Art
Unique international fine art, wooden/textile handmade crafts, jewelry and bags.
30% off select items.

Urban Chic
Up to 80% off sale items; 15% off full-priced clothing and denim.

Simply Banh Mi
Banh mi sandwiches, Vietnamese coffee, milk tea and more.

Vicky’s Nail Boutique
25% off select nail polishes.

Kennedy & Co.
Stop by to meet our associates and pick up your free gifts.

Edible Arrangements
$3s moothies, $6 six-count and $12 twelve-count of dipped fruit.

Café Bonaparte
Crepe stand, $5 per crepe.

The Phoenix
50% off select clothing, jewelry and accessories.

Little Birdies
10% off spring/summer clothing, shoes and accessories, plus 40% off sale items.

Ella Rue
In-store select merchandise 50-75% off.

P Street Gallerie
Original works and prints by local, regional and international artists. Receive 10% off framing coupon with purchase.

Participating Retailers (east of Wisconsin, north to south)

A Mano
Up to 75% off house and garden.

Cross MacKenzie Gallery
10% off work inside the gallery; 40% off ceramic items outside.

Pretty Chic
60% off jewelry; 50% off clothing, shoes and handbags. Check out our backyard Secret Garden Sales.

Maurine Littleton Gallery
SwitchWood bow ties, art books. 30% off select artworks on paper.

The Bean Counter
BBQ chicken skewers, lemonade, cold and hot drinks. 10% off sandwiches.

The Dandelion Patch
50-90% off select items in our Georgetown store only. Restrictions apply.

Egg by Susan Lazar
Up to 70% off fall/winter apparel, $5 and $10 baskets filled with past season merchandise and 20% off our brand-new spring line.

Comer & Co.
Antiques and home furnishings. Check out our expanded collection of discounted items.

Moss & Co.
Up to 75% off. Assortment of home accessories, antiques, furniture, garden items, jewelry.

David Bell Antiques
Antiques and home furnishings.

Matt Camron Rugs
Rugs and textiles.

Marston Luce
Broad selection of antiques, accessories and jewelry.

Sherman Pickey
Up to 80% off men’s and women’s merchandise.

Patisserie Poupon
Croissants, macarons, and more. Grilled merguez, chicken and steak sandwiches. Illy coffee. French tablecloths, handmade African baskets and more.

Susan Calloway Fine Arts
Middle Kingdom porcelains and discounted frames.

Manny & Olga’s Pizza
$2.50-$3 fresh pizza slices and $1 drinks.

Pho Viet & Grille
30-40% off Vietnamese sandwiches, salads and coffee drink.

Reddz Trading
20% off all merchandise except Chanel and Hermes; table specials.

Bacchus Wine Cellar
Six-pack of French wines in reusable canvas tote, $50. Wine tasting at the cellar, prior to purchase. 15% off all French wines.

Nectar Skin Bar
Spring glam-a-rama sale: select make-up and beauty products 30-50% off.

Illusions
Hair artist styling outside (weather permitting), giveaways and gifts with purchase.

Kiki Lynn
25% off all full-price Kiki Lynn items.

Britt Ryan
Special prices/discounts off select dresses, tops and bottoms.

Winifred Paper
15% off ready-to-order stationery and ready-made note sets.

Ella Rue
50-75% off jewelry, 30% off scarves and hats, 50-75% off select designer merchandise.

Artist’s Proof
20% off art books by Phaidon, Taschen, Rizzoli and many other fine art book publishers. Stop by and indulge in works by both local and international contemporary artists.

Jaryam
Additional 20% off on sale items for savings up to 70% off.

Via Umbria
Take a break from the Frenchiness of the Market and shop Italian artisanal products. Umbria handprinted ceramics, pastas and tools for your Italian kitchen.

Appalachian Spring
Unique gifts and fine American crafts. 20% to 50% off select items. [gallery ids="102058,134553,134552" nav="thumbs"]

Lawsuit From Charlie Sheen Escort Goes to Trial
• April 23, 2015

”This is a clear violation of the District of Columbia Whistleblower Protection Act,” said Metropolitan Police Department officer Hilton Burton, as he initiated a lawsuit against MPD Chief Cathy Lanier in August 2012. The suit finally went to trial last week.

Burton filed a whistleblower lawsuit after he was demoted two ranks and transferred from his position in the Special Operations Division following a police escort of actor Charlie Sheen nearly four years ago.

In the lawsuit, Burton claims that the MPD did not have a ”clear policy in place to safeguard the health and safety to the public as it relates to non-dignitary escorts.”

Burton is suing for alleged violations of the Whistleblower Protection Act and seeking $1 million in compensatory damages. He also wants $1 million in punitive damages, lost wages, further attorney’s fees and costs, plus reinstatement to his previous police rank. Lastly, he’s looking to impose a civil fine in the amount of $10,000.

Lanier said that Burton’s demotion was performance-related, but he believes it was retaliation for questioning the veracity of the chief.

On April 19, 2011, Sheen traveled to Dulles International Airport to D.C. He received a police escort in order to be able to make an appearance at an event held at Constitutional Hall.

Sheen was so impressed by his escort that he tweeted with a photo attached: ”In a car with Police escort in front and rear! Driving like someone’s about to deliver a baby!”

After the details of the Sheen escort were revealed, the MPD released a statement informing the public that the incident was under investigation. More importantly, it said that it wasn’t its practice to utilize emergency equipment for non-emergency situations.

Burton said the MPD provided new policies on its escort procedure earlier this year, but at the time of the Sheen incident, Lanier told the Washington Post that the department did not give escorts to celebrities.

“There are limited circumstances where we do police escorts,” Lanier said in April 2011. She explained that those circumstances are based on security need and that protocols are needed to be followed when they do escorts.

In a curious twist, Charlie Sheen visited D.C. earlier in the week and tried to get Old Ebbit Grill to stay open past closing time on Super Bowl night. On Feb. 3, Sheen was at Charlie Palmer Steak along with his agent to have lunch with his father, actor Martin Sheen.
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Survey Shows Support for Glen Echo Trolley Trail Upgrades
•

According to a new community survey conducted by the Palisades Citizens Association, local residents support upgrading the old Glen Echo Trolley, the 3.1-mile path that runs along Canal Road between Georgetown University and Galena Place.

The Glen Echo Trolley line ran from Georgetown proper to the Glen Echo Park but hasn’t been in service for 52 years. Now overgrown with grass, the area is popular for recreational activities like jogging and dog walking and is utilized by Pepco and the D.C. government for select purposes. However, there is a dearth of park infrastructure in the area and existing fences and drains have decayed to an unusable state.

In response to PCA’s poll, more than 60 percent of respondents expressed support for improving drainage, mowing and erosion control. About the same amount of respondents said that bikers should have access to the trail as long as speed controls are instituted.

Creating a new parking lot and installing benches with lighting were unpopular proposals, while respondents were split on whether or not a new surface should be laid down on the old trolley line.

After releasing the poll’s results, the PCA’s trails committee recommended unanimously that the D.C. Department of Transportation perform a “comprehensive feasibility study” to look into upgrading and reconnecting the trolley trail. DDOT says that trail improvements will come in the next few years. The full PCA will hold a meeting to uncover the survey’s findings on March 6 at the Palisades Recreation Center at 7:30 p.m.

The survey was conducted between mid-October and mid-January and included 806 community members from the Palisades, Foxhall Village and Georgetown.

NCAA Men’s Basketball: Arizona to Win It All
•

All right, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has arrived. So, it’s time to make our 2015 NCAA predictions.

There are lots of ways to measure the performance of a team when preparing our 2015 NCAA predictions. Some examples, moving from least useful to most, are won-loss record, RPI rating, average margin of victory, NCAA tournament seed, and predictive power ratings. Yes, that’s correct: won-loss record is at the bottom of the list when it comes to making your NCAA predictions. Luck plays a large role in wins and losses, so margin of victory is a better predictor to use when making predictions for the 2015 NCAA tournament. Our power ratings combine margin of victory with information about who a team played, where they played them, and when they played the game. These are the most important factors when rating a team.

I must interject here that several teams in the select 64 simply do not deserve to be in the tournament. Texas and UCLA come to mind. They both have 13 losses on the season. Pathetic! Indiana doesn’t deserve to be in the tournament either.

I might also interject here that every sports pundit in America thinks Kentucky –including the President of the United States — will win it all, based on the fact that Kentucky has a purported five players who will go in the first round of the NBA draft this year. And they’re all freshmen. They may all make NBA teams in the first round, but they will not win this year’s NCAA Tournament. Stay tuned for my upset prediction.

Locally, it is impressive that Georgetown University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University have all made the cut to the select 64. They will all win their first two games which will take them to the Sweet Sixteen, but only U.Va. will advance any further.

I am also impressed by the state of Iowa, which is fielding three teams in the tournament: Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa. All three are sleepers and could surprise a lot of people. Another powerful sleeper to watch is Wichita State. They got to the Final Four last year remember, and they come in with a solid team this year as well.

Here is the way I see the four divisions coming out: In the Midwest, Kentucky will make the final four by narrowly defeating a tough Notre Dame squad.

University of Virginia emerges out of the East defeating a super Louisville team.

In the West, I see Wisconsin and Arizona in a heated battle with Arizona coming out on top.

And in the Southwest, it will come down to Gonzaga and Duke, but the stronger team will be victorious, and that is Gonzaga.

Thus, my Final Four will be Arizona playing Kentucky, and Gonzaga meeting UVA. Two great games for sure. The upset of upsets will be Arizona beating Kentucky handily, and meeting Gonzaga in the Final game for the title. Arizona has a solid starting five, including a very hot three point shooting guard and a big, tough center. Gonzaga also is solid, with a 5th year senior at point guard and he too can knock down the threes with ease.

I predict Arizona will be victorious in the end. And it will be great for college basketball to see the all freshman Kentucky squad go down in defeat.

Although a few games have begun, there is a link to this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament brackets. Take a chance, fill them it and see whether you, I or President Obama is right.

NCAA.com

Where in the World Is Walter Fauntroy?
•

Washington, D.C., civil rights leader Walter Fauntroy has fled the country. According to friends and family he is somewhere in Africa.

Fauntroy has been missing for the last year after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest in nearby Prince George’s County, Md. The 82-year old pastor and former Congressman, who was a trusted aid to Martin Luther King Jr., has had his passport revoked as a result of the warrant.

According to WUSA9, the warrant stems from an event to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama in Maryland in 2009 that Fauntroy was involved in organizing. He is wanted in connection with a bad $50,000 check he allegedly wrote more than six years ago.

Fauntroy’s family became suspicious of his whereabouts when he missed the events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Selma march in Alabama earlier this month. His friends are concerned about his mental state and well-being without any source of income.

Fauntroy claimed he had a relationship with former dictator Muammar Gaddafi when he first went to Libya. Since the State Department revoked his passport, Fauntroy will be taken into custody as soon as he returns to the U.S., his attorney said.

Potholepalooza Begins April 1
•

The seventh annual Potholepalooza will begin in Washington, D.C., April 1 and continues throughout the month.

Major evacuation routes and federal aid roads will receive priority repairs, according to the District Deparment of Transportation (DDOT).

However, Potholepalooza creates a month-long series of repairs directed by requests made to the city. In that time frame, the crews will work as quickly as possible, including on nights and weekends.

Pothole repairs are considered to be an effective temporary repair to extend the life of the driving surface before repaving takes place.

You can request pothole repair services by calling 311 or by completing a service request online through DDOT’s website. All you have to do is indicate the pothole location (i.e., address, intersection) and describe the severity of the problem (i.e., depth, width, number of potholes in one location). A service request will be put into the tracking system with a service request number.

It is DDOT’s standard to fix potholes within three business days of the time they are reported.

If the pothole hasn’t been repaired by the specified date of completion, you are encouraged to call 311 or 202-727-1000 with your service request number.