Thomas Praises Allocation of Capital Funds to Continue Construction of H Street/Benning Road Street Car Project
Washington, DC-Ward 5 Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. today praised Chairman Gray's move to fund the continued construction of the HStreet/Benning Road street car project in the FY2010 and FY2011 capital budgets. The Benning Road portion of the street car line is located in Ward 5, and Councilmember Thomas has been a strong supporter of the project.
At the legislative session, Chairman Gray introduced an amendment to provide $10 million in FY capital funds and $37 million of FY2011 capital funds for the HStreet/Benning Road street car project. The Office of the Chief Financial Officer has verified that sufficient funds exist with in the District's debt service to cover borrowing the funds and retain its 12 percent debt cap.
"The street car project is important to the revitalization of Benning Road," said Councilmember Thomas. "I am pleased that we can continue construction and remain fiscally prudent in our borrowing. I also look forward to implementation of Phase Two of the street car project on Rhode Island Avenue."
Wells Proud to See Streetcar Funding Restored
(Washington, DC) -- Earlier today the Council voted 11-2 to eliminate most of the planned funding for the H Street and Benning Road NE streetcar line. This afternoon the Council approved an amendment to restore those vital funds that will ensure neighborhood connections, as well as economic development, continue to grow on this important corridor.
“I’m very grateful for the leadership of my colleagues to restore these funds. This is an investment that connects east and west of the Anacostia River with the next generation of public transportation,” stated Councilmember Wells.
“I’m also incredibly appreciative of the neighbors, residents and small businesses that called and emailed Councilmembers today to ensure all members knew the level of support and urgency for the line,” added Wells.
The District plans to use the funds to, among other items, create a connection from Union Station to the H Street and Benning Road line, create station stops, and purchase additional cars needed to make the line operate efficiently. The investment will also be critical to extending the streetcar connection to Ward 7.
“The residents and businesses along H Street and Benning Road have been patient during the difficult streetscape construction and installation of tracks, with an anticipated opening of streetcar operations in 2012. This afternoon’s vote to restore the funds will help ensure the city delivers on its promise,” commented Wells.
36 comments:
Wow. Just wow.
Talk about having almost zero time / ability for community input. A 2:00 AM budget release?
I'm still calling / emailing all councilpersons to advocate for support of the project.
What limited vision! You've bought cars, laid down tracks, etc. SEE THE PROJECT THROUGH TO THE END.
Here's my note
--------------------
I’m writing to express strong support the ongoing development of streetcars for H St. and vehement disappointment in the recent potential elimination of funds.
In 2007, I made a significant economic and life commitment to live in Washington DC near H St. contributing to the local economy and community. I bought and fixed up a home near H St NE. I could easily live in Alexandria or Arlington – closer to my workplace.
Simply put, the streetcar development is integral to future long-term choices of living in Washington DC and whom I vote for in future elections. Anyone involved in delaying or eliminating the streetcars will never receive my support in the future.
This whole thing was weird and I dont know if the project was really in jeopardy. I can't think of a motive though. If the cars were really going to go away, there would have been murmurs and a 7-6 vote, with 6 lucky people getting to save face in a losing effort like with the stadium deal. They had a streetcar bonanza a couple weeks ago and shit was in full swing. I dont think streetcars have been a contentious topic off H St. It doesnt add up, especially because two people whose wards would be positively affected by the cars voted against them.
Maybe it was a shot at Fenty?
Maybe they were just floating the idea to see if people freaked out? If it went over really well, maybe they would have cut it.
Maybe this was an all-in desperation move for Gray and he lost..What issues could he oppose Fenty on and look like a hero? Teachers/schools? Streetcars? Rec Centers?
How does Thomas justify voting for the de-funding then tout his support when someone else adds the streetcars back in?
Who ELSE is running in Ward 5?
Ward 5 can have the guy running against Wells because he isn't going anywhere. You can see him all around the Ward, usually on a bicycle, some public meeting or supporting a local business.
Russ
dave b - i think it was a shot at fenty. gray's statement mentioned that there hadn't been enough planning to go forward w/ the street cars...maybe he was going to make an issue of the fact that the rails are laid, cars bought, but no funding..."why is fenty wasting money...blah blah blah"
thats my best guess
dan
What's amazing is that WE did this, not Thomas or Wells. We called, emailed, blogged, etc and shamed them into restoring it. Not sure how it came to this in the first place and Wells, Thomas, and others need to figure that out, but HSGS, Frozen Tropics, neighborhood listserves, etc were what fixed it.
i faxed them a picture of my ass. probably came a little too silhouette-ish though. i'm pretty sure they made out the second one i sent of my middle finger though
why is thomas suddenly praising this? and why is he giving Gray credit? if it weren't for gray this amendment wouldn't have been needed in the first place. i really hope fellow voters understand what transpired today, not just WHAT was done, but HOW it was done. Gray tried to sneak through a provision in the cover of night that would have severely delayed and possibly scuttled a project near and dear to thousands of DC residents. a project that has energized an underdeveloped part of the city, raised property values, brought in millions of new property-tax and business-tax dollars and improved the image and stature of the city and some of its long-ignored communities. this is the man who wants to be our mayor? his motives are completely immaterial. whatever his reason for wanting to cut the funding, he had an obligation to air this before the residents and give the council enough time to consider it before speeding this to a vote. i'm not a Fenty fan, in fact i was leaning towards the ``anybody but Fenty'' camp this year. but after today i am firmly in the ``anybody but Gray'' camp.
So I requested a Fenty lawn sign this afternoon and to my surprise it was there when I got home this evening. Great work by the Fenty volunteers. Looking around at the houses on my block, I count 8 Gray signs up.
Not to make this a race issue, but why do African Americans identify with Gray and not Fenty. All of my neighbors with Gray signs are black. My white neighbors have Wells signs up.
I'm black and I don't identify with Fenty OR Gray.
Racial overgeneralizations are so 19th Century.
What an awesome day of political tomfoolery. As far as i can tell, inked, my two favorite queens, and an h street jersey girl saved the fucking day. I liked myself better when i didn't vote for all these self involved, clueless douchebags.
Love, tonyt
the pug.
PS spectacular to throw race in there right at the end to make sure a day of ridiculous political shenanigans could be turned into something even dumber.
overgeneralizations are usually a function of limited analysis.
Gray supporters tend to be older and believe that Fenty is more focused on younger and wealthier demographics with less interest in "long-time" Washingtonians.
The long-time Washingtonians see items like dog parks, bike lanes, streetcars and the like as gifts for whitey (maybe that's an overgeneralization too, but not from the 19th century, maybe the late 20th).
Sorry richard, but your statement is ignorant. Pretty much all the long-time homeowners in this area that I've interacted with are head over heels about the commercial and residential development in the H st. area. the main people grumbling are some of the low-income renters who are truly being displaced, the winos and drug users/dealers who have fewer places to loiter and people from outside the neighborhood who can't stand to see anybody else's lot in life improve. The belief that dog parks, bike lanes etc are ``gifts for whitey'' is held by a very small minority of people in the district. Just because Barry gives those people a very loud megaphone doesn't mean they represent the attitudes of DC as a whole. Wake up dude and stop buying into the divisiveness.
Ro, I agree with you. While I don't think I can say that, unfortunately, the racial divisions of the past have completely passed, I think the divide we see in this city now is more of a economic one.
Personally, I think Fenty has done a good job on a lot of city services - people in the DC government try to be helpful and things do get done better than before. It would be nice if Fenty has a strong challenger to push him to "do better", but Gray, with actions like yesterday's back-room switch-up does harken back to the Barry days and provides little impetus for Fenty to step up more.
I'll take Fenty's unilateral approach and pissiness with the council over Gray's backstabbing smoke filled room maneuvering.
Didn't Thomas vote for the cut originally? Now he praises Gray for funding the trolley? Apparently, Thomas was against it before he was for it.
The motivation behind Gray's decision was likely bad political advice. Certain people close to him probably have been telling him no one wants the street car. Clearly, the public wants a street car and politicians out-of-touch with constituents beware!
I don't think Thomas was a against the streetcar. I think there was some serious political movement afoot.
I ran into Michael Brown last night and asked for his thoughts on the day. He said, "Yeah, what happened there?" giving me the impression that the budget move was entirely designed by Gray without any heads up to the other Members. Given how Wells responded I believe Brown.
I've been thinking about retrocession lately. Would it be possible for DC to stay an independent political entity and retrocede Harry Thomas, Vincent Gray, and Marion Barry to Maryland?
@Ro:
Sorry richard, but your statement is ignorant. Pretty much all the long-time homeowners in this area that I've interacted with are head over heels about the commercial and residential development in the H st. area. the main people grumbling are some of the low-income renters who are truly being displaced, the winos and drug users/dealers who have fewer places to loiter and people from outside the neighborhood who can't stand to see anybody else's lot in life improve.
So Gray supporters are renters, drug dealers, drug addicts, and folks who can't stand to see anybody else's lot in life improve? Got it.
No devisive generalizations there. :)
The piece of this I find most frustrating is how the dynamic is being presented as gentrifiers vs. long time residents. While there is some truth to that the larger issue I have is why did street cars and H St get the ax while the tax increase on residents making $350K+ was not included and the park in Georgetown was.
I argue that this is not an example of a white vs. black issue. Rather the moneyed establishment interests who ALWAYS win vs. long term residents who should be on the same side as pro-H St development.
That said, I am furious with Thomas. He was not our champion. He did not stand up for H St. At best he rolled over to his Chairman's budget without question. At worst H St. and the street car and the promise they represent do not factor into the decisions he makes while sitting on the dias. I have no clue if there is another serious candidate to run against him, but I hope there is.
I for one would love to participate in a fundraiser for Wells. He deserves to be rewarded for expressing the appropriate outrage over this. Thomas and his staff by comparison treated this passively. That should be unacceptable.
10:09,
I could see it being a just ray move. I think there is a lot of pressure to go with the Chair on votes like this, and hope it all works out in the end. I think that explains the weird scrambling yesterday.
I agree with others and think it was a shot at Fenty.
Whether you like the man or not, personality wise, you can't deny that Fenty has done an incredible job. Murder rate is the lowest since the 60's, population is growing, business investment is growing, schools improving, be every metric, Fenty has done a knockout job.
And now Gray comes in saying he wants to return to an earlier time? Like when? When we were the murder capital? Gray is a politician and will put his own needs over the city's in a heartbeat.
Be careful who you vote for this fall. What do you want, further development of the city or a return to the "good ole days"?
As the cost of living (which no one in this city has any control over) continues to rise, how are people going to adjust to the new costs. The cost of living is increasing dramatically because people who can afford to are choosing to move back to the city. So anyone with anything to sell is charging more to take a slice out of the new bigger pie.
People who don't have anything to sell or are on limited means have to either find a way to bring in more income, or they have to move somewhere less expensive. For years, the people of DC found ways to take money from the middle class (taxes) to support their lifestyle. This worked until the middle class all moved to PG and MoCo and NoVa. When there weren't enough "rich" (middle class) people left in DC to pay for all the obligations the city promised, the government went broke and was taken over by congress.
So now this new middle class moving back in isn't having any of the "take my money so that you can continue to live the way you want" and it's causing problems because this was the playbook for so many years.
"why is thomas suddenly praising this? and why is he giving Gray credit? if it weren't for gray this amendment wouldn't have been needed in the first place."
Gray and Thomas are both in the old DC camp. Just look at Ward 5. When Orange was councilman, he got the Home Depot shopping area built, new Giant, etc. What has Thomas done in his 4 years? He got Foreman Mills and a shuttered Safeway.
Gray and Thomas are bad for business and development. Make no mistake. I live in Ward 5, and Thomas is a mistake. If Gray gets to be mayor, count on all the economic show starters like the H St streetcar, etc to get axed, in favor of welfare funding for the eternal section 8 residents, just like the good old days. Businesses will lose confidence, investment will plummet, property values will drop allowing low class people to move in, crime will rise, schools will worsen, and before we know it, it will be 1992 all over again.
11:17,
Just to clear. In my opinion, Thomas is WAY better than Vincent Orange as a Councilmember. I'm stunned to think that Orange believes HE Should be Chair.
Inked,
Why don't you like Orage? I admit I wasn't in the Ward when Orange was councilman, but he got a lot of the RIA development started, McKinley school, etc. Thomas hasn't done a single thing since he's been in, except organize a protest to keep the rat infested Safeway open. Please.....
Orange was the definition of useless and out of touch. Take a look at the development that did happen under him. Do you really think the development around the Rhode Island Ave Metro is a model we should follow. Go back and look at the early days of New Town. That's Orange. Development under Thomas has been slow, but that's largely because the economy tanked. If the Abdo project hadn't been nixed bk of the economy, Thomas would have that under his belt.
I have to seriously take issue with Thomas's actions with respect to voting to kill the streetcars. It seems to me the height of hypocrisy that he stood with Tommy Wells at the streetcar unveiling extolling the virtues of streetcars and then one month later voted to kill the streetcar funding just so he could stay on good terms Gray.
I think moments of duress (like the budget vote) really reveal a lot about a persons character. I think Tommy Wells revealed a lot about his character while Thomas revealed hes just another "politics as usual" councilmember cut out of the Marion Barry mold...
inked,
I know the Home Depot development is not the model of smart development, but in the late 90's, no one was going to build a fancy Harris Teeter-Constitution Square type development on a ghetto section of RIA. The only reason Constitution Square got built was because of the ATF. I think of the Home Depot development as a pioneering development, it's improved the corridor over the impound lot that was there and paved the way for bigger, better projects like the Rhode Island Place development at the metro, which was initiated under Orange, that does embrace smart growth concepts.
As real estate gets more valuable along RIA, there will be pressure to develop the Home Depot into something better. They could easily add a parking garage and redevelop some of that massive parking lot into more of a town center. Whether you like it or not, a store like Home Depot needs ample parking. It's not like you're going to tote 100 2x4s with you on a street car.
The Abdo project was destined to fail from the beginning. You can't build density in the middle of nowhere without mass transit. I called that in 2007 when they announced it.
Inked, sometimes I think you try to think too big. It's good to think big, but you also have to be realistic. A smart growth development at RIA in the 90's would have been way too far ahead of its time, just like Abdo's development at NYA. You may not appreciate the new suburban style hotels and fast food joints on NYA or the Costco, but those developments will pave the way for even better things in the future. Development is a process, not something that can happen overnight.
Anon 12:50 said "there will be pressure to develop the Home Depot into something better. They could easily add a parking garage and redevelop some of that massive parking lot into more of a town center."
Yes: "Rhode Island Station will begin filling a major hole in the District's urban fabric by turning the surface parking lot at Rhode Island Avenue Metro into a mixed-use project."
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=5874
npm,
I am aware of that project, that was the one I incorrectly referenced as the "Rhode Island Place". Anyways, that development is redeveloping the current surface level metro lot, which is a huge step forward. Once that is complete, I think there will be pressure to redevelop the actual Home Depot lot (which is largely unused most of the time) and replace it with a garage and more apartments/condos.
Another area ripe for redevelopment is the old Safeway/Foreman Mills shopping center. Also, there are a lot of old, many abandoned warehouses around the metro line.
There is so much potential in the RIA area, we need a councilman that can capitalize on it, and I don't think Thomas is the one.
@Anon 12:50~ I agree with what you said, however there was a great deal of other workings going on that are turning that area into something to pay attention to. Stop by the Met Branch Trail on June 5th to see what is happening. Also, by next year there will be a pedestrian bridge leading from the shopping area over the tracks to the Metro and construction will be in full swing with the phased development there.
http://www.rhodeislandstation.com/
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_euCAAHU69PM/S93VEc-LuzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/FlOLN6xkD-4/s1600/tour3.jpg
Also,
http://www.railstotrails.org/getInvolved/findAnEvent/MeetTheMet/index.html
Harry Thomas is a hypocrite! Count him along with Gray and Barry as members of the "old guard".
Voting for Gray is a vote for returning to the days when I had to dodge bullets while waiting for the Metro and had to drive to MD to buy my groceries.
We still have a long way to go, but the progress made during these last four years (really 8 years.. Williams laid the foundation) has been tremendous.
Please think carefully before you vote this September.
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