Originally uploaded to flickr by tonx.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for our Councilmember. There was the Reservation 13 meeting just after the election, talk about services for the homeless and an article on how Wells beat lobbyists to get the bag tax. (Check out Tuesday’s Hill Buzz if you are in the mood to catch up on your Wells reading.) If you haven’t had a chance to get your say in on these topics, or if there’s something else on your mind, stop in tomorrow for Wells’ H Street Office Hours. Here are the details from Tawanna Shuford, his director of constituent services:
Councilmember Wells will host this month’s H Street NE, Community Office Hours at SOVA Espresso and Wine 1359 H Street, NE, this Thursday morning, November 18, 2010, 8:00 – 9:30 am.
The timing of many of the meetings that are held by his office are just not accesible for those with jobs and full schedules. Is there anything like this on the weekends?
Barry and Alexander have proposed ending welfare payments after 6 years. That’s when the Federal Government stops paying for it. Many states end their welfare payments then. However, Councilmember Wells will not allow the proposal to leave his committee for a vote. Why not allow a City Council vote on the matter?
Jps – once a quarter or so, this event is held in the evening at an H St bar or restaurant. Whether or not that solves the issue you raise, I don’t know. But there is occasionally an alternative.
I’m with Sebastian. Can someone who does not have a job that requires them to miss the meeting ask Tommy why the heck he is putting a lot of us in a position to support Marion Barry’s proposal to follow every other jurisdiction in the US in having some reasonable limits on lifetimes of welfare reciept? I’m certain I’ve never agreed with Marion Barry while opposing my own Ward 6 Councilmember before.
yes and no, but thank you.
jps — Thanks for your comments.
Recognizing that no time is going to be perfect for everyone, Tommy hosts and attends many evening and weekend community meetings and events. He added in the morning coffee hours as another way to make himself and the office as accessible as possible. As Sharee mentioned above, we also host those in the evenings every few months as well.
We hear from constituents at different times that tell us they can’t attend events at night or on weekends, so the morning hours are helpful to them. We also hear from neighbors that can’t attend in the morning, so instead join in the evening and weekend events. Hopefully between all the different events, there’s a time that works for you. But if they don’t, please feel free to contact us via email or phone, and we’ll be happy to work with you.
Charles Allen
Chief of Staff
Councilmember Tommy Wells