Kathy Henderson: Gadfly or Do-Gooder, Her Car Is Cursed
Former ANC 5B-10 commissioner Kathy Henderson tends to draw strong reactions from the people she encounters. She's a scrapper, known for throwing all her energy into filing complaints, writing letters and putting politicians on the spot. When she relinquished her seat last year to run for city council, she had her teenage daughter, India, run in her place (Henderson told me she "told" her daughter to run). And ever since India won the seat, her mom has exhibited masterful control over the young comish, marching her out of one meeting so a quorum wouldn't be met. Henderson has also been a vocal supporter of those controversial police checkpoints and a vocal opponent of bars and loitering kids.
Like her or not, you can't deny Henderson has had particularly bad luck with her car, a 1991 blue Mercury Capri. First someone torched it, then, last November Henderson got a ticket for parking it in the median of Pennsylvania Avenue to attend a police oversight hearing–even though she'd put her "official business" placard on the dashboard. Now her well-known car is the object of what Henderson sees as vengeful slander. When a poster on the Fifth police district listserv ranted about the reckless driver behind the wheel of vehicle that fit the description of Henderson's car ("blue capri with howard univ stickers in back window and dents on the back left...dc license of 'anc 5b__ __'."), Henderson fired right back: "I find your timing suspect and wonder why you did not immediately call the police? I suspect that your true motive is some ridiculous attempt to embarrass me in a public forum."
Henderson hasn't responded to my email so far.
2:05 am
Ms. Valdez:
I just read with dismay your post, which is not entirely accurate. I did not relinquish my seat as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 5B10. I did not run for reelction because I was also running for the Ward 5 seat in 2006. I asked my daughter to accept the challenge of continuing to move my community forward and I am very proud of my work to help change the paradigm for a once-troubled community. I was featured as one of People magazine's heroes for 2005 and featured in Essence magazine for my work to help drive out drug dealers. Additionally, I have won numerous awards for community service; most recently, I received a Civilian of the Year award from the Fifth District. Jesus Christ was perfect and he was called far worse names than gadfly, so perhaps I should not be too upset.
If you consider advocating for positive change irritating, then so be it. I am not afraid to stand up for my community and for what is right, vociferously advocating for positve change.
In any event, I request that you remove this post because it is insulting, one-sided and mean-spirited. I believe your post has a chilling effect on citizen activism. Many people will refrain from standing up to help change their community if all they can count on is an insult in a public forum like the City Paper. I do not object to a little good natured ribbing; however, your post crosses the line and I deserve better and your readers deserve better.
Kathy Henderson
12:09 pm
Gee, Kathy--it only took you a year and a half to find this article. And as one who has soon you drive, I can state unequivocally (look it up if you don't know what that word means) that you drive like a stroke patient on meth.
Oh, check your ego and quit comparing yourself to Jesus. Not only is it blasphemous and offensive, but He's undoubtedly seen you drive, too.