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| Vol. 4, No. 2 Issued Quarterly |
April 1998 Editor: Sandra "SS" Seegars 202-561-6616 |
| FROM: SANDRA “SS” SEEGARS TO: ONE PAGE AT A TIME READERS AND SUPPORTERS RE: LET HER KNOW IF YOU THINK SHE SHOULD RUN FOR AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL CONTACT: (202) 561-6616 LINE UP SO FAR IS: DAVID CATANIA HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE POLICE? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY POLICE ABUSE,
CORRUPTION OR WRONG DOINGS? MAKE APPOINTMENTS FOR BULK TRASH REMOVAL. FIVE PIECES PER HAUL. HAVE YOU BEEN WRONGED BY H.R. CRAWFORD IN ANY WAY? REPORT HIM! YOU DO
NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME. HAPPY!! HAPPY!! BIRTHDAY TO WARD 8'S CENTENARIAN AT LARGE COUNCILMEMBER HAROLD BRAZIL ENTERS MAYOR'S RACE WILL FLO HAVE TO GO?Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Florence Smith is losing the battle with H. R. Crawford. Her Section 8 was revoked in January, and she lost a court case and owes Crawford $850 in back rent, for the apartment at 3700 9 St. SE. The judge deducted $40 a month from the total, because she proved the apartment was infested with rodents. The resident manager, Gregg Yeldell, appeared in court and lied about how clean and problem free the entire building was. Smith had filed a complaint with the Housing Authority, on Yeldell, stating he lived with his uncle, Robert Yeldell, but was not legally on his lease. Still owing Crawford $850, Smith moved on April 11, but not before filing for an appeal and a motion for a stay until the appeal date. Smith said there was no way she was going to be evicted, after all, she was the one who stopped her constituents from being evicted. She said Crawford is not going to get a dime from her for the rent of that rat infested apartment. At her motion hearing the judge said since Smith had moved she did not need the stay, in which he was going to grant. She refused to turn the door keys over to Crawford. Smith told the judge she would not turn them over until someone reimbursed her for having to change the locks, to stop someone from stealing from her apartment. The complaint Smith filed on Crawford with HUD is still pending. DOES SURPLUSA .1% surcharge was added to the contribution rate of each employee required to pay contributions, and should have been deposited in an interest account. The Department of Employment Services (DOES) failed to report the interest earned on the surcharge, giving them a surplus of $1,321,670. Interim DC Auditor Deborah K. Nichols was requested by Councilmember Kathy Patterson to audit DOES. Nichols said no violations were committed, and instructed DOES to report interest earned income in the appropriate Financial Management System account, and develop a spending plan for the $1,321,670, that must be approved through the proper procedure, and monitored, to be sure it is spent legally. IS PETERSON JUST PLAIN STUPID?Not only does the DC Public School have bad food, students with low grades, and crime on a daily basis, they have a program and development officer, Jon Peterson, who just awarded a contract to Ward 8's shifty Phinis Jones. Now the question is, who is Jones in with at DC Public Schools? He kisses up to whomever is in a position to help him, i.e., Mayor Marion Barry, former Councilmember Eydie Whittington and Wilhemina Rolark, and former director of DOES, Alexis Roberson. Jones has made millions from city contracts. One of his businesses, Congress Heights Training Center, was under investigation by DC Office of Inspector General (IG) for fraud, and breach of contract, among other infractions. The investigation started after one of his students and an instructor contacted Seegars for help. After a brief investigation, she contacted the IG to report that Jones and Roberson had conspired together. Jones had bragged to Seegars how people had tried to get him before, but no one could touch him. During the investigation Jones withdrew two contracts and forfeited the money due him. Roberson left DOES, even though a $18,000 a year raise was in place for her. Jones had worked on Roberson's failed campaign in Ward 4, in 1994. Once she lost he hired her at his training center as a consultant. The recently awarded contract is for $38,471, to provide employment and literacy training to 30 parolees. Peterson claimed Jones won the contract fairly, but he would take another look at it if any, and only if, serious legal trouble arises for Jones or his center, such as a conviction. Reactions like Peterson's, who should be investigated, is one reason the city is in such bad budgetary condition. Another question is, why is Jones still the chairman of the board at East of the River Community Development Corporation? FIRST WARD MEETINGAfter one year and 2 months Ward 8 Councilmember Sandy Allen had her first town meeting. She had said, at the beginning of her term, that she did not want to have a meeting just to be meeting. She wanted the meeting to be productive. March 19 marked that event. All of her invited guests attended. Camille Barnett, Chief Financial Manager, Donald Edwards, DC Fire Chief, and General Julius Becton, appointed Superintendent of DC Public Schools, attended the meeting at Turner Elementary School. Acting Chief Sonya Proctor, was late because she was being interviewed that day. To save time Allen collected questions on preprinted forms, and dealt the questions to the appropriate agencies. About 125 community members attended, and about 75 DC government employees. Near the end of the meeting a few of the Ward 8 community members gathered in the lobby and got loud because they felt their questions were not going to be answered, even though the meeting was not over. The main problems and concerns of the community were as usual, public safety, public works and public schools. Allen asked the loquacious Edwards to discuss the recent outbreak of fires between Shannon Pl. and Portland St. He said they were arson, and so far none had been solved. Barnett, self-proclaimed dragon lady, said she had heard the residents loud and clear about the lack of services. She said three of her main goals to improve are customer services, accountability to the people, with management reform, and budget target investments. The first question she answered was about fixing Congress. She said she had to meditate on that one. However, she will be working towards getting DC autonomy. Winston Robinson, Commander of 7D said crime in 7D has decreased 29%, with 50% decrease in homicide. He said the targeted areas with multiple crimes are getting special attention. They are Forester St., Melon St., Barry Farms, and Woodland Terrace. The 7D area is averaging 10 crimes a day, whereas, last year it was 30 per day. Becton was proud to announce that 90% of the school system employees are in the schools, not downtown. HEALTHAllen, chairperson of the Dept. of Human Services, has been working diligently on a health plan for the poor and elderly. One of the holdups was a contract dispute with seven companies competing for the same contract. The question was whether the poor and elderly could continue to use their regular physicians, or be transferred into a less costly health maintenance organization (HMO). The switch would save the tax payers $12 million a year. With the HMO there may be a drop in the quality of care, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment. At one point Allen had considered having the contract investigated by US Atty. Wilma Lewis. Congress also questioned the Medicaid contracts. Four of the seven HMO's were refused by the Council, but voted on by Congress. The three losing companies filed complaints with the DC Contract Appeals Board. In April the DC Supreme Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the three excluded companies, now, they too will provide health care services. April 6, Medicaid recipients will choose HMO's. Allen periodically holds forums on health care. One in Feb. was on children health insurance programs. In April there was one held at Hadley Hospital. The one at Hadley was broadcast on WOL Radio, with Allen as the host. STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICOPuerto Rico (PR) is a territory and the District is a federal enclave. A House vote may lead to statehood for PR. PR local laws are not subject to congressional review like the District, and they do not pay federal income taxes. The District no longer qualifies for statehood because numerous state functions were given to the federal government. To be a state you have to have all the functions of a state. This year PR will vote on legislation on whether it will become a state. NORTON AND PANNELLCongresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton holds her community meetings, usually, on the Hill, which is not an easily accessible location for most District residents. In March, Phillip Pannell, one of Norton's biggest supporters, attended the meeting, full of questions. He wanted to know what would be beneficial to prisoners, ax-offenders, day care seekers; and he wanted her to define "poor." Becoming irritated by his many questions, she answered with a raised voice. He asked her opinion on voting by mail. Her response was to just get a good turn out. He questioned her about the educational crisis with the high summer school enrollment, and about the libraries not staying open long enough. Norton pointed out the responsibility of the Council and mayor, and separated herself from them, as not to interfere with locally elected officials. Now Pannell has become irritated by Norton, and went into his SE bag, and read Norton He emphasized how she acted as if he was insignificant. Pannell could not understand how she could treat him in such a manner, since he had nothing but admiration for her. He raised approximately $7,000 for her last year, in Ward 8. Upset and hurt, Pannell went into the hallway and boo-hooed. Many voters lost respect for Norton, after her wavering last year, but Pannell did not, he still thought highly of her. Donna Brazile, Norton's staffer, consoled him. Pannell said, "She treated me like a mentally ill, faggot from SE." Pannell lives in SE, is gay, and is on medication for depression. OLD DOGS WON'T DIEThe majority of the departments that have been transferred out of the direct control of Barry were chaired by the councilmembers who have been there the longest, and have not done a good job monitoring the performance of the agencies. Some of those departments are Public Works, chaired by Harry Thomas; Corrections and Metropolitan Police Department, that's under Judiciary, chaired by Jack Evans; Housing and Community Development, that's under Economic Development, chaired by Charlene Drew Jarvis; DC School System chaired by Hilda Mason, until recently. It has been taken over by Kevin Chavous; and the worst one, Housing, chaired by Frank Smith. Housing was in such bad shape that it was put under a court appointed receiver, before the federal takeover. Thomas (5), Mason (at-large) and Smith (1) are running again for their seats, and Evans is running for mayor. The voters complain about the councilmembers, and say they are unable to successfully chair their committees, but they keep voting them back in office. BRAZIL IN MAYOR'S RACEThe latest to join the mayor's race is at-large councilmember Harold Brazil. He is in the pot with self- supporting Jeffery Gildenhorn; and councilmembers Kevin Chavous and Jack Evans. Brazil was first elected to the City Council to represent Ward 6, after beating out Nadine Winters. In 1997 when an at-large seat became vacant, Brazil ran in the special election and won. Now a year later, 1998, he is going for the top elected position in the District, mayor. Could he be DC's golden boy, going for the gold? MEET KATIE SHEPHARDKatie Shephard has the James Brown syndrome, she is the hardest working lady in Ward 8. In 1992 Shephard campaigned with, then councilmember candidate, Marion Barry. Many times her model-like daughter, Kyata Darden, would assist her. Shephard was hired as Barry's Ward 8 coordinator, on loan from DHS, after he fired his brother-in-law, Walter Masters, because the Washington Times Newspaper printed an article written by Seegars, accusing Barry of nepotism. As the coordinator, Shephard was able to solve problems for many of Ward 8 residents. Shephard sponsored several luncheons to honor Barry, and the seniors, to show how they were appreciated and not forgotten. Being a great cook, she would prepare many of the dishes herself. She also campaigned for former Ward 8 councilmember Eydie Whittington, twice. One victory and one failure. After all the food stamp redemption centers were closed in Ward 8, Shephard fought hard and was able to get DHS to redeem food stamp coupons at the Valley Ave. location. Councilmember Kathy Patterson, chairperson of government operations, stopped Barry from borrowing personnel from various agencies, at which time Shephard was sent to the agency where her salary was coming from, DHS, as assistant correspondent. When she returned to DHS she continued to serve the community. She passes out food and clothing year round, turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and toys at Christmas. Not only does Shephard serve the community, she also serves as a songstress to crowds up and down the east coast. Shephard is a true altruist. CITY FURTHER DOWNED BY HILLSen. Lauch Faircloth thought Barry's involvement in finding a new police chief hindered the process. He said Barry and one of the top runners, Richard Pennington, were too close, and he should not be selected. When Pennington was here, Barry did not make him chief, instead he chose Larry Soulsby. Pennington went to New Orleans, where they say he has cleaned up a lot of the crime. When Pennington lived here there was a competition going on between him and Barry, they chased some of the same women. Faircloth told the Control Board (CB) that he believed because of Barry some of the better applicants for police chief did not participate. He believes in order to get well qualified candidates the city should have a professional, reform-minded management. Some DC officials objected to Faircloth and said he was meddling and should stop, and leave it to local elected leaders to run the city. Most citizens have felt the crunch of the elected leaders running the city, into the ground. Faircloth concern came after government agencies had been removed from Barry's authority. However, Barry had been complaining for years that the mayor had too much to do, and some of the functions were those of a state and should be removed. Barry said he helped to write the Home Rule Act, therefore he had to know if some of the functions of the government were removed from the elected officials the District could not become a state. Since the summer of 1997, when Congress took the mayor's duties, in the midst of a recall effort, some of his top staffers have resigned. Staffers who have resigned are City Administrator Michael Rogers, Chief of Staff Barry Campbell, Press Secretary Ramone Bain, and Intergovernmental Relations Director Bernard Demczuk. MISHANDLED HANDICAPPEDThe District officials are trying to make handicapped motorist suffer because of their inability to perform their job. Instead of proposing legislation to stop handicapped parking abuse, being lazy, they are going to take the easy way out and stop all free handicapped parking. A pictured ID on the placard to identify the actual handicapped individual was suggested, and the ticket writer could ask the person for proof. If the city was run properly by the elected officials and the government agencies, there would not be a dire need for parking revenue to maintain the city. Gwendolyn Mitchell, head of Traffic Adjudication, Parking Enforcement, has an inept agency. Every other year or so there's a scandal at that agency, either, employees are accepting bribes, stealing money, selling inspection stickers, or they are legally robbing motorists of millions of dollars. The most recent is $17.8 million in tickets over paid and not refunded to motorist because there is no system set up to give refunds. The $17.8 million refund is a much more serious problem than attacking defenseless handicapped motorists. DON ON CONTROLLong time Ward 8 resident, Don Matthews, is making arrangements to leave Ward 8, to go to Ward 6. He has grown tired of the politics in Ward 8. Matthews said, "People in Ward 8 are out of control and need their own control board. "The councilmember is sitting on her rusty dusty getting a larger welfare check." He said, "Community workers don't understand what a civic duty is because they look for tangible rewards or a position in return. "They need to take a class in civics. "When a wanna be leader takes on a project they don't involve the average citizen, for selfish reasons they involve people who can do something for them, such as supporting them when they run for office." He even had a message for the few Jack Evans supporters in Ward 8. He said, "The people who are on the devil's payroll are crazy if they think we are going for the shit they are trying to sell us on Jack Evans. "He came through the back door and bought off some of the residents. They got their heads so far up their asses they need a glass stomach to see." WILL THEY HAVE TO GO?Suspicious and worried residents in Stanton Dwelling and Frederick Douglass Public Housing are not at ease yet. They don't know if their homes are going to be demolished and replaced with market rate homes, or if they are going to be moved out so their homes can be renovated and they move back in. In 1995 the word on the street was that Stanton Dwelling was sold. No one could confirm it. Three years later it's closer to being true than false. At a meeting at Turner Elementary School in Feb., the court appointed receiver, David Gilmore, tried to set the residents at ease, but he mainly made them more suspicious. A not very tall Gilmore may be suffering from a Napoleonic complex, i.e., because of his shortness, he has to prove himself in an overly exaggerated manner to make up for his height, so he flaunts his authority. He said the residents will be relocated; it had already started at Frederick Douglass and will not start at Stanton for at least 6 months. He said vouchers will be given for relocation. He said the new residents will be from very low to moderate income. A letter to a resident at Frederick Douglass from Lee Palman, Director of Office of Public Housing, stated "that at this time there is no firm plan to demolish this development." The letter was not dated, but it was in response to a letter he received, dated Feb. 10, 1998. The letter also stated that as Court appointed receiver, Gilmore has the responsibility to act as its board. After an inspection at Frederick Douglass, Bernie Tretault, Gilmore's staffer, believes it ill-advised to repair units that were poorly designed and poorly maintained. Thus far, no request for demolition had been received by HUD and no demolition can take place until that approval is given. Public hearings and community meetings are necessary before the demolition can take place. Any questions of concern from residents from either complex can call Mary Dunn, Public Housing Revitalization Specialist 202-275- 7965. NO CIGARS, PLEASEPhillip Pannell has been meeting with business owners east of the river to appeal to them to stop selling items that assist druggies with their drug use, i.e., blunts and rolling paper. Blunts are cheap cigars. Tobacco is removed from the cigar and replaced with illegal drugs. The majority of the convenient stores are owned by Asians. Although it's not illegal to sell cigars and rolling paper, some of the merchants have agreed to stop selling them. They are also asked to stop selling single cigarettes, which is illegal. Pannell was left speechless when Cardell Shelton said if they didn't sell them, someone else would, and for the merchants to disregard Pannell and groups like his. Shelton said Pannell is not there when the Asians need help, yet he can harass them as they are trying to make a living. A police officer from 7D said if the merchants stopped selling those items their clientele would change, thereby, not lose business. Pannell sent flyers out in English, Korean and Chinese. He has enlisted the aid from junior high school students to make posters campaigning against drugs, to be displayed in the businesses. The mayor's office on Asian and Pacific Islanders attended the meeting. Pannell said, "Shelton should not interfere with this process, he should take that time and do something to improve his eyesore of a house and his own appearance. "Cardell is a bitter old man and an atheist. The devil would run him out of hell." When asked about Pannell's statement about taking time attending to his home to make it look better, Shelton replied, "that' ll work." Shelton said if all the businesses didn't stop selling these items it would not be fair to a few who did. UNCONVENTIONAL CONVENTION CENTERThe cost to build the new convention center (CC) has loomed above the predicted cost of $650 million. It seems every day there is another added expense. A retail study is just one of the studies not done, yet they are claiming to be ready to begin construction. This project would fare better if it was scraped, started over, in a new location, with new Washington Convention Center Authority (WCCA) board members. WCCA said it would be to costly to change location. The Shaw Coalition (SC) said millions would be saved if they used the site near Union Station, even if they had to do feasibility studies. Claude Bailey, WCCA's general counselor, has a bad habit, or good practice, of showing up at meetings and hearings without necessary documents, and is always "going to get them." The public never knows if he furnishes them at a later date or not. It is more like a ploy to evade issues. This unprofessional conduct has been going on since the onset of this project, not just with Bailey, but with other board members as well. The conduct is unacceptable, and the powerless residents in Shaw will have this white elephant in their front yards; funded by the unsuspecting District tax payers. SHEPHARD'S MARDI GRASOur Lady of Perpetual Help Church sponsored a Mardi Gras festival in Feb. Briscoe & Company Band and Show, featuring Katie Shephard, provided the entertainment. The 6 member band includes 3 brothers, James, Bernard and Leon Briscoe. These brothers have been performing together for at least 30 years. Shephard opened the show in a silver fluorescent dress, with frills from the hips to the ankles. She wore see through shoes, with a silver bow. Shephard performed "I'll Take You There," "Pink Cadillac," "Don't Wanna Cry No More," "Spanish Harlem," "Give Me The Night," "Cajun Moon" and "Wind Beneath My Wings." Together, Shephard and the band did "Booty Call" and "Electric Slide." For the second set Shephard wore a white top, with fur trim and red pants. The third set she came out in a drop dead gorgeous black dress, see through from mid thigh to the ankles. Briscoe & Company sang "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby," "Silky Soul Singer," "I've Been Thinking About You," "How Do You Mend A Broken Heart," and closed with an instrumental. A delectable meal was served, consisting of gumbo, red beans and rice, cole slaw and garlic bread. They gave free set ups, and free wine. A king and queen were crowned. Prizes were awarded to the three best costumes. In the 50/50 contest, one of the two ticket sellers' ticket was drawn, by the other ticket seller. That surely appeared to be a rip off for everyone who bought tickets. The ones who had never seen Shephard do an entire evening of soulful singing were pleased with her performance. The crowd yelled out for more when she left the stage after the first set. Shephard sent out thank you announcements to some of the people who attended. SCHOOL BOARD TO CITY COUNCILLinda Moody, Ward 8 School Board Representative/ kicked off her campaign on March 15, for the at-large City Council race, on Alabama Ave., SE, at New Image Community Baptist Church. Her colors are orange and white, alternating with black. The food at the opening was catered by Players Lounge. Everett Jennings is Moody's campaign manager. He was Arrington Dixon's manager for a short time, in the last special election. Jennings said Moody would make a good councilmember She is not obligated to anyone, she has a good relationship with the present councilmembers, and she has her school board performance to show. Her slogan is: LINDA MOODY CAN The most frequently asked question concerning Moody is, "Why is she running when she has done nothing on the school board?" Moody has a lot of explaining to do, but her manager said her school board performance is good and she is fair, and she is up for the task and stands behind her school board record 100%. Moody believes she can add a positive quality to the Council. VOTE WARD 9Green Party member, Karen Szulgit, found it necessary to campaign for a seat to represent Ward 9. Maryland, especially Prince George County (PG) is considered Ward 9 because many District residents move to PG; some do not change their voter registration and continue to vote in the District, or vote in both places. The mock campaign started in 1997, after Szulgit gathered signatures for the recall of Barry, and for Initiative 57, Medical Marijuana. Both campaigns fell short of the required signatures needed. Szulgit and other circulators believed that because of the registration fraud and the lack of maintaining the voter roll, it was impossible to get the proper amount of signatures because they were not available. After her campaign started, the Board of Election and Ethics discovered almost 4,000 voters who were registered in both Ward 9 and the District. They have not cross referred with the voter rolls in other jurisdictions yet. The voter roll of approximately 350,000 voters is not accurate. The rolls are not purged on a regular basis due to budgetary cuts. The District head count is about 500,000, the voter roll is about 350,000, which means approximately 70% of the residents are registered. This is unrealistic. To take into consideration the residents under voting age, legal and illegal aliens, seniors who don't vote, many apathetic public housing residents, ex- offenders who don't know they can register, people who maintain their registration in their home states, the dead, and people who just aren't registered, there's no way the voter roll can be that high. The initiator of Initiative 57, Steve Michael, represented by American Civil Liberties Union, filed a suit in court to challenge names on the voter roll. Szulgit found dead people still on the roll, Janet Keenan, Calvin Rolark, and Stephen Sellows. She also found Packie Marie Lamont, a dog; Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has moved and registered in Illinois; and Huge E. Rection, who's address is that of a fire station. Seegars turned in 1,000 names of people in Ward 8 who were listed at boarded up houses, had moved, and of her deceased neighbors, who were still on the roll. There are groups, such as League of Women Voters, who do vigorous voter registration drives, adding names to the roll, but never maintaining the rolls by getting unqualified names off. SCHOOL BOARD COUNCILMEMBERSTwo at-large City Council seats will open this year for, hopefully, NEW newcomers who will have the courage to change the status quo of the Council. So far, David Catania, at-large, Sharon Ambrose, Ward 6, and Kathy Patterson, Ward 3, are not sticking with the way we were. Hilda Mason, at-large, plans to run again, even though many have asked her not to because her usefulness has been depleted. Several of the candidates will be from the school board. Their salaries were halfed, from $32,000 to $15,000. The Councilmembers salary is $82,000. Wonder why they are changing? The school board members who are planning to run are Linda Moody, Don Reeves, Ann Wilcox and Sandra Butler Truesdale. With the public schools in disarray, many voters are saying school board members have already messed up the school system, and the Council is messed up bad enough, without them adding to it. TOO MANY HOUSES IN WARD 8Eugene Dewitt Kinlow chaired a community meeting attended by about 70 persons, to hear suggestions as to what should be done with unoccupied land west of South Capital St., near Southern Ave. (behind Nationsbank). On a boat ride, Norton had mentioned that affordable homes would be built there. This plan was unbeknownst to Ward 8 Councilmember Sandy Allen, and the Ward 8 movers and shakers. This meeting was for the community to voice their opinion as to what is needed in their ward. Little do they know, the Mayor's Office of Planning is who decides what goes where. John Moore, from Office of Planning, has already decided what the land is to be used for, and he says houses are needed through out the ward. All the movers and shakers who think otherwise should contact Moore's office to see who told him houses are needed in Ward 8. The majority of the persons who attended the meeting believes some of the unoccupied land should be used for commercial purposes because too many people, with not enough to do, will increase the problems that are going on now. Moore can be reached on 727-6492. The Washington Interfaith Network (WIN), run by a group of ministers, proposed a plan for 250 to 350 single-family townhomes, for working families earning from $20,000 to $45,000 annually. WIN had performed this plan in Baltimore, successfully. William Lockridge, community activist, former ANC member, mentor to many school age youths, and former candidate for Ward 8 City Council, strongly objected to the way WIN was trying to force there decision on the community. Lockridge said the area was not zoned for commercial development, but should be. O.V. Johnson, chairman for ANC8D, said the location is in his single member district, and he did not appreciate how he had been bypassed in the decision making process. James Bunn, Ward 8 business man, was adamant when he said if any money came to that community it had better not go through the East of the River Community Development Corporation, and if it did they will hear from him, to see that it is withdrawn. Allen said WIN came directly to her first, but she told them to take it to the community, for them to decide. LATE WATER BILLAnother corrupt, mismanaged District agency, the Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), was separated from the Dept. of Public Works by the mayor. They have not improved its services, yet they want to add an additional charge for late payments. They have a back log of customer refunds, issues improper bills, employees perform work on the side while they are on the clock and using government equipment, and the water still stinks and taste bad. This is going on after a 42% rate increase, and a hint of an additional 5% rate increases in 1998. The 800 water hot line number has been disconnected because, supposedly, there is no longer a danger in drinking the water. For late payments a 10% late fee is charged. An additional 1% late fee will be charged for each month the bill is late. The water is usually disconnected for non payment long before 60 days. A reconnection fee is $19. Even if the water is cut off and reconnected in another person's name, at the same address, the late fees must be paid. WOF ENTERPRISESWinifred Freeman, former Ward 8 City Council candidate, with an impeccable resume, has started her own business, WOF Enterprise. WOF is an architectural, drafting, cost estimating, site inspecting, building permit processing firm. She has set her sights on the site at South Capital and First Streets, SW. She is proposing a shopping strip, to include a sit down restaurant, a 50 child day care center, a police sub-station, incubator spaces for new businesses with centralized support services, and retail company (Caldor, Target, Walmart, etc.). She submitted her proposal to ERCDC and Anacostia Economic Development Corporation in January, at $18 to $25 million total financing and $3 to $4 million pre-development funding. Freeman said ERCDC is working with her on the project. CHURCHES AND MORE CHURCHESIn a 4 block radius, in Ward 8, there are 9 churches, 3 next door to each in the 3100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., 2 next door to each other in the 3200 block of Esther Pl., 2 next door to each other in the 400 block of Alabama Ave., and 2 across the street from each other in the 600 block of Alabama Ave. They are Temple Mission Baptist Church, Jubilee Outreach Ministry, Masjidush-Shura, Garden of Prayer Pentecostal Church, Harvey Memorial Baptist Church, Congress Heights United Methodist Church, Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, Liberty Temple AME Zion Church and Rehoboth Baptist Church. In Ward 8 this is just a fraction of the many churches, yet crime is high. If the churches could get the corner dwellers to attend, it would help the community. Churches outreach to the community is not that great. The outreach is usually only to the members of the church, and most members do not live in the District. District churches get tax breaks and grants from the government. With grants they are suppose to help the community, if not, they need to be reported and have their grants revoked. PLAYERS AT PLAYERSTwo FBI agents, two staff members from CFO Anthony Williams' office, a North West Current reporter, and two activists and creators of WWW.DCWATCH.COM,joined Seegars at Players Lounge for lunch, in Ward 8. The small business located on MLK, Jr. Ave. is the meeting place for many of the congregators in the ward. Players Lounge proprietors, Steve and Georgene Thompson have been preparing some of the best soul food in the metropolitan area for years. On that Friday the menu consisted of pig feet, fresh fish, fish fillet, salmon cake, liver and onion, smothered pork chops, turkey wings, fried chicken, baked chicken and meat loaf. Players also have carry out. You can call in advance to have your meal ready for pickup, on 202-574-1331. WON'T GO STRAIGHTSometimes a person's name determines how a person turns out in life. Take "Rhozier" for a man, he would definitely feel he would have to prove his manhood. How about "Roach7" Whether it's a fish, a cockroach or a marijuana butt, neither are impressive. Suppose you are stuck with both of these names like Rhozier "Roach" Brown. He has been on the law breaking circuit all of his life. He got a break when he was released from prison by a pardon from President Gerald Ford, in the mid 80's. He was imprisoned again in 1987 and released in 1993. He campaigned for Barry in 1994, and was hired by him in 1995, as liaison to the ex-offenders and prison. In 1993 Brown had agreed to repay $45,000 he had stolen from an orphanage (the reason he was jailed in 1987). Barry had a fundraiser to assist Brown in repaying the money, the money did not go to the orphanage. Brown was laid off of his $32,000 a year job when Barry had to stop detailing employees from other city agencies, to work on his staff. Brown used his job with the mayor to run a con on unsuspecting prisoners. He promised them an early release, for a fee. After he was caught in 1996 he agreed to become an informant for the FBI. Brown had approximately 22 years remaining on his probation for a murder and theft conviction in 1965. He was arrested in January 1998 for failing to repay the $45,000 to the orphanage. TAXI DRIVERS STILL MISTREATEDThe DC Professional Taxi Cab Drivers Association, Inc. (DCPTCD) and the cab drivers are still fighting the injustice they have been confronted with since the 70's. Louis Richardson, vice-president, sent two memos to the citizens, to tell them of the further abuse of power, and neglected oversight by the DC Taxicab Commission (DCTC). oversight committee. He criticized the elected officials who turn a deaf ear to criminal activities and expect to be re-elected. He said the time has passed for them to be stopped. He is claiming that the City Council is at fault, along with the mayor, for not properly regulating the functions, or a better word, dysfunctions, that has created a financial problem, and an illegal situation at the DCTC. The DCPTCD worked with Attorney General Janet Reno, FBI, US Attorney Office and Metropolitan Police Internal Affairs, and got a conviction on former chief of the DCTC, Ronald Stokes. They are asking for answers from councilmembers Jack Evans and Kevin Chavous, who are on the DPW Committee, chaired by Councilmember Harry Thomas, that oversees DCTC. DCPTCD is accusing Evans, chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, for the police department pay cut; and Chavous, chairperson of Education, Libraries and Recreation, for the bad condition the schools are in. POLICE BRUTALITYWhen a family on 9th St. SE called the police for a domestic situation, a teen age brother and sister were fighting, they had no idea what would happen next. The police arrived, they did not knock on the door, instead the occupant said the police knocked the door in, and hit the brother in the head with a club. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, then jailed. The grandmother was given the bill for the emergency room treatment and ambulance transportation to the hospital, totaling $329.00. Until the police are trained to handle situations in a more professional manner, is it safe to get them involved? NEW CHIEFUsually interim or acting personnel does not get the position they are acting in. It held true for Interim Police Chief Sonya Proctor. She was in the top three for the position of police chief, along with Richard Pennington, former assistant chief who moved to New Orleans to head their police department, and Charles Ramsey, deputy superintendent in Chicago. Sen. Lauch Faircloth put a boomerang in the hiring of Pennington. He said Pennington was too close to Barry, thereby he could not do an adequate job of cleaning up the force. Pennington went back to New Orleans. Barry had the opportunity to hire Pennington before he went to New Orleans, instead he hired whimpy Larry Soulsby. Pennington and Barry had something in common, they used to go after some of the same women. Many rumors surfaced on Proctor, one being she does not like dark skinned black people, because she is a Proctor. It's known that Proctors practice inbreeding, to keep the family color light, bright, damned near white. She is married to a white man, but did not take on his last name. She got rid of three police inspectors, from 3D, 5D and 6D. They were all dark skinned. They were replaced with one white, one light and one medium brown skinned persons. Proctor has not revealed why she asked the threesome to resign, nor have the threesome. They did not put up a fight when asked to resign. SentencedA sentencing commission was set up by the revitalization bill, signed by President Clinton last summer, includes at-large councilmembers Harold Brazil and Hilda Mason, and ward councilmembers Kevin Chavous (7), Harry Thomas (5), and Jack Evans (2). They voted 3 to 1 to reject the proposed new sentencing guidelines. Thomas did not vote. The guidelines are similar to the federal statues, it would eliminate parole for some crimes, and 85% of the sentence must be served. The chairperson of the Council has the authority to resurrect legislation rejected by Council committees, ergo, Chairperson Linda Cropp did. In a vote of the full Council, a 9 to 4, passed the legislation. Allen (8) joined the 3 no votes. Beginning Aug. 5, 2000 it will be tougher for criminals convicted of 37 serious crimes, to include, carjacking, murder, arson, cruelty to children and armed robbery. Cropp and a majority said if they did not vote yes on the legislation the federal would make the decision. That would have been Attorney General Janet Reno. DEATH IN PRISONThere have been at least two stabbing deaths in a 3 week span, and 19 stabbings since May, when Lorton inmates were transferred to Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Yorkstown. The two murder suspects were from maximum security in Lorton, the two victims were not from maximum security. A federal judge in Ohio ordered the District to stop sending inmates to the Youngstown facility until a system is developed for grouping prisoners according to how dangerous they are. Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) has a five year $182 million contract with the District, to house medium security prisoners at the Ohio facility because Lorton is closing. Lorton inmates are also sent to the Ohio prison for drug treatment. BARRY AND JEFFERSONUsing excerpts from Malcolm X and Thomas Jefferson, Barry tried to get Linda Cropp and himself appointed to the Control Board (CB) by Clinton. He said, "...except some guts.... the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance." Clinton is the only CB appointor. However, Barry admitted to not reading the federal statute that prohibits the appointment of elected officials. The only way an elected official could be appointed is by amending the law. If elected officials are permitted to be on the CB it would be like putting the fox with the dogs as they guarded the hens. SLAVERYWhat would you do if you opened your local newspaper and saw an ad that read "Cash for 500 Negroes," "House Servants for Sale," "200 Slaves Wanted," or "120 Negroes for Sale." "The Hidden History of Washington, DC, A Guide for Black Folks" second in a series, by Dr. Tinga Apidta, reveals information about DC and slavery. It's a must read book. The following is how this book reports it. The Mall and the area around the White House were the principle slave markets. Slave pens and auction blocks spilled into the backyard of the White House. There were pens in what is now Potomac Park. The slaves were marched down Pennsylvania Ave., NW, pass the US Capitol and along South Capital St. Slave sale sites were located at 14 & F. 13 & F. 7 & Pa. Ave., 7 & Constitution Ave., and 7 & Maryland Ave. Afro Americans who were Negroes, then colored, then Black, and now, Afro Americans, were bred, owned, auctioned, and sold. The District had federal jails that charged slave traders 34¢ per day, per slave for temporary housing, as they got them ready for shipment or sale. As time passed, Blacks were thought of as a threat to whites, thereby, the government imposed a series of "Black Codes" to control the Blacks.
Five years after the Turner Rebellion of 1831 Blacks resumed their community's struggle. Slavery was prohibited in DC on April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act of Congress, the Emancipation Proclamation. Soon after, Blacks from all over came to the capital. The "Free" struggling slaves lived in patched, filthy, dilapidated houses in the alleys, ergo, alley dwellers were created. Rent was paid to the owners, that quickly exceeded the value of the house. The alley slums had such names as Goose Level, Vinegar Hill, Foggy Bottom, Hell's Bottom, Bloodfield, Prather's Alley, Nigger Hill and Murder Bay. Out of embarrassment Congress finally discontinued the alley system in 1944. Not until 1955 were the shacks bulldozed to the ground. COALITION EXPANDINGLeroy Thorpe and Beth Solomon, cofounders of the Shaw Coalition (SC), strong adversaries against the building of the convention center (CC) in Shaw, have been managing a great campaign of holding off the ground breaking ceremony at the Shaw site, at 9 and N Streets NW, mainly because the Washington Convention Center Authority (WCCA) has tried to skirt the laws set forth for constructing a multimillion tax dollar structure. Solomon has been able to challenge them at every turn, not giving them an inch to breathe. Solomon has recruited opponents from across the city because she feels, as many do, that a new CC shoehorned into the Shaw site will cost the entire city too much money, and that location would restrict the CC because of a lack of room to expand, without causing further disruption by totally uprooting the community. Solomon hosted a party to celebrate the postponement of the ground breaking that had been planned for February. Many of the City Council members are concerned about the escalating cost imposed by WCCA, especially Sharon Ambrose (6), who attends meetings about the CC, outside of city hall. WCCA has shown that it is not ready for ground breaking because studies that should have been performed have not. A study on traffic as it would relate to the CC has not been performed. The company WCCA hired about a year ago said their study should be finished a year from now. They said they need input from advocates and adversaries. Solomon theme for the white elephant is "BOON" or "BOONDOGGLE." HOW MANY PRIMARIES?Councilmember Harold Brazil, along with co-sponsors, councilmembers Sharon Ambrose, Kevin Chavous, Kathy Patterson, Jack Evans, Hilda Mason, and Frank Smith, are introducing legislation titled "Presidential Year Standardize Primary Date Amendment of 1997," Bill 12-282. Whereas, the primary elections for the mayor will be in May each presidential year, and September in non-presidential election years. This bill does not mention the election for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, or Board of Education. In the presidential election year the District would have three elections, May, September and November. DEATH ALMOST IN WHITE HOUSEThe brother of President Bill Clinton's secretary, Betty Currie, died in an accident that happened on I-95, near Richmond. Currie is a Black middle age woman. She went before the grand jury to testify about Clinton's sexual scandal. The weird circumstances that led to her brother's death was unexplained at the time of the accident. Theodore Williams Jr., 52, died December 15, 1997, weeks before Currie testified in the Clinton and Monica Lewinsky case. He was on the way to the University of North Carolina to pick up his daughter, when the pick up truck he was driving hit the back of a tractor trailer. The driver of the tractor trailer was unaware he was hit, until he was flagged down. Williams car ran down an embankment, but was not hurt. The state trooper said Williams told him he was okay, and as he turned to speak to witnesses, Williams walked towards the fast lane. The trooper shouted a warning to him, but he rushed into traffic and was hit by another tractor trailer. The trooper said he found 5.2 grams of marijuana, a pipe and rolling paper under the floor mat. No illegal substance was found in his body. However, his blood alcohol level was .07, just below the legal limit for drunken driving, .08. The death has been ruled an accident. SHOW US THE MONEYThe vendors at the Eastern Market North Hall were shut down in December, followed by hearings before the City Council, on the arrangement between the vendors and the city. Thus far, the majority of the money collected from the vendors on weekends by John Harrod and Tom Rall has not gone to the city. The legislation Councilmember Ambrose is introducing does not have a provision that would make Harrod or the vendors pay fees to the city, like other vendors. An example year was 1996, Harrod reported collecting $116,679, be paid out $3,000 rental fee to the District government, and $25,000 for management fee to himself; with a balance of $94,214. Where is the money? On a list of evening rentals in 1996, totaling 110 rentals, paying from $25 to $550 per event, Barry and Brazil had events there and were not charged. At a hearing on March 16 Seegars made it clear that she would report these actions to the authority, even though Ambrose said there is no law, so far, to cover Eastern Market and its collections. At the hearing Harrod mentioned he and Barry had a private deal concerning the arrangement at the market. SANDY ALLENCouncilmember Sandy Allen has released her first newsletter, "Eye On Ward Eight." It congratulates Alethea Campbell on her DC Commission on Aging chairperson seat, a picture of her and Muhammad Ali, a letter to her constituents, an award from Whitman- Walker Clinic, a story about her town meeting, her bill on Medicaid managed care program, the Wishing Well, planned parenthood facility, and a letter from a supporter, among other articles of interest. The print is over purple scenery throughout Ward 8. She was able to bring back the homemaker program and the burial assistant program, the amount to each occurrence has not been determined yet. And, she was able to get a pay raise for the day care providers/ PERSONAL PERSONNELElliott Wheelan, new Director of personnel, serving at the pleasure of the mayor, came to DC after being Director of Personnel in Texas for 2 years, Director of Equal Employment Opportunity in Texas for 3 years, Director of Human Resources, in Florida, Virginia and Missouri, for a total of 10 years, and a consultant for Human Resources in Missouri from Feb. 1997, until he came to DC in Sept. 1997. Millicent Few was the acting director until Wheelan was hired, then she became the deputy director. Wheelan and the Legislative Analyst, Annja Stoudmire, grade 12, befriended each other. They had lunch on a semi-regular basis. Wheelan lived in the housing provided by the government, on Porter St., NW. A few months after living in NW he moved into the same apartment building, in SW, where Stoudmire lived. A few months later Stoudmire was promoted by Wheelan, to Associate Director, whereas she serves at the pleasure of the appointor. Seegars, acting on tips, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request, requesting the status of the individuals. Once the information was received, Seegars called Wheelan and Stoudmire to interview them. Stoudmire, who was a former employee of Whittington's, did not return the call. Stoudmire was familiar with Seegars, but Wheelan had only heard about her. For precautionary measures, instead of calling Seegars, Wheelan called two lawyers. Eventually, Seegars and Wheelan talked. Wheelan said he promoted Stoudmire because she qualified for the position, and that he has promoted at least two other Black females since he has been the Director of Personnel. QUICKIES AND UPDATESMayoral candidate Councilmember Kevin Chavous raised $116,811 for his campaign, in about one month. Councilmember Jack Evans, first to declare his candidacy, has raised $307,305. Jeffery Gildenhorn, successful businessman, has loaned himself $409,357 for his mayoral campaign. Gildenhorn said he is financing his own campaign because he doesn't want to be beholding to anyone. SS One of the newer parties, "DC Green Party" has a candidate in the Ward 1 City Council race. Scott McLarty will be running in the November general election, against whoever wins the primary election in September. There will be at least 3 Democrats in the primary, Todd Mosley, Jim Graham and the incumbent, Frank Smith. In 1997 many of the Ward 1 voters who signed the petition to recall Barry, asked if there was a recall petition on Smith to sign. The Green Party of the District of Columbia (The DC Greens) are dedicated to social, environmental and economic justice. SS A confirmation hearing for Terence Golden for chairman of the WCCA was held in February. The community was against him. The restaurant associations, hotel associations, Board of Trade, and DC Chamber of Commerce was for him. The Council voted him back in. It goes to show that the Council, overall, is not listening to the citizens. Many of the councilmembers get their campaigns financed by the aforementioned groups. It becomes a situation that money is more important than the citizens. SS The theme park that would have been built on the islands in the Anacostia River was voted 7 to 6, in favor of, by the Council, but the CB said "NO." There would have been a 99 year lease agreement between the city and the developers. The CB said there were too many unknowns concerning the project. The 99 year lease would not have the flexibility to be reviewed and better terms renegotiated. The developers did not submit a development plan, a business plan, proper environmental and feasibility studies and financing information. SS The extra slim, sharp tongued Phillip Pannell has put on 30 pounds. He has gone up a couple of sizes larger. SS H & M Hardware store, located in the shopping center at Stanton Rd. and Alabama Ave. SE, gave Pannell a discount on electrical work they performed at his home because he mentioned "One Page At A Time Newsletter." H & M 202 610-1771 SS Pannell has been on a clean up mission in Ward 8 for several years. In early 1998 the three mile stretch of ML King Jr. Ave. was free from posters, advertising entertainment, but it did not last long. By the time spring arrived the posters were back. Pannell has been trying to get the mayor and DPW to do their part and keep the streets clean, especially the main strip. The residents east of the river who litter where they live, usually do not litter when they go west of the river. At Barry's town meetings east of the river, he always asks the residents not to litter, to be proud of where they live. He said, "Litter doesn't fall from the sky, litter falls from your hand." SS Dr. Andrew Brimmer has decided to leave the CB in June. Three of the members said if Brimmer stayed, they would leave. Brimmer said he wanted to spend more time on his own business. He wants Constance Newman to replace him. General Julius Becton, who was placed over the schools, will also be leaving. Initially he said June, but changed the date to the end of April. Becton, unlike Barry, said he knows when to step down. SS (THIS ARTICLE WAS PRINTED IN THE TIMES.) Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. made a strong statement about the District's elected officials. Holder said to embrace change; tired people of the past must, at long last, move on; and people who separate us by race, class and even by geography must, finally, be ignored. This statement comes from a man who had the job of stopping corruption in the city and did nothing. Now he's basically on the outside looking in, talking trash. Holder has not helped the District, he has been part of the problem. SS It has been reported that half of the District's 3,600 police officers are not certified to use their weapons. SS Plans to start the recycling program in early April has been changed to July, by Camille Barnett, city manager, because she did not like the contract that was awarded in March. She plans to revise it and start recycling in July. The Green Party collects recyclables in front of 441 4 St. NW, the first Monday in each month, and will continue until curb side collection restarts. SS The DC Parole Board failed to administer and monitor $3.2 million in federal grant money, to combat juvenile crime, during the last three years. The city violated court orders covering its care of detaining juveniles, and could not document its claims of improvement. Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis appeared on DC Politics in February. She gave her view on the mayoral candidates. She said Mayor Barry should not run; Kevin Chavous is not seasoned; Harold Brazil is too indecisive; she would not vote for Carol Schwartz because she is a Republican; and Jeffery Gildenhorn is not experienced. SS Sarah Thompson, director and founder of LOVE THY NEIGHBOR, died in March, at the age of 37, of lung cancer. She started the center with her own money. The center was an outreach center for all ages. She accepted donations from all sources. SS The CB sent a report to Congress, wanting an immediate lifting of rent control on vacant apartments, and the possible fading out of rental restrictions on all apartments, except for low-income elderly people. DC Tenants Advocacy Coalition (TENAC) believes the CB's action is a blow against Home Rule. TENAC said rent control affects all who live in rental housing in the District, almost two thirds of the population. SS Marthell Dean was found guilty of murder for the cold-blooded and malicious killing of DC Police Officer Brian Gibson, near the Ibex Night Club in NW. Gibson's death sparked Congress to begin hearings on the death penalty for the killing of a law enforcement officer. The jury was deadlocked on the first day of deliberation, but the following day they returned with a verdict of guilty. Family and friends of Gibson were overjoyed. SS Phillip Pannell, executive director of Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) and board member of Board of Library Trustees, hosted a job fair at Covenant House Washington (CHW) in early March. The applicants were assisted in preparing resumes, being interviewed, how to dress and time management. The preparations were for up coming job openings in March, at the Marriott Metro Center. Members from Life Experiences Activities Program of Greater Washington, Inc., and Green Thumb, Inc. were facilitators. SS Friends of the Washington Highland Library, in conjunction with Pannell, presented their annual Gospel Jubilee Soul Food Night. Anthony Motley, minister of Redemption Ministry, provided the entertainment of poetry reciting and singing. The soul food feast included, of course, fried chicken, green beans, veggie and cheese trays, cake and punch. SS When an athlete signs a contract with a ball club, they get a signing bonus. The mayor wanted to offer signing bonuses to lure senior level mangers, but the Council threw it out. They said this was not a ball club. SS Metro Police Dept. complained about too few cars, a need for computerized equipment in the cars, broken copiers and fax machines and more bullet proof vests, just to name a few needed items, yet they failed to spend more than $11 million in grant money. The money was from grants, income from services provided to other agencies, municipal budget, award by Congress, money from the Justice Dept., police auctions, seizure in narcotic cases, money from FBI drug program, and traffic enforcement. SS The City Council voted 10 to 3 for a $35,000 pay raise for the position of mayor. So far three of the Democratic Council members, Kevin Chavous, Harold Brazil and Jack Evans, are vying for the mayoral seat in an election to be held this year. The legislation has to be passed by the CB and Congress. SS In February First Lady Hillary Rodman Clinton was the guest speaker at a reception, at the Good Hope Marketplace. President Bill Clinton came along with her. The reception was to announce the acquisition and management of the marketplace by Anacostia Economic Development Corporation. First Lady Clinton addressed day care, health care and education. SS The city officials are considering a tax cut, and are planning hundreds of millions of dollars of budget surplus for the next five years. The tax cut would be for the residents and businesses. Does budget surplus mean less jobs, or less service for the residents? SS As the chief financial officer of the District, Anthony Williams reaches out to the community on an, almost, one on one basis. He invites small groups to attend meetings at his office, on the 11th floor of 1 Judiciary Square. He shares his thoughts and plans for the District's budget. He makes sure every ward, race and class are included. His staff is community friendly, and are extremely helpful to citizens who are ignorant to the functions of his office and the government. There was a surplus in 1997, and his plans for the District is to have a surplus to the year 2004. SS Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, January 15, brought about many demonstrations by the Stand Up For Democracy Coalition. On the 15th they demonstrated at the CB, at 1 Thomas Circle, against the city manager over the schools. January 19 they marched from MLK Jr. Library to the CB, for self-governance. January 28 they demonstrated at the east front steps of the US Capitol. Stand Up For Democracy Coalition meets every Tuesday at the National Council of Negro Women, 633 Pa. Ave., NW, at 6:30 P.M., 202 667-1700. SS The Informer did an article about former Councilmember Eydie Whittington, depicting her with a push broom, stating she is preparing to perform 120 hours of community service, while on 6 months probation. Whittington was sentenced after being found guilty for making a false statement on a nominating petition when she ran for re-election to the City Council in 1996. She lost to Sandy Allen. SS Mary Treadwell, formerly on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), was sentenced to up to seven years, with all but four months suspended, plus four years probation, and fined $1,000, after pleading guilty to stealing more than $10,000 from the ANC funds. SS Gregory Keith Mitchell, pleaded guilty to stealing $65,000 in federal grant money, when he was head of the Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV). He used the money for personal use. He could get 23 months in prison when he is sentenced on May 12. SS Allison York, former McGogney Elementary School teacher who was charged with assault on two pupils was found guilty. She was ordered to spend 15 nights in custody, not to supervise children for two years and perform 120 hours of community service. The judge said he did not believe the first grade teacher's story. York was fired from her job. SS Jeffrey Robinson, a Barry financial contributor, was found guilty of bank fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud. He could be sentenced to 80 years in prison when sentenced June 30. He had received an $825,000 contract from the DC schools to run a facility for emotionally troubled children, although he did not have the educational experience or a college degree. He used $200,000 of the city's money for personal expenditures. The school was closed in May 1996. SS E. Barrett Prettyman, new inspector general, and Wilma Lewis, new US Attorney, have both made strong statements about going after city waste, fraud and corruption. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton recommended Lewis to President Clinton. She is the first black woman to be in that position. Prettyman main focus will be on police corruption, whereas, his deputy will focus on the other crimes. He agreed to work for free for a year. SS Prettyman has hired FBI agents to investigate corruption on the Metropolitan Police Dept. One of the agents, Terence J. Wyllie, was among the recruits. Wyllie will lead a team of seven. He was responsible for the investigation that led to a guilty verdict on Ronald Stokes, former Taxicab Commission chief. SS Linda Moody, Ward 8 school board member, at-large City Council candidate, and chairperson of the planning committee for Camp Dynamite, celebrated Camp Dynamite's 26th anniversary, in March. Brother Bob Mathieu, honorary chairperson, is one of Camp Dynamite's oldest supporters. The celebration included a silent auction, and a fund raising dinner. SS THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY WILL AWARD 250 PRIZES TO AMATEUR POETS, TOTALING $48,000. ANYONE CAN ENTER. ONLY ONE ORIGINAL POEM, ANY SUBJECT, ANY STYLE. SEND TO: THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY DEAD LINE APRIL 30, 1998 ANOTHER CONTEST WILL START ON MAY 1, 1998; DEADLINE DATE APRIL 30, 1999 SSS ANNA JOHENNING BAPTIST CHURCH OUTREACH MINISTRY, GLEN STAPLE, PASTOR, IS SPONSORING A GOSPEL CONCERT ON JUNE 13, NOON TO 5:00 P.M. AT FEREBEE HOPE SCHOOL, 8 & YUMA STREETS, SE. BRING LAWN CHAIRS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR MUSIC, FOOD, DRINKS AND GOOD FELLOWSHIPPING. 202 561-1133 SSSS Marvin GayeAnother year has passed since the death of DC's own, Marvin Gaye. Greatness is not measured in how long you live, |
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