Category Archives: Uncategorized

Three Shot in Drive By Shooting at 12^th and K, SE, Saturday Afternoon

by Larry Janezich

According to sources, a drive by shooting occurred at 12^th and K Streets near Hopkins Apartments about 4:23pm this afternoon.  Police, arriving at the scene, found three victims – one unconscious and not breathing, one unconscious but breathing and one conscious and breathing.  Homicide detectives are among those investigating. MPD posted a lookout for a white sedan with MD plate 8DX0510.

526 8th Street on Barracks Row will be the site of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream To Open on Barracks Row – Plus News from the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

According to sources, the nationally acclaimed gourmet ice cream retailer Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream will set up shop on Barrack Row, at 526 8^th Street.  The opening date is uncertain, but an announcement may come next week.

Featuring 35 artisan flavors, dairy from grass-pastured cows, and whole – as opposed to synthetic -flavorings, the product has won plaudits from customers in 13 cities across the country, including Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.  Locally, Jeni’s has outlets at 1925 14^th Street, NW, and in Bethesda and Old Town, Alexandria.  For more information, see here:  https://jenis.com/

The shop is the first retail tenant of a property being developed by Chris Martin of Martin-Diamond Properties, who in June of 2018, unveiled a concept/plan for the development of the last empty lot on Barracks Row – the Shakespeare parking lot.   Martin also owns the former Phase 1 tavern at 525 8th Street which currently being built out for a sushi restaurant.

In other news from the past week:

Update on the Renovation of Southeast Library

According to sources, the project is on track and will not suffer from anticipated budget cuts resulting from the decline in revenues associated with the COVID-19 health crisis.  DC Public Library will likely host a virtual community meeting in the near future.

Once the Mayor begins lifting the stay at home order, services at Southeast Library will resume, but likely be limited to check out of materials – with social distancing and masks precautions in effect –  but will not include sitting down and occupying space in the library.  Library programming is currently limited to virtual programming and will remain so for the foreseeable future.  There will be no book sales before the library is fully open. You can use your library card – or get a new card instantly –  here: https://www.dclibrary.org/ – which will give you access to an astonishing amount of information in the Virtual Library, including full text of newspapers and magazines, music, language courses, etc.

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Eyes Community Benefits from 1333 M Street Development

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Chair Corey Holman anticipates a virtual community meeting in the near future where the developer will introduce the 900 residential unit project on the Anacostia and take questions from neighbors.  Holman is planning to appoint an ad hoc subcommittee to negotiate benefits and amenities beyond the affordable housing the developers plan to include in the building.  He expects to have three meetings over the summer and making a recommendation to the full ANC by its September meeting.

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Continues to Press City on Comprehensive Plan

The Planning and Zoning Committee seems a little miffed at the casual dismissal of many of the ANC’s recommendations for amendments to the Comprehensive Plan submitted to the Office of Planning earlier this year.  The Committee will push back on several issues it feels strongly about:  Reservation 13 (institutional use by large employers), the 15^th Street Corridor, the balance between historic preservation and affordable housing, and greening and energy efficiency in the Historic District. The Comp Plan is before the City Council and Chair Mendelson says he intends to move slowly and finalize it early next year.

Sunday, May 3 – a sign on the door announced that Fragers’ is CLOSED FOR CLEANING. “We are sanitizing the store as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. We will reopen soon….”

The North Entrance to the US Capitol’s Senate Wing.  The Senate returns to the Capitol tomorrow to vote on another controversial judicial nomination.  

The Virginia Avenue Community Garden –

– is coming to life.

“Balance” is easy to miss, occupying the center of the triangle park across from Maury School. The sculpture is by Marcia Billig, 2002, commissioned by DC Creates Public Art Program.

At 11:45am on Saturday, the US Navy Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds performed a flyover to salute healthcare workers and other essential personnel during the health crisis. Here’s what it looked like from 9th and D Streets, SE.

The Virtual Week Ahead…

by Larry Janezich

Monday, May 4

ANC6C Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee holds a virtual meeting meets at 7:00pm. 

Agenda:  TBA

For details on participating, go here:  https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/

Tuesday, Mary 5

ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee holds a virtual meeting at 7:00pm. 

Agenda:

310 4th Street, SE.  Historic Preservation Application – setback addition and deck at roof to add third story.

222 Kentucky Avenue, SE.  Historic Preservation Application –  remove 1-story rear addition and replace with 2-story rear addition, add 1-story addition and deck to 2-story dogleg replace all rear windows.

1235 E Street, SE.  Historic Preservation Application – two-story addition at front. Discussion: 1333 M Street SE PUD discussion/formation of subcommittee.

Discussion: 1333 M Street SE PUD discussion/formation of subcommittee.

Discussion: OP Comprehensive Plan transmitted to council and responses to ANC 6B resolution.

For details on participating, go here:  https://www.anc6b.org/

Wednesday, May 6

ANC6B Transportation Committee meeting, usually scheduled for this date, has been canceled. 

Thursday, May 7

ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.

Agenda:

1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, The Roost.  New Retailer’s Class “C” Restaurant License; Establishment will be a restaurant offering multiple food vendors. Seating Capacity of 415 inside and a Total Occupancy Load of 480. Sidewalk Café with a Total Occupancy Load of 118. Request to add an Entertainment Endorsement indoors and outdoors.

Hours of Operation for Inside of The Premises and For the Sidewalk Café: Sunday through Thursday 7am–2am, Friday and Saturday 7am –3am.

Hours of Alcoholic Beverage Sales, Service, and Consumption Inside of The Premises and For the Sidewalk Café:  Sunday through Thursday 8am–2am, Friday and Saturday 8am –3am.

Hours of Live Entertainment Inside of The Premises and For the Sidewalk Café: Sunday through Thursday 8am–2am, Friday and Saturday8am –3am.

For details on participating, go here:  https://www.anc6b.org/

Editorial:  Proposal before Council on Tuesday Would Weaken ANC Authority

by Larry Janezich

On Tuesday, the City Council, according to a tweet by CM Charles Allen, will consider a proposal to drop the requirement that ANC candidates get 25 signatures on a nominating petition to get on the ballot.

This seems to be an extraordinarily bad idea, and one wonders how it deserves to be given the dignity of serious consideration.

Another proposal, according Allen, is to drop the signature requirement for at-large councilmember candidates from 3,000 to 250.  The proposal would change the collection of signatures to a no/low contact method, substituting electronic petitions for the paper and pen petitions in the interests of public safety.

A fundamental problem of politics is how to get our best people into government.  ANC commissioners provide a direct link between the city government and their communities.  Given only the statutory requirement that their opinion be “given great weight”, they struggle to make residents’ voices heard against a wall of indifference erected by the agencies they advise.

So now comes a proposal which not only makes individual commissioners less representative of their communities, but also undercuts what status they have.

Gottlieb Simon, Executive Director of the DC Office of ANCs, presented both sides of the issue in an email to all ANC commissioners across the city on Friday.  “On the one hand, even obtaining 25 signatures electronically would be challenging, processing electronic petitions instead of paper ones would still be a burden to some extent for Board of Elections, and petitions are unnecessary since so many ANC races have only one (ballot) candidate.

On the other hand, not requiring ANC candidates to obtain any signatures would mean treating ANCs differently than other elected officials, eliminating a reason and opportunity for candidates to have a useful conversation with constituents, and abandoning some (even minimal) demonstration of a candidate’s commitment and seriousness.”

Eliminating the standard criteria to qualify for a place on the ballot is not how we find our best candidates.  Our best people – those who are serious about representing our communities – will rise to the challenge.

Simon’s even handedness is understandable.  But no such constraint should inhibit commissioners and residents in responding to this proposal which will reduce the effectiveness and authority of the ANCs as well as repress the ability of communities to have a voice in the affairs of the city.

It may be that a reducing the number of signatures on an electronic petition for a city wide race is justified, but it’s hard to see how reducing qualifications for ANC candidates is.

CM Allen’s email is here:  callen@dccouncil.us

The DC ReOpen Advisory Group Reads Like Roll Call of Political Insiders

by Larry Janezich

Yesterday, Mayor Bowser listed the committee members of the ReOpen DC Advisory Group.  Heading up the group will be national figures – Susan Rice, National Security Advisor to President Obama and Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush.

The Advisory Group will deliver a Reopen DC Plan to the Mayor the week of May 11, with recommendations on how to effect a phased reopening along with sector mitigation guidelines.  Bowser says a timeline for reopening will be determined by health care officials.

Eleven committees* comprise the Advisory Group, made up of a coterie of DC establishment insiders. City Paper has taken the Mayor to task for appointing only two restaurant owners to the Restaurants and Food Committee (see here: https://bit.ly/2xdgNu2) and the DCist has criticized the lack of teachers on the Education and Childcare Committee (https://bit.ly/2zEVMcH).

But so far not enough attention has been paid to the Real Estate and Construction Committee which is also of interest.

The committee has three co-chairs: Sarosh Olpadwala, Director of Real Estate in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; Buwa Binitie, current member of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors; and Monty Hoffman, Chairman of Hoffman & Associates.

A couple of these names are familiar to residents of Capitol Hill.  Olpadwala is known to Hill East residents concerned about the development of Reservation 13, unhappy with DMPED’s lack of transparency on the project.

Buwa Binitie, founder and Managing Principal of Dantes Partners, was a partner in the development of the Hine project.  His proposal for redevelopment of the Boys and Girls Club in Hill East was rejected by the community.  He is a major campaign contributor to Mayor Bowser’s campaigns, and to the now- defunct “Fresh PAC” which was started in 2015 and closed down the same year after it came under City Council scrutiny.

Hoffman is Chair of Hoffman & Associates, and is co-developer of The Wharf.

Residents of DC would not be surprised to learn of at least of some political insiders appointed to all of these committees.  But to have this work left primarily to insiders when the voices of those in the city most affected by the decisions are left out raises questions about Bowser’s vision and judgment.

The “Community Members” of the Real Estate and Construction Committee members are:

Dr. John Davies-Cole, State Epidemiologist at DC Government District of Columbia Department of Health.

Thomas Borger, Chair, Borger Management – development of multifamily and commercial properties.

Jaime Contreras, Vice President, 32BJ’s Capital Area District, representing commercial, government, arenas and residential cleaners, security officers, and education facilities cleaners and maintenance workers.

Stephen Glaude, President and CEO of the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development.

The Rev. Canon Michele V. Hagans, General Manager of public parking at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and owner of Fort Lincoln Realty Company, Fort Lincoln New Town Corporation, D.C. and Hagans Development Company, which helped construct Metro Center.

Rob Hawkins, Chair of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s District of Columbia Government Relations Practice – represents clients before city government.  Hawkins served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to Mayor Bowser.

Chico Horton, Partner in the real estate law firm of Tiber Hudson LLC – practice includes financing of multi-family apartment and condominium projects, office buildings, hotels, retail, and mixed use projects.  Horton chaired Fresh PAC before the Mayor pulled the plug on it.

Stan Jackson, President and CEO of the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation – non-profit economic development organization.

Stephanie Liotta-Atkinson, Executive VP at MidCity – developer and manager of multifamily housing and mixed-use real estate.

Lisa María Mallory, CEO, District of Columbia Building Industry Association.

Kymber Menkiti, President, Sales, Regional Director, Keller-Williams MD/DC, Menkiti Group.

Bob Murphy, Managing Principal MRP realty – developer and operator of office, industrial, residential and mixed-use real estate.

John Ritz, President, WC Smith – development, construction, sales and finances residential real estate – owns in excess of 12,000 units.

Gregory Rooney, Vice President, LEED AP at The Bernstein Companies – owns, manages, develops and invests in a variety of commercial and residential properties, with a focus on office buildings and hotels.

Joe Sternlieb – CEO at Georgetown Business Improvement District and former VP of Acquisitions for Georgetown-based EastBanc.  Prior to Eastbanc, he was staff director of the DC Council Committee on Economic Development.

Rosalind T. Styles – President and CEO of Capitol City Associates, INC – consultant on major development projects to meet contracting goals for small, disadvantaged, minority, woman-owned and veteran-owned business participation.

Robert Thorne, CEO, Public Performance Management – provides performance management products and services, including IT hardware and software, strategy, operations management, and information transformation to public sector clients.

Adam Weers, Principal at Trammell Crow Company – real estate development, investment, and property management company.  It is a subsidiary of CBRE (Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis) – according to wiki, the largest commercial real estate services company in the world.

*Here’s a list of the eleven committees making up the ReOpen DC Advisory Group

Education and Childcare

Equity, Disparity Reduction, Vulnerable Populations

Faith, Arts, Culture, Hotels, Sports, and Entertainment

Government Operations, Public Safety, and Criminal Justice

Human Services, Social Services, and Health

Open Spaces and Recreation

Public Health Innovation and Workforce

Real Estate and Construction

Restaurants and Food

Small Business and Retail

Transportation and Infrastructure

For more information and to see the members of the committees, see here:  https://coronavirus.dc.gov/reopendc

The Week Ahead…And Some Photos From the Past Week

by Larry Janezich

The Week Ahead….

Tuesday, April 28

ANC6B’s Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm, to set the agenda for next month’s virtual meeting of ANC6B on May 12.  Details on how to access the meeting will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Some Photos from the Past Week…

Corner Store up for sale. The fine arts and performance venue, founded by Kris Swanson and Roy Mustelier, has been a community institution for more than 16 years. In an email to friends and patrons, Swanson said “As a home, this sturdy brick building fit us like a soft kid glove and we still love it beyond reason. …. Life in the heart of the US Capitol in that uniquely soulful space will clearly never be duplicated, but we’ve had our run. We hope the next owners find as much love and fun and comfort within its walls as we did.”

Working out at Nationals Park.  click to enlarge

Access to the seafood market at The Wharf was pretty tightly controlled and overseen by MPD.

Last Thursday, the US House of Representatives assembled to pass a $484 billion installment of the CARE Act to benefit small businesses and hospitals affected by the health care crisis, and to provide funds for testing.

Saturday afternoon, the Farmers Line at Eastern Market was in business (later that day Eastern Market was in for a deep cleaning and temporary closure after a DGS staffer tested positive for COVID-19). Some farmers are grumbling about the 9:00am-1:00pm hours of operation and are pressing for the same 5:00pm closing time for the inside merchants.

Around the corner, in front of the Rumsey Aquatic Center, the Compost Center is back in business from 900am – 1:00pm on Saturdays.

Eastern Market at circa 7:30am this morning.

COVID-19 Closes Eastern Market For Deep Cleaning

by Larry Janezich

Yesterday, a Department of General Services staff member at Eastern Market tested positive for COVID-19.  Last night, Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson notified vendors that the market would be closed on Sunday, April 26, for a deep cleaning.  The market is ordinarily closed on Monday.  A sign posted on the market’s doors this morning to notified the public and stated that the market would be open on Tuesday.  The staff member and those potentially exposed have been notified and will take appropriate action regarding DC Health Guidance.  No other details were immediately available.

Here’s the target.  Photo: Karl Kindel

Kindel in foreground and Guckert at left rear with volunteers, planting after removal of 4 inches of asphalt and addition of new soil.

The finished product.

Jim Guckert, founder of Guerrilla Garderners, DC. Photo: Karl Kindel

Guerrilla Gardeners Carve Out Plot on Marine Barracks’ Sidewalk

by Larry Janezich

Wiki:  “Guerrilla gardening is the act of gardening on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to cultivate, such as abandoned sites, areas that are not being cared for, or private property.”

Guerrilla Gardner’s, DC was busy on a plot of public land at 9th and I Street adjacent to the Marine Barracks last week, as a group of resident volunteers joined forces with the transformative activist group to remake an asphalt rectangle into a greenspace garden of native plants.

The idea originated with the Marines two years ago, who were having drainage issues at the 9th and I Street corner and wanted a rain garden there.  After floating the idea, they were stymied by a prohibition on spending funds on lands the Marines don’t own and the refusal of the city to relinquish control of the land.

Ninth Street resident Karl Kindel learned of their intent from the beginning in the annual pre-parade season meeting the Marines host with the nearby neighbors.  It was six months later when they learned of the obstacles.

The idea lay dormant for months, until Kindel’s chance encounter with Jim Guckert who he encountered restoring a call box at 8th and I.  During the ensuing conversation, Guckert explained the mission of his organization, Guerrilla Gardeners, DC, which he had incorporated last year, after finding out there was a national and international movement which identified and named a practice he’d been following for 15 years.  The conversation inspired Kindel to recruit the organization for the Marine’s rain garden project.  Guckert took a look and told Kindel Guerrilla Gardeners would like to get involved and offered to join forces to lend whatever assistance they could.

It was a fruitful collaboration, leading to a meeting with the Marines and the enthusiastic embrace of Col. Donald Tomich, which led to re-starting the project.  The Marines couldn’t fund the project, Tomich told them, but could offer materials and plants.

Kindel solicited funds from neighbors, raising $1100 in two weeks – half the amount needed.  Kindel and Guerilla Gardeners split the remaining cost.  They rented a jackhammer and a dumpster and with some assistance from the Marine’s landscape contractor, removed 10 – 12 tons of asphalt last week.  Volunteers put down new soil and planted native plants – Arrowwood, Black Eyed Susan, and Cardinal flowers.  The Marine’s landscape contractor will maintain the garden.

Guckert was also responsible for the original guerrilla gardening which transformed the pocket park on the SW corner of 8th and I into the beautifully manicured fiesta of decorative plants and blooms currently on full display cattycorner from the Barracks.  Fifteen years ago, Guckert – who lives on I Street across from the pocket park – and four of his neighbors constituted the informal group that took upon themselves the beautification of the – then neglected – plot of land.  Guckert says they were guerilla gardening before they knew it had a name.  He incorporated the organization as a 501C3 nonprofit in September of 2019, after an article in the Hill Rag sparked community interest and requests for assistance on misused, unused and neglected plots.

The original guerrilla garden. During the summer, Guckert carries 50 galleons of water twice a week to the garden from his home across the street.

The group has no boundaries and pursues gardening where no gardening is being done – just doing it – as people make known plots that are candidates for improvement.  Since last fall, Guckert estimates 15 to 20 tree boxes have been improved in hopes it will inspire nearby residents to maintain them.

Guerrilla Gardener’s funding comes from a grant from donations and a grant from the Capitol Hill Foundation.  To donate, volunteer, or see their website, go here:  https://guerrillagardenersdc.org/

The Quiet Week Ahead…& Some Photos from Last Week

by Larry Janezich

Belga had what seemed like a good marketing idea with a display in its window…

but had to make some adjustments after someone demonstrated it wasn’t.  They are still open for carryout.  (Note they have a list of beer, wine and spirits at retail prices.)

There was progress last week on the playground on the northeast parcel of Eastern Market Metro Plaza as the slide and one of the shade structures was erected.

There was a jam session outside The Hill Cafe, Saturday afternoon, circa 4:00pm.

The Quiet Week Ahead…

Monday, April 20

ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting CANCELLED 

Next meeting: 3rd Monday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, NE.

Tuesday, April 21

ANC6A Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting CANCELLED 

Next meeting: 3rd Monday, May 19, 7:00 p.m, Sherwood Recreation Center, Corner of 10th and G Street, NE.

Some restaurants have closed up shop for the duration of the health crisis.

And some keep going by selling groceries and carryout.

Here Are the Obstacles Small Businesses Say They Face In Reopening After Covid-19

by Larry Janezich

Over the past two weeks, CM Charles Allen has repeatedly warned that economic recovery from COVID-19 will take several years and that a lot of Capitol Hill’s small businesses and restaurants may not be able to reopen once the crisis is past.

CHC asked several local business stakeholders to explain why reopening will be so difficult.

Julie Aaronson, Executive Director of CHAMPS says, “In general, most long term contracts still need to be paid regardless of whether or not the business is operating. While rent is usually the largest monthly expense, several others exist. For example, IT contracts, trash and sanitation, payroll fees, credit card processing fees & other bank charges, utilities, etc.  Even if late fees are forgiven, the debts will still pile up making bankruptcy the only viable option for many businesses.

Many of the small businesses on Capitol Hill (especially restaurants) rely on discretionary spending. If higher income individuals begin losing income then they will necessarily decrease spending. Unfortunately, it’s not easy for many businesses to “scale down” to a lower price point. That part of the market is already filled by chain restaurants or big box retailers.”

Martin Smith, Executive Director of Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS), agrees with Allen and says, “We really need a stronger federal response – the Paycheck Protection Program and Small Business Administration assistance are mini steps in the right direction but it’s assistance that comes as the result of the federal government’s ability to engage in deficit spending – an option that states and local government don’t have.  The city will not be able to do enough – they can waive penalties for late taxes, but I don’t know how much more the city can do.”  Asked whether BRMS could use the $500,000 grant it received from DCCD to assist its 168 businesses, Smith said those funds are designated by the agency for façade improvement and BRMS has no discretion to repurpose them – he said he would love to, but thinks it unlikely.  Asked if it were possible to repurpose funds from the city’s $150,000 annual grant to Main Street organizations, Smith said that a significant amount of those funds have either been spent or committed during the first half of the year.

Charles McCaffrey, Executive Director of Eastern Market Main Street, said most small businesses operate on a 3.5- 5% profit margin, and that’s based on a 75% capacity.  With any reduced capacity, the loss of revenue is significant.  He says, “Our MainStreets have already seen a decline in business as competitors – the Navy Yard, the Wharf, Union Market – have emerged, and that has resulted in a decline in revenues.  Then add the virus, and for some businesses it’s going to be devastating.  As people focus on essentials – food, rent, and healthcare – they are not focused on restaurants and retail consumption.  Once you get to the point where you can reopen but income hasn’t been coming in, if too much debt has stacked up, businesses may see no sense in reopening if all they will do for the next 3 – 5 years is repay debt.”  McCaffrey has urged his members to apply for everything available in the form of city and federal government assistance.

There was funding available for small businesses from the city and the federal government, but those pools of assistance have dried up, and so far, few if any of the grants and loans have been distributed.  Those governments have blamed the overwhelming demand and a clunky distribution system for the slow response.

The city council passed Emergency Legislation to address COVID 19 in March.  Among the provisions was a $25 million public health emergency grant program to assist businesses with fewer than 500 employees who have suffered because of the health crisis.  Applications were overwhelming and the application process closed the first week of April.  CM Chares Allen says the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is processing applications and preparing to announce awards later this month.  The legislation also provided for mortgage and rent payment deferral for up to 90 days without penalty, as well as a freeze in all rent increases.

On Friday, Mayor Bowser was asked about pressure from a group of business owners for additional relief for small businesses.  Bowser said that in light of a projected $600 million shortfall in revenues for the current fiscal year, she could “not make any commitment for any other relief at this time.”

The two sources of small business assistance from the federal government have also been tapped out.  The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) $349 billion Pay Protection Program (PPP) established by the Congressional CARE Act – passed last month in response to the health crisis – ran out of money on Thursday.  It provides loans to small businesses at 1% which are forgivable if the money is used for payroll expenses. That program was administered through banks, some of which accepted applications only from current customers.  An additional $250 billion refunding of the program is stalled in Congress.

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EDIL) providing loans and grants on a first come first served basis is also out of funds. The CARE Act provided $10 billion in grant money and was quickly overwhelmed by 3 million applications.

Congressional Democrats want an agreement on an additional $50 billion in funds for the EIDL loan program and $15 billion for grants, as well as additional aid for hospitals before they sign off on the administration’s request for the $250 billion in additional funds for the Paycheck Payment Program.  Negotiations are continuing over the weekend and an agreement could be reached this week.  It is likely that substantially more funding will be necessary.

Aaronson says that a number of CHAMPS members have applied for the DC grants and SBA EIDL and PPP funding, but she is not aware of any who have received checks.  She said, “While the money may be in the pipeline, it is needed as quickly as possible…. Some businesses saw a decline even before the shutdown order, so they are operating on 6 weeks or longer of reduced/no sales and income. They are anxious about how to pay bills, how to help their employees, and how to plan when we do not yet have a sense of when or how we can reopen safely.”

Additionally, she said, some businesses have expressed concern about how to pay next month’s rent, and while they are hopeful their landlords will take advantage of the mortgage deferment that was included in the Council’s emergency legislation, there’s no guarantee landlords will pursue or qualify for the deferment.

According to one source, most small restaurants operate on thin margins with substantial fixed expenses with lots of perishable inventory.  A retail store with a 5000 square foot store might have $20,000 a month expenses and 10 employees but a restaurant with 5000 square feet will likely have $200,000 expenses and 50 employees.

The source said that the PPP requires a restaurant to hire the same amount of staff before the forced closures and it will cover salaries for approximately 2 months – but a restaurant full of employees but no customers is pointless and the restaurant will still end up closed.  In addition, Unemployment Insurance provides [$440 for 39 weeks plus $600 for 13 weeks for those who lost jobs because of the health crisis] – more than some employees made before closures.  It’s going to be hard to hire those people back.

The source says, “Even when government says we can reopen, demand won’t be like before especially without a vaccine or the like.”

Washingtonian Magazine has a piece – How to Help Struggling DC-Area Restaurant and Bar Workers here: https://bit.ly/3ezdAG9

Eastern Market Main Street created a Go Fund Me campaign to raise fund to help the small businesses of their Main Street here:  https://bit.ly/2wVWNw4