11th Street Bridge Project to Begin

NOTICE:

11th Street Bridge Project Construction to Begin

On or about Tuesday, December 29, 2009, contractors will begin 11th Street Bridge Project construction activities, which may be noticeable to area residents and businesses but ultimately result in a number of important benefits.

Initial work will include pile driving in the Anacostia River to construct foundations for three new bridges - one for local and two for freeway traffic. Barrier placement, off-roadway clearing, and drainage work is also to begin adjacent to both directions of DC 295, later resulting in shoulder encroachments and minor lane shifts. Eventually, land-side pile driving on both sides of the river will be required to construct new connecting ramps and improve the highway. To minimize impacts, noise and vibration levels will be monitored at all times.

The new bridges will be constructed between the existing bridges, which are projected to serve almost 180,000 vehicles per day by 2030, allowing contractors to maintain all existing travel movements and 12-foot travel lanes except during approved work in off-peak travel hours.

In addition, contractors will practice good neighbor construction by establishing designated haul routes, having most materials delivered via the river or highway, controlling dust, and requiring that workers not park on neighborhood streets.

Scheduled for completion in mid-2013, the $300 million project will:

• Improve mobility by providing separate freeway and local traffic connections to both directions of DC 295, the Southeast-Southwest Expressway, and local streets on both sides of the Anacostia River;
• Provide a shared path for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as rails to allow future streetcar connections;
• Replace the existing functionally deficient and structurally obsolete bridges;
• Provide an additional alternate evacuation route from our Nation's capital, and;
• Include new trail connections, improved drainage, and other environmental investments.

The 11th Street Bridge Project and District Department of Transportation regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding during construction.

For more information, please call Public Information Manager Bryon Johnston

at 202-484-2330, Ext. 137 or email

ddotpublicaffairs@dc.gov.

Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Great Streets Project start on December 28th.

***DDOT TRAFFIC ADVISORY***

Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Great Streets Project

To Begin Monday, December 28, 2009

Temporary Lane Closures Scheduled

(Washington, D.C.) - The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to begin infrastructure and roadway construction work on the Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Great Streets Project on Monday, December 28, 2009, weather permitting.

The Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Great Streets project covers 2 miles of construction from 200 ft. west of 27th Street to Southern Avenue and will include the installment of a median, streetscape, utility upgrades, new curb, gutter, pavement and landscaping.

During the first five months of the project (weather permitting), the pre-phase work will not require permanent lane closures, however, motorists are advised that temporary closures will be in place.

Once the initial pre-phase is completed, the remaining construction will be conducted in four full phases with permanent lanes closures in effect (not scheduled to begin until May 2010).

During the pre-phase, work will require single lane closures at specified locations from 27^th Street to Southern Avenue both in-bound and outbound on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Work Hours during the pre-phase will be from 9:30am – 3pm Monday through Saturday.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty along with District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein and representatives from the Federal Highway Administration recently kicked-off the project taking the opportunity to thank other city agencies, regional partners and especially the community and neighbors who have been a part of the planning of the project from the beginning.

The project is designed to create a safe place where residents, visitors and regional travelers can travel over, across, to and through the corridor on foot, bus or car with ease and comfort while developing a street that is kind to the natural and human environment with majestic trees, enhanced park spaces, and reduction of the environmental impact of the corridor.

Details of the project and pending phases can be seen on the project website atwww.ddot.dc.gov/pennave. The location of the project construction office is 2410 Minnesota Avenue SE. The office staff can be reached at (202) 641-6739 and walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday 1 to 4 pm.

Seasons Greeting!

After the season past of tumult and challenge, this Holiday Season should be a time for and of mirth, murth, love, compassion, and family. Cheers to all and Happy Holidays!!!

Penn Branch Citizen Civic Association

A New Years Eve Celebration

You are cordially invited to join

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church

for a night to remember!

Featuring the Jazz sounds of R&R (Howard E. Riley, Jr. and Terrence Richburg) and Christian Comedian Tommy Taylor Jr.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Watch Night Service at 10:30pm in Sanctuary

New Years Eve Celebration

Immediately following service in Chapel

(Approximately 12:10am, Jan 1, 2010)

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church

3000 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20020

Reverend Dr. Kendrick E. Curry

Senior Pastor

— $25.00 Adults (19 & up); $10.00 Youth (13 -18); Children 12 and under free—

Call 202-581-1500 for tickets and additional information or call Alberta Paul at 202-575-2920

Council of the District of Columbia

Committee of the Whole

Notice of Public Roundtable

John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20004

Chairman Vincent Grey

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE

BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON

PR 18-585, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REGINALD M. FELTON CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009;”

PR 18-587, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA KENDRICK E. CURRY CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009;”

PR 18-622, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELAINE CRIDER CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009;” and

PR 18-623, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA CEDRIC BOBO CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009, 11:00 A.M.

JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING, ROOM 500

1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray announces the scheduling of a public roundtable by the Committee of the Whole on PR 18-585, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Reginald M. Felton Confirmation Resolution of 2009;” PR 18-587, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Kendrick E. Curry Confirmation Resolution of 2009;” PR 18-622, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Elaine Crider Confirmation Resolution of 2009;” and PR 18-623, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Cedric Bobo Confirmation Resolution of 2009.” The public roundtable is scheduled for Friday, December 18, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The purpose of the roundtable is to provide the public with an opportunity to comment upon the Mayor’s nomination of Reginald M. Felton; Kendrick E. Curry; Elaine Crider; and Cedric Bobo for appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia.

Persons who wish to testify are requested to contact Aretha Latta, Administrative Assistant to the Committee of the Whole, by telephone at (202) 724-8196 or by e-mail at alatta@dccouncil.us, and furnish their names, addresses, telephone numbers and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Witnesses should bring 20 copies of their written testimony to the roundtable or submit one advance copy of their written testimony by Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Persons presenting oral testimony may be limited to 3 minutes in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard. Written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record in their entirety. All statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, John A. Wilson Building, Suite 410, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004.

DDOT Planting More Than 3,000 New Trees

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Media Contact: John Lisle at 202-671-2004

Citywide Tree Planting Season Now Underway

(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has begun planting more than 3,000 new street trees to help meet Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s Green DC Agenda goal of expanding the tree canopy and establishing the District as one of the world’s pre-eminent green cities.
From reducing crime and domestic violence to improving economies and recuperation rates of hospital patients, research has proven that trees provide critical benefits to cities far beyond aesthetics, air quality, and water runoff.
From December to May, DDOT’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will plant the new trees across all eight wards of the city. Planting locations are based on requests that were made by residents to the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center before July 15, 2009.
“One of the most effective ways a resident can improve the social, ecological, and economic value of a neighborhood is to help ensure new trees thrive,” said John Thomas, DDOT’s Chief Forester. “In the first two years, these new trees need attention to get established. We ask residents to share that responsibility, and in the end we will all benefit from a beautiful tree canopy across the city.”
Residents are already responsible for maintaining property to the curb. Those who go a step further and sign a partnership agreement to water, mulch, and monitor the health of specific trees in the first two years after planting, will receive free watering bags and instructions from UFA.
The tentative planting schedule will begin with Ward 7, then Ward 8, 5, 6, 2, 1, 3, and 4. The planting schedule for specific neighborhoods will be posted on the UFA website this week, but is subject to change due to equipment, weather, emergencies, and other extenuating circumstances.
In addition, UFA will plant 100 elm trees in a partnership with Casey Trees and team up with the organization Trees for Georgetown to plant 40 new trees in that historic neighborhood.
The mission of the Urban Forestry Administration is to establish a full population of street trees within the District and to ensure that those street trees are maintained in a healthy and safe condition. UFA has 16 certified arborists on staff who are responsible for issuing permits, enforcing regulations, and caring for approximately 140,000 trees throughout the city.
####

John Lisle | Public Information Officer | District Department of Transportation | Office of the Director | 2000 14th Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20009 | 202-671-2004/direct | 202-486-5838/cell | 202-671-0650/ fax | John.Lisle@dc.gov, e-mail | www.ddot.dc.gov

Christmas Ice Show at Fort Dupont Ice Arena

The Fort Dupont Ice Arena is hosting its annual Christmas Ice Show on Sunday, December 13 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. The theme is “Motown Memories Holiday Ice Show”. The show will be held at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Place, SE, WDC 20019. The show is free but a $5 donation per person is suggested. For more information contact: Emily Mayer, Skating Director, 202-584-5007.

Meeting Annoucement: National Museum of American History and Culture building plans for the National Maul

You Are Invited

to the

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement
Public Scoping Meeting

to discuss the proposed
National Museum of African American

History and Culture Building

Thursday, December 10, 2009
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Smithsonian Castle
Castle Commons
1000 Jefferson Drive S.W.

Washington, DC 20560

The Smithsonian Institution and the National Capital Planning Commission will host a combined public and agency scoping meeting on the proposed construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The new museum will be built on the National Mall on a five-acre site at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
The meeting will solicit public comments for consideration in the Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which will assess potential effects of constructing and operating the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Since the Tier I EIS was completed in summer 2008, an architectural team has been selected for the museum and pre-design studies, including a geotechnical report, have been completed. The Tier II EIS will study the effects of more refined concept alternatives that the architectural team will develop using the building parameters and design principles that came out of the Tier I EIS. The meeting also will cover the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process. Discussion topics will include land use and visitation, cultural resources, transportation, and natural resources. Representatives of the selected architectural team of Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup will be at the meeting.

Comments also can be submitted as follows:

• By e-mail: NMAAHC.EIS.Comments@aecom.com
• By mail: EDAW/AECOM
  Attn: NMAAHC EIS Comments
  601 Prince Street
  Alexandria, VA 22314

DDOT Director to Host Online Chat This Friday

First Live Discussion will Focus on Agency’s Overall Vision

(Washington, DC) -- District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein will take questions from an online audience during a live chat this Friday, November 20, 2009, at 12:30 pm. Director Klein will discuss DDOT’s overall vision and plans to improve the District’s transportation system.

Residents can join or follow the discussion at ddot.dc.gov/livechat. They may also submit questions in advance by email to ddotpublicaffairs@dc.gov. As many questions as possible will be answered during the hour-long session.

Event Details:
What: Live Chat with DDOT Director Gabe Klein
When: Friday, November 20, 2009, 12:30-1:30 pm
Where: ddot.dc.gov/livechat

This will be the first in a series of monthly online chats with Director Klein and DDOT staff. Subsequent discussions will focus on more specific topics including customer service, parking, snow removal, streetcars, trees, road and bridge construction, public space and bike and pedestrian initiatives.

The live chats will add another dimension to DDOT’s outreach efforts which have already expanded this year to include more interactive communications with District residents. In addition to the DDOT website, ddot.dc.gov, the department has a facebook page and a twitter account, www.twitter.com/DDOTDC, to provide “know before you go” updates about traffic, construction projects, events and other transportation news. You can also “tweet” service requests to DDOT.

OPC OPPOSES PEPCO’S $51.7 MILLION RATE INCREASE BID, CALLS FOR DECREASE IN PEPCO’S CURRENT RATES BY $10.4 MILLION

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS

Dear Consumers,

The D.C. Office of the People’s Counsel, your ratepayer advocate, is alerting you to Public Hearings

scheduled before the D.C. Public Service Commission in Formal Case No. 1076. OPC is seeking your

input on PEPCO’s request for a $51.7 million increase in its electric distribution rates. OPC is calling for a

$10.4 million decrease in PEPCO’s current rates.

OPC is challenging components of PEPCO’s request for a rate increase because the Company has not

provided adequate justification to support its proposed increase.

OPC believes this case raises critical issues utility consumers face now and will face in the future.

For example,

1) PEPCO seeks to shift certain business risks from Company shareholders to consumers with

no guarantee that service quality will be improved.

2) PEPCO has failed to adhere to its statutory mandate to provide District consumers safe,

adequate and reliable electric service.

3) PEPCO has not detailed how consumers/ratepayers will be prepared and educated for a

wave of future technologies, such as smart meters and the Smart Grid, or how the costs of

these new technologies will be allocated.

OPC believes it is important for consumers to understand that this rate increase request is part of a

continuing march toward higher electric bills. Residential rates over a five year period have increased by 98 %. For example, in 2004, a residential consumer paid $49.00 for 750kWh per month. Today, the same consumer will pay $97.00 per month even before PEPCO’s requested rates are increased. If PEPCO’s request is approved in its entirety, consumers will pay an additional $6.43 each month.

These are your dollars and your service. It is imperative that you attend at least one of the community hearings and raise your issues and voice your concerns on the public record.

To participate in the hearings, you should sign up in advance by contacting the Commission Secretary at 202‐626‐5150 by the close of business, at least 3 days before each hearing and ask to be placed on the public witness list.

Persons with special needs are encouraged to call the Public Service Commission in advance to assist with any arrangements to facilitate your participation.

If for any reason you are unable to attend the hearings you may submit your written testimony to be included on the public record to Ms. Dorothy Wideman, Director, Office of the Commission Secretary, DC Public Service Commission, 1333 H St. NW Washington DC, 20010. You may also send your testimony by email to dwideman@psc.dc.org.

The three community hearings will convene at the following locations on the dates specified below:

Chevy Chase Community Center

5601 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 12 Noon

DC Public Service Commission

1333 H Street NW

Hearing Room 7th Floor East Tower

Friday, November 20, 2009 10:00am

Hillcrest Recreation Center

3100 Denver Street, SE

Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 6:30 pm

Sex Offender Registry for the Government of the District of Columbia

The Sex Offender Registry of the Government of the District of Columbia is a detailed database of sex offenders within each quadrant, PSA, and/or district delineated by first and last name of the offender. All information provided is for public viewing with the DC Department of Corrections. Click here for vital information.

Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association VP to participate on 11st Street Bridge Project Community Communications Committee

Mr. James Ferguson, Vice President of the Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association (PBCCA) has been invited by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation's (DDOT) Infrastructure Project Management Administration to be a member of the 11th Street Bridge Project Community Communications Committee. The purpose of the committee is to act as a liaison to the community for the District Department of Transportation and the 11th Street Bridge Project Team by:

• Informing the Project team about specific issues and concerns residents, commuters and other important stakeholders have related to construction activities; and

• Notifying the Project team about the effectiveness of its communications strategies in sustaining a proactive and accurate flow of information throughout the project.

At a cost of $300 million, the 11th Street Bridge Project is the largest effort of its type ever undertaken by DDOT.

For more information, contact Mr. Ferguson at 202-572-0844 or jjferguson@stanfordalumni.org

14th Energy Expo - 2009: Moving Towards an Energy Efficient DC -Energy Efficiency Audits and Energy Grant Programs

Are you interested in:
1) How to get a Free Home Energy Audit
2) How to apply for Energy Grant Programs
3) How to take full advantage of Economic Stimulus Programs

Then, please plan to attend the Office of the People's Counsel and DC Department of the Environment's
14th Energy Expo - 2009: Moving Towards an Energy Efficient DC

THIS SATURDAY, November 14, 2009
10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Rooms 146 A, B, &C
801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W.

For more information, to RSVP, or to request disability or interpreter services, please contact OPC at 202.727.3071 or at ccceo@opc-dc.gov.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

--
___________________________________________

Office of the People's Counsel
for the District of Columbia
1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.727.3071
Fax: 202.727.1014
Website: www.opc-dc.gov

Alert!! Alert!!

There have been a series of car break-ins over the last couple of days in the Penn Branch Community. Commander Contee of the DC Metropolitan Police released the following advisory:

"In response to these offenses MPD will be increasing patrols in the Penn Branch community. Anyone with information should call 1-888-919-CRIME or text to 50411. Please lookout for any persons displaying suspicious behavior (standing around in the rain etc…) or individuals that may be casing the neighborhood (same car circling the block).

Thanks for your efforts to combat these crimes. I will keep you updated with any new developments.'

PBCCA Encourages Citizens to attend the Office of the People's Counsel Meeting - to discuss PEPCO rates hikes

You are cordially invited to attend one (1) of the three (3) OPC Key Community Leaders Briefings regarding the Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO)’s request for the authority to increase existing distribution service rates and charges for electric service in the District of Columbia by $51.7 million.

OPC has schedule three (3) Key Community Briefings taking place on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., and Monday, October 19, 2009, at 12:00 p.m. at Office of the People’s Counsel, 1133 15^th Street, NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005.

Please RSVP by close of business Tuesday, October 13, 2009, by contacting Cheryl Morse at (202) 727-3071 or via e-mailing cmorse@opc-dc.gov or Linda Jefferson at ljefferson@opc-dc.gov.

Your participation in these briefings is critical in preparing for the upcoming Public Service Commission sponsored community hearings. Attached you find the Consumer Alert from the “Office”, regarding PEPCO Formal Case No. 1076 Rate Increase Request for $51.7 million and OPC Consumer Advisory. If you are unable to attend, please send a designee from your organization.

Click here for flyer

Penn Branch Shopping Center: Who has a vision for it?

On September 30, 2009, the principal owners of the Penn Branch Shopping Center (PBSC), Stylianos Christofides, David Stern of ICG Properties, LLC,, and the architect and broker that represent ICG Properties, Lee Quill and Tom Papadopoulos, presented their vision for the PBSC during a community meeting within the Center, in the former HEW Federal Credit Union site. While seating was set up for 60 people in the small converted office, an overflow crowd of community residents came to hear the plans for a major multi-phase redevelopment for the Center, including the first phase which will revitalize the street level façade that faces Pennsylvania Ave., SE. Residents also came to ask pointed questions and express their frustrations with what has been up to this writing, decades of underdevelopment and beneign neglect at that site.

Over the years, the Penn Branch Shopping Center has deteriorated into a eyesore, with an unsightly façade, incongruent signage, poor parking patterns, and with uninvitingly broken elevators and escalators that force patrons to walk around the facility to gain access to various municipal offices situated in the back lower section. The owners have described the front parking lot, on their webpage as “pavement that feels like it was laid over tree stumps.”[1] Also, it lacks many of the services, including restaurants that many folks within minutes of the Center would like to see.

So, when the owners offered prepared notes about the up coming redevelopment, they were confronted by a moderately aggressive crowd, with a chorus of questions that in some cases exposed frustrations born from many years of promises that were either unmet or limited. One can only assume or imagine what would have happened if the three city council members (Chairman Vincent Gray, Economic Development Chairman Kwame Brown, and Ward 7 Councilwoman Yvette Alexander) from East of the River had not been in attendance.

So, what would you like to see added to the lineup of businesses at PBSC? You may not know that:

“Penn Branch rarely has a retail vacancy and developers at ICG say they can see why. Pennsylvania Avenue carries 30,000 cars past the shopping center per day and nearby Branch Avenue another 18,000. The location is smack amongst some of the most upper-scale D.C. neighborhoods east of the river, with average incomes within the nearest mile over $60,000. And with plans to redevelop nearby Skyland Shopping Center stuck in legal tangles, Penn Branch could serve as a needed dam against the hundreds of millions of dollars in retail sales the city loses over the state line to Prince George’s County every year.” Also: “Rated one of Washingtonian magazine's ‘Best Places to Live,’ Hillcrest is an attractive urban neighborhood with an average household income of more than $75,000 in the area within a quarter-mile radius of the center. Current tenants include Wachovia Bank, CVS Pharmacy, and several District of Columbia government agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles.”

So, with its great potential, anchor businesses nailed down with long term commitments (CVS is planning an enlargement of its footprint), 48,000 cars moving through the confluence of Pennsylvania and Branch Avenues everyday, why are they having trouble attracting prime vendors, besides Ledo Pizza and Dunkin Donuts? What is the basis for their choices? Are they predisposed and/or committed to vendors and business that really don’t fit our community or will ultimately degrade our community? And who is Tom Papadopoulos?

We really do need to stop and consider why we now travel out of our community to spend dollars that should circulate in our community. Thus, in that vein, ICG and their crew should honestly consider what we believe will be important additions to the shopping center. Because if we have businesses that are close in, with services and products that we would otherwise have to go elsewhere to purchase, by car, bus or Metro, then dollars would remain in our communities, and by extension, in the pockets of the developers. By the way, have you been to Best Buns in Shirlington, Virginia next to the fabulous Carlyle Grand Restaurant or how about the meat, poultry, and fruit vendors in Eastern Market?

---

[1] http://www.icgproperties.com - Penn Branch Property

It's Fall Tree Planting Season: Casey Trees to hold 22 events

Casey Trees' fall tree planting season is less than two weeks away, and we are excited about the prospects: 22 events, including six at DC schools. To prepare for the first planting, we are holding a Tree Planting class on Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8. The field training is Saturday, October 10, at Catholic University, where CUA and Casey Trees will be planting more than two dozen trees.

As you may have heard, Casey Trees has set a goal to increase the tree canopy of the District of Columbia from 35% to 40% by 2035. This will involve planting more than 200,000 trees.

If you have not taken the Tree Planting class or know somebody who would like to take it, please visit our website, www.caseytrees.org, and click on Programs and Classes.

In addition, Casey Trees is registering volunteers for many of the fall plantings via the website.

Thank you for your support. We can't reach our goals without you.

Carol Herwig | Volunteer Coordinator | Casey Trees

1123 11th Street NW | Washington DC 20001 | p 202 349 1907 | f 202 833 4092

www.caseytrees.org

Exclusive Poll: 51% Disapprove of Fenty's Job Performance

posted 5:08 pm Fri September 25, 2009 - WASHINGTON

From ABC 7 News - http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0909/662700.html

A majority of D.C. residents disapprove of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's job performance and even more believe he cares more about advancing his career than about the city's needs, according to an exclusive SurveyUSA poll commissioned by WJLA-TV.

SurveyUSA asked 500 D.C. residents several questions about Mayor Fenty re-election prospects one year before the District's Democratic primary.

The poll found 51 percent disapprove of the job he is doing, while 40 percent approve. Broken down by race, 69 percent of black voters disapproved of Fenty, compared with 23 percent who approved. That's almost the exact opposite for whites: 66 percent approved and 24 percent disapproved. Latino voters were split. Black voters account for more than half of the D.C. electorate. Whites make up about one-third.

Among Democrats, Fenty had a 54-percent disapproval rating. Throughout the survey, Democrats judged Fenty more harshly than Republicans or independents, who make up a very small percentage of District voters.

Fenty declined to comment on the poll's findings Friday.

"I've been around this city all my life, I've been around politics for a third of that time," Fenty told ABC 7's Suzanne Kennedy. "I just tend not to focus on polls."

Fifty-four percent of respondents said their opinion of Fenty has gotten worse since he took office in 2007. Only 11 percent had an improved opinion of him. About one-third -- 32 percent -- of respondents had no change in their opinions.

In perhaps the most damaging area of the poll, 58 percent thought Fenty more focused on advancing his career than on the community's needs. Twenty-seven percent found him more focused on the community; 14 percent were unsure. The career-minded label was most pronounced among African American voters, 69 percent, and Latinos, 57 percent. White voters were split.

As for two of the biggest issues in the District, crime and schools, the poll finds 72 percent believe crime has decreased (30%) or stayed the same (42%) in the past five years. Twenty-four percent thought crime had gotten worse.

School reform has been a focus of the Mayor, who took control of city schools and installed Michelle Rhee as chancellor after winning the 2006 mayoral race. Despite reform efforts, city residents give the school system a D+ grade point average (1.8). Only 3 percent of respondents rated the system an A; 15 percent said B, 37 percent C, 22 percent D, and 19 percent F.

A majority of District residents, 51 percent, believe the mayor and city work together "somewhat well". Four percent said very well. Thirty-nine percent thought Fenty and the Council did not get along.

Only two candidates have stepped forward to challenge Fenty: Leo Alexander, a former TV reporter and current independent insurance sales executive, and former accountant Sulaimon Brown, who has held behind the scenes political jobs.

The poll has a plus or minus 4.5 percent margin of error, except for the question about Fenty's focus, which had a 4.4 percent margin of error.

Where's the love?

In an article by Washington City Paper writer Mike DeBonis, under the heading of "Political Potpourri", posted on September 23, 2009, Mr. Debonis describes thusly a confrontation between Ward 7 Councilwoman Yvette Alexander and Ron Moten, cofounder of the Peaceoholics during a recent city hall protest:

"Ever since Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted “You lie!” at President Obama earlier this month, folks across the land have been decrying the lack of civility and respect in Washington’s political quarters.

That includes the John A. Wilson Building, apparently. Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander tells LL that she was not extended her due courtesy recently.

The occasion was a city hall protest last week, where Peaceoholics co-founder Ron Moten brought dozens of supporters to protest the slashing of council earmarks—of which his group has been a prime beneficiary.

Outside the Wilson Building, Alexander says Moten & Co. got in her face about the cuts to the fiscal 2010 budget. Alexander says she had a retort: “I said, ‘What are you arguing for? You’ve never had a shortage of any funding.’” She added: “Your well has run dry.”

To that, Moten did not react well: “You’re trash!” Alexander recalls being told at least three times with Moten’s finger in her face.

In an interview, Moten admits to comparing his councilmember to refuse: “She was acting like a piece of trash,” the Ward 7 resident says. “She wasn’t acting like a councilmember.”

In Moten’s telling, it’s Alexander who needs to improve her manners: “She was talking to the people like nobodies. ‘I don’t like people who drop out of school. I don’t like people who stand on corners.’” In fact, he says, “I’m debating whether or not I’m going to press charges against her for grabbing my finger.”

One can only imagine, that had the protesters that approached Councilwoman Alexander been restrained and civil, the occasion of the Councilwoman's interact with the protesters would not have reached the attention of Mr. DeBonis or any of the readers of his writing or this blog. We do not expect our elected officials to have to endure ad hominem attacks or for that matter, the threat of physical abuse. Also, the altercation could not have been in the best interests of the Peaceoholics, because the Councilwoman could/will certainly have the last say.

Do you remember the $787 Billion Recovery Plan and the great controversy it created in early February of this year?

Well, you can now access information online detailing all the pertinent details about its true impact and get quarterly updates. The following is a description of the Act's purpose:

"On February 13, 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Four days later, the President signed the legislation into law. The Recovery Act’s three main goals are to:

• Create and save jobs
• Spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic growth
• Foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending

This $787 billion Recovery plan includes federal tax cuts and incentives, an expansion of unemployment benefits, and other spending on social entitlement programs. In addition, federal agencies are using Recovery funds to award contracts, grants, and loans around the country.

The Recovery Act’s longer-term economic investment goals include:

• Initiating a process to computerize health records to reduce medical errors and save on health care costs
• Investing in the domestic renewable energy industry
• Weatherizing 75 percent of federal buildings and more than one million homes
• Increasing college affordability for seven million students by funding the shortfall in Pell Grants, raising the maximum grant level by $500, and providing a higher education tax cut to nearly four million students
• Cutting taxes for 129 million working households by providing an $800 Making Work Pay tax credit
• Expanding the Child Tax Credit

The Recovery Act was intended to jumpstart the economy but many of the projects funded by Recovery money, especially those involving infrastructure improvements, are expected to contribute to economic growth for many years."

The Act promised transparency. Thus, you can access vital information about the Act and its recipients at http://www.recovery.gov.

The 2009 Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Weekend of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.

If you notice people milling around various venues at and around the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this week, be advised, the 2009 Annual Legislative Conference will be in full swing. The ALC Conference will officially start on Wednesday, September 23rd with the opening press conference, and culminates on Saturday, September 26th with the Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner.

"Thousands of elected officials, business and industry leaders, celebrities, media, emerging leaders and everyday Americans descend upon the ALC and its dozens of policy forums, general sessions, massive exhibit showcase, job fair, book signings and vast networking opportunities.

The Congressional Black Caucus – comprised of the African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate – headline ALC every year.

The conference brings together diverse organizations and individuals to collectively discuss common issues and concerns. Its program includes more than 70 workshops, seminars and information forums on relevant topics that capture and portray the concerns of African Americans. Participants discuss the challenges facing underserved populations, including health care, economic success and failures, global and domestic security as well as highlight successes and provide critical information that will help to build strong communities, organizations and individual families. The conference also features the successful Emerging Leaders Empowerment Series, which is gaining widespread attention as it speaks to our future successors. In addition, the exhibit hall offers demonstrations and social events to complement the substantive content of the conference.

The Annual Legislative Conference is one of the most important gatherings of African American leaders. They really need and want all constituents to seize this opportunity to speak freely and often about their concerns, to network and build relationships, and to gather as much information as possible to take home and share within their communities."

Check out the full schedule of events by clicking on the following url: http://www.cbcfinc.org/alc-09.html