Coming Up On CONGRESS HEIGHTS ON THE RISE!
My review of Tuesday's Frederick Douglass animatron performance at the Town Hall Entertainment Education and Recreation Campus (THEARC) in Congress Heights. To say I was nearly moved to tears is an understatement. It was a FANASTIC and ENCOURAGING performance and a rescource that is not being utilized nearly enough by the community. Every man, woman and child in the District should pay a visit to THEARC and experience the Frederick Douglass Animatron which is only a few miles from Frederick Douglass's historic home in Anacostia. The animatron was so lifelike it was very easy to forget that it wasn't the real Frederick Douglass! Kudos to William C. Smith who sponsored the event.
AUDIO RECORDING OF LAST NIGHT'S ANC 8C MEETINGMeeting Highlights:
Before the meeting even officially started Commisioner Cuthbert refused to let me sign into the meeting and refused to let me have a meeting agenda. She literally skipped right over me for both and refused to give me a meeting agenda - even after Commissioner Ellis personally implored her to do so. In her words "She's not getting nothin' ". A resident kindly offered me their agenda which Commissioner Cuthbert instructed them not to give to me. After much discussion (and most likely as a result of The Advoc8te clearly recording the entire incident) I was able to sign into the meeting and get a meeting agenda.
- Commission APPROVED the BZA request to allow for less than the required parking (6 instead of the recommended 14 parking spaces) for the proposed 3 story office building that is going to be developed at 3006 and 3010 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.
- Commission DENIED a request by the Newcomb Street Child Development Center at 541 Newcomb Street SE. The school was requesting an increase to their certificate of occupancy to increase the number of children from 39 to 70. Commissioners and residents expressed serious concerns about the poor state of the property and current overcrowding.
Commmissioner Cuthbert again refused to discuss or present the annual budget to the community despite it being in conflict with ANC laws and the 2009 Audit report of ANC 8C Finances. Commissioner Cuthbert was also against discussing the DC Audit report despite the fact that the DC Auditor is recommending the withholding of $24,300 from the next ANC allotment because of payment of Commission unapproved rent expenses.
Commissioner William Ellis expressed a desire that both issues be presented to the community for comment and correction. After the meeting Commissioner Ellis presented the community with both the proposed budget and minutes of the 2009 ANC 8C minutes - both tasks which have been taken on and completed by Commissioner Ellis despite the fact that he is only elected Treasurer. The Advoc8te is encouraged to see at least one of the Commissioners committed to at least trying to follow the law.
For more Congress Heights and River East news visit The Congress Heights Examiner website, http://www.examiner.com/x-13507-Congress-Heights-Community-Examiner
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