[Mintwood-place] Question about Written statements to ANC on Church-Hotel

Fri Oct 14 21:12:32 EDT 2011

Mary, 

I thank you for all the volunteer work you have performed in the neighborhood, including during my tenure as KCA president.  So I’m sorry, but just who is vilifying whom with an accusatory tone?  If all you had wanted in your original post was for Olivier to post the information on how to provide input on the hotel, did you really need to make the allegation that the developers were slamming Reed Cooke?  Does use of the word “obstructionist” really rise to the level of “slamming” and “crap?”  Was it really relevant to cast such light on their alleged bad manners, or can we just stick to the relevant facts about the technical specifications of the hotel proposal itself?  And I wonder why you did not admonish Denis in this forum for his ad hominem attacks against Lisa?

Having said all that, if the KCA is going to accuse other parties of failing to give proper notice of meetings, then I think it’s appropriate and directly relevant to respond by factually noting that the KCA itself hasn’t provided proper notice.  How does doing that amount to vilification?

Matt

From: mintwood-place-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org [mailto:mintwood-place-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of maryjbelcher at comcast.net
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 7:50 AM
To: Matthew Forman
Cc: mintwood place
Subject: Re: [Mintwood-place] Question about Written statements to ANC on Church-Hotel

Matt:

The developers in an e-mail to their church-hotel supporters referred to two leaders of the Reed Cooke Neighborhood Association as "obstructionists."  I did not make this up.  The Reed Cooke Neighborhood Association has been extremely generous is hosting these same developers at their meetings on several occasions, including last night, and it is unbelievable that they would throw such crap in the faces of their hosts. 

Second, I am not on the KCA's executive committee.  I am an active member of the KCA, contributing regularly to its newsletter and helping in other matters, including encouraging KCA's support of the Walter Pierce Park Archaeology Project.  As a past president of KCA and as a leader of the Fund for Kalorama Park, you know very well how much work goes into keeping an all-volunteer organization on track; I am happy to help without taking on the extra burdens of a leadership post.  

You didn't attend the last meeting of the KCA, so I wonder why you care what took place there. From my personal perspective as an KCA member who attends almost all our meetings, there were people there who tried to disrupt the meeting at any cost, yelling out of turn, creating extreme acrimony and generally seeking to upend the membership voting process.

I hope that answers your questions, which I  assume represent your genuine efforts to suss out the truth of the matter, despite your accusatory tone.  Please stop villifying everyone and every matter associated with the Kalorama Citizens Association.  There really is a place for everybody at the table, but you do have to show up.

Mary

  _____  

From: "Matthew Forman" <Matthew.Forman2 at verizon.net>
To: "mintwood place" <mintwood-place at lists.mutualaid.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 10:12:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Mintwood-place] Question about Written statements to ANC        on        Church-Hotel

Mary – Can you state what evidence you have that the developers are slamming Reed Cooke’s viewpoints?  

Also, you stated that there should be a true diversity of opinion about the proposed hotel.  However, please correct me if I’m misinformed, but it appears from the March 2011 KCA newsletter that you are on the KCA executive committee.  If so, given your role, I am wondering what your viewpoint is to whether the KCA provided such diversity of opinion at its last meeting.  As indicated in prior postings on this list, notice of the meeting was provided only to actual KCA members (and with less advance notice than required by law).  In addition, the developer was not in attendance.   

From: mintwood-place-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org [mailto:mintwood-place-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of maryjbelcher at comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 1:56 PM
To: Olivier Kamanda; mintwood place; Wilson Reynolds
Subject: [Mintwood-place] Question about Written statements to ANC on Church-Hotel

Hi Olivier:

As my ANC commissioner, I would like to get from you some clarity about how to submit a written statement to the ANC in advance of the October 17 Special Meeting about the proposed Church-Hotel at 18th Street and Columbia Road.  

I went to the ANC website, but I couldn't figure out whether written statements, in fact, were being solicited (as ANC Chairman Reynolds said earlier they would be).  Unless I just plain am looking in the wrong place and showing my ignorance, It is not clear on the ANC website that comments are being solicited, where to send the comments, the fact that this is the way that the ANC is planning to weigh the diversity of  neighborhood views about the project, and the fact that residents must submit their opinions in a written statement and make a written request to have the opportunity to speak at the October 17th meeting.

Will you as my ANC commissioner please send out to my Mintwood neighbors notice of this process, and tell us how to submit written comments to the ANC before October 17?

This is of special concern to me in light of the fact that the church-hotel developers are sending out notices to their supporters about this written-comment process; at the same time the developers are taking the opportunity to slam as "obstructionist" the legitimate viewpoints of neighborhood groups (i.e., the Reed Cooke Neighborhood Association).

I have great respect for the many volunteer hours each of you on the ANC spends on issues affecting the neighborhood.  But I think a public-commenting process needs to be publicized and explained if you are seeking a true diversity of opinion about the proposed hotel.  Thank you for clarifying this matter for me, and for providing the appopropriate links in your response.

Mary Belcher

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