CHAVOUS FOR MAYOR
D.C. Chamber of Commerce PAC Endorsement Questionnaire
Economic Development
1) What is your position on the National Capital Revitalization Act of
1998? Please explain your position.
I voted in favor of this legislation, because it brings together all
parties that must be included in the District's revitalization efforts and provides for
the coordination of economic development activities. The legislation authorizes the
creation of a revitalization corporation that can raise funds by floating bonds, assemble
land and finance projects anywhere in the District. The board is required to adopt a
revitalization plan within 180 days of its creation for facilitating business investment,
employment growth, the development and renovation of ownership and rental housing, retail
and other services, off-street parking facilities, and public infrastructure improvements
within priority development areas and in neighborhoods throughout the District.
The powers of the revitalization board to develop and implement a
revitalization plan are broad. It is critical that experienced, civic-minded residents be
appointed to this board who understand finance and revitalization efforts. As mayor, I
will recruit a board that will be committed to attracting people (i.e. taxpayers) to move
back into the District. A larger population will increase our tax base, assure that bonds
issued by the revitalization board will not leave the District in long-term debt, and
provide more customers for existing District businesses.
2) How do you propose to retain, expand and attract businesses in the
District of Columbia, and stem the exodus of businesses from the city?
The goal of my administration is to revitalize neighborhood commercial
corridors by recruiting and retaining businesses desired by the neighborhood. We must face
the reality that businesses succeed based on their ability to sell merchandize at a price
in excess of their expenses. The first part of this equation — the consumers —
are here: the majority of District neighborhoods provide a stable and growing customer
base. We have to advertise this fact.
The District must assist cost containment and ease of operation. I
believe the tools provided by the National Revitalization Act and the Tax Increment
Financing act will be critical to this end.
My administration will create a healthy, user-friendly environment for
businesses — both large and small. Business operations overseen by the District -
from planning to permitting -must be automated and under one roof. Through proper
implementation of regulatory reforms, review of legislative, regulatory and tax burdens
and frequent meetings with businesses and their representatives as well as the communities
they serve, we will create viable commercial opportunities. I am certain that working
together we can make DC an attractive and profitable place to do business.
3) Please summarize your ideas and plans from comprehensive economic
development in the District of Columbia and how you would implement these plans.
The Chavous administration will aggressively 1) recruit hi-tech
businesses to operate both downtown and in the neighborhoods; 2) recruit appropriate
businesses for neighborhood corridors; 3) use public funds to leverage private sector
development; 4) focus on capturing more of the tourism dollar; 5) use the tools available
through the National Capital Revitalization Act and the Tax Increment Financing
Authorization Act to encourage firms to locate in the city and 6) link job training to job
opportunities for our citizens.
I will make commercial development near residential Washington my
number one priority. Citizens moving from the District complain of the lack of reasonable
neighborhood shopping for good and services. Within the first 100 days of taking office, I
will identify five prime sites for neighborhood development. Public money must be used to
stimulate business across the District, not just downtown.
I also will propose that ten million of Community Development Block
Grant money be set aside for low interest home improvement loans.
4) What plans do you have to stimulate small business development in the District?
In the past, small businesses have suffered greatly in the
District’s cumbersome regulatory environment. As Mayor, I will implement the recently
enacted regulatory reforms and develop the “one-stop shop” business center. I
will ensure that CDCs explain the opportunities provided by the National Capital
Revitalization Act and the Tax Increment Financing Authorization Act to their small
businesses clients.
5) How do you envision the role of the DC Chamber of Commerce and other
business organizations in the rebuilding of the city’s economic base?
I look forward to a proactive relationship with the DC Chamber of
Commerce and the Business Improvements District(s) and all District neighborhoods as we
rebuild the city’s economic base.
6) Do you support the construction of the new D.C. Convention Center at
the Mount Vernon site? What is the basis for your answer?
I voted against the proposed Convention Center at the Mount Vernon
Square site. While I support a new convention center of a size adequate to attract large
conventions, I'm not convinced that spending close to a billion dollars on a building that
will be obsolete in ten years is a good investment of public economic development monies.
The city has not considered attractive alternative sites such as the Northeast 1 site
which could be a centerpiece for major economic development.
7) Do you support the construction of the new baseball stadium in the
downtown section of D.C.? Why?
The use of public dollars for sports venues is wearing thin. As Mayor,
I will use public funds to restore economic development in the neighborhoods. RFK stadium
is an ideal site for baseball and I would support modernizing the existing stadium.
8) Do you support a regional bid for the Olympics in 2012?
Any decision to support any development with public money, must be
based on evidence that the District and its residents will benefit from the project and
not be burdened with long- term debt.
9) What do you think the Mayor, D.C. Council and Control Board can do
to promote tourism?
The District is already a national attraction. To capture more of the
tourist dollar, we must become a destination - a place where tourists spend the night and
use District commercial services, both downtown and in the neighborhoods. As mayor, I will
ensure it is a clean, secure city
10) Given that one of the critical elements in business retention and
attraction is the quality of the educational system, what would you do to develop the
relationship between the education and business communities?
A number of cities have developed strong partnerships between the
education and business communities. These partnerships have resulted in adopt-a-school,
mentorships, and technology sharing and vocational educational programs to teach students
skills that are in demand in the workplace. Our students should- be exposed to training
opportunities that enable them to pursue careers that exist in our area, not just college
preparation. There are some businesses and federal agencies that are currently working in
partnerships with District schools, yet I am certain that many more businesses would
assist if so asked. As Mayor, I will establish a Board that will include members of the
Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade to see that each Junior and Senior High School
benefits from a partnership with the business community.
Comprehensive Regulatory Reform
11) Do you support the elimination of the twelve (12) most
anti-business regulations in the District of Columbia - commonly referred to as the
"Dirty Dozen"?
With respect to your answers to each of your answers, please state why
you support or do not support the elimination of these regulations.
a. Worker's Compensation — (DC Code §36-301 et seq) Reduces
overall cost to D.C. employers by 21% and will bring the costs paid by the District
businesses in line with the lower costs paid by businesses in the surrounding
jurisdictions of Maryland and Virginia Bill 12-192 is currently before the Council's
Committee on Government Operations.
Answer: It is my opinion that workers' compensation and unemployment
compensation benefit levels are a factor but certainly not the "real" or only
reason that businesses may not locate in the District. Other factors include high rental
rates, parking difficulties, taxes, urban density and rush hour commutes. As Mayor, one of
my first goals would be to examine the operation of the District's program to assure that
it is operating in a cost-efficient manner. Savings generated through reductions in
operating costs could then be directed to reducing employer payments and/or to supporting
the delivery of benefits to those injured.
b. Environmental Regulations — (DC Code §6-981 and §60731) The
act appears to duplicate existing regulations and add unnecessary regulatory review and
costly delays to development projects especially in neighborhoods. Repeal the Policy Act
and Reduction Act.
Answer: The purpose of the DCEPA is to promote the health, safety and
welfare of District residents and existing businesses. The law is a planning tool that
provides a process during the early stages of deciding what development should take place
in the District. This tool would have assisted in locating transfer station in properly
sited areas.
The recommendation to repeal the DCEPA does not reflect wise regulatory
reform. Eliminating the environmental analysis under this law would have long-term
financial and environmental costs to District businesses and communities.
c. Fire Code Marshall — The District imposes sprinkler and related
regulations on existing buildings. Consider removing fire department from the plan/review
permit process and expedite inspections process.
Answer: I believe that the fire department should be part of the
plan/review process, to do otherwise may jeopardize the public health, safety and welfare.
I must add that I would meet with the Fire Marshall to determine the resources that are
necessary to expedite the fire department's license review process.
d. Rent Control — (DC Code §45-1601 et seq and DC Code §45-2501)
Both Acts regulate the relationship between landlord and tenant rather than the physical
condition of the premises. Propose "vacancy decontrol" and phase out rent
control except for senior citizens and other special circumstances.
Answer: I support rent control and do not support "vacancy decontrol".
e. Building Permits and Certification — (DC Code §5-425)
Obtaining building permits and certificates suffer due to inadequate resources and quality
controls. Consolidate, centralize and automate the reviewing and tracking of permits.
Answer: Yes, as stated in response to the earlier questions, My
administration will create a healthy, user-friendly environment for businesses - both
large and small. Business operations overseen by the District — from planning to
permitting — must be automated and under one roof.
f. General Business License Procedure — (DC Code §45-2801)
Provide a single identification number to businesses for use in all agencies and reduce
the categories of licenses.
Answer: Yes
g. Vendor Licensing — (DC Code §47-2834) Consider a moratorium on
new vendor licensing and assign spaces by name and location with improved design standards
for carts and tables.
Answer: Vending is a very important opportunity for those with limited
capital who are interested in starting a small business. I would support space assignment
by name and location as long as those who currently are established at a location are
allowed to continue their businesses at their current location. I support improved design
standards for carts and tables. I also would like to reserve spaces so that high school
students could have the opportunity to vend products, crafts or art work that they have
produced.
h. Boards and Commissions — Reduce the number of boards and
commissions and establish sunrise and sunset legislation.
Answer: Yes
i. Professional License Tax — (DC Code §47-1814.1 et seq) Repeal
sec. 250 nonregulatory professional fees.
Answer. Yes
j. Parking Regulation — (DC Code §40- 801, 8-106 and 24 DCMR
Section 600) Liberalize or eliminate parking regulations during off peak hours and
Saturdays.
Answer: As a member of the Council I voted in favor of Bill 12-85, the
"Parking Meter Fee Moritorium Act of 1998" When implemented, this law will allow
three hours of free parking at parking meters on Saturdays and free parking during the
week from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 am. I could only support "liberalizing or eliminating
parking regulations" that would not jeopardize the public health or safety.
k. Unemployment Insurance Compensation — (DC Code §46-101 et seq)
Achieve comparability of costs to employers with surrounding jurisdictions.
Answer: No. I support the District's current level of unemployment benefits
l. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Complete reform
of DCRA.
Answer: Yes, I m committed to reforming the DCRA so that it becomes a
consumer driven user friendly operation. To achieve this goal will require an investment
in technology, trained staff, a "one-step shop" for licenses and permitting and
an interactive public network on the Web so that citizens and businesses can access DCRA
functions from home or work.
12) Please discuss your review on comprehensive tax reform in the District of Columbia.
a Do you support a value added tax? Why?
b. Do you support a gross receipt tax? Why?
c. Of the existing tax proposals under consideration from the Office of Tax Revenue and
the Tax Revision Commission, which proposal would be best for the District of Columbia?
Answer: No, I do not support either a value added tax or an additional
gross receipt tax. The work of the Tax Revision Commission is very extensive . I support
their tax proposals in principal yet do not feel any one, standing alone, can yet be
called "best for the District".
13) Would you support proposals to lower the District's corporate
franchise tax to a rate comparable to surrounding jurisdictions? How would you finance
this reduction?
Answer: Yes, I would support reductions in the corporate franchise tax.
I would propose financing the reductions through savings generated through management
efficiencies within the District government.
D.C. Governance
14) How do you evaluate the performance of the Mayor, D.C. Council and
the Control Board over the last three (3) years in addressing the District's financial
crisis? In hindsight, what could have been done differently?
The FY1999 budget review process exemplified the process the President,
Mayor, City Council and Control Board could have used during the last three years to
accelerate a resolution of the District financial crisis. The process benefited from the
open discussions, pooled knowledge and consensus decision-making and resulted in a budget
all could work with.
The Control Board's early exclusion of elected officials in the
decision-making process resulted in:
- cutting off citizens from participation.
- Congressional misunderstandings.
- increased use of costly consultants. Informed citizens and elected leadership could have
educated the Board at lesser cost about the problems in city agencies.
- increased implementation time for management reforms.
15) What is your vision for the District of Columbia going into the
next century regarding (1) fiscal accountability, (2) management, and (3) restoration of
home rule?
The first task of my administration will be the redevelopment and
reaffirmation of the democratic rights of the citizens of the District of Columbia - the
democratic rights and representation . In my administration, DC residents and our elected
officials will define what we as a city value and are willing to collect taxes to fund. I
intend to hire competent administrators to implement these policies. I will enable our
citizens to mold our residential city, our schools and our institutions.
These aspects of representative government are not window dressing. The
relationship between the mayor, the control board and Congress must be redesigned, if we
are to move to the next state of our recovery as a democratic city. We must establish a
relationship among the city, the control and the Congress based on collaboration, mutual
respect and constant focus on the goals and vision of District residents for the
improvement of our city.
We must be able to insure that fiscal accountability through
deliberative process. Whether we are hiring staff, planning major capital projects such as
a convention center, purchasing paper, or buying a garbage truck, we must make these
decisions on a proactive basis.
16) What unique policies would you implement as Mayor of the District
of Columbia?
Answer: My administration will improve the quality of life in all of
the 90+ neighborhoods in the District of Columbia My policies will be unique in that they
will support the conditions that make living in an urban center desirable:
- Good schools and libraries with good teachers and administrators
- Parks, well-maintained with professional staff
- Businesses that serve the residents
- Safe streets, secure public spaces
- Economic development that makes sense first and foremost for DC communities
- Cost efficient, user-friendly service deliver.
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