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I'm the only one that is opposed to same-sex marriage. The other four, they say they believe in God, they go to church, but they are also for same-sex marriage. So I think coming down the stretch that is going to be the issue. I don't think they are morally fit to run this city.
OPEN TO ALL!
D.C. Environmental Network to hold Mayoral and Council Chair CANDIDATES FORUMS @ Friends of the Earth
District of Columbia environmental organizations, individuals and activists will hold Mayoral and Council Chair Candidates Forums in August to highlight key issues in the recently released DC Environmental Agenda. Candidates will have an opportunity to present their environmental vision for the District to residents and explain their thoughts on issues that most directly impact the environmental health of our communities.
MAKE-UP Forum for Mayoral Candidates FORUM
DATE: Thursday, August 3, 2006
PARTICIPANTS SO FAR: Linda Cropp, Marie Johns, Adrian Fenty
TIME: 1:00 TO 3:00 PM
PLACE: FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW #600 (Dupont Circle Metro - South Exit)
Council Chair/At-Large Council Candidates FORUM
DATE: Thursday, August 17, 2006
PARTICIPANTS SO FAR: Phil Mendelson, Kathy Patterson
TIME: 12 TO 1:30 PM
PLACE: FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW #600 (Dupont Circle Metro - South Exit)
Please remember to bring a picture ID to get in the building!
About the DC Environmental Agenda
In 1999, twelve District environmental organizations created the first ever Environmental Agenda for the District of Columbia. This agenda was a collaborative effort of citizen activists to chart a course for environmental protection. It recognized that a new Mayor and Council would have an opportunity to reverse some of the negative trends of years past and promote working towards a more livable city for all residents. It made recommendations, for action and drew upon the collective wisdom of many District environmental leaders as well as successful initiatives in other parts of the country.
Today in 2006, the Summit Fund of Washington and over 30 environmental, health, faith, citizen and civic organizations are answering a call to action by participating in creating a new environmental agenda for the District. This new agenda will build on the successes of the past six years and will set a new standard of environmental excellence for the District.
Together, these proposals will chart a course toward excellence in the provision of city services and the protection of public health. As we believed in 1999, restoration of environmental quality in the District is a pro-business, pro-economic growth platform that more and more public officials are starting to embrace and act on.
For more information please contact Chris Weiss at 202.222.0746.
While our event was scheduled weeks before the Ward 5 Endorsement Meeting, the candidates have expressed their need to attend that meeting. As as a result, we cannot expect candidate participation in our forum. We thought that changing the time would resolve this conflict, but ran into additional issues. Therefore, we are left with no alternative but to cancel the event.
D.C. Environmental Network
American Rivers - Anacostia Coordinating Council - Anacostia Watershed Society Audubon Naturalist Society - Beyond Pesticides - Bluewater Network - Casey Trees Endowment Fund - Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Center for Food Safety - Chesapeake Climate Action Network - Clean Water Action - Coalition for Smarter Growth - Container Recycling Institute - DC Environmental Education Consortium - DC Fiscal Policy Institute - DC Smart Schools - DC Statehood Green Party - Friends of the Earth - Global Green - Green Spaces for DC - Howard Environmental Law Society - Institute for Local Self Reliance - No DC Taxes for Baseball - Safer Neighborhoods Campaign - Sierra Club - Washington Area Bicyclist Association - Washington Parks and People - Washington Regional Network - Watts Branch Alliance - Wholeness for Humanity
D.C. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNTIY TO HOLD MAYORAL CANDIDATES FORUM AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Who: Michael Brown, Chairman Linda Cropp, Councilmember Adrian Fenty, and Chris Otten
What: District of Columbia environmental organizations, individuals and activists to hold a Mayoral Forum featuring issues highlighted in the soon to be released DC Environmental Agenda. Candidates will have an opportunity to present their environmental vision for the District to residents and explain their thoughts on issues that most directly impact the environmental health of our communities. Organizations that are interested in tabling at the event should contact the Washington Area Bicyclist Association / WABA.
When: Thursday, June 29, 2006, 6:30-9:00pm
Where: Cramton Auditorium, Howard University, 2455 6th Street NW (The Howard University Office of Parking and Shuttle Operations will provide complimentary shuttle service from the Howard University/Shaw Metro Station)
Free valet bike parking will be available at the forum courtesy of WABA.
Why: In 1999, twelve District environmental organizations created the first ever Environmental Agenda for the District of Columbia. This agenda was a collaborative effort of citizen activists to chart a course for environmental protection. It recognized that a new Mayor and Council would have an opportunity to reverse some of the negative trends of years past and promote working towards a more livable city for all residents. It made recommendations, for action and drew upon the collective wisdom of many District environmental leaders as well as successful initiatives in other parts of the country.
Today in 2006, the Summit Fund of Washington and over 30 environmental, health, faith, citizen and civic organizations are answering a call to action by participating in creating a new environmental agenda for the District. This new agenda will build on the successes of the past six years and will set a new standard of environmental excellence for the District. A preview of some of the focus areas include:
· Clean Rivers - While some progress has been made cleaning up the Anacostia River, Potomac River and Rock Creek, much work still needs to be done. Recommendations will include doing more to effectively manage stormwater and increase efforts to find funding for important repairs to our aging infrastructure.
· Safe Drinking Water - With efforts to decrease the amount of lead in our drinking water under way, recommendations will focus on making sure we avoid a future drinking water crisis.
· Solid Waste - Making sure real progress is made in implementing both curbside and commercial recycling efforts will be an agenda focus. Ways in which the District can expand and enhance other successful solid waste programs will be highlighted.
· Public Health - With the increased prevalence of toxic chemicals in our communities and bodies the public health section will focus on implementing a biomonitoring program that will test for toxics in people. A first step towards developing effective policies that will protect District residents.
· Protection of Parks and Trees - Although significant progress has been made, we still have much to do to reverse 30 years of tree canopy loss. Recommendations focus on the development of comprehensive strategies and management systems to plant and care for trees on both public and private property.
· Transportation - Creating Complete Streets: DC transportation planning, design and construction should result in streets that are designed with bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in mind. The use of alternative modes of transportation should be encouraged through changes in parking and tax policy, and zoning regulations.
· Green Schools - Greening D.C.’s schools and making sure our children have a safe place to learn and grow will be a focus.
· Global Warming - A new and significant addition will be global warming recommendations for candidates about local solutions such as clean car legislation.
· Smart Growth Platform - Directing the region’s growth near metro stations, reinvesting in parks and public spaces, implementing the Comprehensive Housing Strategy and increased support for walking, bicycling and transit will be incorporated.
· Homeland Security - Implementing policies that stop terrorists from having the tools to create chemical and other environmental threats that could potentially kill thousands in our region will be an important element.
· Food Safety and Security - Promoting greater food nutrition education, bringing local healthy food to school cafeterias, securing markets for local producers, and increasing the availability of fresh produce to lower-income neighborhoods is the focus of our recommendations in this section.
· Budget Transparency - Recommendations to make the DC government’s budget process more accessible and transparent.
Together, these proposals will chart a course toward excellence in the provision of city services and the protection of public health. As we believed in 1999, restoration of environmental quality in the District is a pro-business, pro-economic growth platform that more and more public officials are starting to embrace and act on.
Our little corner of Ward 5 (Eckington, Truxton Circle, Bloomingdale) is getting very organized this time around. We are tired of being virtually ignored by Vincent Orange because he had Michigan Park and Brookland in his pocket. This time, we're going to make sure that the winning Ward 5 candidate must have the SW corner of Ward 5 in his or her pocket to win. We're going to vote in droves in September. Heed the warning, council candidates. Don't forget about us.
Neighbors,
In response to the significant escalation of gunfire in our community of late and, most recently, the shooting that occurred near the intersection of 1st and Q Streets, N.W. as well as the homicide that took place in the 1400 block of First Street, N.W. last night, Council Member Vincent Orange is convening an emergency meeting at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 3rd and Q Streets, N.W., this evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in their old sanctuary. Specifically, Mr. Orange has asked officials from the Fifth District Metropolitan Police Department to provide a briefing on the recent spate of shootings that have taken place in our section of PSA 501, and to respond to questions or recommendations from community residents regarding the strategy that the MPD is using to address the problem.
I have recommended to Mr. Orange's office that a representative also be present from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) who is responsible for the supervision of offenders who live in PSA 501. That is, the CSOSA can play a pivotal role in helping to identify and discipline those who are under their supervision and are ultimately found to be a contributor to our current problems in any way.
Please help to spread the word among your neighbors. Hope to see you this evening!
Best,
Jim Berry
ANC
5C
Will Ward 5 ANCs Erase The Script?
D.C. Council member Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5) wanted the ward's Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners to join him during his State of the Ward address today.
So Orange's office announced that he plans to do a roll call of the ANCs during the "convention and address," where Orange and the commissioners will talk about the ward's past improvements and future steps.
To make sure that the council member and the commissioners would be on the same page, Orange's office sent them "scripts" to read.
There is only one problem: some of the commissioners don't want to read them. They don't like the idea of Orange telling them what to say. After eight years on the council, a few commissioners rhetorically asked why Orange now wants the ANCs to tout the ward's accomplishments on his political stage.
"I was infuriated that my intelligence had been insulted ... that someone would have the nerve to write a script for us to deliver," said Mary Currie, one of the outspoken commissioners. "It would have been a lot more personalized if Mr. Orange had called the ANCs and talked to people. There was no personal touch. It was 'Just do this' like we're on his payroll."
We won't know whether they'll read the scripts or erase Orange's plan until today's program, which will be held at Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, 610 Rhode Island Ave NE at 6 p.m.
