Matt, I will get back to Robby a little later but we all seem to be headed in the same direction now. Anyways, to your email: How much more do you want us to speak up. When we have a minority of residents who $$$ and affiliations seem to have more influence with the Wilson bldg and you don't mind exerting it, it isnt as easy. Compassion for the what's more important to most residents from you (plural) is a foreign substance. Instead of putting your wants and desires above our needs would be nice. So dont use the word word "OUR" to act as if you are part of "APATHY". You have never done any of the "duties" that you assigned to us residents. Where is your "well thought out proposals, coherent plan and viable alternative" ?? It is not our job to put such a proposal together - it is theirs - that's what they get paid to do amd fund - not us. We didnt want that Trolley nor all of the Weed plantations or all the Strip Joints. We would not have even fought if the govt had proposed placing an equal amount in each Ward. The rest of "neat" street car talk is some garbage as while other places needs it to revitalize, Washington DC doesn't "need" it to revitalize our business corridors. What we need is the focus on $$$ to be put into iur existing small business owners instead of all those big developers. "Gentrification" is doing a fine job on its own. The model had already shifted from "build it and they will come" to let's go add to the existing community when it is affordable before we get priced out prices since the shift has been to live in cities - especially one like Washington DC. Remember - Va and Md are so accessible that the sacrifice wasnt really a sacrifice. We could have been much more creative with alk that Capital ""transportation" money and eventually got to trolleys thise who still wanted it later. But you keep talking - We hear you but your "History" exists - so when you want to suit up and fight along with us, let me/us know. There is space on the bandwagon and I have enough extra "armour". Much better worded email. Not convincing enough though! Keep coming - that's what cognitive dissonance does and as you keep using the words "we" and "our" in aan attempt to be part of, it manifests and it does become more and more of a reality. With some growing understanding compassion, you do get BORGED" - don't think I forgot those "borg tweets you and Robby shared!! -- THIS IS A WAR OF OUR UNIVERSE - STAR TREK DON'T HAVE NOTHING ON STAR WARS!! Keep stepping towards the "FORCE". There is enough room. OB1 (Striving for my Yoda designation) Rob. On Oct 5, 2012 11:43 AM, "Matt Ashburn" < matt@mattashburn.com> wrote: I gotta agree w/ Robby on this. He says it well: While we often lament about being a dumping ground, our lack of organization and community engagement in some neighborhoods across the ward is the very reason we can so easily be dumped upon. In some respects our politics and apathy contributes to our fate." I agree that there are better locations than this for the streetcar facility, but citizens need to put forth a viable alternative proposal with a coherent plan (not just yell "it shouldn't go here! Put it somewhere else!"). With a well-thoguht-out proposal from residents, it'd be tougher for the city to say no. If that's not feasible, citizens could also lobby to influence the design or require additional amenities at the location if they do move forward to build at the school site. So many times the city puts for proposals opposed, but usually the result is a group of residents will protest or raise concerns with a lot of drama and fanfare, but with little followup or a real plan to move forward. Ward5 had a meeting on this issue a while back at Springarn, but what's come of it? What realistic proposal has been put forward to make it work at another location? Honestly, streetcars are neat, but that doesn't sell me on their benefit, especially without a plan to connect to other transit at Union Station or finish up the project. We don't yet know for sure how it'll end, but I think the latest plans call for people to walk through the Union Station garage to get to the streetcar. On the other hand, the streetcar can help revitalize our area's business corridors, but the city hasn't shown that's it's competent enough to buidl the system thus far. Matt
On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 at 8:42 AM, RobbyCU <RobbyCU@yahoo.com> wrote: Thank you for your opinion, I'm sure like in all things you think your right, but here you are as wrong as you are Indian. The idea did not come from Ward 5, but Ward 7. There is no formal or active informal group organized in LT to combat the car barn idea, and it didn't. ANC5B didn't originate this idea, but they joined it afterwards. My comments were regarding some neighborhoods in the ward and not all of the ward, please read more carefully. More importantly, example after example proves my point. Undesirable projects are slipped into neighborhoods where residents are disorganized and apathetic.
While I agree the EOM is responsible for the placement decision, the city could have chosen the RFK site, done the paperwork, procured land if needed to, it's not like the Street Car hasn't costs several $M already what's a few more, no I'm really being serious - why not just do it right.
On your other points clearly you're only spending time in Brookland, I hate to tell you, having worked over here for a while South of NY often Ivy City, Trinidad, Carver, and Langston Terrace often suffer from a great deal of apathy, and a sense of helplessness regarding pushing back on the city. Lately, Ivy City and Trinidad have begun to organize and and push back as whole neighborhoods. Yet, getting citizens engaged after years of disengagement is hard. There are activists in Carver Terrace, but I not seen an organization besides the ANC SMD. However, more to this conversation, I don't see a large LT presence at any community meetings.
The city knows our collective stuggles and weaknesses and has a long rich history of exploiting them, however we could do more towards making our case and fighting. It can't just be one or two voices over here. It's got to be a groundswell, and that's missing over here right now. There are many reasons why are not where we need to be regarding civic engagement, but we are not there and it hurts us over hear.
So yes, if the chickens get stolen, it is on us. We will be the ones living with the immediate consequences. Rob, think of it like this, if you leave your door open when you leave and upon returning someone has robbed you. Were they right to do so? No, but do you bear some of the blame, yes.
Government isn't this thing that happens to people, Government is of the people. The same mayor that many people here voted for to spite Fenty, is the same mayor placing the Car barn. He was able to do this because our old CM was otherwise occupied, and LT is not a community really known for high voting, much organization, and has a large population of poor to working class people. LT could have been better organized, including attending Streetcar meetings, demanding meetings were held not just in Trinidad but in LT too. LT community organization leaders could have attended meetings or gone to websites to learn about the street car almost a year ago.
While I am angry about the lack or outreach to the community, if the community was on the offensive and not the defensive, if the community engaged vs waiting to be engaged, then they would have gotten the information early and worked during the preliminary stages to squelch all notions of a Street Car there.
As we know that didn't happen, and while the EOM is driving, due to disorganization and a lack of civic engagement, we probally have waited too late to get our of the way.
Kudos to Ward 7 for being innovative, I'm not sure it will work, but at least it's an effort. It's something that either didn't come to Ward 5 activists, or was never implemented. Shame on us.
We need to wake up or will find ourselves buried.
-Robby
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"In everything you do. Always be yourself"- Lee Hall, Billy Elliot
1. The Sad part is that we (Ward 5 as well as other wards) have to go through this crap. There is not much occurring at the Wilson Bldg that is transparent. So, that is the Shame. 2. The Carbarn can be placed at the former Trash Dump on Benning Rd (pass the Langston's Golf Range) on left or further on the right where there are warehouses -- Eric Jones, please don't say the words "Owned by DC". The Warehouses and Commercial bldgs over on the right side of Benning Rd are more suitable for this Barn. 3. I don't think that the Small bridge across the Anacostia that they will have to go over is the one that is not strong enough for the Trolley to cross. I think that the one that the Bridge that they are talking about is the one going over 295. Someone can correct me on this. And even if it was, the small bridge is small enough to be reinforced without much issue. 4. If Ward 7 (Yvette Alexandar) so wants access to a "Street Car", then they should be willing to host a "Barn". The two sites that I have mentioned are much more appropriate for this type of Mechanical facility. Following those two is a back side of the Redskins Parking Lot that has a Metro Bridge running right through it. This could be used for a future Metro site for North and South of Benning Road which includes Carver Terrace area and for the entire development that they are planning there. And the Car Barn could be built to be incorporated into this. 5. Regarding Ward 5 being being apathetic, infighting and disorganized, this is not properly illustrated. a. We are definitely not apathetic -- folks are working on this from many different angles. b. Infighting - the infighting is based on people placing wants vs. needs. Most of this is done by folks who are not as concerned as others about things Much More Important than "a Street Car System" all under the guise of "clean transportation when that goal can be met with much less expensive and much more flexible and multipurposed Electric Buses. c. We are really not disorganized. We have many existing community organizations who speak up. The problem lays at the foot of our Council Member, the Mayor and other Govt. agencies for not paying attention to what the Community is speaking to when it is not in line with what their intentions or their Political Future. d. We are not "confused dogs". The owness falls on the Mayor, the City Council and the Govt. Agencies to PROPERLY INFORM us about their planning and to include us in their decision making - not using trickery and the "cover of darkness" to implement things -- especially when they botched the planning on this specific H Street Trolley System. So the Writer of these comments gets it -- Most families have "infighting" and most if not all plays, weddings, festivals, and every other event usually has tons of "confusion" leading up to an "perfect" performance/end result. And Just like they listened to making use of McMillian as a temporary offset to the Storm Water to offset the Bloomingdale flooding issues, they can listen to the rest of Community Input from this List Serv. So, "kudos" to Ward 5 for all the work that we put forth and with a little tweeking, we could continue to get better. In closing, The real SHAME is that WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE "FOXES STEALING THE CHICKENS" from our entire Electorate. Us a a community having to continue to live through this abuse is the SHAME!!! If it was me, I would cease the project instead of having to pay another $50 Million for the Barn and Probably anothe $50 Million for the Electric Wiring and other Kinks that will be sure to come. H Street is already developed. Rob Ramson
On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 11:51 PM, RobbyCU <RobbyCU@yahoo.com> wrote: I think that action is creative, but okay so the carbarn area may or may not be considered a historic landmark. What happen's if it is. Where will the city then place the carbarn? While I know some here think it's not worth finishing, since we're in this deep and I think it will spur development along Benning, I want to know what we are putting forward and not just what we are opposing.
While I don't like the way ward 5 was getting shafted, there must be a way forward.
Lastly it's sadly telling that this attempt came out of ward 7 and not ward five. As stated yesterday, there isn't a groundswell of committed organized neighbors. I'm glad Ward 7 figured it out, but disappointed that neither ANC or any civic activists in Carver or Langston originated this approach.
While we often lament about being a dumping ground, our lack of organization and community engagement in some neighborhoods across the ward is the very reason we can so easily be dumped upon. In some respects our politics and apathy contributes to our fate.
Carver and Langston have not had solid community engagement in years, perhaps decades, and so they are ignored mostly, save for when some noise is made then they are placated, patted on the head and sent off just like the Grinch did to Cindy Lu Who, right before the Grinch store everything from the house.
While the guard dogs are infightings or disorganized the fox steals the chickens, and by the time the confused dogs notice it's often too late. Shame on Ward 5, much props to Ward 7.
-Robby
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"In everything you do. Always be yourself"- Lee Hall, Billy Elliot
Good Evening, I am pleased that the Kingman Park Civic Association submitted an application to landmark Spingarn Senior High School. In doing so, our conscientious Ward 7 neighbors reached across the lines that divide to join the fight to protect Ward 5 interests. Additionally, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5B voted unanimously tonight to write a letter to the Historic Preservation Review Board to support the nomination. Finally, I am glad many citizens are stepping up to protect Ward 5 interests. The best is yet to come. I look forward to Eckington, Woodridge, Brookland and Bloomingdale neighbors similarly speaking up to acknowledge the historic value of their respective communities. Kathy Henderson Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® ------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to: ward5@eGroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: ward5-unsubscribe@eGroups.comYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ward5/<*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ward5/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: ward5-digest@yahoogroups.com ward5-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ward5-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- R. Ramson 3744 12th Street, N.E., Washington D.C., 20017 202-438-5988 "We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi- (Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)
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