A year or so ago, I wrote a letter to the Washington D.C Mayor and the D.C. City Council. It was about cultural rules, observations (witnessing); it was also a warning of what was to come. Chickens have come home to roost, ward 6 D.C. City Council member Tommy Wells has turned on the entire Eastern community with the goal to destroy it and make it a toy in the hands of his minders. In his new proposed legislation, the "Eastern Market Preservation and Development Trust," his Board of Directors can do virtually whatever it chooses with Eastern Market, with little if any oversight from the larger community, the merchants, the exhibitors or the D.C government.
Hence, I encourage all those who love the Eastern Market Exhibitor Community to write to the Mayor's office and the D.C. City Council and tell them to reject the " Eastern Market Preservation and Development Amendment Act of 2011"
As proposed this Amendment :
*(To view copies of the current proposed amendment and the current legislation, please view my current newsletter.)
1. Is poorly written and poorly thought out, allowing for overreaching control by the proposed : "Eastern Market Preservation and Development Trust", to destroy the current Eastern Market Community. For example (page 3) "...privately owned or controlled land or buildings that are directly adjacent to the area defined in.....(are) subject to a lease or management agreement between the Eastern Market Preservation and Development Trust..." So does that mean, for example, that Tunnicliff's (a local pub adjacent to " Eastern Market Historic Special Use District" and across the street from the weekend exhibitors) would have to ask this "Trust" for permission to sell alcohol? Or to have a sidewalk cafe? Or to....what else? This amendment is unclear, far reaching and unenforceable (or so local businesses should hope.)
2. Disenfranchises all current inside and outside merchants, tenants, farmers, produce resellers, and exhibitors who, through hard work, perseverance, and grace, have made Eastern Market an international beacon of community...by repealing ALL clauses that give these merchants, exhibitors et.al., the "Right of first refusal" to permanent spaces for existing side walk vendors, farmers, produce merchants and inside tenants. There is no grandfathering clause which would legally protect those who built the market, nor is there any clause that gives any legal protection to any merchants, or exhibitors et. al.( page 13) "(e) Section 6 (D.C. Code 37-105) is repealed", (page 14) "(g) Sections 8(a), 9 and 10 (D.C. Official Code 37-107(a), 37-108, 37-109) are repealed". Under this amendment exhibitors, farmers,, tenants, and merchants all could be removed on a whim...and I think readers know that some of us almost surely would be.
3....and allow the Washington D.C. Ward 6 Council member a disproportionate power and control in selecting and appointing members of the proposed "Board of Directors."
(page 7)
" (iv) Five appointed by the Ward 6 Council member, all of whom shall be residents of Ward 6..."
"(B)... chairperson who shall ...selected by the Ward 6 Council member...."
"(K) The Board shall supervise and provide coordinated management over all operations in the Eastern Market Historic Special Use District..." (page 9).
It is also important to note that while Ward 6 council member Wells would have the majority control over hand picking, who runs the Eastern Market Complex, his amendment is very generous in allowing the City, that is to say, all District of Columbia taxpayers, to pick up the bill for maintaining Eastern Market. For example:
(page 13) "(2) The District Government shall maintain primary responsibility for the providing security personnel, trash pickup, snow removal, street cleaning, insurance costs, and gas, water and electric expenses for the Eastern Market Historic Special Use District..."
And again in section (3) Council member Wells shows his largess in allowing the City to pick up the tab.
"(3) The District of Columbia will remain responsible for funding any major repairs, alterations, construction or improvements to the Market."
In summation, the "Eastern Market Preservation and Development Amendment Act of 201" limits the current Eastern Market vision--currently of an international, multicultural market place with a world community at its center--to a small micromanaged toy of a local Machiavellian and Napoleonic despot: Ward 6 council member Tommy Wells. Poorly conceived and written laws maybe proposed by anyone, but they are only passed by majority vote of Washington, D.C. City Council. Please urge them to Vote "NO" on this one.
Hence, I encourage all those who love the Eastern Market Exhibitor Community to write to the Mayor's office and the D.C. City Council and tell them to reject the " Eastern Market Preservation and Development Amendment Act of 2011"
The City Council of the District of Columbia
Address: John A. Wilson Building, Suite 5, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave,
NW, Washington, DC 20004
NW, Washington, DC 20004
David A. Catania - Councilmember (At-Large) | ||||
Vincent Orange - Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 410 Tel: (202) 724-8174 Fax: (202) 724-8210 Michael A. Brown - Councilmember (At-Large) | ||||
Jim Graham - Councilmember (Ward 1) | ||||
Jack Evans - Councilmember (Ward 2) Muriel Bowser - Councilmember - (Ward 4) Mary M. Cheh - Councilmember (Ward 3) | ||||
Harry Thomas, Jr. - Councilmember (Ward 5) | ||||
Yvette M. Alexander - Councilmember (Ward 7) Suite: 400 Tel: (202) 724-8068 Fax: (202) 741-0911 Marion Barry - Councilmember (Ward 8) __________________________________________________________ |
*(To view copies of the current proposed amendment and the current legislation, please view my current newsletter.)
1. Is poorly written and poorly thought out, allowing for overreaching control by the proposed : "Eastern Market Preservation and Development Trust", to destroy the current Eastern Market Community. For example (page 3) "...privately owned or controlled land or buildings that are directly adjacent to the area defined in.....(are) subject to a lease or management agreement between the Eastern Market Preservation and Development Trust..." So does that mean, for example, that Tunnicliff's (a local pub adjacent to " Eastern Market Historic Special Use District" and across the street from the weekend exhibitors) would have to ask this "Trust" for permission to sell alcohol? Or to have a sidewalk cafe? Or to....what else? This amendment is unclear, far reaching and unenforceable (or so local businesses should hope.)
2. Disenfranchises all current inside and outside merchants, tenants, farmers, produce resellers, and exhibitors who, through hard work, perseverance, and grace, have made Eastern Market an international beacon of community...by repealing ALL clauses that give these merchants, exhibitors et.al., the "Right of first refusal" to permanent spaces for existing side walk vendors, farmers, produce merchants and inside tenants. There is no grandfathering clause which would legally protect those who built the market, nor is there any clause that gives any legal protection to any merchants, or exhibitors et. al.( page 13) "(e) Section 6 (D.C. Code 37-105) is repealed", (page 14) "(g) Sections 8(a), 9 and 10 (D.C. Official Code 37-107(a), 37-108, 37-109) are repealed". Under this amendment exhibitors, farmers,, tenants, and merchants all could be removed on a whim...and I think readers know that some of us almost surely would be.
3....and allow the Washington D.C. Ward 6 Council member a disproportionate power and control in selecting and appointing members of the proposed "Board of Directors."
(page 7)
" (iv) Five appointed by the Ward 6 Council member, all of whom shall be residents of Ward 6..."
"(B)... chairperson who shall ...selected by the Ward 6 Council member...."
"(K) The Board shall supervise and provide coordinated management over all operations in the Eastern Market Historic Special Use District..." (page 9).
It is also important to note that while Ward 6 council member Wells would have the majority control over hand picking, who runs the Eastern Market Complex, his amendment is very generous in allowing the City, that is to say, all District of Columbia taxpayers, to pick up the bill for maintaining Eastern Market. For example:
(page 13) "(2) The District Government shall maintain primary responsibility for the providing security personnel, trash pickup, snow removal, street cleaning, insurance costs, and gas, water and electric expenses for the Eastern Market Historic Special Use District..."
And again in section (3) Council member Wells shows his largess in allowing the City to pick up the tab.
"(3) The District of Columbia will remain responsible for funding any major repairs, alterations, construction or improvements to the Market."
Witnessing,
Sonda T. Allen
Turtle's Webb
Posts
