Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[ilana-mtp]

China,

Where do you stand on the issue of the night club?
Do you support the ANC desire to overturn the board decision and getting a night club on Mt Pleasant Street?
Would you have voted for or against it in the first place?

Thanks,

Ilana

[Chinaterrell]

Excellent question Ms. Ilana,

Here are my thoughts. In the time that I've lived in Mt. Pleasant, it seems that residents, businesses, neighborhood associations and groups sometimes have taken all or nothing stances on issues. This is sometimes done in a way that leaves others feeling hurt and unheard, not to mention cynical and distrustful of working with others for a stronger Mt. Pleasant.

Part of my vision for the ANC and for Mt. Pleasant is to contribute to fostering a sense of healing in our neighborhood and a deeper sense of trust with our neighbors, including our resident small business owners.

From my perspective, one of the shining points of Mt. Pleasant is that we have resident small business owners -- those who help create commerce in the neighborhood, but also value the neighborhood enough to live here and raise their families here.

We are all equally invested in seeing a stronger Mt. Pleasant. So, although we may not agree on how to get there, our shared identity as neighbors gives us common ground from which we can work through our differences.

Of course, the ANC passed a resolution (3-2) supporting the nightclub license and the ABC Board denied that application. What we have left are a splintered neighborhood and polarizing viewpoints. Both may push us farther from being the kind of neighborhood where new businesses clamor to fill our approximately 17 vacant storefronts and where agencies and non-profits pour money into the neighborhood to help us keep our streets safe, attractive, and pulsing with vibrancy.

Here in this ANC election, I believe we have an opportunity to affirm a new direction. There are great candidates running to serve us.

My platform is one of reconciliation and forward march toward a Mt. Pleasant that is vibrant, thriving, and strong of spirit, because the people have found a way to collaborate on what brings them together and negotiate their differences constructively.

So for me, the issue is not where we as candidates stand on the issue of the nightclub. The issue is whether we as candidates have the vision and the fortitude to bring residents together, to help bridge deeply divided factions, and to carve a middle path using a diversity viewpoints and ideas.

At last week's ANC meeting, we learned that the ABC Board may not have followed the law in its consideration of the ANC resolution. The ABC board appears not have addressed each of the points of the ANC resolution.

As an attorney, I believe the law should be upheld and that government cannot be above its own law. Accordingly, I voiced support for the resolution to ensure that the ABC Board follow the law in responding to the ANC’s original resolution. I believe the resolution may also help the District and the petitioner avoid unnecessary litigation costs.

For my candidacy, I have a few signs. I hope you will take one for your home or storefront window if you support a mended Mt. Pleasant, where we commit to the hard work of--
-->bridging our differences,
-->finding the place of forgiveness and compromise, and
-->understanding our neighborhood by embracing our neighbor.

China for ANC 1D05

**I will discuss any of these viewpoints more in person or over the phone. please contact me at 202.415.2916 or [email address removed - log in to view].
**I am door-knocking this week or you can also visit me during community hours at the Mt Pleasant Interim Library this Saturday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.[/list]

[ilana-mtp]

Summary: You support the night club.

And please don't use empty words to answer a simple question: we all support a non-divided neighborhood, business owners, peace on Earth, and the law..
I also support the law and trying to overturn the board's decision by any mean necessary is not exactly supporting the law...

I guess you just lost my vote...

Maybe there is still time to mount a write-in campaign...

[Chinaterrell]

Thank you Ms. Ilana. I actually didn't discuss whether I would support a nightclub. I'm afraid I don't think a nightclub is the issue and I believe our neighborhood needs leadership that will help heal its divisions. There is a much greater work to do in Mt Pleasant.

I'm sorry I've lost your vote, but I'm happy to call you to talk further and listen to all of your concerns (especially if you live in ANC 1D05), so that I can accurately and effectively represent them to government once elected.

Thanks for your question and for reading my response.

China

[Bill]

China,

[Chinaterrell]

Sorry! I need to correct my statement above where I said that the original resolution regarding Haydee's liquor license passed 3-2. It actually passed 6 to 0.

Reconsider the ABC Board’s decision denying Haydee’s Restaurant a night club license: Passed by 6 to 0 vote

Night club liquor license for Haydee's Restaurant: Passed by 6 to 0 vote

Thanks,
China

[ClancyMac]

I am actually much less interested in trying to make Haydee's nightclub license some sort of political litmus test than I am about exploring China's "all or nothing" observation above.

Do you believe that when it comes to liquor licenses (and other issues where business and residential interests may be divergent) that BOTH businesses and residents need to be open to compromise, and that a "zero-sum game" mentality is not a productive mindset for an ANC to follow?

[jack]

[Bill]

[Subcity]

[jack]

[Bill]

[jack]

[Subcity]

[Old Timer]

China,

Come on China, you are beating around the bush.

Do you support nightclubs for Mt Pleasant or not?

A simple yes or no.