neighborhood news

raising efforts. The government has spent and is planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on sports arenas and training facilities that have mostly benefitted the million- aire owners of sports teams. The Bridge Park project would be an economic boon to the neighborhood and would send a signal that the District is truly attempt- Improving ing to integrate east-of-the river neighborhoods with more affluent ones. The District’s government should support building an extended-stay hotel near the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Howard Road, instead of on the east cam- pus of the St. Elizabeths site. The Anacostia site is perfect for such a hotel. It can serve Greater Anacostia as a place to stay for government contractors visiting the Coast Guard and Homeland Security departments on the west campus of St. E’s, and also the Navy Yard. The Ana- costia site is half a block from Metro and less than a quarter of a mile from St. E’s. The article by Duane Gautier, photos by Andrew Lightman hotel could also be patronized by visiting sports teams. The site is right across the Fred- rick Douglass Bridge from Nationals Stadium and the proposed DC United Stadium. The District’s government needs to balance its funding on low-income housing with have just reviewed the latest white paper from the Urban Institute on how funding to create jobs east of the River. DC is spending over a hundred million dollars to regenerate the economy and solve the problems in Wards 7 and 8. This to create affordable housing east of the river, but less than $700,000 a year in funding report for City First Bank, with no new ideas, adds nothing to the more than to support small businesses. While it is laudable to develop affordable housing, a ques- 20 such “East of the River” studies by think tanks, urban planners, and gov- tion that does not seem to be addressed is where these new housing are tenants are go- ernment agencies over the past 30 years. None of the plans and very few of ing to work. Most of the unemployed in the area do not have college degrees, and many the recommendations of these reports have ever been implemented. do not have a high school diploma or GED. The following are some approaches that might just work. I am going to The District must create jobs for these individuals. It must stop concentrating on confine my suggestions to the Greater Anacostia neighborhood, the area where I have bringing only “high tech” jobs to downtown DC, many of which are filled by Maryland Iworked over the past 30 years. and Virginia residents. The government must concentrate on developing private-sector The District of Columbia’s government needs to care about the physical appear- employment opportunities in east-of-the river neighborhoods. In many cities across the ance of Anacostia. Noting states “depressed area” more than patched streets, poor or nation governments are providing financial incentives to place multifaceted incubators no public lighting, crumbling brick sidewalks, and filthy streets. Compare the almost and high-tech firms in “impacted areas” as a way to jumpstart neighborhood economic pristine conditions of the public areas and streets of Georgetown or with development. It is not just the incubators themselves that will create jobs, but also the those in Anacostia. needed convenience stores, retail, cafes, and other support infrastructures. The District’s government must maintain the property it owns in Anacostia. The The District government also has to alter its approach to job training. Largescale Big K site on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue has been an eyesore for the 10+ years that DC has owned the proper- ty. The government allowed three historic storefronts in the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to de- teriorate to the point that the facades fell into the street. The initial response was to cordon off the area with po- lice “crime tape” and let it stay that way for more than a month. The city erected a sculpture at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road, but has let the lot become overgrown. It took a commu- nity group to clean it up and plant flowers so the “Gate- way Entrance” to Anacostia would look presentable for the recent Anacostia Park Cherry Blossom Festival. The DC government has left vacant the buildings at the same site on the 1200 block of Good Hope Road since it has owned them. A number of nonprofit organizations have requested for more than three years that the storefronts be used to display east-of-the-Anacostia River artists. To date, nothing. The District’s government must vigorously enforce regulations on privately owned vacant and sub-standard buildings. Many of these buildings are eyesores that would not be tolerated in more affluent areas of the Dis- trict, and some are a hazard to pedestrians. The District should fund fully the construction of the 11th Street Bridge Park Project, not rely on private fund-

28 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m training programs mostly do not work. incentive effort mentioned in the Urban They are costly, and when you calcu- Institute report is the DC Innovative Fi- late the actual placement rates, many of nance Program for “small businesses [sic] them cost between $12,000 and $15,000 with less than 750 employees.” I doubt if per job. Many small businesses and re- any neighborhood businesses have been tail stores in Anacostia would be willing able to take advantage of this program. to hire one to four people if they could The District should consider bun- get a subsidy to supplement costs. For dling small economic development proj- example, if a store hired two unemployed ects together for bonding and tax incen- or underemployed District residents from tive programs. It should also bundle HB5 an impacted area, at a wage of $12.50 an visa programs that can generate capi- hour, the District would subsidize that tal for smaller neighborhood projects. wage at 50 percent for six months and It should also help with the processing 25 percent for another three. The cost to costs of the HB5 program, which can be the District at 35 hours a week would be prohibitive for small projects. about $8,530 for the nine months. That is Real estate tax incentive programs substantially less than the cost to the Dis- only benefit larger economic develop- trict for every actual job acquired through ment projects and cannot be taken ad- a Department of Employment Services- vantage of by small businesses or small funded job-training program. projects. The District should create oth- The District could place conditions er, more practical programs for business- on employers to ensure that they are ac- es to locate in neighborhoods east of the tually providing useful training. One way river, such as waiver or reduction for a would be to require employees hired period of time for employment, real es- through the program to take a course on tate, or other business taxes. customer service. Additionally the pro- The District, in cooperation with gram could be streamlined so that the Metro, must develop a realistic plan to employers have limited paperwork and develop the land near the Anacostia Met- bureaucratic hassle. The way to do this ro station. While there are finally plans is use a nonprofit intermediary to run the for the development of the northern program. The Urban Institute recom- gateway at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave- mends a generic job-training program in nue and Good Hope Road, the south- high schools, but this does not address ern entrance at MLK and Howard Road the vast majority of unemployed DC resi- has been neglected. dents, who are above high school age. The District needs to encourage The Urban Institute recommends en- DC banks, especially community-devel- forcing “first source” requirements in Dis- opment finance institutions, to invest in trict contracts. This has not been overly loans for small businesses. Recently al- successful. While the government should most all bank loans in Anacostia have increase enforcement, it really is only a been for major projects. As an alternative, small sliver of the job market, and most DC’s government should itself develop jobs are in construction and therefore usu- such programs and fund organizations ally short-term. The District needs to con- like the Washington Area Community In- centrate its efforts, when it subsidizes projects, on requiring the developers and then vestment Fund (WACIF) to provide financing. The transaction costs of these loans the tenants to hire DC residents for the permanent jobs created. must be kept to a minimum, perhaps through partnering and pro bono services with The District should also assess the services it buys from entities outside of the Dis- the DC Bar Association. trict. The government should provide funding to either move those entities to com- DC’s government must aggressively monitor appraisal companies. They are often munities east of the river or provide startup and operating capital to create businesses. contributing to a form of red-lining. To give an example, a recent appraisal of proper- When determining the costs of such change, it should not use a “first cost” basis but ties in the 2300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue came in at 33 percent below rather “life cycle” costing, including the added economic benefit of taxes paid by work- the tax assessment value. This caused a tenant who wanted to buy his building to have ers to DC and the reduction in social service costs. to raise substantially more of his own funding to acquire the property. The District also has to change some of its current economic development incen- tives. The Great Streets program that provides funding to small businesses should be Duane Gautier is the president and CEO of Arch Development, a home for artists, arts, and cultural expanded to small nonprofits, even if limited geographically to neighborhoods east of organizations committed to the revitalization and sustainable economic development of Historic Ana- the river. These organizations create jobs and are more likely to higher locally. The one costia. For more information visit www.archdevelopment.org. His email is [email protected].

East of the River Magazine September 2016 29 neighborhood news

The Hard Road to Victory for Park Southern Residents

article by Jonetta Rose Barras, photos by Andrew Lightman

one is the stench caused by seem- Housing Counseling Services Inc., has been working ing rivers of water from busted with residents to purchase the apartment building from pipes. Gone also are the inoper- Park Southern Neighborhood Corporation (PSNC). able doors and the people whose “The residents see themselves as on their way to free- poor leadership and management dom.” Buckner is an attorney with Klein Hornig LLP, of Park Southern Apartments left and according to the firm’s website once served as a DC a once grand, middle-class rental assistant attorney general representing the DHCD. She property in Ward 8 in near slum- added that the outcome “reflects the hard work of the G like conditions. The repairs to the residents. They persevered through this.” complex, made over the past two years, came after a law- The residents, using the Tenant Opportunity to suit filed by the residents’ council, the intervention of the Purchase Act (TOPA), could purchase the building out- DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and a sec- right, form a partnership with a developer to purchase ond financial rescue by the city’s Department of Hous- the property, or assign their TOPA rights to a favored ing and Community Development (DHCD). developer. Buckner said during an interview with East of “The focus and involvement has been based on the the River that residents have been negotiating with Ves- principle of preserving affordable housing for existing ta Management Corporation. “They will be part of the In fact Faulkner and her board had not even seen the residents and future residents,” DHCD’s executive di- ownership and they will have a seat at the table. order appointing Glasheen until I shared a copy with rector Polly Donaldson explained during an interview On the surface this may seem like a win. Tenants them. “We don’t have a stupid board. We haven’t been at her Good Hope Road headquarters. “All the vendors haven’t reached nirvana, however. That may be years given the opportunity to do anything,” added the board’s have been paid.” The cooling towers and the elevators away. Some resident leaders have raised questions about vice president Virgil Johnson, a retired comptroller. have been fixed, as has the “swimming pool which had whether the agreement with Vesta was properly executed. Glasheen repeatedly refused to answer ques- been closed.” The agency renovated 35 apartments that They also claim they had already selected NHP Founda- tions about her work as custodian, her contact with had been vacant and provided “critical repairs” to 35 tion, which specializes in affordable housing, as their de- the PSNC, or her relationship with the Park Southern others that were occupied. veloper partner. They suggest that Vesta may have gotten Residents Council. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for The DHCD has spent more than $1 million. That’s the inside track because of its relationship with DHCD. me to comment.” in addition to the $3.6 million loan it provided to the Buckner vehemently denied those allegations. nonprofit board that owned and once managed the Park Meanwhile there are concerns that the court-appoint- Let’s Go to the Clips Southern. “We have acted responsibly and are maintain- ed custodian, Megan Glasheen, may have failed to fulfill Raw politics and that kind of opacity are what thrust ing the [property] responsibly until there is new man- her commitments, chief among them protecting the inter- Park Southern Apartments into the news two years ago, agement,” continued Donaldson, adding that the gov- ests of the PSNC. The court has allowed Glasheen to have during the 2014 mayoral campaign. The Rev. Rowena ernment expects to recoup its investments from the sale at her disposal eight other staff from her firm, & Ca- Joyce Scott, who was president of the PSNC, a tenant- of the property. Earlier this year, DC Superior Court vanaugh PLLC. The starting hourly rate of pay is $420; dominated nonprofit, accused then-Mayor Vincent C. Judge John Mott, at the request of the OAG and the Park the lowest, for a paralegal, is $150 per hour. Gray of calling in the organization’s government loan be- Southern Residents Council, appointed a “custodian” “We don’t know what’s going on,” said Wyjean cause she had shifted her allegiance to his chief reelec- to oversee the sale of the 359-unit apartment complex. Faulkner, president of the PSNC. Her election and that tion opponent Muriel Bowser. “The residents are very satisfied,” said Lauren of other board members was ordered by the court last Scott had gone to Bowser, who as a councilmember Buckner, the attorney who, with representatives from April. “The custodian has never reached out to us.” had oversight of the DHCD. The director of that agen-

30 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m cy, Michael Kelly, asked Bowser to hold a public hearing on matters surround- ing Park Southern, including the non- profit’s default on its government loan. Bowser refused. Press reports accused Bowser of trying to hold “closed door meetings” to protect political support- ers, not just Scott but also Phinis Jones, a businessman who had made a $20,000 contribution to Bowser’s campaign and was serving as the property manager for Park Southern. Both Scott and Jones were accused of misappropriating rent collections; they have denied any wrongdoing. Fur- ther, according to published reports, the board under Scott so mismanaged the property that tenants filed a lawsuit against the PSNC. Heightening the con- troversy, the OAG jumped into the fray, siding with the residents and asking the court to appoint a custodian. That ac- tion was to ensure that Scott did not sell the property to Jones. The lawsuit of the OAG and tenants languished for more than 15 months be- fore Judge Mott finally began to deal with the case. Among other things, he essentially kicked Scott off her perch by ordering a new election of officers for the PSNC and appointing Glasheen. Scott and several others involved in the earlier mismanagement of the proper- ty continue to live at the site; they are no longer receiving discounted rental rates, according to Faulkner. Further, they have no control over the management of the property. Faulkner and the board have as- sumed that responsibility in concert with DHCD and Vesta Management. Roadblocks It’s interesting that Vesta is the developer with whom residents have chosen to part- ner. In 2014, DHCD forced the PSNC to hire Vesta to manage the property. With- in months of being on the site, Vesta of- fered to buy the building. Scott and her board refused and also attempted to eject the company from the property. DHCD declared the PSNC in default of the loan and assumed control of the building; it reinstated Vesta Management Company. Now Vesta is poised to realize its two-year-old dream of purchasing, with

East of the River Magazine September 2016 31 neighborhood news

the tenants, the building for $5.8 million. At least $4 The board “whittled that down to six and had the top July 18, Glasheen noted that “According to DHCD, million of that likely will go to the DHCD as repayment five come in for interviews. They did have a second call an entity formed by the Tenant Association and Ves- for the initial PSNC loan and subsequent maintenance back. But we followed everything by the book,” contin- ta will purchase the property and then later seek financ- costs. According to the draft development agreement, ued Buckner, who said she has worked for three years, ing to accomplish needed capital improvements.” She about $25 million is supposed to be spent by a joint ven- pro bono, with the Park Southern tenants. “We are very mentioned that she spoke with the tenant counsel, but ture of Vesta and the residents to upgrade the property. close to delivering what I consider a legacy project.” nowhere in the correspondence is there a mention of It’s unclear how long such renovations will take. That depends on whether the court and the cus- speaking with the president of the PSNC. Anita Ballantyne, the head of tenant services at todian agree. Based on Judge Mott’s April 28, 2016, Meanwhile NextGen Property Management LLC Housing Counseling Services, a DHCD contractor that amended order, Glasheen was “to sell Park Southern has filed a lawsuit against the PSNC and the Park South- helped guide the TOPA process at Park Southern, did Apartments, subject to approval by the court and after ern Residents Council. The District-based company has not return several telephone calls to her office. parties are given notice and an opportunity to be heard claimed in court documents dated June 28, 2016, that it Anita Horne, vice president of the residents’ council, on terms that further the nonprofit purposes of defen- had a contract to purchase Park Southern for $5.8 mil- has asserted that the development agreement with Vesta dant Park Southern Neighborhood Corporation; and to lion; that the contract was signed on July 3, 2015. More- is invalid because it was signed by Donald Goins, a mem- give preference to proposals that would allow for tenant over the company has claimed the residents’ council ber at-large of the board. “He is not an officer; he isn’t sup- involvement in management of the Park Southern Apart- did not exercise its TOPA rights in a timely fashion and posed to sign documents,” she said during a brief inter- ment (e.g. through continued partial ownership of the therefore the firm’s contract with the PSNC is valid and view. That is the same concern raised by Faulkner. Park Southern Apartments by defendant Park Southern the board should have gone to closing with NextGen. “Anyone from the board of directors [of the resi- Neighborhood Corporation).” Glasheen has alerted the court that she may need to dents’ council] can sign after the membership has ap- Faulkner and Johnson said they intend to write hire a litigator. That means the price tag for all this will go proved it,” said Buckner, dismissing the complaint and to Mott to raise objections about the process thus far. higher, and that who will end up owning Park Southern noting that she wrote the bylaws. While she was not di- “The board has been deliberately kept out of the loop,” remains uncertain. In plain language, the saga continues. rectly involved in the developer selection process, she said Faulkner. said residents initially considered 13 or 14 develop- It’s not clear whether their complaints will alter any Jonetta Rose Barras is a freelance writer based in Washington, ers who expressed interest in purchasing the building. transaction. In a one-page report to Judge Mott dated DC.

32 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m Iconic Shrimp Boat Has New Owner Community Leaders Say No Fast Food

article & photo by Tony Robinson

he iconic ary and July with residents, Shrimp government officials, politi- Boat res- cal leaders, and the prospec- taurant at tive owners. the inter- “We want to be able to section spend our money in our com- of Ben- munity for healthy meals and ning Road and East Capitol other amenities,” said Hazel, TStreet NE is perhaps Ward 7’s who is encouraging broader best known landmark. Well, development in what she re- at least the building and the fers to as “the Benning Road various iterations of its sign. Metro Corridor.” In conver- The restaurant of late? Not so sations with the new owner, much. After years as a dubi- Hazel indicated that the com- ous fried seafood takeout joint munity would not support a and home of an outdoor retail fast food concept. It was ru- establishment for goods of no mored that a Checkers ham- particular origin, the building burger franchise had been un- has changed hands and the der consideration. new owners are considering “We were clear, if it had options for what comes next. a deep-fryer, we didn’t want One option that will not be it,” said Hazel. “I impressed present at the new Shrimp Boat, if the community has its way, is fast food. upon him that we needed more nutritious menu offerings for any dining After attending meetings with community leaders, new owner Woudim De- business that would operate out of the Shrimp Boat, due to the health dis- missie is listening. “We are looking at a few concepts with some combina- parities our community already experiences. We’re in a food desert with tion of a cafe with internet and outdoor seating. The upstairs area might al- limited options except for fast food, exacerbating the high incidence of di- low us to do a few things like offices for small businesses. We met with the abetes, hypertension, and childhood obesity.” community and they mentioned a lot of things. We’ll see,” said Demissie. If the additional financing comes through, the Shrimp Boat could be The sale closed in June for $1.5 million. Although he secured it with transformed into the sit-down dining establishment that residents have owner financing of over $300,000, Demissie is still awaiting approval of been waiting for in addition to the nearby Denny’s; the short-lived Rays additional loans before the property can be renovated and the new con- the Steaks closed in late 2012. “I anticipate that it will be something dif- cept designed and executed. ferent, something good. I see us opening up the windows on the Benning The Shrimp Boat opened in 1953 and at the time was one of the few Road side, more interior decoration. We will decide once the loan is ap- integrated restaurants in a still segregated Washington. Much like The Big proved,” said Demissie. Chair in Ward 8’s historic Anacostia, the Shrimp Boat has served as an un- While the timing for a relaunch is uncertain, the area around the land- official landmark in Ward 7. mark is ripe for development. The Benning Road Metro is next door, and At one time the restaurant sold more than just seafood. In addition to a new $17 million mixed-use facility by the social service organization fresh fish and shrimp it served pork chop sandwiches, fresh vegetables, SOME (So Others Might Eat) is under construction and scheduled to and other healthy fare. More recently the restaurant had become just an- open in 2018. Commissioner Hazel and ANC 7D have met with city of- other greasy spoon according to Janis Hazel, a member of Advisory Neigh- ficials about redevelopment of the Benning/East Capital intersection and borhood Commission (ANC) 7D, who coordinated meetings in Febru- anticipate further discussion later this fall.

East of the River Magazine September 2016 33 neighborhood news

The Day He Lay in Front of a Trash Truck Eastland Garden’s Erman Clay Speaks on the Past and Future of His Community

article & photos by Christine Rushton

rman Clay remembers lying like the Kenilworth dump, and he kept the commu- down in front of DC city dump nity thriving for more than 20 years. trucks in the late 1960s. The But with new families moving in from Maryland, Eastland Gardens community in and as older neighbors pass or move away, Clay wor- Ward 7 abutted the Kenilworth ries that the tightknit community might not survive. dumpsite, and neighbors no He plans to do what he can to preserve the history of longer wanted that pile of city Eastland Gardens by sharing its story with new faces trash degrading the quality of their lives. Clay, then on his block and with the growing leadership in the theE president of the Eastland Gardens Civic Asso- civic association. ciation, and his neighbors protested by lying on the pavement. “Oh yeah, yeah,” Clay said, laughing at A Visit with the Past the long past memory. “As a result of them dumping, Clay came from Piney Point, a small town in Mary- they had burning. It was not good for this area … Fi- land. He spent his days with his father digging for nally we got Mayor [Walter] Washington to agree to oysters and oyster shells to sell in town at 25 cents a Erman Clay, 93, the former president of the Eastland close the dump.” bushel. Later he enlisted in the Army and headed to Gardens Civic Association in Ward 7 The city capped the dump with clay and plant- the beaches of Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944. ed grass to help start a park for sports wave of soldiers hit by enemy fire. teams and visitors. With the city’s After spending a few months fight- permission and the civic associa- ing the Germans, he returned home tion’s newly founded Eastland Gar- “If you move into a place and don’t know and remained in the military. His move dens flower club, families took turns to the District 15 years later put him planting and caring for the landscape anybody, you’re not the first person to in contact with the National Guard, of the park. Clay said he remembers which he joined. families that decorated the area for hol- make that move. It’s people who are here Clay applied the same discipline idays like Christmas. “We got to know and dedication he learned in the mil- the neighborhood by planting there,” that need to make that move.” itary to his role in the civic associa- he said. “And each person wanted to tion at Eastland Gardens. Under his have his garden better than the other.” leadership the community held yard Clay, 93, appreciates the value of sales, yard beautification competitions his community and has worked to preserve and im- He remembers the landing craft he had to jump into judged by a local professor at the District of Colum- prove Eastland Gardens since he and his wife Vanet- in the dark. Once they approached the shore, officers bia Teachers College (now a part of the University of ta moved to there, just off the Anacostia Freeway, ordered the men to jump off or risk getting shot. Clay the District of Columbia), and met each month for in 1961. His role as civic association president and jumped into the water and half an hour later reached a meeting at Clay’s house. Vanetta cooked food for background as a military officer in the Army and DC shore. “But after we got on the beach, the dead sol- more than 20 attendees. “My wife would fix food for National Guard helped him push the city on issues diers were all around,” Clay said, recalling the first them so much so that the IRS [Internal Revenue Ser-

34 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m East of the River Magazine September 2016 35 neighborhood news

“People didn’t know where we were located for a long time,” Gray said of Eastland Gardens. “When they came over they were totally surprised that we have such great park lands and accessibility.” She does face new challenges with the growing population of the city and Ward 7, though. Her com- munity doesn’t like the division that Interstate 295 creates between Eastland Gardens and the other parts of Ward 7. She also wishes she could drive to a gro- cery store without spending 20 to 40 minutes in the car. And she wants her community to have a sit-down restaurant, not just fast food stops. “Just going to a bookstore, a gym, a grocery store – those choices are limited,” Gray said. “If you just wanted to go have a cup of coffee at Star- bucks, those choices are limited for us.” She add- ed: “I think the city has somewhat neglected Ward 7 in that respect.” Senior residents like Clay and Bernice Under- wood, who turned 100 this summer, deserve a place that’s walkable and isn’t cut off from amenities by new road additions, Gray said. She works in her role and with the help of Clay’s experience to advocate for their community in the city. She and her hus- Erman Clay sits and watches his neighborhood from the home he’s owned since 1961 in Ward 7’s Eastland Gardens. band don’t plan on leaving Eastland Gardens. She likes her neighbors and considers the chance to learn vice] would call and ask how I could justify that on neighbors refer to people’s houses not by the cur- from Clay and Underwood a privilege worth preserv- my income tax,” he joked. rent owner, address, or street, but by the last name of ing. “We’re blessed to have as many seniors as we do He and the neighbors understood the importance the family that previously owned the lot. Everybody in this community,” she said. “I don’t know that many of maintaining a connection between each home. knew everybody, she said. others do.” Even when he and Vanetta needed to focus on their work in the government – she in the Treasury Depart- ment and he in the DC Housing Finance Agency – they saved time for Eastland Gardens. “I don’t know of any other place I would want to be,” Clay said. Helping Preserve a Community Newcomers hoping to find a house close to DC of- ten look in Eastland Gardens. The civic association isn’t as strong as when Clay and others ran it, he said, and that affects the feeling of community in the area. “If you move into a place and don’t know anybody, you’re not the first person to make that move,” Clay explained. “It’s people who are here that need to make that move.” Clay has met with the current civ- ic association president, Rochelle Frazier Gray, and feels the neighborhood is moving in the right direc- tion to rebuild that connection. Gray knows the history of the community she rep- resents as well as the value of listening to neighbors like Clay. “The older people have been able to help the newer residents appreciate the community,” she said. When she and her husband sought a place close to the city but with a strong community, they stum- Erman Clay, the former Eastland Gardens Civic Association president, flips through old documents from bled across Eastland Gardens. She loves that older when he and his neighbors fought to build their thriving community decades ago.

36 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m East of the River Magazine September 2016 37 neighborhood news

environment or people around a person can steal the focus from school. But with the Excel Center located in the heart of DC’s business district, she can dedicate herself to A Fresh Chance at learning as she would while earning money at a job. “I believe that if you live in a positive setting, it will make you want to learn more,” she said. “I’m not saying anything is wrong with where I come from, though.” a High School Diploma She keeps up volunteering at her local church and dropping off bags of food for the homeless in her neighborhood because she values her community, Goodwill Excel Center Students Commit she said. But she also wants to better herself. Goodwill of Greater Washington chose the site in to a Chance at a Career Northwest to help students feel that when they arrive at school they take on a professional role in their own lives, said Goodwill of Greater Washington’s presi- article & photos by Christine Rushton dent and CEO, Catherine Meloy. “We’ve placed this school in the business community because it is now their job to complete high school,” Meloy said. “All of he raised three boys, helps care for her son. “I want my grandson to stay in school,” she those factors I think will lend to the success of them 11-year-old grandson, and spends her said. “I want him to be the type of grandchild that actually graduating.” free time giving back to the homeless. knows school time is school time and study time is Goodwill in DC worked with the Marriott Mar- She fought breast cancer, replaced study time.” quis Jobs Training Program in 2013-12 to help res- both her knees, and underwent nine idents gain the skills to apply for a local job in hos- surgeries. Tanya Nash, 57, doesn’t School Is Your Job pitality, Meloy said. The Goodwill team realized that give up. Some of the areas in Wards 7, 8, and 5 challenge the thousands of DC residents try to find jobs without a So when the Goodwill Excel Center (1776 G St. residents when it comes to staying focused on edu- high school diploma on their resume, and decided to SNW) offered her a second chance at earning her high cation. Nash, who lives in Ward 8 along Minnesota start the Excel program. DC’s growth as a knowledge- school diploma, she jumped. “If you want to grow, Avenue – “The Avenue” for those familiar with the based economy also helped Meloy and her team gain you have to go where you’re going to better you,” drug and gun activity there – explains that even the the support of the local Goodwill board. Nash said. “You really can’t stand still. You have a purpose in life and you need to fulfill it.” Nash and about 325 students from Wards 7, 8, Goodwill Excel Center Students commit to a chance at a career and 5 started working toward earning their high school diploma – not a GED – at the Excel Center, a DC-certified adult public charter school for resi- dents, in August 2016. Funded through the city, it offers 12 classrooms with Smart Boards and new equipment. Its staff of 22 includes 11 instructors, four academic success coaches, a college transi- tional counselor, and a career pathways specialist. Childcare certified by the Office of the State Su- perintendent of Education (OSSE) is provided by the YMCA for 25 children of students. Classes cov- er high school subjects like social studies, English, math, and reading. Nash tried to take the GED but struggled to pass the math section. She continued to work on her skills though, earning certification as a medical assistant and by taking a computer course through Jubilee in Ward 8. She feels that this time, with the help of one- on-one counseling at the Goodwill Excel Center, she can overcome her math challenges. Nash decided to start school again at the Excel Center in part to act as a role model for her grand-

38 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m Instructional staff at the Excel Center prepare for the first day of classes during a meeting on Aug. 19.

They used social media and reached Women make up about 75 percent of out to local nonprofits and homeless the students in the program’s first year, shelters to find more than a thousand which runs a rolling admission of five people interested in applying. People eight-week terms, said Colleen Paletta, can visit www.dcgoodwill.org/excel- vice president of workforce develop- center to learn more about the program. ment at Goodwill of Greater Wash- Each student takes the 24 credits necessary to grad- uate, but at least five of the credit hours near the end of the program focus on help- ing prepare for obtaining an industry certification, said the director of the Goodwill Ex- cel Center, Amina Brown. A tailored curriculum and vis- its with industry profession- als help them obtain indus- try-recognized credentials in hospitality, healthcare, con- struction, information tech- nology, and security. “This can help them get a job that leads to a career,” Brown said. “Our students want this high school diploma and value it.” Preparing for a Career for Family and Yourself Students ages 22 to 39 make up about 60 percent of the Tanya Nash, 57, is a Goodwill Excel Center student. She students at the Excel Center. started in the program’s inaugural term on Aug. 22.

East of the River Magazine September 2016 39 Get Your East of the River

Location Address ington. Each student gets a DC One River Terrace Rec Center & Elemantary School 420 34th St , NE Card if they’re under 22 or a WMA- CVS - East River Park 320 40th St , NE TA Metro Card to ride to school. The Safeway – NE 322 40th St , NE center operates from Monday through 6th District Police Dept - Main 100 42nd St , NE Thursday only. “They need those Fri- Ward Memorial AME 240 42nd St NE days to take care of their families and Kennilworth Elementary School 1300 44th ST NE Unity East of the River Health Center 123 45th ST NE other things that are going on in their First Baptist Church of 1008 45th St NE lives,” Paletta explained. Deanwood Public Library 1350 49th ST NE Many students list this program as Hughes Memorial United Methodist 25 53rd St NE their second, third, or fourth attempt Capitol Gateway Senior Apts 201 58th St , NE to get a GED or a diploma. The team Marvin Gaye Rec Center 6201 Banks Pl NE of counselors and career coaches mon- Watts Branch Recreation Center 6201 Banks St , NE itors each student one-on-one as soon Langston Community Library 2600 Benning Rd , NE as their application is accepted, Paletta Anacostia Neighborhood Library 1800 Good Hope Road SE Benning Branch Library 3935 Benning Rd NE said. The student and coaches discuss Marshall Heights CDC 3939 Benning Rd , NE past barriers and possible future ones Kelly Miller Recreation Center 4900 Brooks St , NE and a plan to overcome each. Tabernacle baptist Church 719 Division Ave NE Even if a student tests below high Randall Memorial Baptist Church 4417 Douglas St NE school math and reading levels, Good- East Capital Church of christ 5026 E Capitol St NE will’s instructors will help them. “It’s a Seat Pleasant CARE Pharmacy 350 Eastern Ave , NE rigorous environment. It’s built on re- 7-Eleven 950 Eastern AVE NE St Timothys Episcopal Church 3601 Alabama Ave SE Animal Clinic of Anacostia 2210 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Riverside Center 5200 Foote St , NE Francis A Gregory Neighborhood Library 3660 Alabama Ave , SE Max Robinson Center of Whitman-Walker Clinic lationships and relevance for the stu- 2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE Mayfair Mansions 3744 ½ Hayes St NE National Capital Parks--EAST 1900 Anacostia Dr , SE dents,” Paletta said. The United Black Fund 2500 Martin Luther King Ave SE Citibank: East River Park 3917 Minnesota Ave , NE Kid smiles 4837 Benning Road SE The team also realizes the unique The Pizza Place 2910 Martin Luther King Ave SE Chartered Health Center NE 3924 Minnesota Ave , NE Pimento Grill 4405 Bowen Rd SE motivation students often share as East Washington Heights Baptist Church 2220 Branch Ave ,SE Metropol Educational Services, 3rd Floor Vending Machines – Deanwood Metro 4720 Minnesota Ave , NE 3029 Marin Luther King Jr Ave , SE they talk about why they chose to en- St Johns Baptist Church 5228 Call Place SE The Minnicks Market 4401 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE National Children’s Center - Southeast Campus Capitol View Branch Library 5001 Central Ave , SE ter the program. It isn’t necessarily for Lederer Gardens 4800 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE 3400 Martin Luther King Jr , SE Marie Winston Elementary School 3100 Denver St , SE them. It’s for those they support and Suburban Market 4600 Sherriff Rd NE Assumption Catholic Church 3401 Martin Luther King Ave SE Subway 4525 East Capitol St who support them. “Most of the peo- Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 4601 Sheriff Road NE Senior Wellness Center Dave Brown Liquors 4721 Sheriff Road Northeast Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 3800 Ely Pl , SE 3500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE ple here are coming for a diploma, first Dave Brown Liquor 4721 Sherriff Rd NE Anacostia Museum for African Amer History Congress Heights Health Center 3720 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE for their children and second for their 1901 Fort Pl SE - Back Door A & S Grocery 4748 Sheriff Rd NE CVS - Skyland 2646 Naylor Rd , SE brother or sister or family,” Meloy Smithsonian Anacostia Marcia Burris 1901 Fort Place SE - Back Door St Rose Pentecostal Church 4816 Sherriff Rd NE Harris Teeter 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE DC Center for Therapeutic Recreation 3030 G ST SE said. “The motivation is for them to Malcolm X Rec Center 3200 13th st SE Thai Orchid Kitchen 2314 Pennsylvania Ave SE ARCH 1227 Good Hope Rd , SE be something different than they are St More Catholic Church 4275 4th St SE St Francis Xavier Church 2800 Pennsylvania Ave SE Anacostia Pizzeria 1243 Good Hope Rd , SE today, for someone else.” Fort Davis Recreation Center 1400 41st St , SE Pennsylvania Ave Baptist Church 3000 Pennsylvania Ave SE SunTrust Bank 1340 Good Hope Rd , SE Whatever the case, Goodwill vows Ferebee Hope Recreation Center 3999 8th St , SE CVS – 3240 Pennsylvania Ave , SE Unity Health Care Inc 1638 Good Hope Rd , SE Emanuel Baptist Church 2409 Ainger Place SE Congress Heights Recreation Center 100 Randle Pl , SE to support them whether they gradu- Bread for the City 1640 Good Hope Rd , SE IHOP Restauarant 1523 Alabama Ave, SE Johnson Memorial Baptist Church 800 Ridge Rd SE ate in a few months or two years. Marbury Plaza Tenants Assoc 2300 Good Hope Rd , SE Giant Food Store 1535 Alabama Ave , SE Ridge Recreation Center 800 Ridge Rd , SE Nash started school again on Aug. Dollar Plus Supermarket 1453 Howard Rd , SE SunTrust Bank 1571 Alabama Ave , SE Savoy Recreation Center 2440 Shannon Pl SE Ascensions Psychological and Community Services 22. She hopes to graduate within two PNC Bank 4100 South Capitol St , SE Parklands-Turner Community Library 1547 Alabama Ave , SE 1526 Howard Rd SE years, but said she doesn’t want to Rite Aid 4635 South Capitol St , SE Manor Village Apartments Leasing Office 1717 Alabama Ave , SE SDA Church 3985 Massachusettes Ave SE rush herself. As an artist she hopes United Medical Center 1310 Southern Ave , SE Garfield Elementary 2435 Alabama Ave Orr Elementary School 2200 Minnesota Ave SE she can continue to enhance her paint- Benning Park Community Center 5100 Southern Ave SE 7th District Station 2455 Alabama Ave , SE Hart Recreation Center 601 Mississippi Ave , SE Benning Stoddert Recreation Center 100 Stoddert Pl , SE ing skills and use her new education 6th District Police Dept - Satellite Station 2839 Alabama Ave , SE Southeast Tennis and Learning Center 701 Mississippi Ave , SE Union Temple Baptist Church 1225 W ST SE to venture into the business of mak- Service Cleaners 2841 Alabama Ave , SE The ARC 1901 Mississippi Ave , SE Senior Living at Wayne Place 114 Wayne Place SE Safeway – SE 2845 Alabama Ave SE Neighborhood Pharmacy 1932 Martin Luther King Jr , SE ing her work of professional quality. William O Lockridge/Bellevue 115 Atlantic St , SW Pizza Hut 2859 Alabama Ave , SE PNC Bank 2000 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE “That’s always been a dream of mine, Bald Eagle At Fort Greble 100 Joliet St SW America’s Best Wings 2863 Alabama Ave , SE Bank of America 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE to put my artwork on canvas,” Nash Covenant Baptist Church 3845 South Capitol St M&T Bank 2865 Alabama Ave , SE C Aidan Salon 2100 Martin Luther King Jr Ave , SE said. “I just won’t give up on me be- Faith Presbyterian Church 4161 South Capitol St SW Washington Senior Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave , SE Big Chair Coffee 2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE cause I know me and I know what I Henson Ridge Town Homes Office 1804 Stanton Terrace, SE The Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW can do.” CCN office 224 7th ST SE Eastern Market 225 7th St SE For more distribution locations, YMCA Capitol View 2118 Ridgecrest Court SE CW Harris Elementary School 301 53rd Street, SE DC Child & Family Services Agency 200 I Street SE MIDCITY contact 202.543.8300 x.19 FAGON COMMUNITY GUIDE

40 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m the Numbers Are High-Poverty DC Schools Shortchanged When It Comes to Extra Resources for ‘At-Risk’ Students?

by Soumya Bhat

he District is now devoting sub- port core staffing and programs in stantial funds to meet the needs school budgets. This means that of low-income students, but the nearly half of the resources con- money is not all being used as sidered extra for schools are be- intended. Instead of supple- ing used for functions that are menting services at high-pov- required at all schools as part of erty schools, such as after- DCPS’s staffing model. school programs or additional counselors, about Outgoing Chancellor Hen- Thalf of DC Public Schools’ “at-risk” funds are go- derson says she is worried that ing to positions that all schools are supposed to these concerns over at-risk have, like attendance counselors. This is a lost op- funds will result in “remediat- portunity. DC policymakers should do more to en- ing students to death” instead sure that this funding truly supplements services in of focusing on the whole child. our high-poverty schools, to help narrow the wide But that’s not the point of at- achievement gap between low-income and higher- risk funding at all. High-pover- income students. ty schools can use their at-risk Low-income children often face hunger and housing money for school-wide initia- instability, and may be exposed to violence at a young tives that benefit all students. age. Living in stressful environments can lead to “toxic The real question is whether at-risk funds truly are ly evaluated to ensure it is truly meeting the needs of stu- stress,” with long-term impacts on a child’s healthy de- available to supplement services. It is also not clear dents, especially those with unique needs such as Eng- velopment. This means that low-income children come that all DCPS principals have the same amount of dis- lish language learners and special education. The good to school with additional educational needs. cretion or are even aware these funds exist. news is that the DC State Superintendent’s Office has In recognition of those needs, the District changed That’s why the DCPS budget process should be formed a working group to examine the formula this fall, its school funding formula in 2014 to provide about modified so that at-risk funds can only add to what in time to offer recommendations to the mayor as she $2,000 additional for every student who is low-income schools get in base funding and positions, essentially cre- creates the 2017-18 schools budget. or otherwise at-risk of academic failure, following the ating a firewall between funding streams. This means Ultimately what is needed is better funding and recommendations of an education adequacy study. paying for core staffing positions at all schools with core oversight to make sure school funding is being used ef- In the coming school year, over $80 million will go to DCPS funding. It also should mean giving principals, fectively and in ways that supplement, not supplant, the support 40,000 “at-risk” students attending DC pub- teachers, and parents a clearer sense of the at-risk fund- good work happening in our public schools. We also lic schools and public charter schools. There are ear- ing available at their school, and more say in how those need to make sure all schools are getting enough, so that ly signs that the new funding is helping. High-poverty funds are used to supplement student services. they do not need to use at-risk funds for basic functions. schools are now devoting more to literacy initiatives, an There is another question here. If DCPS needs to extended school year, and additional staffing for social use supplemental resources to support core school func- Soumya Bhat is education finance and policy analyst at the DC and emotional services. tions, does this mean that base school funding is inad- Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget Unfortunately not all of the at-risk funds are being equate? The mayor and DC Council do not automati- and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the Dis- used as intended. In the 2016-17 school year DC Public cally increase the per-pupil funding formula for inflation trict of Columbia and to increase opportunities for residents to Schools allocated nearly half of its at-risk funding to sup- each year. And the school funding formula is not regular- build a better future.

East of the River Magazine September 2016 41 neighborhood news

Private “Special Police” in DC Community Questions, from Recruitment to Accountability

by Virginia Avniel Spatz

pecial police offi- cidents that occur during their shifts. cers in the District These reports are maintained and filed used deadly force on site for your review daily.” Those three times this past files, however, are private. Unless year, resulting in the MPD is also involved, SPO/SO en- deaths of three black counters yield no police report. Disci- men. Two of these fa- plinary actions within firms like Black- tal encounters with special police of- out are also private. Sficers (SPOs) – who, like security of- Alonzo Smith, 27, unarmed and ficers (SOs), are private employees charged with no crime, died as a re- certified by the Metropolitan Po- sult of an encounter with Blackout lice Department (MPD), took place SPOs at Marbury Plaza Apartments. east of the river. Video from one in- To date, SPOs involved in Smith’s cident shows SPOs, apparently un- death, on Nov. 1, 2015, have yet to be aware that the man in their custody charged or named. Asked about the is not breathing, using restraint MPD Blackout case, MPD spokesperson does not sanction. This fall, the DC Alice Kim says MPD “cannot com- Council will consider new regula- With apologies to the loved ones of Alonzo Smith: At Marbury Plaza, Blackout SPO uses knee ment on an open criminal investiga- tions for SPOs and security officers. restraint on cuffed and unresponsive man whose head hangs off landing. tion.” As it happens, however, MPD Meanwhile, community members responded to 911 calls from Marbury have raised serious questions about residents, just hours after new body- the training and deployment of these cam regulations had gone into ef- private employees. fect. Their video, now public, shows a Blackout employee engaged with a What Are SPOs and SOs cell-phone while kneeling on the back Allowed to Do of an unresponsive, restrained man SPOs have arrest powers within lim- whose head hangs off a stairwell land- ited jurisdictions, such as apartment ing. Blackout refused to comment for complexes, and may be armed. SOs this article. are unarmed and can detain but not arrest. SPOs and SOs are trained, SPOs and Accountability employed, and supervised by private As public officials consider new train- companies; they report to their em- ing regimens for SPOs, Netfa Free- ployers and their clients. man, Ward 8 resident and Pan-Af- Blackout Investigations and Secu- rican Community Action (PACA) rity Services, for example, advertises: organizer, worries that such plans “Documentation and report writing “take away the possibility of guilt” for is a crucial part of our daily job func- Additional body-cam view shows Blackout SPO engaged with cellphone while kneeling atop the past. “It is shifting the focus away tion. Blackout guards are required to an individual who, as MPD quickly determines upon arrival, has stopped breathing. from systemic issues, diverting atten- document their actions...as well as in- tion from brutality.” PACA (pacadmv.

42 E a s t o f t h e R i v er DCN e w s . c o m Thursday, September 29, 2016 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Walter E. Washington Convention Center org) seeks community control and account- tization issues, warns against allowing SPOs to “po- www.DCRAEntreeDC.com ability for all police as well as justice in the lice in the community.” Smith case. Senior Entrepreneurship Program Accountability for Blackout SPOs “who SPOs and Affected Communities Date: Thursday, September 1, 2016 didn’t know what the hell they were doing,” “We must ensure that we are not abdicating govern- Time: 10:15 am – 11:45 am is also a priority for Ronald Hampton, re- ment responsibilities to private companies,” says Location: Congress Heights tired 23-year MPD veteran, former execu- Monica Hopkins-Maxwell, executive director of AC- 3500 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue S.E. tive director of the National Black Police LU-National Capital Area (aclu-nca.org). She notes Washington, D.C. 20032 To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/41363 Association, and co-convener of Institute one negative consequence of privatization: Police na- of the Black World’s DC Justice Collabor- tionwide have been exploring alternatives to patrol- A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Planning ative (ibw21.org). ling “with the intent of ‘we’re looking for crime,’” but Date: Thursday, September 8, 2016 Hampton also favors “education,” private security professionals are not necessarily “in Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm which he distinguishes from “training,” those conversations.” Location: DCRA – 1100 4th Street SW, 4th Floor (Room E-4302) for SPOs. The current requirement is 40 “We have concerns about ways in which certain Washington, D.C. 20032 hours (two weekends), plus separate fire- communities in the District of Columbia are policed,” To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/41934 arms training, with additional requirements by both MPD and private security, Hopkins-Maxwell for campus and Metro SPOs. In addition, continues. “Look at how we treat black communities How to Open a Small Business by Navigating Hampton says: “[SPOs] should not be put and communities of color, compared with white com- through DCRA’s Regulatory Process into a situation without adequate backup. munities. There is a presupposition that one commu- Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm And we have to talk about the issue of su- nity needs to be policed more than another.” Location: DCRA – 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-200) pervision, which must be intense and regu- To illustrate: Every few years – 2015, 2012, 2007, Washington, D.C. 20024 lar. They have to know that the person who 2003 – expansion of campus SPO jurisdiction is pro- To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/41242 oversees them is vigilant.” posed, to address off-campus rowdiness and provide Hampton also argues, along with PACA “seamless” policing. Each time, residents near univer- SmartStart Integrated Licensing and Money and others, for transparency: identification sities in Wards 2 and 3 raise concerns about liabili- Smart for Small Business Program of SPOs involved in any fatality, administra- ty, civil liberties, and consent. Each time, citizens ob- Date: Monday, September 19, 2016 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am tive leave and investigation, public reports, ject to deployment of campus SPOs, with one-fourth Location: DCRA – 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-268) and, as needed, criminal trials. “Whether training of MPD officers, into surrounding neighbor- Washington, D.C. 20024 redress is effective or not with MPD is ques- hoods. Each time, the proposal stalls. To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/42969 tionable, but there is a process.” Meanwhile, David Smith, president of the At present, MPD spokesperson Alice Deanwood Citizens Association (and no relation The Regulatory Process of Starting a Business Kim explains: “A security agency company to Alonzo), says officers, many “coming back from Date: Monday, September 19, 2016 has a duty to supervise the individuals they the military,” are sent east of the river, where “res- Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Location: Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library employ and can administer any disciplinary idents look exactly like the militants in countries 3660 Alabama Avenue SE measures it deems necessary as outlined in where they were stationed.” He wants officers, Washington, D.C. 20020 [the DC Code].” MPD’s Security Officers MPD and SPO, from the community: “It’s not To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/41351 Management Branch is charged with inves- about race – But, do they live here and send their tigating SPO-related incidents, and “seri- kids to our schools?” Navigating Government Contracting with DCPTAC: ous use of force” incidents are investigat- “The whole police philosophy nationwide has to Creating an Effective Capability Statement ed by the MPD’s Internal Affairs Division change,” says Henderson Long, founder of Missing Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm in conjunction with the United States At- and Exploited East of the River. “We need leader- Location: DCRA – 1100 4th Street SW, 4th Floor (Room E-4302) torney’s Office.” ship from top down to get some aggressive reform,” Washington, D.C. 20024 Steve Maritas, Organizing Director for Finally, Beverly Smith, PACA organizer and To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/42137 the Law Enforcement Officers Security mother of Alonzo, says the homicide of her son “is Unions (leosudc.org), representing 300 lo- part of a larger crisis of Black people...dying at the Understanding Your Rights Seminar for Landlords cal SPOs, says SPOs are already “acting as hands of those put in charge of protecting a system Date: Thursday, September 22, 2016 regular police officers. They have the same that only respects rich people and their property.” Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Location: DCRA – 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor (Room E-200) arrest power.” He argues for commensurate She joins Hampton, PACA, and others who seek Washington, D.C. 20024 training and matching compensation. Mar- completely new “public safety” models. To Register: http://dcbiz.ecenterdirect.com/events/42545 itas says any additional training is “a step in the right direction,” stressing the need Background on SPOs/SOs appeared in August East of the Riv- to prepare for split-second emergency deci- er. Look for details on proposed regulations in October. Virgin- sion-making in high profile and neighbor- ia Spatz is a regular contributor to Capital Community News hood locations. and Feature Reporter for Education Town Hall on We Act Ra- For further information, please contact: But Hampton, citing training and priva- dio, on-line at vspatz.wordpress.com. Jacqueline Noisette (202) 442-8170 [email protected] Claudia Herrera (202) 442-8055 [email protected] Joy Douglas (202) 442-8690 [email protected]

East of the River Magazine September 2016 43