News & Politics

Robert Devaney • January 13, 2012

The new year clean-up has begun. The Department of Public Works is now collecting Christmas trees and wreaths to be picked up curbside through Jan. 14. Remove all decorations and place the greenery in the treebox space or in front of your home now or by Jan. 9. Please do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags. Trees collected between Jan. 3 and 14 will be recycled. Any trees not collected by Jan. 14 should be set out with your trash to be picked up as space in the trash trucks allows over the following weeks.

The fall leaf collection program continues through Jan. 14, and every neighborhood in the District will have its leaves collected. DPW will collect leaves at least twice from residential neighborhoods by “vacuuming” the leaves residents rake into their treebox spaces.

Also, DPW will collect bagged leaves from the treebox space or the alley in neighborhoods with rear trash and recycling collections. Bagged leaves will be placed in the landfill. By collecting leaves, DPW reduces potential accidents and injuries resulting from slipping on wet leaves and prevent catch basins (storm drains) from clogging and causing street flooding during heavy rains.

Robert Devaney •

Your sweet wait is over! On Thursday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m., Pie Sisters of Georgetown will open its doors at 3423 M St., N.W.

With ovens, coolers and counter ready for action, Allison, Cat and Erin Blakely will feed the town’s new taste for pies, sweet, creamy and fruity — and a savory one, too. “People are excited,” Allison said. “They have been so nice.”

Flavors include apple caramel crunch, pecan, key lime and banana, coconut or chocolate cream. The shop will sell pies in three sizes: the $4-“cuppie,” seven-inch ($14 to $16) and nine-inch ($35) pies, but return the glass plate for $5 off next purchase — which appears irresistible. There are chairs and tables in front of the shop with a coffee counter as well.

Bakers, businesswomen and parishioners of St. John’s Church, the Blakely sisters hail from Great Falls, Va., two having gone to Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington and also played college basketball. Allison worked at the State Department and finance section of NBC in New York; Erin at BCBG Max Azria. Cat still works at the State Department.

Already known around town for their pies for weddings and social and charitable events, the Blakely trio said they chose the site because of its closeness to Georgetown University and its visibility — you can’t miss it turning off Key Bridge from Virginia — and that “the location is not too small and not too big.” Erin added: “We’ve had Georgetown students contact us for part-time jobs.”

Pie Sisters of Georgetown is at 3423 M St., N.W., one of the shops along Regency Row: 202-338-PIES (7437) — www.PieSisters.com

Robert Devaney •

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E — Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale — will meet tonight, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m., at Georgetown Visitation Prep, 35th Street and Volta Place, Main Building, Heritage Room, 2nd floor. Among the updates, a discussion of the government property, the West Power Plant on 29th Street, and its future use.

Below is the agenda (from the ANC website):

Approval of the Agenda

• Approval of the January 3, 2012, ANC 2E Public Meeting Agenda
Administrative

• Approval of November 28, 2011 Meeting Minutes

• Public Safety and Police Report

• Financial Report

• Transportation Report – O & P Street update

• Public Works Report

• Officers and areas of particular interest in 2012

• 2012 meeting dates

• Standing resolutions

• Security Trust Fund

Community Comment

New Business

•West Power Plant update – GSA plans and procedures for disposition (This item will come up before 7:00 p.m.)

•Friends of Volta Park designated as the official community representative for Volta Park

•GU Campus plan update

•Safeway traffic issue

Old Georgetown Board

PRIVATE PROJECTS:

1.SMD 01, 1738 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-026 (HPA 12-053) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Concept – revised design

2.SMD 02, 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-071 (HPA 12-124) Commercial, Alterations to window, awning and blade sign for Macaron Bee, Permit – revised design

3.SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 11-162 (HPA 11-255) Residence, Partial demolition, reconstruction of garage with enlarged footprint, Concept – revised design

4.SMD 03, 3254 O Street, NW, OG 12-083 (HPA 12-137) Residence, Alterations to rear of main house, remove chimney, Concept

5.SMD 03, 1432 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-025 (HPA 12-041) Retail, Sign for “DC Jewelry Center”, rolling grille, Permit / Concept – revised design

6.SMD 03, 1510 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-082 (HPA 12-136) Commercial, Alterations to storefront, sign scheme for “Luigi Parasmo Salon,” Permit

7.SMD 05, 3288 M Street, NW, OG 12-073 (HPA 12-126) Retail, Deck, Permit

8.SMD 05, 2810-12 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, OG 12-014 (HPA 12-014) Four Seasons Hotel – Eno Wine Bar, Rear addition with basement, window replacements, signs and awnings, Concept – revised design

No Review At This Time by ANC 2E: The following additional projects, which are on the upcoming November 3 agenda of the Old Georgetown Board, have not been added to the ANC meeting agenda for OGB-related design review and we do not propose to adopt a resolution on them at this time. If there are concerns about any of these projects, please contact the ANC office by Friday, December 30, 2010.

1.SMD 02, 1522 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-068 (HPA 12-121) Residence, Replacement rear fence, Permit

2.SMD 02, 1615 34th Street, NW, OG 12-058 (HPA 12-097) Residence, Replace rear fence, Permit

3.SMD 02, 1675 35th Street, NW, OG 12-081 (HPA 12-135) Residence, Rear additions and alterations to side, new window wells on front, Permit – revised design

4.SMD 03, 1513 33rd Street, NW, OG 11-285 (HPA 11-495) Residence, Alterations, dormers, partial demolition, Permit

5.SMD 03, 1525 34th Street, NW, OG 12-079 (HPA 12-133) Residence, Relocation of front door to side, alterations, Permit

6.SMD 03, 1408, -10, -12 36th Street, NW, OG 12—85 (HPA 12-139) Residences, Door surround, transom, window casing, Permit

7.SMD 03, 3240 P Street, NW, OG 12-061 (HPA 12-106) Commercial, Alterations to glass roof at rear yard, Permit / concept

8.SMD 05, 1050 31st Street, NW, OG 12-076 (HPA 12-130) Office building to hotel, Alterations, Permit

9.SMD 05, 1037 33rd Street, NW, OG 12-074 (HPA 12-127) Commercial, Sign scheme for “Flor,” Concept – options

10.SMD 05, 3067 M Street, NW, OG 12-072 (HPA 12-125) Alterations to storefront, sign and banner for “Rag & Bone,” Permit – revised design

11.SMD 05, 1059 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, OG 12-078 (HPA 12-132) Residence, Alterations to front and rear, deck, fence, Permit – revised design

12.SMD 06, 1248 30th Street, NW, OG 12-069 (HPA 12-122) Residence, Alterations to garage, Permit

13.SMD 06, 1235 31st Street, NW (also known as 1231-35 31st St, NW), OG 12-080 (HPA 12-134) Residence, Alterations and conservatory addition at rear, Permit

14.SMD 06, 3043 N Street, NW, OG 12-055 (HPA 12-093) Residence, Replacement brick garden wall at rear, Permit

15.SMD 06, 3130 O Street, NW, OG 12-056 (HPA 12-094) Church Parsonage, Replacement tin roof, Permit

16.SMD 06, 3127 P Street, NW, OG 12-077 (HPA 12-131) Residence, Alterations to front yard and light fixtures on side, Permit – revised design

17.SMD 06, 2624 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-062 (HPA 12-107) Church, Handicapped access ramp, Concept

18.SMD 06, 2908 Dumbarton Street, NW, OG 12-084 (HPA 12-138) Residence, 2-story rear addition, Permit

19.SMD 06, 1329 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, OG 12-054 (HPA 12-??) Retail, Sign scheme for “Comfort One Shoes” and “Mephisto”, awnings, Permit

20.SMD 07, 1601 28th Street, NW, OG 12-057 (HPA 12-096) Residence, New opening for garage door at basement of historic house, Permit

21.SMD 07, 2823 Q Street, NW, OG 12-075 (HPA 12-128) Residence, Rear alterations, Permit

22.SMD 07, 2516 East Place, NW, OG 12-067 (HPA 12-120) Residence, Alterations to rear, retractable awning, shutters, Permit

Gary Tischler •

At last.

Our long national nightmare is finally over.

No, we’re not talking about Watergate or the Redskins’ football season.

We’re talking about the endless debates, rise and falls, and media obsession with the political events leading up to the Republican race to “win” the Iowa caucuses, the first actual voting event in the grinding road to the presidential nomination.

It’s over.

Mitt Romney, the other Mormon candidate, squeaked out an eight-vote win over Rick Santorum, the surging ex-Pennsylvania senator and darling of the Christian right.

And now, it’s on to New Hampshire, where Romney, who has yet to get more than 25 percent in preference polls or this last vote-count in Iowa, is expected to get a little more than an eight-point margin of victory.

Still, let’s face it. This race so far has been a farce, a joke, a circus, a media obsession, and anyone who still thinks anyone can actually beat Romney—loved or unloved—is smoking something funny.

With the climax of the Iowa caucuses — aren’t you glad we don’t have to revisit that state anymore? — it’s time to say that Romney has won the nomination, and just give up on the idea that somewhere out there, there will come a man, or even Sarah Palin, who will ignite the fury of the Tea Party and smite down the bland, Gore-like Mitt, whose only known stand so far is the opinion that he is opposed to President Barack Obama.

I know—there’s dozens of primaries left all over the country stretching into the next few months—but there’s no chance that Romney can blow this nomination. He has too much money, too many good-looking children, and a blasé, murky, fuzzy, spin-like-topsy approach to issues that add up to a winner.

Maybe not a popular winner, maybe not an inspirational winner, but a winner nonetheless. Just ask Newt Gingrich, who was erased by a Romney SuperPAC attack in the blink of the time between two polls.

But seriously, folks, let’s take a look at this so-called race for the GOP lineup for the race to the presidential nomination.

All those pictures of the stalwarts lined up next to one another on a stage in debate after debate—truthfully, didn’t you just feel like giggling a little bit?

Except for Romney, who’s been there before, and who in the very least looks presidential, and can out debate anybody, that bunch looked more like a future “Dancing With the Stars” or “Celebrity Apprentice” cast than a group running for President of the United States. And don’t think that Michelle Bachman, now at last out of the race, might not show up and kick butt on one of those shows, not to mention Herman Cain, the pizza king, dial 9-9-9?

Romney was Mr. Steadfast in these proceedings, never really ahead of the pack but always the front runner, hovering around 25 percent in the polls. Every week, it seemed that there was a new leader: Bachman herself was the briefest of leaders in the polls after winning the Iowa straw poll which is something less than a caucus but something more than drawing straws for designated driver.

Along came the mighty Rick Perry, who figured if Bachman could win one thing, why he could probably win the whole thing just by showing up and throwing a Texas hat in the ring. He soared in the polls, running past Romney like a sprinter. So well-heeled and financed was Perry, so successful a politician in Texas (he could at no risk not return calls to Karl Rove) that there was a lot of boot-quaking going on, at least in the media.

Except that he showed up for the debates, where he proved to be as adept as Elmer Fudd, and even worse than the previous governor of Texas. Perry proved to have trouble with complete sentences, ideas and memory.

That was probably better than having trouble with women. Just ask Bill Clinton, I mean Herman Cain, the African-American former Pizza company executive with the 9-9-9 plan, who, for no discernible reason, rose in the polls and became the darling of the Tea Party, which by now had adopted a stance of anybody-but-Mitt. There came a time when Cain started behaving like he was in a national primary campaign and not a book tour, and further, he thought he could win. Right up until those pesky women showed up with their sexual harassment talk, including the last one who said she had a lengthy affair with him. Soon enough and inevitably, Cain folded up his campaign tent, went home to sleep on the couch and, as far as we know, has not been heard from since.

Enter Newt Gingrich the former Speaker of the House who caused Bill Clinton no ends of trouble, often married, author, intellectual, smart guy and, well, loose cannon. Still compared to the rest of the bunch, he looked like Einstein, although a portly Einstein. Romney, in fact, acted as if he were worried because chances were good that Gingrich could hold his own in a debate and had a blonde wife.

No worries. The Romney Superpac blasted Gingrich out of the water and into fourth place in the Iowa caucuses which he had led in the polls only 15 minutes ago, causing him to call Romney someone who didn’t tell the truth. Nobody dared call Romney a liar, but the word disingenuous came up quite a lot, which nobody paid attention to.

Enter — after lurking in the campaign and debates like a stalker — , who talked values, had little money and only recently said he would annul all gay marriages when he became president and that he would attack Iran’s nuclear reactor if he became president.
Nobody paid attention. Santorum was surging, and urging, and that was all that mattered. Give it another two weeks, and that will be the end of that.

The media — especially all the lads and gals with their iPads at the ready, their pie-charts and projections and their thumbs on the pulse of regular folks — can take a lot of the blame for this Iowa obsession. Media folks love the race itself, and ponder every vote and percentage point like high priests at a ceremony blessing the new consul in ancient Rome, pulling out hearts of chickens and rabbits feet to make their predictions. They love the process — so much so that they hang on every word a Perry, a Santorum, a Gingrich, a Cain has to say as if they meant something.

Did any of them seriously think that any of that bunch beside Romney was a serious presidential candidate?

And, oh, I’m sorry I forgot to say anything about Ron Paul, mainly because finishing third is like kissing your sister. And I’m sorry I forgot to mention Jon Huntsman, the other Mormon in the race because … well … I forgot.

Robert Devaney •

Georgetown’s and Burleith’s advisory neighborhood commission (ANC2E) met Jan. 3 at Georgetown Visitation Prep. Among other updates, here are the main headlines:

Tim Sheckler of the General Services Administration explained the process of the impending sale of the West Heating Plant on 29th Street, just south of the C&O Canal. Future bidders, such as those from the Levy Group and EastBanc, and a Fox5 News camera were also in the room. As it is designated Federal property, the plant and its land will be sold to the highest bidder “as is, where it is” in an online auction. The future buyer must contend with any cleanup, and the land is unzoned. GSA will simply sell the property without regard to its future use. There is no federal transfer to consider, Sheckler said, and there is no “financial angel” to pass the land to D.C. and its community for greater future control. Developers already have plans for the site which include condos in the plant building and parkland to the south at K Street and Rock Creek. (The Levy Group with partners which include the Fours Seasons Hotel Corporation has a comprehensive plan for such redevelopment.)
A Jan. 26 public scoping meeting is planned for the community. The property will be marketed in the spring with an approved sale expected by August.

Safeway’s Craig Muckle talked to the group about traffic concerns at its south entry on Wisconsin Avenue. The light for cars leaving the store get a left-turn green and then a right-turn green. The sequence leaves some cars waiting a little longer for their desired turns. (There is a north entry from the garage as well.) Some wondered whether an additional lane could be made for separate left and right turns onto Wisconsin Avenue; others said that would having pedestrians crossing three lanes at the sidewalk. Safeway and the District’s transportation department will discuss the three-lane exit option; the ANC will comment on that decision then.

Macaron Bee, coming to 1669 Wisconsin Avenue, got approval for its tri-fold window from the Old Georgetown Board with re-design requests. Shopkeepers plan to sell pricey macaroons (that’s the English spelling) to sidewalk sweets-lovers. The design is fine, but its intent is under scrutiny. That window could be used to sell almost anything and cause a noisy crowd along the sidewalk. Maurine Littleton, whose gallery is next to the new macaron shop, said she did not like the arrangement and added, “It’s not about macaroons.” Littleton, Kathleen McGarrah of the French Apartment and others said they preferred that customers go into the store to buy their cookies and coffee. The commissioners appeared sympathetic but wanted “to give the business a chance.” Without mentioning the sidewalk service window, the ANC resoluton supported Macaron Bee’s re-designs.

Gary Tischler •

All last year, it seemed, different parts of the District of Columbia government were hanging under a cloud of suspicion, as Mayor Vincent Gray, Chairman Kwame Brown and Ward Five council member Harry Thomas, Jr., await the outcome of federal investigations.

The city, in short, was waiting for one of the three shoes to drop.

This week, one of them did, and it fell on Thomas, who resigned Thursday night after rumors and reports had swirled all week on local television news, websites and newspapers that he had reached an agreement or deal with the U.S. District Attorney’s Office that he would resign and that he would probably be facing jail time.

On Friday, Jan. 6, Thomas stood up in U.S. District Judge and pleaded guilty to two federal felonies, admitting that he had embezzled $350,00 in government money meant to go to a youth athletic program and that he had falsified federal income tax reports.

According to a report in the Washington Post, he answered U.S. Judge John D. Bates with “Guilty as charged, your honor.”

The resignation was historic. Thomas, who occupied the Ward 5 seat once held by his father as well as current at-large council member Vincent Orange, became the first sitting member of the D.C. Council since the beginning of home rule to resign his office under a cloud. That’s a dubious distinction for a once promising political career.

Suspicions about the fraud, theft or embezzlings have been long-standing, first raised by a Republican opponent after his 2010 re-election campaign, although vigorously denied by Thomas. The money was apparently funneled through a non-profit called Team Thomas, created by Thomas as a source of funds for youth athletics, funds which Thomas allegedly used for luxury cars and vacations among other things.

Recently, indicating the seriousness of the federal investigation, teams of FBI and IRS agents launched a raid on the Thomas residence, seizing a number of items and an SUV. Thomas had also agreed to pay back the some $300,000, although he did not admit he had done anything wrong.

Things came to a head this week with reports from television reporters citing individuals close to Thomas that he would be resigning.

The result leaves Ward 5 without a council representative at least until May, when a special election could be held. In addition, there are also early races for the Democratic and Republican nominations for several council seats.

Several council members had already called for Thomas’s resignation, as did Mayor Vincent Gray recently. Chairman Brown was not among them.

“I think it’s time to move on and heal and and work as hard as we can to gain the trust of Washingtonians,” Brown said in a television interview. He also indicated he felt “confident” about the outcome of the investigation into his 2008 campaign practices.

Thomas’s resignation comes amid newly created ethics reform legislation which the council is now attempting to give a final approval.

There is no small irony that the ethics package, praised by many, but criticized by others for not going far enough, is on its way to becoming a fact of life in the District, with key members of the government still under investigation.

Jeff Malet •

What competitive activity combines precision dance, calisthenics, gymnastics, aesthetics, strength, teamwork, structural engineering, rhythm and pure fun? Hundreds of competitors from Virginia to Pennsylvania gathered on January 7-8, 2012 for the 5th annual Live! DC regional cheerleading and dance competition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the District. Participating teams competed in 5 class levels in a number of categories. The event was sponsored by The JAM brands (Louisville KY) which provides products and services for the cheerleading and dance industry. Successful teams will compete in the US Finals in Virginia Beach on May 5-6. It will be loud.

Capture some of the spirit by viewing our photos of the event by clicking on the icons below.

View additional photos by clicking here.
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