This just in...
Mary Sutherland's group was not seated at today's ABCB's hearing, therefore she/her group cannot protest Queen of Sheba's liquor license. The ABCB will hear the protest of the one seated group--that of Campbell Johnson with the Urban Housing Alliance--at a meeting on May 23, 2007. This group must present all five of its protesters at that time if it is to be heard. I am unclear why the ABCB did not hear the protest today and/or why the ABCB did not require this group's protesters to be there today.
Show your support for Queen of Sheba by stopping by for a delicious--and inexpensive--meal and/or smoothie, and by writing a letter to the ABCB stating you endorse the granting of this license!
Queen of Sheba
1503 9th Street, NW
202.232.7272
Thanks, Drew, for passing along this latest development!
12 comments:
Washington City Paper 9/23/2005:
"Campbell Johnson, head of the Urban Housing Alliance and a member of the choir at Shiloh Baptist, sees all the portents of a nuisance in the liquor-license placard in Queen of Sheba’s window. It indicates closing times as late as 3 a.m. on weekends as well as live music and dancing. In Johnson’s world, those features don’t add up to a restaurant. “If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and has webbed feet, it’s not a bunny rabbit—it’s a nightclub,” he says."
This looks like it's still Mary's group.
Shiloh Baptist Church's protest was also not seated. They did not meet the 'common ground' test.
--Commissioner Alexander M. Padro
ANC 2C01
Love it. Housing Alliance Group in Shiloh Baptist -- whose vacant properties alone could house at least 50-70 people. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Doesn't Campbell Johnson live in Adams Morgan? How can he meet the common ground argument?
I'm not sure I understand why Urban Housing Alliance didn't have to show up at the hearing this week if they wanted to protest. Does each protest group get a seperate hearing to air their greivences? It seems to me that all protests should be heard in a single hearing.
If all groups protesting can't make that meeting, then obviously they don't care enough about the issue and don't deserve to be considered.
anonymous,
The Board Director that was hearing ths case said Mr. Johnson did not have to be a part of the protest group (share common ground) as he was only "representing" the protestors. He claimed to have 6 locals, not including himself, that did share common ground with Queen of Sheba. We will see if he produces at least 5 of them on the 23rd. Even if the protest group shows up it does not guarantee the license will be denied, just that the board will hear their complaint. Keep those fingers crossed!
Something stinks. It just doesn't make any sense at all. I cannot believe that these hypocrites still have nothing better to do than try to cause good people such strife and hardship. Campbell Johnson needs to be locked up along with Sammie Ellis, Mary Sutherland and Thomas Bowen. I am so sick of this nightmare! What on earth can we do? The city officials keep bending over backwards for them every chance they get. How come these people can't mind their own business and focus on something else in Shaw other than restaurants? Oh excuse me...certain restaurants. They didn't protest Veranda at 11th and P. They didn't protest anything in the Convention Center, The Giant or any of the liquor stores. Enough is enough!
It seems that the foundation of their argument is that alcohol has many adverse effects on society, which they supposedly deal with a lot in their ministries. Fair enough; I know several Southern Baptists who would agree.
But, as others have pointed out, the liquor store across the street from the front door to Shiloh's sanctuary--who's reason to be is the sale of alcohol--seems to be a more obvious target than a sit-down restaurant (even one with lounge areas or late hours). I've watched numerous people sit on the stoops of Shiloh's vacant properties along 9th street drinking liquor or singles from that very liquor store, yet Shiloh was apparently silent when it was up for its license renewal most recently. Which leads to the question--What is Shiloh opposed to--alcohol generally or the specific people buying alcohol at these restaurants?
what concerns me is that Queen of Sheba now has to appear a 3rd time before ABRA so groups can protest them. 1 continuation, ok fine...but 2? Will there be more? I've never seent he board this lax or lenient, its very weird. Usually if you are not prepared, too bad! What is going on?
Agreed. I'm not versed in the ins and outs of the ABCB, and I don't know what what was said at the first meeting regarding what this week's meeting was to be about. But given the things I do know, it seems like we're giving the opponents a lot of opportunities to group/regroup/formulate arguments and delaying a hearing on the merits needlessly.
Great Point Sha Rez. They obviously have no problem with their own people drinking alcohol or smoking crack or shooting up. But when it comes to "outsiders" coming in to their historic "neighborhood" and wanting to improve conditions it is a different story. God forbid that someone would actually want to take care of their property and be able to walk to a nice restaurant and have a glass of wine with a good meal.
But what really pisses me off is that Shiloh has caused good people to suffer and probably take substantian losses in their businesses. You would think that the church would support the businesses right? I mean you got what you wanted by not allowing these places to be able to serve booze now why don't you at least support them with your patronage. No they just walk past and get in their cars and drive out to the burbs and run into the nearest Outback, etc.
I remember sitting at one of these silly hearings that Jim Graham had last year to discuss the law change and listening to one of these preachers actually say that he would love nothing more than to have a good restaurant in Shaw that he could go to because every year they take the high school grads from the church out to dinner. I was blown away because at the time there was Vegetate and Queen of Sheeba both right across the street struggling with no liquor license thanks to these churches. Mon dieu!
Anon - thanks for your comment, and you raise some interesting points.
To clarify, however, by no means do I imply that "They obviously have no problem with their own people drinking alcohol or smoking crack or shooting up." That's Leroy-esque, polarizing rhetoric, which I don't endorse. I concede they have significant problems with anyone--especially church members--abusing substances.
Nonetheless, their selective protests seem to indicate that it's not really the alohol, but the patrons and/or owners, they have problems with.
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