DC politics and zoning is not a game

Mr. Shell's macroeconomics lesson:
Originally uploaded by mwboeckmann

At the eastern end of the H Street commercial district, a well-connected company is working to open a gasoline station at 14th Street and Maryland Avenue NE.

Some of those involved in working to get the station approved (approval of gas stations in this zoning district require a mandatory hearing) are:

Eyob Mamo - owner of DAG Petroleum and related companies, owner of 30 DC-area Shell franchises; lessee of 1400 Maryland Ave. NE for two years while neighborhood has tried vain to get it cleaned up

Kwame Brown - At-large City Council member running for reelection, has relied on more than $13,000 from Shell's franchisee, DAG Petroleum, and its agents making Shell one of his top sources of funds for his reelection campaign.

John Ray - lobbyist for DAG Petroleum, partner with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, former long-time City Council member.

Richard Aguglia - legal representative for DAG Petroleum, Former attorney for the DC Government Corporation Counsel office.

(Generally, projects involving John Ray as a lawyer for the applicants are never pretty. And Councilmember Brown just got the endorsement from the Sierra Club...)