The Jack Evans Report

Georgetowner • December 14, 2012

We have one more legislative session in Council Period 19, on Dec. 18, and then our year will be over. I wrote in my last article about the dangers of considering over 70 bills at a single sitting, but I think at this point the field has been sufficiently narrowed for a more careful consideration of just a few bills with outstanding items needing resolution.

As I write this, I am also gearing up for another oversight hearing involving our Chief Financial Officer and the Lottery. The hearing will focus on real property issues, the implementation of a newly-created central collections unit, the lottery contract and other matters. Before we know it, we will start a new year and begin our official oversight process in advance of the mayor’s budget submission in March. I am particularly focused on funding additional library hours this year, as well as making sure all our schools have a full-time librarian, music teacher, art teacher and physical education teacher. While I am the first one to say that the District needs to act in a fiscally responsible manner, I want to reiterate that I do not support any public education plan that involves closing Garrison Elementary School or Francis-Stevens School.

Even though I’m elected to be a legislator, I always say half my job is working in the neighborhoods—perhaps the more important half and often the most rewarding. In addition to my focus on education, working to facilitate projects such as the Georgetown Waterfront Park, streetscape enhancements throughout the ward, the convention center hotel, the O and P Streets project in Georgetown, and responding to a tremendous volume of constituent requests is something I really enjoy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office, if there is anything we can ever do for you.

Thank you for your support in reelecting me to my Council position. My swearing in will take place on January 3, 2013, at the Washington Convention Center.

In closing, my family and I, as well as my staff, would like to wish you and yours a happy holiday season. This is always a wonderful time to spend with friends and family and to be thankful for all the blessings we enjoy. This is the last Georgetowner for the year. Happy New Year, and we will see you again in January.

Georgetowner • December 6, 2012

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Council Period 19 is wrapping up, and my colleagues use this time to finish moving forward all the bills they haven’t gotten around to moving earlier in our two-year legislative session. While I understand this tendency, I frankly grow concerned about rushing through more than 70 bills in a single legislative day without the time and deliberation they may deserve. On the other hand, I understand the desire to complete the work on bills and reports that have already received the benefit of a large amount of staff time, rather than having to start all over in a new year.

For better or for worse, we have a particularly long committee of the whole and legislative meeting scheduled for today, Dec. 4 (which is in the future as I write this, though I realize it will be over by the time the article is printed). A couple of particularly controversial items are on the agenda. First, a comprehensive alcoholic beverage regulation bill is up for a vote. While many of the provisions in the long bill seem to have consensus support, there are at least seven provisions that some of my constituents have found objectionable, and I intend to support several amendments that I understand will be brought today.

Another controversial bill on the agenda today is being brought by Councilmember Barry in an attempt to protect ex-offenders from discrimination in the workplace. After the well-publicized irregular nature of Mr. Barry’s markup vote – recessing and then reconvening only after opposing councilmembers had left the room – I understand the chairman is going to rule this bill out of order. While it may be preferable to have an up-or-down vote on the merits of the bill, that does not appear to be possible today.

In my committee, I marked up ten measures of my own recently, including revenue bonds and tax abatements for a number of important projects in our city, such as the Elizabeth Ministry project on 55th Street, SE, in Ward 7, the Israel Senior Residences project near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station in Ward 5, and the Howard Town Center project at Georgia Avenue and 8th Street, NW, in Ward 1.

In my oversight capacity, I am holding a hearing on our CFO and lottery on Dec. 13. While I continue to be concerned about the recent news reports and SEC inquiry, I am pleased to share that our recent issuance of tax revenue anticipation notes and income tax secured revenue bonds was extremely successful – the former garnered a rate of 0.19 percent (compared to 0.27 percent last year) and the interest rate for the latter is 3.16 percent (compared to last year’s 3.77 percent). The proceeds of the FY13 TRANS fund the District’s governmental expenses, and the proceeds of the FY13 ITSBs implement the District’s FY13 capital improvement plan that includes school modernization, renovation of public parks, transportation improvements and many other projects that benefit the citizens of the District. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns.?

Georgetowner • November 28, 2012

This week I want to put my views on the record regarding the recent proposal by DC Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson to close 20 DC Public Schools. In Ward 2, the proposal is to close Garrison Elementary School and Francis-Stevens.

In general terms, I have expressed support for the idea of finding efficiencies by closing under-enrolled schools. The problem, however, is that the savings projected from these closings never seem to materi- alize. No matter how many schools are closed, the DCPS annual budget of $2 billion keeps going up by 2% per year, maintaining the highest per pupil funding formula in the nation. In the past ten years, the number of public school students has been cut in half, but our budget has doubled! And yet, so many of our schools still have no librarians, music teachers or art teachers. I introduced a bill to mandate that each public school be provided with a full-time librarian, music teacher and art teacher, and I believe any savings from school consolidations should first be used for these purposes.

Now to the specifics of the Chancellor’s proposal. With regard to Garrison, I have let the Mayor and the Chancellor know that I am opposed to its closure and understand Councilmember Graham agrees, as a number of Ward 1 families also support Garrison. Garrison, with its lively and involved support system consisting of parents, a strong PTA, and community support from the LCCA and the ANC, should remain open. If consolidation is needed, students can come from Seaton to Garrison. Garrison is at nearly 70% capacity – higher than almost any other school set to close. Consolidation of Garrison and Seaton will result in children being in trailers – this is not a good option!

With respect to Francis-Stevens, I have let the Mayor and the Chancellor know that I am opposed to its closure also. While I support School Without Walls and think the concept of using space at Francis-Stevens is an interesting idea, I cannot support the idea of clos- ing Francis-Stevens as it exists today. When the execu- tive closed Stevens School, a commitment was made to the community regarding Francis-Stevens. If enroll- ment numbers are down, it more likely indicates prob- lems with the K-8 model rather than a lack of need or demand for educational resources in the neighborhood.

I have been pleased by the Chancellor’s tone in being open to feedback from the neighborhoods and would urge you to make your views known. In addi- tion to the Council hearings, the DCPS website lists several ways in which parents and the community can provide feedback. While there are four community meetings scheduled, I have to note that just one single meeting has been scheduled for parents from wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 together, on Dec. 5 at Brightwood, 1300 Nicholson Street NW. Please try to attend the meet- ing and share your views so that Ward 2 is not taken for granted. The DCPS website also provides a link to an online forum, as well as a promise of office hours that will be announced beginning Dec. 5. Please let me know your thoughts, as well, so that I can continue to advocate on your behalf.

Jack Evans • November 15, 2012

Tuesday was a great day for our city, country and indeed the world. The initial election of Barack Obama as President of the United States was a historic and exciting event, and his reelection under- scores our ability to remake our government so it lives up to the highest ideals of our nation, both at home and abroad. His reelection brings both possibilities and responsibilities. The continued problems in the world’s financial systems pose distinct challenges to both our national and local economy. The responsibility of providing our residents with health care, an education, jobs, and real opportunities are high on the agenda. The threat of terrorism and war is something that can render any or all other priorities asunder.

I still believe Barack Obama’s pledge to create a new political framework in this nation, to reach across lines that have divided us to find solutions, is the right approach to finding practical solutions to the problems we face. As a region and a city we also have an agenda to pursue with the federal government – not the least of which is the question of full statehood and voting rights in Congress for the District. We also need to work to ensure the federal government partners with us to stimulate the economy – particularly by locating federal agencies right here in the District rather than in neighboring states.

At the local level, I believe it is important to bring people together again to work through problems we face here in the District. From days past, particularly in 2002-2003 when we faced budget challenges more severe than we do today, it was imperative that all the major stakeholders come together. While I know we won’t always agree on a plan of action, I look forward to having more dialogue with my col- leagues, the Mayor, and members of the community on budget and policy issues.

In Ward 2, I am, of course, excited about my reelection, and thank you to everyone who supported me. Our city and nation face some very interesting times ahead, but after last week’s election I have renewed energy, hope, and faith we can meet the challenges ahead. I heard unfortunately of a number of instances of inefficiencies or other problems in polling places – please let me know of any experiences you have had, positive or negative, that I can convey to the Board of Elections. On a final note – please be patient as we take down all our campaign signs – and if you see any that are still up after a week or two, please let me know.

Georgetowner • October 16, 2012

In my last column, I gave a lot of credit to Dr. Natwar Gandhi, the District?s Chief Financial Officer, for his leadership in helping to restore our credit rating. This results in a very real tax dollar savings as we engage in capital projects such as libraries, schools and parks. Dr. Gandhi has been instrumental in overseeing the financial resurrection of the District of Columbia and in generating an overall financial structure for the city that not only has provided annual surpluses but also has infused Wall Street with the confidence to, year-after-year, improve the city?s bond ratings and lower our cost of capital. In light of the comparatively negative financial condition of other major cities in the U.S., this is no trivial accomplishment. For this effort, Dr. Gandhi deserves well-earned praise.

Far too frequently, however, management issues within the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer are uncovered that appear ? at least to the general public ? to indicate that the agency is not being managed well. At times, it appears that the OCFO does not have
proper senior management oversight of day-to-day functions and is not operating with
proper financial controls. For these reasons, I convened a hearing this week in my oversight capacity as Chair of the Council?s Committee on Finance & Revenue.

As many of you may know, there has been a series of articles in the Washington Post and other news sources raising red flags, such as the recent resignation of the CFO?s internal auditor, allegations that have cast doubt on the background and qualifications of the Chief Assessor, and audit results questioning the strength of internal controls put in place after the Harriet Walters scandal. My objective was to determine what actions have been taken and safeguards implemented to assure that the individuals handling taxpayers? funds on
a daily basis do not have the opportunity to misappropriate funds in the future. It is also critical that these safeguards be reviewed and approved by independent auditors.

My committee took testimony and questioned witnesses for several hours last week. The testimony of the CFO?s former internal auditor was that there is no ?smoking gun.? But while no one else is alleged to have stolen any money, there does seem to be an issue with regard to transparency in the OCFO. As a result of this hearing, we will see more disclosure of both the subjects and outcomes of the CFO?s internal audits in the future and a general tone of community engagement by the CFO. As always, I welcome constituent feedback on these and all issues that impact
our city.

Jack Evans • September 20, 2012

Our first legislative session of the fall was this week, and I’m looking forward to finishing out the year on a positive note. For those of you who regularly read the Georgetowner, I recently wrote a piece highlighting a few gaps I see in our public schools and library services. Just before the summer recess, I introduced a bill to expand our library hours. This week, I introduced a bill that would require each public school to have a full time librarian, art teacher, and music teacher. It is hard for me to believe we continue to invest nearly $2 billion a year into our public schools—yes, that’s “billion”—with the highest per-pupil funding formula in the nation, and yet have the worst educational outcomes in the nation. This suggests to me our money is not being spent in the right places.

I also introduced a bill to limit the way the Council is able to intervene in the contracting process. Too often, we have seen allegations of ethical violations by members of the Council who are seen as advocating for or against a particular vendor that may have personal or campaign involvement with the member. Some of these contracts are for large amounts of money. I believe contracting should happen through a merit-based selection process insulated from political pressure.

On a related note, campaign finance reform is another area of focus for me this year. There will be a lot of discussion about new laws and regulations, even as the election cycle is in full swing, in light of the Mayor’s legislative proposal last month. Keep in mind the legal troubles several members of the government have been facing are not because the laws need changing, but rather because the laws already on the books have been allegedly violated. For ethics and campaign finance rules, I have consistently supported enhanced disclosure requirements, more rigorous enforcement when violations are discovered, and more meaningful penalties assessed on violators. Current practice is to simply assess a penalty a year after an election is already won; for example, politicians can view a penalty as simply a cost of doing business, and it is invariably paid with campaign funds rather than out of an elected official’s own pocket.

Last on the legislative front, I introduced a resolution again relating to the future possibility of a commuter tax. Many Virginia and Maryland residents take advantage of the infrastructure and business opportunities offered within the District every day, and yet don’t contribute to its upkeep through their income tax dollars. I have had productive discussions with Congressman Darrell Issa, who chairs the House Committee with oversight over the District, and believe we may have Republican support for this proposal along with concepts such as budget autonomy.

I look forward to the upcoming Council session and working on the challenges ahead.

Jack Evans • September 6, 2012

Summer is over, and the kids are all back at school. The routine has returned, and with it the District Council goes back into session Sept. 15. Our first legislative meeting will be held later this month.
Although the council doesn’t formally meet between July 15 and Sept. 15, a ward councilmember’s work is never done. My staff and I were busy all summer long addressing constituent issues around Ward 2, such as parking, sidewalks, traffic and city services. I was also pleased to attend a number of community events, such as the groundbreaking for the former Hurt Home. The Home is a public-private partnership that features a new residential development, while also offering an affordable housing component for visually impaired District residents.

On the subject of education, our public schools will continue to be a primary focus of mine this year. I was pleased to attend the annual school beautification day this summer and am committed to providing top-notch facilities for every student in Ward 2. I structured the funding for the School Modernization Act several years ago, committing $100 million per year to ensure that students in every ward in the city would have access to state-of-the-art facilities. Unfortunately, despite unparalleled facilities and the highest per-pupil operating budget in the nation, our schools continue to underperform. Despite having the most richly funded education system in the country, we don’t have a librarian or art teacher or music teacher in every school. This is unacceptable. I introduced a bill for increased library hours before recess and plan to introduce a bill relating to school librarians later this month. I just read that Montgomery County has library hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Compare that with nearly all our locations being closed on Sunday, and only limited alternating morning hours on weekdays. Finally, I believe it is important for our children and young adults to have arts education. I identified an additional $6.8 million in our last budget to fund arts initiatives in the District, filling a gap in programming left in our public schools.

Campaign finance reform is another area of focus for me this year. There will be a lot of discussion about new laws and regulations, even as the election cycle is in full swing, in light of Mayor Gray’s legislative proposal this week. Keep in mind that the legal troubles several members of the government have been facing are not because the laws need changing, but rather because the laws that are already on the books have been allegedly violated. For ethics and campaign finance rules, I have consistently supported enhanced disclosure requirements, more rigorous enforcement when violations are discovered and more meaningful penalties assessed on violators. Current practice is to simply assess a penalty a year after an election is already won. For example, politicians can view a penalty as simply a cost of doing business, and it is invariably paid with campaign funds rather than out of an elected official’s own pocket.

Finally, the mayor and council must continue to focus on economic development and job creation. As the economy continues to improve, we must take advantage of opportunities to enhance our city.

I look forward to the upcoming council session and working on the challenges ahead.

Georgetowner • August 22, 2012

I read with great concern a recent Washington Post article, “Surge in D.C. tax office settlements reduces commercial property owners’ bills.” In case you missed the article, the major premise was an assertion that our tax office was unjustifiably lowering tax assessments of major commercial developments in the city, costing us as much as $48 million in lost tax revenue in 2012.

Since the tax office falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Finance and Revenue, which I chair, I asked for a substantial volume of data right away and will be continuing to review it in coming weeks. The CFO’s initial response has been that if these cases had gone to trial, the judges would have set the assessments even lower overall, resulting in further lost revenue for the District. I will be seeking to determine whether the CFO’s response can be substantiated, or whether something in the process is broken. I intend to hold a hearing on the issue if I suspect the latter.
Initial anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that the article is a bit off base. For example, the article cites Gallery Place, which apparently received a 24 percent reduction from its proposed assessment value, cutting its bill to the city by $1 million. Information I am receiving, however, suggests that the initial assessor used an estimator of likely rent collected by the owners in coming up with an initial assessment. In general, this is a good practice, since we have a relatively small number of assessors to cover a tremendous volume of real estate. In the case of Gallery Place, however, the timing of the development as an anchor in what was then a transitional area means that actual rents collected, as dictated by long-term contracts, are meaningfully lower than the market rate. Thus, it would seem reasonable that a tax supervisor would notice and correct the error during the appeal process rather than forcing the owner to go to trial – this is how we want our government to work. Even after correcting the error, the Gallery Place development was assessed a 6.5-percent increase from 2011, which is encouraging.

Those who park on the street are well aware that, despite any other weaknesses in our government, our ticket writers are “the best in the business.” In the same vein, I have found that our tax office is quite zealous in identifying and collecting all tax revenue due to the District, sometimes to my constituents’ chagrin. At times, mistakes happen, but I am hopeful that my continued review will reveal that these settlements were made for principled reasons that were in the best interests of our residents.

As I said in my article on Natwar Gandhi’s re-nomination as the District’s chief financial officer a couple of months ago, the ultimate judge of the success and stability of our tax office is in the rating agency assessments of our bonds, which determine the costs we have to pay to build schools, libraries and parks. Particularly during this time of instability in our government, it is critical to have an independent CFO that inspires confidence on Wall Street as well as on Capitol Hill, and Dr. Gandhi uniquely meets this description.

Georgetowner • August 8, 2012

As I write this article, the Washington Nationals have the best record in Major League Baseball. It has been widely reported that you have to look back to 1945 to find the last time our team was 20 games above .500. We are clearly in uncharted territory.

Before baseball came to Washington in 2005, it was a real challenge to get the District government to embrace the team. I want to acknowledge the seven members of the District Council who consistently voted in support of baseball: Linda Cropp, Vincent Orange, Sharon Ambrose, Kevin Chavous, Harold Brazil, Sandy Allen and myself. Without them, and without the leadership of Mayor Anthony Williams, we would not have a team here today.

Not only is the team performing well, but the area around the ballpark is now beginning to develop rapidly. I cannot begin to tell you the number of articles I read about the failure of this concept. With a little patience, I knew this investment would pay off.

We are yet again having record-setting temperatures this summer. The best thing you can do in this kind of heat and humidity is to take it easy and have a cool, frosty drink nearby – the ballpark is a great place to do that!

With the arrival of the summer comes the council’s summer legislative recess. Just because we do not “officially” meet does not mean that business comes to a standstill, however. In addition to using the opportunity to draft legislation in advance of the fall, my office spends much of its time providing constituent services – our constituents’ requests don’t take a vacation. All summer long, my staff and I answer calls, letters, and e-mails on issues relating to trash, potholes, permits, taxes and so many other services, advocating for our constituents before city agencies as needed.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. But just when we hit a great stride, it will be September, and work and school will return to everyone’s minds. Though without jinxing anything, perhaps we will also be gearing up to host some Major League Baseball playoff games?