Petition CM Barry To Help The Community Crackdown On Blight!
The Advoc8te strongly supports Mayor Fenty's efforts to clean up and if necessary close down unkempt used car lots. If we want to clean up our communities it is going to require a firm hand, clear guidelines and strict standards. Too many of these used car lots have become an eyesore in our communities. Used car dealerships should not be allowed to bring down a neighborhood because they do not want to house these cars properly within a structure so The Advoc8te is shedding no tears about these owners having to park these used (and most times inoperable) vehicles at their own homes in their own driveways. My community is my home so why would I want you to park a fleet load of these eyesores in my driveway?If you would like to express your support of Mayor Fenty and the current used car legislation and would like CM Barry to withdraw his support for the used car dealerships and transfer his support to keeping communities clean and free of blight sign the "Help Ward 8 Fight Blight" petition.
OR
Please contact Councilmember Barry's office at the following:
Main Office
Office of Councilmember Marion Barry
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.,
Suite 102
Washington, D.C. 20004
Main Office: (202) 724-8045
Main Fax: (202) 724-8055
Councilmember Marion Barry’s email: mbarry@dccouncil.us
Chief of Staff Bernadette Tolson email: btolson@dccouncil.us
Legislative Counsel Essita Holmes email: eholmes@dccouncil.us
Chief of Staff Bernadette Tolson email: btolson@dccouncil.us
Legislative Counsel Essita Holmes email: eholmes@dccouncil.us
The Advoc8te hopes that fellow bloggers spread the word! Our community is worth advoc8ting for!
from ABC 7 News - http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0509/627363.html
The District's used car dealers joined Councilman Marion Barry Friday to blast Mayor Adrian Fenty's crackdown on the city's car lots.
Barry plans to introduce emergency legislation Tuesday that will keep the businesses in business. The law would scrap limitations on the number of vehicles that can be parked on the used car lots, which Fenty claims are actually used as illegal storage lots for vehicles awaiting shipment overseas.
An ABC 7 News camera was rolling as a D.C. inspector surprised used car dealer Domenico Panza Friday with a a $2,000 fine for running an illegal parking lot on the property.
"I'm scared to do anything wrong!" said Panza, who runs A and P Wholesale in Northwest.
Panza showed us his application for a license, dated February 2009. But he doesn't have the actual license. Panza said he's not sure what happened, but because of new stricter city regulations, he's not allowed to keep more than four cars for sale on his lot. He says he needs the parking lot to bring in money.
Panza showed us his application for a license, dated February 2009. But he doesn't have the actual license. Panza said he's not sure what happened, but because of new stricter city regulations, he's not allowed to keep more than four cars for sale on his lot. He says he needs the parking lot to bring in money.
Under current regulations, used car dealers need to build a permanent structure to house vehicles and their headquarters.
"It's designed to force you out of business," declared James Route, who has run Jimmy's Auto for twenty years.
Route says he's given the city millions in revenue, but if he's forced to build a structure to house his cars -- he'll be forced into early retirement.
Many dealers say they've taken to storing vehicles in their own driveways to keep them from being towed by the city.
Mayor Fenty defended his new rules in an interview with ABC 7 News last week, saying used car lots create public health and safety concerns.
"The used car lots are blighted. They bring too much blight," he said.
Barry said he already has the support of seven other council members.
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