ANC6D Litsky Caught in $100,000 Scandal

ANC6D, including Mr. Litsky, voted unanimously to approve the Cotton Annex project, including the donation to the SW Community Foundation. The problem is that Mr. Litsky was one of five directors on the foundation's Board of Directors at the time of the vote. Mr. Litsky did not recuse himself. At least three ANC6D commissioners were not aware of Mr. Litsky's connection to the foundation and conflict of interest at the time they cast their votes. As of March 13, 2021, the SW Community Foundation’s website listed Mr. Litsky as a Board member  He is also listed on the organization’s 2018 990 tax form as a Board member. The community response was strong as expressed on various online forums. Pamela McKinney published an article in DC Line in April discussing the scandal. As of March 28, 2021, Mr. Litsky no longer appeared on the Southwest Community Foundation as a Board member.

Adom Cooper is one of at least two Southwest residents who has filed formal complaints with the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA). Mr. Cooper's complaint includes language from the ANC handbook on conflict of interest, “ANC commissioners may not use their official position or public office in a way that will advance their own financial interests or those of someone they are ‘closely affiliated with’ (such a family member, business associate). This would include participating in an ANC meeting to approve or disapprove a project.” Further, he cites, “If a Commissioner has a conflict of interest, the law says that the Commissioner should write a statement describing the conflict of interest. The statement should be given to the Commission Chairperson, and a copy sent to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics.”

The BEGA director Rochelle Ford recently resigned and urged the District to take comprehensive ethics more seriously unrelated to this matter. As the Washington City Paper reported, “I hope the District’s efforts at ethics reform will finally pick up on the momentum it ought to,” she says, adding that if D.C. is going to become a state 'we don’t want to be all bootleg' with the ethics rules.” It is not clear what consequences Mr. Litsky might face with a BEGA investigation. As a matter of public ethics, Mr. Litsky should resign immediately. Given his tenure of 23 years on the ANC and awareness of his conflict of interest, Mr. Litsky has violated public trust in a demonstrably offensive and blatant fashion. Our advice to Mr. Litsky, resign.

Our first interview was with a middle-aged interracial couple who resides in SW and has not been vaccinated. Asked to describe their reasons, the husband spoke up first, “They killin' us.” His wife described how she had expected to receive something that would cure her if she was sick, “If there is a cure and no one ever catches it, that's different, but you can still get Covid. Positive is positive.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that it takes a few weeks for “enough time to provide protection” or immunity. The next survey participant wanted to know more about “why is the magnet sticking,” a reference to fake video conspiracies that the vaccine was implanting a chip. The vaccine does not implant a chip or any device. Period.

An African American male around his early 30s believed that the vaccine was “tied to an evil plot” – whose ultimate aim was yet revealed. A young male in his 20s echoed the chip conspiracy, “Bro, I'm not getting that [profanity]. You shouldn't either. Ain't putting a chip in me.” A DC employee returning to work, “They didn't do enough clinically. I feel like we're guinea pigs.” Wanting to “wait it out” was common, though two African American men in their 50s did not have an issue with the vaccine as such – fear of needles caused them not to get vaccinated. “It hurts. I'm glad that I talked to you. It built up my courage”. Another described his predicament, “I'm scared of needles. I'll wait as long as I can. I have to get it next week [due to job requirements].” An older man in his early-to-mid 50s falsely claimed, “It's the people not taking care of themselves [that get coronavirus].” That was victim-blaming and not true. This unvaccinated man was not masked while speaking closely with two partially-masked African American women from the neighborhood – the kind of scenario that leads to Covid cases and hospitalizations.

A young African American woman with two children under three years of age had concerns since she was still breastfeeding her one-year old, “I was breastfeeding. I didn't know what was in vaccine”. Her husband who was nearby volunteered, “I got the vaccine.” According to the CDC, “Because the vaccines have not been studied on lactating people, there are no data available on the: safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating people or effects of vaccination on the breastfed baby. Based on how these vaccines work in the body, COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to lactating people or their breastfeeding babies.”

There were plenty of colorful responses. A young male in his 20s answered, “That's private information” in response to a question about his vaccination status. He then proceeded to ask the masked SW Voice reporter if he was vaccinated, to which the reporter responded, “Yes”. “You confused,” said the man mockingly as he rode down on the escalator – presumably a fully vaccinated person should not wear a mask. A woman in her 30s responded to a question whether she had received the vaccine, “You get your colonoscopy?”

At least two people said that they would take advantage of vaccination at Arena Stage as a result of the exchange with the reporter. Countless others remain to reach full vaccination in Washington, DC. The opinions and perceptions about the vaccine should serve as a word to caution to District as it seeks to return to business as usual. More effort targeting and tailoring specific messages to unvaccinated populations should precede any lifting of the public health emergency.

Like millions of Americans, Mrs. Bishop followed news stories about the efficacy of the vaccine and what its side effects would mean for her. “Because of heart and breathing conditions, I worried about the side effects and the harm that it would do.”  Reports about blood clots and lung problems associated with the vaccine added to her worry. She also had a larger concern, “Due to the fact that it was killing more Black people and more low-income [in greater proportion],” she worried whether the vaccine would contribute to the number of deaths or “keep us alive.”

Mrs. Bishop is happy that she got vaccinated and encourages others to do so. She has had no concerning symptoms. She does see this as a moment for the government to reflect on how it is to blame for vaccine hesitancy – a general term that captures a variety of reasons for rejecting the vaccine. Perceptions about racial inequity in the United States in an authentic lens that cannot be easily overlooked. “Regardless of the Black person's education and qualification to get high ranking jobs and own housing, it's not equal for Blacks.” Mrs. Bishop is right. “The pay gap for a Black woman in the District is larger than for the typical Black woman in America, who makes 62 cents for every dollar a White, non-Hispanic man makes,” according to the National Women’s Law Center. There are many more statistics relating to deep racial health inequity in DC, redlining and residential segregation, declining Black wages even before the pandemic, and the impact of the pandemic on Black income.

False government conspiracy about the vaccine are related to mistrust in government, research, and the healthcare system. It does not mean that people should not get vaccination. In fact, to save lives, we must encourage family, friends, and neighbors to get vaccinated. It also does not mean that the government is off the hook. The District government has long under-invested in reducing wealth and health racial gaps and needs to seriously attend to these issues. Beyond the District, the federal government needs to cultivate a sense of trust in government. Describing many in Congress and around the country, Mrs. Bishop said, “They still don't believe that was an insurrection.” When another pandemic hits – almost certain in our lifetimes – we want the state of racial equity and trust to have achieved major gains.

“The present SW gentrification changed things. Its impact stifled culture and creativity, creating a difference unlike before.  The soul of SW changed.  SW lost a significant segment of its Black population; the public square is strangely odd.  A societal balance is gone.  The new buildings replaced the old; escalating rents skyrocketed and eliminated affordable rents; new neighbors moved in, old neighbors moved out; and, simultaneously, changing demographics disproportionately reduced “SW Chocolate City residents.”

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It’s increase in death toll numbers, When the seasons Rougher
Looking at my timeline and saying NOT ANOTHER!
Repeated Tragedies against black males in urban areas that’s considered “the gutter” makes me
wonder “why are we only united when we under?“
Nothing good comes from this behavior 
We only suffer 
How many bodies have to be laid to rest before we become conscious 
It cannot be freedom and full opportunity when your lower class is presented with less options
Exaggerated solutions to problems that lead to false promise
In a nation where enhancing knowledge will make you a target
Does appearance out-weigh a qualified resume ?
Does a test determine what you can display ?
How many years of cheap labor do you have to give before garnering a deserving pay?
Are there any answers to these previous statements,
Or what if you were asked these questions
What would you say ?
A lot of us aspire for more than our day to day
But when your imperfections are publicized,
A meaningful message is harder to convey
Hard to speak “equality“
When there’s less empathy displayed in the current policy
With ongoing rises in unemployment and poverty
 only result in massive defects in the economy
Biased opinions and Unlawful convictions have become the tradition
With less advocates making a difference and our general population failing to listen
It becomes a climb making your mission efficient
From this day forward
No more demonstrations of submission
Let’s take back our position
As we rise above those giving decisions
And not fall victim to this unethical System.

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