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After ANC Input, ABC Board Continues Suspension of Heritage India's Liquor License

1/16/2015

(Cross-posted on www.dupontcircleanc.net)

On January 3, 2015 a physical altercation and stabbing occurred inside Heritage India/Zanzibar located within the boundaries of the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 2B) at 1901 Pennsylvania Ave NW. ANC 2B believes this event indicates an emerging pattern of violence at this establishment and at its meeting on January 15th voted unanimously to send a letter to the ABC Board strongly encouraging them to consider revoking this license and finding its owner to be unfit to hold a license.

Violence cannot be tolerated. Not only are the impacts extremely serious for the victims, but there are also real and negative impacts to the character and reputation of the neighborhood.

You can read the full letter to the ABC Board here: ANC Letter to ABC Board on Heritage India Violence 1-15-15

Today, after an over ten hour hearing on the matter, the ABC Board continued its suspension of the liquor license for Heritage India until the establishment “provides an enhanced security plan that addresses the Board’s safety concerns”. The full media release from the Board is below.

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Review Votes from January 14th ANC Meeting

1/16/2015

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The Dupont Circle ANC met for the first time in 2015 on January 14th and voted on several important issues. Our final resolutions and letters will be up on our website next week, but in the meantime, below is a list of our votes for review. A personal highlight was to be re-elected chairman of the ANC by my colleagues!

Election of 2015 ANC2B Officers
Commissioner Warwick moved to nominate officers as a slate. Commission Smith as Chair, Commissioner Maltz as Vice-Chair, Commissioner Upright as Treasurer, and Commissioner Mann as Secretary. Seconded by Commissioner Underhill. Passed by acclimation.

Commissioner Silverstein nominated Will Stephens as Dupont Circle ANC Chairman Emeritus. Seconded by Commissioner Feldstein. Passed 9-0.

Meeting Minutes & Work Calendar

Approval of December 2014 Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Nichols moved to approve pending technical corrections, seconded by Commissioner Warwick. Passed 9-0.

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Dupont Circle ANC Agenda for January 14th Available

1/13/2015

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The Dupont Circle ANC will have its first meeting of the year on Wednesday January 14th at 7pm at Brookings. The full agenda is available to view HERE. Of note:

ANC Commissioners will be sworn-in by Councilmember Jack Evans (we're welcoming four new excellent Commissioners this year!)
City officials and PEPCO will be on hand to discuss the recent power outages and the lack of communications to residents about what resources are available
The ANC will present draft 2015 Goals and ask for comment by next month
The ANC will deliberate sending a letter to the ABC Board similar to the one I sent today about Heritage India

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Read My Letter to the ABC Board About Recent Violence at Heritage India

1/13/2015

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In the early morning of January 3rd, a fight inside Heritage India (1901 Pennsylvania Ave NW) resulted in one person nearly being stabbed to death. The incident required more than half of the second district police force to respond to maintain order.

According to the Chief of Police, "the management of the nightclub clearly failed to maintain a safe environment for its patrons. The club’s security protocols allowed a knife-wielding subject to enter the club, stab one patron, and leave the Night Club without being detected by security personnel of the club. The club’s security staff also proved inadequate to manage the aftermath of this significant crime of violence.”

This is not the first significant crime of violence to occur at Heritage India under the same owners. In November 2011 when the establishment was on the 1300 block of Connecticut Ave NW, one man was shot dead and five others were wounded when a fight inside the club spilled onto the streets at 2:45 a.m.

My colleague Stephanie Maltz and I believe that violence in our neighborhood cannot be tolerated and today we sent a letter to the ABC Board ahead of their Wednesday hearing to strongly encourage the Board to consider revoking this license and finding its owner to be unfit to hold a license.

Not only are the impacts extremely serious for the victims, but there are also real and negative impacts to the character and reputation of the neighborhood.

Letter to ABC Board on Heritage India from Smith, Maltz and Kain
File Size:	40 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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ANC 2B to Host City and PEPCO on January 14 to Discuss Recent Power Outage

1/11/2015

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(Cross-posted on www.DupontCircleANC.net)

At its regular monthly meeting on January 14th at 7:00 pm at the Brookings Institution (1775 Massachusetts Ave NW) the Dupont Circle ANC will host Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, and representatives from the Mayor’s Office and PEPCO to discuss the response to the recent neighborhood-wide power outages.

On January 6th an underground cable fault occurred shortly before 7 a.m. near 18th and Corcoran streets, NW. That affected three underground feeders and led to power outages for approximately 6,100 customers. At first, customers were told power would be restored before noon. That assessment was incorrect, but residents made plans without proper information, and some were stranded in unheated homes in sub-freezing temperatures. By nightfall, a warming center had been set up in Petworth, but it was more than 2 miles away, and many residents did not learn about it until after dark. Many did not feel safe leaving their homes to walk icy sidewalks with no street lights.

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