ANC 2C Recap 1-7-09

If I made any errors please correct me. and I'm on a blasted mac so I cant do links. ANC 2C met tonight at Kennedy Rec. after some bickering regarding whether to wait for 2C01 Commissioner AlexPadro, the meeting got under way upon his arrival. The commission proceeded with officer elections according to ANC 2C03 Chair Doris Brooks' agenda. It was agreed that Lydia Goring would conduct the election after some discussion & another community member had declined. ANC 2C02 Commissioner Kevin Chapple nominated C. Padro as chair. ANC 2C04 Theresa Sule then nominated C. Brooks as chair. The resulting vote deadlocked 2-2 which resulted in C. Brooks retaining her position as chair. It was around this time that Lydia Goring stated she could not conduct the election and left. Eloise Wahab took over conducting the election. C. Brooks then nominated C. Sule as Vice Chair and C. Chapple nominated C. Padro. The vote again deadlocked resulting a vacancy in that position. C. Sule was then elected as secretary and C. Padro was elected treasurer. C. Padro then declined the position of treasurer and also declined to submit the minutes of the December meeting. They could not elect anyone else for treasurer so I believe this results in C. Brooks retaining the position of treasurer as well. C. Sule stated that there were certain things in the community she was uncomfortable with and she felt had not been addressed. She also said she had concerns about potential conflict of interest with C. Padro if he were to serve as chair because of his position as director of Shaw Main Streets even though everything is legal. (note: Leroy Thorpe has already filed a complaint regarding this specific issue and the Office of Campaign Finance cleared C. Padro.) Miles Groves from DNA then got up and lamented the total lack of representation of the downtown area by ANC 2C. He and others stated that they had called C. Brooks many times, attempted to have her come to meetings, meet with her and they have never gotten any response. C. Brooks claimed that their meeting place is not in her boundary (it is) ands she didn't know anything about DNA, didn't know where they met and never heard from them. She promised to come to a meeting but neglected to write down any information regarding their schedule. However C. Sule did and expressed interest in attending a DNA meeting. Miles fortunately provided cards.

The atmosphere was a bit shell shocked. Business continued. A representative of the Chinese Benevolent organization at 510 I announced the Chinese New Year Parade which sill be February 1, 2-4:30pm. It starts at 5th & I and winds around 7th, 8th, G, H (go! its a really good time) There will be road closures. Commission voted 4-0 to support.

Next item was Ron from Good Libations. He requested support for his application for an exemption from the recently adopted singles ban. Cary Silverman presented the commission with a drafted voluntary agreement between Good Libations, MVSNA, & ANC 2C. The agreement reflected a vote of support at last month's MVSNA meeting and did include a provision for a 1 year trial period. Several community members voiced questions, some support. Miles Groves stated that DNA was against the exemption and they had worked hard to have the singles ban enacted because of problem establishments downtown. He was concerned that an exemption for Good Libations would contribute to negative issues downtown associated with singles and requested the commission work with ANC 6C on the issue. (ANC 6C boundary is slightly over 1 block away) He and Ron had some good back and forth discussion, Ron asserted his store had never been part of the problems Miles was raising (public drinking, trash...) The commission voted 4-0 to support the exemption and enter into the voluntary agreement provided the specific language of the trial period is accepted by ABRA.

Several meetings were announced by the community: MVSNA - (date change due to inauguration!) Tuesday January 27, 7:30pm at Busboys & Poets, corner of 5th & K. We are having our Hero awards and are still accepting nominations! there is a link on our main site. CCCA - Tuesday January 27, 7pm at Kennedy Rec. 1401 7th street NW (DNA meets on the 2nd tuesday of the month at Calvary Baptist church, 7pm, 8th Street NW bet. G & H. www.dcdna.org) special PSA 308 police & Secret Service briefing regarding inauguration - lots of street closings! Tomorrow night, Thursday Jan 8th, 6:30pm, Convention Center, Room 102a/b (NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo - this weekend at the Convention Center. Free screenings, massage?)

C. Padro then apologized to those who expected to be on the agenda that he had prepared. A representative from the Secret Service had left but there were several nonprofit reps who were there to hopefully gain support of Neighborhood Investment Fund grant applications. C. Brooks allowed the reps to speak:

Emmaus Services for the aging - now serving all of Ward 2 for their 2 free markets & computer labs each 1 asian, 1 non Shaw Community ministry for cooking/nutrition classes, fitness, college prep, scholarships, & legal resource. They serve seniors and teens Because We Care for their 911 Camp Community (health & fitness programs) Judah Project - College prep classes

C. Padro made a motion to support the NIF applications and the Commission voted 4-0 in favor. C Brooks adjourned the meeting.