Butterworth’s, at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, is a cafe, a restaurant and a bar. It will begin its soft opening on Wednesday, October 16 and its grand opening is scheduled for the end of the month. CHC stopped by Friday afternoon just as a video crew was packing up after a series of interviews with journalists for the MAX television series, United States of Scandal with Jake Tapper. A crew member said,, “We liked the aesthetics.” Butterworth’s will be open Wednesday to Sunday.
As you enter…
To your left…
And to your right…
Moving deeper in …
The bar …
And the dining area with tables for two and tables for four … (View shows tables disarranged to accommodate video crew)
The view on your way out…
The menu is still being worked on and not available. Here’s the drink menu.
ANC6B’s Parks and Public Spaces Taskforce met last Monday night. Above center (L-R): Brian Ready, Executive Director of Barracks Row MainStreet; Taskforce Chair ANC6B Commissioner Jerry Sroufe, and Throne Lab’s Senior Operations Manager Terryl Monroe. Monrone presented an update on the Throne public restrooms, one of which resides on Eastern Market Metro Plaza. That Throne has serviced 2900 users since it’s installation in mid-June. 1900 of those visits were unique. Most users – 93% – accessed the restroom via the text option: the user texts “Throne” to the number on the unit, then responds with the code provided. The Public Restroom Pilot is managed by DPW which has funded the pilot program for six Thrones through September 2025. The Thrones are open from 7am until 10pm and currently average three cleanings per day. For more info, go here: https://www.thronelabs.co/
Here’s a series of photos from Sunday’s Literary HillFest in Eastern Market’s North Hall. Volunteers at setting up tables by 9:00am.
Doors opened at 11:00am. A photo from circa 11:15 features HillFest volunteer Abby Yochelson with Wally Mlyniec.
A 2:20pm panel discussion “From the Page to the Screen,” moderated by (R-L) Sean O’Brien (The White House Clubhouse Series) included three authors whose works have become screen plays: Louis Bayard (The Pale Blue Eye, The Wildes), James Grady (Six Days of the Condor, The Smoke In Our Eyes). and Susan Coll (Acceptance, Real Life and Other Fictions).
Here’s a close up.
At 3:00pm HillFest volunteers Robert Pohl and Liz Cohen announced the end of the event and the beginning of the poetry reading at Tunnicliffs across the street.
Tunnicliffs’ Patio was the venue for a live mic poetry reading. Cliff Bernier led off with reading from his latest book, Ocean Suite. For more on Bernier, go here: https://www.facebook.com/cliffber/
The Week Ahead…
Monday, October 7
ANC6D holds an Administrative Meeting at 7:00pm.
Please contact the office at 6d@anc.dc.gov if you wish to have a link to view the Admin meeting.
Agenda:
To discuss the agenda for the October meeting of ANC6D.
Tuesday, October 8
ANC6B will hold a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm.
Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; First Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).
For info on how to join the meeting virtually, go here: https://anc6b.org/
Community & Commission Announcements and Speak Out
Presentations:
Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network, Bottle Bill Presentation
Belinda Perry, Office of Campaign Finance General Counsel Presentation
Selah Goodson Bell, Energy Justice Program, Center for Biological Diversity
ANC 6B Resolution on DC Utility Shutoff Ban
Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Committee
High Demand, 511 11th Street SE; New Medical Cannabis Retailer; Status hearing October 2, 2024.
Saint Georges, 301 7th Street SE, new Retailer Class “B” Beer & Wine Store.
Saint Georges, 301 7th Street SE, new Retailer Class “C” license.
Transportation Committee Report
Near Collision on 1st and Independence Ave SE
Speeding on 600 block of G Street SE
Follow-up on NOIs at 11th and D and 11th and G St. SE
Planning & Zoning Committee (09/30/2024*)
816 G Street, SE Project. Zoning Adjustment Application. To construct two-story rear addition to an existing, semi-detached, two-story, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
510 8th Street, SE Project. Historic Preservation Application. To construct a rear addition and add a third story to an existing, attached row house.
Text & Map Amendments to Create Navy Yard East (NYE) Zone [N/A] Project: Text amendments to the Zoning Regulations that would establish a Navy Yard-East Zone on land that is currently un-zoned as “Federal”. The recommendation would be to set-down (or not set-down) the matter before the Zoning Commission for a public hearing.
Reports:
Public Safety Committee
Southeast Library Task Force
Public Parks and Recreation Spaces Task Force
Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC)
Fred Moosally, Director, Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA)
Consent Agenda
Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter to DDOT requesting urgent action along the corridor and then clarify their plans for traffic calming along 11th Street NE between Florida Avenue NE and East Capitol Street.
Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter to DDOT requesting an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Tennessee Avenue NE and 14th Street NE, requesting repainting of the bike lane on 14th Street NE between E Street NE and Tennessee Avenue NE, and requesting restoration of a raised crosswalk at 14th and E Streets NE.
Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter to DDOT requesting an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Tennessee Avenue NE and E Street NE. Economic Development and Zoning.
Recommendation: ANC6A send a letter of support to the BZA for Special Exceptions from the roof top and upper floor element requirements in order to construct a third story with roof deck and a three-story with cellar rear addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone at 910 12th Street, NE.
Standing Committee Reports:
Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis (ABC)
Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter to the DC Council Chair Mendelson and Mayor Bowser requesting the following actions:
(1) The City Council adopt and the Mayor sign legislation making public input on medical cannabis licenses equivalent to the input allowed for liquor licenses, specifically allowing adjacent property owners and a group of five to protest medical cannabis licenses, as provided for in in Title 25 of D.C. Official Code and Title 23 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.
(2) The City Council adopt and the Mayor sign legislation providing for moratoriums on new medical cannabis licenses equivalent to the provisions for liquor licenses contained in Title 25 of D.C. Official Code and Title 23 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.
(3) The City Council adopt and the Mayor sign legislation providing for fines for landlords who allow for and eviction of tenants who engage in serious violations of liquor and cannabis law and regulation and, certificates of occupancy and basic business licenses in furtherance of operating any business that violates liquor and cannabis law.
(4) The City Council adopt and the Mayor sign legislation requiring temporary or permanent closure of establishments who fail to remediate serious violations of liquor and cannabis licenses or health, safety, or other licenses and permits required in furtherance of operating a business that engages in the commerce of liquor or cannabis or illegal substances. Further, that such action should be taken immediately if the Chief of Police deems public safety and immediate and serious risk, including but not limited to violent acts or the recovery of firearms.
Recommendation: ANC 6A will automatically send a letter of protest of alcoholic beverage license and medical cannabis applications and renewals unless the Commission is able to meet and consider such an application before the published protest deadline. In that case, the protest will be due to the effect of the establishment on peace, order and quiet, including the noise and litter provisions, pursuant to the allowable appropriateness standards set forth in DC Municipal Regulations.
Recommendation: ANC 6A send a letter to DDOT requesting conversion of the 1400 block of G Street NE to a one-way westbound.
New Business
Suggested Motion: ANC 6A send a letter to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor Appiah, the City Council and relevant Council committees recognizing the serious and life-threatening failures of the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) and requesting measures to include, but not limited to: monthly (at minimum) reporting to a public meeting of the Council or its designated committee, and an attestation to the accuracy by the OUC Director. Such reporting would include performance against key national 911 performance metrics, as well as against staffing metrics and adverse event reporting and analyses. The letter would also request that the Council review the need for an external monitor or advisor to oversee the operations and performance of the OUC.
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Tuesday, October 8
East City Bookshop welcomes George O’Connor to discuss his middle grade graphic novel, Asgardians: Thor. Hybrid event. 7:00pm. Free.
645 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast ##100
Event lasts 1 hour
Note on Format: This hybrid event will have both an in-person component with limited seating as well as a virtual broadcast via Zoom Webinar.
Hill Center Event: Freedom Was in Sight! with Historian Kate Masur
Wednesday Oct 9
East City Bookshop offsite event: Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. 7:00pm. Free.
Revisiting Reconstruction in DC: Freedom Was in Sight! Historian Kate Masur Discusses her New Book in Conversation with Maya Davis.
The Friends of the Southeast Library (FOSEL) together with the Friends of the Northeast Library (FONEL) will hold a joint book sale this Saturday, October 12. The sale will be at the Northeast Library at 7th & Maryland Avenues NE.
The sale begins when the library opens at 10:00 am. The sale is on the lower level of the library.
Entrance to the sale is through the library (and down the stairs or elevator). Volunteers are welcome to help set up the book sale on Friday, October 11, at 1:00pm.
Comments Off on The Week Ahead…& Some Photos from Last Week
Peter MacPherson – Community Activist – April 12, 1961 – September 13, 2024
RIP Peter MacPherson
by Suzanne Wells
Posted October 3, 2024
Peter MacPherson, a long-time Capitol Hill resident, passed away on Friday, September 13, 2024. The cause of death was colon cancer.
MacPherson is remembered by family and friends as someone who was most fulfilled when he was fighting for a cause he cared about deeply. His fights, some might call them epic battles, went on for years, and he was relentless and effective in holding accountable government officials responsible for fixing problems.
MacPherson is best remembered for his advocacy of school libraries. When MacPherson began getting involved in the issue, school librarian positions were in jeopardy of being cut, and few funds were budgeted to replenish library collections. After countless testimonies before the City Council and DC Public Schools (DCPS), and even holding bake sales in front of the Wilson building and DCPS offices to shame government officials into providing funds, a DCPS School Libraries Task Force was established. This Task Force recommended many of the things MacPherson had advocated for, and today thousands of students at DCPS are the direct beneficiaries of his work.
MacPherson also put a spotlight on school modernization inequities and, through tireless advocacy with others, brought about major repairs to Stuart-Hobson Middle School after serious flaws were found with its renovation. Before he began his advocacy, no city leader was willing to undertake additional work on the building, but eventually over $50 million was budgeted to fix many of the problems he identified.
Congressional Cemetery was also a passion of MacPherson. He served on the board of the cemetery as a representative of Christ Church. He enjoyed photography and took thousands of photos at the cemetery. At one point, he put on a show of his photographs, and donated the money raised to the cemetery. Victor Romero, a decades-long member of the dog walkers group, remembered Peter fondly. “Peter was indeed among the most friendly K9 Corps members. Our walks and talks were always filled with lively exchanges about national politics and local life in Hill East DC. A conversation with Peter would invariably cheer me up.”
Born on April 12, 1961, at Columbia Women’s Hospital in DC, MacPherson grew up in Arlington, VA. He attended the Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1992, he married his wife Rebecca, and they moved to Capitol Hill in 1996.
He was a health policy freelance journalist, and for a time worked for the Congressional Quarterly. Shortly after his daughter Evelyn was born, he became a stay-at-home dad.
Peter and Rebecca moved to Chicago in 2018 for Rebecca’s work as a Regional Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration. Peter continued to do his DC advocacy work from Chicago.
Many people remember him as being a great friend who would often call and visit. Someone once said Peter was often a better friend to others than they were to him. Jackie Sink, one of his many friends, said “I remember walking out my front door one morning and finding Peter weeding my garden. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he knew I didn’t have time, so he thought he would help.”
Peter was known for always helping his 200 block of Kentucky neighbors. Gregory Cavanaugh, one of Peter’s neighbors, also remembered his self-effacing humor. Gregory recalled Peter saying “Remember Greg, I want to be like you someday when I grow up.”
Peter is survived by his wife, Rebecca, daughter Evelyn, and son-in-law Sean Lynch.
A funeral will be held at Christ Church, 620 G Street, SE, on Monday, October 7, at 11 am with internment to follow at Congressional Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held later that day at the Hill Center from 6 – 10 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to An Open Book Foundation.
Maggie Hall ran the Literary Hill BookFest from 2010 until 2016. Pictured above are (left) Karen Lyon, former columnist for the Hill Rag’s “The Literary Hill,” and Maggie Hall in 2011. Photo: Maggie Hall.
How the Literary Hill BookFest Got Started
by Larry Janezich
Posted October 3, 2024
The 13th Annual Literary Hill BookFest will happen on Sunday, October 6 in North Hall, Eastern Market, from 11:00am until 3:00pm.
CHC reached out for comment to Maggie Hall, on how the Literary Hill BookFest got started.
Hall said, “I came up with the idea of a book festival in 2010, shortly after my first book – Mish-Mash Dictionary of Marmite – was published. When I was drumming up PR for the book I wondered how getting into a book festival worked. Suddenly it hit me: there were plenty of writers on The Hill – we should have our own.
After drawing up a basic plan – with the main point being that all featured writers should live on The Hill – I knew I needed help to make the idea work.
I realized that Karen Lyon, then the author of the Hill Rag’s monthly column “The Literary Hill,” was an obvious choice. I approached Karen and invited her to come on board. The two of us had a get together at my home and before long the BookFest – thanks to a wonderful, enthusiastic group of volunteers – was a reality.
I get a great kick out of seeing – in fact am delighted – that the BookFest is an established force and a pivotal part of Capitol Hill’s strong cultural life.
As for my book? The initial response from writers/authors on The Hill was so great I gave up my space at the BookFest to accommodate last minute requests to be included. In 2014, I managed to hold onto a table and discovered how successful the BookFest can be for an individual writer: I sold (despite its very Brit-centric subject) 27 books!”
This year’s celebration of books and authors will feature more than 40 authors, poets, booksellers, publishers, literacy groups, including acclaimed national bestselling novelist Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye. Other featured authors include former White House speech writer and comedian Sean O’Brien; nationally recognized anti-bias and antiracist author and educator Liz Kleinrock; award-winning author and Smithsonian Curator of Political History Jon Grinspan; National Book Award finalist and former editor-in-chief of the Washington Post’s Book World section Marie Arana; beloved author, trailblazer and Smithsonian Ambassador Christine Platt; acclaimed novelist, former investigative journalist and film and TV writer James Grady, whose novel Six Days of the Condor was famously adapted into the Robert Redford film Three Days of the Condor, and many more.
The BookFest is completely free and open to the public, with a popular poetry open mic immediately following the main event, where established and aspiring poets will entertain an enthusiastic crowd. For more, go here: www.literaryhillbookfest.org
The honorary street naming commemorating the Eastern High School Blue and White Marching Machine was held on Tuesday afternoon in the triangle park at 13th and A Streets, NE. Here, the Marching Machine arrives at the park. Earlier in the day they had received an invitation from the Ambassador to Great Britain to participate in the London New Year’s Parade.
Ward 6 CM Charles Allen and Sheila Bunn, COS, Office of Ward 7 CM Vincent Gray, present the sign commemorating the naming of the street to James Perry, Director, EHS Band. Last April the city council passed a resolution naming of A Street from 13th through 17th Street “Blue and White Marching Machine Way,” commemorating the practice zone for the Eastern High Blue and White Marching Band.
In remarks to the crowd, CM Allen said although the city council gets to pass this is it was actually the leadership of the ANCS that help really spurred this – Commissioner Brian Alcorn (ANC7D) and Commissioner Amber Gove (ANC6A) … when the opportunity came up to what renaming could look like …. I was able to reach out to CM Gray and … we were so proud to put our names on this legislation and move that forward to honor what you represent – to what those before you represented and what those who come after you are going to do.
Here’s the scene at 17th and A Streets, NE, prior to the scheduled unveiling of the Blue and White Marching Way sign. Stakeholders posed for a photo, including, (left to right), Alma Cadelaria, Deputy Secretary of the District of Columbia; Commissioner Brian Alcorn, ANC7D; Sheila Bunn, COS, Office of Ward 7 CM Vincent Gray; Eboni-Rose Thompson, Ward 7 representative on the State Board of Education; Commissioner Amber Gove, Chair, ANC6A; Jemes Perry, Director, EHS Band; and Steven Miller, Principal, Eastern High School.
New signage across from Eastern Market at the former Radici announces the coming of Boulangerie Saint George. The last estimate on an opening date was sometime in December.
ICYMI Another Hill 7-11 Closes –this one at 15th and Independence, SE. 7-11’s last Capitol Hill outlet will close. The 15th Street store will join the Pennsylvania Avenue store and close on Monday, October 7th. Employees at the store said they had “no idea” why the store was closing.
Wednesday night’s meeting of the EMCAC after the election of Susan Oursler to fill a vacant seat on the committee. From left, Brian Pate, Robyn-Hinson Jones, Monte Edwards, Chair Chuck Burger, ANC Commissioner Jerry Sroufe, Steve Hagedorn, Susan Oursler, Sam Pastore.
The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee met to elect a new community representative to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of long-time board member Tom Kuchenburg. There were four candidates; Robert Clark, Erin Monju, Kirsten Oldenburg, and Susan Oursler. The committee voted by secret ballot and Chair Chuck Burger announced that Susan Oursler had been elected. Oursler had formerly served for eight years on the committee as a representative of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society.
Mezeh Mediterranean Grill has installed a new sign at the space formerly occupied by Roland’s convenience store at 333 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The long-anticipated opening (since June 2023) is not imminent as shown by the photo below, but there’s hope.
Mezeh specializes in fresh food and natural flavors, made from scratch in-house daily with 100% olive oil halal protein, no hormones, no preservatives, and or additives. The restaurant targets young health conscious professionals, 21 – 45. The most popular menu item is “create your own bowl” with some 65 toppings that fits any diet – vegetarian, vegan, Keto, gluten free, etc.
Here’s a photo inside from last Friday by Maggie Hall.
“Mezeh” is the company’s twist of a host of similar Eastern Mediterranean words all of which mean some variation of taste, flavor, nibble or small plate.
The Week Ahead…
Monday, September 30
ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a virtual meeting* at 7:00pm.
*Note: This meeting date has been adjusted to avoid conflicts with holidays, religious days, or other events.
Join Information: This meeting will be held virtually. https://anc6b.org/
Among items on the draft agenda:
633 E Street SE Rear. Zoning adjustment application. To construct two-story rear addition to an existing, semi-detached, two-story, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
510 8th Street, SE. Historic Preservation Application. Project: To construct a rear addition and add a third story to an existing, attached row house.
Zoning Application. Text & Map Amendments to Create Navy Yard East (NYE) Zone. Project: Text amendments to the Zoning Regulations that would establish a Navy Yard-East Zone on land that is currently un-zoned as “Federal”. The recommendation would be to set-down (or not set-down) the matter before the Zoning Commission for a public hearing.
ANC6B Parks and Public Spaces Taskforce will hold an in-person meeting at 7:00pm
The meeting will be held on the second floor of the 700 Penn building – enter lobby adjacent to Trader Joe’s.
Among items on the draft agenda:
Presentation:
Representatives of Throne Labs will address issues of usage and servicing of the Throne restroom on Eastern Market Metro Plaza and share their experiences at other locations to provide a comparison and to highlight potential issues for the community (e.g., there are two units in the Navy Yard).
Brian Ready, Director, Barracks Row MainStreet, will comment about impact observed by restaurateurs on Eight Street following the installation of the Throne.
A representative from Community Connections to discuss usage by their clients.
Discussion: Progress report on the creation of a Park Manager for the Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park.
Tuesday, October 1
ANC6B Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Committee will hold a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm.
Join Information: This meeting will be held virtually. https://anc6b.org/
Agenda: TBA
ANC 6C Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee will hold a virtual meeting* at 6:30pm. (Tuesday meeting (instead of Wednesday) to accommodate Rosh Hashanah.)
502 Constitution Ave. NE. Zoning Adjustment Application for a special exception, from the lot occupancy requirements and a special exception, from the rear-addition restrictions to construct a two-story plus basement rear addition to an existing attached three-story-with basement principal dwelling unit.
401 6th Street NE. Historic Preservation Application for concept approval for partial rooftop addition and roof deck.
16 3rd Street NE. Historic Preservation Application for concept approval to remove existing 1-story and 2-story rear additions; construct new 3-story addition and new full basement at addition and under existing main house block; renovate interior of existing main house block; and replace existing windows and front door.
622 I (Eye) Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application for a variance from the street frontage requirements to combine two existing lots into a single lot for purposes of converting an existing row dwelling into a 3-unit residential structure.
Thursday, October 3
ANC6C Transportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Where: North Hall, Eastern Market, 225 7th St. SE.
When: Sunday, October 6, 2024, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Poetry: Open mic at Tunnicliff’s Tavern at 3:00 pm.
This year’s celebration of books and authors will feature more than 40 authors, poets, booksellers, publishers, literacy groups, including national bestselling novelist Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye. Other featured authors include former White House speech writer and comedian Sean O’Brien; nationally recognized anti-bias and antiracist author and educator Liz Kleinrock; award-winning author and Smithsonian Curator of Political History Jon Grinspan; National Book Award finalist and former editor-in-chief of the Washington Post’s Book World section Marie Arana; author, trailblazer and Smithsonian Ambassador Christine Platt; novelist, former investigative journalist and film and TV writer James Grady, whose novel Six Days of the Condor was famously adapted into the Robert Redford film Three Days of the Condor, and many more.
The BookFest is completely free and open to the public, with a popular poetry open mic immediately following the main event, where established and aspiring poets will entertain an enthusiastic crowd. For more, go here: www.literaryhillbookfest.org
Sunday, October 6
Hill Center Free Event – 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Free. In-person American Roots Concert Series: Leon Timbo.
Some write music as a creative release. Others feel compelled to perform. For country-soul singer-songwriter Leon Timbo, music is used as a form of growth and healing. Growing up the son of two pastors in Jacksonville, FL, music was integrated into his life from the very start, as a way to communicate spiritual experience. At sixteen, Timbo began singing and by age twenty, he began playing the guitar and performing in a serious way, inspired by artists Bill Withers, James Taylor and Tim Miner. Timbo’s country sound incorporates equal measures of vintage soul, gospel, folk, R&B and even modern blues making for a unique experience that some have described as ‘transparent soul.’
Ongoing: – now through October 25th.
Capitol Hill Montessori School Launches First Ever On Line Auction
“We currently have donations from more than 100 local businesses and CHML families, and more items are being added daily. Bidding is open on gift cards for a variety of restaurants, fitness classes, photography sessions, sports and theater tickets, apparel, camps, music lessons, and more. Exciting offerings include dinner for two at a Michelin starred restaurant, a weekend in the Shenandoah, an educational tour with Anacostia Riverkeeper, sleepaway camp, and private soccer sessions. Bidders can also score gift cards for local casual dining great for families.
The auction runs through CHML’s Fall Festival on October 25th, where things will really heat up with a *live auction* for some seriously amazing prizes—think suite box tickets for Capitals games, a chance to see Cyndi Lauper, and *just in time for Christmas*… Mariah Carey tickets! We will also be hosting a silent auction featuring incredible classroom-wide projects that our students will be working on between now and the Fall Festival.”
CM Charles Allen addressed ANC6B’s Public Safety Committee last Monday night.
911 Dysfunction – CM Allen Faults Agency and Executive
By Larry Janezich
Posted September 26, 2024
(According to a story posted by ABC affiliate Channel 7 News, last Friday morning, nine DC news organizations boycotted a briefing held by the Office of Unified Command (911 Call Center) to protest the agency’s lack of transparency and the refusal of agency officials to speak on the record. Later that day, a reporter went to a press event for Mayor Bowser during which she refused to answer questions regarding her response to the boycott earlier that day. https://bit.ly/47OhmaD )
Last Monday, ANC6B’s Public Safety Committee, chaired by Commissioner Frank Avery, invited Ward 6 CM Charles Allen to talk about the troubled Office of Unified Command – the 911 Call Center. (The following transcript has been edited for brevity.)
In his presentation, Allen said, “Not a week probably goes by that I don’t hear from somebody in our community that is talking about a horrible experience they’ve had with 911…. It’s dangerous….
I think what you’ve got is a systemic crisis that’s happening at the agency backed by an institutional failure at the executive branch of accepting responsibility and being willing to overhaul this agency. I don’t think it’s going to be fixed with a single piece of legislation or a single director but I do believe you need to have both as a part of the solution. I think it’s going to take years to dig out of where that agency is right now. But it’s not go to happen until the Executive Branch acknowledges that there’s a problem and is willing to do something about it.
I think from the Council’s standpoint it’s going to take focused oversight… and I think were at the stage where were probably going to have to have an independent monitor that is going to be able to put a different set of eyes and actions on it. I think what we’ve seen is that the executive seems to try to minimize public knowledge of internal agency dysfunction.
We need to combine (oversight) with higher budget priorities and budget investments.
Another thing is the union that represents the workforce is not as large as the union that represents police and fire in terms of their voice being able to get out there. So they sometimes lack the power other unions have.
We’ve also had a turnover in our public safety cluster leadership which creates a sense of destabilization – no one’s hung on to that position for more than about a year or two at the most.
All of that I think has created the storm were seeing right here.
I want to be clear that we’ve got some really good people at UOC – they’re really dedicated folks – call takers and dispatchers – that are working really hard but are starved for the resources they need…..
We’ve got staffing levels not where they need to be. We’re seeing over-use of leave, callouts, and burnouts – those thing start to accumulate. There’s a lack of parity in salary and incentives with other folks in law enforcement and safety and I think we’ve got an agency and an executive that is unwilling to acknowledge and think about what is correct action….They’re afraid of corrective action on the work force, again, because they are so short staffed that if they take corrective actions they’ll have less worker force available….
The agency has to focus on how we recover from bad mismanagement that has taken place that put it where it is in the first place. And I think they need an executive branch that is actually going to support them and be able to move them forward.
We had the DC auditor take a deep and comprehensive dive into the OUC … they laid out an entire framework on how to improve – those have yet to be followed up on.
We need all the ANCs focused on talking to city leaders and pushing on this. So please don’t let up. Make sure you testify – keep sending those letters – highlight what you heard from your constituents.”
The 7-11 at 637 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, will close on Monday, October 7. An employee said that they were not informed of the reasons for the closure but “it could be related to stealing.” The employee said that the company tries to relocate employees to other locations. The Barracks Row 7-11 closed suddenly in August and an employee cited shoplifting as the reason.
Mike Bowers, center, with assistants Rob Studer and Eliza Nguyen.
Bowers Fancy Dairy Products at Eastern Market will celebrate its 60 year anniversary on Tuesday, October 1, with events, promotions, and giveaways planned throughout the month to mark this special anniversary.
The following is condensed from the shop’s website:
Bowers Fancy Dairy Products has served the community in the historic Eastern Market’s South Hall since 1964. That year, Harris Rockford Bowers, the grandfather of current shop owner Mike Bowers, purchased Stand 400 from the estate of William Sweeney at its present location in the South Hall.
Harris Bowers brought uniqueness to the market, sporting a straw “Boater” hat, a twinkle in this eye and adorning his shop in the great South Hall with vaudevillian signage. Working at the cheese shop back then was a family affair, with Harris, Ray Bowers (current owner Mike Bower’s father), and Mike and family friends assisting in the shop.
Harris Bowers passed away in 1976 and Ray assumed the day-to-day management of the shop while maintaining his career as a training officer with the US Secret Service. He worked to make Eastern Market a better place and to maintain its historic characteristics. Mike says he proudly follows in his footsteps.
In the 6th decade of operations, Mike owns Bowers Fancy Dairy Products and his son Ryan, now in his 7th year of cheese mongering at Historic Eastern Market, represents the future… and looks to preserve its great past.
RFK Demolition Update: Wednesday night, EventsDC held its Quarterly Meeting and provided a brief update on RFK. Demolition of the interior is proceeding and, as noted above, the raze permit deadline has been extended until year’s end, meaning exterior demolition has to begin by that deadline.
Kraft Heinz’s Oscar Mayer Wienermobile showed up on North Carolina Avenue outside of Eastern Market Thursday morning. The custom-made, hot dog-shaped vehicle travels across the United States, promoting Kraft Heinz-related events and distributing Wiener Whistles – but no hot dogs. They were there on Thursday to support an event at Eastern Market addressing world hunger.
Inside Eastern Market’s North Hall, tables were set up to accommodate some 250 volunteers who were going to pack 25,000 dehydrated soy/rice meals to ship to third world countries later that morning.. The project is a joint effort by Kraft Heinz and Rise Against Hunger. Rise CEO Rick Kearney told CHC that his organization has partnered with Kraft Heinz for over ten years to provide food security abroad. He said that “In the past three years, Kraft Heinz and Rise have impacted almost nine million people through their partnership – 650 million meals have been provided by Kraft Heinz’s support for Rise Against Hunger. The volunteers come from Congressional staff – lobbyists – anyone with an interest in solving hunger has been invited to help…” Asked to comment on a recent WP news article about 37% of families in DC, VA, and MD who experienced food insecurity between May of 2023 and May 2024, Kearney said that Kraft Heinz also has domestic partners that seek to address food insecurity here in the US. For example, he cited Alliance in Hunger – of which Rise is a member – as an organization which addresses domestic and international hunger – “we’re a Kraft Heinz international partner because hunger is a global issue. “
Gingko Gardens appears to be renovating the long-empty building on the SW corner of 11th and I Streets, SE, though progress is slow. CHC asked someone in the office what Ginko’s intent is regarding the future of the building. The reply was, “That’s a good question. I’m not sure.” The building permit says that the existing use of the building is“Restaurant A-2” and the proposed use is “Restaurant A-2.” We’ll see.
The National Community Church purchased the Navy Yard Car Barn – affectionately known in the Capitol Hill community as the “Blue Castle” – and started renovating it. Here’s a photo of the building – sans blue paint – from 8th and M Streets, SE. Rechristened the Capital Turnaround, the building has a 982 seat auditorium and numerous social event spaces.
Here’s a photo of what the building looked like circa 1919.
And here’s a rendering of what National Capital Church plans for the building’s future (looking SE from the NW corner of the building) according to their website . Not sure what the Historic Preservation Office will think about this. For more, see here: https://capitalturnaround.com/
The Week Ahead….
Highlights:
Monday, ANC6B Public Safety Committee hears CM Charles Allen on Office of Unified Command (911 Call Center) and on legislation coming before the City Council this fall.
Tuesday, ANC6A ABCA Committee discusses ABCA enforcement of illegal marijuana stores located on H Street NE.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
ANC6A Community Outreach Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Discussion of modification to the Settlement Agreement between ANC6A and 7 River Mart at 250 11th Street NE
Discussion of change to ANC6A bylaws regarding liquor and cannabis licenses
Resolution to automatically protest unless application is timely considered by full ANC
Discussion regarding ABCA enforcement of illegal marijuana stores located on H Street NE
Update on recent ABCA actions.
Commissioner Shapiro proposes ANC send letters
Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to grant residents and property owners the right to protest cannabis licenses
Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to allow moratorium zones for cannabis licenses.
Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to allow penalties for landlords who see alcohol or cannabis without proper licenses
Requesting changes to DC law and regulation to allow closure of establishments who fail to remediate violations after 30 days of presentation of probable cause
Split Settlement Agreements
ANC6B’s Executive Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
The Chiarina Chamber Players begin celebrating their 10th season with a special program featuring 2023 Grammy Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann. Alongside a guest string quartet, the group will perform Florence Price’s Fantasie Nègre and Piano Quintet in A minor as well as Robert Schumann’s resounding Piano Quintet. Tickets: $30, free for those 18 and under. https://chiarina.org/concerts/michelle-cann-and-friends/
Comments Off on The Week Ahead … & Some Photos from Last Week
East City Bookshop – 645 PA Avenue, SE – welcomes Capitol Hill author Louis Bayard to discuss his book, The Wildes, tonight, September 21, at 6:00pm. Hybrid Event: Louis Bayard in conversation with WP and CBS critic Ron Charles.
ABOUT THE WILDES
“From the bestselling author of The Pale Blue Eye, Louis Bayard, comes Atonement meets The Paris Wife, a brilliantly original, profoundly empathetic story about Oscar Wilde’s wife Constance and their two sons in the aftermath of the famous playwright’s imprisonment for homosexuality, told against the backdrop of Victorian England and World War I.” East City Bookshop press release.
The Church of God’s stained glass will remain covered. Last Wednesday, residents living near World Mission Society Church of God at 701 A Street NE unhappy that the church covered up the stained glass windows, pressured ANC6C to continue the effort to restore the public visibility of the windows. Those windows, with the sanction of the city’s Chief Building Officer (CBO) are obscured from public view by opaque coverings which the CBO has deemed “storm windows.” As such, their installation does not require a building permit, thus avoiding review by the Historic Preservation Office (HPO). Last February, ANC6C appealed the CBO storm window definition, but the CBO confirmed the decision.
The neighbors wanted the ANC to appeal the CBO decision to the Office of Planning, claiming that covering the windows is in violation of the intent of the Mayor’s Agent who – earlier – had ordered the windows restored after the church had removed them claiming their faith prohibit religious imagery.
The protestations of Commissioner Jay Adelstein and of neighbors pushing to restore the character of the neighborhood were not enough to convince a majority of the commission to move to appeal the storm windows decision. A motion to ask the Office of Planning for an HPO review of the decision to defeated, 2 – 3 – 2.
The ANC then agreed to a motion by ANC6C Chair Mark Eckenweiler to send a letter to CBO and HPO asking them to close the regulatory loophole which permitted the opaque storm windows to be installed and asking that the regulations be clarified to make sure there is never a repetition. The vote was 7 – 0 – 0.
ICYMI – Frager’s Garden Center and Foliage by Frager’s are taking over the former Hype Café at 1129 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. They hope to open by the holidays.
Georgetown Optician at 660 Pennsylvania Avenue was robbed late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning. This is the scene circa 8:00am Wednesday morning.
ICYMI. Signage announcing Sahara Market and Café is “coming soon” to the space formerly occupied by The Cupboard Market at 1504 East Capitol Street.
This weekend, the National Museum of the American Indian hosted an event featuring artists creating folk art made in Mexico. Here’s an example of Alebrijes – folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures – a tradition which started in the 1930s in Mexico. Sculptures made in Oaxaca, Mexico, are carved from the copal tree. The pieces created by Oscar Becerra-Mora, one of which is shown here, are made from papier-mâché. For more, including a giant Alebrijes by Becerra-Mora, see here: https://mccdenver.org/alebrije-xolotl-dios-perro/
And here’s an image of a Yarn Painting by Cilao Valadez of the Wixarika tribe in Mexico, made by pressing brightly colored yarn onto resin-coated wood or papier-mâché. The works are created, adhering to an ancient Pre-Columbian tradition – and used as offerings sacrificed in ceremonies in which deified ancestors are asked to answer prayers. In the before times, colorful feathers were used instead of yarn. Cilao Valadez is a widely recognized master of the tradition who demonstrated the creation of pieces this weekend at the National Museum of the American Indian. See more here: https://cilauvaladez.com/
The Week Ahead…
Monday, September 16
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
Florida Avenue NE Streetscape Project Update. The Florida Avenue NE Streetscape Project outreach team will provide updates to this project scheduled for completion in October 2024.
H Street NE Bus Priority Project. Mr. Zack Gambetti-Mendez, H Street Bus Priority Project Manager, and Mr. David Lipscomb, DDOT Curbside Manager will present data from Pick-Up/Drop-Off (PUDO) zone and short-term parking pilot projects as it relates to the H Street Bus Priority Project. Commissioner Gove has also requested an update on timing of the project as well as possibilities for added green space in the curb extensions.
Traffic calming on 11th Street NE from East Capitol Street to Florida Avenue NE. Commissioners Gove and Shapiro have requested an update from DDOT on plans for traffic calming installation that are over a year old. This is following a third collision with a parked vehicle affecting the same neighbor on the 700-block of 11th Street NE.
Intersection of 11th Street NE/East Capitol Street/Massachusetts Avenue NE. Commissioner Gove has requested an update from DDOT on signage plans to clear up the confusing lane assignments on westbound East Capitol Street at the northwest corner of Lincoln Park turning south onto 11th Street NE.
Request for an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Tennessee Avenue NE and 14th Street NE. Commissioner Wethington has requested an ANC letter of support for an all way stop sign at this intersection. DDOT’s TSI 2.0 Dashboard indicates 5 TSIs for Future Consideration dating from June 2022 through March 2024 related to traffic speed and volume. NOTE: DDOT has paused TSI prioritization for this quarter (July September 2024) to refine the TSI program with a goal of resuming an improved program on October 1, 2024.
New Business.
Request for an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Tennessee Avenue NE & E Street NE. Commissioner Dooling has requested an ANC letter of support for an allway stop sign at this intersection. DDOT’s TSI 2.0 Dashboard indicates 11 TSIs for Future Consideration dating from January 2023 through August 2024 related to traffic speed, poor field of view at the intersection, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Consideration of converting 1400-block of G Street NE to one-way. Commissioner Dooling has requested a letter of support for converting the 1400-block of G Street NE to a one-way street, following discussion of specific direction among the community.
Restoration of raised crosswalk at 14th and E Streets NE. Commissioners Gove and Wethington have requested an update from DDOT on the status of the restoration of this crosswalk following repaving that occurring in 2023.
Public Space Permit application #453622.
ANC6B Parks and Public Spaces Taskforce will hold an in person meeting at 7:00pm.
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE; Second Floor, Conference Room 3 (Main Entrance Adjacent to Trader Joe’s)
Agenda: TBA.
ANC6D Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
EDZ Recommended / ANC Supported / BZA Approved Zoning Adjustment Application for 813 7th Street, NE. To construct a detached, two-story accessory garage with accessory dwelling to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
EDZ Suggested /ANC Supported /BZA Approved Zoning Adjustment Application for 1252 H Street NE. To construct a rear addition to an existing, attached, two-story with basement, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
New Business:
910 12th Street, NE. Zoning Adjustment Application to construct a third story with roof deck and a three-story with cellar rear addition, to an existing, attached, two-story with cellar, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
Capitol Hill Corner would also like you to know about:
Monday, September 16th
7:30pm. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Capitol Hill.
The Capitol Hill Chamber Music Festival returns with Renaissance Psalms, Irish Baroque & Folk: 1630, 1730 & 1830 featuring guitar and flute. Suggested donation: $20-30. 18 and under free. More details available at https://chcmf.org/dc.html
Wednesday, September 18th, 7:30 pm
7:30pm. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Capitol Hill.
Piano duo SONET, featuring two of Armenia’s best pianists, will be performing works by Mozart, Schubert, Poulenc, Tchaikovsky, Faure, & Khachaturian. For more info or to purchase tickets ($45, also available at the door), visit eventbrite.com https://bit.ly/4gjhouW
Saturday, September 21st, 7:00 pm
7:30pm. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Capitol Hill.
The Washington Bach Consort performs Bach’s masterful Saint Matthew Passion. Considered by many to be the composer’s greatest surviving work, it displays a meticulous formal symmetry in addition to being a work of deepest emotional expression. Both performers and audiences are profoundly affected by this work long after first experiencing it. Tickets: $45-99, $20 for those under 40, $10 for those 18 and under. Limited seats available. https://bachconsort.org/events/bach-st-matthew-passion/
Sunday, September 22nd, 7:30 pm
The final performance of the Capitol Hill Chamber Music Festival is titled Songs Without Words: 1550-1750 and features flute and viola da gamba. Suggested donation: $20-30. 18 and under free. More details available at https://chcmf.org/dc.html
Saturday, September 21.
H Street Festival from noon until 7 pm.
Capitol Hill Montessori School Launches First Ever On Line Auction
Ongoing: – now through October 25th.
“We currently have donations from more than 100 local businesses and CHML families, and more items are being added daily. Bidding is open on gift cards for a variety of restaurants, fitness classes, photography sessions, sports and theater tickets, apparel, camps, music lessons, and more. Exciting offerings include dinner for two at a Michelin starred restaurant, a weekend in the Shenandoah, an educational tour with Anacostia Riverkeeper, sleepaway camp, and private soccer sessions. Bidders can also score gift cards for local casual dining great for families.
The auction runs through CHML’s Fall Festival on October 25th, where things will really heat up with a *live auction* for some seriously amazing prizes—think suite box tickets for Capitals games, a chance to see Cyndi Lauper, and *just in time for Christmas*… Mariah Carey tickets! We will also be hosting a silent auction featuring incredible classroom-wide projects that our students will be working on between now and the Fall Festival.”
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 