Mendelson To AG Nickles: Don’t Evict Cora Masters Barry
Today, At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson sent a letter to AG Peter Nickles urging him to reconsider evicting Cora Masters Barry's Recreation Wish List Committee from the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. So far Nickles has taken a hard line on evicting Barry's nonprofit which provides academic and athletic programs for area kids.
Mendelson writes:
"Contrary to your public statements, the District does have a choice. The matter of corporate filings could have been handled with a phone call, and ordinarily that would have been the process. The District is not required to evict the Recreation Wish List Committee. Now that the problem has been rectified, the District should choose to drop the eviction."
Mendelson makes several arguments in his letter as to why Barry should remain in the tennis center.
Mendelson writes:
"First, the eviction notice violates the lease because it fails to state the basis for the eviction. Second, the eviction notice violates the lease be-cause notice of default was never given. The lease includes standard language requiring that prior to a default (i.e., the basis for an eviction) the District must provide notice of the default. Nothing in the lease specifies that notice is waived even if the default is pre-existing. Third, the default in this matter is readily curable – and has been. Press reports indicate failure to maintain corporate filings is the reason. I’m told that the filings have been made, and that yesterday the Recreation Wish List Committee’s corporate status was reinstated."
Mendelson goes on to state that his council office has never received any complaints about the tennis center's operations and that the programs are popular. Why shut down something that works?
Mendelson concludes his letter by telling Nickles that the eviction is not only a waste of time but is also a waste of city resources. Eventually, if the eviction goes forward, Mendelson suggests that the city will surely face some kind of costly court showdown.
"I urge you to reconsider the legal sufficiency of the proposed eviction and, in light of the facts, recommend that the eviction be rescinded. Not doing this will subject the District to defensive litigation, which is at best unnecessary, but more likely embarrassing and costly. I am available to discuss this if you wish."
4:37 pm
Why is Fenty pursuing his obvious grudge toward Marion Barry? Has he not had enough of his own scandals, because he seemed to be a very busy person in August.
4:46 pm
Go head' on Mendo'. You have my vote over Ray any day.
It appears that Peter Nickles, at the direction of Adrian Fenty, seeks any opportunity to do what is in the least best interest of the District.
This organization started the program and has the endorsement of the tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams who, on several occasions, have visited the kids at the center.
Why would you disrupt a program benefiting at risk youth of Ward 8 over a technicality that, from Mendleson's statement, is really not even a technicality at all?
The Mayor when elected indicated that he was putting children first. That this will be the flagship of his administration. This is a poor representation of that "stated" dedication. When will words meet actions?
This is all about politics. Time will tell where Fenty's loyalties really lie. With the kids, or with political cronnies.
We can all grade him on election day.
6:51 pm
I believe Fenty has already accepted payment for said tenis center therefor he cannot go back on his word to whoever funded his family vacation and not give them the center. He already promised it and recieved payment. THATS THE BOTTOM LINE!!!!!
6:45 pm
Cannot some DC nonprofit in good standing act as fiscal agent for the Recreation Wish List Committee until it is back in compliance?
9:36 am
Mendo the Bozo rescues Cora the Whora! Waht copuld be worse Jim Graham going heterosexual. Frankly, we need good government and all you elected officials should revamp your image. There is no redemption for Cora Wilds Masters Barry and why does this shady-lady has so many names attached to her surname.
9:33 am
Hey @dcblackdaddy: We got the message. You don't like Cora Masters Barry.
Maybe you don't realize this, but if you sound like a crazy person every time you post, nobody listens, and it doesn't help your cause. Each time you post the same ridiculous rant, you become even less credible. You might as well change your nickname from "dc black daddy" to "dc white noise" because that's what you are.