Right Down to It in themail
Dear Colleagues:
It's a good, long issue. Let's get right down to it, and be sure to read
all the way to the pizza suggestions.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
Notes from the campaign trail, where the social and
political mix
Mark Richards, mark@bisconti.com
The annual Halloween High Heel Race in Dupont East drew a huge crowd with
amazing costumes, slowing unsuspecting cars who expressed frustration with horns.
Thousands lined the sidewalks as contestants strutted back and forth on the 17th Street
“runway,” greeting friends and taking photos, in prep for the race. JRs, a gay
pub that wants most of all to get a license to serve drinks on their patio, invited Tony
Williams as Grand Marshall. Williams and his sign bearers walked the runway, shaking
hands, amidst the many costume clad participants. Carol Schwartz, a long-time friend of
the gay community, joined the fun with her supporters, sans official title. People yelled
“Carol! Carol!” as she moved from person to person, shaking hands. People held
out their hands to get yellow and black Carol stickers. Tom Sherwood and a slew of
reporters collected images and sound bites. One man yelled “This is not a political
event!” At one point, Schwartz and Williams passed and shook hands for the cameras as
people yelled “CAROL! CAROL!” When Williams passed me, I said “May the best
person win!” He did not respond as he read my yellow Carol T-shirt. I yelled to a
neighbor following behind Williams with a blue sign “Let's make this city
great!,” and she flashed back a smile and yelled “That’s what it’s all
about!”
An attractive young white blond woman watching Schwartz with disdain said
“Everything is SO-O-O political in D.C., who IS that woman anyway?”
“Mayoral candidate,” I said as she rolled her eyes and quipped “THAT
figures.” I asked where she was from and she said “VirGINia.” I imagined
she was the daughter of Tom Davis, welcomed her to our neighborhood, and said “have a
great time!” She sneered and I moved away with friends. The race started, the crowd
cheered wildly as a hundred men in drag and heels pounded the pavement to the finish line,
some quite funny. And in a few minutes it was over and the crowd closed into one another
in one big street fest. It was another great neighborhood event. This morning on the way
to work I stopped for carrot/OJ at The Daily Market, where neighbors told one another
stories and laughed. Regardless of what anyone says, those who live here know D.C. is a
great city, politics and all. Many people who rush in and out for an event just don't get
it. D.C. is great, not because our streets are pothole free and our houses match, but
because there is a place for everyone here, regardless of where you're from or what your
opinion is. We are a city of wildly diverse and tolerant people who cluster in
neighborhoods where we feel safe, neighborhoods of which we are quite proud.
###############
GROSS RECEIPTS TAX
JEFFREY ITELL AT STORY AT INTR STOP NET
TO TOM BERRY STOP ANTHONY WILLIAMS SUGGESTED THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX STOP A
SMALL INFLUENTIAL SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP OPPOSED THE TAX STOP WILLIAMS BACKED OFF STOP
WILLIAMS GROSS RECEIPTS TAX WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ARENA TAX AND SIX OTHER TAXES STOP THE
TAX WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO REVENUE NEUTRAL STOP LOOK READ LISTEN STOP
###############
I admit to not being 100 percent attentive to the current DC mayoral race,
although I did watch the recent debate at GWU. I listen to the news, and I read themail,
so I have been hearing a lot about how Barry and members of his administration have
endorsed Williams. My question is how relevant is this information?
There is always that chance that endorsement equals influence. (I don't
think this will be the case.) As much as many DC residents neither like nor trust Barry,
his endorsement should not be reason enough to change one's vote. In a way, it would be
like eliminating a favorite food from my diet if Newt Gingrich became its spokesperson.
Vote on the basis of what you think the candidate can and will do for DC. But, first and
foremost, get out and vote.
###############
From reading the responses the candidates wrote to four questions posed by
the Washington League of Women Voters, I'd say Gail Dixon is the at-large candidate to
vote for. She seems to have a realistic understanding of what one can — and equally
important — what one cannot accomplish as a Bd of Ed member. Too many candidates
promise what they simply cannot deliver. She had clearly read the DCPS's master facilities
plan and correctly found it inadequate. And she addressed the issues I, as a public school
parent, want to see addressed — such as class size and school size. She'll get my
vote. And I recommend the League's Guide to other interested voters — perhaps Gary
can put it on the DCWatch web site.
[Done, and it's worth reading before voting: http://www.dcwatch.com/election/lwvdc.htm
— Gary Imhoff]
################
School Board Candidates
Mary Pat Rowan and Philip Blair, Jr., pblair@worldbank.org
As public school parents and school activists we think that one of your
Unanswered Questions is easily answered. Gail Dixon is a great candidate for Board of
Education At-Large and the best candidate too. She's got our two votes. We have known Gail
for years and years as our neighbor here in Brookland (Ward 5). We urged her to run, so
we're not impartial. We think that she would bring to the Board rare skills. Gail knows
the school system, as a parent (Janney, Deal, Walls); as a DCPS employee (Ellington,
"downtown" in the office of parental involvement); and as a volunteer (she is
founding president of the D.C. Arts Education Foundation, among other accomplishments).
Gail is results oriented — really! — and running is not an ego
trip for her; she won't use the Board seat as a launching pad for something else. She will
be insistent on the need for community involvement. She is superb at recruiting
collaborators and eliciting the energies of anybody willing to help out. She has the
temperament we need on the Board: this new Board has to work together and has to work with
us, parents, caregivers, and taxpayers.
P.S. We have been startled by the negativism concerning the Board
elections that we see in the Post and Loose Lips and other voices of Conventional
Wisdom in this town. While there are some embarrassing people running, if the electorate
will just get focussed, we can come out of this election with a much better Board of
Education in January than we had in October.
###############
As I mentioned in an earlier posting, a group of 52 DC residents have sued
the US Government (actually the US Department of Commerce) for voting rights in the US
Congress. In addition, the DC Corporation Counsel, joined the suit representing all DC
residents as an affected class of plaintiffs. This was a bold and unprecedented move by
Judge John Ferren, the head of that office. However, the US Congress in its DC
Appropriations Bill has banned the use of any funds by the Corporation Counsel in this
matter.
In a move similar to the Proposition 59 situation, Congress appears to be
using the appropriations bill to impede DC resident's rights. However, to Larry Seftor and
others who have voiced their concern about this matter there is some hope. A 1989 US Court
of Appeals Decision stopped Congress from a similar move (866 F.2d 404). The late Dave
Clarke filed that case after Congress used funding as a way to prevent the DC Council from
voting “Yes” on a legislative matter.
I'm currently working with the Corporation Counsel on this issue and would
be happy to hear any of your thoughts and/or legal insight on this matter.
###############
What does the ACLU think, Art Spitzer?
Art Spitzer, ArtSpitzer@aol.com
[In the last issue, I asked Art what the ACLU's opinion was of Congress'
forbidding DC to fund a vote on Initiative 57. He replied:]
We are thinking about what to do. It may surprise some people to hear
this, but we actually think before we sue.
###############
Who Is That Masked Man?
K. Edward Shanbacker, Shanbacker@aol.com
The posting — my first — about Thompson was mine...saw the
different attribution but didn't want to make an issue of it...I figured I'd have a new
nom de plume. But now I'm outraged over the mean spirited Republicans in Congress who
steal the right of DC residents to hold a referendum (Ballot Initiative 59) by refusing to
fund the Board of Elections to count the tally...while I don't think medical marijuana is
the proper subject for a referendum, I far more incensed by the way in which our
Congressional interlopers have chosen to impose their will...
###############
Speaking as a 1987 graduate of UDC, I don't really disagree with much of
what Clare Feinson said about UDC. When I went there, many if not most of the students
were female, in the 20's bumping 30's age range, had kids, had full time jobs and they
were serious hardworking students. Also there was a sizable population of foreign students
who added interest and intellectual stimulus to classes. 9 of 10 of my professors were
very good and better than I've have had from other universities. However, UDC was
not student customer oriented. The administration staff was bloated and very lazy. The
administration staff was gathered from three colleges and I think that all of them stayed
and drew paychecks at UDC. This educated class of folks on the gravy train made a degree
from UDC worthless. There were tenured deadwood professors that were not fired, lots of
$$$ went to basketball and football teams while there was not even paper for department
Xerox machines. Registering for classes was a major nightmare with thousands of students
spending a whole day or more in the gym. Should I mention the UDC president's house and
other perks? I hope that this has changed because there is a need for a moderate cost
education with a flexible schedule in this city.
UDC should not be made a school of last resort. I'd like every graduate
from a DC high school with a A or B average get a free education from UDC. I'd like UDC to
become the school of choice for working adults with child care and good student loans.
###############
UDC — The Nation's Public University
Jeffrey Hops, jeffhops@yahoo.com
One of the writers in the last posting (Oct. 25) suggested that,
“Without UDC, many students may not have another place to go [for post-secondary
education].” I have friends and co-workers (and I think we'd find that we all have
friends and co-workers, if we poked around a little) who are going or have gone to UDC,
fully conscious of its low quality and limited post-degree opportunities. They go
precisely because they have no other choice. I think a lot of people forget that UDC is
the capital's University of Maryland, University of California, University of Texas, SUNY,
Penn State, UVA, Ole Miss, U. of Illinois, etc. It is OUR State University System. And my
sense is that bringing UDC up to par with every other state university system is not even
on the radar screen of most northwest residents, because their kids will be going to UMd,
Gtown, GWU, AU, or the Ivies.
I'm starting to get a little long in the tooth to work up indignation
about most things in the district — not even blatant cronyism bothers me anymore
— but the complacent “Let them eat cake” attitude that most northwest
residents have toward UDC is to my mind, simply appalling. It is significantly worse than
the northwest attitude toward DCPS, where, thank god, a fair number of concerned parents
and others still try and fight for quality and equity throughout the school system, not
just for the Northwest public schools. The public “state” university of our
nation's capital should be, if anything, the best state university of the 51.73 states.
Instead, it is DCPS redux for the vast majority of DC residents, who are in no more
position to send their kids to GW or U.Md. than they are to send them to Sidwell or St.
Albans. UDC could be an important lever in giving the next generation of District-born and
raised college students the tools and skills to make the improvements in our community's
life that we all want to see. Making UDC into one of the country's leading universities
should be an important priority for the next administration.
###############
Student's view of UDC
Constance Z. Maravell, Zinnia@Compu.serve.com
I am taking Anatomy and Physiology at UDC to meet the requirements for
acupuncture school. My BA is from Bryn Mawr and my MBA from the University of Chicago. No,
UDC is not anywhere near the Sister Seven. What I have been impressed by is the student
body. In a class of 40 there are 10-15 very good and serious students. They do their
homework. They are eager to learn and learn well.
The problem I find with UDC is the professor. He is muddle headed. For
example, I asked a simple definitional question. “Is the muscle fiber the same as the
muscle cell?” He responded that we all need to eat more fiber. For those of you who
are curious: Yes, muscle fiber and muscle cell are interchangeable terms. The other
problem is the lab. We had no complete skeleton. Instead we pulled bones out a box in
which they were thrown, like left overs from a mass grave. There were some bones we never
found.
I feel this sort of teaching and facilities are a disservice to those
serious students. We need to put more money into UDC so that it can really serve the
student body well. Also we need to quit bad mouthing the school. That devalues the very
good students who do attend and makes their time and effort less appreciated by the market
place.
###############
UDC School of Architecture
Randy Wells, conexos@erols.com
With the planned DC history museum at Carnegie Library, the UDC School of
Architecture will be forced to move. This will be a great loss to Shaw and downtown. UDC
students and faculty have been active in community design projects and have proven to be a
great asset. I would love to see the UDC School of Architecture remain downtown or in Shaw
— any ideas from theMail readers?
###############
We had our first try at the renewed program on Thursday and it seemed to
work fine. I got home at about 6 pm and found the truck in the neighborhood. Indeed, it
was a different truck from the garbage truck that picked up our garbage at about 7:30 am.
It is smaller, quieter and is all bright shiny tin or aluminum sided. And it is no big
deal to tie up papers — helps me to go through the string jar I inherited from my
father's house. Also I am pleased that they will take cardboard properly collapsed and
bundled. Cuts down on regular trash. Let's hope this all continues to work well.
###############
Recycling, Yes and No
Janet Dodd, j_dodd@acs.org
In Chevy Chase, we got our recycling bins and instructions early in
October. Monday is our regular collection day, so on the 19th, we put our bin in the alley
next to our garbage bin for collection. It was collected. But yesterday, the 26th, the
trash was collected as usual, but the recycling was not. My husband and I had the same two
reactions in quick succession: Oh, good, this means they're not throwing it all in the
same landfill. Oh, dear, I wonder if they'll ever come back. So typical of life in D.C.:
one mystery solved, another created.
###############
Recycling would be an excellent term for what happens when folks do what
is very common in this area — divorce.
###############
I have to agree with the people who are saying that some people in DC
enjoy complaining sometimes even though things aren't that bad. After 10 years in DC, I
moved to Chicago last year and have found that the recycling here is dismal compared to
DC's. They limit what is recycled and YOU have to buy the bags to put the stuff
into. In DC my building have a bin for glass, a bin for metal and a bin for newspapers;
here in Chicago my building will only recycle if you put the items into a blue bag and
then only if they are in the mood. I'm not sure I believe it, but a couple of people have
told me that Chicago discourages recycling because there are so many jobs here tied to new
manufacturing of recyclable products.
For complaining — I'll trade you one winter for a few misplaced
bins...
###############
This may be politically incorrect, but serious studies i've seen say that
recycling generally is not cost-effective. If it were, I'll bet it would be done well in
D.C. But regardless of what I think, no recycling material was picked up on schedule
Monday, Oct. 26, in my upper northwest neighborhood — and none was picked up Tuesday,
either. Of course, when i tried to call public works, it wasn't open (having closed at 4
p.m.). So now trash is lying around in and out of bins all over the neighborhood,
indefinitely. Why are we putting up with all of this politically correct blather about the
need to recycle? D.C. could spend its resources a lot more efficiently concentrating on
core functions — potholes, schools, etc. This is not one of them and it isn't even
being done well, to boot...
###############
Recycling continued ad nauseum [that's his title,
not mine -- Gary Imhoff]
Rich Rothblum, rothblum@erols.com
With all the serious problems in the city, I can't believe that the
principal topic of themail is complaints about recycling failures. RECYCLING IS
RUBBISH!!!!! One of the sidelights of the story about the nuclear waste dump in Texas
getting nixed was the fact that a sludge dump for New York waste was already in operation
at the same site. Waste is shipped from NEW YORK to TEXAS and this is supposed to be good
for the environment? Wake up, people! Most recycling is causing more harm to the
environment than good. I already wrote about the foolishness of recycling glass — one
of the most abundant minerals on the earth, which will be here long after humanity has
expired from stupidity. The energy used and pollution caused by the recycling process is
much greater than what is related to the production of new glass. Furthermore, it costs
more! It wouldn't be so bad — harmless busywork for feeble-minded do-gooders —
except that it distracts from the fact that the entire infrastructure of the District has
been allowed to crumble almost to the point of no return. Maybe when the streets are awash
with sewage, as is already the case on Klingle Road and in Glover Archbold Park, and Rock
Creek Park, will people start to wonder whether the money and effort put into recycling
might have been better used to repair the sewer system.
###############
Consumer Safety and the Installation of Public
Utilities, Washington Gas
E.C. Wynne, ecwin@erols.com
I have recently found that the shut off to the gas meter at my home is
inoperable and the gas company repair person could not turn it off. He stated that he
would have to remove the meter while the gas was on and then apply the wrench to the valve
to turn the gas off. I did not allow this since I felt this to be unsafe in case there was
a spark from the wrench hitting metal, etc. The supervisor did not feel this was a problem
or an unsafe condition. They have thus far refused to replace, revise, or repair the valve
since they did not feel any emergency situation exists.
I feel the consumer should be able to turn off the gas main in case of an
emergency without waiting 1-2 hours for the gas company to come. I have read through the
recent PSC for Washington Gas and there is no mention that they have to delivery this
commodity with special regard to consumer safety. Although this appears to be an omission,
it seems clear that the document is all about dollars and what they are not responsible
for, and less about any consumer rights or guarantees of safety. Who is supposed to
represent the people of the District of Columbia in this?
###############
Well, here's one possible answer from today's (Oct 25) Post:
"A Good Deed It Would Be . . . ," by Meg Greenfield, Monday, October 26, 1998;
Page A17: “One of Clare Luce's famous aphorisms was the one about how no good deed
goes unpunished.”
[Now this is just getting ridiculous. I want to see Meg's proof that Clare
Booth Luce said it first. Bell Clement, clement@cpbb.org, also taunted me with this.
— Gary Imhoff]
###############
[Now before the next few postings, I want to apologize. In the last issue,
I reprinted the question of where the name “Columbia” came from, and I had some
fun with it. I titled the issue, “The Answers Are in themail.” I mentioned
Columbus Day two times in the paragraph, and I ended the next paragraph with another,
pretty strained, reference to Christopher Columbus. And people still took it seriously,
and sent in answers. I pledge: no more of that kind of stuff, unless, of course, I can't
resist doing it again. By the way, John Olinger pointed out that I misidentified
Bulfinch's, the popularized retelling of Greek and Roman mythology, as Bulworth's, which
is Warren Beatty's self-mythologizing. But several of the replies had additional
interesting information, so here they are. — Gary Imhoff]
Columbia, Gem of the Ocean
Bruce Snyder, besnyder@hotmail.com
Two weeks after Columbia Day. . . . I have always assumed that
“Columbia” was simply based on “Columbus” (nee Colombo). Columbia
makes more sense than “America,” after Amerigo Vespucci (who may or may not have
made it here, but did write a book — print the myth).
There's a strange, but interesting, didactic novel (fiction, but well
researched) called “The Country with No Name,” by Sebastian de Grazia. The MLK
Library has two copies — 727-1295). Aside from discussing whether the U.S.
Constitution is constitutional, de Grazia points out that “America” is of fairly
recent usage; that prior to the Civil War “the United States” or
“Columbia” were the most common terms. He thinks the nation became
“America” with the publication of “God Bless America.”
I'll look around the library here at Petworth, but I've always assumed the
Columbia-Columbus connection. Of course, there's another country named
“Colombia” (from the Italian Colombo).
###############
Columbia derives from Christopher Columbus, and any designation
“Columbia” means that it's of or related to Christopher Columbus and by
extension to the United States itself. We've all heard of pre-Columbian art, for example,
and there is also the country Colombia. Columbia sometimes is metaphor for a golden age of
promise in America — our own version of Arcadia.
###############
First, condescending and obvious: duh. “Columbia” comes from
Columbus, as in Christopher. And the South American country spells it “Colombia”
with an o instead of a u because the intrepid mariner's name in Spanish was Cristobal
Colon. Hence the o.
Now...pizza. Alberto's Pizza at 1416 P Street is absolutely the best pizza
in a town that is seriously deficient in that area. Real Chicago stuffed pies, thin crust
and deep dish with tons of toppings to choose from. Try one of their stuffed pies and you
will understand fully what a sham these other “Chicago-style” pizza joints are.
Delivery only, (986-2121...I've memorized it and it's on my speed dialer. I suggest you do
the same.) and it takes a bit longer than Domino's, but anything that good is worth
waiting for.
###############
No contest. Vace's on Conn Ave. in Cleveland Park. It's not just me, I
know people who drive up from Capitol Hill and over from Mt. Pleasant to get it.
###############
Some of those questions you ask are way to heavy for me to tackle.
However, best pizza? That would be Mama Luccia's in the Congressional Plaza on Rockville
Pike. These guys are from New Yawk. They know from pizza! It is the best I have been able
to find since moving to DC from NY.
###############
Now that it's getting chilly at night, I am beginning to think about
firewood. Instead of buying from the rip off artists who come around my neighborhood. I am
looking for any suggestions or places of business who sell good firewood. Any ideas or
recommendations...?
###############
Another Bad Computer Experience?
Randy Wells, conexos@erols.com
A couple of my friends have had a bad experience with an outfit called
Computer Clinic Center at 4433 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. According to the Better Business
Bureau, there have been a number of complaints about their service. I am curious to know
whether anyone else has had similar experiences.
###############
Roxanna Deane's note in the previous themail reminds us that D.C.'s first
elected legislature adopted the motto “Justitia Omnibus.” It's not funny, but
I'd much rather have it on my license plate than some greasy boosterism from an overpaid
tourism consultant. It's the kind of challenge a polity should keep in sight.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — FOR SALE
Last chance. Choice LP's — mostly 60's & 70's. Would like $1-$2
each. Call Tzipora day - 202-362-4433, ext. 121; night - 202-237-8880, or tziporachai@juno.com.
###############
GOOD & CHEAP! Everything must be gone by Sunday morning! Entertainment
Center - black lacquered wood, fair condition. 4' across, 4' high, 1' 4" deep. Three
shelves on left side, TV space over two swing-out doors on right side. $25.
Wood Table w/2 eaves - 5' long, 21" wide with eaves down, eaves 10" wide. Latte-
colored wood. $20
2 End Tables - 26" deep, 21" high, 21" across, two drawers each,
coffee-colored wood; $30 for both
High-backed gray computer chair with wheels $10
Fireplace tools - black iron with gleaming brass handles $25
Computer Desk - black lacquered wood, 3' wide, 1'8" deep, desktop is 2' 6" off
the ground with 2' high area of shelves above.
Very good condition, nice rollaway shelf for keyboard. $30
Sofa w/ sleeper bed - Chocolate brown velvet sofa, too big for my new place, 6' long, 2'
9" deep, 2' 4" high with seats 1' 5" off the ground. very very comfy with
lots of pillows. Folds out to become queen bed - bed, like most sleepers not so comfy, but
tolerable. Hate to give it up. $55
All prices neg. please come see. Interested call Aries at 202-326-7041
during the day or 202-265-9551 in the evening or e-mail at akeck@nasw.org. 1704 Lamont
St., NW
###############
Windows CE machine with color display, built-in 33.6 modem, and 16 megs of
RAM. Carrying case, manuals, software included. This is a top of the line hand-held CE
machine in excellent condition. $300.00. Contact: Bill Adler, badler@adlerbooks.com , 202-986-9275.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — THEY CAN GET RESPONSES
Just wanted to thank you for posting the request for car seats! Someone
was kind enough to donate two cars seats to me.
###############
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