News Room

Thomas Announces Council's Selection of Special Counsel to Investigate DPR Contracts—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr.—Chair of the Council's Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation and Chair of the Council's Joint Public Oversight Roundtable on the Contracting Process Related to Parks and Recreation Roundtable—announced today that the Council has retained Robert P. Trout of the law firm Trout Cacheris to serve as special counsel regarding the inquiry into the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) contracts.

Thomas Thanks President Obama for Paving Way for Federal Aid to Supplement the Recovery Efforts from District Snowstorm—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. today extended his heartfelt thanks to President Obama, who yesterday declared that a major disaster exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal aid to supplement the District’s recovery efforts in response to the snowstorm that occurred between December 18 and 20, 2009

Work on New Playground Facilities at Arboretum Recreation Center Now Underway: Thomas Credits Role of Civic Leaders and Community Residents at Groundbreaking—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, participated yesterday in the groundbreaking ceremony for new playground equipment at the Arboretum Recreation Center, located at 2412 Rand Place, NE.

Council Approves Measure Shifting Parks and Recreation Projects to the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization—Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, thanked his colleagues today for voting unanimously to support legislation he submitted at the Council’s December 15, 2009 legislative session shifting management responsibility of Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) projects from Banneker Ventures to the District’s Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM).

Thomas Bill Establishing 51st State Commission Voted Out of Committee—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. announced today that the Committee on Aging and Community Affairs voted unanimously to forward Bill 18-177, the “51^st State Commission Establishment Act of 2009,” to the Council for a full vote.

Thomas Introduces Bill Restricting Issuance of Government Contracts to Firms Failing to Comply With Council Subpoenas and Strengthens “Public Land Surplus Standards Act of 2009” at First Reading—At the Council’s December 1, 2009 legislative session, Ward 5 Councilmember Thomas introduced legislation to restrict the District government’s ability to contract with firms that fail to comply with Council subpoenas. He also successfully amended Bill 18-76, the “Public Land Surplus Standards Act of 2009,” to require the District Department of Real Estate Services create and make available on its public website a database of all real property owned by the District of Columbia.

Thomas Introduces Bill Strengthening Penalties for Crimes Committed Within 50 Feet of Public Transit Stops—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. yesterday introduced legislation to increase the penalties for crimes committed within 50 feet of mass transit stops. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary.

Thomas to Issue Subpoenas to DMPED Staff Members David Janerone and Jackie Glover to Appear Before Council on the Transfer of DPR Funds to DCHA—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, today announced that he will issue subpoenas to Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development staff members David Jannarone, Director of Development, and Jackie Glover, Program Manager, requiring their appearance before the Committee regarding the transfer of Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) funds to the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA).

Thomas Issues Subpoena to DPR Interim Director Hartsock to Appear Before Council on the Transfer of Agency Funds to the DC Housing Authority—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, today issued a subpoena to Dr. Ximena Hartsock requiring her to appear before the Committee at 10 am on November 16, 2009 to testify regarding the transfer of Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) funds to the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA). DPR representatives failed to appear at the joint hearings held on Friday, October 30, 2009 and Thursday, November 5, 2009 inquiring into the transfers. Dr. Hartsock had received letters preceding each hearing requesting participation.

Council Passes Thomas Bill to Restrict Payments of DPR Funds to DCHA and Require Council Notification of all DPR Transactions of $75,000 or More—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, today introduced emergency legislation to restrict payments of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) funds to the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) and require Council notification of all DPR transactions of $75,000 or more. The Council passed the bill by a vote of 10 to 3.

Thomas Requests the Testimony of CFO Dr. Natwar Gandhi at Council Roundtable on the Transfer of DPR Capital Improvements Funds to DCHA—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, announced today that he has requested that Dr. Natwar Gandhi, the District’s Chief Financial Officer, testify at the Council’s October 30, 2009 roundtable regarding the transfer of Department of Parks and Recreation capital improvement funds to the DC Housing Authority.

Council Disapproves Dr. Ximena Hartsock as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation: Thomas Pledges to Work with Executive to Rebuild Agency—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Tommy Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, announced today that the Council, following the recommendation of the Committee, voted at its legislative session to disapprove the nomination of Dr. Ximena Hartsock as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Council’s vote was seven to five in support of the disapproval resolution.

Thomas Praises MPD and US Attorney’s Office for Todd Place Crew Indictments: Allocating Resources to Grass Roots Initiatives Is How We Can Best Prevent Crime, States Thomas—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. today praised the diligent work of the DC Metropolitan Police Department and US Attorney’s office in investigating a spate of gang-related shootings that occurred in the Lincoln Road/North Capitol Street area last spring. Law enforcement efforts led to a Superior Court grand jury returning on September 23, 2009 a 92-count indictment charging four alleged members of the “Todd Place Crew” with conspiracy and first degree murder while armed. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Thomas Bill Requires Analysis of DPR Day Care Programs Prior to Privatization—Executive’s Request for Offers May Have Bypassed Procedures Outlined in DC—Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr., Chair of the Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation, introduced emergency legislation at the Council’s May 5, 2009 legislative session requiring the Executive to conduct and submit to the Council a comprehensive analysis of child day care services, particularly services for children with special needs, prior to issuing a request for offers to operate Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) day care programs. The vote on the bill was unanimous.

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