The www.thesouthwester.com SouthwesterServing the Southwest and Capitol Riverfront Communities Copyright © 2012 Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc., All rights reserved. February 2012 Circulation 12,000 FREE Published by the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc. (SWNA) — a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation. Submit material to [email protected] Comprehensive M Street DC Primary Elections, Tues. Apr. 3 Transportation Study Begins – Finally he District of Columbia will hold All 8 wards will see the following com- primaries for President and for peting for four-year terms in Council-at- By Andy Litsky Large seats: T local offices on Tues. Apr. 3. On n January 12, more DC Statehood – G. Lee Atkin, Ann C. Jan. 4 the DC Board of Elections and Eth- than 130 neighbor- Wilcox; Democratic – Sekou Biddle, E. Gail ics reported that the following Republican hood residents turned candidates for President will appear on Anderson Holness, Vincent Orange, Peter O out at Westminster Presbyte- Shapiro; Republican – Mary Brooks Beatty the DC ballot: Newt Gingrich, Jon Hunts- rian Church for the first in a Ward Council races will occur in Wards man, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick series of community meetings 2, 4, 7, and 8. In 2012 the Mayor’s office, Perry. Barack Obama will appear on the kicking off a nine month M Council Chair, two at-large Council seats Democratic Party primary ballot. The DC Street SE/SW Transportation and the Council seats for Wards 1, 3, 5 Statehood Green party will list Jill Stein for Study. Conducted as part of and 6 are in mid-term. They will be on the President. the Anacostia Waterfront Ini- ballot in 2014. Filing for the primary election for Del- tiative, it will seek to update (Information from the DC Board of egate to the US House of Representatives the traffic analysis of the SW/ Elections and Ethics, 441 4th Street NW, are Eleanor H. Norton, Democratic Party, SE Waterfront area to identify DC 20001, Tel: (202) 727-2525, http:// and Natale Lino Stracuzzi, DC Statehood and address current and future transporta- www.dcboee.org/home.asp) ) than thirty independent, developer-led trans- Green Party. tion challenges. The area under study spans portation studies each focusing on individual virtually all of ANC-6D from the Southwest/ projects along the M Street Corridor. But Southeast Freeway south to the Anacostia there’s been not one comprehensive study by River/Washington Channel from 12th Street, the District government. For ten years ANC A Few of the Prominent SE on the east to 14th Street, SW on the 6D has called upon the Office of Planning west.. and DDOT to think more globally and pro- If any of this sounds remotely familiar, during the past decade there have been more SW Blacks in History Continued on Page 8 ebruary, Black History Month nation- Roger Wilkins Moves ally, is a good time to review the prominent role of African Americans The Crowd F Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in the history of the SWDC Waterfront Editorial by SWNA President neighborhood. was a mentor and model to young attorney Roger Wilkins. And now thirty years later as uring the holi- The Southwester is a From the pages of thee Southwester, here day crush, the considerable operation are excerpts about Black History in SWDC. Professor Wilkins with gray hair and a dis- tinguished career of his own, Roger Wilkins D editors of the with the editor position as Southwester resigned cit- its backbone. And with the Marvin Gaye – moved the crowd at the Southwest Assembly meeting in Feb. with h is intimate portrait of ing increased work respon- Southwester’s evolution, Soul music super- the traditional role of the star Marvin Gaye the great Justice Marshall. Roger Wilkins is a sibilities. The Southwest Professor at George Mason University, served Neighborhood Assembly editor has become recog- (1939–1984) spent nized as a ‘full-time job’. In part of his child- as Assistant Attorney General under President very much appreciated L B Johnson, wrote for The New York Times, their service over the past addition, the Southwester hood at Syphax has a business component: Washington Post and Washington Star and is year. They spearheaded or Gardens, a walk- principally sales, distribu- an award winning author. He has been a resi- welcomed many improve- up public housing tion, and general financial dent of Southwest DC for 30 years. ments to the Southwester, apartment complex operations. Here again, the on P St. SW, con- most notably a new inter- S.W. Remembers Wiley withdrawal of the business structed in 1960. active Southwester web manager contributed to The Southwest- Branton, 1923-1988 presence. Kael Anderson the editors’ burdens. er Apr 2008 p. 4: Marvin Gaye By Thelma Jones We are once again at a We are indebted to Edi- crossroads. For nearly fifty tor Emeritus Dale MacIver Southwest has named its local Community years, the Southwester has been a community for agreeing to serve as the acting editor for SWNA Honors Justice Development Corporation after one of our paper, written, edited and supported by local the January and February editions. He is per- Thurgood Marshall famous former residents, civil rights lawyer residents. First published in 1964, it’s been haps Southwest’s most humble leader. Perry Wiley A. Branton. considered an integral civic activity of the Klein, another life-long community servant The monthly meeting of the Southwest Branton was the principal lawyer in the Assembly since its inception. Neighborhood Assembly for February, Black has been covering ad sales and continuing civil rights case that desegregated the public A recent meeting on the future of the to manage distribution. Jo Chang, SWNA’s History Month, was devoted to honoring schools in Little Rock, Ark., in 1956. Presi- Southwester only confirmed the Southwester’s Justice Thurgood Marshall, appointed by esteemed treasurer has been serving as the act- dent Dwight Eisenhower sent in 1,000 fed- importance. Indeed, it’s remarkable that in ing business manager. President Lyndon Johnson as the first Afric eral paratroopers to prevent Gov. Faubus of this new digital age, the Southwester remains an American on the US Supreme Court. Going forward, the Assembly’s January Arkansas from using the state National Guard the news source of record — whether it’s local board meeting revealed a commitment to Representing the NAACP Marshall had won to block the black children from entering youth’s scrambling to see a picture of their a string of civil rights cases before the US continuing the legacy of the Southwester as a Central High School. team on the front cover before they’re placed civic enterprise. We’re exploring a number of Supreme Court, including Brown vs Board of During the 1950s and 1960s, Branton in the dispenser boxes or older citizens who Education of Topeka, “the landmark case that alternatives to create discrete and manageable – who later became Dean of the Howard stash a way cherished articles. While online roles so that Southwest can continue to have demolished the legal basis for segregation in University School of Law –went to court to stories or debates can generate substantial America.” a community newspaper. defend freedom riders and Blacks who were interest, their ephemeral character demands a We ask you to consider how you can par- SWNA has dedicated a call box close to helping in voter registration drives in the more permanent record. And online formats the Marshall home at the 100 block of G ticipate. Send me, Kael Anderson, an email South. Branton served in civil rights posts remain out of reach for many elderly and low- at [email protected] or phone me at 202- Street SW. income residents. Continued on Page 3 550-3653. Page 2 The Southwester February 2012 VOTED BEST FRESH CUT BURGERS POTATOES * 75 FLAVORS * SHAKES & MALTS Presidents’ Day Offer Mention “The Southwester Rocks” and e njoy a FR EE ha nd-s pun milks hake ! (Across from Safeway) (Limit one to a customer) 202-599-0400 Offer good only on Feb. 20 & 21 FREE WI-FI Like Us www.zburger.com Follow Us February 2012 The Southwester Page 3 The Tax Preparation Help on 8th St. SE Southwester hen you walk into high enough that people turn Circulation 12,000 the office of Jackson to professionals like us to help Hewitt Tax Service on them,” says Burnell. Send materials and questions to The Southwester Wth 8 Street, Iris Burnell greets you “As a time saver and measure by e-mail at [email protected]. with a big warm smile. Burnell is of convenience, this year we are For advertising information and rates, see a graduate of Howard University providing a pick-up service by www.thesouthwester.com/ in Accounting, and has been the one of the top courier services in Franchise General Manager of the DC. We will pick up your tax advertisingplacementform.pdf Capitol Hill office since 1995. records for FREE.” or contact [email protected] (SW residents will remember the The office is located at 725 Advertisers will be invoiced for payment. th th Jackson Hewitt office in the old 8 St, SE, across 8 St. SE from We now accept payment by VISA, Waterside Mall) the Marine Barracks, a few blocks MasterCard and AmEX. “The main difference between south of Eastern Market Metro a tax service like Jackson Hewitt Station. One block away at I Remittance address for ad payments only is: and over-the counter tax software (Eye) St. & 8th is a large lot with The Southwester is that your first interaction is open metered parking. The hours P.O.