Thanks to Elizabeth for this information about something new coming to Rhode Island Ave NE:
New establishment in shopping center with Capital Discount – The Women’s Collective. Information here:
http://womenscollective.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Not really a store, though I wonder what’s going to be in the whole space since the only event on the site at the moment is a one-night coffeehouse meeting.
In an effort to move the conversation from the Mayor’s press conference on Rhode Island Ave NE this week and on to how we can focus on making the Avenue great, I have decided to archive previous posts that referred to the King Solomon’s Lodge (except regarding what happened at the press conference today). If you would like me to email you the posts, feel free to email me.
I am looking for any and all information about what is going on with Rhode Island Ave NE. This can be something that is for sale, a store opening or closing, rumors about businesses, issues with current businesses……ANYTHING.
I am attempting to get more information from the City on the Great Streets initiative, and when I do, I will report it here.
Thank you to everyone for providing me with so much information to post on here concerning the most recent issues. Although, nearly 99% of the content on this site is attributable to others who email me or calls me, many people assume it is my own. So let’s get going on Rhode Island Ave NE…..
I was unable to attend the news conference due to a scheduling conflict, but a resident and community member emailed me this synopsis of what happened:
On Thursday, September 17, 2009, at 12:15 p.m. a news conference was held in front of 2245 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, King Solomon Grand Lodge (KSGL). In attendance were Mayor Adrian Fenty, Chief of Police Cathy Lanier, D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles, DCRA Director Linda Argo, as well as representatives from several print and electronic media outlets.
The purpose of the news conference was to announce the immediate closing of the King Solomon Grand Lodge for thirty days because of the increase in crime and the inordinate number of community complaints associated with its operations. In order to operate in the future, DCRA will require that KSGL submit a public hall application, follow the thirty days placarding rule and obtain community support for its business plan.
Chief Lanier personally expressed her concern that the peace and quiet of the community had been disrupted. The Chief agreed with me and others that Fifth District Commander Lamar Greene and his officers are doing a great job assisting the Woodridge Community with containing the disturbances at KSGL.
Director Argo personally assured that going forward KSGL will be required to follow all regulations that govern public hall establishments, to include the thirty days placarding requirement. Also, Director Argo stated that during the KSGL application process for a public hall license the community’s concerns will be heard.
Please note, if KSGL obtains a legal public hall license, it will have the ability to hold activities at the lodge seven days each week. As such the Woodridge Community will continue with its aggressive petition campaign to keep this establishment closed.
On behalf of the Woodridge Community we thank the Mayor and each Cabinet Executive who attended the conference for making a strong public statement of support for the community’s concerns.
James
Concern Citizens of the Woodridge Community
The Mayor’s Press Conference, supposedly to announce that the Masonic Lodge (King Solomon’s Temple)’s Public Hall license will be revoked (or not reissued), has been scheduled for Thursday, September 17th, at 10:15am at 2245 Rhode Island Ave NE (in front of the Lodge).
According to what I have been told, the ABRA Board has already suspended the ability for the lodge to obtain a liquor license for the location (which means they are not allowed to have alcohol on premises), and now that the City is also taking away their ability to have a public hall license, they cannot rent out their location for parties or any type of event. Basically, they can meet there as a Lodge and that is about it from this point forward.
I encourage everyone to attend this press conference and show support in bringing an end to the Temple’s
wild and outrageous behaviors. If anyone still wonders what was going on at “G-Spot” which is what the people who ran the parties called the location on Friday nights, take a look at this flier or go to this YouTube video of the promotion.
Also, a reader of this blog, posted this comment in regards to the promoter of the parties (and they claim they didn’t really know what was happening???):
The Grand Master of King Solomon Grand is Robert J. Newby of New York
The Deputy Grand Masster is Benjamin Amara out of Baltimore a former suspended member of Baltimore Lodge.
The Promoter of these illegal sanction events was the son of Sister Silvia Jarrett the fiancee of the Grand Master Robert J. Newby in which the claimed to be the Step-son.
Today in the Washington Post Metro section, Nikita Stewart, made some elementary errors in her reporting of the Masonic Lodge closings titled Fenty Delays News Conference on NE Lodge.
In it, the promoter of the parties not only lied about ending their parties at 11pm, he also stated that the closest residents don’t complain. If Ms. Stewart bothered to do any actual reporting, she would have emailed me or other residents who are on record with the Post, City Paper, and the City to find out that the strongest opposition to this Lodge’s activities comes from the residents who live directly next to the Lodge (she was correct that the opposition does also come from the entire community).
Another claim by the lodge that they “provide social services and charity to the community”, is also false. Had she looked into it she would have found what I found: No obvious contribution to the community.
Nearly ALL of the participants of this lodge live outside of the City and so do its party-goers. Residents have consistently called 911 during the events at this Lodge at all hours of the night (had Ms. Stewart bothered to pull the police reports, she would have seen this also).
Ms. Nikita Stewart, I am sure you are a great reporter, but when you slip up and do sloppy work….we all notice.
