Can Our Middle Class be Saved by DC Tax Revision Commission?

During over 50 years spent living in Washington, DC, I've seen very clearly that there are a large number of barriers preventing the poor, especially the black poor, from gaining Middle Class economic security.  Four years serving on a Mayor's Task Force on Street Vending was especially frustrating as I watched big business and our city administration cooperate to make Street Vending much harder for the poor to attempt.  We pro vending people who attended these weekly 3 hour meetings struggled to prevent the total elimination of street vending, but still were only able to save about half the available slots.  In the late 1990s one only needed $35 to register, and paid sales taxes on goods sold.  Then during the Kelly administration it was decided that vendors were not paying enough taxes, and a $1500 annual Fee in Lieu of Taxes was approved.  Many small neighborhood vendors did not have $26,000 in annual sales that made this a fair tax rate, and thus were forced out (see Issue 5 and 6). Ignorance of tax law should not be used as an excuse to oppress the poor.

In 2014 I will probably be running for public office as a DC Statehood Green Party candidate.  Our Party has decided that concern for "Returned Citizens" will be a major issue.  With over 60,000 mostly black DC citizens who have served time in prison, plus their families, this issue has major impact.  Paul Zuckerberg raised the issue of marijuana arrest records harming the future of young people.  There are 2 1/2 times as many of those arrests as graduates from high school each year.  Our own 2013 At Large Council candidate Perry Redd strongly supported the decriminilization of marijuna arrests during his campaign.  It looks as if our Council may actual adopt this stance with a new law.  For many jobs you have to check a box regarding a criminal record. Street Vending was one work possibility that did not have this barrier to employment.  In my own campaigning I will stress the importance of encouraging basic entrepreneurship as a path from poverty to the middle class.

Testimony before DC Tax Revision Commission (TRC), Nov. 12, 2013 

by G. Lee Aikin

First let me thank you for all your hard work on this complex topic. My testimony will emphasize two issues—harm from failure to index, and saving the middle class. The middle class is in serious trouble, you are in a position to help. People hate taxes and ignore them if possible. Therefore serious inequities creep into DC and the Federal tax codes with little public notice. Often by failure to index, as is true of several DC tax problems. I am most familiar with the D-40 and D-30 forms, but urge that others be examined carefully. Three minutes allows little time to present other concerns--Class 2, 3, and 4 taxes; the $1500 Fee in Lieu of Taxes for street vendors; the Basic Business License; Homestead property tax deductions; and hardship exemptions--so I hope you will read my entire testimony and attachments. These inequities and other factors locally and nationally have seriously diminished the middle and lower middle class. Without much possibility of achieving middle class status, the lower classes can loose hope and respect for the Social Contract. This can have dangerous results.

Issue 1)  Most distressing is failure to preserve the equality of Deductions and Exemptions when Home Rule was achieved in1973-4, and they were comparable to the Federal rates. Federal rates have annual COLAs. DC changes had to be voted annually, but were not. By 1991 taxpayers had lost 50% of this benefit. In 2004 my DC taxes had doubled relative to Federal taxes, I discovered NO added change had been made in 13 years. David Catania agreed it made sense to “couple” our D&E's with the Federal rate. But, no Council actions took effect until 2006 and 2008. Since then nothing.  [I am gratified to report that the Tax Revision Commission has recommended using the Federal Deduction and Exemption rates.  This would keep about $85 million in the pockets of our taxpayers.]

In 2012, a family of 4 would typically subtract $10,700 in D&E's from Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the D-40 form. If our D&E's were coupled with the Federal rate, they could have subtracted $27,100 in D&E's from AGI. This is a difference of $16,400. Thus, the family would have paid $786 on D-40 Taxable Income of $16,400. Using the Federal D&E's they would have paid ZERO. A similar family with $56,400 income would pay $1,394 less in D-40 taxes. Others have testified about serious inequities with Schedule H, used to help low income renters and homeowners.

Issue 2)  The D-30 needs major overhaul. Instructions are opaque [i.e. DC Apportionment Factor: “Multiply the total income by a fraction. The numerator is the property factor plus the payroll factor plus the sales factor. The denominator is three, reduced by the number of factors without a denominator.] I'm told this is a tax attorney make work project. To change that, examples should be given as they are in the Federal 1040 instructions. Many very small Unincorporated Businesses only have a little rental income, or sell a few things. If all income is DC earned, why not allow inclusion of the Federal Schedule C and/or E, and skip filling out redundant facts in D-30 Schedules A,C, E, and G, not to mention most of the rest of the form. In 1986 the D-30 became required of all Gross Income above $12,000 with a $100 fee even if there was a NET LOSS. Now a $250 fee is required. To be fair, the Gross Income should rise to at least $30,000. [A $5,000 deduction is allowed, and up to 30% for personal labor to operate the business, so an adjustment could be made in the D-40 to allow these benefits with an increase to $30,000.]

Issue 3)  The idea that D-40 should add “taxed Social Security” to income is unconscionable. SS, first taxed in 1983 under Reagan, had a tax calculator “benefits worksheet” allowing singles a $25,000 deduction, and couples $32,000. This is unchanged in 30 years. According to the CPI calculator, the 2013 figures should be $58,427 and $74,787. Unadjusted a person with $20,000 SS and $40,000 AGI will pay tax on almost half their SS; $50,000 AGI and above, on 85% of their SS, another assault on the middle class. DC's current D-40 deduction for Federally taxed SS helps rectify this gross unfairness.

Issue 4)  The Class 2 Business Property tax and Class 3 and 4 Vacant Property taxes need serious changes.  Reducing the $1.85 Class 2 rate to $1.65 for property assessed under $3 million is a help, but really does not fix business in blighted areas. Businesses in Anacostia and upper Georgia Ave. often minimally improve their property. Taxes in PG Co. are much lower, and Montgomery Co. has variable rates. Why can't DC have variable rates or considerably smaller rates on low assessed properties?

 The Vacant Property tax rates are outrageous, far greater than any in the US, and violate at least the spirit of DC Code 47-817 Comparison of rates and burdens, “...it is the intention of Congress, that the tax burdens in the District be reasonably comparable to those in the surrounding jurisdictions...” [See attachment] The one month vacancy registration rule is way outside the one year vacancy norm elsewhere. [In addition, as soon as you register, your tax is immediately jumped 6 or 12 times the old rate. One 60+ person I know lost her row house because she didn't realize she should file for an exemption and thus received a $105,000 tax bill.]

Issue 5)  The $1500 Fee in Lieu of Taxes is an outrage against street and truck vendors. It is far above the tax small part-time neighborhood vendors might pay on sales. And some highly successful truck vendors are probably not paying their fair share. A half day of tax training upon licensing should solve this problem and be much fairer. This would be similar to the kind of training certification provided for food handlers in restaurants and on food trucks. In the late 1980s one could get a vending license for $35 dollars and pay actual income taxes and 6% on sales. The $1500 has to be paid even when one has almost no income such as in January, February and March. There is also a moratorium on renewing a dropped license. Here too, poor and middle class entrepreneurs are being harmed and disincentivized.

Issue 6)  Another unfair and counterproductive tax related matter is the Basic Business License. Requiring licensing of all businesses is another serious disincentive to business formation by our younger and poorer potential entrepreneurs. The BBL should not be required below a certain gross income level, such as $100,000.. A rule could be made that businesses below that would also take a half day of tax training on how to prepare their business taxes including the Federal Schedules C and E that pertain to business income. A simple registration fee of $25 could cover this cost. This could exempt them from the BBL and improve tax collection. In addition, the “clean hands self-certification” that says one does not owe the city $100 or more in taxes or fines is big problem. I know people who in 2010 used the Tax Amnesty to clean up their tax situations, and then the following year received OTR bills in the $hundreds and even $thousands saying they owed taxes which in fact had been resolved. Sometimes it takes months to clear up these OTR errors, to finally allowing the BBL to be granted.

More on Issue 1)  Regarding the Deductions and Exemptions issue I would like to add the following. As pointed out above, with “coupled” rates a family of 4 would pay taxes on $16,400 less income. Thus no tax would be paid unless the Adjusted Gross Income was above $27,100. [$27,100 IRS1040 D&E - $10,700 D-40 D&E's = $16,400] Without this $16,400 reduction, the 2012 tax is $786. A family of 4 with Taxable Income of $26,400 or with $36,400 would save $984 with coupling. At $46,400 the saving is $1,144. At $56,400 and above the savings are $1,394.

An educated guess suggests that around $100,000,000 might remain in the pockets of taxpayers with coupling. [The TRC's estimate is $85 million.]  Imagine what this would do to our local economy where it could be spent on food, housing, clothing and other merchandise. These “high velocity dollars” would then generate additional sales and income taxes for the city, considerably lowering the initial loss. Moreover, with recent tax income surpluses ranging near $300 to $500 million we can afford to do this. A small increase of top tax rates could rectify any revenue problems created. [The top earning bracket rate of 8.95% is due to expire 12/31/15 and drop to 8.5%.  The TRC recommends lowering to 8.75% in 2016 permanently for singles above $200,000 and marrieds above $350,000.  Since they calculate the total revenue given their recommendations will have a $30.8 million shortfall, should there be a slightly higher rate for the very well off, perhaps those above $1 million?]  Has all this inequity and tax neglect helped drive lower middle class families out of the city to PG County? This should be studied and analyzed.

Issue 7)  Another concern involving COLA's is Homeowner exemptions. While there have been increases in the Homestead Exemption amounts over the years, this too seems not to have kept up with inflation. Analyzing several cases known to me, it appears that the Homestead Exemption percent is only about 2/3rds what it was years ago. The 50% Property Tax reduction allowed for senior citizens is now threatened by the maximum allowed Household Income. A $100,000 maximum was established in 1992. For 2013, the CPI calculator shows $166,892. However, The Age-in-Place and Equitable Senior Citizen Real Property Act of 2011 only increased it to $125,000. If children with good incomes come to live and care for Mom and Dad in their failing years, they are seriously penalized if they still have to maintain their original home. Once again, the middle class is being hurt.

Issue 8)  Another concern, also related to D&E's is the Exemption for “over 65” or “blind.” After caring years for my husband who died of Alzheimers, I can tell you blind care would have been much easier. Let us lead the nation by allowing an exemption for anyone who is medically certified as being at least as handicapped as a blind person, i.e., wheelchair bound, dementia, etc.

While studying posts by the TRC, I was thoroughly puzzled by inclusion of Figure II-h showing “Current Law and Changes Recommended by the D.C. Tax revision Commission as Shares of 1998 Family income for all Taxpayers” and 3 more related Figures. This seemed to be part of a recent report of TRC recommendations, and I wondered why you did not use the 1-30-13 ITEP Table 1 which is also attached. If the 1998 Recommended total taxes is what I saw, then it is clear it recommended that the middle 89% should pay the most, ranging from 10.1% to 11.3%, while the richest 1% would pay 9.4% and the poorest 20% pay 8.9%.

If this is actually the current thinking, that is even worse. The Institution for Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP) uses 2010 income levels which shows (after a Federal deduction offset) that the middle 20% paid the most—11%. On either side 9.8% and 9.4% was paid. Thus the middle class again paid the most. The poorest 20% paid 6.6%, but the richest 1% were the winners, paying only 6.3%. Surely this Commission can do better.

In sum, I strongly urge you to do your best to reverse national and local efforts causing the systematic evisceration of Middle Class prosperity and hope for those even farther behind economically.

ITEP 1-30-13 Release, Table 1 of 2010 tax rates by Quintiles

* * * * * *

I have covered a number of these issues in detail in earlier blog articles here.  See the Sept. 3, 2013 post: INDEX of all Posts, Recent to Oldest, Dates, Titles

Articles related to taxes are dated in red, and the articles in early 2012 are related to DC taxes. There is an October 21, 2012 post on saving Social Security, which also is oriented toward saving the Middle Class.

G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood Green Party

$12 Minimum Wage Sought for Montgomery Co., MD; & DC Mayor's $12.50 LRAA Decision

Will our Mayor and Council surrender to Walmart blackmail?  [UNFORTUNATELY, YES]

Final revote -- Alas, the Council was unable to override the Mayor's veto.  In fact Anita Bonds actually dropped her support and voted NOT to override.  Does this indicate a split between her and Marion Barry??  If she runs for At Large again will this cost her support among poorer workers who might have been able to earn enough to barely support their families with $12.50?
Here is a detailed article about the final votes.

In separate but related developments, significant increases in minimum wages are being proposed and fought for throughout the country.  How much thought is being given to a maximum wage?

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-17/local/42141817_1_living-wage-veto-current-minimum-wage

9/12/13  This just in, as anticipated, the Mayor has indeed vetoed the $12.50 for LRAA.  9/23/13   The Council has been unable to override the veto, and David Catania has introduced a $10.50 minimum wage bill.   His Mayoral opponent, Muriel Bowser (she of the 2 Walmarts in one ward) voted against the $12.50 wage.

In Washington, DC, the proposed law requiring large stores to pay their workers $12.50 is a topic of immediate interest and emotion.  Eight of 13 members in the DC City Council have voted YES on this measure including declared Mayoral candidate Jack Evans.  Unfortunately Mayoral candidates Muriel Bowser (whose Ward 4 has 2 Walmarts already under construction) and Tommy Wells, somehow believe that a wage of $26,000 for a 40 hour, 52 week job is sufficient to raise a family.  Since part time work is often the lot of workers in these kinds of job, they need to consider that the gross wages of someone working 30 hours for 50 weeks is only $18,750.  All this, of course, is before any taxes, Medicare or FICA has been deducted.  Mary Cheh, (Ward 4), who is up for election in 2014, Yvette Alexander (Ward 7) who squeaked into office again with a scant 40% vote, and David Catania (At Large) who is also up for election in 2014 are the remaining NO votes.

Please note that Council members' salaries a year ago ranged from $125 to $128 thousand, and a number also hold well paid outside jobs.  Phil Mendelson, who supports the $12.50 minimum, earns around $190,000.  Most of their staffers earn more than twice $12.50 an hour and some earn more than the Council members. See details below.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/dozens-of-100k-earners-staffing-d.c.-council/article/2505151

Now Mayor Gray, who has not yet declared for Mayor and is facing a $600,000 issue of campaign finance irregularities, has only a few more days to give this measure a YES or NO vote.  It has been reported that he lives near a proposed Walmart store location, but surely there are other retailers who could be motivated to choose this location.  No Mayor or Council should allow themselves to be blackmailed the day before a major vote by a threat by Walmart or any other business, to cancel their planned stores.  Of course, there are many who question why we should want 6 Walmarts in DC, given their questionable labor practices and  bribery conducted in other countries.  One also wonders whether Walmart has behaved here as they have elsewhere.

Charges of corruption and bribery are being investigated in Mexico, India and Brazil.  The New York Times has been following this story and "reveals that Wal-Mart de Mexico was not the reluctant victim of a corrupt culture that insisted on bribes as the cost of doing business. Nor did it pay bribes merely to speed up routine approvals. Rather, Wal-Mart de Mexico was an aggressive and creative corrupter, offering large payoffs to get what the law otherwise prohibited. It used bribes to subvert democratic governance — public votes, open debates, transparent procedures. It used bribes to circumvent regulatory safeguards that protect Mexican citizens from unsafe construction. It used bribes to outflank rivals.   

The above is a quote from  http://jimwes.com/bigcorruption/id1.html, a detailed review of corruption and bribery involving a number of US companies.  Alas, Walmart is not the only company engaging in illegal bribes and corruption, but after reviewing some of the others, it seems to be the biggest wanting to play in our DC sandbox.  Furthermore, as you can see from the information below copied from Walmart's own site: www.walmartrealty.com, they definitely envision that they will have closed stores, and that there will also be closed businesses around these stores.  In fact this has been a major complaint--that they undersell other stores, even their own nearby Walmarts, to force neighboring businesses to fail and then buy them for redevelopment.  It seems logical that this is what they are doing in Ward 4, which is poised for economic takeoff, with their two stores.

Welcome To Walmart Realty

Walmart Realty, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is a real estate company that offers many development opportunities nationwide. Walmart Realty concentrates on commercial real estate located in or around our current and former locations.  Walmart Realty's mission is to find businesses to open in our former stores and clubs and to locate in available property around our stores. At Walmart Realty, we believe we have a responsibility to work with communities to find a use that generates economic growth and opportunity. We work at the local level with local brokers, economic development officials and elected leaders to find partners that best suits the needs of each local community.

In March 2014, I decided to go look at the upper Georgia Av. Walmart and the surrounding businesses. This Walmart is one story with ample parking.  The businesses across the street are also one story.  When asked if Walmart had affected their businesses the reaction was mixed, with some saying a very negative effect.  The biggest complaint was that they used to have parking in front of their stores so customers could park, pop in for a quick purchase and leave.  Now they have lost that parking because the street has been reconfigured to have only two lanes in front of them, but 3 lanes in front of Walmart.  Should they be forced to sell because of business failure, Walmart will have prime real estate where they can put up much taller buildings, and even build on top of themselves.

So I  guess the question is, who are the local elected leaders, development officials and brokers whom they are working with, and what rewards, if any, have been promised or paid to these same persons.  Are these the same people who have voted against a marginally living wage of $12.50 an hour?

A wage of $12.50 an hour may seem like a lot, but given the high price of living and finding housing in DC it is barely adequate.  In fact it has just been reported that Montgomery County is considering a minimum wage of $12.00 an hour for the ENTIRE county, and for ALL businesses, not just the big, high profit/income stores that are specified in DC's bill.  Of course, Walmart's top brass has little empathy for the struggles of their workers.  The top five executives in 2013 earned a total of $62,574,227.  Their leader, Michael Duke is paid $20,693,545.  See this link for more details.
http://insiders.morningstar.com/trading/executive-compensation.action?t=WMT

In DC This Large Retailer Accountability Act will apply to stores with revenue over $1 billion, and 75,000 square feet.  This is a relatively small number of businesses who can well afford the $12.50, although they might have to pay upper management slightly less than they do now.

The August 30, 2013 issue of "Washington Hispanic" has a front page article about a law proposed in Maryland this Labor Day.  I will translate and summarize this article by Victor Caycho titled "Minimum Salary of $12 per hour."  "To rise above poverty we must begin with a fair salary", declared council member At-Large, Marc Erlich (D), author of this initiative.  He announced his presentation of a law to increase the minimum wage in Montgomery Co. MD for the entire county which has a growing Hispanic population.  The current $7.25 was placed in effect July 24, 2009.  He will formally present the bill on Sept. 10.

The plan includes salary adjustments based on inflation.  It also establishes that the county Commission of Human Rights will supervise the application of the law.  Erlich pointed out "Persistent poverty is the result of persistently low salaries in our economy."  Furthermore, the law would not just be applied locally, but would extend "to the businesses of the entire county."  He pointed out, "we have many thousands of workers who, in spite of working every day, don't earn enough to rise above the poverty level.  Thus, if they can, they seek help from local government for the necessities of housing, health and nutrition."

After reading the above statement I Googled "Walmart low wages cost taxpayers."  A lot of articles came up, and rather than choose some liberal sites whose names I recognized, I looked at a site for business oriented Forbes.  Even there the author said this was a serious issue that we taxpayers really need to study and know more about.  Then I read the six comments.  Five pointed out many uncomplimentary things about Walmart.  The one focused on the issue of welfare and related cheating and cheaters.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraheller/2013/05/31/are-wal%E2%80%90marts-low-wages-a-drag-on-the-economy-new-report-says-yes/

Erlick declared that "This is the time to fix this problem and Labor Day is the right date for us to unite with cities throughout the country which understand that rising above poverty and being self-sufficient begins with a fair and transparent salary."

Let us hope that our Washington, DC is one of those cities, and especially if the neighbor on our northern border is going to have a $12.00 minimum wage for ALL businesses, then surely our largest retailers can afford $12.50.  If Montgomery Co. has this pay scale, the argument that DC business will go over the border because it is cheaper there will be moot.  Please contact the mayor, vincent.gray@dc.gov, or phone his office at  888-264-6154.  Urge him not to veto the LRAA and bow to Walmart Blackmail.

[April 2014]  The Primary Election has come and gone.  An impressively small number of voters decided with a non majority vote to promote Muriel Bowser to the Democrat Mayoral candidacy.  Now she is challenged by David Catania, Independent.  Recently in Seattle, a progressive candidate won, much to the consternation of the 1% who are now licking their wounds and fighting back.  The winning candidate campaigned on a $15 minimum wage.  We can learn much from studying her successful campaign.

INDEX of all Posts, Recent to Oldest, Dates, Titles

As a convenience to my readers here is an index of all Posts with Dates, Titles and Subject (where the title is not clear), and guest authors.  At first most posts were about DC issues, but once I was running for Congress, I also added national issues.  Tax and income issue articles have dates printed RED. Environmental posts are GREEN.  Health and wellness issues are BLUE.  Political posts are PURPLE.  My political information and original ideas are highlighted.  Just click the blue lined titles to go directly to the blog post.  Otherwise go to the year and month to your left.  I would love to see more comments.

For the November 2014 & 2016 General Elections I ran for DC Council Chairman as a member of the DC Statehood Green Party.  If you wish to support my future candidacy or this blog, please send a check marked ELECT G. LEE AIKIN, to 1754 Swann St., NW, Washington, DC 20009.  My current biggest issue is saving McMillan Park from a NO-BID developer.

Year 2015:

11/25/15 DC Government Fails to Use $Millions of HUD Money, In Apparent Effort to Speed Up Gentrification (guest post Angela White Narain)
11/19/15 Excelon/PEPCO takeover, PSC Hearing Nov. 17 & 18, 2015.  They Desperately Need Our Ratepayers.  Testimony from anti-Exelon Witnesses
11/19/15 DC PSC Community Hearing Witness List for 11-17 & 18, 2015 Hearing (condensed)
9/28/15   Hajj: Muslim Tragedy in Mecca - Mass Casualties in 2015 Hajj, Cause & Prevention?
8/14/15   Chinese Disasters - Environment and Social Problems of Rapid Development
4/15/15   DC Taxes - 2015 Update: GOOD and BAD News, This Could Save YOU Money
2/19/15   A Solar Energy Revolution in Washington, DC Could Inspire the World (guest post Don Wharton)
1/21/15   Exelon/PEPCO Merger--Is It Good for DC Residents?

Year 2014:

11/12/14 McMillan Park, an Opportunity for DC Council to Serve the People Not Developers (guest additions from Daniel Wolkoff and Kirby Vining)

10/21/14 Shipping Containers Homes, Can Creative Use Help Solve the Low Cost Housing Crisis?

10/6/14   HOW MANY EBOLA VICTIMS COULD BIG PHARMA KILL?  If They and the Medical Establishment Don't Try Low Cost Available Treatments

10/3/14   DC Taxes to come down in 2019?, or NOT, as DC Council Approves 2 Tax Revision Commission Recommendations to FINALLY Put $85 million Annually in Our Pockets!

9/22/14   Free DC:  The US Capital is the Last Plantation (guest post Scott McLarty)

9/20/14   G. Lee Aikin answers DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, Candidate Questionnaire

9/12/14   DC Mayoral race, 2014, Catania and Schwartz Views on Small Entrepreneurs/Street Vendors (1998)

9/9/14     G. Lee Aikin, Experience, Goals & Hopes, as Candidate, Chairman, DC Council, 2014

8/14/14   DC Elections Heat Up:  Out to See the Action at DC for Democracy

3/18/14   DC Council Approval of 2 Tax Revision Commission Recommendations Will Put $85 Million     Annually in Our Pockets

3/17/14   Low Income Housing Needs New Ideas

3/10/14 - League of Women Voters Questionnaire--Tax Revision Comm., Affordable Housing, Electoral Reform, Charter/Public Schools

3/4/14     We Must Implement DC Marijuana Laws--Decriminalization & Legalization

1/17/14   Pres. Obama, "Save the Middle Class;" Sen. McCain, "Put an End to Greed!"

1/11/14   Congress Illustrates DC's Need for Statehood Once Again: Prohibits Using Our Tax $$

Year 2013:

12/8/13   Keystone XL Pipeline, Prevent Future Tragedy Now: Qingdao Pipeline Explosion Kills 62

11/18/13 Can Our Middle Class be Saved by DC Tax Revision Commission?

9/5/13     $12 Minimum Wage Sought for Montgomery Co., MD; and DC Mayor's $12.50 LRAA Decision

9/3/13     INDEX of all Posts, Recent to Oldest, Dates, Titles (Click to Updated Index)

9/1/13     50th Anniversary MLK March - Statehood Dreams, Personal Memories

8/13/13   The LOWV questionnaire from 3/27/12 was jumped to this date??

8/1013    DC $12.50 Living Wage, & Walmart Blackmail (and Perry Redd)

4/22/13   DC Special Election, At Large Candidates, April 23, 2013

4/15/13   Boston Marathon Bombing, Summary & Updates

4/4/13     DC Emancipation Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

4/1/13     Straw Bale Buildings & Solar for a Sustainable Earth

2/8/13     DC At Large Council Vote 4-23-13, Perry Redd DCSGP Candidate

2/8/13     Perry Redd, At Large, DC Statehood Green Party Candidate

1/6/13     New Congress has more Women, Especially Women (guest post Jo Freeman)

Year 2012:

11/5/12   Unemployment Crisis, 5th post - A New National Lifestyle, (a 6 part series)

11/4/12   Unemployment Crisis, 4th post - A New National Lifestyle

11/2/12   Unemployment Crisis, 3rd post - A New National Lifestyle

10/27/12 Unemployment Crisis, 2nd post - A New National Lifestyle

10/26/12 Unemployment Crisis, 1st post - A New National Lifestyle

10/21/12 Worldwide Unemployment Crisis:  Work, has it Changed Permanently (intro to above 5 Posts)

10/21/12 Saving Social Security, Wage Cap, Marriage Penalty, Failure to Index
10/17/12 Council/Mayor Expulsion for Felony on Nov. Ballot
9/29/12   DC Sacrifice, Blood & Lives, Merit Statehood
9/13/12   Chicago School/Conservative Views of Economy (guest post Don Wharton)
9/4/12     Are You Better Off Today vs 4 Years Ago: "Better" Defined
8/26/12   Rape & Republicans:  Their Rape Ideology & Tod Akin Ignorance
8/6/12     Obesity Epidemic, Diabetes, Sugar, Fat and "Obamacare"
7/25/12   Spam Scams from Craigslist and Elsewhere, Buying, Selling, Renting, Responding
6/29/12   Obama/Roberts Empower Health Care - Now Our Duty Begins
6/16/12   A Solar Energy Revolution (guest post Don Wharton)
6/12/12   The Supreme Court, Anniversary of Another Big Mistake
6/12/12   DC Statehood Green "Shadow" Candidates' Declarations Accepted at BOEE, also                 Chairmanship vote announced
5/14/12   DC Tax Rates Hurt Working Poor & Middle Class, also Loss of Federal Payment
5/11/12   Harry Thomas Inspired Council Act Received by BOEE (and 10/7/12 update comment)
5/3/12     Ballot Access Update:  More DC BOEE Fun and Games
4/30/12   DC 2013 Budget:  Cut the Poor, Collect More Fines
4/22/12   Bd. of Elections & Ethics, Unethical Games??
4/22/12   McMillan Park Reservoir Development Planning
4/9/12     Let's Promote STATEHOOD and a GREEN City (11 ideas)
4/3/12     ARE YOU A FROG?  Jump out, call DC Council (major tax inequities)
3/31/12   Saving Lower Income DC Taxpayers & Businesses
3/27/12   League of Women Voters Questionnaire (for G. Lee Aikin At Large, (repositioned at 8/13/13)
3/26/12   A Family History of Labor Activism (my biography with labor emphasis)
3/26/12   DC People Overtaxed & Underserves:  or Rip Van Winkle Sleeps On
2/12/12   DC People Overpay for Years as Council Neglects Inflation Fixes (on DC taxes)
2/12/12   G. Lee Aikin, Experience, Goals, Hopes (my resume for At Large Council race)

50th Anniversary MLK March--DC Statehood Dreams, Personal Memories

Fifty years ago, my late husband and I were on the Mall in DC when Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his world famous "I have a dream" speech.  Fifty years later I was there again, at both well attended marches--one on Saturday, Aug. 24th, and the other the actual anniversary date, Aug. 28th.  In the interest of speed I will send out an alert on this post when it is written.  Then I will embed photos and send word again when that is accomplished.]

I will cover 3 main aspects in this article--the presentation and politics of this event (especially as reflected locally), participation and impressions of DC Statehood Green Party members and the FreeDC group, and personal life experiences that led to my being at all three events.  The two main marches were sponsored by National Action Network run by Rev. Al Sharpton and the King Center headed by the King family.  They had the permits.  The early Saturday event at the DC WWI War Memorial had DC control, which is to say control by local Democrats.

A comprehensive report with a progressive perspective was posted by Dave Zirin on 8/24/13 at The Nation.com/blog, about, "Seeing new Jim Crow placards seized by Police"

I am condensing his post and including some additional comments of my own in [ ].
     Spending 8 hours there saw the number one face on T-shirts, etc. was Trayvon Martin.  Others called for jobs programs [LiUNA], protested school closures, and overseas victims of US militarism. They showed resistance to MLK's "evil triplets of militarism, materialism and racism."
     Main speakers failed to match the politics and urgency of those present, few even tried.  Julian Bond got 2 minutes, Rev. Jesse Jackson got less than a pop song.  Rev. Lennox Yearwood, whose HipHop Caucus is doing some of the most important work in US connecting climate change to racism, 90 seconds.  Only heard one speaker at 8 am pre-rally mention the word "drones", total discussion of US foreign policy for the day.  It appears that MLK probably would not even been allowed to speak.  Too many speakers paid homage to the narrowest possible liberal agenda in broad abstractions.  None of MLK's searing truths.
     Eric Holder who has taken 5 years to acknowledge mass incarceration [of black people mostly due to low level drug/marijuana convictions] had 30 minutes.  This gathering totally ignored Bayard Rustin's decree 50 years ago that no politicians or political appointees be allowed to speak.
     Most shocking was seeing DC Park police seize 200 professionally printed placards from activists distributing them for free, which said "Stop Mass Incarceration.  Stop the new Jim Crow."  Police said it was "unlawful solicitation," even though given free.  Those objecting to this seizure were threatened with fines or arrest.  One DC police officer said, "Hey, you can get them back at the end of the day.  On second thought, given your attitude you cannot."  [Is there a law suit possible here?]  This was a first, but the demonstration was unusually thickly monitored, with Park Police, Homeland Security, and Military everywhere.
     King's "triplets of evil" still strangle this country.  If we are not talking about the New Jim Crow, Wall Street and militarism, then what are we doing?

This was Dave Zirin's summary of the Aug. 24 event.  When I also went to the Aug. 28 event, it was even more tightly monitored probably because 3 past and present Presidents were going to speak.  It was not even permitted to take signs or banners inside the security cordon.  Everyone entering the area that ran from the far end of the reflecting pool up to the Lincoln Memorial  went through a security check that included placing personal items and bags on a table to be examined--a slow process.  I, my signs, and many others stayed outside on the grassy area running back to the Washington Monument.  Although there were loudspeakers, it was hard to hear the speakers, I and a large number of others returned home after President Obama spoke.

Several of the major speakers raised our DC Statehood issue.  Former President Jimmy Carter pointed out that without MLK it is unlikely that he, Clinton or Obama would have served in the White House.  He called attention to MLK's statement "The crucial question of our time is how to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence."  He also raised the issue of the recent Supreme Court ruling reducing voting rights protections, and the fact that over 835,000 African-American men are in prison.  The enthusiastically applauded statement that "I think we all know how Dr. King would have reacted for the people of DC still not having full citizenship rights," says it all for those of us who live here.

DC POLITICS & PARTICIPATION

We who have worked consistently to gain Statehood for DC, specifically the DC Statehood Green Party and Free DC, had no representation at the 2 main events at the Lincoln Memorial.  Only Anise Jenkins (Free DC) was even allowed to say a few words at the DC sponsored early rally at the DC WWI War Memorial, even though Statehood was the theme of this DC rally.
     Scott McLarty (DCSGP) reports that this was despite repeated requests.  He also heard no mention of Julius Hobson, Hilda Mason, Jo Butler, or any other leaders in the movement for DC democracy who founded the DC Statehood Party in 1970.  This is now part of the DC Statehood Green Party, part of the Green Party of the US, the only party that calls for DC statehood in its national platform.  While some Democrats including Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton have called for "DC Voting Rights," a single "House" vote [no Senators], they fail to emphasize that this is not an acceptable substitute for self-determination, self-government, and full representation in Congress.
     Statehood for DC was left out of the Democrat Campaign Platform in 04, 08, and 2012.  If Ms. Norton thought that this would persuade Congress to give us 1 vote along with Utah, she was mistaken.  Recently local Republicans have even been trying to encourage DC residents to work with Congressional Republicans to achieve "territorial" status which would eliminate our three precious electoral votes.  Republicans would love that!!

I was glad to see that so many DC supporters had gathered at the 8:30 am Saturday rally at the DC WWI War Memorial.  I was happy to see that Anise Jenkins, at least, could say a few words, but was disappointed but not surprised that the DC Democrat planners iced out any DCSGP participation.
     In our DCSGP group we had two of our banners displayed and one large poster sign.  Taking turns carrying the two polls for each banner, or otherwise marching with our group, were David Bosserman and Olivia Cadaval, Perry Redd and Barbara Patterson and grandchildren, Don Wharton and G. Lee Aikin, Scott McLarty, and Ming Lowe.  We marched from the DC WWI site back toward 17th St. and along the south side of the WWII War Memorial until we and many others were blocked by a barricade.  We later heard it was erected to allow speakers and celebrities to go to the Lincoln Memorial.  It was later removed. After sitting down for rest, conversation, and food, we had not decided on a united course of action and dispersed in different directions.
     Ingrid Monkiewica and Barbara Patterson then carried one banner from the DC rally to the WWII Memorial.  Then Ingrid made her way to the Lincoln Memorial, where the entire plateau was fenced off for VIPs and Press.  No "normal" people were anywhere near the speakers, even those who had camped there all night.  Later she saw a few single-issue campaigners holding their own rallies on Independence.
     Ming Lowe reports that the Montgomery Co. Green Party was also in the 'house', led by Tim Willard.  He especially praises Anise Jenkins for being a volunteer for the Mayor's committee since its inception.  He ventured closer to the Lincoln Memorial and saw on the (one) jumbo-tron several good speakers, and one great one--the Honorable John Lewis (who at age 23 was the youngest speaker 50 years ago).  "Some of his proposed remarks in 1963 were cut, for being too radical.  Guess what?   Not a lot has changed,  Let's use this moment, this week, this lifetime to keep the movement progressing.  My small part will be to engage young people more, and more young people.  (Don't worry, I won't tell them not to 'trust anyone over 30...after all, that applies to me as well!!)"  [I understand there is a move afoot to get more of our DC University students involved in DC politics, let's sign them up for DCSGP.]
     Ann Wilcox reports that she and Kristin Hedges carried one of the "old" DCSGP banners.  She also saw Linda Leakes, John Hanrahan and other DCSGP folks in the crowd.  "Overall, I thought the DC presence was good--one shout-out from the podium by Nancy Pelosi for DC Statehood was not sufficient, though!"

Keith Ivey took a number of photos.  One of Anise Jenkins is here.  And the whole set.

Regarding national Green Party solidarity, Scott McLarty submitted a Green Party statement, and a statement by George Paz Martin, Peace Ambassador in the Green Shadow Cabinet

     At 16 years of age on the morning of Aug.28, 1963, I woke up to a new day in our country.  We felt so alone driving through the dark night from Milwaukee to Washington.  That bright morning we were joining with hundreds of thousands of people for the Great March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  This day was my "Coming of Age."  I was a teenager consumed with studies, work, sport and friends.  That day I felt beyond myself--that I was part of a great movement, a mass of beautiful, friendly people, of all races and ages wanting freedom and equality for all.
     Becoming separated from his group he reports:  The crowd became focused on Dr. King and his every word as he read his prepared speech.  I was about ten feet from him when Mahalia Jackson, the great gospel singer, shouted to him, "Martin, tell us about the dream."  He set his papers down, rose up and began to preach giving his memorable "I have a Dream" speech--words that inspired us all and generations to come.
     That day was the turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.  It resulted in Congress passing the monumental "Civil Rights Act" later that year....the problem today is that much of America is still dreaming.
* Back then, we marched against job discrimination, and today it still exists not only regarding race but also sex and age.  Man jobs have been exported overseas for greater global corporate profits.
* Back then, we marched for fair housing, and now we have mortgage foreclosures and homelessness.
* He also highlighted the issues of education, voting rights, corporate money and lobbying, fair immigration laws, gay rights, support for whistle blowers and truth tellers, attempted corporate takeover of the world with so-called trade agreements such as the Trans Pacific Partnership.
     In the words of Dr. Cornel West, "Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was unbossed and unbought."  If still alive today, Dr. King would be more likely to serve in the Green Shadow Cabinet than in the cabinet of the current White House.

PERSONAL REMEMBERANCES:

As a white person, my first conscious awareness of race was in Kindergarten.  Earlier I had been cared for by black women while my mother worked but have only a vague feeling of comfortableness when near black women today.  Our school janitor, Mr. Barnes, organized and produced The Kindergarten Circus each year.  I still remember him patiently trying to teach me how to bounce a ball, and later conversations in the school halls.  Only years later did I realize how unfair it was that a man of that talent, drive, and creativity was so limited, but still worked so hard to rise above his circumstances.

A lot of homes were being built in my neighborhood to house WWII veterans.  I used to spend hours watching the black masons building these brick houses.  I was about 8.  When the weather was cold I had the idea to sell them hot coffee which my mother fixed.  They invited me into their heated trailer where we would talk, and they would even bring me Marvel Comic books at times.  I had a real appreciation of these hard working family men, and think it is deplorable that we do not teach such valuable trades in DC.

The few black families in my town in New Jersey lived on the side of the main street bordering the Jersey marshes and the railroad tracks.  When there would be a marsh fire, I would worry as I saw flames approaching their homes as the fire department fought to save them.

One year when my father came home from a union conference in Atlantic City he was pacing up and down the kitchen declaiming his outrage.  "When we went to our hotel they wouldn't take our 2 black delegates.  I urged our members to cross the street to the hotel that would take them and they refused to do so.  And these guys call themselves TRADE UNIONISTS!!!  They ought to be ashamed!!"  I was 10 or 11 and had never seen my father so angry except when he hit his thumb with a hammer.

At college in Iowa City (where this year's National Green Party Convention was held), I was impressed with the leadership of  our black female precinct captain as we worked to elect John F. Kennedy.  I arrived in DC the day after he was elected, and subsequently married my husband who had left Iowa City a few months earlier to accept a scholarship at AU to study international labor relations..
     Years later we were amazed to discover that we each had ancestors who had stations on the Underground Railroad.  His family's was in southern Illinois near Kentucky, and mine was in Detroit, the jump-off point for Windsor, Canada.  After the Civil War began one of my ancestors took wagon trains of supplies to Union troops in the South but was captured 2 years in a row by General Johnston's troops, and each time had is arms broken so he could not drive a wagon.

Thus, when the great Civil Rights March of 1963 was announced, we just had to be there.  Because there had been a lot of hype about potential dangers of civil disobedience I was a little nervous when we started out.  It was a typical very hot August day (this year we were luck, it was only very warm), and we were under the trees  midway on the north side of the Reflecting Pool.  The crowd was very mixed race and friendly.  I mainly remember Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s great speech.  The great lines about little black children and little white children joining hands sent shivers down my spine.  I can almost feel it today, 50 years later, and have never experience that with any other speaker, ever.

Although my husband is now gone, I will continue my efforts on behalf of all people who need and deserve the great American dream as long as I possibly can!!

Remember the fighting words of A Philip Randolph:  "At the banquet table of nature there are no reserved seats.  You get what you can take, and you keep what you can hold. If you can't take anything you won't keep anything.  And you can't take anything without organization."  So, ORGANIZE.

   

LEAGUE of WOMEN VOTERS QUESTIONNAIRE -Update

[This information was originally posted on March 27, 2012 when I was running in the DC Statehood Green Party April 2012 primary as candidate for At Large City Council.  Long time DCSGP activist Ann Wilcox won the primary and I subsequently ran in the November 2012 General Election as the DCSGP candidate for "Shadow" Representative to Congress.  I was gratified to receive the support of over 31,000 DC voters, almost 10,000 more than Mitt Romney received.  As of January 2, 2014, I have submitted petitions to run for the At Large City Council primary on April 1, 2014.  Your support and votes will be much appreciated.

I was very disappointed that The League of Women Voters did not allow Ann Wilcox to take part in their At Large City Council voters' forum in 2012.  They completely discounted the many hours she and others have given to worthy causes, and only were interested in dollar and cents signs of voter support.  Thus we as a Party need to get busy making contributions to the Party, holding fund raisers for Party and candidates, and setting aside money to support individual DCSGP candidates in 2014.  In 2012 DCSGP and the national Green Party had a total of 6 candidates on the ballot.  In 2014 we hope to have more.  One of the League's criteria was 20 donations of $5. Alas, some people only understand the almighty dollar; conviction, dedication, and ethics are undervalued by many.

I had not intended to post the material below at this time, but while making a correction, it somehow jumped from March 27, 2012 to this date of Aug.13, 2013, and could not be restored to its former location.  Thus I decided to make lemonade.]

1) Personal information

Occupation: *Entrepreneur and semi-retired

Education: *BA, St. Univ. of Iowa, Major—General Science, Minors—Education and Spanish

*Two summers, Mexico City College, Mexico City, Mexico

*Dept.of Agriculture Graduate School, courses in Psychology

Qualifications for the office you seek:

* Fifty three years living in DC has taught me a great deal about the many kinds of problems that affect people in our city.

*Block club President or Treasurer for several years

*Member old Thirteenth Precinct (now 3^rd District) Police Advisory Council

*Nine years Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU #2) member, shop steward for secretaries and clerks, grievance committee, 2 contract negotiations

*Four years member Mayor's Commission on Food, Nutrition and Health

*Three years Administrative Assistant (bilingual Spanish/English) to At Large member Board of Education

*Four years member of Mayor's TaskForce on Street Vending (chaired the regulations rewrite committee)

*Two sons went through DC public schools; husband taught 12 years in DC public schools

*Personal experience with many aspects of dealing with the DC government on small business matters--including DCRA, OTR, DMV. #

Your response to each of the four questions below must be 300 words or less. Please send these responses to our League Voters Guide address, votersguidelwvdc@gmail.com, by February 6.

2) The ethics reform legislation passed by the DC Council at the end of 2011 did not address campaign finance despite evidence of continued and creative evasions of the $2000 per entity cap. What, if any, campaign finance reforms would you champion?

*I think there should be a cap on the total amount that candidates should be allowed to collect. The amounts should vary depending on the complexity of the office, i.e. Mayor's limit would be higher than Ward candidate. Perhaps the city could have a campaign tax checkoff like we have on the federal tax form, currently $3 each for “You” and “Spouse”. The Citizens' United decision by the Supreme Court is a disaster. Efforts are being made to have an Amendment to the Constitution clarifying that humans are people, and money is not speech. New Mexico has passed a measure doing just that. We must urge our councilmembers to follow New Mexico's good example, and I pledge to do so if I am elected. As a member of the Statehood Green Party, we do not accept corporate contributions.

3) Is the District government doing enough to stem the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the city? If not, what would you propose? If yes, why do you think so?

*I think the DC government is doing fairly well now to stem the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Unfortunately, the battle suffered seriously in the1980's when even after testing was available, new prisoners at Lorton were not kept apart from the resident population for at least 6 months when they could be retested. Also, so far as I know, there was no effort to keep prisoners who tested positive permanently separated from the uninfected. At the time most prisoners were housed in 80 man barracks. Eventually, many men returned home and spread the illness to their wives and girlfriends. During the same period about 85% of prostitutes were also testing positive, and little was done to minimize their spreading infection so far as I was aware. Now we must fight to keep conservatives in Congress from tampering with our needle exchange programs and our family planning rights to use/provide condoms. We must test returning prisoners and counsel families if infection is present. We must have a strong program providing medicine to infected pregnant women to minimize babies being born infected. More supportive housing is undoubtedly needed for the seriously ill. Comprehensive reproductive education is needed starting in Junior High including age appropriate STD information. Girls who mature very early might need special counseling on dealing with their sexuality. Boys need a strong emphasis on the responsibility of males in protecting the health of their partners at any age. Girls may need assertiveness training in how to demand respect for celibacy or safe sex.

4) There has been a significant reduction in DC’s investment in affordable and permanent-supportive housing during the recent budget cycles, even though the need for this housing continues to increase.What actions would you favor or sponsor to increase the supply of affordable and permanent-supportive housing for DC residents?

*Mandated set-asides for affordable and low cost housing are being ignored too often. In Ward 2, EastBanc is building only luxury condominiums in replacing the 22^nd street library and police station complex. This was allowed because they are including the library in their building. Tonight at a Ward 5 event we were told that their Walmart would have 350 market rate rental apartments. No low-cost or affordable housing seemed to be in the mix. With Walmart determined to put 6 stores here in DC, we really need to hold their feet to the fire on this issue. I would be vigilant and outspoken in efforts to have these set asides met.

*The city makes it very difficult for homeowners to provide rental units. One must obtain a Basic Business License to rent out even the two rooms that are allowed by right. To get the BBL one must sign the “clean hands” certification. This states applicants don't owe the city more than $100 dollars. One couples' house was declared a vacant property although they had lived there throughout the renovation. For over a year they tried to get off the Tax Sale list which said they owed over $20,000. At the September 2010 Tax Amnesty someone tried to clear up several matters. They paid all bills owed and then were shocked to start receiving bills last spring saying they still owed thousands of dollars in taxes which OTR had said were corrected and paid for. They are still trying to get this fixed. Someone fighting a ticket above $100 and awaiting a ruling from Motor Vehicles, would also be unable to get the BBL. I would immediately introduce several measure to correct these issues and enable people, especially the elderly, to rent out space in their homes.  
*The city also makes it very difficult to evict tenants for non-payment of rent.  If you have not included a waiver of the "30-Day Nonpayment Notice to Quit" in your lease you will have to go down to Landlord and Tenant Court before noon to pick up this form and it's instruction for serving in both English and Spanish.  After you have served it properly, you wait 30 days before you go to L&T again with the person who served this paper who signs an "Affidavit of Service".  (You can also pay a service to do all this, for $50 or more.)  You will then get a "Summons to Appear in Court and Notice of Hearing - Form 1S" perhaps 10 days later.  If you and your tenant(s) both appear, the judge may issue a ruling to pay or move.  On the other hand if there is dispute he can order a trial which may be a month or more later.  Meanwhile you can request that rent payments thence forth be deposited with the court, which the judge will probably order. When you appear for trial if those payments have not been made and the tenant does not appear the judge will probably find in your favor and you can proceed with eviction.  However, if you have not been smart enough to determine the military status of your tenant(s) at the time of lease signing and executed a waiver of rights under Section 107 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (2003), you will have to fill out a Form CA 114.  If the tenant(s) does not tell you his military status, then you have to contact 8 military and governmental entities to determine the status or non-status.  Be sure you have name, birthdate and social security number if possible.  Submission of the CA 114 leads to the step of Eviction with Marshalls which can only occur in above freezing weather with no precipitation.  The whole process can take 6 months at least.  Is it any wonder many prospective landlords decide to sell their rental homes and condos.  This leads to fancy upgrades and fewer lower income rentals.

5) Public hearings are a key to transparency in government operations. Do you pledge to hold public hearings for major legislation coming before any council committee that you chair? Further, will you work for hearings on legislation coming before committees on which you serve? Please explain any possible exceptions to your pledge.

*Holding public hearings is an essential part of the democratic process, and I pledge to hold them. I was very upset last year when one councilmember held a “round table” on an important issue without the required two week notice, in less than a week. It was conducted exactly like a hearing and was no round table. Another councilmember stuck internet gambling into a budget bill on behalf of an outside client, but got caught. I think hearings did end up being held. Perhaps if all interest parties were happy with a proposal a hearing might not be needed.

#Minor changes from information submitted to League of Women Voters

DC $12.50 living wage, & Walmart blackmail

Guest Post by Perry Redd, with introduction by G. Lee Aikin, 

DC Statehood Green Party

DC Statehood Green Party activist, Perry Redd, and candidate this April 2013 for At Large City Council makes a compelling case for our need to pass a “Living Wage” law. Your active help is needed to make sure this worthwhile law is actually put into place.  Although Walmart has made this legislation about them by threatening the Council the day before the Council voted on this measure, it requires various very large retail business to pay a living wage of $12.50 an hour.

As several DC Walmarts open up, it is well to consider some political history as the 2014 political season begins.   This detailed July 8, 2011 article by Lydia DePillis titled, The Selling of Walmart: How the world's biggest retailer won over D.C. without a fight can be read at:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/41145/the-selling-of-walmart/full/
The major players, several now running for Mayor, and their activities are described in great detail, and are especially worth examining before entering the voting booth.

Two of the three Walmarts already under construction are in Ward 4, where Mayoral candidate Muriel Bowser has no doubt facilitated their placement. Whether these Walmarts will harm surrounding businesses and employment, and whether they will harm or help her candidacy remains to be seen. Unfortunately, the three that have not yet been begun are in areas where some of them might actually be desirable. However, given the stated goals of Walmart Realty, it makes more sense for them to establish themselves in higher end more rapidly developing areas of the city where if they do force other businesses to fail they can follow through on their plans to acquire land cheap and build or sell high. Below is a statement of their plans and intentions by Walmart Realty from their web site. 

www,walmartrealty.com

Welcome To Walmart Realty

Walmart Realty, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is a real estate company that offers many development opportunities nationwide. Walmart Realty concentrates on commercial real estate located in or around our current and former locations. Walmart Realty's mission is to find businesses to open in our former stores and clubs and to locate in available property around our stores. At Walmart Realty, we believe we have a responsibility to work with communities to find a use that generates economic growth and opportunity. We work at the local level with local brokers, economic development officials and elected leaders to find partners that best suits the needs of each local community.

It is easy to see that Walmart is giving emphasis to their former stores and location and their use of elected officials. There are numerous reports to the effect that Walmart engages in practices like lowering their prices so much that neighboring businesses cannot compete, fail, and are available to be bought up by Walmart. They don't even care if their stores fail, as then that location can be combined with other nearby acquisitions for bigger more profitable land deals and development. Naturally if they have to pay a living wage of $12.50, as 8 out of the 13 members of the DC Council have voted, this strategy will be much more costly and probably not economically cost effective.  

Now that they have already begun construction in the most likely places for future neighborhood development, they were quick to threaten to cancel their plans for other areas like the mall near Mayor Gray's home and Yvette Alexander's Ward 7.  Muriel Bowser is one of the Council members voting against the living wage as is Mayoral candidate Tommy Wells (Ward 6). Other NO votes are Mary Cheh (Ward 3), Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), and David Catania (At Large).  Mayoral candidate Jack Evans (Ward 2) supports the living wage.

[Jan. 2016]  Well, Walmart has done it.  Pulled out of building a promised store or two in Ward 7, and people are angry.  When you read the above statement by Walmart Realty it is easy to see why they did.  While upper Georgia is thriving, and has a number of small businesses in an entire block of 2 story buildings, Ward 7 continues to be troubled.  Also, since the Skyland project already includes housing units and other stores, there is no guarantee for Walmart that they could force other businesses to fail and build and develop their own market rate housing.            

     When I went to see Georgia Ave. Walmart, I was amazed to see the huge amount of parking there.  Then, I realized, that if they are going to put 4 or 5 stories of market rate housing above that store, they will need the extra parking for the residents/owners.

     The LA TIMES points out how big commerce has treated other cities and says that when "communities...offer a big commercial entity the sun, moon and stars but don't secure a guarantee of performance" getting shafted is not uncommon.  In other words "When you make a deal, get everything--everything--down on paper."   

During the controvery other stores were mentioned as possible alternatives to Walmart.  These included Wegman's and Kroger.  Now [May 2014] an interesting survey has been made regarding popularity and quality of grocery and super stores, listing the top 30.  While Walmart is included primarily because of low prices and variety of goods sold, both Wegman's and Kroger are rated higher.  Tops is Trader Joe followed by Whole Foods, although these might not be the most affordable for lower income families.  Keep in mind that there will be more controversy over retail as planning moves forward for Walter Reed and McMillan Reservoir.

Mayor Gray has yet to weight in by either vetoing or allowing this legislation to move forward. If he vetoes, then one more vote will be needed to override the veto. He was hoping for a major store at the Skyland project near his home. Please contact the mayor and any NO voter and urge them to ensure a living wage for our workers. Of course, it also helps to thank those who support our low income workers.  [The Mayor subsequently vetoed the bill.  When it went back to the Council, Anita Bonds changed her yes vote to a NO vote.  Angry protesters declared they will remember who did not support workers on election day.  Those not deserving election support in 2014 based on this vote include Muriel Bowser, Tommy Wells, Mary Cheh, Anita Bonds, and David Catania.  Jack Evans, Jim Graham and Kenyon McDuffie maintained their earlier support for the $12.50 pay scale.  Here are articles from a number of sources detailing these actions. http://washingtondc.walmartcommunity.com/newsroom/]

There was major turmoil over Walmart's original plan to build 6 Walmart stores in DC, and frankly I didn't see how more than one or two would succeed commercially.  Of course, this was before I saw the "Walmart Realty" description above and read between the lines.  This followed previous outrage over the Walton (Walmart's) Foundation funded notorious IFF Report.  Even before the IFF Report was published, parents and communities were concerned.  Our local activist organization, Empower DC, was quick to produce a chart showing which schools faced closure and repurposing (public Charter Schools have first dibs on such schools.  The great majority of such closures were planned for Wards 7 and 8.  Now a few years later in 2016, here is a criticism of charter schools being closed because they are not doing much better.

The Walmart Self-Esteem Attack
By, Perry Redd, sincereseven@hotmail.com

You may have heard the latest Walmart saga. Walmart is threatening to pull three of its planned store locations from its newly touted DC market. The District of Columbia is in a controversial position: give in to Walmart, as the retail giant’s leadership is refusing to pay potential low-end workers a "living wage," or stand with the potential working class who are poised to become Walmart’s "poster child" for its successful entry into urban markets. Our mayor’s knees are a-wobbling. The term "living wage" is relatively new in the District of Columbia. 

 During our recent Special Election for an At-Large seat, I was compelled to initiate and elevate the topic of the need for a living wage in DC.  I brought that quest to the table primarily for three reasons: 1) in the fourth most expensive city to live in America, a working-class Joe has to earn above the poverty level to survive; 2) Walmart is infamous for low-balling its workers on wages, with the indirect effect of depressing wages for neighboring merchants and workers; I don’t want that to happen here; and 3) I find it immoral for the vast majority of those low-end workers — who are Black with the highest unemployment rate in the area — to work for poverty wages.

Once I pounded the concept of paying DC workers fair and life-sustaining wages — which, by the way, in DC is a minimum $14.50/hour — all but one of my opponents in the At-Large race eventually jumped on the bandwagon.  Now, a living wage is one of DC’s hottest topics, and rightfully so.  Walmart threatened to pull out of DC because our council voted to stand with — and for — the people.  The 8-5 vote was somewhat surprising since our Council has repeatedly kowtowed to developers and corporate interests.  I am of the mind that Walmart should walk anyway, but if it’s going to operate in DC, then Walmart needs to pay responsible wages, and even more, quit threatening DC. It’s disrespectful to our working class.

Walmart and DC politics-watchers are eagerly awaiting Mayor Gray’s decision either to stand with Walmart by vetoing the bill or stand with the people and sign the bill.  The working class in this city has suffered great economic pain though our city enjoys successive years of budget surpluses.  I hear the disinformation agents opining to DC constituents by framing the argument against Walmart as one that "singles out Walmart," rather than requiring other large-volume retailers to comply with the proposed law.  How appalling, but I am not surprised to learn that some in our city’s media establishment seem very willing to do Walmart’s bidding by asserting that same mantra: this new bill picks on Walmart.  

It is true that Walmart is the chief motivation behind the bill.  It has a sordid history of hurting workers and neighboring businesses in the communities where its stores locate.  Walmart’s wages are so low that many of its workers rely on food stamps and other government aid to make ends meet.  In just one Walmart Super Center in Wisconsin, workers had the unintended impact of costing state taxpayers nearly an extra $1 million — the taxpayers cost to subsidize Walmart’s low wages and scant, if any, benefits.  (Most Walmart workers are part-time, making them ineligible for company benefits.)

Walmart has long been criticized for its pattern of paying wages that force its workers to enroll in public assistance programs.  The recent study in Wisconsin gives credence to such criticism.  The company had disproportionately more workers enrolled in the state’s public health care program during the 4th quarter of last year than any other Wisconsin employer

A study by the Center for Labor Research and Education at University of California-Berkley found that the opening of the first Walmart store in any county in the USA where there previously had been none depressed the wages of general merchandise employees by 1 percent, and of grocery store employees by 1.5 percent.  The counties surveyed did not include those that encompassed the largest east and west coast cities, where the gap between Walmart’s wages and those of other supermarkets is greatest.  

The bill in DC, the Large Retailer Accountability Act, doesn’t single out Walmart at all; it does justice by making large retailers socially responsible corporate citizens.  The bill would require "large retailers" — defined as businesses operating an indoor store of at least 75,000 square feet and whose corporate parent has annual sales of at least $1 billion — to pay wages no lower than $12.50 per hour without benefits, or $11.75 with benefits.  That "living wage" would be indexed to the local consumer price index every year.

Now, let’s be clear, I don’t consider $12.50 an hour a "living wage" in the least for DC; that number should be at least $14.50 an hour for a single person living in the District of Columbia.  This is simply masterful framing.  You see, our city’s median income is upwards of $63,000 a year, and $86,600 in the immediate surrounding area.  An hourly wage of $12.50 is nothing close to a living wage in the District of Columbia.  As some of you may recall, I proposed a "living wage" of $14.50/hour during the REDD4Council campaign for DC council.  Why so high?  Well, it’s really not "so high."  For one to make $12.50/hour (with no benefits, no less) is to gross $1,080/week (taxes: Federal $181, Social Security $67, Medicare $15 and DC $69) for a take-home pay of $747.25/week or $2,988/month.  This is before utilities, transportation and/or food — or a child!

The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom unit as of June this year and within ten miles of Washington, DC, is $1,813.  One-bedroom apartments in Washington rent for $1,617 a month on average and two-bedroom apartment rents average $2,035.  That equates to 60 percent of that $2,988/month salary!  How can one live on that purported "living wage?" A person cannot.  Thus, we must push back against the idea of this weak-kneed proposal that’s framed as a "living wage."  But it is what it is, for now.

To the point about Walmart: Walmart is threatening to pull out of DC.  I say, "Bye!"  Some of us told thousands of you that Walmart cares nothing for people — only profits.  Now, they’ve resorted to using the Black community as bargaining chips — by threatening to halt construction of three of its six — yeah, six — proposed stores in heavily Black communities where unemployment is highest and shopping opportunities the poorest.

Walmart’s public outcry is indicative of a spreading disease.  You’ve got to halt the cancer before it spreads.  Walmart shouldn’t even be in DC.  Let alone six stores!  Other large retailers would willingly step in if this devilish corporation (oh, "Corporations are people my friend!") pulls out.  Let’s not allow this threat to attack our self-esteem.  We don’t have to settle for less.

[Remember, contact your Council members and the Mayor!  GLA]