The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., continued this week to plead with D.C. Council members to restore a $500,000 grant they eliminated from next year’s budget, and some city leaders were responsive to the appeals.

“I’m sure we’re going to work this out,” said Ward 1 Council Member Jim Graham, who voted to spike the grant. “It’s a real opportunity for the society to re-engage with the local government because I think they kind of lost their way for a period of time.”

At the behest of Ward 8 Council Member Marion Barry, the society’s award, part of the Fiscal Year 2008 budget support act, was divvied up among a number of organizations, including Cease Fire Don’t Smoke the Brothers and the D.C. Office of Latino Affairs.

“What do they do to deserve any amount of tax money?” Barry asked during the May 15 budget hearing.

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As of last week, Barry was still not convinced it deserves anything. But Council Member Phil Mendelson said Thursday he now supports the grant, acknowledging, “It was a mistake what we did.”

The society this week issued a lengthy response to Barry’s question: “At the core of the Society’s work is to make D.C.’s history relevant and lively to Washingtonians and visitors.” In a press release, the group lists a slate of activities accomplished by the organization this year — celebrating the Howard Theatre and commemorating Emancipation Day among them. And it calls on the city government to “preserve local legacies” by reviving the grant.

“We certainly need the money, but equally important is that we are a partner with the District,” Bell Clement, the society’s executive director, said Thursday. “We believe the local government needs the resources we bring to this effort.”

The $500,000, more than one-third of the organization’s annual $1.3 million budget, is critical to its 2008 plans, Clement said, which include commemorating the 1968 riots.

“Our role here is to be a resource to help people tell those stories,” Clement said. The council is scheduled to vote on the support act June 5.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com