So let's uh begin with Mr.

Thorpe.

It's nice to see you, and good morning.

Good morning.

Can you hear me?

No, because your microphone is not on.

It's on now?

Yes, actually, I can hear you before, but nobody else.

Before I uh good morning, uh, Mr.

Chairman.

Um, before I begin my testimony, let me just say uh heartfelt thank you uh to your staff, Evans uh for facilitating me.

And also over the years, I think you have the best staff in the Johnny Wilson building.

Every time I call your office with uh issue, it gets resolved.

So I want to uh basically thank your staff for for really representing you very well.

I'm glad to hear that.

Um we're not always able to help in folks call, but we should be responsive, so thank you for that.

I wish my Ward II Councilwoman Brooke Pentu could be as efficient as your staff is.

Good morning, Mr.

Chairman.

My name is Ahaj Monty Leo J.

Thorpe Jr., former Shaw ANC Commissioner, and current president of the Show East Central Civic Association, co-founder of uh and chairman of uh Coke Red Hat's Patrol.

I met Anthony Hood decades ago when I worked in Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly's administration when I ran her community patrol support office out of her constituent service office at the Reese Building on 14th Street Northwest.

Anthony Hood was one of the leaders of the many volunteer red hats, orange hats, red green hats, white hats, and yellow hat patrols fighting crime and drugs in the city at that time, which I had supported them with wonky talkies and other uh type of equipment uh through the Sharon Pratt Kelly administration uh community support office.

Anthony Hood is a role model for black men in DC public service.

He is a heterosexual married man with a family.

He has uh he is a man of his faith.

He has high moral morals, norms, and values that are testimony to his African heritage.

In essence, Anthony affectionately, based on the movie and published book, The Spook That Sat by the Door.

He assimilated to a white only appointed role as chairman of the District of Columbia Zoning Commission, mastered its craft after decades of appointments from former and current mayors, and never did Hood banish his connections, love service to black people in the District of Columbia while dealing justly with white businesses' interest in white citizens in his role as chairman of the DC zoning commission.

I can't say that about contemporary black sellout DC public officials that prior to his other interests and simultaneously ignores black interests to remain in power until they are out of office and must face the wrath of black residents.

I mean, I really mean what I'm saying about Anthony Hood.

Um you're looking at a Southern city, which is liberal.

Recompetent blacks have to work very, very hard while a lot of liberal whites gets a pass.

Uh Hood has maintained uh a very ethical approach in his role as chairman of the zoning commission, allowing all to have a voice at the table when he has a hearing.

Those that are opposing or those that are pro for whatever issues uh that are behind before the uh commission.

So again, uh Mr.

Chairman, um I thank you for allowing me to testify.

This is good to see you.

You and I have been uh friends for decades, and uh always appreciate you.

Thank you.

Uh thank you for your testimony.

I believe Ethanat Sagay is not here.

Uh William Jordan, good morning.

Uh I urge Chairman Hood to voluntarily withdraw his name from consideration, and instead start an entity dedicated to helping DC's few remaining black families, communities, and institutions survive and navigate the city's current company rewrite.

Chairman Hood has given 25 plus years on the zoning commission and has a unique perspective on the use of zoning regulations, public-private partnerships, tax policies, and et cetera, to disrupt and displace the city's black families and institutions in the name of progress at a rate not seen since the 1950s, 60 Southwest urban Negro removal, and maybe the internal slave trade trailer tears era.

Conservatively speaking, over the last 20 years, during Chairman Hoo's tenure, my War I community has seen over 50% of its black population displaced, going from around 34,000 to about 18,000.

Over 14,000 people displaced, according to census data.

This loss is more dramatic given that approximately 75% of the world's black population lived east of 16th Street in the eastern half of the ward.

The eastern half is where most of the zoning actions, mainly via PUDs, city-led private partnerships were concentrated in the ward.

This historic loss of population without the achievement of promised benefits is in large part due to the liberal abuse of the Zoning Commission PUD process, abuses which includes reneging on community benefits agreements around affordable housing and community benefits, effectively engaging in money laundering via public subsidies to support luxury projects, to limit the rights, especially of those black families to give serve their interests, land banking and speculation, and a cover for the use of government power and corruption.

While many voting cases exemplify this abuse of war, I'll point to three.

The first is 07-02, the Highland Park Donatelli development cases, the 1611, 1612, Park Morton, Bruce Monroe cases, in the 610, the 10th, 26, Zuckerman Garley, Georgia Avenue cases.

In all of those cases, you can find abuse of power, land speculation, the leveraging of government entities to do this.

As well, I want to call to the what I see as a poor implementation and understanding of racial equity as it is implemented by the Commission.

Again, I thank Chairman Hood for his services, and as I said to him, I want to win him over from the dark side to our side to fight as we move forward.

Otherwise, soon there will be very little black population.

And it's an example of this is the emergency youth curfew zones.

If we're that desperate, then something is seriously wrong.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Jordan.

Good morning.

Good evening.

Yeah, good morning.

I'm Harry Sinaruzzi.

I'm the co-founder and executive director of Empower DC, where for over 20 years I've worked with DC residents most impacted by displacement and the need for affordable housing.

Today I'm here to share my thoughts on the reconfirmation of Anthony Hood to the Zoning Commission.

At his last confirmation, I spoke in opposition of Chairman Hood's reappointment.

I challenge his role in the Commission's blanket acceptance of development projects that have spurred the rapid displacement of black residents from the city.

I remain deeply concerned that the commission is not doing its part to prevent displacement and ensure the existence of affordable housing in DC.

But I am also aware that zoning is just one piece of the development puzzle, and there's a desperate need to review and reform the system as a whole to achieve these goals.

I hope that in his next term, Chairman Hood will be a willing participant and even a leader in convening the cross-agency conversations with residents, impacted residents that are necessary to bring about systemic changes.

While many in DC government react with extreme defensiveness when being criticized to his credit, Chairman Hood was far more reflective and opened the door to conversations after we opposed him those years ago.

Since then, in our conversations, Chairman Hood has repeatedly told me that he shares the goals of expanding deeply affordable housing, preventing displacement, and correcting the overconcentration of industrial sites in communities like Brentwood and Ivy City.

It seems that we also share the frustration of DC's lack of progress in these areas.

And the question is how do we get there?

There are major systemic barriers to our ability as a city to address these issues, and for one, the city leadership has still never fully committed to addressing the issue of displacement and the need for deeply affordable housing.

The focus continues to be attracting new higher income residents to the city with a false promise that benefits will trickle down to everyone else.

Zoning is one piece of a larger puzzle that makes development happen, and planning, policy, and budget also play important roles.

So not only do we need the leadership of Chairman Hood, we need your leadership, Chairman Mendelson, to make changes to these inequitable systems.

And a couple of examples here.

We need to have meaningful planning that addresses critical issues.

Office of Planning has not released an anti-displacement strategy as required by the Comp Plan.

We don't have a plan to build and preserve the tens of thousands of deeply uh affordable housing units that are needed by existing residents, nor do we have a plan to more equitably distribute or manage the harmful impact of industrial lands that have been clustered in neighborhoods like Brentwood and Ivy City.

In order to stem displacement, we need that anti-displacement planning and implementation of those plans with the prevention measures in place ahead of new density or new development.

It cannot be an afterthought.

We need to clarify and strengthen the racial equity rules.

Um, to his credit, Chairman Hood did ensure that the zoning commission developed a racial equity assessment tool as required by the comp plan.

He improved upon the tool based on public input.

Um, but he has admitted and and stated several times that he's not sure if it's working.

None of us are because it seems to be mostly words on a page at this time.

Um we need to make this meaningful.

We need to set clear racial equity goals, define and enforce community engagement requirements, and track and measure the progress.

Policies and budgets need to align with affordable housing and community development goals.

We need to increase funding to help nonprofit developers acquire sites, build and preserve housing units, support land trust cooperatives and other community development strategies.

An example of this is the Ivy City Small Area Plan, where Office of Planning has noted 30% of residents are at risk of displacement, yet there's no resources put into place to take advantage of multiple current opportunities to acquire and preserve affordable housing, one being uh the now vacant property that was once run by notorious slum landlord Sam Raz Junian.

Um, one of the things I've observed time and again is that the zoning process is used to push a politically driven outcome well ahead of when the project is really right for zoning consideration.

We need to change the order of operations for how development projects get approved.

Zoning changes should not occur, for instance, before public land is declared surplus by the council after a public input process and the creation of a land disposition agreement.

It should not be approved before there is a clear project with clear community benefits in place that are and an enforceable plan to prevent the displacement of residents.

Zoning orders should reflect and make enforceable the commitments made to communities.

I expect uh Chairman Hood will be a reappointed, and I expect also that you, Chairman Mendelson, will be a re-elected.

My expectation is that you both will use this next term and time of political change in the city to push for real change that delivers on the goals of displacement prevention and environmental justice.

This conversation has been dominated by those claiming we need to remove red tape, eliminate opposition, and build for future residents, while the housing needs of existing DC residents continue to be ignored.

I urge Chairman Hood and you, Chairman Mendelson to push the conversation, demand more for the people who need it most, hold round tables to evaluate implementation of the 2021 comp plan, specifically racial equity and anti-displacement provisions, and work with residents and advocates to track to craft policy and regulatory changes that put real requirements, resources, and power behind the currently empty promise of affordable housing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Naruzi.

Um, and I let you go well over your time, so I guess there's no longer precedent here for sticking to the clock.

But thank you for your testimony.

This thoughtful.

Antonio Myers, I believe, is not here.

Um although I do have a statement.

Uh Gloria Hightower, uh, have you accepted?

I don't think you have, so you need to accept before we can hear your testimony.

Uh, Mr.

Hawkins.

Good morning, Mr.

Chair.

This opportunity to come into the District of Columbia from your East neighbor, Prince George's County, is significant for me.

I've known Anthony Hood for the last 45 years as a community activist.

And as a community activist, and even as the chair of the zoning commission, he has always been about what's best for the residents of the District of Columbia while taking into account what's going on with our businesses.

What I can say about Anthony Hood that really impressed me is this man has set like you over 2,000 hearings from the zoning committee and the Board of Zoning Adjustment, listening and coming up with solutions to make your city and our capital city better than he found it.

I'm so grateful to know him as a public servant.

I'm grateful to know him as someone that's committed to moving the District of Columbia forward.

And when I serve Mr.

Chair as chair of the Prince George's County Council, I sought his expertise and input on how we should deal with the zoning rewrite that we were going through in Prince George's County.

He's someone that has helped out currently current chair of the uh planning board in Prince George's County with his insight and experiences.

And again, I wanted to come past this morning just to support someone who has been a voice to the citizens, not only of Ward 5, but throughout the city and this region.

And I'm grateful to know him and to know the kind of public servant he is.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak before you this morning.

Thank you, Mr.

Hawkins.

And thank you for being here.

Yeah, good morning.

Good morning, Chairman Lusim.

I'm Ra Meen.

I'm ANC Commissioner in 5B04, which is the historic Brooklyn neighborhood in Northeast.

I am currently the longest serving commissioner in ANC 5B.

I support the mayor's nomination to reappoint Anthony Hood to the zoning commission for a term to end February 3rd, 2030.

I have negotiated and led the community on two planned unit developments in ANC 5B.

Zoning case number 22-04A, also known as the Reed Street PUD, and zoning case number 24-15, currently, 901 Monroe Street PUD, as well as numerous uh zone BZA cases.

As you know, Chair, PUDs and development projects can tether, strain, and divide the most cohesive neighborhoods, communities, and commissions.

It's been my experience under Anthony Hood's chairmanship of the DC Zoning Commission that all hearings are consistent with the comprehension plan, zoning regulations, and zoning map for the national capital, which means that public hearings are clear and comprehensive, and all stakeholders are thoroughly heard, reviewed, and advised fairly throughout the zoning hearing.

Mr.

Hood's calm and consistent presentation and leadership has kept all parties negotiating, which has resulted in developments and community benefits that are well received in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Mr.

Hood's professionalism and guidance has provided space and perspective for stakeholders and the community to reflect and heal during during and after the PUD process.

We are in uncharted times in our beloved city.

However, we are DC and we are DC strong.

Representation and visibility are always important, and especially right now, right now for our DC youth.

Anthony Hood is the type of DC resident, leader, and man that DC youth should see and know.

As they come to aid, DC youth should know and believe that we all work for them.

And we serve D.C.

today so they can serve and lead D.C.

tomorrow.

Anthony Hood is that guy.

Therefore, I strongly support Anthony's Hood nomination to be reappointed to the Zoning Commission.

Chair Hood, uh Chair Minnerson, I want to thank you again for your service and all that you do that other folks have a knowledge, and I'm available to answer questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Amin.

Commissioner, um you read from a statement which we don't have, and Mr.

Thorpe, you read from a statement we don't have.

If you want to submit, please.

Yeah, and Evan has my chair.

Okay.

Yeah.

Um is Ms.

Naruzi still here.

Yes.

How would you characterize your position as a uh in support in opposition or as a neutral critic?

I thought you were gonna ask that.

Um I'm in support with the expectations that we tackle some of these issues.

I know he's uh concerned, he shares the concerns around, yes.

All right, that's helpful.

Oh, I do have your statement.

My apologies.

Um I don't think I have any other questions.

I appreciate your taking the time to come here and testify.

Again, sorry that you had to wait for this hearing to start.

So you all are excused, and uh we're going to go to the nominee, Mr.

Hood.

Thanks, sir.

Yeah, I'll just see him.

Hey.

Good to see you.

I know that.

When you are ready, and good morning.

Thank you.

Uh good morning, Mr.

Chairman.

Let me just read straight from my statement.

Good morning, Chairman Mendelson, Councilmembers who may be watching, and staff.

My name is Anthony Hood.

It is my pleasure to be before you today offering testimony on my nomination for reappointment to the zoning commission of the District of Columbia.

As you may know, I have served on a zoning commission since 1998, and I am currently employed at the United States Environmental Protection Agency as the printing officer.

I have been a community activist for the past 45 years, advocating on behalf of the residents of Ward 5 and beyond.

I am the former president of the Woodridge Civic Association and was voted into my current position of President Americas after 20 years.

I am a proud resident of Ward 5 and have served my community in many other capacities over the years.

You may recall, but most may not know this about me, but my first experience with zoning was 30 years ago when a trash transfer station was being located in my neighborhood.

It was a case in which I fought alongside my community against the trash transfer station's placement in our community in what we would call today an issue of environmental justice.

Although we did not achieve the result we anticipated, my actions caught the eye of the late then Mayor for Life, Marion Barry, and he nominated me to the Commission.

Was that over by Israel Baptist?

I worked on that one with John Fry, but it was one back on Queen's Chapel, which is probably going to be there when I'm when I'm gone.

During my tenure on the Commission, I have heard over 2,000 Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment Cases over approximately 7,000 hours, and have seen a number of projects realized.

It has always been my number one goal to make sure the community is being heard and that their concerns are addressed.

I have kept my focus on balance, inclusion, and coexistence.

When reviewing cases that come before the Commission, I have encouraged projects that far exceed I Z, which is inclusionary zoning requirements, including projects with deep affordability at 30 percent affordable senior housing and family-sized units.

In most cases, the development has been a win-win for all interested parties in the city.

I am proud to be part of the Commission, and if reconfirmed, I will continue to make the best decisions that I can for the best interests of the district and for those living in our great city.

The district has greatly evolved during my tenure on the Commission.

The increase of new residents has necessitated thousands of new housing units, including affordable units.

There has also been large a large number of new development cases that have included community benefits and amenities in many of our neighborhoods.

During this time, the zoning regulations were revised for the first time in 60 years after nine years and 60 hearings and meetings.

Some other recent initiatives, but are not limited to the following, include but are not limited to the following, implementing the new phase of inclusionary zoning regulations called IZ Plus, which adds I Z to areas that were not previously required to provide affordable housing, continuing to approve projects with hundreds of affordable units, including 68% of the approved units at 60% AMI or below during the last 10 years, continuing to encourage greater ANC participation in cases by conducting extensive outreach and training.

District agencies have been engaging in meaningful progress to address racial equity issues for quite some time in the city and the commission is no different.

I have always taken racial inequities in our city seriously.

Prior to the racial equity initiatives, we called it leveling the playing field.

So, in response to the comprehensive plan's drafting process, I asked the Office of Planning to apply the racial equity lens in its case reports to the Commission so that the consideration into these impacts would be made in our decision making process.

We passed a text amendment that calls for applicants to submit racial equity impact statements for our evaluation.

I want to make I want to make it very clear.

The Commission takes racial equity seriously and is dedicated to making decisions with that lens.

This past year we investigated the effectiveness of the tool.

While we did see some improvements, including some robust robust community engagement, more detailed applications, and better contextualization of equity issues.

We are considering a round table to gather feedback on standardizing outreach, clarifying roles of community organization, establishing racial equity goals, and balancing housing provisions with engagement.

I had made that promise to the community a while back, and I intend on getting that done sooner than later.

Lastly, I would like to make it abundantly clear that I and the entire Commission believe in public input in all cases before us.

As a lifelong community activist who was born and raised in this great city, I know that community input is crucial to the decision-making process so the outcomes are equitable and reflect the community's needs.

The process before the Commission allows for public input at specific times.

The Commission operates within the defined set of rules and regulations, much like any workplace or institution.

We are bound by those regulations, and we are obligated to follow them.

The record may close during the process, but the Commission always has the discretion to reopen it for comment or to add additional hearings, if warranted.

By following these rules, we are ensuring a democratic process.

However, I would be remiss if I did not say that I know I have not always pleased everyone.

That comes with the responsibility of the role.

But I want to be clear about one thing.

I have always strived to ensure that every voice is heard and every perspective is considered.

Those decisions don't always lead to outcomes that makes everyone happy sometimes.

And there are times I'm not even happy, but the outcomes are grounded in consistency, fairness, and the law.

Next, I would like to thank the OZ staff under the excellent leadership, Sarah Barton, for the service they provide and their many accomplishments.

Other government agencies include the Office of Planning and the Mayor's Office of Talent and Appointments.

Everyone who both has supported and opposed my appointment and reappointments through the years, and also the residents and stakeholders of the District of Columbia, because they all have made me work harder to be the best commissioner that I can be for all who reside in the District of Columbia.

And the many colleagues who have sat with me over the years and whom I admire and value greatly.

Last but definitely not least, I want to give thanks to my wife Camilla and the rest of my family for allowing me to spend so much time in service to the city.

Before I conclude my testimony, I would like to extend one last thank you to the Council of the District of Columbia for their steadfast support of me over the years.

Thank you, and I will answer any questions you may have of me.

Thank you, Mr.

Hood.

Your testimony seems more reflective and extensive than previous hearings.

So with with time, you you get more to add, so you get more thoughtful or more reflective.

Or there's more to think and reflect.

Since you've served on the zoning commission, you have a sense of how much time is required.

Are you do you have the time to fully participate as a board member and make that commitment?

Yes, I do.

And are you current in your obligations, including taxes to the district?

I am current in all of my obligations.

And have you, over the years of your service had occasion where there's been a conflict of interest?

I have tried to stay away from it, but if I do have a conflict of interest, I recuse myself without hesitation.

At your last nomination, we had a long list of witnesses who had strong concerns about your commitment to equity, transparency, and fair functioning.

Today we have had a handful of witnesses, and the testimony was not so hostile.

What would you say has changed?

Well, well, one of the things that I believe, I actually appreciated that.

Um, because everybody needs to be, it's just like a GPS.

Everybody needs to be brought back to the center.

Uh and I'm I'm no different.

I'm human.

Uh, but I don't think I dare to wait from the center, but the perception of folks is what I really uh what I did was re-evaluated myself.

Uh, Ms.

Narusi, uh, Mr.

Jordan.

Uh I reflect on what they said.

And one of the things I want to say, uh, Ms.

Mr.

Roossi, I heard her comments.

I I concur with her comments.

I don't, but but I also have, you know, have had conversations that there are other avenues that I have to look at and other people I have to listen to as well.

I also concur with Mr.

Jordan.

I have often thought about what are you going to do when you get off the zoning commission.

I've never had nobody, I don't know.

Oh, there he is.

I've never had nobody tell me that.

But I have thought about it.

Um, you know, am I going to go and do something else, or am I going to help people in the community?

And I know the way I was raised, I'm probably going to help people in the community when when that time comes.

But I think the difference is I really didn't see a difference, but I had to re analyze the way we were doing things and make sure that people understood that, you know, that the due process was happening and also they were being heard.

And not only that, one of the things that was said at the last hearing was that that um, and I use the word, I don't want to put people on promised land, because I have to go by the law.

Uh so we try to work through that, work through the issues, but but the main focus is to look at the regulations and the law.

So I think that's the difference.

Everybody trying to take a little more time so we can understand we understand what the issues are, but we also have a process that we have to follow.

We also have a law and regulations we have to follow.

We have a comprehensive plan that the council votes on that we have to be not inconsistent with.

We have a flum match of a few uh they call it the flu now, but it's the flum map, the future land use map that we have to abide by.

So there are other things that we have to look at when we make our decision.

I know that was a long-winded answer, but it's a long-winded process.

Well, and I am also recalling that, and I think this was in your statement, you have stepped up um efforts to educate uh members of the public who want to participate in the zoning process.

Yes, we have.

We uh thanks to the leadership of Ms.

Barton, and I know that the uh I think they call it one ANC has I think they have been working together.

If they haven't, we should.

Um I know they have been doing, I think under Kent Base, I think he's still there.

They have been working with the ANCs and the ANCs and have been engaged.

They have a one-on-one that I think that the Office of Zoning, uh, I've joined one time.

They have a one-on-one where they are explained zoning, so especially to the newer commissioners.

Uh, and when they come down, if I see that if I see people on the stand, you know, because I was there too.

We take our time.

Um, and you know, I know we got a three-minute rule.

Sometimes they go they go over, I go over three minutes, and sometimes I get it for, you know, I have people who say, well, you let that person go on too long.

But the reason you let them go on too long, so first of all, we can get centralized so we can stay focused on the issue.

And I think I think it is about people being heard.

People want to be heard, and they want to know that, like I said in my testimony, they want to know that they are being considered.

Along those lines, um, so when Mr.

Jordan testified, he was critical.

Do you want to offer anything additional in response to his testimony?

Mr.

Jordan is is always critical.

I appreciate it.

Uh he might not think so.

I see Mr.

Jordan in the street when he is when he's running.

Uh so I have no problems with it.

And that's what I was saying.

He mentioned he started off his statement that I should pull back my nomination and help the community.

To me, that was that was not negative.

That was a plus.

If he thought that much of me to even say that, unless I misquoted, I'll go back and watch the tape.

If he thought that of that much of me to even say that at the very beginning, uh uh I I appreciate that and I respect that.

And even in his position, I respect it.

People who who will um uh uh don't support some of the things that we do, I I you respect it because their perception, as I've always said, becomes a reality.

But we also got to let them know that they are being included, and we are trying to figure out ways that they uh want to be in the process.

Now, Mr.

Jordan thinks that we our racial equity tool is not good enough.

And I have offered this to him, and he's sitting right there.

I have offered to him.

Help us, help us refine him.

When we have the round table, I want to see Mr.

Jordan.

I want him to be there.

I want him to be there to help us get it to where he thinks it should be, especially as long as we follow the requirements and we follow the regulations and we follow the law, the law.

What would you say are the top priorities for the Commission over the next couple of years?

Well, um I know that there's a there's a re uh comprehensive overhaul, uh comprehensive plan overhaul going on.

I have not you I usually don't get involved with that.

Uh but one of the things I do want to see is make sure uh and I'm going to actually mention this to the Office of Plan.

I thought of this as Ms.

Nerozi was speaking.

I haven't done it yet.

I am going to publicly ask them in the public form if they would give us an update from time to time on how that's going, making sure that we are engaging the public.

What are we doing to let the public know that what they say matters?

What are we doing to let them know that that uh we want their involvement?

Because I believe as as if we do engagement on the front end, that helps us when we get to hearings.

And I will tell you, um, Mr.

Chairman, as you know, I've I've been a while around a while.

And to the council and to the mayors uh who I have served in in previous uh nomination periods, to them, they have come up with the office of office of planning.

Office of planning has not always been staffed up like it is now.

And that's a credit that everyone now is at the table, and that's a credit to the city council and to the mayors.

And I want to credit all the mayors and and all the city council members who sat here.

You all were the ones who put something in place where now everybody has a place at the table.

So that direction for us will come from the comp plan.

And the thing is to make sure uh looking into the future, I would say the next four years, I want to make sure we have due process, make sure we follow the law, see how we can have how we can do better with racial equity.

And and I have heard a concern from the Committee 100, which and and so did I listen.

I heard a concern from the Committee 100 that pushing the envelope of a line more matter right, pushing the envelopes becomes a problem.

That's something I'm gonna, that's that's on my radar, and I'm gonna try to talk to my colleagues so we can make sure we put that out in front.

Because when you make it matter right, you take out public input.

I've never, I never like the matter right, but that's that's the way it is.

So what are you saying would be very familiar with?

What I'm saying is some of the things we are doing now, we're trying to make more things matter right.

Uh, some of the planning, planning procedures and policies which are coming to us, and the public feels, at least some of the public, not all, because we have some, and again, I have to balance that.

Some of the public feels like we should push the envelope, and the sum of the public feels like we are taking away that matter to right.

So I have not figured out all the answers yet, but that is my goal to try to achieve to figure out how we can win, and we can come out with a win-win for everyone.

That's the goal.

That's always the goal.

I think you are aware that uh at the performance oversight hearing and maybe some other hearings with the executive director of the commission or the Office of Zoning, rather, that I have been pressing on backlog.

Um different ways of defining backlogs.

So when I say backlog, I'm talking about the time between when a decision is made and an order is issued.

If I remember correctly, with the uh zoning commission, the uh which has very few cases that are really old waiting for orders, but still it is I think it's like six months before a uh order on average an order is issued.

It's gotta be quicker.

What are you doing to press the Office of Zoning?

Or what's the Commission doing to press the Office of Zoning to get these orders out?

Well, that would be BGA as well as zoning commission, although I recognize you are here as chair of the zoning commission.

Well, I think pretty much on the zoning commission, we are pretty much up to date.

Um, but I will tell you, I I think when you when we come back down for the budget hearing, I plan to attend.

Uh that's the goal.

But um I think that you will be very pleased with outcomes.

One one thing I would do, I will put my money on Sarah Bard and getting that straightened out.

That's one thing I would do.

And I guarantee you, I'm not sure of all the intricacies of how what's being done, but I can tell you while we sit here now, it's being worked on.

And and I would agree, and I know that the uh director agrees that she's looking at ways to streamline and get those uh deadline, I mean the the orders out faster.

But I think you will be happy when whenever we come back down, um, I think you will hear something different.

I'll be here, so if I'm if I'm not, you can run the tape back and say that Anthony Hood said he was going, you're gonna hear something, but I guarantee you are going to hear something different.

All right.

Give me a second.

Um there are two council members who have joined us.

Councilmember Parker, I think you are here first.

If you have any questions.

Yes, thank you.

Uh and I'm in transit, so excuse uh my background and my car.

Uh but it's good to see you again, Mr.

Hood.

Um and I was also struck by the I would phrase it as overwhelmingly positive feedback that we heard this morning, although there are uh detractors.

Uh one thing I would love if you can elaborate on is uh the piece of feedback about so many projects being matter of right and that uh blocking feedback.

Can you just say more?

I know you said you are going to push on that.

Uh but that is something I've heard uh from a number of ward five residents, but also others throughout the city.

So thank you.

Uh first of all, good morning uh to my councilmember, Councilmember Parker.

I will tell you that uh the I've heard this, I guess we are hearing the same about uh matter right.

Um, but the let me go into a little more detail.

The past practices have shown that things are pushing more towards matter right.

Um if you look at the the way I believe, uh you look at the uh practices of officer planning, you look at the cases that have been done, like for example, there are cases on the BZA where they approved or approved automatically.

I mean, you know, not that they don't have a discussion, discussion has gotten older.

So the thing is we we need to find that nexus of what should be matter right versus what should inconvenience the home the resident, what should inconvenience the homeowner to have to pay all this money to come down for something simple, like an addition of a uh of a deck.

And I know there are certain requirements uh in the zoning code uh to make sure that the safety is intact, that may be under building codes, but to send the an unnecessary burden on a homeowner is what what I am talking about.

But some things should be I guess we have to balance it.

Because when you have the bigger projects and some of the the side yards and everything's a matter right, then people feel like uh they are not being heard, they don't have the input.

For example, uh I know I don't uh I don't know where this case is, but uh started off on a case with recreation lights in our fields.

Some fields are regulated and some aren't.

So we were trying to figure that out, and we were trying to make it a matter right because you know it would be simpler.

But some of the ANCs, particularly in Ward 6, mentioned that they had input and they wanted to keep input.

So again, striking that balance is what I'm talking about.

We got to find out uh how we're gonna strike that balance.

If the if if I'm if I'm answering your question to your understanding.

You are you are, I think it's uh I uh linewalk.

You would also have some neighbors that would say uh that feedback process may slow down projects.

It may prevent the district from building and expanding housing.

And so I think thank you again for elaborating there.

Um Ms.

Nerozi and her testimony framed uh interesting tension.

We know the Office of Planning came out with a draft from uh there has been what I would characterize as broad criticism that it didn't go far enough, that zoning uh there weren't sufficient zoning changes to meet the demand for housing, and I would argue other changes, including industrial land zone changes in land use in Ward 5.

Uh she she in her testimony mentioned the tension between building more housing and preserving housing and fighting back against displacement for the residents who are already here.

Can you speak to the role you see you and the zoning commission playing in and mending that tension of meeting our housing shortage, but also ensuring that residents who are here can stay and thrive in the district.

And that is the goal.

Um, and and again, zoning is just a small piece, as she mentioned her testimony.

But the goal is to make sure that whatever we do, we do it carefully and respectfully, because what we what we want to do is not displace people.

You know, I'm hearing about displacement.

Uh uh, you know, we are seeing it, but we want to make sure that everyone who wants to live here in the city has that opportunity.

So zoning, and one of the things that we are pushing back on is when the projects are done, especially public housing, we are really criticizing and fine-tuned and the nailing down on the relocation.

Uh it's not just to come down and give us a happy speech and then leave.

No, put some teeth to it and make sure that every location, uh, first of all, we keep up with with residents.

If they and we we really like for them to relocate on site.

That's always been my issue.

So that sounds like one specific thing.

I heard you say you were reaching out and working with the Office of Planning to uh ask them to deliver progress on the racial equity assessment.

Is that accurate?

Yeah, uh the racial equity, I'm gonna have a round table to see how how we're how we're doing with that.

I want to hear from the public on how we're doing with it.

I I still I still Ms.

Roosy uh captured correctly, I still don't know if it's working.

I don't want to just have it for a conversation piece.

I want to see if it's working.

Okay.

I'm running out of time this round.

Uh but I think that is the challenge for the district.

How do we continue to build new housing?

Uh but ensure that we're not pushing people out for the sake of that housing so that we could do both.

Uh thank you.

Thank you.

And I I agree with your comments.

Thank you, Councilman.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Parker.

Councilmember Lewis Charge.

Thank you.

Um and good act uh good morning, um, Chairman Hood.

Good morning.

Uh uh a few questions.

Um first, what is your position on the zoning decision appeals amendment act um that the mayor introduced last year?

Uh uh I have not really been all in on that.

Um I do know that frivolous here's the thing.

I it probably could be some curving.

I don't never want to feel I don't want residents to feel, and I'll tell you what what I've learned of it, even though I haven't really followed it that much, but what I've learned of it is the Zoning Appeals Act, uh, the residents feel like it's taking away public comment.

And again, I'm against taking away public comment.

But on the other side of it, council member, if there are millions of dollars of projects in place, and there's a project in another neighborhood where they support, and I live somewhere else, and I want to go file an appeal, I can.

Right.

And I guess I guess I would leave that up to the decision makers, the lawmakers of how we deal with that, because I think at some point that I'm I've heard both sides of it, but again, the bottom line for me is I do not want to see public input input taken away, but we got to measure it.

If you live live across town and you able to file a hundred dollar appeal, that's a problem.

Yeah.

Um do you think limiting standing for appeals of zoning cases will help or hinder your work on the zoning commission?

I think uh the way the way we do it now.

I don't I don't think there needs to be a change.

Um, unless somebody can point to me something wrong.

Because here's the thing.

The courts have even ruled on, and it says Chairman Hood is what above, and I appreciate the courts this time.

They even said in the court documents, it's case law.

You don't have to take my word for it, that I have gone over the bond above the call because there was a group, uh a couple of groups at times that are not parties, and we go over the three minutes, we go over the five minutes because they want to be heard.

But I always try to narrow everybody back down to the the um what what the specific issue is.

You know, we get everything and we get the DC governments not doing it, we get it all, but we try to stay focused on the zoning commission.

And I think what we have now works.

Yeah.

Do you have a different approach to cases when the district is the applicant as opposed to a private actor?

Uh no, I don't I don't I don't have any difference in my approach.

No.

Okay.

And is there um uh I guess when are sitting commissioners allowed to discuss pending cases?

Sort of are there restrictions on what you're allowed to discuss about pending cases?

So what we did, council member, at one time, you know, we were getting in trouble, getting it people accused us of ex parte.

So anytime we have a rulemaking, we can actually talk about it.

Um but but when it's not a rulemaking, we had decided now.

That was a different commission.

It's not the commission that we have now, it just followed the same the same format because it was getting us into problems.

So we decided just not to talk about anything.

But technically, under the law, we can talk about rulemakings.

And now that we're getting to that point, maybe I had we'll have a conversation to see, because I know people do want to especially talk about rulemakings, but it's always better to talk about it in the hearing room.

So all five commissioners are getting the same thing at the same time.

Right.

Um, if there's a case where the testimony you're receiving at a hearing is in conflict with other ways of gauging support, like a survey or canving, how do you reconcile that conflict?

Can you repeat?

I want to make sure I understand the question.

So if there's a case where the testimony you're receiving at a hearing is in conflict with the other ways of gauging support.

So, like uh it's it's in conflict with a survey that the community did or uh canvassing the neighborhood door knocking people uh how do you reconcile that that conflict?

Uh I know this this may sound kind of carnal or or doesn't sound kind of corny is the word, but what I try to do, I try to deal with everything.

Uh the survey, uh the conflicts, and then once I look at what's being presented to us, I also look at the law and also try to make sure what's in consideration of both both sides.

So I mean, we've been faced with that before.

We get faced with that quite a bit.

But we again, everyone has to be heard.

We try to we try to please everybody, but we can't.

You you all know this in this type of business.

But what we can do is make sure we follow the law.

Okay.

Um, and then I wanted to ask, you know, you've been on the zoning commission.

Um you were for when were you first appointed as a member of the zoning commission?

I was first appointed in 1998, and I got on the zoning commission because I had a trash transfer station in my neighborhood, and the stench in the smell, so I understand I have not I will I have not lost my way.

Yeah.

You have served uh on zoning commission under how many different mayors?

I've served under six mayors.

Six six mayors, five mayors, yeah, one of them, yeah.

And how has and and uh as you know the district is under uh a transition and will have a transitional government this time uh coming next year.

How has the zoning commission changed since you were first appointed as a member?

And what are some changes that you would see in the future of the zoning commission uh uh were you to remain?

Well, a current current mayor, uh whoever the mayor is when a new man, I've I've seen a number of it's it's just happens that my confirmation hearings have always been at the time of election of a mayor.

So what normally happens is you follow and you listen to the policies of the mayor, uh, because the mum, whoever the mayor is gonna be, um you you you watch what their policies are, uh they usually send a signal.

And one thing I appreciate about the council and the mayor of the District of Columbia, and I'll say this publicly, they never interfered through that whole time.

None of them have never interfered.

Now, I always get a letter or something that says, look, we can y'all get this done?

How can y'all move along with this?

So you're hearing from our constituents, and but they never say uh do this or do that, because I would not do that.

I'm not gonna I I will I will walk away from it first.

I'm not gonna tolerate that.

Got it.

Great.

Um thank you so much.

Um uh that's all I have for this round.

I know I've gone over.

Thank you, Chairman Mendelson.

Thank you.

Um thank you, Council for Lewis George.

Um I have no further questions for you.

Gloria Hightower joined us late.

Okay.

And if you are uh here, um Ms.

Hightower, please testify.

Okay, good morning to uh this wonderful DC council committee and uh even the council members that have been able to review uh with Mr.

Anthony J.

Hood.

I take privilege this morning in submitting my testimony um and to fully support you know the confirmation of Mr.

Anthony J.

Hood.

Mr.

Hood remains respected, reliable, and accountable as a stakeholder dedicated to our city's landscape, which means he is best to serve on as the returning chairman of the DC zoning commission for the 21st century.

He has been in the specialized position, as he stated since 1998, and today stands as one of the longest serving community commissioners in the heart of Washington DC.

There are few who I can attest that possess the qualified seasoned zoning special class skill sets while overseeing and welcoming all with his outstanding customer friendly services, even when he agreed or disagree all for the best zoning results, especially for black and brown communities at large.

His appointment today, not tomorrow, will continue to ensure the key roles and responsibilities necessary for zoning that are measurable, fair, and equitable for the following areas.

Those areashot application, processing, and reviews.

Timely public notice notices for community engagements for all technical support and case management.

Why?

Because Mr.

Hood understands and values zoning districts in our great city and their specific requirements for residential, commercial, mixed use, industrial, and special purposes.

You know, I I'm a little slow in getting my computer um working, but I'm getting a little better.

And the older I get, the more efficient I become because I'm deterred.

Just like Mr.

Anthony J.

Hood.

He is due to be confirmed and um to continue his critical role with reshaping and expanding developments throughout our city, which is our native city, Washington.

Hightower, DC.

Ms.

Hightower, I'm gonna cut you off because your your time is up, but thank you.

If you want to submit your statement, please do that.

Well, I was near my time being cut.

Okay, so I you know I'm glad.

Thank you.

I will submit it.

I will submit.

Great, thank you.

Uh and the record for this hearing will be open um until April 22nd.

That's uh two weeks from now.

So 5 p.m.

on the 22nd.

Mr.

Parker's today.

Great.

Uh Mr.

Parker, you've reappeared.

Uh do you have any questions?

Yes, just one more round, please.

Um I want you've managed to mute yourself.

There wasn't actually a second round of uh questions, but uh if you have another question or two, please.

Okay, thank you.

Uh I wanted to gauge Chairman uh Hood's perspective on the draft floom that was released.

Uh Mr.

Hood, do you believe the draft flum goes far enough or does enough to address both the housing challenges the district faces but also uh the equity challenges that you and others spoke about?

Um Mr.

Parker, I have uh Councilmember Parker.

I have not reviewed anything uh that has been worked on.

I'm gonna ask for a formal review in public.

Uh I have not reviewed it.

Um, I have not reviewed.

Understood.

And I didn't mean that as a gotcha question, although I guess it could come off that way.

Let me ask one other about the draft flum.

When there is a tension between community opposition and plum designated growth, and I think this is maybe kind of what Councilmember Lewis George was getting at earlier.

What should carry more weight in your opinion?

This is a philosophical question about your perspective and approach.

I would rather do a full analysis and do some discovery before I start thinking which one carries weight.

I'm sure they both have added value.

Uh but what can we achieve?

I'm I'm going off of not having reviewed anything.

What can this what can we achieve?

What can we get done as long as it's not in harm's way of the residents who live here?

So I I I'm saying that having not reviewed the case.

Just to push a little bit, sorry, just to push a little bit.

Okay.

Essentially what it's getting at is what the city's documents that have planned proposed growth, when that runs up against community opposition, um I I hear you saying you want to do an analysis, but just how do you balance that?

Because I think that too is some of what we've heard today.

Well, I'm gonna say it like this.

I I stay in trouble anyway, uh, good or bad.

You know, whatever I do, I'm in trouble.

Uh I always believe, and I've said this in hearings, so I uh you know I can't get in too much trouble.

I always believe that the community are the ones who have to live there and endure whatever goes on.

So, you know, I really think that should carry uh a if not all the weight, with some weight, uh most of the weight, I think it's very important.

And that's that's me talking who have not seen anything on the new floom.

Understood.

Now, just one quick follow-up there.

Um I'm pushing a little further.

What happens if said community is getting in the way of equitable housing growth?

If they say, yeah, we want that affordable housing in that part of the city, just don't bring it over here in our neck of the woods.

Which is a real tension that many feel is occurring in the city.

Yeah, I I would I would agree.

And I have a case that's in front of me right now, so I don't want to go too far.

But let me just use this analogy to answer your question.

A lot of people oppose the Costco, and I say this all the time.

Oppose the Costco on the district, which is the second highest uh revenue generating Costco.

We get Maryland, Virginia and everywhere, and I want to thank Maryland Virginia for coming to DC to spend their money.

But I will tell you this.

Uh the same people who opposed it are over at Costco.

I can't get in there.

Exactly another example.

The the waterfront.

The one of the gentlemen who who was at a hearing, came to a hearing, complained.

I had to turn his mic off.

But I'm at home watching TV when the mayor had the inaugural of the taxi of the waterfront.

Guess who was sitting on the boat by the mayor?

The person who's who I had to turn the microphone.

So we have to balance all that.

When because when it happened, we complain about it, but when it happens, we we in the door.

We the first ones there.

So again, we have to balance that.

No, I really and I'll end here.

Uh thank you for the extra time, Chairman Mendelssohn.

I would just say I have found you to be responsive both in the community and as it relates to your work on the zoning commission.

Um and you get beat up a lot, admittedly, given your role.

Um and I just always appreciated how you govern yourself even in those moments' attention.

And so we have some real challenges, as I alluded to, uh, as we seek to build more housing to address our housing challenges.

I look forward to continuing working with you, Chairman Hood.

It's been a pleasure.

Should you be reconfirmed?

Uh, and I hope that is reflected on the record as well.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Mr.

Parker.

Uh, Councilmember Lewis George, uh, there wasn't a second round, but Councilmember Parker came to the question.

This is important.

So please.

But thank you.

I appreciate it.

Um I wanted to just ask and follow up, and I think Councilmember Parker and I were on the same page as for sort of just talking about um community input and and those things.

Um one thing that has come up, uh, and I think um Parisa Naruzi, who testified really spoke to this, um, is that a lot of times um what I what I'm wondering is if is there do you believe there should be uh sort of a change in the order of operations as she spoke to you?

So oftentimes people feel like development projects get approved, um and zoning changes occur uh before public land is declared surplus by the council um after public input and the crafting of a land disposition agreement, um, before there's an approved project with clear community benefits in place and and before there is an enforceable plan to prevent the displacement of impact in residents.

Um and uh so I'm wondering um what what would what do you say to sort of uh reorganization of that where we change the order of operations for how developing projects get approved.

So what I would say is uh a lot of stuff happens before it gets to us uh council member, and if the council chooses, I think it's I think that has to be done by legislation, I believe.

Uh but if the council chooses to do it that way, it would first of all it would take a lot of stuff of what the com what's in the commission's purview and what isn't, because that's where we deal with.

Oh, well, this needs to be done first.

It would help us to focus more on what we need to what we need to be focused on.

Uh and I guess if it it would you know, not not coping out, but it would make our jobs a little easier.

But that's that's the council discretion is I believe as far as rewriting the rule and and deciding on what's done with public public land like that.

So um, there is the the the the greater discussion of displacement prevention, environmental justice, and building the housing we need in all eight wards uh of the city and not just some wards of the city.

Um are there any things that can be done uh to ensure that we are we are actually in practice ensuring that we um are um preventing displacement, are uh taking into account environmental justice and are actually building the amount of housing we need to be able to bring down the cost of housing and provide all the affordable housing we need in the city.

I think I think we're headed in the right direction.

Uh uh does it need any fine-tuning?

Yes.

Uh do I like to see lower MFI?

Yes.

Uh I know in one specific case, council member where I know people thought I was crazy in the room.

And after 28 years, I can say this.

I asked for zero percent of the MFI.

Zero.

And I know they thought I was crazy.

This was another administration, and they told me they say Anthony Hood, don't come up with no crazy stuff like that.

But it's but here's the thing.

I believe if you start having a discussion, it'll take on.

Because though we really need to, and I I appreciate the comments I've heard today and all those who came to touch the vibe, both in support opposition and those who had some concerns.

Because I think with all that, and I always say this with all those different uh ways of providing input, we come up with a better outcome.

But yes, those things that you're saying, and what you the council I know who I've been watching the work you all have done, we're trying to get there.

And if we keep heading that direction, uh with some tweaking, I believe we can do it.

You're on you on the muted yourself.

Oh, I oh, you as a you chairman, I'm just joking.

Um thank you.

Um I don't have any further questions.

Um I will follow up if I uh in writing if I have any other further questions.

Um thank you so much uh for being willing to continue to serve the District of Columbia.

Thank you.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Lewis Church.

Uh that's gonna conclude the testimony.

Um Chairman Hood, thank you for your service.

And thank you for your willingness to continue serving and thank you for your testimony.

Thank you.

Um as I indicated before, the record in this matter will close at 5 p.m.

on April 2nd 2026.

Give me just a second.

Uh the record will close in two weeks.

The time is 1054 AM, and this hearing is adjourned.

Thank you.