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October 26, 1997

Your Electronic Backfence

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The Stock Market is going through another volatile period. . . WTOP keeps you informed with late-breaking developments, as well as Money News from the Washington Business Journal at :25 and :55 past each hour.

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Dear Neighbors:

I wish I had more opportunities, but this is my last chance to remind you about our dc.story get together on October 27 at the DC Jewish Community Center. Fred Siegel and I chatted today. He’s got the inside scoop on the Guilianni/Messinger race in New York. A cake walk? Maybe, but surprisingly, it could get icky. Here what Fred has to say.

The festivities begin at 7:30 PM. Just show up at the door. Everyone from dc.story gets a name tag with their email address.

My message is hopefully imprinted on your mind by now — Fred Siegel will talk about his new book about the District, LA, and New York — *The Future Once Happened Here.* John Leo calls it *The best book about cities in decades.* Michael Barone, known for the annual *An Almanac of American Politics,* will introduce Fred.

The DC Jewish Community Center is located on 16th and Q Streets, NW. The cost is $12 for members of the DC/JCC and $15 for non-members. Buffet dinner and soft drinks will be served. Questions? Call Karen David at the DC/JCC, 202.518.9400, extension 269.

I look forward to seeing you.

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We don’t have many entries, but Carl Bergman is determined to make his first annual Boss Shepherd and John Macmillan Awards on Monday. Hey, we have to start somewhere. Maybe my suggestion belongs in the Knucklehead of the Year category, but is the acrimony between Judge Christian and General Becton beginning to stink as irritatingly as school glue? (Which begs the question, can acrimony stink?) Two immovable forces, locked in mortal combat, while mere school children are shuttled around the city. Is this city government or an episode of Xena and Hercules? Becton works for the Control Board so I suppose they could nudge him if so inclined. But Christian acts as if she alone is defending the gates of Vienna from the Turks (and making the Western World safe for Starbucks.) If Christian and Becton were behaving this way in school, they would both be sent away for a time-out attitude adjustment.

Now a few words about Parents United, a group that has done much good in the past. About seven years ago, we discovered that every member of my condo board had joined because of multiple leaks. Our roofs were a shambles. Then the boilers started going. We forced a change in management. We oversaw the evaluators and workmen. We didn’t move to the Marriot. (We bought buckets from Hechingers.) Moreover, in this litigious town, we didn’t hire lawyers or have a single lawyer on our Board of Directors. And you know what? Everything worked out just fine.

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***It's Time to Preserve Your Family Memories.***

Video History Services provides quality audio and video interviewing services for people who wish to preserve their family history. VHS Staff use skilled interviewing techniques to capture the warmth, energy, sense of humor and overall personality of those being interviewed. Photos, home movies & video, favorite music and other memorabilia can be used to edit-together a video biography that tells a colorful story—for the benefit of future generations.

Video History Services: "Helping People Recall the Past for Memories to Last." For more information, please contact Reed Dewey at 202/363-8433 or rdewey@erols.com.

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In this issue of dc.story, hot on the trail of Rep. Charles Taylor, is 16th Street the Berlin Wall of DC?, Ed Barron does the school by the numbers, and Stephanie Faul and windshields.

Cheers,
Jeffrey Itell

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Suggestion for John Macmillan Award and More on Rep. Taylor
Marie Drissel bristolc@erols.com

I have been sending news clippings and writing letters to the editors of the local newspapers in Representative Taylor’s District. I have found a great web page which lists all of the local newspapers in any state. It is http://www.newslink.org/statnews.html. So far I have contacted the Charlotte Observer (daily), Gaston Gazette (daily), Winston-Salem Journal (daily) and the Asheville Citizen-Times (limited). Maybe some others could write letters and we might get some published. Representative Taylor is costing us a great deal of money. I also have tried with a little success to contact the State Democratic party to try to find out if there are any viable candidates against him. It is incredible that we are being run from North Carolina. Maybe we should give the state of North Carolina the South Carolina John Macmillan award.

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Excerpt From An Article in The Sunday Independent in Johannesburg, Oct. 5, 1997:
Mark Richards mdr@nei.org

"Washington, an unremarkable place until you ponder the great divide." This "letter from America" reports to fellow South Africans that the racial segregation is more pronounced here than in Johannesburg, it is what defines this town, and says that a "road that runs northwards from the White House, bisecting the city right down the middle. White people live on one side of the divide and black people on the other. The road is called 16th Street and the starkness of the racial separation has to be seen to be believed." In addition, the writer reports that apart from the race issues, Washington "is not a very stylish place. People dress regulation dull at work and dowdily down at home. In fact, a married friend says Washington is a great place to live for those who don’t want to succumb to the temptation of adultery."

[Would anyone care to address this issue? Nonsense or substance? Are we capable of having a chat about our hometown even with the anonymity of electronic mail. Are the arguments expressed above ridiculous or sublime? Jeff]

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Follow the Money
Ed T. Barron EdTB@aol.com

With more than $7000 being spent for educating each of the District’s youngsters in grades 1 through 12 it is incredulous that the students are not getting a first class education. If there are thirty children in a class that means that class is capitalized at thirty times 7,000, or a total of $210,000. If one teacher teaches and average of only three classes a day, each day, then that teacher is bringing in $1.3 M each year. That teacher is probably being paid (salary plus bennies) about $100 K per year. Two teachers are needed for coverage of six classes for a day which totals $200 K per in salaries plus benefits. That leaves $1.1M for all the rest of the educational needs of those thirty students. There appears to be a huge hole in bottom of this boat and the school system is sinking.

It is timely for a full audit of the D.C. School System to see just exactly where that money is going. It certainly is not winding up in the hands of people capable of providing a first class education for our youngsters that $7K per student should be able to provide. The money is not going into luxurious facilities or great services. Just where are we hemorrhaging? The taxpayers of D.C. are being scammed.

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News About Vouchers, Not NewSpeak
Philip Murphy PhilMurphy@aol.com

Several spirited opponents of public school reform made the same Orwellian statement in dc.story that voucher programs in Milwaukee and Cleveland have failed. In fact, a study by the Paul Peterson of Harvard’s Kennedy School found that students in those two experimental programs made significant improvement after just one year. From the New York Times, 9/18/97: "The study found that those students tested at the beginning of the end of the school year, made significant academic strides, gaining 15 percentage points in math and 5 percentage points on reading tests, relative to national norms." Hardly a failure. By the way, 95% of African-Americans in Milwaukee support that city’s school choice program. (USA Today, 9/24/97)

And some DCPS apologists have said vouchers will be the death knell for public schools. Not true. When a philanthropist in Albany, New York offered scholarships to any student in that city’s lowest performing public school, one sixth of the school accepted them. Did the public school sink into chaos? Just the opposite. Faced with real competition for the first time, Giffen Memorial replaced its principal, brought in nine new teachers, added two new assistant principals and turned itself around. (New York Times, 9/29/97). The reason people support vouchers is that they improve access to quality education for otherwise disadvantaged children. Only in DC would that be called "elitist."

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School Vouchers
Pat Hahn c.zero@ix.netcom.com

Jason Juffras post argues in the 10/22 edition that vouchers are bad because the schools that accept them are not accountable to the public, and not accountable for a variety of items from test scores to admission of disruptive students. Schools that would accept vouchers are, however, accountable to one heavyweight group which should count - parents, who, if they don’t like the school, its average test scores, policies or whatever, can find alternatives by sending their children and their tuition payments elsewhere. In other words, freedom of choice.

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Voucher Myth #1
DK Black noir@erols.com

The idea that we have to keep good students trapped in DC schools so "the system" doesn’t suffer keeps the emphasis right where it has been too long: on the "system" and not on the students. And the assertion that private schools won’t take "troubled" children is simply not true. Quick story: A classmate of my son, both students at a local private school, was a serious trouble maker: this ten year old was stealing, slashing kids backpacks and engaging in all manner of anti-social hijinks. Sure enough, he was "asked" not to return. Was his only alternative public school? Hardly. He’s now at a place that is prepared to deal with him, where he gets the attention, and discipline he needs and his parents report he’s much improved. With vouchers, such places would be within the reach of those of more modest means. Currently, such people have no alternative but the lousy "system" that some people seem determined to preserve, regardless of the cost to our children.

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Vouch for This
John "just call me ref on this one" Whiteside John20008@aol.com

I think some earnest debate is great, but the school voucher discussion would be infinitely more interesting in Mr Rothblum actually responded to the points being made by voucher opponents, instead of giving telling us that vouchers are good over and over and over as if repeating it would make it true.

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Abuse of Power?
Michelle Treistman mtreistman@pccii.com

Is the abuse of power an accurate measure of the validity of a law? I am sorry that Governments, both state and Federal, tend to get stuck in the minutia rather than the grand scheme-spending time and money to stop individuals who are not wearing seat belts, for example, vs. spending time and money to ensure the better health and education of youth.

If DC has passed a seat belt law, then residents have four choices: comply with it and go on their merry way; ignore it and hope it ignores them; work to change the law; or, take action to stop it from being abused. I agree with those who feel this law and its enforcement, in any city, is a little intrusive. Wear your seat belt because it can save your life (and if you don’t believe that, go back to your physics book and look up Newton’s laws of motion), not solely because it is the law. Maybe it is the insurance and tax laws that should be changed, so that tax payers never have to foot the medical bill for an automobile passenger/driver who is injured in an automobile accident while not wearing a seat belt.

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The Other Coast
Jillaine Smith jillaine@benton.org

When California passed its seatbelt law many years ago, drivers were told that they would not be stopped only for violating the law, but if they were stopped for something else, and they weren’t wearing seatbelts, they’d be ticketed. I find it rather amusing that everyone is fussing over the seatbelt law. I always assumed that it was illegal to drive without one— it’s been that way for so many years in California (I’ve been in DC for three). Also, you’re much more likely to survive, with fewer injuries if you’ve got one on, so what’s your beef? Buckle up!

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Cabs and Belts
Kirsten Sherk ks280@columbia.edu

Here in NYC, cabs are now required to have seatbelts, and when the cabbie starts the meter running, a celebrity voice (usually Judd Hirsch, Joan Rivers or someone) comes on reminding you to fasten your seatbelts. If you’ve ever been in a NYC cab, you’ve probably prayed for the appearance of the seatbelt, so I’m personally delighted. Should the law apply to cabs in DC? Absolutely! Do I think the cab lobby will allow it? Heh, heh, heh…

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Defending a Driver’s Right to Die
Steph "Dedicated to restricting your right to smash your face on the windshield" Faul steph@intr.net

When people object to seat belt laws while claiming "I *always* buckle up in *my* car," one has to wonder how truthfully they’re reporting their actual behavior. If they really *do* buckle their belts every time, they shouldn’t care if there’s a law or not. For example, I’m sure there’s a law against parking on the sidewalk, but I’ve never had any reason to find out and have not heard any objections to the existence of such a law.

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Two Year DC Car Registration
Leslie Ruskin shanti.ruskin@lmco.com

I would like to share an opinion and a fact regarding John Whiteside’s comments on two-year car registration. First, IMHO, the financial incentive for me to register for two years up front is that I reduce the (possible) loss of time, energy, and frustration in dealing with a yearly inspection and a registration renewal gone wrong (an unfortunate all-too-often possibility in DC) in half by dealing with it only once every two years vs. once a year. Of course, I am still trying to figure out what logic the district uses to explain why a two year registration should somehow imply that a car need only be inspected twice a year (other than the all-too-obvious cost savings), certainly, road safety did not play into the equation.

Second, a refund can be requested for a full year’s worth of registration so no money need be lost for the extra year if you move away before the second year begins.

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So you’re interested in that big advertising spot in the beginning of dc.story? Contact Jan Genzer — the dc.story marketing maven—at Oltjan@aol.com or call him at 202.364.0383.

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dc.queries

Can anyone recommend a good futon store? Has anyone bought at the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind store?

Evan Roth rothe@washpost.com To disclaim or not to disclaim …

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dc.events

Thompson Dairy Site: If you are among those appalled by the lack of accountability in the letting of contracts and sale of property by the District government to contractors and developers who don’t have the means, the experience and/or the desire to return value for these contracts (read corruption, cronyism, incompetence), you are not alone. You’ll want to attend the Public Roundtable Discussion on PR 12-268 "Sale of the Former Thompson’s Dairy Site Approval Resolution of 1997." For some insight into how seemingly non-terminable contracts are granted to unqualified "developers" in this city, come to the City Council Chambers for this meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 October. For further information, or to register to speak on the subject, call John McGaw, Committee Clerk, at (202) 724-8152.

Buck Clarke, President, Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood Association, (202) 610-2654 FMCatCRP@aol.com

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Anybody Got Some Issues?

Remember the complaints in past election seasons? "There is no good choice" or "No one is really talking about the issues", etc., etc. Perhaps it was because we waited too long to talk about the issues that were important to us in the election. Come to the D.C. Mayoral Election Issues Forum and discuss the issues that are important to you and that will shape the next D.C. Mayor’s Race. Join Tom Sherwood, WRC-TV News; Mark Plotkin, WAMU Radio District Politics Hour; and Karen Gray Houston of Fox News in questioning Councilmembers Harold Brazil, Kevin Chavous, Jack Evans, and Carol Schwartz. Listen to the views of prominent elected officials and express your opinions. Let the media know what you want and need in election coverage this year. The forum is Monday, November 3rd from noon to 2pm. Bring your lunch (sodas and coffee will be provided) and join us at 1250 H Street, N.W. (Metro Center). Call (202) 626-3463 for details.

Sharon Mayhew mayhew@erols.com

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Exile And Cultural Memory At The End Of The 20th Century. Tuesday, November 4, 1997 At 7:00pm (1 ½ Hours).

Eva Hoffman, author of "Lost of Translation" and, most recently, "Shtetl: The Life and Death of a Small Town and the World of Polish Jews," will discuss "Exile and Cultural Memory at the End of the 20th Century." The lecture is offered to the public free of charge. It will be held at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024. To register, call (202) 488-0427.

Phyllis Conyers pconyers@ushmm.org

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"Wine Basics 101: Michael Franz Makes it Simple"-Event #10014 Thursday, October 30th, from 6:30-9:00PM Sheraton City Centre 1143 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., This introductory class focuses on the wine basics: how to purchase wines, differences between various grape varieties, matching food and wine, and a whole lot more. This wine tasting includes a sampling of over 8 truly high quality wine varieties from regions around the world! $30.00 in advance, please reserve your space by calling (202)333-5588 or email at wine@tastedc.com.

Charlie Adler wine@tastedc.com http://www.tastedc.com

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dc.market

For Sale: Two tickets available to Michigan (Go Blue) at Penn State. Best offer.

Lawrence Kaplan LAWKAPLAN@AOL.COM

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Patty Friedman 202-232-3449 patty@embassy.org

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Also free! dc.movie. Free movie passes, short movie reviews, and movie discussion. Send an email message to story@intr.net to subscribe.

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dc.story is a discussion group. The opinions stated are the sole responsibility of the authors. dc.story does not verify information provided by readers.

Kibitzing by Jeffrey Itell. Copyright © 1997 All rights reserved.


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