The Sexist » gigi ransom

5C Commissioner Gigi Ransom Censure Found Invalid

Amanda Hess — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:33:44 +0000

On June 5, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C voted voted to censure fellow Commissioner Gigi Ransom over a laundry list of alleged no-nos [PDF]. The allegations against Ransom included:

* sending a racially charged e-mail to Commissioner Barrie Daneker, which the ANC termed a "potential hate crime";

* attempting to order surplus government furniture for her home office; and

* interfering with ANC business with her “erratic outbursts and outlandish behavior.”

Now, the ANC 5C's official disapproval of Ransom's behavior is causing some ANC interference of its own.

Ransom has publicly contested her censure since the motion was first introduced in a May ANC 5C meeting. Two months later, Ransom has received a bit of legal backing to help her contest the censure, and the charges therein.

On July 20, Ransom received a letter from the Attorney General's Office, which identified the motion to censure as "legally improper." Senior Assistant Attorney General Sheila Kaplan did not address the "merits or factual basis" of the censure's charges against Ransom, but did find that "proper procedure" was not followed in censuring her.

The ANC, Kaplan found, is required to provide a trial—or at the very least, a "fact-finding by the whole assembly or committee"—before censuring a commissioner. The fact-finding, furthermore, must be held in a "confidential setting" in order to protect the "reputation of the accused"—requirements Ransom says were never met before the issue was called for a vote.

Feel like watching the procedural can of worms unfold? The issue is slated for discussion at tonight's ANC 5c meeting, to be held at 7 p.m. at St. George's Church, 160 U Street NW.

Sexist Comments of the Week

Amanda Hess — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:16 +0000

Last week's column on ANC commissioners' bad words, 5C Commissioner Gigi Ransom Censured Over "Potential Hate Crime", has inspired even more incendiary speech, courtesy of the comments section.

Matt Corrigan, on why ANC personality problems should be checked at the door:

I’m in 5C and do the neighborhood walks with John Salatti. He cannot stand to be around people and not hear his own voice chattering along. When it comes to documenting, looking at things from the neighborhood’s view, keeping drains free of debris, John’s the MAN! I Encourage the public to go on the walks Thursdays @ 7pm. You can learn much about our community. John knows many homeowners by name and is demonsterably saddened when they move. Personally I can’t stand him, but as my ANC he rocks!

pacnwjay proposes a final solution to the ANC problem:

When will the good people of DC rise up and force the city (congress?) to rid them of the ANC system??? They are not only embarrassing, but constantly hinder any useful community action in the city.

Bloomingdale Resident pities the fools:

As a resident of Blomingdale who is concerned about his community and its representatives, I have three reactions to this episode.

First, anger. I am angry that my ANC, rather than using its time and energy to represent the interests of its constituents, is spending its energy on these petty squabbles that further no interests except their own petty vanities.

Second, shame. If the representatives haven’t the shame to realize how carrying these personal conflicts into the public arena makes them into poor comical parodies of themselves, then I will be ashamed for them. Children behave this way.

Third, pity. I feel sorry for the ANC members who obviously have a great deal invested in their posts, as this episode alone may be sufficient to snuff out any hope they might otherwise have for public office. I pity them the loss of potential.

daheyell_is_going_on_in_Ward4 notes that 5C isn't the only ANC to scrape the bottom of the discourse barrel:

I agree with Kappa1911 about the power trip. ANC4B is a perfect example, and the current Chair acts like a dictator, shutting down citizens who ask questions. Their meetings can last for nearly 4 hours, as they spend a good majority of that time loudly bickering among themselves.. . . While some ANCs intend good for their constituents, this one is a dysfunctional hot mess.

And SSRes wants us all to get back on topic:

Amanda, you continue to disappoint me. So much sexism, so little sex.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Last Week’s Most Popular Blog Posts

Amanda Hess — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:00:57 +0000

Last week on the Sexist:

1. Meghan McCain Schooled, Spanked, Murdered: Political Debate or Snuff Porn?, because Paul Begala BDSM is not what I'd prefer to conjure up with my morning news.

2. 5C Commissioner Gigi Ransom Censured Over "Potential Hate Crime", because local politics can get a little too personal.

3. The Ten Creepiest Paul Rudd Stalking Tweets! because swoon.

4. Bacardi's Massive Internet Fail, because "Get An Ugly Girlfriend" was such a compelling Israeli ad campaign, it made waves over here in the states!

5. Big Penis Dating Site Reveals Inches Before First Date, because you don't want to walk into that shit without knowing the relevant details, amirightladies.

Photo by flirtykitty