This was originally posted to the Adams Morgan Listserv on March 22, 2019, as message #50761, groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/AdamsMorgan/conversations/messages/50761
In these days post the Ides of March, my CM Jack Evans dilemma remains, to “Reprimand” or to “Hire” him. I must confess I’m leaning to “Hire” CM Evans at $200K/yr to help restructure the DC’s financial system to respect racial equity in our development policies. Now before the shouts of “Et tu, William”, friends, neighbors and fellow activists, please hear me out. It is not usual for governments and corporations to hire the very hackers or cons who structured the theft to help unwind, fix and restructure the system they hacked or conned. Further, almost all of CM Evans’ deals were passed by wide margins by the City Council and signed by numerous Mayors. Plus, former Mayor Gray say’s CM Evans is a honorable man.
I believe we need to be practical here, $200K/yr for access to $1.1B/yr with virtually no checks and balances and no meaningful rules or risks. CM Evans’ Business Development Strategy <www.washingtonpost.com/jack-evans-2018-pitch-to-nelson-mullins/3562ecbc-73ec-4ea5-8819-6d5439330175_note.html?questionId=cad8e3b6-5dc7-46fd-b28d-a849857449c1&utm_term=.466e918ed9a8%20%20%20%20%20ht…> was not just hot air, or marketing pitch, he has delivered.
Some activist and others will say Jack is ambitious, but is not the pursuit of racial equity ambitious.
When Abe Pollin needed luxury suites for the then Verizon Center in order to bring the city more tax revenue and hired lobbyist Jon Bouker of Arent Fox, former chief counsel and legislative director to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, to asked did not Jack deliver over $50M public funds by restructuring the Verizon Center’s taxes.
Some say Jack wanted to be Mayor, but polling 10% to 12% of voters, it was the non-existing position of Vice Mayor the Jack wanted.
So as Vice Mayor Jack could deliver to Ted Leonsis and his fellow billionaire partners a much needed practice facility for the Wizards and the Mystics who were loosing billionaires their money, did not Jack deliver in the name of women’s empowerment and Ward 8 development a $70M facility at the public’s expense, rent free. And when the anti-development CM Silverman talked of fiscal responsibility threatening deal, did Jack creatively engineer the deal through EventsDC to avoid political checks and balances.
Some would say, Jack does not care about low and moderate income residents of color, but when others were closing schools. Jack noticed young people downtown sing, dancing and hanging out in the dark.
But with these young people and the city shrouded in darkness, did not Jack attempt to bring light via digital bill boards. And when the digital build board company attempted to make payment with checks and stock, did not the charitable Jack return them, say it’s gratis. As he only wanted to bring light.
Friends I say, Jack who is an honorable man, can deliver 10s even 100s of millions of DC public subsidies to billionaires from all over the region, country and the world for less than $200K, he can deliver for a city desperately in need for respect of racial equity in its development policies.
Please, help me bring an end to my Dilemma, let’s not Reprimand” him but help me to “Hire” him. To rebrand and restructure the $1.1B Downtown TIF fund into the DC Fund for Racial and Equitable Development.
Yes some will say Jack is ambitions, but is not the goal of racial equity in our city an ambitious one. Then again, maybe we can “Reprimand” and then “Hire” him, he will soon have more committee time on his hands.
William
—–Original Message—–
My Reprimand of CM Jack Evans Dilemma
Before delving into “my dilemma”, CM Evans’ reprimand speech was one of the best I’ve ever seen. His use of the pregnant pause combined with facial expressions was on a level which could be considered Jack Nicholson-ish. I would recommend everyone watch <dc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=4931> (5:20 mark).
My dilemma revolves around CM Evan’s Business Development Strategy <www.washingtonpost.com/jack-evans-2018-pitch-to-nelson-mullins/3562ecbc-73ec-4ea5-8819-6d5439330175_note.html?questionId=cad8e3b6-5dc7-46fd-b28d-a849857449c1&utm_term=.466e918ed9a8%20%20%20%20%20ht…> Proposal. As an advocate for Equitable Development and Racial Equity in the future development of this city, there’s a logical option to just hire CM Evans’ company to work on be half of equitable development. On-the-other-hand, per resolution PR23-0179 <lims.dccouncil.us/Download/41998/PR23-0179-Introduction.pdf>, do I want to be a party to violating the city’s code of conduct that states, “An employee may not knowingly use the prestige of office or public position of that employee’s private gain or that of another”. Even for the sake of “Equitable Develop” which I consider to be in the public interest. I know, but hear me out. Let’s consider some of what CM Evan’s was offering in his effort at influence peddling <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_peddling>.
If we read the Councilmember’s proposal and do a little googling, we would realize he was offering access to the city’s Downtown TIF’s available increment <www.dacbond.com/dacContent/doc.jsp?id=0900bbc78021cc82> in order to achieve a client’s goals. In 2017 even after accounting for ongoing debt obligations, the available increment was worth only an annual basis an estimated $1,095,971,000, yep about $1.1B. That would be quite a bargain, pay about $200K per year for access to $1.1B, why not?
Further, except for a few rhetorical flourishes and the shedding of a few crocodile tears, the rest the the Council will provide rubber stamp approval to the TIFs, PILOTs, Tax abatements and etc. whixh used to disperse the “available increment” on a yearly basis with almost no checks and balances. Plus, the Mayor will introduce the legislation, clean hands. On top of this, these funds are specifically designed for efforts which capital markets would not normally fund. I mean, historically when has this nations capital markets ever consistently funded equitable development and racial equity. I mean a perfect match for only $200K.
So, you see my dilemma. Pay CM Evans $200K and access $1.1B a year for the next 20 years or so to fund Equitable Development and Racial Equity or listen to speeches about affordable housing, DC Values, good government and other forms of hot air. Hmm, what “pregnant pause, voice crack, frown” say you? Need help with my “Dilemma”.
William
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The bill authorizes this debt to be supported by the “Available Increment,” which is the property and sales tax increments generated in the Downtown TIF as defined in the April 1, 2002 Reserve Agreement by the District, Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., and Financial Security Assurance, Inc.
Council Reprimand of Councilmember Jack Evans Resolution of 2019
lims.dccouncil.us/Download/41998/PR23-0179-Introduction.pdf
Influence peddling <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_peddling> is the illegal practice of using one’s influence in government or connections with persons in authority to obtain favours or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment.
pregnant pause/silence – a pause or silence which is full of meaning or emotion