Peaceful Protest on Short NoticeDear Neighbors:
////\\\\\////\\\\////\\\\\/////\\\\ Also free! dc.movie: Free movie passes, short movie reviews, and movie discussion. Send an email message to story@intr.net to subscribe. Cheers, '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Homestead Exemption Has anyone been successful in getting through the number given in the Post (727-5380)? Does going down to the office help? Not only did the District forget my homestead exemption, my assessment value went up 10% accompanied by a note saying it did not. The District blames this latest failure on taxpayers for not renewing their homestead exemption, as they should every five years. Guess what that excuse does not work (at least for me), because I lived in the house 3 ½ years. **** Crestar Closing I’ve been away so I’m not sure if this has been commented on, but it seems to me that the closing of the Crestar Bank branch at Connecticut Avenue and Ordway Street transpired with barely a wimper from folks in the neighborhood. Could it be that people are so used to using ATMs that real, live tellers aren’t necessary anymore? Or has convenience become more important to us than personalized service? Meanwhile, if anyone from Crestar is out there reading DC Story: could you please fix the bank’s clock. It’s been telling the wrong time and temperature for weeks. **** Tax Bite In the March 2 dc.story, I think Stephanie "may have jumped to the wrong conclusion" Faul misinterpreted the note on her real estate tax bill that said 59% of her tax bill went to pay debt service. That note threw me for a loop at first, but then I considered the possibility that, for some reason, D.C. pays its bond obligations solely from its real property tax revenues — and not from its income tax, sales tax, fees/fines/parking tickets, and federal payment revenues. Can any experts confirm this? Don’t mean to pick on Steph. I’m a fan. Sorry the tree fell on your car. **** Car registration/license plates/parking stickers I had to laugh when I read Bruce Abramson’s account of his trouble renewing his plates. My experience was similarly bizarre. I never did receive my residential parking stickers and was told my check had never been received (even tho’ I had the cancelled check in hand—never did get the money back either). I gave up and hid my car out (my friends called it the outlaw car). But about half a year after driving with my then-current license plate stickers, I received a $250 ticket for NOT displaying the stickers! (The stickers were in plain site in full daylight, and I even asked another police officer to confirm it. Go figure.) Nevertheless, I had to take a day off from work to protest (and by this time the ticket had doubled), and the inquisitors acted as if I had just affixed the stickers after I got the ticket. Oh yeah, like I drive around for half a year w/o the stickers just so I’ll get a ticket and only then put the stickers on! Even tho’ they finally gave in to my logical argument, they had the last word by admonishing me not to do it again! Eventually, I gave up having a car in DC—it was too much trouble, from inspection to registration to renewal to vandalism and theft. The craziness of this city reminds me more and more of places I’ve lived in Africa. **** Motor Vehicles Here’s my two cents on the D.C. Bureau of Motor Vehicle Services. Early last year, I contested a parking ticket and lost (which happens to me 80% of the time, but it buys at least 6 months). My stickers were due to expire in December, and although I did get my renewal form in the mail, my front plate was stolen (while parked near Rodman’s — I wonder if CVS’s security is better). So I went down to the infamous room 1157 to turn in my other surviving plate and handled it all — new plates, new stickers, clean my parking ticket slate — in person. The whole process went relatively smoothly, taking a little over an hour. I paid for all my obligations in cash, which it turns out was a mistake. Last week, I got a nastygram in the mail from "LDC Collections Systems," who has apparently won a contract from D.C. to handle deadbeat parking ticket owners, and thought I still owed $20 for my ticket. Unfortunately, their computer system is inexplicably NOT linked to the Bureau of Motor Vehicle Services’ computer system, so they had no way to confirm that I paid my ticket — could I send a copy of my cancelled check? she suggested. Hmmph. The good news, car-impoundment-threat-wise, is that they have me under my old license plate number. And daringly assuming the computer systems still won’t talk to each other, my plan is to ignore the notice until I find my lost little cash receipt. **** Don’t Buy a Car A word to the wise—do not buy a car if you live in the District. I am not talking about the usual run-around at the DMV—the long lines, the misinformation, the vehicle inspection. The DMV now has a whole new twist for us. On my third trip to DMV on February 6, I finally succeeded in getting my yellow receipt and my tags for my new car. The computer, however, was down. They would send my title out in the mail. A month has gone by. After numerous phone calls to DMV (and a few to the Ward 3 office), DMV told me today that it takes 2 weeks to send out a title. When I informed them of the date, they told me that I could bring all my paperwork down to DMV and they would see if they could issue me a title. Next time I head down to DMV I think I will bring my sleeping bag. **** District Cablevision I decided to have my cable deprived friends over to watch the pay per view boxing match on Saturday night. Called in and put the order in by phone and just to be sure called back and got a live person. Pretty impressive I thought for Saturday night at 8:00. They confirmed that everything would work. At 8:30 we were watching the pre-fight commentary without a hitch. I briefly changed channels and when I went back to the fight channel, I had the scrolling preview channel. Oops. After calling the now busy DC cable number for 20 minutes, I finally got through and managed after another 10 minutes to get someone on the phone. The person was very helpful and sent many update signals to my box but to no avail. I could not get the pay per view fight back on my TV. I ended up canceling the order. I was told that there were so many people ordering the fight that the system was overwhelmed and could not handle anymore requests. Wonder if they tell that to the boxing promoters. However, they could not say that if I ordered something in the future it would work because there was a possibility it was the line or the equipment. When asked if they were going to send someone out check they told me to call back Monday. Why have cable if I can’t take advantage of all they have to offer?? Wonder how well those satellite dishes work? ***** Hyperlinked Announcements to Expand I’ve been real pleased with how the hyperlinked announcements have been working on dc.story. The people who have submitted hyperlinked announcements deserve a pat on the back for writing detailed, yet concise announcements. Incidentally, a couple people have asked me to post commercial hyperlinked announcements about the services or products they offer. To help accommodate businesses interested in posting commercial hyperlinked announcements to dc.story, starting today such announcements will be accepted at the following rates: $30 for a single insertion, and $40 for a triple insertion. Commercial hyperlinked announcements can be up to six paragraphs in length. Please note that individual classified ads remain free on dc.story, and that hyperlinked announcements by community groups and other nonprofits will always remain free. Interested in learning how to start building web pages yourself? Reasonably priced classes on this subject will soon be starting up at the One World Media Center, in Adams Morgan. http://www.digitalfunk.com/oneworld/ Further details to be posted to dc.story. Please direct inquiries about the commercial hyperlinked announcements (and other hyperlinked announcements) to me, rather than to Jeffrey Itell. I’m on-line several times a day and can usually get you a quick response. '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' dc.queries Project Management, Program Development Anyone? Former AARP professional seeks full-time employment in human service field. Loads of experience in aging, volunteer management, training and advocacy issues. Call Reed Dewey at (202) 363-8433. Reed Dewey rdewey@erols.com **** Volunteer to help the homeless in a musical fashion. Bruce McBarnette is looking for cohosts to help organize an April 17 piano concert of classical music being played by Edita Dinnitskoya, the winner of several Armenian national awards for piano playing. It will be held at St. Margaret’s church 1830 Conn., a few blocks north of Dupont. Wine reception from 6-7pm followed by piano playing from 7pm - 8pm.$10 donation will be collected for the St. Margaret’s Homeless Breakfast Program which is a soup kitchen Bruce coordinates. It serves breakfast to homeless people twice a week. There will be about 12 hosts total. Please let me know if you happen to know establishments that may donate wine and food in exchange for being listed as a sponsor in the program. Bruce McBarnette Mcbarnet@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu (703) 404-8429 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' dc.events The DC Democracy Initiative, a small, grass roots, non-partisan organization of volunteers from all other the city meets at Sumner School, 3rd floor, on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Convener: Askold Borestsky 966-0317. The group will sponsor a forum on governance for DC at MLK Library on April 5th from 10-2 PM. More details later. Judy Hubbard Saul jandrsaul@aol.com **** On Saturday, February 22nd, the first meeting was held of a group of citizens concerned about speeding, aggressive driving, and lax enforcement of traffic laws. The meeting was held at the Cleveland Park Library and was very ably chaired by Lisa Sheikh, email.lisasheikh@aol.com. The next meeting is March 22 at 11:00 AM at the Library. Judy Hubbard Saul jandrsaul@aol.com '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' dc.market Need a Stroller Looking for a lightweight, quality stroller — double preferred. Could also use a few other baby items. If you have stuff you don’t need, please call Andrea at 202-797-1009. Andrea Carlson BintaGay@aol.com **** Wanted House painter to paint kitchen and dining room in Cleveland Park. If you know of any good painters, could you let me know. Meg Murray murray_m@a1.eop.gov **** Room in Shared Upper NW House A room is opening up in our shared student/professional house in upper NW DC. Walking distance to Van Ness subway, on the Red Line. The room has its own separate phone line (handy for web surfing and the like). Nice people in the house, and 24 hour Internet tech support. $375, plus ¼ utilities. Available now or March 15. Phil Shapiro pshapiro@his.com <http://www.his.com/pshapiro/http://www.his.com/pshapiro/ ***** Do a Video Biography of Your Parents! Video History Services of Washington, DC provides professional video interviewing, to help people recall the past for memories to last - from one generation to the next. Call (202) 363-8433. Reed Dewey rdewey@erols.com **** Computers Buying one shouldn’t be so scary. Setting one up shouldn’t be so scary. Getting on the Internet shouldn’t be so scary. Jeffrey Itell Story@intr.net 202.244.4163 ================= dc.story is a discussion group. The opinions stated are the sole responsibility of the authors. dc.story does not verify the information provided by readers. ---------------- For fast, reliable Internet services and cutting edge Websites contact Michael Mann at Internet Interstate mmann@intr.net. Web: http://www.intr.net ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ dc.story—Your Electronic Backfence <http://www.dcstory.comhttp://www.dcstory.com Kibitzing by Jeffrey Itell (story@intr.net) Copyright © 1997 by Itell Communications, Inc. All rights reserved |
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