PRESIDENT'S CORNER: THE QUESTION IS "WHY NOT?'

Washington, D.C. is a beautiful city, even on a hot, muggy, afternoon. I was able to fully appreciate and reflect on its beauty one recent Saturday afternoon as I strolled through the Mall between the Monument and Smithsonian and intruded on the actions of the many visitors. My intrusion was to assist in the collection of signatures for the Petition to obtain Full Voting Representation for D.C. citizens. Many visitors were happy to add their names to the growing list of petitioners assisting the District residents in obtaining their full rights. The most often asked question was "Why don't you have a voting representative?" to which there are many responses. Partisanship is primary response I gave and explained we had full voting representation when Congress first began and then again ten years ago.

Many petition signers were sympathetic and indicated it was a shame. One Brit just couldn't fathom the idea of paying taxes and not having a representative. His parting words were, "Keep up the work, sis!" Though some visitors shook their head no or turned away, my spirits were lifted by the many signers who expressed interest.

D.C. Shadow Representative Ron Brown was among the crowd announcing our plight to all who would hear him. This event was uplifting knowing that our plight is known nationwide, that many of our sister Leagues are supporting our cause, and that plans are underway for a direct drive of action. We local League members have a duty to assist in collecting signatures, as there are many people in other places working for us.

Another issue you can participate in that will affect all District residents is the changes to ANC and SMD within the wards. See the article on Ward Task Forces on page 2.

I hope to see you all at the Fall Luncheon on September 20th to kick off our pro ram ear. Please come and bring friends. — E. Patricia Hallman, President

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Fall Luncheon September 20th Features Elinor Bacon!

We are fortunate that Elinor Bacon, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) will address us at our opening luncheon on Thursday, September 20, 2001. Nancy Tate, Executive Director of LWVUS will update us on the activities at National.

See the enclosed flyer for complete information and reservation form. The deadline to reserve your place is Monday, September 17.

The 2001-2002 Program year focuses on Action. Committees are gearing up. The year promises to be filled with activity. Plan to be at the kick off luncheon to get the inside information on all the League activities.

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NEWS FROM THE UNITS

The DC League welcomes the new Chevy Chase/Ingleside Unit as well as its new co-chairs Joan Wilson and Jean Fleming. They will be holding their first meeting Sept. 10th at 10 am in the Lounge at the Ingleside Community on Military Road; Jean and Joan are looking for new League members from among the Ingleside residents who will add their number to the existing members of the Chevy Chase Unit. Other new faces among the Unit Chairs are June Bashkin and Barbara Kemp, Co-Chairs of the Northwest Day Unit. Many thanks to outgoing Co-Chairs Sue Whitman and Hope Marindin of Chevy Chase and Jeanette Miller and June Duke of Northwest Day, who have served their units so well for longer than they expected. As there is no Unit Meeting in September, the first meeting of the new Unit Council will be on October 8, in the LWVDC office at 12:30 pm. All Unit Co-Chairs are invited, as are other interested League members. — Sheila Keeny, Unit Director (966-1692)

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CONGRESSIONAL PRESENTATION

The "Freedom Summer" campaign coordinated by DC VOTE obtained more than 2,900 signatures on petitions requesting full voting representation +n Congress, and the petitions will be presented to Congress when hearings are held on the Norton and Lieberman bills (H.R. 1193/S-603)

DC Vote needs volunteers to help with the entry of petition data. The City Councils of Philadelphia and Chicago have passed resolutions endorsing full voting representation in Congress for us, and the Illinois state legislature and San Francisco City Council are considering similar resolutions. DC Vote has received a grant to study what the lack of full voting representation in Congress has cost the District of Columbia. — Kathy Schmidt, Liaison (232-6460).

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MEET & GREET SOCIALS

A series of "meet and greet socials" are being planned in the month of September for some areas of the city, to offer league members a chance to meet each other. Also, offer members a chance for input to express their interest and concerns about the League and try to establish new Units. For more information call the League Office at 3473020.

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WARD TASK FORCES

The appointed Ward Task Forces have been established to make adjustments in the boundaries of the ANC & SMD (single member districts), as a result of population shifts and changes. The Task Forces have been meeting during the summer to meet a deadline of September 15 due date for the draft report and a September 27 deadline for ward task force recommendations.

The meetings of the Task Forces are open to the public and offer citizens an opportunity for input into the realignment of the blocks within the SMD and the impact on neighborhoods. The requirement is that each SMD must have 2,000 people +/- 5%; thus, the reason for the shuffle. Your attendance at those meetings will be enlightening and give you some insight into the term "Local Politics."

For information on these meetings contact the task force chairs:

Ward 1 Brenda Williams (h) 387-3141 (w) 232-2583
Ward 2 Linda Greenan (h) 687-5677
Ward 3 Jeffrey Kraskin (h) 364-7130 (w) 363-4450
Ward 4 Joseph Hairston (h) 723-1025
Ward 5 Anita Bonds (h) 745-1818
Ward 6 Chuck Burger (h) 543-7336
Ward 7 Matthew Shannon (h) 667-4636
Ward 8 Robert Yeldell (h) 561-4539 (561-1003 — Pat Hallman (829-8852)

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MEMBER NEWS

We have heard from Frances Edlow of our NW Day unit who moved to Montgomery County some years ago, that she has transferred her membership and has become active in the LWVMC. We miss her and hope to see her from time to time. We congratulate LWVMC.

With deep regrets we announce the death of long time member Beate Bloch. Our condolences are extended to her family.

New Member: We welcome Mrs. Kathleen Snedaker.

Contributions: Mary A. Amory, Dorothy Beltz, Sally Ann Ethelson, Elizabeth Hobby and Marilou M. Righini as well as a final bequest to the Education Fund from past President Sue Burnett Panzer's estate.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

The IR Committee will launch a busy year with an open committee meeting in the Board Room of the LWVUS, 1730 M St., NW, on Friday, September 14, to which all League members and friends are invited. Our subject: UN efforts to restrict the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Our speaker, Lora Lumpe, attended the July UN Conference on The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, where she organized a protest rally against the small arms trade and the U.S. position at the conference. She is a senior associate with the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo, a consultant to Amnesty International USA and editor of Running Guns: the Global Black Market in Small Arms. Committee members should attend a brief committee meeting from noon - 12:30; our speaker will begin promptly at 12:30; the meeting will end at 2 pm. Bring a brown bag lunch.

Down the road, the Committee will be responsible. for general meetings on both trade and the UN leading up to Unit Meetings on the UN in April. There is interesting work for everyone - call Sheila Keeny (966-1692) or Anne Porowski (364-0557) for information. — Sheila Keeny and Anne Porowski, Co-Chairs.

Don't Miss Our Special Speaker at the September 14 meeting!

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CHILDREN AT RISK COMMITTEE — NEW VOICE FOR CHILDREN

Every League member fits into at least one of these roles: daughter, son, mother, father, teacher, doctor, grandparent, sibling, nurse, minister, legislator, bureaucrat, advocate, or cousin. In each of these, we affect in some minimal or profound way the lives of our own and others' children. We need to assess periodically whether we are doing what is relevant and nurturing.

To help us do this, the DC League is promoting a new committee to 1) study the city environment as it is experienced by our children; 2) prioritize needed actions to promote better outcomes; 3) propose appropriate League positions and budget testimony.

Joan Domike will co-chair this group with Joan Wilson, a new member who worked on children's issues with the Montgomery County League for the past decade. In that jurisdiction, the League played a pivotal role in persuading the county government to identify children as the number one priority, to expand funding for children's programs, and to spur collaboration between the public schools and health services for early intervention.

All DC League members are cordially invited to join the Children's Issues Committee. For the first months of the study, the agenda-wilhaR collecting facts and figures; interviewing officials, children and families; visiting sites; contacting advocacy groups, etc. The next stage will be to work with units to prioritize concerns; and then - to action.

If you feel enthusiastic about helping this new group get the facts and do something about them, please contact Joan Wilson at 202-237-6264 to indicate your interest. A kickoff meeting will be scheduled for a Saturday morning in early October. — Joan Wilson (237-6264) and Joan Domike (966-3865), Co-Chairs.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE

The next meeting will be held Sat., Sept 8 at 10 am at the home of Julia Cuniberti, 1635 19th St. NW, DC 20009

The housing legislation before the Council is being marked up and the League has a lot of work to do. The bills, which could be landmark legislation for the District, are in the committees of the Council members Harold Brazil, Chair of Economic Development Committee, and Jack Evans, Chair of Finance and Revenue Committee. They met the end of July and agreed to develop an omnibus housing bill. A working draft will be available at the end of August; however, it is not dear whether that draft will be available to the public. Brazil and Evans are NOT planning to hold another hearing. It is also our understanding that Council member Jim Graham's bill giving neighborhoods priority in the use of abandoned and dilapidated buildings WILL NOT BE INCLUDED. League members are asked to write and/or telephone their Ward Council member and At-large Council members urging support for the items listed on the enclosed yellow flyer. — Liz Martin (537-3043) and Julia Cuniberti (387-0122), CoChairs.

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LWVDC BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

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VOTER SERVICES

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D.C. HEALTH CARE — WHAT'S NEW

The D.C. League's Health Care Committee will focus on the following issues this year.

• Long-term care in D.C. - what are the most pressing needs?
• Healthcare Bill of Rights legislation - Does DC. need a healthcare ombudsman?
• Nurses and nursing technicians - their training and duties.
• Mental health - the new autonomous Mental Health Commission. What are its goals and plans for reaching them?

The Next Health Care Committee Meeting is Tuesday, September 25 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the LWVDC Office, 733 1e St. NW, Suite 432. The Mayor's Health Policy Council has highlighted the shortage of nurses both locally and nationally. [Leaguer Sue Whitman is a member of this Council, and Chair of the long-term health committee]. The new emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion will involve more nurses. Registered Nurses and other nursing personnel will be a major part of our Health Care study this year.

Your D.C. Council will soon be asked to vote on tax breaks for D.C.'s private for-profit hospital.

Greater Southeast Hospital now primarily responsible for city health care, requested a 20 million dollar property-tax abatement. They afro wish to be relieved of paying D.C. sales taxes. Perhaps the members of the Council will remember as they vote that they are still denied access to the taxpayer funded Price Waterhouse audit of Greater S.E. Hospital.

Our city has a major new health care executive, Mrs. Karen Dale, at Chartered Health Plan. As chief operating officer, Ms. Dale will oversee the D.C. Health Care Alliance.

Sen. Paul Wellstone, in a stirring speech at the recent Urban League Convention (D.C. Convention Center, July 31) stressed the "under-funding crisis" for all human services programs. It should be noted that available funds in the tax relief return bill, are often the same for childcare, health, and education programs.

In the spring, the Health Care Committee hopes to be sufficiently knowledgeable to report to League Units on the structure of the D.C. Healthcare system, concentrating on the nursing professional and technician.

Please join us for a stimulating, challenging year. All are welcome! If you have questions or comments, call me, or call the League Office. — Natalie Howard, Chair (882-8762)

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COUNCIL FOR COURT EXCELLENCE: COURT COMMUNITY OBSERVERS PROJECT

Editor's Note: The Council for Court Excellence is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic organization that has been working since 1982 to improve the administration of justice in the courts and related agencies in the Washington metropolitan area, and to increase public understanding of our justice system. Among its other achievements, the Council was the moving force behind adoption of the one day/one-trial jury service. The Community Observers Project described below was designed on the basis of experience, by members of the New York Fund for Modern Courts that has been doing court observation throughout the New York state system for some 20 years.

The D.C. Council for Court Excellence launched Court Community Observers Project this past spring. For three months, community volunteers visited courtrooms in the D.C. Superior Court, Civil Division as well -as Small Claims Court, the Clerk's Office for both the Civil Division and Small Claims Court, and other facilities in the Superior Court building. LWVDC participants were June Bashkin, Nathalie Black, Guy Coriden, Virginia Gorman, Audrey Hatry, Barbara Kemp, Kathleen Shea, and Constance Tate.

The purpose of the project was to evaluate the Superior Court, Civil Division from a lay citizen's perspective. Participants spent half days at the Court where they observed trials and hearings, checked out the Jurors' Lounge and the cafeteria, noted the conditions of restrooms, adjudged the accessibility for handicapped persons, and generally scrutinized those portions of the Superior Court that are open to the public. After each weekly 3-4 hour visit, the participants filled out and sent in a questionnaire. Additional comments were encouraged.

Participants were to see how "user-friendly" Superior Court is. Physical facilities were under careful scrutiny. Courtroom operation was evaluated in terms of function and public access - for example, were the proceedings audible to the public. The substance of the legal proceedings was not under consideration, but the general demeanor of the judges and court personnel were remarked upon. Thus, while the observers made no comment as to a judge's ruling, his/her manner toward the parties, the witnesses, and the attorneys were considered and rated.

The general consensus of the participants was that this was a valuable educational opportunity. While quite a few had served as jurors in the past, observing a number of judges in the Civil Division over the course of several weeks provided a much broader picture of the work of the Court and the range of cases considered by it - from a high profile sexual harassment case, to mundane contract squabbles, to complex business litigation, to strongly disputed personal injury claims. All told, it was a fascinating experience.

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TRANSPORTATION & PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Transportation & Planning Committee will hold its initial meeting in September. Those interested in being a part of this committee please call the League office (347-3020) and let us know what day and time you prefer to meet. We will try to accommodate all those interested in this issue. — Luther Marsh (554-1734) & Sheila Willet (588-1734), Co-Chairs.

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OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

This issue of DC VOTER abounds in opportunities:

• Join the Health Care Committee as it learns more about the issues outlined in the article on p. 5. The Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 25, 10:30 am-12:30 pm at the LWVDC Office, 733 15th St., NW, #432. Call Natalie Howard, 882-8762.
• Join the DC League's NEW VOICE FOR CHILDREN as it meets on Saturdays to initiate studies of children's issues. Call Joan Wilson, 237-6264, or Joan Domike, 9663865.
• Join the Transportation 8s Planning Committee. An initial meeting will be scheduled in September. Call the League office 347-2522 to be part of this meeting.
• Help DC VOTE organize its petition data for presentation to Congress in fall hearings on H.R. 1193/S.603. Call DC VOTE at 4626000.
• Contact your Council members regarding the Housing bills. See enclosed yellow flyer.
• Bring a friend or two to the Fall Luncheon on September 20. (see flyer enclosed.)

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CALENDAR: SEPTEMBER 2001

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HOUSING ACTION ALERT

The housing legislation before the Council is being marked up and the League has a lot of work to do. The bills, which could be landmark legislation for the District, are in the Committees of Council members Harold Brazil, Chair. of Economic Development Committee, and Jack Evans, Chair of Finance and Revenue Committee. They met the end of July and agreed to develop an omnibus housing bill. A working draft will be available at the end of August; however, it is not clear whether that draft will be available to the public. Brazil and Evans are NOT planning to hold another hearing. It is also our understanding that Council member Jim Graham's bill giving neighborhood's priority in the use of abandoned and dilapidated buildings WILL NOT BE INCLUDED.

ACTION NEEDED NOW!

• Get your ideas and objections to your Council member and at-large members NOW.
• Support full funding from dedicated resources for the HOUSING PRODUCTION TRUST FUND, with specific priority for low-income rental and full transparency of operations.
• Set the median income for a family of four at $46,800 which includes approximately 60 per cent of DC residents.
• DEMAND HEARINGS on the omnibus housing bill. This package will be quite different from the bills we testified on in June.

Key Council staff members are: Barry Kriesworth (Brazil) 724-8792; Jeff Coudriet (Evens) 724-8058. To date, Fenty and Graham have been the most supportive. League members please note: Council member Kathy Patterson has declined to meet with us and does not seem interested in this issue. Letters and phone calls to her are very important since she is a member of the Finance and Revenue Committee.

The mailing address for all Council Members is 441 Fourth St., NW, Washington, DC 20001. Call the DC League office for email addresses. Names and telephone numbers for D.C. Council Members are:

Linda W. Cropp (D), Chairman, At-Large, 724-8032
Harold Brazil (D), At-Large, 724-8174
Phil Mendelson (D), At-Large, 724-8064
Jim Graham (D), Ward 1, 724-8181
Adrian Fenty (D), Ward 4, 724-8052
Sharon Ambrose (D), Ward 6, 724-8072
Sandra Allen (D), Ward 8, 724-8045
Jack Evens (D), Chairman Pre-Tem, Ward 2, 724-8058
David A. Catania (R), At Large, 724-7772
Carol Schwartz (R), At-Large, 724-8105
Kathleen Patterson (D), Ward 3, 724-8062
Vincent Orange, Sr. (D), Ward 5, 724-8028
Kevin Chavous (D), Ward 7, 724-8068

CHECKLIST FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS: DC HOUSING LEGISLATION

#14-167, the Mayor's bill;
#14-183, Councilmember Catania's bill;
#14-177, Councilmember Chavous' bill;
#14-263, Councilmember Graham's bill; and
#14-260, Councilmember Cropp's bill

We are providing an easy checklist for Council Members and their constituents when considering the complex housing legislation now being reworked in committees. Provisions are listed in order of their ability to meet our goals: (1) to produce housing, especially rental, for low- and moderate-income families, that is, only for households earning less than the DC median income for a family of four, or $46,800; (2) to save as much as possible of the existing supply of lowincome housing; (3) to increase the proportion of benefits going to the most stressed among us; (4) to build stable, diverse communities by helping people stay in their neighborhoods; and (5) to do it all without breaking the budget!

These bills are very important first steps in addressing the city's crisis in affordable housing and deserve the Council's close attention. We want to remind the Mayor and Council, however, that these measures are only the beginning of what must become a sustained effort over the coming years. Note: All of the bills express income levels in terms of "% of AMI." In our discussion below, we have translated that into the equivalent of real DC median income levels for a family of four.

1. a priority for low-income rental housing - below 50% of the DC median income, or $23,400;
2. a policy of transparency in all operations, requiring full annual reporting of income and expenditures;
3. an advisory board representative of all interested parties and authorized to exercise public scrutiny, including hearings; and
4. intent to gradually increase the financial resources each year until all working families are assured quality homes in DC.

We all need to emphasize the importance of the Trust Fund and insist on its full funding. We cannot have diversity in DC unless we invest in it!

I. Affordable and Diverse Housing - Councilmember Graham's Bill, #14-263.

This also is a very important piece of legislation because it introduces the concept of "inclusionary zoning," requiring developers of projects having more than 20 units to offer 10% of the units to low- and moderate-income households. Graham's definitions of "low" and "moderate" are realistic (below $24,840 and $49,680, respectively). Application is severely limited, however, to only those projects receiving some kind of public subsidy. This restriction needs to be changed, but the principle is worth enacting even in this limited form.

II. Also deserving of strong Council support:

1. Councilmember Chavous' Bill #14-177, providing DC residents with financial incentives to purchase and repair abandoned houses should be approved - with a longer time (18 months) to rehabilitate the properties and a longer period of owner residence (5 yrs.) required.
2. Mayor's Title I, Due Process Demolition, should be approved, providing the public also is fully informed in the process.
3. Mayor's Title IV, Low-income, Long-term Homeowners' Protection.
4. Mayor's Title VII, Modification of Homestead Program.

III. There are many good provisions in these bills that nevertheless need income restrictions on eligibility lest they encourage displacement through gentrification and/or add up to too high a price:

1. Mayor's Title III, the Historic Housing Tax Credit should be available only to homeowners making less that the DC median income, should limit the total tax credit to $15,000 over five years, and should require the owners to live in the house for at least 5 years. And priority should be given to owners who have lived in their homes for the previous five years.
2. Mayor's Title VI (1st part), Tax Abatement for New Residential Developments, should require more units (15%) to be set aside for truly low -- (50% of DC median, 623,400) and moderate- ( DC median, $49,680) before builders can claim the tax cut.
3. Mayor's Title VI (2nd part) offering tax-credits to homeowners to rehab or build homes for themselves in enterprise zones should be amended to limit eligibility to families below the DC median income.
4. Councilmember Catania's Bill #14-183,. Sec. 301, a DC income Tax credit for first time homebuyers should be capped at $2000, otherwise it could be very costly to the city and only high-income buyers could take full advantage of it.
5. Catania's Bill #14-183, Sec. 201, property tax reductions for improvements in revitalization zones, should have income levels on eligibility to avoid displacement.
6. Catania's Bill #14-183, Sec. 302, offering incentives to employers to assist employees who are first time homeowners to purchase homes near where they work, should be limited to low- and moderate income employees and designed as a pilot program to demonstrate the program's benefit to employers.
7. Mayor's Title II, Government Support Housing Accommodations Conversion, should be amended to increase the notice period to a year and should reflect the enforcement mechanisms in the federal law.

IV. Three provisions of the proposed legislation should not be included at this time:

1. Catania's Sec. 202, Affordable Multifamily Housing Property Tax Abatements, has the right intentions but is the wrong mechanism. It applies to a wide range of federally assisted housing, it does not provide enough incentive to owners of buildings in hot real estate markets to stay in the program, and it could cause a windfall for HUD and/or owners who would stay in the program anyway.
2. Catania's Bill, Title IV, creating a new homeowners' counseling service, has no particular advantage over the existing system, which, admittedly needs improvement.
3. Councilmember Cropp's Bill, #14-260, Downtown Housing Incentives, is an amendment to the Mayor's Title VI. It would apply retroactively to permits applied for since 3/31/01 (extending the benefits to developers who have already decided to build), would extend the program and benefits throughout the downtown area, and increase the cap by another $625,000. This proposal should not be entertained as it just multiples the problems inherent in Title VI. offering more large subsidies to the owners of market rate housing, without helping the most needy families.

Note: This checklist is a collaborative effort of the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities, the DC League of Women Voters, and WISH. Questions should be addressed to Janet Brown 332-0789, Liz Martin 537-3043, and Linda Leaks 332-8800, respectively.