Commissioners Alex Padro (6E01), Anthony Brown (6E02), Frank Wiggins (6E03, vice chair and treasurer), David Jaffe (6E04, secretary), Alex Marriott (6E05, chair) and Kevin Rogers (6E07) made up the quorum to conduct official business at the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E May meeting.
Councilmember Allen Attends
Charles Allen, councilmember for Ward 6, attended the meeting and shared some of the initiatives he plans to work on should he be reelected.
He noted that affordable housing will be the largest challenge going forward. Over 1,500 affordable homes have been created in the ward, but he said that number is not nearly enough.
A 3-percent budget increase will go into modernizing school buildings. Currently there are facilities with moldy ceilings, old base light bulbs and bars on windows. Allen would like teachers to get pay increases as well. He also wants Shaw to get a middle school and will continue to push the mayor’s office to get it. He spoke about his Books from Birth initiative that will give kids up to five years of age one book a month. The goal is to have them able to read and prepared to learn by the time they enter school. Over 425,000 books have been mailed, and he said that adult literacy should improve as a result of it.
Allen placed a focus on senior citizens. He said that grab-bars and stair modifications need to be added to their homes so that they can continue to reside near family and friends.
He is also working to improve small businesses that hire locally. He s preserving Cobb Park and not having it developed. He thinks greenspace is more important and will block anything that will have it developed.
Service Industry Representative Urges to Vote No on Initiative 77
Kareem Suma, a representative from the organization Save Our Tips, attended the meeting to provide details on Initiative 77, which will be voted upon on June 19, and the ramifications it will have on the service industry. He said that if this initiative es, the tip credit will be removed from bartenders and servers. This would force them into taking an hourly wage, which would produce considerably less income than they currently make. Employee hours will be cut back and positions will most certainly be eliminated. Along with decreased staff sizes, menu prices will be increased.
Independently owned establishments make up 96 percent of the District’s sit-down restaurants. These establishments will take the toughest blow if the tip credit is eliminated and will struggle to stay in business in such an environment. With rents skyrocketing over the city, it will also make it tough, if not impossible, for restaurant employees to keep living in the District. Suma urged everyone to vote no on Initiative 77 on June 19. There is also an early voting period between June 4 and 15. Visit www.saveourtips.com to learn more.
Request for K Street Patio Seating
A representative of Sol Mexican Grill, located at 655 K St. NW., made a request for of a public space permit for patio seating. The representative said the patio would have seven tables with 14 seats and three umbrellas. The ANC 6E Zoning Committee suggested that the restaurant remove two tables to reduce the encroachment on the walkway. The representative complied and the commission voted unanimously to the permit. The patio should be open by the end of June.
Name Chosen for M Street Alleyway
Over the past few meetings, names have been debated for an alleyway located in the 400 block of M Street NW. Residents who surround the alleyway have voiced concerns that it has no name. Concerns varied over mail delivery, ride sharing and emergency services. After input from residents and nearby stakeholders, Crowdy Court was chosen in honor of William Saunders Crowdy, an important figure of the First Tabernacle Church. The commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the name and will communicate their to Councilmember Allen.
Commission Votes on Liquor License Renewals
The following establishments received favorable votes for keeping their Alcoholic Beverage Regulation istration (ABRA) liquor license:
- Logan Circle Liquors located at 1018 Rhode Island Ave. NW. There were no prior infractions or violations reported on this establishment.
- ABC Grocery located at 1401 Sixth St. NW. This establishment has paid fines for selling alcohol to a minor and had two violations of not having someone with a manager’s license on the property.
- Sane Wine & Spirits located at 1201 Fifth St. NW. No violations were reported on this establishment.
- 10th Street Markets located at 1000 S St. NW. On two occasions this establishment was fined for not having someone on the property with a manager’s license. The fines have been resolved and the store also serves as a package delivery point, which will reduce package theft. The Civic Association recommended that it keep its license.
- Grand Cata located at 1560 Seventh St. NW. There are no prior violations reported on this establishment.
- Eye Street Cellars located at 425 I St. NW. There are no prior violations reported on this establishment.
- Angel Shares Wine & Liquors located at 1748 Seventh St. NW. There have been no infractions reported on this establishment. The property has undergone renovations and the community says the appearance is much better.
One establishment’s renewal request, 1618 Liquor and Grocery, located at 1618 Eighth St. NW, was protested by the commissioners. They complained of front signage that does not meet the guidelines of the Historic Preservation Review Board, litter problems, storing trash in the basement and not in an exterior box and not making streetscape improvements as stipulated upon from a previous settlement agreement. The commissioners told the applicant that they will work with them to address these issues. Commissioner Padro will represent ANC 6E when this issue is addressed before the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation istration.
ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on June 5 at the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library located at 1630 Seventh St. NW.
