|
|
|
Articles
|
| B&G Club asks city for $3.2 million to keep sites running |
VOICE writes, "B&G Club asks city for $3.2 million to keep sites running
BY PATTI SHEA
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington has proposed two contracts that would continue to fund 12 of its D.C. facilities, including Capitol Hill’s Eastern Branch, but activists say the city is getting a raw deal.
According to the memorandums of understanding, the Boys & Girls Club would agree to continue
operations through the end of the next fiscal year in exchange for $3.2 million from city coffers. The organization announced in April its intention to close the Eastern Branch (261 17th St., SE) and Georgetown’s Jelleff Branch (3265 S St., NW) due to budget constraints."
|
The contracts, which were sent to D.C. Council Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation chairman Harry Thomas Jr., allocate $597,500 for September operations and $2.65 million for operations throughout the 2008 fiscal year.
Also included in the contract is a clause that prevents the city from enacting eminent domain proceedings but allows the organization to collect requests for proposals and appraisals for the sites.
Capitol Hill resident Ellen Opper-Weiner characterized the club’s request as “holding the city hostage.”
Opper-Weiner is the co-founder of Neighbors United, a nonprofit formed to assume control of the Eastern Branch. The D.C. Council appropriated $350,000 for the group to use on programming at the branch.
“We’re ready to go. We’ve been ready to go for months,” Opper-Weiner said.
Opper-Weiner said the programming listed in the contracts doesn’t have additional services aside from what the organization is currently doing. “What does the city get in exchange?” she asked, adding that most clubs aren’t open on weekends and close too early on weekdays.
Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells said he wouldn’t support the contracts unless language was inserted insisting that the Boys & Girls Club meet with Neighbors United to discuss programming options.
“I wanted to be sure it’s not just the city covering the Boys & Girls deficit but do something new and expand it,” Wells said. “It needs to be a real investment by the city.”
In June, developer Doug Jemal expressed interest in partnering with Neighbors United to keep the recreational facility going.
“I like the people, I believe in the organization. I think it’s important,” Jemal told The Voice in June.
“We remain committed to expanding services,” Opper-Weiner said of the group. “We want to work cooperatively with [the Boys & Girls Club].”
Thomas spokesperson Vickie Chambers said the council member has forwarded the memos to the mayor’s office. “It’s out of our hands,” Chambers said.
Kevin Dowdell, chief operating officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, confirmed that negotiations are still under way between the city and his organization concerning the memos.
“We see the Boys & Girls Club as a potentially strong partner in the city’s efforts to provide better education opportunities for D.C. kids,” Dowdell said.
Dowdell said there has been no formal discussion on the future use or sale of the Eastern Branch site but that the group is “open to [talks with] a variety of organizations and entities.”
“We all want what’s best for the neighborhood,” he added.
Jelleff branch board president Denis James agreed the city funding is steep, considering there is no change in programming being offered.
“[The memos] allow the Boys & Girls Club to go on their merry way and get a lot of money while not giving any meaningful guarantees to the city,” James said.
Asked about the criticism over city funding, Dowdell said: “I think we’re a great bang for the bucks.”
Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans said in an off-the-cuff moment during a public meeting in May that eminent domain proceedings could be used to save Jelleff, spurring the organization to protect its valuable Georgetown property. Evans has never made any formal statement advocating seizure of the property.
James said eminent domain should not be the first action the city takes. “It’s a nice card to have to play,” he said, adding that the city should acquire the land and lease it to a nonprofit to run the club, not the city parks department.
Dena Iverson, a spokesperson for Mayor Adrian Fenty, said she could not confirm if the mayor had seen the contracts.
A deadline for formalizing the contracts could not be determined.
|
Posted on Sep 08, 2007 14:51pm.
(Return)
|
|
|
|
|
Categories
|
|
|
