Update: 15 Dec 2011: 10:50am:

I got a call from someone who told me that the Title of the property is the subject the Federal case, so the City cannot raze 509 O Street NW or apparently conduct repairs and charge the owner (I guess the District needs to know the legitimate owner before they issue a work order and assign a person/entity to bill for the work). To be fair to a *slum lord*, perhaps the title dispute also prevents Bakeir from doing much either.

09-CV-2202
Bakeir v Capital City Mortgage et al
Judge Walton (who handled the Scooter Libby case) is handling this case.
9:30, Jan 9 6th Floor
Courtroom 16

Updated: Thursday, December 15:

I told Commissioner Padro in the lobby at DCRA that I bet the owner of 509 O Street might play the victim/race card. He said I was just being crazy, again.... I should have bet him $100.... It's a good thing one of the (white) neighbors didn't come which might have given Ms Bakeir more ammunition, because she came with plenty of fire power -- useless as it was. When she finally did drop the victim/race card, Commission Padro just gave me an eye roll; I nearly fell out of my chair. #hysterical.

The DCRA BCIB hearing on 509 O Street NW this morning (apparently this is the 9th Anniversary of the BCIB addressing this property which was condemned in 2005) had just about everything: a federal investigation (can anyone find a case number? hearing/trial scheduled for Jan. 9, 2012?), intrigue, a scam, a walk-out that resulted in a 15 min recess, objections, alleged invasion of privacy (it was a public hearing and the BCIC was recording the hearing for the record), comedy, video (3, below) (3 YouTube clips will be posted soon), and the race card... At one point, I wouldn't have been surprised if, Harry Thomas Jr, Marion Barry, Mayor Gray or Jack Evans busted into the hearing room to defend the property owner to complete the circus.

"Ms Bakeir, you've learned how to game the system so well and for so many years, we gonna hire you or put you on a board or commission to do some oversight at Oh-Tee-Ahr!... Welcome to the Club! ... Next step is to get you a seat on the DC Council. You don't happen to live in Ward 6 do ya?! ..."
— ONE [Crooked] City ...

The Board eventually decided to refer the case to their investigations unit for further action and to report the current status to OTR. Beverly Bakeir noted that she had no intention of investing any significant some of money to renovate the property until a mysterious Federal legal case is concluded. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2C will address this property at tonight's public meeting with the intent of making a motion that encourages DCRA and its related agencies to take action as quickly as possible and without delay.

Admittedly, I walked into the hearing this morning with a bias, intending to feel no sympathy, but when I saw how professional and intelligent the property owner and two of her children seemed, I felt I might end up changing my mind. One hour later, biking home past 509 O St NW (as I do daily), I wished that the District would just fix up and secure the property or raze it and send Bakeir the bill for xmas with a big bow on it ... and I couldn't wait to post the YouTube videos since Bakeir seem to be embarrassed about being recorded in discussions about her property which is a blight on the community. She should deal with some of the frustration that neighbors have to face every day until she fixes it up. Will post the DCRA BCIB audio file of the entire hearing once they make it available, as they said they would.

Part 1 of 3. Wednesday, December 14, 2011 BCIB hearing on 509 O Street NW with property owner. Race card played in video 2. Walk-out takes place at end of video 3 -- along with Commissioner Padro's excellent testimony -- just before the board asked that I turn off my camera — not because they thought I was out of line, but just so the hearing could continue — which I promptly did.

Part 2: "The Race Card" dropped at 4:27 min. mark.

Part 3: ANC2C Chair Commissioner Padro gives excellent testimony (4:38 min. mark) on behalf of the community about why this property should be renovated as soon as possible by either the owner or the District. "Walk-out" takes place at 16:16 min. mark prompting 15 min recess.

I love my peeps though, we will throw down the race card at the slightest provocation, it's the African American #PlanB extraordinaire:

• Feeling a little unsure of yourself today? Play the race card.
• Get caught in a lie? Play the race card and throw in a little homophobia with a cherry on top to try to weasel your way out.
• Get busted by po-po? Even if a black cop busts you, the curent Chief of Police is white. Play the race card.
• Late on your rent? Chances are your landlord is white, related or a white person, friends with a white person or went to school with a white/latino or asian person. Play the race card.
• Drop out of school, too lazy or drug addicted to get a job, don't care enough to pull you pants up above your derriere? Play the race card to fault all the white people who've actually been trying to help you're stupid butt all these years in school.
• Get caught smoking crack with a ho up in a ho-tel room while Mayor of Washington DC? Even after you've sought forgiveness from The Almighty why not play the race card for grits and shiggles?
• Don't feel like fixing up your shithole blighted property -- haven for vagrants, drug dealers and gunslingers? You know what to do....

Frankly, it never really hurts. There's a 50/50 chance you'll get some leverage or at least be able to stall things for a minute or 15. And if you're in a bind where you might need to use it, you're already too deep in the shit to feel shame for doing it without good reason.

It's not that we're the only people who play the race/ethnic/sexual identity victim card, or that we're exceptionally skilled at doing it; but it's always entertaining to watch and admire the sheer chutzpah which is always at least good for a laugh.

509 O Street NW circa 2006:

Pics from the past few weeks in 2011 can be found here.