Serving Dupont Circle, Kalorama & Logan Circle
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
The DuponT CurrenT
Wilson aims to foil Westboro demonstration
Council OKs tax cuts, trims streetcar funding
T h E AT E R T R E A s U R E s
■ Budget: ‘Gym tax’ among
most hotly debated provisions
By GRAhAM VYsE Current Staff Writer
Roughly 1,000 students and community members are getting ready to counter-protest Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas-based group planning to picket outside Wilson High School next Monday. Classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Westboro has attracted widespread opposition nationwide for protesting military funerals; it is also known for strong ideologies against gay rights. The church is targeting Wilson over the high school’s second annual Pride Day, a celebration being held today in support of students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning. Mayor Vincent Gray will hold his weekly press briefing at the Tenleytown school in conjunction with the Pride event. In an interview this week, Principal Peter Cahall said Wilson has been working to ensure that the counter-protest will be peaceful and safe. Students are making signs for the demonstration, and they plan to gather together outside the school at See Wilson/Page 2
By KATIE PEARCE Current Staff Writer
The D.C. Council last week approved aggressive reforms to the city’s tax code, at the same time undercutting some chief priorities for Mayor Vincent Gray. In their initial budget vote, council members approved $165 million in annual tax relief, including cuts for low- and middle-income residents and a phased decrease to business taxes. The tax cuts — the largest the city has seen since the 1990s — are controversially offset in part
Brian Kapur/The Current
The Washington DC Jewish Community Center honored Michele Berman, left, and Patty Abramson at Monday’s annual benefit for their work as Theater J’s counsel for over 15 years. The event was part of the 15th annual Washington Jewish Music Festival, which continues through June 14.
Current Staff Writer
Officials working on transforming Franklin Square downtown are in legal negotiations to allow the District to put $800,000 in capital funds toward the project. D.C. law allows capital funds to be spent only on city property, but the five-acre Franklin Square is owned by the National Park Service. “We’re close to some kind of agreement, which is to provide a lease of some kind with the appropriate qualifications,” said Richard Bradley, CEO of the Downtown Business Improvement District. The arrangement would allow the city to provide the capital funding, which
NEWs
Bill Petros/Current file photo
The project is expected to cost $20 million, with more required for annual maintenance.
Bradley noted has already been allotted in the 2014 budget. To make a strong case in city budget discussions, the business group had to prove that the value of the real estate surrounding the parkland would increase after the rede-
Council mixup leads to fears of tax hike for premium cigars — Page 2
studio Theatre hosts hit London show ‘Grounded’ — Page 23
City grants offer boost for ‘Great Streets’ businesses Current Staff Writer
velopment. “This is seen as an investment in part of the city,” said Bradley. The project is expected to cost $20 million total, with a few million dollars needed each year to maintain the remodeled park, according to Bradley, whose business group is partnering with the D.C. government and the National Park Service. Currently, the partners are working to find additional funding and revenue opportunities, such as event space rentals once the revamped park opens. Planning started last year to renovate the site between I, K, 13th and 14th streets into an urban park for its increasingly diverse users, includSee Parks/Page 5
EVENTs
by tinkering with funds for the city’s planned streetcar network, and expanding sales taxes to cover nine types of businesses, including gyms, yoga studios and car washes. The council is slated to take a second vote on budget matters on June 11. Two members — Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Marion Barry (Ward 8) — voted against the proposed budget last Wednesday, with Wells opposing the streetcar changes and Barry accusing Chairman Phil Mendelson of last-minute maneuvering. Mendelson’s budget proposal embraces the majority of recommendations that came from a tax revision panel steered by former See Budget/Page 18
By KAT LUCERO
Franklin Square effort encounters hurdles By KAT LUCERO
Vol. XIII, No. 1
An Ethiopian coffee shop, a wellness center, a bookstore and an Indian restaurant are among the 16 small businesses in Northwest D.C. that recently won improvement grants through the city’s “Great Streets” initiative. Across the city, 40 businesses total were allotted an initial $25,000 each, with the opportunity to request up to $85,000 more. Owners can use the funding to cover upgrades like new windows, paint, awnings, plumbing, signage or equipment. Mayor Vincent Gray officially announced the diverse group of recipients last week. This round of grants drew 100 applicants — more than double the number of the last disbursement, according to Great Streets executive director Polina Bakhteiarov. The program’s goal is to boost economic development via small businesses in emerging commercial corridors. Since 2006, the initiative has expanded from the H Street corridor in Northeast to 11 commercial
Brian Kapur/The Current
Compass Coffee on 7th street received a $25,000 grant.
strips throughout the city. Northwest D.C. has four Great Streets “target” areas: Georgia Avenue; 7th Street in the Shaw and U Street neighborhoods; North Capitol Street; and Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park and Van Ness. To qualify, businesses in the target corridors must have a lease of at least two years and be in good standing on their city and federal taxes. To be competitive, Bakhteiarov said, the applicant must have previous experience relevant to the business and financial viability to initially pay See Grants/Page 7
INDEX
NEWs
senator commits to holding statehood hearing this year — Page 3
Calendar/20 Classifieds/29 District Digest/4 Dupont Circle Citizen/11 Exhibits/21 In Your Neighborhood/10
Opinion/8 Police Report/6 Real Estate/17 School Dispatches/12 Service Directory/26 Theater/23
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