I just printed out this invitation and stuck it under my neighbors’ doors. Will blog about what happens when it happens….
Dear Neighbor,
As you are probably aware, we are entering an election season, and the Ward 4 city council seat is one of the positions up for election this spring.
I have some real concerns for our neighborhood. Will the opening of Wal-Mart cause more of the small businesses on Georgia Avenue to close, and what’s the plan with that? Will the closing of Walter Reed mean more excess office/retail space for our area, and reduced property values? With Michelle Rhee gone what is the plan for our Ward 4 schools?
I’m interested to hear what the Ward 4 candidates have to say on these and other issues so I’ve invited a few of them to my house, and I’m inviting you to join us.
Join me Tuesday October 18 from 7:00-8:30 to meet two of the candidates: Keith Jarrell and Max Skolnik. Each candidate will have five minutes to introduce himself, and then we get to ask them questions. The formal question and answer period will end at 8pm, and from 8-8:30 we can chat informally.
I’ve never met either of these guys, and don’t know if I like either of them. This is not an endorsement. I just want to hear where they’re at, and why they’re running. I plan to do another one or two of these with more candidates including the sitting Ward 4 councilmember in the months to come. I hope you’ll come by, and let me know if you have any questions. PLEASE RSVP by email so we know how many to expect.
Your neighbor,
Rob
p.s. – In case you’re interested, the website for Max Skolnik is www.voteformax.com, and the website for Keith Jarrell is www.keithjarrell2012.com.
Dear Members:
Our event with Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, International Arts and Artist is Wednesday after work, June 8th, from 6:30 – 8:00pm at the Hillyer Art Space, 9 Hillyer Court NW in Dupont Circle. Following the brief presentations members from all three groups are invited to mingle and enjoy free beer and other refreshments. This event will feature presentations from Jay Dick and Walt Steimel. Jay Dick is the Director of State and Local Government Affairs at Americans for the Arts. Walt Steimel is an attorney and partner at Loeb and Loeb. Registration required / REGISTER here: http://bit.ly/ilq3ta
The investigation against Development Committee Chair Thomas (ward 5) just picked up speed. Response from Council and Administration offices indicates that the Chair of the Committee that oversee arts funding could be removed from his committee chairmanship before the summer recess. From the June 6, 2010 Washington Post report: “D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. arranged to have more than $300,000 in public funds diverted to groups he controlled, and used the money as a lavish personal account, purchasing an Audi SUV and taking trips to Las Vegas and Pebble Beach, the city’s attorney general said Monday. In releasing a highly anticipated report, Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan alleges that Thomas’s inappropriate “conversion” of the money for personal use was “willful, intentional and knowing.” http://wapo.st/m76eqS
The agency spending freeze imposed by Mayor Gray means that all ARTS (DCCAH) grant money has been temporarily canceled, and is delayed. See http://1.usa.gov/k6UzLJ The DCCAH has filed their appeal – as other agencies – and you can support their appeal by emailing the mayor and expressing your support. Email your support for DCCAH funding to eom@dc.gov and tell your friends to do the same.
The DC Advocates for the Arts is building coalition to advance DC’s creative communities. In organizing and growing the voice behind this sector, we will positively affect change that will advance the industry and District economically, nurture creative thinking skills in our children and further cultivate a culturally rich place to live. Please help us by forwarding this to a friend, and inviting them to become members of the DC Advocates for the Arts http://bit.ly/eOycMW
Hope to see you Wednesday. Don’t forget to become a member and register to attend for free!
The District budgeting process is a huge committee process. Thousands of city workers, community activists, politicians, press and business-people contribute to the final product. I am one of them, and I’ve been watching the FY12 unfold as closely as thousands of others. So on the day before the big budget vote — which is really serious business, and the culmination of months of jockeying and advocating and negotiating — I was really tickled to see this come through my twitter feed (via @debonis.) This won’t be as funny if you don’t follow dc politics, but here is an excerpt from amendments to the DC FY12 proposed by Councilmember Mary Cheh, and as presented on Susie Cambria’s blog (and thanks too to Susie for sharing):
Ward 3 CM Mary Cheh emailed (Word, .doc) her colleagues May 24 to present the budget support act provisions being moved by the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment. One item on the list is:
“For the purpose of encouraging the arts in the District of Columbia, the Committee recommends an allocation of $5,000,000 in capital funds to the new Department of General Services to construct an amphitheater along the Klingle Trail in Ward 3. Owing to the efficiency of a much-enlarged agency and the anticipated unanimous agreement among residents, the project is expected to be completed in 90 days. Additionally, $500,000 shall be transferred from the Executive Office of the Mayor to the Commission on Arts and Humanities. These funds shall be used to write, cast, and produce a play entitled Sulaimon Brown’s Service: The Musical. It should be noted, however, that the name is something of a misnomer as the title character, despite much mention, does not ever appear in the production….”
Link to the full word doc is live on Susie’s blog.
