Councilmember
Jack Evans
Weekly Newsletter

Evans comments on Presidential Primary Caucus
Following up on the January 13 "First in the Nation Presidential Primary," DC Democrats got to vote for president for the second time in one month at last Saturday's Presidential Primary "caucus." I highlight the word caucus since anyone who went to Foundry Church could tell you last Saturday's caucus wasn't much different than the voting that took place on January 13 - except each Ward had only one polling place and campaigns were able to campaign in the same room as the voting booth.

What was quite different from January 13 was who won the election. It is amazing what a difference a month makes. When we held our primary a month ago, it preceded the Iowa Caucus by 10 days. At that time, Governor Howard Dean was on the cover of Time and Newsweek. He was the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination, ahead in the polls in both Iowa and New Hampshire and had $41 million in the bank. He won the DC Primary with over 50% of the vote.

Unfortunately for Howard Dean, local party leaders decided the January 13 citywide election would not be the vehicle by which we select our delegate to this summer's convention. So as to not anger national Democratic party officials or the states of Iowa and New Hampshire, local Democrats (who have complete control over this process as opposed to most DC elections which are governed by City rules) decided the February 14 caucus would be the day DC's delegates were selected.

The big winner in all this is John Kerry, whose campaign was dead in early January, but took first place last Saturday with 47% of the votes cast. Governor Dean finished a distant third with 18% of the vote.

The big question for the 2004 Presidential campaign is what happened to Howard Dean? Or, more pointedly, why did the voters in Iowa reject him overwhelmingly in favor of John Kerry? This will prove to be a case study for years to come. How Governor Dean deals with what must be this enormous disappointment will tell a lot about him. He clearly needs an "exit strategy."

Back to the District. We send 39 delegates to the Democratic Convention in Boston from July 26-29. Of the 39, the Democratic National Committee appoints 23. These include the Mayor and Congresswoman as well as party big wigs who live in the District - six of the remaining 16 are elected by the local state party, the Democratic State Committee, to provide diversity to the delegation. The remaining 10 are allocated based on Saturday's results with six going to Senator Kerry, two to Governor Dean and two to Reverend Al Sharpton. The 16 must be divided equally between men and women. The actual delegates will be elected in party caucuses on March 6.

Many people have asked me in recent days if Dean still gets two delegates since he has withdrawn from the race. The answer is yes. If Dean decides to support another Democrat, he can direct those delegates originally pledged to support him to now support the candidate he endorses. If he decides not to support another Democrat, Dean can direct his supporters to vote their conscience.

If this sounds complicated - it is. However, we are not alone in this situation, since every State operates the same way. The Democratic Party implemented these rules after the 1968 Convention to provide more diversity (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) to the delegates attending the convention every four years.

The issue for the future is whether this system of allowing Iowa and New Hampshire to go first and in effect determine the party nominees, makes sense. Clearly, if Michigan and Pennsylvania went first, Governor Dean would have won and the results would be different. Certainly food for thought.

In any event, it looks like the next president will be a Ward 2 resident - either President George Bush who lives in the White House or Senator John Kerry who lives on O Street in Georgetown. Go Figure.

Jack Evans

Return to top of page

Evans wants residents to stay informed regarding lead levels in water
Given recent reports of increased lead levels in DC homes, Councilmember Evans urges residents to review several tips issued this week by the DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA):

• Find out Whether Your Service Line is Made of Lead - Determine if the service line from your home or apartment to the water main is made of lead. This can be accomplished by contacting WASA's Lead Hotline at 787.2732 or by email at WQP2003@dcwasa.com.
• Flush Your System - Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The longer water resides in your home's plumbing the more lead it may contain.
• Use Only Cold Water for Cooking and Drinking - Try not to cook with, or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold water.
• Remove Debris from Faucet Strainers Regularly - Remove loose lead solder and debris from the plumbing materials installed in newly constructed homes, or homes in which the plumbing has recently been replaced, by removing the faucet strainers from all taps and running the water for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Identify and Replace Lead Solder - If your copper pipes are joined with lead solder that has been installed illegally since the 1986 ban, notify the plumber who did the work and request he or she replace the lead solder with lead-free solder. Lead solder looks dull gray, and when scratched looks shiny. In addition, notify EPA Region's Safe Drinking Water Act Enforcement Branch at 215-814-5445 about the violation.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided extremely useful brochures for people concerned with lead levels in drinking water.

• Drinking Water Guide
  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf
• What are the Health Effects of Contaminants in Drinking Water?
  http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/dwh/health.html
• Drinking Water FAQ
  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/faq.html
• Consumer Fact Sheet on Lead
  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/dw_contamfs/lead.html

And, those needing information on water purification systems (which do filter out lead pollutants) can get further information at this website: http://www.purwater.com/yourwater/contaminants.shtml.

Additionally, WASA has partnered with the DC Department of Health to administer free lead screenings for children between the ages of six months and six years old and pregnant mothers. Screenings are conducted at 51 N Street, NE, third floor -- please call 535.2634 for additional information.

For more information on this issue, contact Evans' WASA liaison, Sean Metcalf.

Return to top of page

Evans prepares to present community concerns to Chief Ramsey
After receiving several phone calls and letters from concerned Logan Circle leaders, Councilmember Evans is looking into some of the proposed changes to the Metropolitan Police Department's Patrol Service Area (PSA) boundaries and will be discussing these at a February 24 Council hearing. Convened by the Council's Committee on the Judiciary, this hearing will be the first opportunity for the Council to publicly discuss the proposed changes submitted earlier this year by the Mayor.

"I know Chief Ramsey wants to realign the current police districting system so as to increase police presence," Evans said. "However, I'm concerned his current boundary lines separate parts of Logan Circle from each other - i.e., the Thomas House and other buildings on the southern side of Mass Ave. And, I'm not sure placing Logan Circle into the same PSA as the mammoth Convention Center makes the best sense."

Evans has taken comments from Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2F, Logan Circle Community Association, SE Logan Circle Neighborhood Focus Group and other concerned residents. The concerns from the neighborhood include the southern portion of the proposal as well as the eastern side of the new boundary.

For more information, contact Evans' Logan Circle liaison, Sean Metcalf.

Return to top of page

"This past year we have seen many changes in this neighborhood, from new homes to new centers, but there is one constant - development," Evans said. "I am proud of this neighborhood. I can remember when Mt. Vernon showed signs of the '68 riots, but now with a concerted effort to revitalize this neighborhood by churches and residents, I feel a renaissance is taking place and this area will soon be another gem in Ward 2."

The monthly meeting will take place at Metropolitan Christian Church, 5th & Ridge Street, NW, 7:30 p.m.

Since many people often ask about Mount Vernon Square - here's a brief history which can also be found on my website:
Initial development of the Shaw/Mt. Vernon Square neighborhood began in the 1830s.

During the ante-bellum period, the neighborhood became one of the most densely populated residential areas in the city, due to its proximity to the downtown business district. Commercial development quickly followed, spurred by the construction of the Northern Liberties Market at Mt. Vernon Place in 1842 and the presence of 7th Street, the first paved road in the District and the primary transportation route for northbound travel.

During the Civil War and Reconstruction, an influx of military personnel, government workers, and African-Americans created a major housing shortage in the city and a subsequent construction boom. Thousands of residential dwellings were erected in Shaw/Mt. Vernon Square and commercial development intensified as new businesses were established to meet the needs of the growing resident base.

By the 1890s, streetcar service had been installed on 14th Street, 11th Street, 9th Street, 7th Street, and 4th Street, which furthered the growth and expansion of the neighborhood. During this period, the population of Shaw/Mt. Vernon Square was primarily middle and working class and included both African-American and white residents.

In the early 1900s, as transportation improvements created opportunities for development to the north, middle-income white residents began moving out of the area and the neighborhood became predominantly African-American.

Over the next several decades, Shaw/Mt. Vernon Square flourished as business and commerce continued to grow along U Street, 14th Street, 9th Street, and 7th Street. Dozens of new African-American businesses, fraternal organizations, religious institutions, and entertainment facilities were established. The area became the center of social, cultural, and economic life for the District's African-American community and home to some of the city's most prominent African-American citizens. By the early 1940s, Shaw/Mt. Vernon Square had become a thriving, prosperous neighborhood.

After World War II, desegregation and the opening of new housing markets prompted many middle-class African-Americans to leave the neighborhood. Single-family homes were converted to multi-family rental dwellings and the density of the area increased. The businesses along the commercial corridors began to suffer as a result of losing a large segment of their local customer base and many of them were forced to close. By the late 1950s, the neighborhood had begun to decline.

The problems that emerged in the post-World War II period were exacerbated by riots that erupted after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. Countless commercial buildings were damaged and several were destroyed entirely. Many of the surviving businesses left the area or closed their operations altogether.

Increasing numbers of middle-income residents fled the community and as the economic decline intensified, the neighborhood became severely depressed.

In recent years, there have been promising signs of renewal throughout Shaw/Mt. Vernon Square. In 1991, metro rail service was extended into the neighborhood, which increased the accessibility and market reach of local businesses, improved the mobility of residents, and enhanced the overall livability of the area.

Significant revitalization initiatives have been undertaken along 14th Street and U Street and both corridors are beginning to recapture their former health and vibrancy. Several major historic landmarks have been renovated for adaptive re-use, including the Thurgood Marshall Center, the True Reformer Building, and Shaw Junior High; and the former Carnegie Library soon will be home to the new D.C. City Museum.

In addition, in 1999, two additional historic districts were created to encompass the areas immediately to the east and west of the new convention center. Throughout the neighborhood, there has been an increase in both the rehabilitation of single-family homes and new residential construction projects.

The city has designated Mt. Vernon Triangle, an area just to the southeast of the 7th and 9th Street corridors, as a priority area for residential development and has issued a Request for Proposals for the development of the Wax Museum site at 5th and K Streets, the largest District-owned parcel in the Triangle.

Undoubtedly, the most expansive economic development project is the new Washington Convention Center, which boasts more than 2 million square feet of meeting and exhibition space and will bring thousands of visitors and tourists to the neighborhood every year.

If you have questions or concerns, contact Evans' Mt. Vernon Square liaison, Sean Metcalf.

Return to top of page

Evans attends Thomas House ribbon cutting
Councilmember Evans will cut the ribbon February 19 with Thomas House residents as they open their new assisted living floor and a recreation room which rivals many sports clubs across the city.

"A truly remarkable facility, Thomas House once again has stepped up to the plate and made it easier for our Seniors to call DC their home," Evans said. "Far too often we see our Senior residents moving out of the city to the life of suburbia, but when you have lived your entire life in the city, it is fitting to enjoy your retirement at home."

The Thomas House, 1330 Massachusetts Avenue, is a Continuing Care Retirement Community that offers a full range of housing, residential services, and health care in order to serve its older residents as their needs change over time. The Thomas House is a community that aims to give Seniors a sense of independence throughout the later years of their lives.

For more information, contact Evans Logan Circle liaison, Sean Metcalf.

Return to top of page

Dupont Circle ANC set for changes
There are big changes in store for the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC). While change is inevitable, we are about to lose several dedicated and talented leaders: Vince Micone, Carol Mitten and Irv Morgan.

"We are fortunate to have such stellar individuals step into leadership rolls in Dupont Circle," Councilmember Evans said. "Vince, Carol and Irv will be missed but I look forward to new residents volunteering to take their places."

Vince Micone just resigned as the 2B02 Commissioner after serving more than 5 years and as the Commission's Chair for 4th years. Vince and his partner, Thom Metzger, will be moving to Foggy Bottom. Vince has done a superb job running the ANC that is no easy task given the number of issues on any given agenda. For his day job, Vince works as Chief of Events Management and Community Service for the U.S. Department of Justice. He is chairperson of the Mayor's Commission on National and Community Service and he serves a volunteer police officer. Dupont Circle's loss is Foggy Bottom's gain!

Carol Mitten is unfortunately leaving her 2B05 seat during her first term but she will continue to serve the community as Director of the District's Office of Property Management (OPM). OPM manages the District's the construction, maintenance and security of the District's properties (such as Dupont Down Under!). Carol is more than qualified for this position as past chair of the D.C. Zoning Commission and past president of Washington D.C. Association of Realtors.

Irv Morgan also announced that he is leaving the ANC after 3 years of service as the representative of 2B07 and Vice Chair. Irv brought a business prospective to the ANC and has been actively involved in the concerns of 17th Street's businesses. Among Irv's many accomplishments is his annual organization of the popular High Heel Race in October. Although Irv is moving out of the District, but will continue to work on 17th Street and continue his commitment to Dupont Circle.

For more information, contact Evans' Dupont Circle liaison, Michele Mololtsky.

Return to top of page

Also on Evans' speaking agenda will be the proposed realignment of the Police Service Areas, his efforts to limit the sticker shock of skyrocketing property tax values and the latest update on the lead water issue. Evans said he will also touch on one of his pet concerns - continued gaps in the delivery of municipal services.

"One of the toughest challenges we face in the Council is the enforcement of our laws," Evans said. "We can pass all the laws we want, but when there is a lack of enforcement, the residents feel the brunt of the original problem.

"We continue to ask construction companies to keep their trucks off certain streets, but without strict enforcement, there is no incentive to obey. Why must residents have to deal with trucks shaking their homes before the sun rises?"

Since many people often ask where Blagden Alley - here's a brief history which can also be found on my website:

Blagden Alley is a historic district defined by middle-class residences, churches and small apartment buildings, which display a rich variety of Victorian architectural styles dating from the 1860s to the 1890s. In the interior of each block are extant examples of utilitarian alley dwellings, such as working class residences, stables and commercial buildings that are hidden behind the buildings facing the streets. The area illustrates how different classes; races and services were physically organized in the 19th-century city of Washington.

The names Blagden Alley and Naylor Court were derived from two 19th-century property owners, Thomas Blagden and Dickerson Nailor. Blagden owned property in the area and ran a lumberyard in the city. Dickerson Nailor (now spelled Naylor) also owned property and was a grocer. After the Civil War, Washington's downtown became increasingly commercial and residential development grew north to the Blagden Alley area in the 1870s and attracted several prestigious, affluent residents.

The elegant townhouse, the Blanche K. Bruce House (NHL) at 909 M Street was constructed in 1873. Bruce was the first African American to serve as a Senator in Congress (R-Miss, 1875-1881). To the south was a house built by Alexander "Boss" Shepard, the chief of the Board of Public Works during the 1870s. Streetcar lines connected 9th and 7th Streets with downtown in 1873, and these streets served as the main commercial corridors.

After the Civil War, many African Americans migrated to Washington and came to live in the alley dwellings. They were small and poorly constructed buildings, mainly of wood and brick. The living conditions were overcrowded and unsanitary. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, there were concentrated efforts to have the alley dwellings demolished. Blagden Alley and Naylor Court are two of only a handful of alleys that are extant.

The Blagden Alley neighborhood continued to serve as a closely-knit racially mixed middle and working class neighborhood into the 20th century. However, the widening of 9th Street with its subsequent loss of street trees and yards, the flight of the middle class to the suburbs, the increase of absentee landlords and the 1968 riots led to deterioration of the area.

Today, there is interest in renovating and restoring the homes, and the area has an active community group interested in fighting crime. New residents have been attracted to the area by the charm of the buildings and the proximity to downtown.

Blagden Alley-Naylor Court is bounded by 9th, 10th, M and O Sts., NW. All of the buildings mentioned are private and not open to the public. Metro stop: Mt. Vernon Sq-UDC

If you have questions or concerns, contact Evans' Blagden Alley liaison, Sean Metcalf.

Return to top of page

Evans reviews Mayor's plans to convert DC's underused waterfront
The future of DC's long neglected waterfront took center stage when Councilmember Evans took part in a capacity crowd February 11 hearing about the Mayor's Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI).

"DC has one of the nation's ugliest waterfronts - it's a crime we don't make use of this resource," Evans said. "There have been too many blue ribbon plans for the waterfront that have gone nowhere. At some point we must make a decision and move forward."

If passed, the "District of Columbia Anacostia Waterfront Act of 2003" (15-616) would establish the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation as an independent authority. This entity would be responsible for the development, promotion, revitalization, advocacy, representation and resource aggregation for the lands adjacent to the Anacostia River and associated waterways and adjoining lands.

"When Southwest was a part of Ward 2, I worked extensively to revitalize their current lifeless waterfront and commercial corridor," Evans said. "While I was successful in getting the Waterside Mall project moving forward, the waterfront was so large and unwieldy that I can easily see why the Mayor would want to have a dedicated authority whose singular mission is to make this complicated dream come true."

The District of Columbia Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) calls for new residential, commercial, retail and hotel uses on land currently underutilized or not utilized owned by DC government or under our control since the establishment of Home Rule. The AWI envisions over 4600 units of new housing, over 600,000 square feet of new retail and over 3 million square feet of commercial uses.

Noting the many concerns and controversies which naturally accompany such an expansive legislative proposal, Evans said he will continue to work with the local and minority business community to ensure any new waterfront entity will not exclude local businesses. Currently undergoing further review in the Council's Committee on Economic Development, the Mayor hopes the Council can quickly move forward his proposal.

For more information, contact Evans' economic development liaison, Windy Abdul-Rahim.

Return to top of page

"I'm pleased to see new growth in the Ward and especially in this area which has long suffered from a decline in residential housing," Evans said. "These blocks between downtown and Georgetown used to be completely dead, but with this 341-unit apartment building, our 'living downtown' continues to grow."

The Sovereign House is near several new construction projects. JBG is also building "1111 25th Street" an apartment building with 140 rental units and Sovereign House, which will have 120 rental units. In addition, Trammel Crow has started to develop Columbia Condominiums on the site of the Columbia Women's Hospital. Evans praised the work of JBG Companies remarking they are currently building 1,000 units in the District (all in Ward 2 and downtown).

"My children were born here and I've spent a lot of time in this neighborhood. It's great to see the transformation," Evans said. "It's fantastic to see all this land being brought back on to the tax rolls and attracting new residents."

For more information, contact Evans' Foggy Bottom liaison, Michele Molotsky.

Return to top of page

"These outages had a serious affect on Ward 2's Shaw area where residents experienced the lack of service for long periods of time during one of the coldest weeks," Evans said. "Adding insult to the injury of no heat, was that many residents couldn't get answers or clear advice from Washington Gas. We must be certain all utility representatives fielding telephone calls have accurate information."

It came to light during the hearing that the Public Service Commission (which has formal oversight of all DC utilities) has directed Washington Gas to provide by March 8 a complete report on the outages, including the causes and solutions to the problem. Evans and the Office of the People's Counsel will review and respond to the report.

"I want to know what happened, what steps Washington Gas is doing to ensure it doesn't happen again and how they plan to improve their response times and public communication systems," Evans said.

Held by the Subcommittee on Public Interest, the hearing included testimony from community leaders, representatives from the American Red Cross, Office of the People's Counsel, Public Service Commission, the Water and Sewer Authority and Washington Gas.

For more information, contact Evans' Shaw liaison, Windy Abdul-Rahim.

Return to top of page

Return to top of page