ANC allocates $5,000 for Theatre event

It’s taken me almost two weeks to write this post, because I’m still fuming over the implications of the vote we took at the August 5 ANC meeting. It was a fairly typical agenda with 2 grant applications towards the end of the meeting. One of the grants was requested by Howard Theatre Restoration, Inc. According to the organization’s web site, “the mission of HTR is to raise funds to revitalize, preserve and protect the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, DC.” Certainly this is an issue of importance to ANC1B, as the now-vacant Howard Theatre is within our boundaries. In fact, the District government recently allocated a grant in the amount of $8,000,000 to the Theatre’s renovation and rehabilitation. There is no doubt that bringing this community performance space  back into working order will revitalize the surrounding area and improve our U Street community if done correctly. I support that effort. But that’s not what was on the table August 5th.

HTR’s grant application requested $5,000 for their “community celebration commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Howard Theatre.” The grant request was for the printing and reproduction of the brochure and administrative support. Both of these expenses are allowable under rules governing ANC expenditures and the policies established by ANC1B.

The policies have evolved over the last 6 years or so, and the current set of guidelines emerged after a heated budget discussion last October. During this discussion the Commissioners agreed that it would lift its prior cap of $2,000 and begin to offer grants up to $5,000 to organizations that were doing transformative work in the community, serving constituents, and providing services to those in need. At that time we discussed moving away from funding one-time events at the rate we had done in the past. A consensus was not reached on that point, as will become evident as you read on.

The applicant met with the ANC1B Grant Committee on Tuesday, July 27th to review the application. The grants committee is comprised of 3 Commissioners and 1 community member, who was absent that day. During our meeting we communicated to the applicant that the amount of the request was not appropriate for the intended use. In short — we didn’t think we should spend $5K on a one-time event. Graciously, the applicant indicated he would appreciate any amount the ANC felt was appropriate and the committee recommended the Commission support the request in the amount of $1,500. We thought that was more than generous considering this event would not necessarily target ANC1B residents, would not take place in ANC1B, and that our tax dollars would be going to the printing of a commemorative brochure that would end up in recycling bins and memento boxes. Now that I’ve read that back to myself, I think we probably should have recommended less.

Which brings us to the August 5th meeting. When we arrived at the agenda item it quickly became clear that both Chairperson Holness and Commissioner Moss had other recommendations for this grant application. Moss, who sponsored the grant and I later realized, also serves on the board of HTR advocated that $4,000  be awarded in the form of a grant AND that the ANC purchase an ad for the commemorative book. Suggested ad price? Wait for it…$1,000.

Now, here’s the kicker. ANCs are permitted to purchase ads ONLY if they are meeting announcements. That’s right. Your tax dollars have purchased a $1,000 meeting announcement in a commemorative journal that will go to how many ANC1B residents? Your guess is as good as mine. All we know for sure is that the event is being widely advertised around the city and beyond.

Some other things worth noting. $5,000 is approximately 1/4 of the budget for this entire event, which has no entry fee. The amount awarded by the ANC also happens to be 1/6 of the entire grants budget for the fiscal year. The only other organization that has been awarded one of the coveted $5,000 grants is the Columbia Heights/Shaw Collaborative, which is an organization focused on “family stabilization,” and “promotion of safe communities where children and youth can thrive.”

While Commissioners Muhammad, Akinmboni and I advocated against such a large allocation, the motion was adopted 4-3 with Commissioners Holness, Moss, Raia and Ferrer supporting it. Commissioner Lopez was away on business, but had joined in the unanimous recommendation of the committee the week prior to support the grant at $1,500 and no more.

Those who regularly attend ANC meetings know I am something of a broken record on this point, which is why I have no shame in reiterating it here. These are tax dollars. We have the opportunity to use them in ways that truly enhance the lives of our constituents and improve our community. Or not.

A wise man once said to me, what feels good is not always right. What is right doesn’t always feel good. This is clearly a case of an event that is good. It’s in support of an organization that is helping restore a community landmark. But that doesn’t mean the Commission did the right thing by tax payers.

Here’s what you can do about it, residents of ANC1B:

1. Vote for fiscal responsibility when we elect new Commissioners in November. Heck, run yourself. We’re going to have a lot of vacancies in 1B.

2. Join the grants committee. And when the full Commission threatens to overrule the committee, be there in the audience at the monthly public meeting to speak your mind.

The next Grants Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, at the  Commission office, 2000 14^th Street N.W., Suite 100B. The next monthly meeting of the ANC is September 2.

3. Make sure you attend the community celebration on August 22 and get your money’s worth! The event is not posted on HTR’s web site, so I’ve included the invite the Commissioners received, which has all the details. Don’t worry, you’re not crashing. Your tax dollars paid for it.