On The Look Out

Georgetown business leader joins D.C. Council staff

October 19, 2011

Beth Webster, well-known in business circles in Georgetown, has been named the new Business and Community Outreach Director for the D.C. Council Committee on Small and Local Business Development chaired by Councilmember Vincent Orange. In addition to staffing a recent hearing on small business job creation, including witnesses from Georgetown, Webster is focused on attracting television and movie production to the District.

(Photo by: Courtesy Beth Webster) Kathy Griffith, Vincent DePaul, Beth Webster

"We are elated to have Beth on staff," said Orange. "She has the skills, energy and motivation to assist in achieving the mission of the Committee on Small and Local Business Development."

To attract more film and television production, Webster said, the District needs "an attractive incentive package, providing an environment for production crews, additional and sizable sound stages and decreasing obstacles to permitting on the Federal and local levels." A public hearing on the issue is scheduled November 9th at 10:00 am in the John A. Wilson Building.

"We hope these presentations by experts will assist us in making the case to both our executive and legislative branches of government," Webster said. Experts from Beverly Hills, New York, and other filmmaking hubs are scheduled to appear.

In addition to her work for the Georgetown Business Association, Webster is connected in Hollywood, having attended the recent Emmy Awards.

"Our goal is to make D.C. more movie friendly, to increase film and television production, create jobs, and make D.C. a destination of choice for production. Ideally, we would like to have two permanent television series produced here," she added.

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Fiona Greig to run against Jack Evans

October 11, 2011

Georgetown resident and potential D.C. Council candidate Fiona Greig met with a small group of Dupont Circle residents Monday night who urged her to take on 20-year incumbent Jack Evans to represent Ward 2.

(Photo by: The Georgetown Dish) Potential Ward 2 D.C. Council candidate Fiona Greig

Arriving at the event on her bike, the 32-year-old McKinsey & Co. consultant told the group, "I believe we deserve better government, more efficient government, more ethical government and a full-time Councilmember [in a Council where there is] less profanity, that is open and accessible.”

Grieg, a Harvard PhD, moved to Washington from Cambridge, MA in 2007 and lives on 27th street. "I'm not a Washingtonian," she said. "I’m fresh and don’t come with the baggage, special interest favors and promises I’ve made to people.”

Greig, who has been meeting with a group of supporters for some months and said she is still exploring a candidacy, said D.C. residents deserve a clearer, forward-thinking vision for the city. "I am representative of many people who come to D.C. and Ward 2 who want to stay here," she said. The community bank and microloan expert said residents need a “leader in the community to inform families of their choices." Greig said the ward needs "a 20-year vision for a secure community.”

Greig, married with a two-month old baby, said she feels “compelled to serve ...for my daughter where she can get a good education and enjoy living in the city.”

(Photo by: The Georgetown Dish) Greig (left) with Pat Wilson, the host of the Monday meet & greet.

Greig favors the recent tax increase from 8.5 to 8.95 percent for the District's highest-income residents. "I'm in favor of the tax increase [that just passed] while entering into conversation on how to increase efficiency of government.” Greig said she would use her experience in federal and local budgets to “reduce and prevent deficits.” Budgets shouldn’t be a matter of “adding and subtracting, i.e., adding taxes or cutting services for the poor" she said. "You can find efficiencies ... it’s not too much to ask as a full-time Councilmember.”

Asked whether she would support the D.C.-subsidized new convention center and Adams Morgan luxury hotels as well as a new soccer stadium in Anacostia, Greig said economic development "is not simply through real estate, real estate, real estate….I don’t see why these projects couldn’t be 100% private funding.”

Greig said she recently met with Evans at Marvelous Market. "He gave a stump speech…a lot about past 20, 15, 10 years, not about the future.”

More about Greig's exploratory campaign is on Facebook.

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Rose Park friends bat it out of the park

October 7, 2011

Rose Park's fans, friends and neighbors turned out in force Thursday for a fundraiser to support one of Georgetown's best-known parks in an event featuring Georgetown's icon hostess Frida Burling. Home of young and old from every corner of the city, the park provides basketball, tennis courts, a playground for youngsters and a baseball diamond.

(Photo by: The Georgetown Dish) Carol Harmon, Frida Burling, Leslie Wheelock and David Dunning

The reception was hosted by Dr. Jim D'Orta in his home, site of famous parties by Pamela and Averill Harriman.

Guests swarmed in on the warm, clear evening. "We bring our 2 1/2 year old and our five-month old," said Luke Bronin, describing himself as a fan. "We depend on Rose Park."

Leslie Kamrad and Leslie Maysak of The Georgetown Dish glistened in the crowd, as did noted writer and Dish contributor Page Evans, who recently described a "Blessing of the Animals" nearby at Christ Church. Potential D.C. Council candidate Fiona Greig also stopped by, and Councilmember Jack Evans dropped in after a fundraiser for his campaign hosted by former Mayor Adrian Fenty downtown.

Fans of the Rose Park Farmers Market were also out in force, having created a unique and treasured weekly event that some say is the closest thing to a Paris market this side of The Pond.

(Photo by: The Georgetown Dish) Jill White and Toni Brody, the co-hostesses

But maintaining the park grounds requires community support, said fundraising co-hostesses Jill White and Toni Brody of Friends of Rose Park. A plan for longer-range improvements is in development. "The whole community is here," said White. "That's what Georgetown is really about."

In addition to White and Brody, board members include David Abrams, Russell Bridges, John Donvan, David Dunning (President since 2010). Anna Fuhrman, Carol Harman, Marjorie Heiss, Rob Hetem, Severina Mladenova, Pamla Moore, Mary Carroll Platt, Vicky Rigby, Dave Salwen, Katie Sexton, and Leslie Wheelock.