Update: How to Use the Inaugural Bike Valet

WABA program-assistant Henry Mesias, who has provided City Desk with all sorts of timely scoops regarding the free bike valet service the association will offer on Inauguration Day, says the non-profit is fully prepared for a “bikepocalypse.”  And why might he predict one?  Around this time last week, the organization had received some 650 RSVPs, whereas, by yesterday, it had received over 1,100 (a jump of 450 cyclists).

Considering RSVPs aren’t required, and the inauguration is still seven days away, you can bet there will be more than eleven-hundred two-wheelers rolling into stations on Jan. 20. (Back in December, WABA imagined there would be a max of just a thousand.) No sweat. WABA can handle it. “We’re prepared for the worst, I mean…er…the best,” Mesias says.

Not only is the group ready for the worst-er- best, they’re ready to supply the multitudes who stream into one of two (plans for a third were scrapped) stations–located north and south of the National Mall respectively– with snazzy commemorative claim tickets and spoke cards. The spoke card design is pictured below. Read More “Inaugural Bike Valet Station RSVPs May Be Sign of Bike-pocalypse” »

According to Washington Area Bicyclist Association program assistant Henry Mesias, it’s official: WABA will be setting up bike valet stations at the Capitol on Inauguration Day. “Locations are still TBA,” he writes in an email, “but there will be designated bike valet areas north and south of the event.”

The nonprofit had been waiting for approval from various government entities so that it could offer free bike parking (and guarding) on January 20.

Mesias says more info will be released later today, through the organization’s Web site, www.waba.org, and WABA is “asking folks who think they may use the valet to RSVP on our website to help us get an idea of how many bikes to expect.”

Update: Asked to confirm the District Department of Transportation will be working with WABA to place bike valet stations at the inaug, DDOT spokesman John Lisle doesn’t give up the goods.

“I know they’re working on it and today may be launching a page asking people to RSVP so they can get a sense of how many people might bike to the inauguration.  From our standpoint, officially nothing’s changed.  We think it’s a great idea to offer people an alternative way to get to the Inauguration and we’re working with WABA on the logistics to try and make it happen.”

Mesias says he isn’t surprised DDOT is refusing to confirm. “I don’t think DDOT will do a press release until all the exact details are pinned down.” But, he assures, an email WABA received from the department says the bike stations are approved.

Photo courtesy of Washington Area Bicyclist Association

According to Chief of Staff Charles Allen, Ward 6 councilman and bike commuter Tommy Wells wants to see the Washington Area Bicycle Association triumph in its efforts to offer a free bike valet service on Inauguration Day. “He’s always liked the idea of bike valet stations,” says Allen, “he supported putting one in at Nationals Stadium.”

Of course, such pro-bike-valet-feelings beg the question, if the station goes in, will Wells pedal to Obama? “Tommy would love to ride his bike to the inauguration,” says Allen, “he just doesn’t know what the situation will be yet.” Allen explains that the councilman will have to know more about his schedule and any security concerns before deciding whether to arrive at the inauguration on two wheels.

Another biking enthusiast, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty supports the idea of cycling to the inaug but won’t be breaking out his Cannondale to lead by example. “He might not bike to the event,” said mayor’s office spokesperson Mafara Hobson, “but gives the thumbs up to those who choose to.”

*photo courtesy of Washington Area Bicyclist Association

Last Spring we tracked Positive Nature’s struggle to keep its doors open. The non-profit, which provides tons of services for at-risk kids, was renting a building just blocks from the new Nationals Park. Within the last few years, it had become clear that Positive Nature was being priced out of the neighborhood. The area used to include a housing project. Now it has a Courtyard Marriott. You can read our previous reportage here, here, here, here, and here. If you feel like skipping all those links, here’s a quick summary: the non-profit owed thousands of dollars in property taxes, they held a rally and reached out for support, legislation was introduced before the D.C. Council, nothing much happened with the legislation, the non-profit sought out a new location.

Now comes the news that Positive Nature has found a new space through the Department of Parks And Recreation in what looks like a new partnership.

“We are so appreciative of all of the outpouring of care and support that so many people have extended to us in recent months, and we are privileged to have the opportunity to continue to provide services to the District’s children and families,” wrote Jennifer Murphy, the non-profit’s co-founder and co-executive director.

The new location: The TR Center at 3030 G Street SE.

We will of course be following up with a visit to the TR Center. Stay tuned.

One of D.C.’s main health care providers for the Latino community is facing a financial crisis. According to a recent story in El Tiempo Latino, la Clinical del Pueblo has a deficit of $500 thousand and may have to cut services soon without a bailout. The clinic serves more than 7,000 clients, most of whom are recent immigrants.

Manuela Sifuentes, a project manager at the clinic, says the cash-flow problems stem from the facility’s recent growth. Last summer, the federal government awarded the center certification as a federally qualified health center, which meant they could bill Medicaid at a higher rate and get access to additional grants and other federal funds. But the status also required an immediate expansion of services, which meant spending money they didn’t yet have. Sifuentes says the cost of the expansion wiped out the center’s cash on hand, so while they have a solid financial plan for the future, day to day bills are piling up.

The clinic is talking with the city about possible plans for addressing the crisis and an anonymous donor recently wrote a check for $50,000. The donor has promised to write another check if the clinic can raise a matching $50,000 in donations over the next month. Donations are being accepted here.

For months we have chronicled Positive Nature’s struggle to keep its doors open just a short walk from the Navy Yard metro and the new Nationals Park.

With the new stadium, new condo developments, and new Courtyard Marriott, the non-profit—which provides a vast safety net for at-risk kids—found itself with a huge property tax bill. In the last few months, they have held a rally, lobbied various city officials, attended countless meetings, and heard all kinds of promises and messages of support. In mid-April, Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray introduced legislation that would effectively save the non-profit. The bill was co-introduced by Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. It seemed like a big deal.

That big deal has turned—at least for right now—into nothing. When I last spoke with Wells about the legislation—a few weeks ago—he seemed surprised that I would even bring it up. His look was total deer-in-the-headlights. He spent the next several minutes filibustering on why the legislation might not even be necessary.

I wondered: If you thought the legislation wasn’t completely needed then why bother spending the time to write it up and introduce it?

Read More “Positive Nature’s Future Still Uncertain” »

Colbert I. King, longtime Washington Post editorial board member and columnist, was given a well-deserved lifetime achievement award last night by the D.C. Appleseed policy nonproft, a distinction he shared with schools expert Mary Levy and former Ward 4 Councilmember and Southeastern University President Charlene Drew Jarvis.

In his remarks accepting the award, King shared heartfelt and stirring words about his work as a journalist, chronicling “people in this city who hurt in ways we can’t even imagine.” He also, of course, paid tribute to the organization that bestowed the award upon him, saying something to the effect that no one else around does more for the city than Appleseed.

Then things took an unexpected turn: “Dorothy Brizill is a close second,” he said, referring to the DCWatch doyenne, civic activist, and involuntary home-improver.

“No,” he then added, “you gotta catch up to Dorothy,” he said to the assembled Appleseed board and staff members and hundreds of others gathered at their annual gala at the National Press Club. Brizill herself was sitting at a corner table.

King concluded his personal tribute with the following: “Dorothy, don’t die!”

On Tuesday, the struggling nonprofit Positive Nature has received some possible help from Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray. He introduced the “Positive Nature Property Tax Exemption Forgiveness Act.”

According to the press release, the bill would:

Provide property tax relief to a unique, high-quality after school program that is threatened with closing due to skyrocketing real estate taxes around its location near the Nationals stadium. The bill was co-introduced by Councilmember Tommy Wells of Ward 6, where Positive Nature is located. Gray said Positive Nature is a non-profit organization that has operated a valuable, therapeutic after school program for D.C. youth with behavioral problems, not just in Ward 6, but from across the city for several years.

We had heard from several sources that the D.C. Council was inclined to not introduce any legislation to assist the nonprofit with its huge property tax bill (caused by Nationals Park). We wrote about Positive Nature here and followed-up with items here and here and here, among other items. The nonprofit held a rally and even resorted to asking for money outside the stadium. It wasn’t pretty.

So it was a huge shock—especially to Positive Nature. The news of the legislation came from this reporter’s blog. But who knows if this legislation will ever come up for a vote.

The Gray press release goes on to state:

“Gray’s tax relief legislation is designed to keep the program from having to shut down while a long-term solution, including relocation to more affordable facilities, is found. Wells and Councilmember David Catania, who chairs the Committee on Health, have been working with the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to identify District-owned or other space for relocation. Gray said, ‘The Council must step in to ensure these much-needed services for some of the District’s most vulnerable children remain available until a permanent solution is found.’”

Local nonprofit Good Ground-Good Life has an innovative plan to connect with District youth. First, drive around a tricked-out box truck with mobile sound system, wireless mic, and see-through, Plexiglas back. Then, lure children inside. Finally, bring them back to a community center to educate them about AIDS, drugs, and street violence. If pressed, add roller skates.

The mobile entertainment system/youth outreach program/positive kidnapping initiative, called Rock the Block, is run by a trio who know their trucks: current and former postal truck drivers DeLyon Gigger, Kevin Whitaker, and Brad Rorrer (not pictured).

Check out this week’s Show & Tell for GGGL’s truancy prevention plans, mobile roller rink, and super-secret work-in-progress. (Hint: They all involve the truck).

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

For this week’s Show & Tell, I spoke to a group of local writers, educators, and nonprofit  staffers working to start up a creative writing center for District youth, ages 6 to 18. The 19 volunteers have a lot of ideas for the project, but their Capitol Letters Writing Center is still very much a work-in-progress: Currently, they’ve got no location, no students, and no money. Why don’t we help them out!

Reader: The future of the Capitol Letters Writing Center is in your hands! Help its volunteers decide where to locate their center, what sort of proto-nonprofit optimism Kool-Aid to drink , and whether or not to face their white guilt!

Today, the Washington Post published a front-page piece on Positive Nature and the non-profit’s on-going struggle to pay off its huge property tax bill. We have a story or two on this issue as well.

This afternoon we got the chance to talk to Stephen T. Baron, Director of the Department of Mental Health, about the non-profit.

“We think very highly of them,” Baron said. “We are trying to do everything we can to support them. They’ve done great work.”

On the property tax issue: “Where I come from I thought most non-profits get their taxes abated. They do great work. If you do a whole cost analysis….it’s much better for the kids and much cheaper for the kids to be served [by Positive Nature].”

Now if only the D.C. Council would actually do something. In the meantime, you can step up.

Update: In another conversation with DMH, they wanted to stress that Mr. Baron was arguing that having kids enrolled in Positive Nature is cost effective considering the alternative. Without Positive Nature, kids could have possible trouble with the law, require extra tutoring at school, and other social services.

The feds aren’t the only ones who practice pork-barrel politics: District politicos aren’t so bad at it themselves, thank you very much. Buried in the yearly Budget Support Act are various line items funding nonprofits and other projects. This year, the draft BSA submitted by the mayor [PDF] includes about $27 million earmarked for various causes. Here’s the biggest of them:

• $10 million for Ford’s Theatre
• $2 million for THEARC
• $1.5 million for Southeastern University
• $1 million for the Washington Ballet
• $1 million for the DC Economic Partnership
• $1 million for Peaceoholics
• $1 million for “the Ward 4 BID Demonstration Project and capital improvement grants to businesses on Georgia Avenue or Kennedy Street NW”

LL’s made some calls to inquire about the Ford’s Theatre money. He’ll report back as soon as he gets some more information.

Meanwhile, peruse the full list of earmarks after the jump—including the $50,000 for the High Tea Society!

Read More “Your Fiscal 2009 Pork Roundup—$10 Mil for Ford’s Theatre!” »

Positive Nature Update: The non-profit that’s struggling near the new baseball stadium is seeking volunteers for its upcoming fundraising efforts. Here are the details from a PNI staffer just wrote me:

“As the Nationals stadium prepares to open it’s doors to the public, we’re reminded that we need your help, now, more than ever. 100 volunteers are needed this Saturday, March 28th from 4:00-6:30PM and/or Sunday, March 29th from 6:00-8:30PM as we collect funds through a massive bucket fundraiser.”

For more details on volunteering, go here.–Jason Cherkis

Correction came in my inbox: 100 volunteers are needed this Saturday, March 29th from 4:00-6:30PM and/or Sunday, March 30th from 6:00-8:30PM. No big deal. Just volunteer.

Positive Nature Gets Wonkette’s Attention: Thanks to a wonderful colleague, we were directed to this post. The non-profit also has set up a page on Facebook so check it out. The news is spreading!–Jason Cherkis

On Saturday afternoon, Positive Nature held a rally in front of its building at 1017 New Jersey Avenue SE. The rally was meant to gather support for the non-profit’s efforts to prevent its eviction.

Positive Nature, which runs an afterschool program for at-risk kids, faces a huge property-tax bill. Its taxes have increased significantly due to its proximity to Nationals Park. (I wrote a piece on their predicament.) Despite what they’re facing, Positive Nature’s staff and supporters tried to keep the rally festive. There were free hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, sodas, balloons, old soul songs blasting from speakers, and intermittent games of football. Side note: Some of Positive Nature’s kids can really throw a football; one 13-year-old girl, who came to just support them, has a real rocket for an arm.

The rally drew a big crowd of kids, parents, and a platoon of non-profit bigwigs from the Children’s Law Center to the Peaceoholics. But there was one significant no-show: D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells. This possible eviction is happening in his ward. And at-risk kids are supposedly his issue.

If he had shown, Wells would have heard some great speeches. The speakers offered a stark contrast to the boosterism from condo developers, and Nats fans worried about parking. But don’t take it from me. Just watch:

Read More “Watch: Positive Nature Rally” »