Old Town Residents' Association (OTRA)
Meeting Minutes, September 20, 2007


Attendees: Dan Aibel, Seth Balsam, Ken Firestone, Seth Grimes, Douglas
Gube, Dean Hoge, Andrew Kelemen, Delegate Heather Mizeur, Dan Mudd, Dick
O'Connor, Frances Phipps, David Pittman, Senator Jamie Raskin, John
Rectenwald, Ray Scannell, Steve Shapiro, Miriam Szapiro, Lauren Taylor,
Catherine Wakely, Chantal Worzala

Location: 118 Park Avenue, Takoma Park

1) OTRA President Seth Grimes convened the meeting shortly after 7:30 pm
with Introductions.

2) Lauren Taylor spoke briefly about the Defend Yourself workshops she
conducts.

3) Seth Grimes gave background on Takoma Metro site development and the
upcoming WMATA Board votes. Josh Wright spoke about neighborhood activism
in opposition to current plans put forward by developer EYA. Frances
Phipps spoke about the need to involve political figures. Heather Mizeur
describe efforts to work with Congressmen Sarbanes, Cummings, and Van
Hollen related to moves to created dedicated funding for Metro. Heather
shared copies of a letter she had send to Van Hollen. Jamie Raskin
described a letter from himself, Heather, and Del Sheila Hixson -- they're
seeking to have Del Tom Hucker sign on -- to County Executive Ike Leggett
regarding Ride On. He mentioned the issue to Van Hollen that morning and
expressed a willingness to go to Governor O'Malley. There was further
discussion of the need to engage DC and Maryland officials including
Eleanor Holmes-Norton at the congressional level. Jamie requested a
statement of one or two aspects of the project we want to see changed .

4) Regarding other state issues of concern to residents -- Jamie spoke
about the budget struggle; about slots, which are regressive and would
cannibalize lottery revenues; about regressive sales-tax increases; and
about the need for progress on health-care reform and environmental
protection. Heather said that there are likely not enough votes in the
house of delegates to pass slots. They are working on other approaches to
funding needs and the projected revenue shortfall.

Attendess asked about the ICC, an increase in the gas tax, and a variety
of other issues, mostly economic and fiscal issues, with group discussion.
Heather said that other key issues for the up-coming session include
repeal of the death penalty and reducing the number of uninsured.

The meeting ended at around 9:10 pm.


Minutes reported by Seth Grimes.