Shepherd Park question

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure whether this is the appropriate sub-forum, but I’ll try here. Can any Shepherd Park residents (or otherwise) enlighten me about the Shepherd Park Citizens Association? They seem well-liked/powerful? But they often claim to speak for the community and I’m wondering how they assess community views on issues. And yes, I’m a coward for asking on an Internet forum.

[Anonymous]

An inconclusive multi-part answer, and I'm hoping others can weigh in with more long-term perspective:

SPCA has a long-established history in the neighborhood, having been in existence since 1917 but having been formed for its modern history in the context of the neighborhood activism for integration 50-60 years ago. So my sense is that they have a high level of participation from the older neighborhood residents, Black and white, including old movement people, and have a good track record on organizing longstanding neighborhood traditions like the garden tour, Halloween activities, neighborhood yard sale, etc., which bring in younger families, too. Hence basically well-liked. Small neighborhood, large footprint.

As with every Citizens Association I've encountered in DC neighborhoods, they are very old-school about engagement: in-person meetings, hard-copy newsletter, and afaict no consultative process outside their membership and honestly not that much within their membership. I have never been polled on my opinions on anything as a member. It's still worth the $25 to join and get the newsletter to get a snapshot a few times a year of neighborhood history, current businesses, and what's happening offline.

The current president is a newer neighborhood resident (i.e., moved in a decade or so, not dating back to the 60s) very opinionated, rather litigious, and very prone to make her opinions the neighborhood's formal position on anything. For instance, she pretty much single-handedly stopped the mixed-use development that was supposed to go where the Target is. She is also very involved in ANC committees, though she's not an ANC commissioner. She's quite personable (I honestly like her even when I disagree with her), but/and has made herself very powerful in the neighborhood.

I often get the sense that discussion on the SP listserv takes the place of public consultation by SPCA, whether or not that ever changes the outcome, even though the listserv is not affiliated with SPCA. I believe the listserv moderator is in SPCA leadership, however. Again, small neighborhood with a few activist voices and not a lot of boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An inconclusive multi-part answer, and I'm hoping others can weigh in with more long-term perspective:

SPCA has a long-established history in the neighborhood, having been in existence since 1917 but having been formed for its modern history in the context of the neighborhood activism for integration 50-60 years ago. So my sense is that they have a high level of participation from the older neighborhood residents, Black and white, including old movement people, and have a good track record on organizing longstanding neighborhood traditions like the garden tour, Halloween activities, neighborhood yard sale, etc., which bring in younger families, too. Hence basically well-liked. Small neighborhood, large footprint.

As with every Citizens Association I've encountered in DC neighborhoods, they are very old-school about engagement: in-person meetings, hard-copy newsletter, and afaict no consultative process outside their membership and honestly not that much within their membership. I have never been polled on my opinions on anything as a member. It's still worth the $25 to join and get the newsletter to get a snapshot a few times a year of neighborhood history, current businesses, and what's happening offline.

The current president is a newer neighborhood resident (i.e., moved in a decade or so, not dating back to the 60s) very opinionated, rather litigious, and very prone to make her opinions the neighborhood's formal position on anything. For instance, she pretty much single-handedly stopped the mixed-use development that was supposed to go where the Target is. She is also very involved in ANC committees, though she's not an ANC commissioner. She's quite personable (I honestly like her even when I disagree with her), but/and has made herself very powerful in the neighborhood.

I often get the sense that discussion on the SP listserv takes the place of public consultation by SPCA, whether or not that ever changes the outcome, even though the listserv is not affiliated with SPCA. I believe the listserv moderator is in SPCA leadership, however. Again, small neighborhood with a few activist voices and not a lot of boundaries.

Yep, this is why I'm not a fan of hers. I wanted that mixed use development w/Harris Teeter! Still salty, lol.

She writes these long screeds where she gets into arguments with others, like yesterday re: the community center. I wonder if there are term limits on the SPCA president position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Yep, this is why I'm not a fan of hers. I wanted that mixed use development w/Harris Teeter! Still salty, lol.

She writes these long screeds where she gets into arguments with others, like yesterday re: the community center. I wonder if there are term limits on the SPCA president position.

Not that I can see. In fact, it looks like the bylaws were recently updated and give the president a heck of a lot of power. https://shepherdpark.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SPCABylaws-approved-10-10-2019.pdf

[Anonymous]

OP here: yes, my question was prompted by the lively listserv debate yesterday. But I’ve been troubled by the SPCA position on a lot of things from basic traffic improvements to a bench in a pocket park. Maybe I’m conflating SPCA members’ individual viewpoints with their official stance. I appreciate the historical perspective as a newer resident of the neighborhood who is extremely reluctant to weigh in non-anonymously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:conflating SPCA members’ individual viewpoints with their official stance.

This is absolutely what is going on. (PP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:conflating SPCA members’ individual viewpoints with their official stance.

This is absolutely what is going on. (PP)

PP clarifying: I mean, the SPCA members do not distinguish their individual viewpoints from their official stances. You are not wrong to see them conflating.

[Anonymous]

I am a newer resident and have had the same questions. I honestly thought the SPCA was just for things like the garden tour, ice cream social, etc but after passively being a list serve member since I moved to the neighborhood it seems clear that there is more going on with it, in terms of advocacy, etc. Not necessarily bad but as the discussion about the community center shows there are some very strong opinions here. Does anyone who has lived in the neighborhood for a while know how the elementary school is generally perceived as a neighbor? I had thought it would be though of as a community school even if you don't send your kids there so was surprised by the position of some who seem to have no qualms about the prospect of pushing an elementary school aftercare program out- but in return for what? I don't quite understand the agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a newer resident and have had the same questions. I honestly thought the SPCA was just for things like the garden tour, ice cream social, etc but after passively being a list serve member since I moved to the neighborhood it seems clear that there is more going on with it, in terms of advocacy, etc. Not necessarily bad but as the discussion about the community center shows there are some very strong opinions here. Does anyone who has lived in the neighborhood for a while know how the elementary school is generally perceived as a neighbor? I had thought it would be though of as a community school even if you don't send your kids there so was surprised by the position of some who seem to have no qualms about the prospect of pushing an elementary school aftercare program out- but in return for what? I don't quite understand the agenda.

I'm also dismayed that there isn't more support for the school using the community center during aftercare. The SPCA president seemed to brag that her kids are now in private.

I think there are a lot of private/charter families and retired residents who now also want access to the community center, and don't understand the history that led to its creation (it was Brandon Todd's way of trying to get us a new kitchen and gym to finish the renovation through a different channel than DCPS, since DCPS refused to complete the renovation; not sure about the wisdom of that in hindsight).

Water under the bridge, I guess. I do hope they can work out a compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a newer resident and have had the same questions. I honestly thought the SPCA was just for things like the garden tour, ice cream social, etc but after passively being a list serve member since I moved to the neighborhood it seems clear that there is more going on with it, in terms of advocacy, etc. Not necessarily bad but as the discussion about the community center shows there are some very strong opinions here. Does anyone who has lived in the neighborhood for a while know how the elementary school is generally perceived as a neighbor? I had thought it would be though of as a community school even if you don't send your kids there so was surprised by the position of some who seem to have no qualms about the prospect of pushing an elementary school aftercare program out- but in return for what? I don't quite understand the agenda.

I'm also dismayed that there isn't more support for the school using the community center during aftercare. The SPCA president seemed to brag that her kids are now in private.

I think there are a lot of private/charter families and retired residents who now also want access to the community center, and don't understand the history that led to its creation (it was Brandon Todd's way of trying to get us a new kitchen and gym to finish the renovation through a different channel than DCPS, since DCPS refused to complete the renovation; not sure about the wisdom of that in hindsight).

Water under the bridge, I guess. I do hope they can work out a compromise.

Despite the recent Kumbaya about DC schools truth is most people who can afford Private will still gravitate that way. As vested community members are replaced with recent buyers more attracted to the trendiness than the culture while expecting it to behave like an WOTP neighborhood in line with the recent purchase price. People think character lasts after areas move up scale but it rarely does. The Jewish/AA high society days of SP are fading to distant memories

[Anonymous]

Dang, I'm going to have to look at the messages on the listserv yesterday!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dang, I'm going to have to look at the messages on the listserv yesterday!

Get a snack! There are quite a few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dang, I'm going to have to look at the messages on the listserv yesterday!

Get a snack! There are quite a few.

I get the messages in digest form, so I'm always behind (and this is why I've been reticent to chime in, because it all seems to be moving so fast).

[Anonymous]

As a parent with two (tiny) kids at shepherd, I’m following with interest. My takeaways are: why the hell isn’t there a written agreement??!?!?!!!! But also, if people are speaking as the “voice of the community,” are they speaking for themselves? Or do they have a true bead on what people want? Because if it’s just a handful of people wanting to work out at the community center during the day, then it doesn’t seem worth blowing up aftercare. I agree that the community should get a voice. I’m just not sure I want SPCA to be that voice, given they’re unelected and prone to such histrionics on the listserv.

[Anonymous]

I'm relatively new to the neighborhood too. From what I've seen, the SPCA skews older and there's a lot of history and disputes amongst the members and other residents. There's literally 60+ years worth of issues and grudges that I can't hope to ever fully understand.