Yes Market hearing

[from Kristen Barden, office of Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser]

Ed. Note - This legislation will decide whether Yes Organic Market will be allowed to even apply for a beer and wine license. It's a critical moment. With this bill, Ms. Bowser has gone out on a limb for the Petworth community, but needs community support to make sure it passes. It's not a done deal. If you want to see Yes Organic Market at Georgia and Taylor, testifying at this hearing is one big way to help. It's a safe bet some naysayers will be there.

Notice of DC Council Hearing on ANC4C07 Class B Full Service Grocery

Councilmember Jim Graham will convene a public hearing on Bill 17-907, the “Ward 4 ANC 4C07 Class B Full Service Grocery Store Amendment Act Of 2008”. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, beginning at 2:00pm in Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Av, NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Bill 17-907 would exempt a new, full service grocery store or substantially renovated full-service grocery store in ANC 4C07 from the current moratorium on applying for Class B alcoholic beverage licenses.

The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official record. Those who wish to testify should contact Ms. Maria Puig-Monsen at (202) 724-8195, or [email protected], before 5:00pm on Friday, October 24, 2008.

Witnesses should bring 16 copies of their testimony to the roundtable. Individuals will be permitted 3 minutes for oral presentation; individuals representing organizations or groups, 5 minutes.

If you are unable to testify at the public roundtable, written statements are encouraged and will be made part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted to Ms. Maria Puig-Monsen, Committee on Public Works and the Environment, Room 116, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20004, or electronically at [email protected], by 5:00pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2008.

Comments

[Luis]

Thanks Joe! Does anyone know how long before we hear word of the final decision?

[Kieca]

Thanks for the update, Joe!

[Joe Martin]

The hearing went very well, I thought. (I caught it on Channel 13 - cable.) Chairing the hearing and the committee that dealt with the Bowser SMD 4C07 (Yes-related) bill, Councilmember Jim Graham noted that the Committee had received 42 emails FOR the legislation. He did not mention, unless I didn't catch it, any emails opposed as of the hearing time (Tuesday at 2:00 pm).

CM Muriel Bowser spoke well and strongly for the legislation, for the vetting by and strength of our community's voice and the ANC's (4C) lengthy deliberation of the issue - over months.

Those testifying FOR and representing themselves well (and in the case of ANC 4C - Commissioners Ron Bland and Shanel Anthony) included SMD 4C08 Candidate Jeff Green and neighbor/activist Carol Herwig.

Testifying against was possible SMD 4C01 write-in candidate (announced tonight at a meeting elsewhere in the Ward as a decision coming shortly) Mr. Taliib-Din Uqdah.

[Kieca]

Is there any news on how it went?

[Joe Martin]

Please also consider sharing copies of your emails to the Council with Commissioner Shanel Anthony, in whose single-member district (SMD 4C07) we hope Yes will be located ([email protected]), Councilmember Muriel Bowser ([email protected]) and with me at my ANC Yahoo email account: [email protected]

Also, the same for Gary Cha, owner of Yes! Organic Market: [email protected]

Mr. Cha, as I have noted previously, mentioned at the building’s topping off ceremony in the summer that he has received an enormous volume of emails from the Petworth community in support his plans to open a store in Petworth.

My thanks to everyone who took the trouble to share their views with the City Council and to Councilmember Muriel Bowser.

At the hearing (tomorrow as I write), ANC 4C Vice Chair Ron Bland will be representing ANC 4C’s unanimous support for the Bowser SMD 4C07 bill, and, work permitting, Commissioner Shanel Anthony is expected to represent both the ANC and his single-member district at the City Council’s hearing.

[Bill]

Obviously, most people can't attend a hearing during the middle of a workday. But you can send an email until the end of the day on Tuesday, please let's all do so!