This was originally posted to the Adams Morgan Listserv on October 4, 2018, as message #49655, groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/AdamsMorgan/conversations/messages/49655
On Tuesday <dc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=4665> with the passage of B22-0913 <lims.dccouncil.us/Download/40679/B22-0913-Introduction.pdf> repealing Initiative 77, DC Council fundamentally and gravelly failed the citizens of the District and the cause of development equity and justice in this city. In fact the 22nd Council’s mishandling of Initiative 77 was so grave, that without the strong and direct intervention of citizens the Council will be incapable of handling and leading on issues such as fair and affordable housing. The Council failed us on Tuesday, in full context its performance across the board was shameful and frightening. And can only be fixed through increased Direct Citizen Action.
To decode, get a better understanding of the frightening depths of the Council’s failures on Tuesday, we should seek a better understanding of dynamics the 1963 Birmingham Campaign <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_campaign> and Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham Jail <www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html>. As our City Council debated B22-0913 and related amendments and they failed to address the fundamental inequities underlying District development policies. I as listened to the debte I thought of the section below from Dr. King’s letter:
“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens%27_Councils> or the Ku Klux Klanner <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan>, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice <historyscoop.com/2016/11/30/a-call-for-unity-the-good-friday-letter-criticising-kings-actions-in-birmingham/>; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
Along the lines of Dr. King’s 1963 moderates, our Council and Mayor have taken the position of the Nightlife Restaurant Industry, Vote No 77 <www.voteno77.com/>, cannot survive if required to pay a fair and equitable wages. Therefore, the Council rejected and repealed Initiative 77. Then as to be expected, they offered a series of “lukewarm” Trumpish amendments as a substitute for equity as Dr. Kings Letter predicted. Let’s decode.
The City (Mayor and Council) promote the Nightlife Industry as a key element of the success of the District’s neighborhood, economic development and employment policies and investments. However, the City knows that the Nightlife Industry Industry can’t pay equitable wages in an already unaffordable city. Therefore after decoding, it is fair to concluded that the city is promoting wage inequity as a key element of neighborhood, employment economic development strategy.
It is also important to note, Initiative 77 was about minimum wages. It’s repeal, B22-0913, was a rejection of minimum wages. If they punt with “lukewarm” amendments on minimum wages, no way they can handle issues around equity.
One “lukewarm” amendment the Council did pass, was designed to address dishonestly in the Nightlife Industry through wage theft. However, the Council believes that wage theft is insignificant and that the industry is honest; therefore, if we except this the amendment was just about optics. On-the-other-hand, if the amendment meaningful and not just about optics wage theft is significant and the Council is siding with and promoted a knowing dishonesty in the industry in discarding the vote. Worst, the amendment relies on a DOES bureaucracy which can’t adequately address First Source requirements with DC’s Nightlife Industry’s parent, city beyond accountability favorite, the publicly subsidized luxury housing industry. An amendment and process designed to fail.
Another Council passed “lukewarm” amendment seeks to address sexual harassment as an alternative to equatable wages in the industry, with a tip line. A tip line, please, we are going to address centuries of power and privilege with a tip line? This issue of addressing power and privilege rested a the core of the Birmingham Campaign and today’s tip cultural and Initiative 77. The Nightlife Restaurant Industry has basically overlooked Wards 7 and 8. The industry has basically said, we will not come if you demand equitable wages and fair treatment. Yet, the industry wants to ride the backs of public subsidies as luxury developers begin to target these areas for luxury enclaves. Are we adopting through the City’s omission and commission policies rooted in intimidation, privilege and power. While unlike 1963 no one is bombing churches; however, we do have official who will watch agencies demolish public housing and family shelters with few place for people to go and the hazards of demolition in place downplayed and swatted at by a seemingly toothless Council.
In 1963 in Birmingham, direct action took center stage as the next step to pushing political process. As well, DC in 2018 direct actions needs to take center stage. The Vote No 77 <www.voteno77.com/> coalition worked to nullify the vote of the citizens and were successful. Now we much take our vote back with beginning with targeted boycotts business owners who conspired to take and over turn our vote <www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/article/21024740/mayor-bowser-councilmembers-hear-out-anti77-tipped-workers-before-repeal-vote> ..
As another Direct Action, given the City has been boxed into an investment, tax and incentive structure which places the economic viability of our neighborhoods in the hand of the Nightlife and Entertainment Industries which depend heavily on tipped workers and structured inequities, and large subsidies to luxury developers. Maybe its time for the Council Chair to bring different leadership to the Council Committee on Finance and Revenue responsible for this box. Maybe it’s our tax and incentive structure, not the demand and need for equitable wages that’s the problem. Maybe the Council Chair should get not rest from protest until he commits to a change of leadership on the Committee on Tax and Revenue. Makes no sense that a city that brags about growth and DC values but can’t afford equitable wages in a key growth industry.
I know, I know like they said in 1963 this push for equity in tipped wages is coming from outside agitators. But, I think Dr. King said it best in his letter,
“…I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against ‘outsiders coming in.’ ….But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.”
If we need to use 1963 Birmingham to help us decode DC 2018, so be it.
William