The Issue:

Testing, 1, 2, 3: Residents say they only want to protect the peace and quiet of their neighborhood: Miles Groves, a representative for the Downtown Neighborhood Association—most of the buildings neighboring the lounge are DNA members—told City Desk: “There are concerns with noise, early morning crowds, parking congestion, and other issues that accompany a dance club environment. We appreciate the ANC's leadership in providing funding for the noise study. We hope [the recommendations] are adopted.” Other residents say that noise is only the tip of the iceberg: Cary Silverman, writing on the blog Mount Vern0n Triangle, says, “the neighborhood may not want a venue that is shuttered and provides little or no community benefit during the day, and causes headaches (literally) at night.”

Is This a Concert or a Business? When the idea of hiring a sound expert was first proposed in October, some commissioners expressed concern that the ANC was going too far: Commissioner Tom Hamilton told Capital Community News, “What is our role here? What are we actually doing here? I just find this absurd. I’m sorry.” According to the paper, Yousefi had also already contacted a sound engineer independently. He has stressed that he doesn't envision the lounge as a “nightclub," hoping instead it will be a long-term neighborhood fixture.

Next Step: Commissioner Charley Docter says there's a negotiation session with Yousefi today, at which the ANC will present the findings of the sound expert. Groves hopes they will emerge with a voluntary agreement in place. “As long as the crowds and noise are contained within the establishment, everyone wins," he says. "This process gives us all a voice in our neighborhood.” The hearing with the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration is set for Dec. 2.

Photo by Chris Gold, Creative Commons Attribution License

The Issue: Will a lone commuter bring down the Penn Quarter Farmers' Market? The market has called the north end of Eighth Street NW, between D and E Streets, home for the last seven years, operating a few hours every Thursday. Ken Crerar wants that to change. According to the DC Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), Crerar recently contacted the Department of Transportation to suggest the market’s permit be revoked. Crerar, who is president of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, says the route he is forced to take around the market adds 15 minutes to his commute. Is he speaking for the silent majority of disgruntled drivers—or should the market stay put?

Time Over Produce: The argument that farmers markets cause traffic problems—specifically, Crerar says the congestion on Seventh and Ninth Streets slows down his connection to E Street—is not new. In September, the White House Farmers Market underwent similar controversy for closing part of Vermont Avenue. Jamie, writing at Prince of Petworth, says, “If this guy is really having 15 minutes added to his commute once a week, it is reasonable to assume that hundreds, if not thousands of other people are similarly affected.” Crerar has proposed an alternative site: the south side of the Smithsonian galleries on F Street.

Leave the Produce Alone: But Crerar doesn’t seem to be garnering much vocal support from his fellow commuters: An online commenter on DNA says, “I follow the same route…it would be an overstatement to say that having 8^th street closed adds five minutes to my trip.” And Pat Lute, a spokesman for Freshfarm Markets, told City Desk: “The feedback the farmers market has received has been overwhelmingly positive, it’s been called a jewel of the neighborhood. ...We are very hopeful that everything is going to work out.” The DNA dismisses the Smithsonian gallery alternative, saying F street is too busy and must remain clear for access to the museums.

Next Step: According to Lute, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C passed a resolution Friday in support of the market. The transportation department's Public Space Committee will also presumably discuss the issue at its Oct. 22. meeting.

Photo by Alicia Griffin, Creative Commons Attribution License

"The City Council uses only rhetoric to denounce the pairs' actions; remember when Vincent Gray caved and restored the school funding he originally cut? The Washington Teachers Union has been utterly useless in the struggle between 825 and teachers' rights; George Parker continues to cancel meetings and overall, has not been proactive in addressing the layoffs. With the Mayor's reelection looming within a year, there are no candidates that pose a serious threat to him. And while the protests and sit-ins are a start, I seriously doubt Chancellor Rhee or Mayor....o until someone with a better vision and a stronger hand comes along, I think Chancellor Rhee is here to stay, despite what you think of her."

In Bloom wonders what's going on with Baraki: "After an flurry of construction activity earlier this spring—including the appearance of an outdoor seating area—Baraki has since sat quiet. Its highly visible location at the intersection of First Street NW and T Street NW meant that many folks in Bloomingdale and beyond went past it every day wondering what was (or wasn't) going on."

Life In Mount Vernon Square wonders if pepper spray is illegal: "I am told on the one hand you can have it and it needs to be registered;  then I was told you cannot own it.  Which is the case?"

Frozen Tropics posts about a recent shooting on 10th Street.

Time to get involved! There's a meeting today about the new dog park at 17th-and-S. On Wednesday, there's a meeting for ANC 6C (see draft of the agenda). And finally...the Downtown Neighborhood Association is meeting tonight—guests reportedly includ AG Peter Nickles and Councilmember Phil Mendelson!

The Georgetown Metropolitan wonders: Does Jack Evans Abuse Parking Laws? There are incriminating photos of Evans' car clearly parked illegally—that is if he were just an average citizen. It is an open question whether he actually deserved a ticket.

Borderstan notes that construction has begun at the 17th-S-and-New Hampshire dog park. Post includes photos! Still, the project might be behind. The writer wonders: "I have not heard anything new on the opening date other than 'spring.' Anyone know anything more about a specific date?"

Bureaucrat310 chronicles a rough commute: "On this particular morning I was running late. Just as I descended into the columbia heights metro station I noticed that the next train would be arriving in 2 minutes. I hustle, run to the turnstile, swipe my card and get the dreaded 'go see a customer service agent' warning..."

Life in Mount Vernon Square posts the agenda for ANC6C's zoning and planning issues slated for its April 1 meeting.

River East Idealist talks about the proposed bag tax: "Nobody likes paying taxes. We pay income taxes, sales tax, property tax, capital gains tax, and even death tax! While no one enjoys giving money to the government, most of us will agree that each tax strategically contributes to the the social benefits of living in Washington DC. If Council Member Tommy Wells has his way, we will pay a 5 cent tax on each plastic and paper bag we consume via the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act of 2009..."

Pop Cesspool confesses: "I do harbor a certain cockiness..."

Something important may be happening to WCP at 2 p.m.

"'It took 25 minutes for the firemen to arrive, they didn't care. They didn't do much to help him, one of them step on his stomach... he put his foot on his stomach... they didn't give him oxygen or anything, he was alive... they were all white...' said the witness."

We've debated the Sanchez incident late last week. I wonder if the D.C. Council will hold a hearing on the case? If what the witness is reporting is true....maybe there should be a protest instead of more vigils and angst.

Bloomingdale (for now) wonders: What's going on with the apartment building at 143 Rhode Island Ave NW? The blogger does some research and concludes: "This is a gorgeous building, located on the triangle formed by the corner of rhode island avenue and t street. it's a shame the building isn't cared for as well as it should be." Meanwhile, our own Housing Complex is all over this past Saturday's McMillan meeting.

Life In Mount Vernon Square has a rundown of Feb. 11's ANC 6C meeting. Get pumped! The Examiner boycott will be discussed! Penn Quarter Living also provides a preview of that meeting as well as others.

Prince of Petworth reports that Columbia Heights Coffee is not expanding.

Borderstan pleads: Remember Your Poop Bags (Please!) The blogger writes:

"I remember about 25 years ago when I lived in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Dog owners were not as diligent then about cleaning up dog poo. We had a number of really cold winters in the 1980s with lots of snow. One winter, the snow kept coming, without any of it melting between snowstorms.

Dogs would poo on the snow. It would snow more. Dogs would poo on the next layer of snow. This continued for about a month to six weeks. It was very ugly when the temperatures rose and the snow melted: layer upon layer of dog poop."

Yum.