Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Clinton to visit Georgia Avenue Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 16:10:35 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Clinton to visit Georgia Avenue \SH Merchants set to offer advice \BY Vincent McCraw and Jonetta Rose Barras \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES President-elect Bill Clinton will get a host of suggestions today on how to strengthen small businesses when he visits some of his new neighbors along a business corridor in Northwest. After meeting with President Bush, Mr. Clinton is scheduled to take a walking tour of the 5200 block of Georgia Avenue - just a couple of blocks from Arkansas Avenue. Yesterday, the owners of 12 ethnically diverse businesses on Georgia Avenue were making preparations and contemplating the advice they will offer the president-elect. Shirley W. Webb, owner of Webbs Used Auto Parts, said he will urge Mr. Clinton to loosen the federal bureaucracy's red tape. "It takes money to make money, but if you can't borrow it, you can't make money. There's just too much red tape," said Mr. Webb, who moved his business onto the block two years ago after years of operating in an alley off N Street NW. Mr. Clinton, expected to spend about one hour on the block between Hamilton and Ingraham streets, will be in Ward 4, which is represented by D.C. Council member Charlene Drew Jarvis. Mrs. Jarvis, who is coordinating the tour, was co-chairman of his D.C. campaign. "The president-elect all during the campaign talked about the importance of the small business and center cities and their revitalization," Mrs. Jarvis said. "This is an indication that he really intends to find out what's going on in the cities. It's an act of good faith." Thomas Caviness said he will provide Mr. Clinton with a historical perspective on what is considered the longest continuous thoroughfare in the city, running from downtown through Silver Spring into Montgomery County. "I can't say it's any better than it was when I first moved here. It's a different atmosphere," Mr. Caviness said as he stood inside Tynisha's Art and Gift Shop, which he has owned for 16 years. "When I moved here, 80 percent of the businesses were owned by whites. Now it's almost 100 percent black, except for the Koreans at the carryout," Mr. Caviness said. Mrs. Jarvis, said to be a possible Clinton appointee, said the block reflects the type of "demonstration blocks" she would like to see along the corridor. "It's important how a business looks, but federal rules don't permit facade loans to improve the front of a business or to get lighting [or] new sidewalks," Mrs. Jarvis said. "All these amenities can change the look and encourage people to shop." While Mr. Clinton will view one segment of the corridor that has undergone some renovation, whole parts of Georgia Avenue languish from a lack of attention and the burden of drug dealing. Ward 1 council member Frank Smith said the section of the avenue in his ward will get only a ride-through from the president-elect. "If he goes up there, he'll have to go through my part . . . but I am happy for Mrs. Jarvis and the people of Ward 4," he said. "I am hoping that Mr. Clinton will turn his attention to the District of Columbia and every inch thereof." Mr. Smith said he has talked with Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly about making D.C. a "model of what [a] city could be." "We ought to turn this city into an experimental laboratory," Mr. Smith said. Wong M. Chong, owner of Hamilton Beverage, a liquor store, wants to see more neighborhood residents employed. "More jobs for people in the neighborhood - that's what I'd like to see from him, and that would help my business," said Mr. Chong, a Korean-American whose store marquee touts it as the "Biggest Little Store on Georgia Avenue." Merchants hope the visit means help for small businesses, which have been declining in the city in the past five years. The city's Minority Business Commission held public hearings yesterday on problems small businesses face in getting government and private-sector contracts. The council's Committee of the Whole also voted to move forward on a bill to give preference in contracting to businesses located in the city. A final vote is expected Dec. 1. Andree Gandy, head of the People's Involvement Community Development Corp., said she hopes Mr. Clinton's visit allows him to experience the "tale of two cities." "We have well over 1,300 small businesses in our inventory that we give assistance to," Mrs. Gandy said. "It has been an uphill struggle." Myrtle Howard, whose brother, Winston, owns Chaconia Restaurant, hopes to serve Mr. Clinton a Trinidadian lunch he'll never forget. Said Mrs. Howard: "We hope to give him some curry chicken and peas and rice, if he has time." ****BOX CLINTON IN WASHINGTON Schedule of President-elect Bill Clinton's two-day trip to Washington. WEDNESDAY Noon: Clinton arrives at National Airport. 1:10 p.m.: Arrives at White House. 2:15 p.m.: Concludes meeting with President Bush 2:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Visits Georgia Avenue neighborhood between Ingraham and Hamilton streets. 6 p.m.-7:15 p.m.: Accompanies Hillary Clinton, board member of Childrens' Defense Fund, to reception at National Building Museum. 8 p.m.: Attends private dinner at home of transition board chairman Vernon Jordan. 10:30 p.m.: Arrives at Hay Adams Hotel. THURSDAY Morning: Attends meetings with leaders of House and Senate at Capitol Afternoon: Private meetings Evening: Private dinner at home of Pamela Harriman Late night: Departs for Little Rock This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM