Shawington

“Is a position on the DC Council really a full-time job?” That’s a question I frequently receive from voters. It’s a fair and understandable question. In about 3/4 of the states, state legislatures generally are in session about four months out of the year, generally from January until April. In Texas, the legislature meets just every other year! It’s expected that legislators work another job. Smaller city councils and county seats operate in a similar way.

But in Washington, D.C., our city council is in session year round, with the exception of a short recess in August. The D.C. Council is also not just our city council, it’s also essentially our state legislature and county government all in one.

Several states do have “professional legislatures” that are considered full time, according to the Council of State Governments: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The average salary for the nine full-time legislatures is $67,077.22 - the median is $57,619. The highest paid is California ($110,880) followed by New York and Michigan (about $80,000). (These are 2005 stats - it is a 2007 report). In states with part time legislators, salaries are significantly less. You can read a full report here.

According to the National League of Cities, the average salary for city councilmembers in cities with a population of more than 200,000 with a mayor-council form of government (who, according to the National League of Cities “are more likely to be working full time for the council”), is $39,061.

The current salary for D.C. Councilmembers is $120,175 (for those elected or reelected since the new $115,000 salary took effect, including an annual automatic Cost of Living Adjustment). That amount will rise again, in accordance with the COLA, in January.

That’s more than the combined average salary of what are generally considered full-time professional state legislators and city councilmembers in large cities ($106,138). It’s also about equal to the average salary of state governors ($115,778 as of 2005), according to CSG.

Voters deserve to have a full-time councilmember. Yet, my opponent is 1 of 2 members of the 13-member D.C. Council who holds a second job. (Note: Councilmember Mary Cheh will also be returning to teach at George Washington Law School after taking a leave of absence during her first year on the Council). But aside from the full-time issue, isn’t there an inherent conflict of interest in a lawmaker also working at a major lobbying firm at the same time?

(No Ratings Yet)

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I was pleased to learn this week that the DC Latino Political Action Committee has endorsed my candidacy for Ward 2 Councilmember.

The DC Latino PAC stands for equal political representation, justice in housing, access to healthcare, free and appropriate education, equal employment opportunities, and safe communities.

It is a privilege to have the organization’s support and to be the only non-incumbent candidate that received this honor.

You can read their press released here.

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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I was pleased to learn that DC for Democracy, in a vote last week, overwhelmingly supported my candidacy with 51.3% voting for me, 30.8% voting for my opponent, and 17.9% voting no endorsement. You can read my responses to the organization’s questionnaire here to see why.

Founded in Spring 2004, DC for Democracy is the District’s largest unaligned progressive group of activists, community leaders and everyday voters working for positive change in our local government and recognition in America’s legislature.

While the organization’s bylaws require a 2/3 majority for an official endorsement, the vote shows the strong and growing support that I have among progressive voters who believe we need a change as we head into the September 9 primary.

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There’s a perception, fueled by my opponent, that the District is one of the most fiscally sound cities in the nation. To be certain, the city has come along way since the junk bond days, but we still have far to go (compare DC’s A+ to Arlington’s much higher AAA rating).

Over the past few years, my opponent has given away millions upon millions to developers, sports teams, and other private special interests, and entered into some very bad deals. How can the city afford to do this?

It can’t.

But we’ve done so by placing these costs on the city’s credit card, dedicating future tax revenues to paying off the debt rather than funding city programs and services.

In fact, according to D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi, the District’s per capita debt for 2008 is estimated at $10,902, the highest of any major U.S. municipality. One out of ten dollars spent in the District, and rising, is going toward paying off the debt. For quite some time, Mr. Gandhi has cautioned that going over a 10% debt ratio raises red flags to Wall Street and places the city’s bond rating in jeopardy. In response, Council Chairman Vincent Gray has proposed legislation to establish a 12% hard cap (legally, the ratio can currently rise to 17%).

What this all means is that due to frivolous spending, it will be more difficult for the city to take on major projects that can make a difference, such as establishing a community college system, expanding metro capacity, or true neighborhood development projects along the lines of the O Street Market.

Let’s look at some of the financial blunders in recent years, championed by my opponent, that have placed us in a tight position:

A $611 million+ (now estimated at over $750 million) lopsided baseball stadium deal, paid for by you, the taxpayer. And when the team withholds millions in rent and threatens $100,000 a day in damages, my opponent defends the Lerners. I’ll defend the city, and I’ll put funding neighborhood parks before more ballparks.
$850 million to build a new convention center, which barely brings in more visitors than the previous building that was half its size. We are still paying debt service of $36 million on this project each year. I’ll reclaim this lost opportunity for neighborhood revitalization by filling the empty retail spaces, helping struggling small businesses, and addressing the surrounding vacant property that remains even five years later.
A $50 million gift to the Verizon Center, supposedly for “upgrades” to luxury boxes, including one for the D.C. Council. Although the then MCI Center was built with $200 million in private, not government, funding, that did not stop the after-the-fact subsidy. No more giveaways.
$50 million stolen from the Office of Tax and Revenue. As far back as 2004, the D.C. Auditor alerted the Council to massive discrepancies, but there was no oversight, no action taken. Even after the theft came to light, my opponent continued to push for a substantial pay raise for the CFO. I will restore oversight and accountability by hiring more auditors and inspectors. I’ll ask more critical questions and follow-up to demand fixes until they are implemented.
A $10 million earmark to Ford’s Theatre, a federal property. Next thing you know, we will be paying for renovation of the Washington Monument. That won’t happen on my watch.
Back in 2004, the Council, under my opponent’s leadership, even approved $40 million in public financing for expansion of the private Corcoran Gallery of Art over the objections of then Councilmember Fenty, who objected to the speculative nature of the tax revenue that would purportedly pay off the debt.

Other examples of financial mismanagement continue all around us. For example:
As law abiding citizens pay rising property taxes, for years, absentee owners of nuisance properties have avoided the significantly higher property rate imposed on vacant homes and storefronts. Some even receive the homestead deduction. I’ll make sure the costs of nuisance properties are placed on irresponsible owners, not the neighborhoods.
The District continues to allow rampant no-bidding or pseudo-bidding in economic development deals, and makes intentionally hurried emergency decisions, such as the West End folly, to give away precious public fire station and library properties due to lax financial stewardship. I’ll support reforms to protect public property and establish an open bidding process.
The D.C. Auditor recently found that controls over the District’s cash advance fund were “extremely lax and, in some areas, nonexistent, allowing employees use the fund as a personal piggy bank, and potentially giving out millions in unauthorized funds.

This election provides you, the voters, with a choice. Will we continue down this path, or get more responsible, more critical, with our money? It’s time to shift our focus from always saying “yes, how much,” to sound neighborhood development.

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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After paying more than $611 million in public funds to construct a baseball stadium (the true cost is over $800 million), here’s the treatment the District has received from the Nationals:

Failing to meet its contractual obligation to employ District workers during construction process.
Omitting sexual orientation from its vendor procurement affirmative action policy, despite its inclusion as a protected group in the DC’s Human Rights Act.
Taking major events outside the District to Prince Georges County. So while DC’s business community pays for the stadium, Nats’ business goes to the suburbs.
Refusing to allow the city to place an electronic billboard on the stadium grounds to publicize taxation without representation in the District of Columbia.
Suing the city for $40 million (by politically-connected developer and Jack Evans’ friend Herb Miller). Take solace in fact that he will give half of the city’s $2 settlement money to charity. That was earlier this week.

Now, here’s the latest. The Lerners, owners of the Nationals, are withholding $3.5 million in rent on their brand new, taxpayer-funded stadium and threatening District with $100,000 in damages per day for not completing undisclosed “hundreds of items” related to its construction.

Some have suggested padlocking the stadium for the Lerner’s failure to pay rent. But that wouldn’t work because the city’s ability to get paid back for its investment depends on sales tax revenue generated by ticket sales.

You might expect our city officials to be outraged and to strongly defend the city. Some, like At Large Council Member David Catania, himself a Ward 2 resident who voted against the stadium give away, believes “the city has not bothered to look out for its long-term interest, and there is going to be one issue after another for years to come.” But our Council Member seems more concerned about the Lerners, not the taxpayers. As quoted in the Washington Post:

“The owners of the team are very strong business people, and they take a very businesslike approach to the whole relationship. They enforce their rights to the extent they can,” said council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), an ardent baseball booster.

Should the Lerners make good on their threat to hit the city with $100,000 a day in damages, you can count every week as a neighborhood park that the city could have completely renovated for our kids.

I hope you’ll look out for the city’s long-term interests on September 9. The alternative is we’ll soon be going through this again with soccer and football stadiums, and more giveaways.

(No Ratings Yet)

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Yesterday, we made it official. We filed our petitions, including the signatures of over 850 registered Democrats from every neighborhood in Ward 2, with the DC Board of Elections and Ethics. That’s more than triple that required by law.

I want to express my great appreciation to all of many neighborhood activists and volunteers who spend their evenings and weekends at supermarkets, metro stations, community meetings, and going door to door collecting the signatures of their neighbors. There’s no doubt that we will be on the ballot and it is because of your hard work in spreading the message of this campaign: We deserve and should expect to have a Council Member who works for us full time, is accessible and responsive, and who advocates on the nuts-and-bolts issues that will make our neighborhoods an even better place to live.

We are gaining momentum. Last week, we took nearly 40% of the vote in an endorsement meeting of the Ward 2 Democrats. Our website readership, which has grown each and every month, surpassed over 2,500 individuals and 5,700 visits in June alone. We’ve opened a campaign headquarters above Kramerbooks in the heart of Dupont Circle. When September 9, we’ll be ready to provide new leadership for the future of Ward 2 and our city.

Tonight, we begin our “Coffee With Cary” tour at Java House at 17th and Q Street in Dupont Circle. We’ll be there from 6-8 p.m. to meet you, answer questions, and discuss the issues that are important to you. Future Coffee with Cary events will follow each Thursday in a different Ward 2 neighborhood. I hope you’ll join us.

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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This Thursday, June 26, the “Ward 2 Democrats” organization will hold an endorsement meeting to determine who they will support in the September 9 primary.

You may not realize it, but if you are registered to vote as a Democrat in Ward 2, you are a part of this organization and can vote. Any Ward 2 registered Democrat can vote at this meeting - you don’t have to be active in the organization or have paid any dues.

The meeting is something of a mini-primary. At 6:30pm at the Women’s Democratic Club in Dupont Circle (1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW – 1 block east of the Q Street metro exit), attendees will show ID so that the organization can check it against the voter roles. Voters will then receive a ballot. When the meeting is called to order at about 7pm, you can immediately cast your ballot or stick around to hear 2-minute statements by each candidate.

WHEN: Thursday, May 26
TIME: 6:30pm Registration Opens, 7:00pm Voting Begins, 7:30pm Polls Close
WHERE: National Women’s Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. (Q and New Hampshire)
WHO: Any Ward 2 Registered Democrat can vote!

The candidate receiving 55% receives the organization’s endorsement.

Candidates for Ward 2 and At-Large on the DC Council, as well as Congressional Delegate and Shadow Senator/Representative will be on the ballot.

Please come and bring your neighbors and friends. Your vote on Thursday can shape the September 9 primary.

(No Ratings Yet)

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This Thursday, June 26, the “Ward 2 Democrats” organization will hold an endorsement meeting to determine who they will support in the September 9 primary.

You may not realize it, but if you are registered to vote as a Democrat in Ward 2, you are a part of this organization and can vote. Any Ward 2 registered Democrat can vote at this meeting - you don’t have to be active in the organization or have paid any dues.

The meeting is something of a mini-primary. At 6:30pm at the Women’s Democratic Club in Dupont Circle (1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW – 1 block east of the Q Street metro exit), attendees will show ID so that the organization can check it against the voter roles. Voters will then receive a ballot. When the meeting is called to order at about 7pm, you can immediately cast your ballot or stick around to hear 2-minute statements by each candidate.

WHEN: Thursday, May 26
TIME: 6:30pm Registration Opens, 7:00pm Voting Begins, 7:30pm Polls Close
WHERE: National Women’s Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. (Q and New Hampshire)
WHO: Any Ward 2 Registered Democrat can vote!

The candidate receiving 55% receives the organization’s endorsement.

Candidates for Ward 2 and At-Large on the DC Council, as well as Congressional Delegate and Shadow Senator/Representative will be on the ballot.

Please come and bring your neighbors and friends. Your vote on Thursday can shape the September 9 primary.

(No Ratings Yet)

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On June 24, I joined the Foggy Bottom Association at their annual meeting. The featured speaker, Mayor Adrian Fenty, was well received. Congratulations and thanks to FBA President Joy Howell and all of the newly elected officers for their service to the community and city. Ms. Howell was elected to a second 3-year term.

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If you’ve been walking or driving around town lately, you’ve probably noticed the red-and-white signs hanging from nearly every lamppost. On some stretches, you’ll find 8, 12, even 15 on a single block. Here’s what the DC Board of Elections and Ethics website says:

Even though candidates for political office in the District are allowed to place SIGNS, POSTERS AND PLACARDS throughout the city, there are restrictions within the law that you and your campaign supporters should know about and follow.

The following excerpts from the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) Title 24 provide specifics of the law that pertain to posting and removal of campaign materials in public space.

By following these regulations, you will ensure that your campaign signs will serve their intended purpose -as civic reminders of the importance of exercising the right to vote- rather than as unfortunate signs of environmental blight and potential litter…

108.10 No more than three versions or copies of each sign, advertisement, or poster shall be affixed on one side of a street within one block.

There’s really no excuse. My opponent pays thousands of dollars to individuals to put up those signs around your neighborhood. I am very careful to educate my volunteers to ensure that they place no more than what is permitted by law. And if you wonder why we have no enforcement in this city, look no further than to our own officials who don’t follow the law.

To report a violation, contact Marlene Pheney in the Office of the Clean City Coordinator at (202) 724-8967 or marlene.pheney@dc.gov. Provide the address of the block and the approximate number of signs. Take a photo with your cell phone camera and send it in, just don’t do it while driving!

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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