Evans 2008 Blog

Dog Days of Summer

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 07:13:39 -0400

We are truly in the dog days of summer. We all have our summer rituals right? Hanging out by the waterfront. Catching a Nationals game. Sending the kids off to day camp. Volta Park Day. A weekend getaway at the beach. Things like these give us a level of comfort, especially when the weather is hot and sticky.

Speaking of dog days, you can truly help to make a dog’s day better, and cats too. I have long admired and supported the work of the Washington Humane Society. They do a tremendous service to us all by caring for and sheltering abused and neglected animals, and their annual “Bark Ball” is a must on the social “to do” list. The Humane Society has plenty of dogs and cats (and others!) to adopt and a variety of volunteer opportunities. They also sponsor adoption “events” out at various community functions, so if you see their mobile adoption center stop on by. It’s always a good time to remind people to get your pets spayed or neutered to help curb overpopulation, which unfortunately leads to more neglected and abused animals, and they have affordable options available. You can of course find out more here -- www.washhumane.org.

August is the time period when many of us start thinking “back to school”. We’ve made buying new clothes and school supplies a little easier – DC’s “back to school” sales tax holiday is taking place right now and runs through midnight on Sunday, August 10th. Items such as clothing, shoes, and school supplies are exempt from the 5.75% sales tax and this applies to each item under $100, which is a very good deal. So make sure you take time this week to get some shopping done right here in D.C. and enjoy your August!

DC Council Enters Summer Recess.

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:36:48 -0400

On Thursday, July 15, the DC Council had its final meeting before the summer recess. By the Home Rule Charter, the District’s Constitution drafted by Congress in 1974, the Council goes on recess from July 15 until September 15. The last meeting before recess every year is always a long one, and this year was no different.

On Thursday we started at 10:00 am and went long into the night. Of the 143 bills considered by the Council, two issues come to mind that had lengthy discussions - school modernization and gun control. It is amazing the amount of work and time that goes into presenting a bill on behalf of and, in support of, the public.

When we come back on September 16, we will consider the final legislation before the Council term ends. The legislative periods run for two years starting in January following the elections and proceeding for two years. All legislation stays in effect for the two-year period, but if not voted on by the entire Council, it then expires at the end of the term.

With the summer recess in effect, the next major event is the primary election on Thursday, September 9. This is considered the off year election because there is no major chairperson election. At stake is the At-Large Council seat and Councilmembers in Wards 2, 4, 7 and 8. Since the Democratic At-Large Councilmember has no opposition, the individual Ward races are the focus.

In Ward 2, I am running for re-election with one opponent. I will be working tirelessly over the next 50 days to get re-elected to the Ward 2 Council seat and look forward to representing you at the Council.

Happy Birthday America!

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:36:00 -0400

Last week we celebrated the 232nd birthday of our great nation. For those of us living and thriving in DC, it was another great holiday. I always look forward to being here in the city and participating in the various celebrations. The day usually begins with the annual Palisades Parade, which takes place on MacArthur Boulevard. All the politicians, neighborhood groups and others come out to participate in what is a family parade. My family, including Kelly, our golden retriever was out in force, throwing candy and seeing friends. Afterward, hot dogs and drinks were available for all.

Unfortunately, this year the Washington Nationals did not have a home game, the first time in three years. So instead, we continued our day with some neighborhood events. After a cookout at home, we headed to the National Mall to see the fireworks.

It seems like every year there is a threat of rain throughout the day, but the skies never seem to open. And once again, the rain held off during the fireworks display and it was terrific. The Mall is definitely the best place to watch and getting there is not a problem.

However, it is sad to see the level of security. I remember the days in years gone by when you could walk into the Mall without restriction. Whether the type of security provided is necessary is anyone’s guess.

The security is not the only thing that has changed over the past 232 years. We just saw two candidates for the Democratic nomination battle for months – a Woman and an African American – not long ago these individuals would not have been considered for the post of President of the United States. In August, I will be one of the 38 leaders from DC representing the city at the Democratic Convention, which will be hosted by Denver.

Locally, Washington continues to prosper in the face of an economic downturn elsewhere in our country. Tax collections are strong and the housing market in the city remains solid. We have our primary election on Tuesday, September 9, so I will be spending the next two months campaigning around the Ward.

My mother always said that summer really runs from July 4th to Labor Day. So enjoy it.

Oh Shaw...So Happy to See O Street Market!

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:35:10 -0400

The development of the O Street Market in the Ward 2 neighborhood of Shaw is entering a critical juncture – the financing package. I have helped see this project through from its conception, historic preservation and zoning processes, and now here we are with the financing package, which will allow us to move forward.

In short, with this legislation, all the pieces will be in place to create, what I think, will be catalytic project which will serve as the lynchpin for the revival of the commercial district of Shaw and help foster further private-sector investment in the neighborhood, and truly serve as a new town center for the community.

As you may know, this development will entirely remake two critical blocks and, most importantly, reuse the historic O Street Market as a new Giant to serve the community. The project will also contain senior housing, market rate apartments, condominiums, as well as a specialty hotel, parking, and additional retail spaces along both 7th and O Streets.

This project has been the subject of nearly daily conversations with the DC Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and I am very much hoping to finalize this financing package this summer before the Council recess, which begins July 15. I believe this type of investment in the Shaw community will help revive and propel the commercial districts along 7th and 9th Streets and catalyze further investment by the private sector in that area.

I greatly appreciate the support from the community for the project – it is truly helping to make a difference.

Time flies when you are having fun.

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:34:28 -0400

The beginning of summer is a good time for reflection and as I write this I am reflecting back 10, 20, 30, 40 even 50 years. What was I doing in the summer of 1958?

In the summer of 1958, I was almost five years old and getting ready to start kindergarten. My only memories are of laying in the yard at night looking up at the sky to see anything moving. It was the summer after Sputnik and the question on everyone’s mind was what’s up there? I spent my summers at Harry’s Lake, Pennsylvania. My memories are mostly good.

During the summer of 1968, I was 14 and just finishing my freshman year in high school while spending another summer at the lake. But 1968 was filled with tragedy as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. There were riots across the United States and the world seemed a dangerous place.

Ah, the summer of 1978...I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – studying for the Pennsylvania Bar exam. I had graduated from law school, took the exam in July and had a job at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC lined up for September. I spent August in California.

The summer of 1988 was spent working at a law firm and going to the beach. It was also my first political convention in Atlanta. I must say, if you have not experienced a Convention, you should try to attend this year’s in Denver, CO and Minneapolis, MN.

The summer of 1998 I ran for mayor. Things looked good until Tony Williams entered the race. I learned a great deal about our city. By then, I was married with one year old triplets, a dog and a house in Georgetown, where I still live.

Now the summer of 2008 is here and I am running for re-election to my Council seat. I’m a single dad, my wife passed away five years ago. As I travel around the Ward and the City, things are better than they have ever been. We still face lots of challenges, but I’m very optimistic about the future. This summer I’ll be going to the Democratic Convention where we will nominate our first African American to run for President.

Life is full of surprises. Who would have guessed that in 1958, looking at the stars in the yard, we would be where we are today. It actually is fun to daydream every once in a while.