Political Repair ManualDear Neighbors: It’s time to fete one of our own. The latest book from frequent contributor Sam Smith has hit the streets. SAM SMITH’S GREAT AMERICAN POLITICAL REPAIR MANUAL: Rebuilding Our Country So The Politics Aren’t Broken And Politicians Aren’t Fixed. The book is as fun and provocative as its title. Politics & Prose is hosting a book party for Sam on July 23 from 6-9 PM, with Sam’s presentation starting around 7:00 PM. I’ll be there. Flash the secret hand sign so I’ll know you’re a dc.story reader. **** I have had some additional thoughts about the Mayor’s comparison of DC crime with Topeka’s .Barry's assertion that downtown DC is as safe as Topeka made for a good sound bite...and one that Evans and Novak weren’t ready to challenge. But you know the old say about lies, damn lies, and statistics. Let me show you how About and Costello (Evans and Novak) were probably manipulated. First, FBI crime statistics are tracked for the entire geographic area. The violent crime rate reflects Prince William and Howard Counties as much as the District. More importantly, what he hell does Topeka have to do with anything? I checked the crime rates for DC and Topeka for the years 1987-1990. They were about even. But know what? About 70 percent of the FBI areas had better rates than both Topeka and DC. I list some of those areas in the next paragraph, from the highest to lowest crime rate for 1990. If I left in the areas between Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA and Eau Claire, WI, this message would have been about 50 lines longer and you’d be very angry at me. Muskegon, MI, Fort Pierce, Fl, Victoria, TX, Wichita Falls, TX, Bridgeport, CT, Wilmington, NC, Phoenix-Mesa, AZ, Philadelphia, PA-NJ, Melbourne-Titusville, Palm Bay, FL, Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA, Anderson, SC, Sacremento, CA, Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA..............Eau Claire, WI, Burlington, VT, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI, Bangor, ME, Bismarck, ND, Aurora-Elgin, Il, Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul, IL, Chicago, IL, Joliet, IL, Kokomo, IN, Lake County, IL, Peoria, IL, Springfield, IL. DC is not a safe city. It has a very high crime rate. Some areas have very high rates of crime against people, other areas against property. But if you torture statistics enough, they’ll confess to anything. Mayor Barry didn’t invent the art but he’s a skilled practitioner. ////\\\\\////\\\\////\\\\\/////\\\\ Also free! dc.movie: Free movie passes, short movie reviews, and movie discussion. Send an email message to story@intr.net to subscribe. Cheers, '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' DC News! What do you know? I actually bought a Washington Post today because the Washington Post actually had a story on Washington D.C. on the front page, above the fold! Who Knew! That is news in itself! And to think I was just bashing the Metro section last week, as all they could dig up as news in this city for their front page was....feeding animals at the Zoo. Perhaps the Editors should read the myriad local papers that carry the real news....they missed the news on the development of the old Children’s Hospital site, Thompson’s Dairy site (both entire city blocks), the Zoo massively disregarding federal environmental legislation, etc., etc. To think that a monthly or weekly can beat out the Post at news stories says it all..… **** Freedom of the Press Stephanie "Your ad/disclaimer/etc goes here" Faul cites the saying "Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one." That’s at least the second time I’ve seen the quote used in the past couple of weeks. It’s a popular quote, isn’t it! Anyway, the first time I saw it, and I can’t recall where it was, the quote was slightly wrong (something like " .. . belongs to those who own newspapers"), and it was attributed to that great quote maker, Anonymous. It wasn’t Anonymous who gave us that saying. It was the critic and bon vivant A.J. Leibling. Now, whether he devised it himself or stole it from Anonymous, I don’t know. But I thought I’d give him a plug. **** Pet Pantry I’ve been a Pet Pantry fan since my parents came to visit back in ‘94 .They brought their dog, which proceeded to annoy every other customer of the Van Ness Days Inn by barking all night. Mom and Dad stopped into the PetCo, which tried to sell them a doggy-muzzle for around $40. Meanwhile, I was at the Pantry, where they told me they *could* sell me any one of three muzzles, but none of them worked that well for silencing the mutt, they all would either hurt the dog or make her very uncomfortable and all of them were very expensive. (Their words.) Instead, we bought some chew toys — total cost, around $5 — and I’ve been going there for my fish food ever since. **** Hashing Out the Homeless Nice job of hitting the nails on the head once again, Mr. Pegoraro - as an ardent supporter of the space program I myself have heard "too much for space, not enough for social-programs" once too often and it’s a sure way to get me all wound up into one of my well-research position-paper rants. I certainly must raise hell, though, about one simple fact - despite amazing budget cuts, NASA continues to work wonders on a shoe-string budget - _because they care_. they’re devoted to their missions. But, it seems, nobody much cares about the homeless. Well, I do - as longtime readers of this list will recall, I’ve been homeless and have reason to care - there but for the grace of God and a Social Security disability payment, there goes I. And what’s more, anyone should realize it, "there goes you too" .Mental illness, catastrophes of health or income do happen - and anyone can wind up on the street. And now for an opposing position. If one can dignify it with that term. Personally, to me it reads like a prose version of Jello Biafra’s seminal and cynical rantly ditty "Kill Kill Kill the Poor" - only this person appears to actually be _serious_.
Ah Mr. Poisso - clearly you are a writer. Or at least you certainly have the ability to reach into the murk of archetype to draw forth and solidify the inky shadows of what we all fear, to work with ease the suspension of disbelief, to give leprous flesh to the formless dread of the monsters that lurk under beds. And surely there are such monsters! But unlike (probably) you, I have had to live with those "monsters" .Some of them are indeed some scary simple mindless bastards who’d cut your throat for a nickle or for that matter just for fun. But while statistics on the matter are somewhat spotty, I suspect that the predatory sociopath you describe is as commonly found in corporate boardrooms as on the street. There are some decent and good, or at least completely harmless people out there wishing to God that someone would help them clean up, get a job they can keep, help them with the incredibly tough job of finding affordable housing, and maybe even see a doctor and get the medication they require without being railroaded into a mental institution. But for now let’s continue with your own projection of your fears upon this (thankfully usually fictional) character. For one thing - what you describe is the fairly common reaction of a very mentally-ill person. Someone who has failed to bathe for nine weeks (or for even nine days) is in dire straits mentally - even in cold weather and the absence of exercise, one begins to smell one’s self quite noticeably after about three days and one must be very seriously disturbed or in the terminal stages of addiction to ignore the fact that one stinks. Secondly, your total lack of understanding of the situation of Washington’s homeless is apparent when you seem to think that there is a superabundance of outreach in this city or the surrounding jurisdictions. A Federal Judge recently began searching for qualified receivers for the City’s mental-health care program after finding that for the last 21 years (at least) there has been a "dismal failure" to provide remotely-effective treatment for even the most grievously disabled whose conditions legally require capture and treatment. (For the sake of this posting I won’t digress into Barry Cronies pocketing the funds intended for the mentally-ill.) There has been an even-greater failure to provide outreach for those whose conditions do not warrant incarceration. Increasingly, persons with attitudes similar to your own view homelessness as less a mental-health or addiction issue than as an issue of laziness or criminality. Indeed, when dealing with addiction issues, criminality is involved but most commonly these people’s crimes are related more closely to their sickness rather than to any inherent _moral_ defect. Aside from the failures of the various quasi-legal or governmental systems, the second layer of the social safety-net is increasingly frayed. CCNV, once a driving force in the fight against homelessness, suffered the loss of a powerful if grating leader with the suicide of Mitch Snyder. While he might have been personally an amazingly annoying individual he was good at getting blood out of turnips when it came to securing funding. CCNV now languishes, and even at its best, if you were not sick or it wasn’t freezing, one is _always_ better off away from the shelters, not because of their rules, but because the predators flocked to shelters as lions stalk water-holes, and residence in the safer emergency housing has a three-year waiting list. The religious charities have for years suffered a decline not only in the memberships of their parent bodies, but also of the contributions by congregations. That well had run very nearly dry many years ago. And what of those of us whose beliefs are not those of the charities? To beg from a church has always been my last resort; I cannot profess a fervent belief unless I do so believe - and many of the Christian charities seem to require that either one profess the faith or study to do so. The Salvation Army, I might add, is quite often less than helpful, at least in this region, although they are certainly the best place to get an emergency meal or bath or some clothes that will remain serviceable long enough for job-hunting. Admittedly, in this time of economic boom, one would think that many of the homeless would have found work, and indeed, _where not crippled by mental illness or addiction illness_ many have. But a full-time job at minimum-wage will not help all that much on a city where one is considered poor at a salary of $35,000 a year. I cannot speak for anyone else, not legitimately, but I personally feel quite slandered as a person who has been homeless, when you write a piece as above and don’t label it fiction - for largely that’s all it is. On behalf of all the good people whose lives have been reduced to homelessness and begging by circumstances beyond their control, I can only beg you to understand - can you not see that the opinions and mentation that you impute to your character are only your own - and its that sort of mild mental derangement that most commonly creates a homeless person… thus you may become what you despise. And you already despise what you may become - and so when it happens to you, don’t be surprised when the thoughts that you impute to this character are made real as your own. **** Homeless on Mars This is a reply to Rob Pegoraro and Jeff Porten replies to my posting about the Mars expedition and the comment about "homeless" people. First, I want to apologize to any engineers out there who I wrongly grouped together while calling the engineer on TV "self-righteous and ignorant." This remark was uncalled for, and I should not have "flamed." However, I stand by my comments about the Mars mission. Yes, it technically costs about $267 million, arguably not much money, and I would certainly prefer that the money go into science rather than defense. In actuality, though, billions will need to be spent before long-term, practical benefits are realized from these projects. Yes, I am cynical and I do laugh quite regularly to keep sane, but I thought it was a tasteless comment at best. I frankly have no faith or desire to live in space or on any other planet. I sincerely hope that we do the right things on earth to live here for many more centuries, allowing everyone to do more than just survive. I just think our science and technology are always way ahead of our understanding. (And I hope we don’t start posting comments based on someone’s Internet address. I don’t speak for my employer, and I don’t think any poster speaks for theirs, either, just because we use their gateway. We are individuals making our own opinions known. Anyway, I did receive two e-mails from people supporting my comments.) **** Venting Venue Bravo, Bravo to Marcos Wilson’s comments. Although i am a recent subscriber to this digest, I have had the privilege of reading copies forwarded by a friend. Like Marcos, I have been amused and entertained by the seemingly unending, but articulate, complaints about Barry, but time to turn the page. We have been there and done that. I join Marcos in urging all to "develop the guts" to give new leadership and new ideas a chance. Folks, if we are to save this city we must engage in talk that is closer to action. I congratulate Jeff for the efforts in putting this group together, but it is up to the rest of us that the group develop into a place where useful/actionable ideas are generated instead of a collective "venting venue" more suitable to a therapist’s office. **** Hang In There, Andy Andy Brimmer and the Financial Control Board have not reached a consensus on the approach to governing the city. Mr. Brimmer is on the right track and knows that Congress will not respond to the financial needs of the district as long as Barry continues to wield power in the District. Mr. Brimmer’s approach is to replace the mayor with an appointed City Manager. You can argue that the attitude of the Congress is not rational to withhold support just because Barry is Mayor, but it is reality. It is timely to begin the search for a real City Leader. Marcos Wilson’s suggestion that we take the positive approach and begin the grooming and search for a real city leader is the right one. Unfortunately, trying to find a candidate that can win in the next election (other than Eleanor Holmes Norton) is likely to be futile. The only win-win approach is the City Manager appointment. Hang in there, Andy. **** Isn’t "Urban Wilderness" An Oxymoron? If you’re interested in detailed descriptions of the National Park Service’s four "Alternative Scenarios" for future development (or desecration, depending on your POV) of Rock Creek Park, see: http://www.nps.gov/rocr/gmp newsletter3/toc.h™ .For the uninitiated, the scenarios are: (1) Current Management; (2) Recreation Emphasis; (3) Scenic Driving Emphasis; and (4) Urban Wilderness [!!!] Emphasis. At the bottom of that page, there is a link to a Response Form, through which you can send your comments to NPS. FWIW, I support leaving it pretty much the way it is (scenario #1). RCP serves a number of constituencies and purposes: it has wilderness, picnic/recreation, education and sports areas, all of which are open to the public and (more or less) simultaneously usable. However, it is also an important thoroughfare cutting right through a major urban center, and is used daily by thousands of people who must get from one side of the city to another. I oppose any plan that would curtail auto access through RCP (e.g., HOV-2 during rush hour, or closing off sections of Beach Drive). The park belongs to all of us, and I think the current management plan is the best compromise allowing a variety of uses by all constituencies.Having said that, I can appreciate the wisdom of making Beach Drive unidirectional for auto traffic during rush hour, and leaving the other (non-commute) lane open to bicycles as one avid contributor (sorry, I forgot who) has suggested. Alternatively, how difficult would it be to put in bike lanes alongside the road? **** Waiting for the Loo At the National Zoo, there with buggies and children, stand women hour after hour, sweating at the door to the loo. Men zip in and out in no time flat while in the blazing heat, women wait and wait then wait. Some are stoic, others have no patience. Occasionally, a thoroughly modern, young, militant miss breaks ranks with resigned, less forward members of her gender to take a position in the men’s room. While it is surprising to find a woman in their queue, guys politely don’t notice on the way out or in. Nearby the panda compound, elephants and camels come and go much as they please but in summer steam, human females can only watch in envy. For relief, they have only two speeds, slow and slow, wait and wait. Folks at the zoo, at my lines, should not be offended. Toward them neither slander nor malice is intended, terrific people, always courteous, thoughtful and in every way dedicated. The zoo is such a marvel that volunteers, wild and tame, even some humans too, manage the place. But for the ladies, there aren’t enough stalls not enough stools. For every potty men have, simple and mathematical, women need two. There seems to be a golden rule taught to every blueprint apprentice, in every class of every architecture school: "When designing a zoo facility, sell women iced tea, Cokes and beer...then just let them wait and wait...and wait...for the loo." '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' dc.queries Musicians I am planning some charity concerts for the Child Empowerment Network and am looking for musicians (preferably classical or jazz) who are willing to play for free or for a small free at a church on Oct 6 or Nov. 13. If you recommend someone, please let me know. Bruce McBarnette mcbarnet@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' dc.events On February 22, 1997, Citizens Against Speeding and Aggressive Driving was formed in response to the pervasive problem of speeding and aggressive driving throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. We are a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to making our roads safe for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians alike. Our mission is to slow down traffic, curb aggressive driving, and significantly reduce auto-related deaths and injuries. We will have our second public awareness campaign in front of the Zoo on Sunday, July 21, from 12-4. For more information contact CASAD, P. O. Box 77087, WDC 20013-7087, (202) AGGRESS (244-7377), e-mail: casaggred@aol.com. Judy Hubbard Saul jandrsaul@aol.com *** Zoo lecture Ruth Church, conservation and education manager for Wolf Haven International in Tenino, Washington, presents "What’s the Big Deal About the Mexican Wolf?" One of the rarest North American mammals, the Mexican wolf is believed to be extinct in the wild. Church will discuss conservation and breeding efforts as well as current plans to reintroduce the species to its historic range. Maureen Greeley, Wolf Haven’s executive director, will sign copies of her book,"Wolf," a chronicle of the species from its early ancestors to recent reintroductions. 14 August 1997. 7 p.m. Book signing and Refreshments. 8 p.m. Slide-illustrated lecture. Education Building. National Zoo. Enter at Connecticut Ave. Park in Lot A. Free, but please RSVP by calling (202) 673-4801 or e-mailing nzpem053@sivm.si.edu. Margie Gibson NZPEM053@SIVM.SI.EDU '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' dc.market Bicycle for sale Boy’s 10-speed Schwinn. 24-inch tires. Accessories. $100 or best offer. 202-543-4952. Elizabeth Layton elay@loc.gov **** Help wanted Part-time clerical/computer assistance needed by a small traffic safety organization near Metro Center, $10/hr with some benefits. Approximately 15 hours/week on a flexible schedule. Tasks include maintaining mailing lists and databases, packing and shipping videotapes and research reports, organizing large mailings, answering telephones, and other general office activities. Not the most challenging job on the world, but congenial people and perfect for a mother who wants to work around her kids’ school schedule. Call Bob Stratton, 202/638-5944. Stephanie Faul steph@clark.net **** 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. |
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